Cleveland Browns (2007 & prior)

[Buckin' A]

FYI- the Dolphins claimed Suggs off of waivers.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

Browns like pick, flaws and all
Wednesday, September 6, 2006 <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>[FONT=Verdana, Times New Roman, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]By Steve Doerschuk REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER [/FONT]


SAINTS AT BROWNS
Sunday, 1 p.m.
Cleveland Browns Stadium
TV Channel 8
BEREA Jerome Harrison might prove to be a Round 5 steal, but understand something.
This isn’t a case of the Mona Lisa getting misplaced in a roadside art sale between Rally’s and Taco Bell.
The Browns were wary of Harrison’s flaws, just like other teams that let the Washington State running back slip through the second, third and fourth rounds of April’s NFL Draft.
Namely, Harrison is unusually short, at 5-foot-9, and he lacks pull-away speed.
That said, don’t confuse Harrison, this year’s team preseason rushing leader, with Sultan McCullough, the team’s preseason rushing king in 2005.
McCullough had the one thing Harrison lacks, blazing straight-line speed. But he lacked three key ingredients Harrison seems ready to bring the team in real games: a super first step, waterbug quickness, vision and instincts.
Harrison put these qualities to good use en route to 1,900 rushing yards at Washington State last year. He also caught 24 passes for 206 yards.
The way the Browns experimented with Harrison in the preseason, including the rare practice of using him with first, second and third units over four quarters, made it clear they intend to use him as an offset to Reuben Droughns.
But how much? Five touches a games? Fifteen?
“I don’t know,” Harrison said. “When they call my name, I’m gonna go in.
“I don’t even guess.”
Harrison is one of four notable weapons at Charlie Frye’s disposal that weren’t there for Frye’s last four 2005 starts. The others are Braylon Edwards, back from a Dec. 4 knee injury; Kellen Winslow, coming off a 30-game absence; and Joe Jurevicius, coming in from NFC champion Seattle.
The only key loss is 1,009-yard receiver Antonio Bryant, now with the 49ers.
Winslow says the Browns can be a “top five” offense “just with all the athletes we’ve got.”
There’s even a new athletic type at fullback in rookie Lawrence Vickers, an option behind jackhammer blocker Terrelle Smith. The 233-pound Vickers caught 70 passes in his Colorado career. He also emerged as a strong third-and-short and goal-line runner, scoring nine touchdowns in 2005, when he rushed 73 times for 258 yards.
“I just want to get on the field,” Vickers said. “I’m getting paid to do it now, but I don’t really think about the money part. I just love playing football and making plays.”
HARRISON’S ROLE
Harrison is the rookie who figures to get an extended chance to be a playmaker. It will be interesting to follow the relative progress of fellow rookie Jerious Norwood of Atlanta and second-year player Quincy Wilson of the Bengals.
Why?
Harrison finished 13th in the NFL in preseason rushing with 155 yards. The leader was Cincinnati’s Quincy Wilson with 217, followed by the Giants’ Brandon Jacobs with 217 and the Falcons’ Norwood with 215.
Among the top 15 runners, only Harrison (6.2) and Norwood (7.2) had a per-carry average better than 5.3 yards.
On draft day, the Browns had a shot at Norwood but preferred Wilson, a wide receiver, with the No. 78 pick. The Falcons had the 79th pick and pounced on Norwood.
Harrison, who is 2 inches shorter and slightly thicker than the 5-11, 205-pound Norwood, didn’t get picked until No. 145.
Who is Wilson, other than a back the Browns might see behind Rudi Johnson at Cincinnati on Sept. 17?
At Weir High School, he became the first back in West Virginia to rush for more than 3,000 yards in a season (3,262, 47 TDs on a 14-0 team). He was a Round 7 pick out of West Virginia, but he didn’t make the Atlanta’s roster. He spent 2005 on the Bengals practice squad. His father, Otis Wilson, started on the Bears’ 1985 championship team.
Wilson isn’t likely to have as big a role in Cincinnati as is in store for Harrison.
“We had a 1,000-yard rusher last year,” Browns guard Cosey Coleman said. “We want to build on the running game and let that be a focal point of the offense.”
Droughns thinks he knows the offense better and will be smarter about finding extra yards than he was in rushing for 1,232 yards in 2005.
Droughns also figures to stay fresher, after wearing down in December. Last year, the Browns seldom used an extra back; the second-leading rusher was William Green with 78 yards.
Based on preseason, there’s a good chance Harrison will get at least 78 carries.
Reach Repository sports writer Steve Doerschuk at (330) 580-8347 or e-mail: [email protected]


