Ageless Brady Not Slowing Down at 40
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SECTION B VISIT SAMOA NEWS ONLINE @ SAMOANEWS.COM THURSDAY, AUGUST 17, 2017 CLASSIFIEDS • CARTOONS • ALOHA BRIEFS & MORE ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ Ageless Brady C M not slowing Y K down at 40 Training camp is easier for he prepares for another season Tom Brady at age 40 than it with the defending Super Bowl was when he entered the NFL champions. in 2000. “I’m never sore,” he said. Brady, who turned 40 on “I could practice every day. Aug. 3, was asked how camp I could practice twice a day if with the New England Patriots they’d let us do that. But that’s is different for him now that not the way it goes anymore.” he’s one of the older players in But he and the Patriots got the league. in plenty of work against the “I think it’s a lot easier for Texans on Wednesday, and me now than it’s ever been,” he Brady liked the challenge of said. “I feel like my routine’s facing a defense led by star better than it’s ever been. When defensive end J.J. Watt. you’re younger you don’t know “There are so many good what to do, and after 17 years, players out there on that fi eld,” going on my 18th year I know Brady said. “They were the what to do. I know how to pre- fi rst-ranked defense in the pare.” Brady and the Patriots league last year. It’s just tough wrapped up their second day to move the ball ... it’s just good of practice with the Houston getting some work in, some real Texans in West Virginia on competitive work. They made Wednesday in preparation for their fair share of plays. We their second preseason game on made our fair share, so it was a Saturday in Houston. fun couple of days.” The teams went through more New England coach Bill than two hours of practice on Belichick defl ected questions Wednesday before Brady had a about how Brady has been able New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) works on passing drills during a joint prac- long talk with former teammate to maintain a high level of play tice with the NFL football team Houston Texans in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., Wednesday, Aug. turned Houston defensive coor- at his age to the quarterback, 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Chris Jackson) dinator Mike Vrabel. Afterward but he did talk about what he’s he spoke about how he feels as meant to the Patriots. C M Y K Everyday aft er practice, the Faga’itua HS Vikings football players, and coaching staff , get together to hold hands and say the Lord’s Prayer. It’s a tradition that has long been a part of the team’s routine. Th e Vikings, as well as all other high school football squads, are currently preparing for the opening of the 2017-2018 ASHSAA season, which kicks off Sept. 9th. [photo: Blue Chen-Fruean] Page B2 samoa news, Thursday, August 17, 2017 Jets’ Whitehead having foot surgery, return duties uncertain The New York Jets will have Kansas City. He spent last year to try their luck at fi nding a new on the Chiefs’ practice squad, returner. but has return experience. Ham- Wide receiver Lucky White- mond has averaged 10.9 yards head will have surgery this week on 29 career punt returns. The on his broken foot, leaving the former University of Florida in the Pago Plaza - across from ASPA office. team’s kickoff and punt return wide receiver has just two duties uncertain. career kickoff returns — both in “I’m not sure about the time- 2014 — and averaged 37 yards. COME AND HAVE YOUR HAIR table, though,” coach Todd — Romar Morris: The Bowles said Wednesday, “but speedy running back from North DONE BY PROFESSIONAL he’ll be out some time.” Carolina was a versatile pres- Bowles did not rule out ence in the Tar Heels’ offense Whitehead potentially returning for four years and returned HAIR STYLISTS: this season. kickoffs. He was in camp with “Yeah,” the coach said, “it’s the Jets last summer before suf- possible.” fering a shoulder injury in late Veronica & Mali Whitehead was the front- August. Call for an appointment or stop by and see us!! runner to serve as the Jets’ pri- — Chris Harper: The former mary kickoff and punt returner. Cal wide receiver has returned “Veronica is also a trained barber” He was injured during practice three punts in his career, Monday and watched Tuesday during his rookie season with Tuesday - Saturday 9am to 4pm from the sideline on crutches. New England in 2015, for an Mondays (Appointments Only) The injury is the latest in