NASHVILLE -- Ryan Fitzpatrick likes how he looks with a bushy beard, it makes him feel comfortable. Pepe Real Madrid Jersey . Now, about to make his first start in Tennessee with Jake Locker sidelined with a sprained hip, Fitzpatrick is a little upset with himself for shaving his face clean a month ago. His current beard isnt nearly as impressive, and Fitzpatrick needs any edge he can get. "Its never easy I think to step in from a backup role to the starter kind of mid-stream I guess," Fitzpatrick said Wednesday. "I got to go in there and make these three days very productive. ... Being 3-1 with our defence playing great, I think with the confidence just in general that our team is playing with, this is a fun situation to step into." The Titans signed Fitzpatrick to a two-year contract in March wanting the veteran in his ninth season to mentor and back up Jake Locker. Now Locker is out a few weeks with a sprained right hip and knee, its time for Fitzpatrick to step in and try to keep Tennessees momentum going until Locker returns. Fitzpatrick said his role now is different than a week ago. He spent plenty of time talking with receivers during practice Wednesday in what he called side conversations. He also threw to them during defensive drills with some extra work after practice "With Jake now being injured, Ive got to go out and let them know what I expect," Fitzpatrick said. "If youre not on the same page, thats what leads to some of the miscommunication and things that cant happen." Titans coach Mike Munchak said its an adjustment for everybody with Fitzpatrick. "Hes been through it before," Munchak said. "Hes been in the league a long time, so were hoping he can make this adjustment rather quickly because we need that on Sunday." The Titans have plenty of confidence in Fitzpatrick because they saw how he nearly beat them last year in Buffalo where he started 32 games over the previous two seasons. Fitzpatrick had 80 touchdowns and 64 interceptions in 55 games with the Bills. He also set Bills records for the longest completion with a 98-yard TD pass and longest TD rushing by a quarterback with a 31-yarder both in 2009. The Bills cut Fitzpatrick in March to escape the six-year, $59 million deal he signed in October 2011. The Titans scooped him up as a cheaper alternative to back up Locker. Now Fitzpatrick makes his first start Sunday against Kansas City (4-0). Chiefs coach Andy Reid has seen plenty of Fitzpatrick from his time coaching in Philadelphia where he said the quarterback got after his Eagles pretty good. "So Im well aware of him, and have a ton of respect for him, and our team here knows him," Reid said. "They played against him in the past. Everyone knows how capable he is and well prepare ourselves to play a heck of a quarterback and a heck of an offence." Fitzpatrick is 4-1 against the Chiefs. Munchak has said they likely will not call run plays like they did for Locker, who is averaging 6.5 yards a carry this season. Fitzpatrick said hes never been a real speedster himself. "Usually Im running out of fear because those guys are big," Fitzpatrick said. Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson isnt buying that talk. He called the Harvard graduate a smart quarterback who improvises with his legs just like all the other running quarterbacks. "Hes been in the league for a while," Johnson said. "He knows when you make a mistake, he can capitalize off it. This isnt a regular, backup-type quarterback game for us. He can still run all their plays." Notes: Locker spoke to reporters Wednesday, walking very stiff and with a neoprene sleeve covering his right leg. He said the injury was pain like hed never felt before and with the hip joint so big he thought about all the worst possibilities. Locker shared no timetable for his return, saying only that he will be working hard to get back as soon as possible. ... Munchak said the Titans will promote Rusty Smith off the practice squad to back up Fitzpatrick at quarterback. ... WR Kenny Britt returned to practice. RB Shonn Greene (right knee) and DT Sammie Hill (right ankle) worked inside with trainers. DE Ropati Pitoitua (shoulder) did not practice. RT David Stewart (right leg) got the day off. S... Cazorla Arsenal Jersey . -- Mike McCarthy never put a whole lot of stock in a perfect season, except as a means of gaining home-field advantage and setting the Green Bay Packers up for another Super Bowl run. . Oswalt gets a US$2 million buyout instead of $16 million next season. Lidge receives a $1.5 million buyout instead of $12. [url=http://www.worldsocceronlineshop.com/Fc-Barcelona-Sergio-Busquets-Jersey.ht... . In an entertaining match between the third- and fourth-placed clubs, midfielder Riccardo Montolivo put Milan ahead against his former squad when Fiorentina midfielder David Pizarro gave up the ball in the 14th minute, leaving him with only the goalkeeper to beat. [url=http://www.worldsocceronlineshop.com/Manchester-City-Fc-Alvaro-Negredo-Jers... Negredo Manchester City Jersey .Y. -- The Hamilton Bulldogs scored three unanswered goals to down the Utica Comets 3-2 in American Hockey League play Saturday. . The 39-year-old lived an emotional high Monday when Montreals win over the Toronto Argonauts was stopped on the final play of the third quarter for an on-field celebration when he broke Damon Allens all-time passing record.VANCOUVER -- The B.C. Lions are looking for more bang from their Buck on Friday as they host the Calgary Stampeders in the final game of the CFL regular season for both teams. Fresh off a strong relief appearance in