ONE-TWO PUNCH?
Reuben Droughns and Jerome Harrison looked like a promising one-two punch in the preseason, something the expansion-era Browns have generally lacked. The season-by-season top two rushers, including yards and per-carry average:
1999 Terry Kirby, 452, 3.5; Karim Abdul-Jabbar, 350, 3.0.
2000 Travis Prentice, 512, 3.0; Errict Rhett, 258, 3.6.
2001 James Jackson, 554, 2.8; Jamel White, 443, 3.5.
2002 William Green, 887, 3.7; White, 470, 4.4.
2003 Green, 559, 3.9; Jackson, 382, 3.7. 2004 Lee Suggs, 744, 3.7; Green, 585, 3.6. 2005 Reuben Droughns, 1,232, 4.0; Green, 78, 3.9.


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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

Heiden will get his time
Wednesday, September 6, 2006 <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>[FONT=Verdana, Times New Roman, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]By Steve Doerschuk repository sports wRITER [/FONT]


BEREA Steve Heiden can still run, and he doesn’t have to hide.
He’ll still see lots of action even though Kellen Winslow Jr. is back from a 30-game absence.
The size of the role remains a question.
“I’m taking a wait-and-see approach,” the Browns’ former No. 1 tight end said. “If I continue to play well, I think I’ll be on the field a lot.”
Head Caoch Romeo Crennel will sign off on how much Heiden plays.
“Steve is still that consistent guy we saw last year,” Crennel said. “There will be some times that we’ll have both of them on the field at the same time.”
Crennel didn’t have a stats sheet in front of him when he said Heiden caught 50-plus passes last year. Actually, the number was 43, but that represented a career high for Heiden, a third-round pick of the Chargers in 1999, and a fifth-year Brown.
Winslow was drafted to bring the Browns what his Hall of Fame father gave the Chargers. Heiden could help two ways as a receiver when he’s on the field: Keeping teams from shading coverage too heavily on Winslow or getting open.
Winslow and Heiden were both on the field when Heiden caught a short touchdown pass against the Bills recently.
“We faked a power play,” Heiden said. “They thought we were gonna run.
“I ran a crossing pattern. If I get through the linebackers, it’s gonna be wide open, and it was. The O-line, the tight ends and the running back did a good job selling the play. I came off the backside scott free.”
Heiden, who will turn 30 on Sept. 21, came to the Browns for a seventh-round draft choice in 2002. He has gained 927 of his 1,014 career receiving yards with the Browns. Forty-one of his 54 career starts have been with Cleveland.
At 6-foot-5, 265 pounds, he is a bigger blocker than the 6-4, 250-pound Winslow.
“I like both those guys,” Crennel said. Expect to see both Sunday against the Saints Reach Repository sports writer Steve Doerschuk at (330) 580-8347 or e-mail: [email protected]


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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

Time for return on investments


Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Bud Shaw
Plain Dealer Columnist

