Demaryius Thomas of Denver Broncos back after Achilles injury
  ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Demaryius Thomas was intent on making it back into the Denver Broncos' lineup by Halloween.That goal has changed.The big receiver's recovery from a torn right Achilles' tendon, which his surgeon originally warned might sideline him for the entire season, has gone so Packers Clay Matthews Jersey well that he didn't even start the season on the physically unable to perform list.AFC West blogESPN's Bill Williamson writes about all things AFC West in his division blog.Blog network: NFL NationOn Monday, Thomas, the first receiver selected in last year's draft, practiced for the first time since undergoing surgery in February to repair the tendon he tore during offseason workouts in Atlanta."He's running around. He's been cleared medically," coach John Fox said. "There was an option there to put him on inactive PUP, but according to our medical people he's good to go and he's obviously a talented player that we're looking forward to getting on the field."When he'll play in a game is anybody's guess, but the Broncos must figure he'll be ready soon enough to make it worth their while not to replace him Clay Matthews Jersey Black on Packers Clay Matthews Authentic Jersey the roster for the first six weeks of the season, especially because they're already keeping a roster spot open for defensive tackle Ty Warren, who is out until at least November with a torn triceps.The task now is getting Thomas into "football shape, pad shape," Fox said. "And that would have been true whether he started the season on PUP or not. There's going to be a window of time to get him in football shape and that's what we're doing now except that we're doing it earlier."Thomas' inclusion on the 53-man roster was the Broncos' biggest surprise of cut-down day. He had learned of the Authentic Eli Manning Jersey Red possibility last week when he passed a physical, but he kept it a secret even from his teammates, with his only hint coming in a tweet Friday that said, "Swear the man above do amazing things.. im feeling good cant wait to get back to what i love doing.""We were looking at some of the game film during training camp and seeing some of what he was doing (last year) and I was like, 'Damn, like, we're going to be without that?'" Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Lloyd said. "And so it's exciting to see him out there because I totally was not expecting that today."Thomas ran routes Monday but didn't overdo it on his first day back."He was out there running around today and looked good. He was out there making plays, so he's challenging us," wide receiver Eddie Royal said.Thomas said he was able to do everything the other receivers did during practice, just not as much."I'm excited for him, and I'm excited that he's back," Lloyd said, "but I'm definitely going to be the voice of reason with him and making sure he's coming back and he's feeling great and is 100 percent, making sure he's technically sound so he doesn't do anything to hurt himself further."Because it's great having him now, but I want him at the end of the season."Thomas said he could hardly lift his right heel off the turf when he reported to camp. Three weeks later, he started doing some running and lateral movements and things progressed quickly from there.As to when he'll be game-ready, Thomas won't venture a guess."Well, basically, it's beating a defender and getting my cardio back is the first thing, because I feel like my leg is strong," he said. "But beating a defender, cardio, reading defenses, it's just the mental things.  Once I get that down, I feel like I'll be fine."Thomas was the first receiver selected in last year's draft at No. 22, three spots ahead of the Broncos' other first-round pick, Tim Tebow. But he had a rough rookie year after leaving Georgia Tech following his junior season.He was just starting to flash his athleticism and mobility, using his 6-foot-3, 230-pound frame to out-jump defenders Eli Manning Jersey Red when he re-injured his surgically repaired foot early in training camp. He was knocked out of one game with a concussion while returning a kickoff and was also sidelined for the final five weeks of the season with a sprained ankle.Thomas ended up playing in 10 games, starting twice Eli Manning Jersey White and finishing with 22 receptions for 283 yards and two scores. He also returned 16 kicks for a 24.9-yard average.Then, in February he was doing lateral footwork and conditioning drills at his alma mater when he felt the pain in his right heel."Last year, it was the foot and then it was the ankle and now it's the Achilles'," Thomas said. "I was like, 'If I can get over this, hopefully I won't have any more injuries.'"Game notes Another player making his debut at practice was CB Jonathan Wilhite, who was ditched by the Patriots last week in their Authentic Eli Manning Jersey Blue first round of cuts. ... Fox on why the Broncos didn't claim any of the 900 or so players they had scouted in anticipation of Reebok Jairus Byrd Jersey them getting cut over the weekend: "Well, there was only a few guys that we had interest in and at the end of the day it wasn't enough interest to retrain a guy for a guy that's already had five weeks of training in our systems." ... S Quinton Carter (hamstring) didn't practice.

