LITTLE ROCK — Harper gives TD bad twist
Rod Harper couldn't contain himself.
The end zone was in sight, no one was going to catch him, and for a guy who was playing for the Arkansas Twisters in Arena Football 2 only a few months ago, an NFL touchdown on a 79-yard punt return was a big deal - even in the preseason.
"I've never really been a showboat-type of guy," Harper said of his high-stepping finish to his touchdown return against the Houston Texans on Saturday night, which drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. "It's just something that kind of happened."
Harper joined the Saints primarily as a receiver and was given a chance to work his way into the rotation as a punt returner.
"I definitely think it opened the coaches' eyes a little bit to maybemaking plays with the ball in my hand," Harper said. "So I think that definitely helped me out a little bit, but I think I have to make more plays on kick coverage and things like that."
After the touchdown return, Harper said Coach Sean Payton told him: "Great play, but dumb penalty."Quick quiz
From Dwight Perry of The Seattle Times:
"Q: What do you call it when socalled institutions of higher learning - the ones who don't even graduate half their players - pay their football coaches millions of dollars?
"A: The 'Cash for Flunkers' program." Cleanup hitter
St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols is one of baseball's most celebrated players.
But because of the steroids cloud that hangs over the game, he still feels persecuted.
"I'm the one guy that everyone can't wait until I fail," he told the Los Angeles Times. "It seems like everybody just wishes me the worst.That's the way it is. What can you do?" Wired PGA golfer Ben Curtis is proud of his rare achievement.
Curtis led from start to finish at the now-defunct Booz Allen Classic, during which it rained so much at the TPC Avenel in Potomac, Md., that the tournament was not completed until Tuesday.
"I've got one record Tiger willnever beat," Curtis said. "I had to sleep on the lead for five nights." They said it
David Thomas of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, on things that will take some getting used to this NFL season: "Favre in a Minnesota Vikings jersey, calling the Arizona Cardinals the 'reigning NFC champions' and do-over punts."
Dan Daly of the Washington Times, on Washington pitcher Stephen Strasburg, the No. 1 draft pick, signing a record $15 million deal: "Is that what they mean by the National debt?"
Dwight Perry of The Seattle Times, on San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers signing a six-year contract extension for $93 million, $38 million of it guaranteed: "So that's why they're called the Chargers: The team put it all on VISA."
Comedy writer Marc Ragovin, after New York Mets Manager Jerry Manuel said he's worried about his players "falling in love with mediocrity:" "He should let romance bloom. For those guys it would bemarrying up."
Steven Marcus of Newsday, on Florida's new Steinbrenner High School playing its first football game against Strawberry Crest: "No, it was not named after Darryl."Quote of the day
"I think one thing I really
learned last year is that in
this conference, games are going to come down to special teams." Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino
Sports, Pages 22 on 08/28/2009