Phil Savage, the frequent- flyer general manager, need not apologize for his collection of pillow mints.
The insurgency has passed. John Collins is in Randy Lerner's ear no more (we're told). Savage's atlas is as dog-eared as ever.
In preparing for an April draft that could end up recommending his approach more than anything else he's done, Savage saw every one of the Browns' choices in person. Better, he saw them with scouts and coaches who were all looking for the same strengths and weaknesses.
Maybe in five or six years, if we get this organization where we hope to get it, I'll want to sit behind the desk more," Savage said. "That would be the time to do it. But with the energy level I have now and how important I think it is for me to be out there, I don't think I'll be doing that anytime soon."
Savage is adamant Lerner never made an issue of where he spent his time last season. He fashions himself a GM in the mold of Bobby Beathard, the super scout who built the Washington Redskins' powerhouse teams under Joe Gibbs.
Savage wasn't just doing it his way or a proven way but in a way the talent-poor Browns desperately needed.
And yet there he was at the end of last season defending his salary-cap management and time spent away from Berea. Look, it's far too early to say Savage's eye and Romeo Crennel's consistency will do for Cleveland what the Ravens did for Baltimore. But we can say the deep draft class of '06 wouldn't have happened if Savage departed.
"Our success as a team will be determined by the kind of players we bring in," Savage said. "That's what Browns fans care about."
The payoff didn't come in the 2005 draft, certainly not on the second day when general managers make their reputations.
New GM. New head coach. Leftover scouts from the Butch Davis-Pete Garcia regime asked to file away their 4-3 player model and project players into a 3-4. Was that part of the problem? Whatever. Savage had to do much better the next time around, and it appears he did.
First-round pick Kamerion Wimbley spent the preseason in the opposing backfield. No. 2 choice D'Qwell Jackson looked NFL ready far earlier than expected. The second day brought Jerome Harrison, a change-of-pace back, fullback Lawrence Vickers, nose tackle Babatunde Oshinowo and safety Justin Hamilton.
Savage could use a draft like the one Baltimore had in '97: Peter Boulware, Kim Herring and Jamie Sharper. Actually, '96 would be better: Jonathan Ogden and Ray Lewis.
That would come in handy if only because - not for lack of effort - Savage's talent acquisitions outside the draft have taken a hit similar to his second-day choices in 2005. Just for different reasons.
LeCharles Bentley's injury and Bob Hallen's retirement don't reflect on the Browns GM. Kevin Shaffer failing to shine at left tackle would.
The idea under Savage is to have veterans provide cover for draft picks and young players at most every position.
This is the year the Browns find out if Savage's investment in Charlie Frye sets the team up for the next several years or whether they wasted valuable time grooming a third-round pick.
The GM job is much bigger than what happens in the draft obviously. But Savage's April batting average will make or break him, and the Browns.
To reach this Plain Dealer columnist:
[email protected], 216-999-5639
Previous columns online:
cleveland.com/columns

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

New face on line old story for Frye

Browns QB meets yet another center

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Mary Kay Cabot
Plain Dealer Reporter

The exchange in Berea on Monday went something like this: "Charlie, meet Hank, Hank meet Charlie. He might be your starting center in the opener against the Saints."
Quarterback Charlie Frye met and began working with his sixth starting center candidate this season in Hank Fraley, who was acquired Sunday in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles for a conditional seventh-round pick in 2008.
"We're excited that he's here," Frye said. "I don't know what number this is, but I think we have two solid centers now."
Funny thing is, Frye still doesn't know which center -- either Fraley or Lennie Friedman -- will start on Sunday. Friedman, acquired in a trade with Chicago Aug. 24, took the first-team reps Monday in the small portion of practice that was open to the media, but the two will compete throughout the week.
"These two guys have proven themselves and are solid centers, so that boosts my confidence," Frye said.
Frye said that at least the team had an extra day to get Fraley acclimated. Normally, installation of a game plan begins on Wednesday.
"We're trying to get a head start on the game plan," Frye said.
"[Monday was] the first day I had to work with [Fraley], but I've taken snaps from a variety of different centers this training camp, so it shouldn't be a big deal."
Frye, heading into his first full season as the starter, has had to adjust to LeCharles Bentley (injured reserve), Bob Hallen (retired), Alonzo Ephraim (suspended), Ross Tucker (waived), Friedman and now Fraley.
"The biggest thing is the snap, because it's just like the quarterback throwing the ball," Frye said. "Everyone has a different style. Then there's the line calls and being confident in knowing the protection is going to slide the right way."
Once Fraley gets the terminology down, he should have no trouble making the line calls. He did it as the starter for 4½ seasons in Philadelphia on a team that went to four NFC Championship Games and one Super Bowl.
"I know he helped Donovan [McNabb] out a lot," Frye said. "We'll just have to put in some more work."
Frye is coming off a finale against the Bears in which he was either hit or knocked down after all four of his throws - and on one of those, his arm was hit hard and left tingling. But that was with Ross Tucker at center and Ryan Tucker playing sparingly at right tackle. Monday, Ryan Tucker was back full time and Friedman was manning the middle.
"I'm real confident in my line," Frye said. "They're a bunch of veteran guys and they're pretty steady. They're like a rock out there, so I expect to be pretty well-protected on Sunday."
Frye also was buoyed by the return of Ryan Tucker, who was limited to two series in the finale after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery Aug. 1.
"It's encouraging to have him back," Frye said. "He's one of the best right tackles in the game."
Right guard Cosey Coleman said the revolving door at center has not been a detriment to the guards.
"Our mind-set is to not let the center position be a distraction," he said. "We need to be ready for the Saints with whoever we have at center."
The Browns will face a Saints team that was second to last in the NFL to the Browns with 25 sacks. The Browns had 23. The Saints' sack leader is right end Will Smith of Ohio State, who had 8½.
"They have fast, up-the-field speed guys with Smith being the most notable," Browns coach Romeo Crennel said. "The nose tackle is a stouter guy who's closer to 300 pounds. The rest are about 275 to 280. Their linebackers are fast."
He acknowledged the line has little time to jell, but "I think having an experienced guy [Fraley] helps," Crennel said. "The quicker he learns the terminology, the better. Having experienced guards will help. They can make some of the calls."
Fraley said he's been studying the play book since Saturday night and could start Sunday if asked. "I'm comfortable enough," he said.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
[email protected], 216-999-4670

