CINCINNATI - One of AJ McCarrons early throws in practice was so far off the mark that it deflected off the wall of the University of Cincinnatis bubble-covered field.Didnt dent his mood at all.The fifth-round draft pick hadnt done anything with the Cincinnati Bengals until this week, when he returned from a sore passing shoulder that sidelined him since the start of training camp. McCarron spent the last few months strengthening his right shoulder and waiting to be declared ready.He finally got to practice with the team on Wednesday.I had a smile on my face the whole day, McCarron said on Thursday. I could have messed up the whole practice. I was just having fun. I felt like a kid again out playing the game in the backyard. I was just excited to play football.McCarron led Alabama to national titles in 2011 and 2012. He went 36-4 as the Crimson Tides starter and set school records for touchdown passes, yards passing and completion percentage. The Bengals took him with the 164th overall pick, looking to develop him into a reliable backup to Andy Dalton.The sore shoulder sidelined him at the start of training camp. The Bengals put him on a strengthening program that involved throwing from short distances at the outset and building up to longer throws as the shoulder allowed. He was finally cleared to join practice this week.The Bengals moved their practices on Wednesday and Thursday to Cincinnatis covered field — the Bengals are the most northern NFL team without one of their own. It took McCarron a little while to settle in and start completing his throws.I havent thrown to receivers, he said. Getting the timing with the guys at first was different at first. That was the first time I had thrown in shoulder pads since (the Sugar Bowl). Thats almost a year.I completed the first one, sailed the next two. I could have messed up 100 times, I was just so happy to be playing football.The question is how the Bengals will handle him for the rest of the season.Dalton has been one of the NFLs most durable quarterbacks, missing only half of a game due to injury during his four seasons. Veteran Jason Campbell is the backup. The Bengals envisioned McCarron growing into the backup role, but the injury has prevented him from making much progress.If Dalton continues to struggle in big games — hes 0-3 in the playoffs and 2-6 in prime time games — the Bengals could make a switch at quarterback in a couple of years, which would provide an opening for McCarron.The Bengals have a three-week roster exemption for McCarron. Theyll have to decide whether to add him to the active roster for the rest of the regular season — and bump someone off the roster — or leave him on an injury list the rest of the way.The Bengals (6-3-1) lead the AFC North heading into their game on Sunday at Houston (5-5).I just want to go out and have fun and then be ready to go whenever they need me, whether they call on me this year or next year, McCarron said. The old saying you dont realize what you have until its taken away? It really is true. Being out that long, it felt like it was taken away. Being back, I felt like a kid again. I was having fun.Notes: Linebacker Vontaze Burfict was held out of practice again on Thursday, an indication hell miss his fourth consecutive game following knee surgery. ... Defensive end Margus Hunt was still walking with a boot on his sprained right ankle Thursday. Offensive lineman Mike Pollak sat out practice with a sore knee. ... Running back Giovani Bernard fully participated in practice for the first time. Hes likely to be active on Sunday after missing three games with a sore shoulder and hip, although rookie running back Jeremy Hill is expected to get the bulk of the plays.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Charvarius Ward Super Bowl Jersey . Kelli Stack and Alex Carpenter also scored for the Americans, who avoided a repeat of Finlands upset at the Four Nations Cup in Lake Placid, N.Y., in November. Finnish goalie Noora Raty made 58 saves in that one, but the three-time Olympian could stop just 40 of 43 U. Darrel Williams Super Bowl Jersey .Y. - Everyone expected Clayton Kershaw to pitch a shutout, and he did — a unanimous choice for the NL Cy Young Award. http://www.thechiefsshoponline.com/Youth...-Chiefs-Jersey/. Petersburg of the KHL. Belov was a free agent last summer when he signed a one-year contract with the Oilers. In 57 games this season he had one goal and six assists with 34 penalty minutes in Edmonton. Reggie Ragland Super Bowl Jersey .C. -- Glenn Howard needed an extra end to move into the Masters Grand Slam of Curling final. Harrison Butker Super Bowl Jersey . Cammalleri suffered a concussion in the Flames 2-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. The 31-year-old forward did not travel with the team to Carolina.New York Rangers forward Daniel Carcillo is appealing his 10-game suspension for abuse of an on-ice official. The NHLPA announced on Saturday that Carcillo has asked NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to review the ban handed down after Carcillo applied force to linesman Scott Driscoll in Thursday nights 3-2 overtime lloss to the Montreal Canadiens in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals.dddddddddddd Carcillo had 72 hours to appeal the decision. In 8 games this post-season, Carcillo has two goals and 22 minutes in penalties. If the suspension stands, this will be the King City, Ontario natives sixth suspension. ' ' '
