ALAMEDA, Calif. TreQuan Smith Saints Jersey . -- Matt McGloin has made a career out of exceeding other peoples expectations. The player who had no scholarship offers coming out of high school walked on at Penn State and became the schools career leader in touchdown passes. The player who sent a letter and video to NFL teams pleading for a chance after getting passed over for the combine went undrafted before finally getting a chance as a camp arm with the Oakland Raiders. The player who entered training camp as a fourth-stringer managed to beat out fourth-round pick Tyler Wilson for a roster spot and moved up to second string when Matt Flynn was released last month. As surprising as all of those accomplishments may have been, it was his performance in his first NFL start last week in Houston that really opened up eyes. McGloin became the fourth quarterback since the 1970 NFL merger to throw three touchdown passes and no interceptions in his first career start in place of the injured Terrelle Pryor to earn himself a longer-term look as the starter in Oakland. "I never took a backseat to anybody," McGloin said. "I didnt put myself in a position that Im buried behind all these guys. I really dont look at who is ahead of me on the depth chart or whos behind me on the depth chart. Each day is a better way to get better, improve as a leader, improve as a person." McGloin will make his second start on Sunday against Tennessee (4-6) as Pryor still is dealing with a right knee injury and the Raiders (4-6) want to see if he can repeat that performance. "This is a production business," coach Dennis Allen said. "If you go out and you perform and you make plays, you get opportunities to continue to go out and perform and make plays. Matt did that last week. Hes going to get another opportunity this week. Well see how it goes." McGloins ascension from undrafted quarterback to starter is not unique as players such as Kurt Warner, Tony Romo and Jeff Garcia also took that route. But those players came from much lower-profile colleges than Penn State, where scouts had ample opportunity to watch McGloin play against NFL-caliber opposition, and took longer to reach their NFL success. They all spent time either in the Arena Football League, NFL Europe, Canada or an NFL bench before getting a chance to start in the NFL. "I think some guys werent born or blessed with great athleticism, size or speed or strength, all those things you can measure," Allen said. "You cant measure whats in their head or their heart. This guy has overcome a lot of challenges." It started when he got no scholarship offers coming out of high school in Scranton, Pa., and decided to walk on at Penn State. One reason McGloin didnt get a scholarship was because Penn State was waiting to see if Pryor would come to State College. But even being at the same school as the top quarterback recruit in the country couldnt scare the confident McGloin. "I remember asking him, What happens if Terrelle goes to Penn State," McGloins father, Paul, said. "He said, Dad, I dont care. Ill go there and beat whoever is there." Pryor went to Ohio State and McGloin spent much of his time in college fighting off more heralded recruits like Rob Bolden, Paul Jones and Kevin Newsome before earning his chance. He became the starter midway through his sophomore season in 2010 before throwing five interceptions in a loss to Florida at the Outback Bowl. McGloin began the 2011 season as the backup to Bolden before becoming the starter just weeks before the Jerry Sandusky scandal went public at Penn State, throwing the program in disarray. That eventually led to the firing of longtime coach Joe Paterno and crippling sanctions but McGloin decided to stick it out for his senior season under new coach Bill OBrien, who had previously been offensive co-ordinator for Tom Brady in New England. "Not too many kids go through something like that," he said. "Ive seen it all. Ive overcome many different types of adversity. In a way it has helped me at this level." McGloin had his best year under OBrien, throwing for 3,266 yards and 24 touchdowns with only five interceptions in leading the Nittany Lions to an 8-4 record. "Hes a smart guy," OBrien said. "Smart guys that work hard, that have some talent, they really thrive in that league. They really do. I think hell thrive in that league." But few NFL teams believed the same thing as McGloin was not invited to the scouting combine, leading him to send out a video to all 32 NFL teams which began with him saying, "My entire life has been defined by the words Youll never make it. So hard work is not new to me." McGloin cited his upbringing in Scranton and experience at Penn State as reasons