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

BROWNS INSIDER
Verdict still out on Edwards starting


Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Mary Kay Cabot
Plain Dealer Reporter

Coach Romeo Crennel said he expects receiver Braylon Edwards to play "quite a bit" in Sunday's opener against the New Orleans Saints at Cleveland Browns Stadium, eight months after Edwards' surgery to repair a torn ACL.
However, Crennel didn't promise that Edwards will start.
"I've been talking to the players about having a role on the team," Crennel said. "The role changes from day to day and, in some cases, week to week. One week, I may be the star, but the next week the game plan might not allow me to be the star. Sometimes we get caught up in who's going to start. The thing that's important is how well they play. Braylon is going to play, no question about it. I think he's going to make plays in the game to help us win."
Crennel declined to say who would start opposite Edwards, if he starts. Presumably, it would be Joe Jurevicius, with Dennis Northcutt joining them on third down. If Edwards doesn't start, Jurevicius and Northcutt will.
"It depends on the role that we want [Edwards] to play," Crennel said. "I'm not ready to say today how we're going to do it because that will give some information away to our opponents."
QB tryouts:
Apparently, the Browns are looking for a veteran backup quarterback after all. The NFL Network reported Monday night that the team had St. Ignatius grad Dave Ragone and Mike McMahon in for tryouts. Ragone was released this weekend by the St. Louis Rams, and McMahon was released by the Minnesota Vikings.
Crennel said the No. 2 quarterback will be a game-time decision. Ken Dorsey took the early second-team reps Monday and Derek Anderson the third team.
Butler eager:
Kelly Butler, claimed off waivers Sunday from Detroit, started all 16 games at right tackle for the Lions last season and is hoping to find new life in Cleveland.
"I'm just happy to be playing football," Butler said. "On Saturday you don't have a job, and on Sunday, you wake up and you have a job. It's exciting to get another chance."
Butler lost his job in Detroit to Rex Tucker, the brother of Browns right tackle Ryan Tucker. The backup tackle spot was won by former Brown Barry Stokes.
"It was a shock to me when it initially happened, but you've got to make a positive out of the situation," said Butler, a sixth-round pick out of Purdue in 2004.
Butler is an imposing figure at 6-7, 330 pounds, and the Browns hope he can be an upgrade over former sixth-round pick Kirk Chambers, who was waived on Saturday, and Nat Dorsey.
Russell idle:
Safety Brian Russell, who underwent surgery Friday to have a bursa sac removed from his elbow, was dressed in sweats on the sidelines Monday and will be a game-time decision for the Saints.
Crennel said the doctors are concerned about his stitches breaking open. "If he makes good progress during the week, he might play on Sunday," Crennel said.
McCutcheon doubtful:
Crennel said cornerback Daylon McCutcheon (knee) is doubtful for Sunday. With both McCutcheon and Russell likely sidelined, the Browns might have to use Ralph Brown as their third corner.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
[email protected], 216.999.4670

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

DDN

Browns' Washington immovable object

Cleveland nose tackle, who's 38, hopes his play inspires teammates.