a win over Edmonton last week, Buck Pierce will start at quarterback for the Lions as they prepare for the playoffs. It will be Pierces first start since July 19 while he was with a Winnipeg club that discarded him in a September trade to the Lions. "Each opportunity that you get, youre excited about, especially after the year that I had this year," said Pierce after a walk-through Thursday at B.C. Place Stadium. " Its not easy. You leave a situation that was tough mentally, and then youre put into a situation that gives you another opportunity to play and prove your worth and just have fun." The Lions (10-7) will use the game as preparation for a playoff road game, knowing that they are already set to finish third, and a possible re-match with the first-place Stampeders (14-3) in the Western Final. "I think we took a big step last week and did some good things," said Pierce. "Were looking to build off that." The Lions must hope that Pierces banged-up body holds up as he continues his second stint with B.C. in an injury-plagued career. He is getting the start because No. 1 signal-caller Travis Lulay is recuperating from a shoulder injury and replacement Thomas DeMarco has been ineffective recently. Some people might think its redemption time for Pierce, who threw for three touchdowns, ran for one and made a key block as Stefan Logan rushed for another against Edmonton. But Pierce, who has completed 17 of 27 passes for three touchdowns in four games with B.C. after being relegated to third-string status with Winnipeg, takes a different view. "Im not looking for any kind of redemption at all," said Pierce, a nine-year CFL veteran. "Ive never played that way. A lot of people have tried to spin it that way, like its me against the critics and all that kind of stuff. But thats never been what its been about for me. "For me, its about making the most of my opportunities and just go out there and play football and do what I love to do." Despite Pierces comments, he and the Lions, losers of three of their past four games and inconsistent for much of the season, have more than their fair share of critics. And, B.C.s quarterbacking situation for the post-season is far from certain. "If I was honest with you right now, were just going to see where it goes," said Lions coach Mike Benevides. But Pierce has the starters job until Benevides decides otherwise. "I need to continue to play Buck," said Benevides, adding he will play as long as necessary against Calgary. Lulay, who has missed six games after getting hurt while scoring a touchdown against Montreal on Sept. 15, is listed as the backup and will see some action if things are going as well as Benevides likes. [url=http://www.worldsocceronlineshop.com/Spain-Cesc-Fabregas-Jersey.html]Cesc Fabregas Spain Jersey. "Im going to be suited up, Im going to be ready to play and when that happens, Im not definitively sure," said Lulay. He said its important to get game action in preparation for the playoffs, because it would be difficult to have to play in the post-season without any since his injury. But, like Pierce, he does not plan to reduce his injury risk by shying away from contact. "I think youre always being smart about how those things happen," said Lulay. "But when youre out on the field and youre doing whatever youre doing whatever it takes for your team, its part of playing the game." Meanwhile, the Stampeders are scheduled to use all three of their quarterbacks after general manager and coach John Hufnagel pledged to do so earlier in the week. Kevin Glenn is slated to start while Drew Tate and Bo Levi Mitchell are slated for relief duty. Glenn expects all three signal-callers to receive an equal number of plays. The Stampeders will also have a new look on their offensive line as veterans JMichael Deane and Stanley Bryant are sidelined with injuries that are not expected to keep them out of the playoffs. Hufnagel is also expected to give other players, notably running back Jon Cornish, less playing time than usual. But Glenn said the game still holds considerable importance, even with Calgary holding a bye in the first round. "We still want to go into the playoffs with a winning streak," said Glenn. "Nobody wants to go into the playoffs with a losing streak." The game is also important for him personally after he completed only 11 of 17 passes for 120 yards before being pulled in last Saturdays 29-25 win over Saskatchewan. But he is determined not to dwell on the sub-par effort, which he noted was rare. "The thing is, to have a short memory for your body," he said. "You move on." The Stampeders have a 2-1 record against B.C. this season. Glenn and Cornish said its important for the Stamps to post another win in order to have momentum going into the playoffs. Cornish leads the CFL in yards from scrimmage (2,143) and rushing (1,799). But noting that he has not achieved any of his personal goals this season, he is not looking to pad his statistics. "If (the coaches) want to pull me early, Im cool with that," he said. "If they dont, thats cool, too." The game will be the last for the Lions at home this season. They hope to put in a strong showing for their fans and use the contest as a chance to set the stage for a strong first-round playoff game in Saskatchewan and a possible rematch with the Stampeders in the Western Final after losing to them last year on the same B.C. Place field. "We want to try and send a message," said Lions linebacker Adam Bighill. "If we see them again in the West Final, we want them to remember that we smacked them around here first." ' ' '