Hot! Miami Releases Chad Johnson The Leaf Chronicle

I know we picked him up off the turf a couple times, but he s a big, strong, athletic guy and he can take a hit. We don t want him taking too many, but to see him perform the way he did and do the things that he did under pressure, I thought he handled it well, new coach Chuck Pagano said.

After everything the Colts endured during the run up to drafting Luck the injury to Manning, an 0-13 start in 2011, the release of many fan favorites including Manning during a tumultuous offseason Luck quickly turned the page on the past with a start fans may never forget.,

With the rookie quarterback under pressure on his first play, Luck calmly stepped forward and dumped the ball off to Brown, who darted up the field with blockers in front, then cut from right to left and outran the defense to the end zone. Luck pumped his fist in the air and jogged to the sideline with a broad smile across his face.

Longtime Colts fans had seen it before. Back in 98, Manning s first pass was an 8-yard route to Marvin Harrison, who took the ball and sprinted to the end zone for a 48-yard score.

I think (quarterbacks coach) Clyde (Chirstensen) told me that about a week ago, Luck said, laughing. I guess it s coincidence. Funny, huh?

Certainly not to the Rams (No. 28), who pressured Luck most of the day, yet couldn t force him into mistakes, get him on the ground or find a way to reach the end zone.

The Rams offense moved the ball on its first two series, under Sam Bradford, but stalled. St. Louis did get a 37-yard field goal when Kellen Clemens was running the offense.

Otherwise, it was a daylong struggle for Jeff Fisher s new team.

It s kind of an unusual game because the offense puts a drive together and then, bang, they re back on the field one play later because we gave up a touchdown, the Rams coach said. Then you re trying to catch up with plays for your defense and then you can t stop them and then you can t get the plays for your offense. We tried to get as many plays as we could on tape and we ll move on.

Bradford, the No. 1 overall pick in 2010 and the Offensive Rookie of the Year, was 7 of 9 for 57 yards and recovered his own fumble. Clemens was 4 of 6 for 18 yards.

And the feature attraction stole the show.