By Sean McClelland
Staff Writer


Wednesday, September 06, 2006


BEREA — Maybe he could replace Pluto, one pundit cracked while awaiting an interview.
"Just don't ask him about his weight," cautioned a Cleveland Browns official.
The media guide lists 6-foot-5 nose tackle Ted Washington at 365 pounds, but some think the true figure is more like 385— or greater.
But that's a good thing, because the 38-year-old Washington is here to stuff the middle of the line and will begin doing so Sunday when the Browns open at home against the New Orleans Saints.
He broke in with San Francisco and the road has taken him to Denver, Buffalo, Chicago, New England, Oakland and four Pro Bowls. This is his 16th season.
"When these younger, smaller guys see a guy my size still going, that should boost them up," Washington said. "They've got to do better than me."
Asked which positions are improved over last season, nose tackle is the only one head coach Romeo Crennel publicly acknowledges.
That smile on the face of inside linebacker Andra Davis? It's been there since the Browns signed Washington in free agency. Last season, Davis played behind a nose tackle roughly half Washington's size and led the league in tackles. This could be his ticket to the Pro Bowl.
"They've got to respect Ted," Davis said. "He might get a single block every now and then, but for the most part he's going to get double-teamed every play."
Some don't see much difference between the 38-year-old Washington and the 2003 version who helped the New England Patriots win the Super Bowl with Crennel as defensive coordinator.
"Ted's still great," said linebacker Willie McGinest, a teammate then and now. "Guys try the middle and it's like they're running into a wall."
An aging wall maybe, but not a crumbling one.
"The Man Upstairs has been watching over me," Washington said. "If I can still move at 39 or 40 and the coaches are satisfied, then Ted Washington will continue to play. Because I love the game."
Just don't ask him to step on a scale.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

Browns notebook

Baxter gets ready to rock

Cornerback says injury healed. Starting center yet to be determined

By Patrick McManamon

Beacon Journal sportswriter

<!-- begin body-content -->BEREA - Gary Baxter continues to promise that he will play in Sunday's season opener against the New Orleans Saints, but the Browns secondary is still a mess.
Baxter partially tore a pectoral muscle on the first play of the preseason opener and returned to practice last week. He is listed as questionable for the game.
His presence is key to a depleted secondary.
If Baxter plays, Ralph Brown would be the nickel back, with Antonio Perkins the fourth.
If Baxter does not play, Brown moves into the starting lineup and Perkins moves into the nickel role.
But defensive backs litterthe weekly injury report. Starting corner Leigh Bodden is questionable (pectoral muscle), Perkinsis listed as questionable (groin) and Daylon McCutcheon isout (knee).
Too, safety Brian Russell is also expected to miss the game; he's listed as doubtful. Russell had an inflamed bursa sac removed from his elbow on Friday.
Bodden, Baxter and Perkins all practiced, though. McCutcheon and Russell did not.
Baxter said if he does play he will go fullspeed.
``I'm not going to alter the way I play the game,'' Baxter said. ``I'm going out there fullspeed. Whatever happens, happens.
``If I tear it again, I tear it again.''
Others on the injury report include guard Joe Andruzzi (ankle), tight end Darnell Dinkins (knee), tackle Nat Dorsey (ankle), guard Isaac Sowells (ankle) and linebacker Mason Unck (knee). All practiced except Unck.
At receiver . . .
Given the state of the secondary, the Browns probably are not unhappy that the Saints traded Donte Stallworth to the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Saints have Joe Horn -- a player Baxter called ``one of the best route runners ever'' -- but the other starter is Marques Colston, a seventh-round pick from Hofstra.
Starting lineup
Lennie Friedman is listed as the starting center on the depth chart, but coach Romeo Crennel said he has not decided if Friedman or Hank Fraley would start.
``We'll see how that plays out,'' Crennel said. ``I anticipate both guys will play in the game.''
Crennel said the same of inside linebackers D'Qwell Jackson and Chaun Thompson. Jackson is listed as the starter.
Brownies
Three Browns have changed numbers. Quarterback Ken Dorsey has gone from 5 to 11, corner Ralph Brown from 41 to 20 and safety Justin Hamilton from 40 to 25.... Crennel is aware of New Orleans' record a year ago, but said: ``We haven't done enough where we can get to the point we can underestimate anybody.''
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Edwards, Winslow together at last

