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Nine carries in preseason plenty for JacksonFootball Betting Lines08/31/2010 - ST. LOUIS (AP) - St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson says nine carries in the preseason is enough to get ready for the season. The Pro Bowler said he didn't want to play Thursday night against the Baltimore Ravens. Then came the long, rumbling guffaw that has become a Jackson trademark. ``If coach wants me to go out there, I'm fully prepared to go out there and play however long the ones are going to be out there,'' Jackson added. ``But me, personally, no, I don't want to play.'' The finale is a lot more important for Kenneth Darby, Chris Ogbonnaya and Keith Toston, the trio vying to be Jackson's backup. All three are likely to get a lot of playing time. ``This game is always about competition,'' Darby said. ``I love competition. It's what makes me great, makes me better as a player, makes me better as a person also.'' Jackson understands, though, that a little playing time can aid in developing timing with rookie quarterback Sam Bradford. The No. 1 pick will get his second start of the preseason ahead of A.J. Feeley, still recovering from a sprained right thumb, and could be under center for the opener Sept. 12 against Arizona. ``It would definitely be beneficial in letting us grow more chemistry, yes,'' Jackson said. ``But the gentleman asked, 'Do I want to play?' I do think it's probably something what coach will probably want and I'm ready for it if it happens.'' Coach Steve Spagnuolo said Monday he hadn't finalized the plan for the Ravens game, but anticipated the first-team offense and defense would get some playing time. How much time Jackson gets, if any, hadn't been decided. ``There's a chance he could go out there, but I don't know,'' Spagnuolo said. ``Fifty-fifty on that one.'' The Rams would have given Jackson a light workload in the preseason even if he had not been coming off surgery to repair a herniated disk in April. He's gained 42 yards on those nine carries for a 4.7-yard average, and the Rams have scored touchdowns on both possessions he's played. Throughout training camp, Jackson has talked about how good he feels heading into the opener at home against the Arizona Cardinals. ``I'm really excited, I'm ready,'' Jackson said. ``As the days go by I'm getting more anxious about it. A few more short weeks and we'll be there.'' The offensive output last week at New England was a positive sign for a unit that was the NFL's worst last season. Bradford threw two touchdown passes in a 36-35 victory. ``It's definitely a confidence booster,'' Jackson said. ``We know we're capable of putting up points.'' Jackson said it's especially impressive considering the youth on the offense. Besides Bradford, there are two rookie tight ends, and the offensive line has one rookie and a second-year player. ``It's very encouraging,'' Jackson said. ``We're going in the right direction.'' None of the three backup candidates have put up scintillating numbers. Toston, an undrafted rookie, has 80 yards and a 2.8-yard average. Darby, the primary backup last year, has 60 yards and a 2.9-yard average. Ogbonnaya, a sixth-round pick last year, has 39 yards and a 2-yard average. Toston is the only one who hasn't gotten a chance to go with the first-string offense. He's trying not to worry about upcoming roster cuts. ``It's going out just playing every game like it's my Super Bowl,'' Toston said. ``Because it really is. I'm not promised the next game.''Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
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2007 NFL Football Betting Preview“You play to win the game!” Those are the words of notoriously intense head coach Herman Edwards. Unfortunately, from a bettors’ perspective, most coaches don’t feel that way about the NFL preseason. August is a time to evaluate young players, finalize the depth chart and pray your star players stay healthy. The trick to making money during the exhibition schedule is identifying coaches – like Edwards – who can’t stand losing even when there's nothing on the line. The New York Jets betting won 15 of 21 preseason games and went 14-7 against the spread (ATS) during Edwards’s five-year tenure with the club. In his first season as the Kansas City Chiefs field boss, the team improved from 0-4 to 2-2. Identifying win-a-holics like Edwards is a good start if you plan betting the preseason – even though most say you shouldn’t ... but what the hell do they know anyway? Here’s a brief rundown of two teams that have a habit of winning during the second-stringers’ season, and another club that has a good chance of exceeding this year. Playing in the media hub of North America can be stressful but the press can’t write anything negative about the way Tom Coughlin’s boys play in the preseason. The Giants won and covered all four games last summer, improving their record to 7-1 both straight up (SU) and against the spread over the last two years. Coughlin has shown he’s not afraid to give his starters more time in the second preseason game than most of his colleagues, no doubt one of the reasons his team has been so dominant. Bettors can count on America’s team early on. The Cowboys are 14-6 both SU and ATS since 2002 in warm-up contests. Former coach Bill Parcells, the coach of the team the last four years, has an intimidating, in-your-face presence – surely a reason Dallas has had so much early success. The Big Tuna won’t be strolling the sidelines with looks of disgust, but new coach Wade Phillips will be anxious to make a good first impression for owner Jerry Jones. Dallas plays the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos before things get serious. They then face the Houston Texans in their third contest (the game starters see most game time) and finish off with the Minnesota Vikings. Expect a Dallas team able to walk away with another 3-1 preseason record. This team scored a league-worst 12 offensive touchdowns last season, so the rookies and veterans each have something to prove. There’s a bounty of first-unit jobs up for grabs and plenty of bodies competing for those slots. First-time head coach Lane Kiffin will be eager to impress an owner who employs the philosophy, “Just win, baby!” The 32-year-old Kiffin has to command respect from a locker room full of players older than him. All of these factors should lead to purpose in preseason. Don’t forget: before playing like a team that belonged in NFL Europe, Oakland went 4-1 (both SU and ATS) in exhibition games. To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football wagering needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards. MySportsbook is considered one of the finest football betting sportsbooks according to several surveys performed by independent industry analysts considering such factors as payout accuracy and timeliness, overall quality of website, and bettor satisfaction. MySportsbook is a large company with strong financial backing. Considered the best sportsbook for betting football online You will find their customer service is second to none and their web site is extremely user friendly and easy-to-use. All major professional sports games are available. Once you signup with MySportsbook, you may never use another online sportsbook again. To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football wagering needs. |
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