why he should get a chance in the NFL. That came to fruition in May when he worked out for the Raiders and earned a contract. "It shows the type of person he is, the character and determination that hes not going to let someone tell him what he cant do," said Titans coach Mike Munchak, a Scranton and Penn State product who has followed McGloins career. "Im sure when he went to Penn State a lot of people said he should have done something else. Obviously, he worked his way through it." Natrell Jamerson Saints Jersey . -- Josh MacDonalds second goal of the game kept his team alive as the Peterborough Petes edged the host Kingston Frontencas 6-5 in overtime on Friday in Ontario Hockey League playoff action. Kurt Coleman Saints Jersey .com) - James van Riemsdyk had two goals with one assist to help the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 5-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday night.HOMESTEAD, Fla. - Chase Elliotts first season racing on a national level has gone smoother than anyone expected.Elliott wrapped up the Nationwide Series title last week but wont officially celebrate his championship until after Saturdays season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The trophy presentation will cap a whirlwind year for the 18-year-old rookie, who didnt even have a ride last November.Elliott has three wins this season, 26 top-10 finishes in 32 races and beat JR Motorsports teammate Regan Smith for the title. It was the first Nationwide title for the team owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr., his sister Kelley, and Rick Hendrick.Crew chief Greg Ives said the biggest issues the team has faced this year has been Elliott, the youngest champion in NASCAR history, not knowing his way around the race track and adjusting to life on the road.Hell often ask where the bathrooms are. Or whats to eat, Ives said Thursday. Hes always eating somewhere. We had to start taking away the junk food out of the cabinets because his metabolism — hes trying to keep that fed. I dont even know what he was eating, but I know he was eating a lot.Earnhardt has found Elliott, the son of Hall of Fame inductee and 1988 NASCAR champion Bill Elliott, to be extremely mature for his age. Part of it is the focus Elliott has on racing — although hes risen rapidly through the ranks, his father has not funded his career and Elliott has had to earn his rides.The result is that although Elliott has the same interests as other 18-year-olds, he seems like a seasoned veteran behind the wheel.His priorities are definitely different than a lot of peoples, but hes still very focused and very driven, determined, just loves to race, enjoys being in the cars, Earnhardt said. The only time you forget hes 18 is definitely when hes behind the wheel. Natrell Jamerson Jersey. lliotts ride came together at the start of the year, when sponsor NAPA signed on with JRM to give the company the funding it needed to field a car for Elliott. He was in his final semester of high school and desperately hoping to put a program together that would jumpstart his career.It ended several tense months for Elliott, who wasnt sure something was going to come together. He wasnt eligible for a Nationwide Series ride until his 18th birthday last November.This time a year ago, I didnt have any plans, he said. As I got closer to the off-season, had a couple of conversations with Mr. Hendrick about running just a few, just a handful of Nationwide races maybe. Still wasnt really even confirmed at that. Id have been stoked to just run five or two or one.Now hes a champion and some wonder whether he should have been moved up to the elite Sprint Cup level. Kyle Larson spent just one season in Nationwide last year before he was promoted to Cup, and Elliotts fans want their driver on the same fast track.Hendrick has indicated theyll keep him in Nationwide for now. Hendrick Motorsports does not have an open seat next year, and many believe Elliott could be Jeff Gordons successor whenever he chooses to retire.Elliott isnt worried about a Cup ride just yet, hes more focused on claiming his championship.Its really not official until Saturday night. So well kind of let it sink in then, and certainly well enjoy it this off-season and just enjoy the weekend, Elliott said. This weekend, I think, first and foremost, its going to be a lot of fun, and kind of for everybody to enjoy the last week of the season together and just go out and compete for a victory and not have to worry about the championship. China Jerseys WholesaleCheap Jerseys Throwback China NFL Hoodies NFL Jerseys Cheap Cheap NFL Autographed Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Jerseys From China ' ' '