Friday, September 08, 2006

James Walker
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

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BEREA, Ohio ? Browns fans have waited for more than a year to see Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow Jr. on the field at the same time in a regular-season game.
The wait will be over Sunday when Edwards and Winslow take the field against the New Orleans Saints.
Injuries have short-circuited the careers of Winslow and Edwards so far.
Winslow has missed the past two seasons because of a broken leg in 2004 and a motorcycle accident last year in which several knee ligaments were torn.
Edwards suffered a torn knee ligament last December. He believes he?s back and will bring the same skills to the field as he did toward the end of last season.
Winslow said in training camp that he will never be 100 percent again, "but I think my 90 percent is better than every tight end out there."
No doubt, Edwards and Winslow have confident, strong personalities. They also appreciate that they are back on the field after lengthy rehabilitations.
"Definitely, because this game isn?t promised," Edwards said. "No day, practice or game is promised.
"To be back on the field, I really appreciate this game a lot more. I think I?m going to have a lot more energy, enthusiasm and possibly play harder than I could have last year, knowing the possibilities of what could happen, or what could prevent me from playing."
Winslow has turned down media requests this week, but he shared the same sentiment as Edwards in preseason interviews. They got to know each other when they rehabilitated their knees at the Browns? training facility.
Winslow also developed a good relationship with quarterback Charlie Frye in the offseason. The pair worked out together and often went to Cavaliers games together.
"Particularly Kellen, I think he appreciates that he can go out and play the game," coach Romeo Crennel said. "It?s been two years and he almost lost his life. That sobers you a little bit when you look at your life and your career."
On the field, chemistry could be a work in progress, Crennel said. The Browns continue to break in a new quarterback, but Edwards and Winslow believe they can be the differencemakers on the team.
Edwards was developing into that role last year before his injury. Winslow was expected to already be there three years into his career.
Now they will continue their development and share the football for the first time.
Frye?s solution is simple: just give them the football.
"With those guys on the field, they?re playmakers and they?re going to make plays," Frye said.
National pundits are not expecting much from the Browns this year, but strong play by Edwards and Winslow could spell success.
"We like people to consider us the underdogs," Edwards said. "When we do what we know we are capable of, everybody is in shock, except us."
[email protected]

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

BROWNS NOTEBOOK
Duo has Texas-OSU game on radar in locker room

Friday, September 08, 2006

James Walker
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

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BEREA, Ohio ? Former Texas kicker Phil Dawson has an orange Longhorns shirt in his locker that reads "Beat OSU. Crack them nuts."
Former Buckeyes defensive end Simon Fraser has been more reserved amid the ribbing going on in the Cleveland Browns? locker room on the way to the Ohio State-Texas game this weekend.
"He?s doing what he needs to do to represent his team," Fraser said. "I?m just sitting here quiet, not bragging about it. But I?ll talk to him Sunday morning after the game."
As for predictions, Dawson didn?t have a score in mind but says Texas will win in a defensive struggle on their own turf.
Fraser likes the Buckeyes 24-17.
"I?m surprised he can count that high," Dawson said, laughing. "But it?s all fun. This is what makes college football so great."
What about us ?

This is Reggie Bush Week for the Browns, but running backs Reuben Droughns and Jerome Harrison believe they?re not pushovers.
The Browns runners want to determine the outcome of the game Sunday as much as their highly touted counterpart. Droughns (1,232 yards) last season became the first 1,000-yard back for the Browns in 20 years and quietly expects bigger numbers this season.
"I?m not trying to look for all the hype," Droughns said. "I?ll let (Bush) have it. It takes the focus off me."
Harrison, who is from Washington State, led the Pacific 10 Conference in rushing last year with 1,900 yards, 160 yards more than Bush had at Southern California.
But Bush went No. 2 overall in the draft to the New Orleans Saints and Harrison dropped to the fifth round mainly because of his size (5 feet 9, 199 pounds).
Cleveland gladly snagged him. He had the best preseason of any Brown and could turn out to be a late-round steal.
"I don?t resent anything. He had a lot of success, media attention, and his team?s" winning, Harrison said of Bush. "At Washington State, we didn?t win a lot of games. You don?t get a lot of publicity if you are not winning. He is a heck of a player, and I am not taking that away from him."
Brownie points

Cornerback Leigh Bodden (pectoral muscle) is still listed as questionable but said he will play Sunday. ? The Browns have yet to settle on a starting center between Hank Fraley and Lennie Friedman.
[email protected]