 
                Bob Stoops of Oklahoma Sooners on super-league -- Way 'the world's going'
  Pac-16 For Sooners?Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops comments on the possible expansion of the Pac 12Pac-16 For Sooners?VIDEO PLAYLIST Pac-16 For Sooners?Pac-16 For Sooners?Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops comments on the possible expansion of the Pac 12Pac-12 Talking ExpansionPac-12 Talking ExpansionDavid Ubben discusses the possibility of Oklahoma and Texas joining the Big 12Tags: Pac-12,  David Ubben,  expansionMack Brown: Fun Night For LonghornsMack Brown: Fun Night For LonghornsMack Brown talks about the Longhorns big win over Rice and who the Most Valuable Players wereHornsNation BYU LookaheadHornsNation BYU LookaheadCarter Strickland and William Giants Eli Manning Replica Jersey Wilkerson lookahead at the week to come.Tags: Texas Longhorns,  BYU CougarsBob Stoops and Mack Brown shape the direction of the Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Longhorns football programs, powerhouses that allowed the Big 12 to stay together for at least one more season when they recommitted to the league last summer.But both Giants Eli Manning Authentic Jersey coaches insist that -- while a Packers Clay Matthews Premier Jersey super-league may be the wave of the future, as Stoops said -- they're staying out of the decision-making process as school officials again discuss a possible jump to the Pac-12."I'm for whatever the president and athletic director feel is best for the University of Oklahoma," Stoops said Monday of David NFL Cedric Benson Jersey Boren and Joe Castiglione, speaking to media during the Big 12's weekly conference call. "And as long as we get to play I'll go play where we need to go play. So I've got great faith in them. So for me to say what I'd prefer wouldn't be at all right to do." The opportunity to join the Pac-12 Reebok Cedric Benson Jersey is up to Oklahoma and Texas, and the schools realize the ball is in their court, a source close to the situation told ESPN's Joe Schad last week. The concept of a Pac-16 regained steam after Texas A&M said it would leave the Big 12 by July 2012 if it Packers Clay Matthews Replica Jersey can find another home, preferably in the SEC. More from SoonerNationEverything Oklahoma, from recruiting to news to game coverage, is available in ESPN's SoonerNation blog.More: ESPN Recruiting coverageESPN's Big 12 blog"It seems that's the Clay Matthews Jersey Blue direction that the world's going," Stoops said of the prospect of a super-conference. "So if it is, so be it. But my job right now is we're getting ready for practice today and start working for Florida State. That's what I'm spending my time on this morning."Brown also deferred to his school's president and athletic director when asked about the Big 12's future."I really just left that NFL Ryan Fitzpatrick Jersey up to Bill Powers and DeLoss Dodds," Brown said. "Gotta get our football program back to where we want it to be."Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott said Saturday the conference isn't seeking expansion partners, but acknowledged that "schools have reached out to us.""Very honestly, haven't talked to them Reebok Clay Matthews Jersey about it," Brown said of Powers and Dodds. "We went through all this last year and we talked about it daily. We were in the Pac-10. At that time it was gone, we were done. And then the next day we were here. So it was all over the place." Reebok Ryan Fitzpatrick Jersey With half the Big 12 heading into an off week, after all 10 teams won their openers at home, there are more questions about the future of the league.Big 12 blogESPN's David Ubben writes about all things Big 12 in the conference blog.Blog network: College Football Nation"It seems like there's about five different scenarios out there that everybody thinks are guaranteed to be the case," Brown said. "So I've got my hands full with Brigham Young on Saturday night, and I know we're in the Big 12 until the end of the year."After trimming down to 10 teams with the losses of Nebraska (Big Ten) and Colorado (Pac-12), the Big 12 hadn't even opened its new season before Texas A&M last week formally announced its Eli Manning Jersey Blue intention to leave the league.Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman grew tired last week of constant questions about realignment and the Aggies' likely move, a storyline piqued by Wednesday's official announcement."We never paid a whole lot of attention to any of the other stuff," Sherman said after Sunday night's 46-14 victory in College Station. "We focused pretty hard on SMU. They warranted our undivided attention. That's all we NFL Jairus Byrd Jersey talked about."The Aggies are expected to apply for membership to the SEC as early as this week when they are one of the teams with an open date."I did not think it would come up again," Brown said. "I thought it was over for at least 10 years."More from HornsNationEverything Texas, from recruiting to news to game coverage, is available Authentic Eli Manning Jersey White in ESPN's HornsNation blog.More: ESPN Recruiting coverageESPN's Big 12 blogESPN Dallas' college blogThere had been interest from the then-Pac-10 last summer of Texas and Oklahoma, along with Oklahoma State and Texas Tech, heading West as potentially part of a 16-team league. But there is more uncertainty for teams such as Kansas, Kansas State, Baylor and Iowa State should the Big 12 crumble.Second-year Kansas coach Turner Gill insists he is not too concerned and has confidence in Big 12 leadership, including the presidents and chancellors of the league's schools."I believe that the Big 12 Conference will be standing strong at some point in time," Gill said. "How it all shakes out, I don't know, but I do have confidence that there will be a Big 12 Conference."Two days after Oklahoma State billionaire booster Boone Pickens said he didn't think the Big 12 will last much longer and believes the Cowboys Cedric Benson Jersey Orange eventually will end up in the Pac-12, coach Mike Gundy said he hopes that's not necessarily the case."I would hope that our league could somehow stay together and survive. Giants Eli Manning Jersey I guess it doesn't look like that that is going to happen," Gundy said during his weekly availability on the Stillwater campus. "Or maybe somebody could come in because I like the Big 12. I like this part of the country, I like the recruiting aspects of it. I'm not afraid to say that. I like the rivalries that we have in this league."Kansas State coach Bill Snyder said he has addressed his team about the situation, telling them to take care of "what is really significant" for them on the field playing games.Pac-12 blogESPN's Ted Miller writes about all things Pac-12 in the conference blog.Blog network: College Football NationSnyder shared with his players some of the history of Kansas State, from being part of the Big Cedric Benson Jersey Black 6 Conference that started in the 1920s, to the evolvement into the Big 8 and later the Big 12."You can't afford to get caught up in the politics of what's taking place in our conference," Snyder said. "That's for somebody else."Baylor's Art Briles, whose team is coming off a 50-48 opening win over defending Rose Bowl champion TCU, said he isn't really thinking about what might happen since he can't change it. The coach doesn't plan to talk to his players about it unless they ask, NFL Clay Matthews Jersey and none of them have asked."I have absolutely no control over what's happening," Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said. "I'm just going to focus on our big game this week against Arizona State."While Baylor, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Texas Tech all have open dates already, Missouri and Oklahoma State have short weeks of preparation.Before Missouri plays at Arizona State on Friday, Oklahoma State is home Giants Eli Manning Premier Jersey Thursday against Arizona. At least for the Cowboys, they have a rematch of a team they beat 36-10 in the Alamo Bowl last December.