a average of 5.7 yards. He spent 633-0774 string of bad news in a strange last season with San Francisco, summer for Whitehead. He was which waived him in May. waived by Dallas last month — Marcus Murphy: In two after two seasons following a seasons with New Orleans, the shoplifting incident that turned running back returned 34 punts out to be a case of false identity. for a 9.4 average — including a New York claimed Whitehead 74-yard touchdown in 2015 — off waivers on July 26. and averaged 21.3 yards on 19 Now, the Jets will use the kickoffs. next few weeks of training — Elijah McGuire: The Jets’ camp and the fi nal three games sixth-round pick out of Loui- of the preseason to determine siana-Lafayette was a four-year whether they have someone in- starter at running back with the house or if they’ll have to look Ragin’ Cajuns, but also returned elsewhere. punts and kickoffs in college. Here’s a look at the con- NOTES: RB Matt Forte tenders for the job on New remains day to day with a York’s current roster: tweaked hamstring. ... WR — Jalin Marshall: He was Marquess Wilson sat out for the Jets’ main returner last the second straight day because season as a rookie, but is sus- of a sore hip. ... LB Lorenzo pended the fi rst four games for Mauldin practiced in the after- violating the league’s policy on noon after appearing in court performance enhancers. He also in New York for his scheduled struggled at times with consis- arraignment on a misdemeanor tency. He averaged 24.9 yards assault charge. He is accused on kickoffs and 5.6 yards on of punching a man in a night- punt returns. club in April. ... WR Kenbrell — Frankie Hammond: He Thompkins participated in prac- was signed by New York in tice after being signed earlier in January after four seasons with the day. Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Mularkey greets New York Jets head coach Todd Bowles aft er an NFL football game, Sat- New York Jets running back Romar Morris (30) is tackled by the Tennessee Titans during the urday, Aug. 12, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. Th e Jets won 7-3. second quarter of an NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) samoa news, Thursday, August 17, 2017 Page B3 Cleveland Browns quarterback Brock Osweiler (17) throws during practice at the NFL football team’s training camp facility, Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017, in Berea, Ohio. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak) Browns’ Thomas believes Osweiler will win starting QB job BEREA, Ohio (AP) — After weeks of spec- Jackson. He consults with him on major deci- ulation, analysis and evaluation, the Browns’ sions, and Thomas said that “99 times out of 100 quarterback competition is headed into its home we’re on the same page.” stretch. Osweiler’s rise from a Houston reject to likely Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas believes starter may be improbable, but Thomas has been it’s over — Brock Osweiler will start the season impressed with the way the veteran has gone opener on Sept. 10 against Pittsburgh. about his business. “I could be totally wrong,” Thomas said He may have been a longshot, but Osweiler, Wednesday. “I might be going out on a limb who went 8-6 last season as a starter before the here, but I think they’re grooming Brock to be Texans traded him in March, has displayed all the starter in Week 1 based on what I’ve seen.” the characteristics Thomas wants in a starter. Thomas has seen it all — and then some — “He’s got the ‘it’ factor when it comes to during 10 seasons with Cleveland. He’s wit- being a quarterback,” Thomas said. “He’s got the nessed the Browns bungle enough quarterback leadership and the understanding and the com- decisions that he’s hoping the team gets it right munication skills that it takes to be a starting this time. quarterback. When he’s in the game and when His preference is for the Browns to show he’s in the practice, it’s got that feel of an NFL patience and not rush rookie DeShone Kizer, quarterback. ... He gets the ball, he drops back, the second-round pick who has had an impres- he throws the ball on time to where it’s supposed sive camp and rallied the team to a win in his to be thrown. exhibition debut. Kizer, a second-round pick “It’s not always perfect, but that is like the from Notre Dame, could very well be ready, but minimum that you have to have to be a good Thomas feels the more prudent approach is to let starting quarterback in the NFL.