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

Bodden climbs great depth to succeed


Friday, September 08, 2006 Tony Grossi
Plain Dealer Reporter

Where would the Browns' secondary be without Leigh Bodden?
The short answer is deep trouble.
The 2003 undrafted free agent from Duquesne University has climbed higher on the depth chart in four years than anyone. From "gunner" on the punt team and last cornerback in the camp rotation to starter? His ascension goes even beyond that.
This preseason, Bodden stood as the only cornerback of the top three to stay healthy. Not only was he healthy, he excelled in practice and in the games. The guy was so elevated by an inner confidence that he practically floated through training camp.
So when Bodden's name appeared on the injury report this week, listing him questionable with a pectoral injury, a flashback to the Butch Davis years appeared.
Davis would call it the injury du jour of the week -- one particular malady that infected multiple players.
Cornerback Gary Baxter missed 10 games last year with a torn pectoral and the bulk of four exhibition games this summer with a partial tear in the other. Bodden, in fact, missed eight games in 2004 with a pectoral tear and now felt discomfort in the other one.
Not to fear, though. He insists he will not be impaired for the season opener Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.
"I have no clue how it happened," Bodden said Thursday. "I just felt it when I was lifting [last week]. It's not the one I tore [in 2004]. I have a full range of motion. It feels a lot better than what it did."
Baxter has said he intends to play Sunday for the first time since injuring his pectoral in the first exhibition game. Daylon McCutcheon, who was targeted to compete with Bodden for the other starting cornerback spot, is still out after arthroscopic surgery on a knee early in camp.
Also, free safety Brian Russell missed another day of practice after elbow surgery and is doubtful. Bodden feels a responsibility to keep the secondary patched together.
"I'm trying to," Bodden said. "Since Gary and Daylon have been out, I've tried to be the guy people can lean on and look at. I want to just stay positive and try to play the best I can play.
"I'm really not a vocal leader. I basically let my play speak. And hopefully, they'll follow my lead."
The kickoff to a new season represents the launch of a new phase of his career for Bodden.
When Bodden replaced Baxter for the final 10 games last year, Baxter told him, "Now is your time to step up, be a starter and make a huge impact for your life, your career and this team."
He did that and earned a four-year contract worth $10 million. That's a lot of zeroes for a player whose playing status was in doubt from week to week.
Bodden signed the deal after changing agents to Jerrold Colton, who negotiated a $25 million contract with Dallas for ex-Browns cornerback Anthony Henry. Henry left the Browns after 2004 because he was upset the team didn't make a big enough effort to keep him. The Browns weren't going to let that happen to Bodden, too.
He said the big money won't make him complacent. Most players who enter the league as undrafted free agents never lose that insecurity.
"I'm avoiding it because it's so early in my career," Bodden said. "This contract doesn't mean nothing to me. Money really means nothing to me. I just want to go out there and prove that I can be the best in this league. And whatever they want to pay me doesn't matter."
Realizing what he just said, Bodden quickly added with a laugh, "But don't tell [the Browns] that."
Bodden got to start in the 2005 season opener because Baxter was out with a concussion suffered in preseason. Although Bodden had an interception, forced a fumble and limited Cincinnati's Chad Johnson to barely 10 yards a catch, he was put on the shelf for the next five games until Baxter's pectoral injury sidelined him for the year.
The game would birth a personal rivalry between Bodden and Johnson. In the rematch in Cincinnati, Bodden bottled up Johnson, limiting him to two catches and breaking up three.
In the off-season, the loquacious Johnson paid tribute to Bodden on a national radio show as the only cornerback who was able to cover him.
Johnson pronounced his name "Lee-high Bow-den."
When they meet again next week in Cincinnati, Johnson will know his name, his number and his game.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
[email protected], 216-999-4670

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

Savage: Time to get started

Saturday, September 9, 2006

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>[FONT=Verdana, Times New Roman, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]By STEVE DOERSCHUK[/FONT]


BEREA - Boxing legend Joe Frazier used to come out smokin?. The man hired to ram some punch into the Browns? roster came out jokin?.
Here are a few tons of quotes, Phil Savage basically told the media Friday. Don?t bother me again until Halloween.
On the eve of the season opener, the Browns? 41-year-old general manager was all over the field in a state-of-the-team interview.
He closed with another joke: ?Anything else ... Ohio State-Texas??
Highlights of Savage?s talk heading into Sunday?s opener appear on Page C-3.


Here are some of the key elements he covered between one-liners:
Issue: Free agency pick-up Joe Jurevicius caught only two passes for 18 yards in the preseason.
Savage: ?Joe has brought a lot of value to us already in terms of the presence in the meeting room and on the field. We expect him to be a force, particularly down in the red zone.?
Issue: New left tackle Kevin Shaffer was perceived by some to have fallen short of the play expected from a free agency pick-up with a $36 million contract.
Savage: ?Kevin is doing well. He?s tough, competitive and he?ll give you an honest day of work. We felt like he was a worthwhile investment for us because we?ve had such a revolving door at left tackle.?
Issue: Nose tackle Ted Washington and linebacker Willie McGinest are proven defensive players, but they?re old.
Savage: ?There has been no indication of Ted slowing down. We?ve all been surprised at how much running he has done. He?s participated in every drill.
?I think you will all see the best of Willie McGinest, starting Sunday. He?s been in a mode where he?s trying to get to the regular season without putting himself at risk to lose the season for no reason. He had a very good practice Wednesday.?
Issue: Praise for Round 2 pick D?Qwell Jackson faded as the preseason wore on, particularly after the linebacker got beat in coverage. Romeo Crennel won?t say whether Jackson or Butch Davis-era Round 2 pick Chaun Thompson will start Sunday.
Savage: ?We tend to focus on one play, but in reality D?Qwell has done well during camp. He has a chance to start on Sunday. He?ll be a very good player for the Browns.?
Issue: William Green?s run with the Browns officially ended with a payment settlement in which he was released from injured reserve. Lee Suggs was cut last week.
Savage: ?At a certain point, we grew weary of waiting and waiting. There would be a flash here and a flash there. They both have the ability to do it, but could never sustain it over time.?
Issue: Rookie Round 5 pick Jerome Harrison and second-year Brown Jason Wright pushed Green and Suggs off the roster.
Savage: ?Jerome gives us a dimension we didn?t see last year. He has the confidence to step on the field as a rookie and make plays.
?As you backed away from the situation and looked at it, Jason Wright was going at it every day. He was doing all he could to make this team. When Jerome began to emerge, it seemed like Jason fought harder. The coaches were impressed by that.?
Issue: Green and Suggs are among many expansion-era draft picks that have worked out poorly. The five first-rounders from 1999-2003 are no longer with the team.
Savage: ?Only 20 of our 53 players are original draft picks by the Browns. That?s 28th in the NFL. We have to get that number into the mid-20s. There are exceptions. Teams have won with less draft picks than that, but they are not able to sustain it.
?We are going to have to cheat the system, too, and that involves a Josh Cribbs, a Simon Fraser and some of the other players who we?ve kept on our practice squad.
?Based off last year, nine of the top 12 teams who were in the playoffs had the highest amount of original draft picks. The three that weren?t were in the playoffs the year before.
?Philadelphia has done a good job. Baltimore, New England and Pittsburgh were all near the top. Pretty much your obvious suspects.?
Issue: Savage once said 2005 Round 2 pick Brodney Pool might have been a top-20 overall pick had he stayed at Oklahoma. Now, Pool is behind 2004 Round 2 pick Sean Jones at strong safety.
Savage: ?Both guys are going to be contributors, be it as a starter or substitute. Brodney Pool has as much ability as anyone we have on this team. He?s a young guy, came out as a young junior, just recently turned 22, so he?s got a high upside.?
Issue: Offensive Coordinator Maurice Carthon was unpopular with many fans in 2005. Does he have a better chance to win friends in 2006?
Savage: ?We?ve added a number of players. We have another year under our belts. Getting Kellen Winslow and Braylon Edwards back will help. Through the years, who has been a popular offensive coordinator in Cleveland, other than maybe Lindy Infante?
?In coaching, everyone is going to second-guess your calls. In scouting, everyone is going to second-guess your draft picks. Maurice is prepared for that. I think he likes Charlie Frye. He wants to see him succeed, and that is a benefit.?
Issue: Frye has gone through a lot of centers lately. Crennel isn?t saying whether recent pick-ups Hank Fraley or Lennie Friedman will snap to Frye on Sunday.
Savage: ?Being able to stabilize this offensive line situation at the 11th hour will help. I don?t know how it is going to play out Sunday, but I think ideally we would like to see Fraley start and see Lennie be the swing center-guard. (Friedman) probably has more mileage as a swing backup than a full-fledged starter.?
Issue: Winslow has missed the last 30 games with leg injuries. Edwards hopes to avoid a transitional season coming off knee surgery.
Savage: ?I was there at Kellen?s (predraft) Pro Day (at Miami in 2004), and he put on an absolute show. I was in the end zone, and he was releasing and coming full-go downfield. He would go 10 or 12 yards, then break left or right. You stood there trying to imagine what it would be like as a safety to cover him. I think he can get to that point. Is he there yet? I don?t know. He looks good to me.
?Braylon seems good to go. He?s shown playmaking ability. He?s made some plays on the practice field. He seems like he?s gonna be the kind of playmaker we drafted him to be.?
Issue: Kamerion Wimbley has exceeded expectations in the preseason, even though they were already high because he was a No. 12 overall pick.
Savage: ?This is a player who came in on time, has been here every minute of every day, and is doing everything he can to be a player. We are enthusiastic about what he is going to bring.?
Issue: Last year?s most expensive free agency pick-up, Gary Baxter, is a mystery after missing most of last season with a pectoral tear and most of this preseason with a pectoral strain.
Savage: ?You have to investigate why certain things are happening, but he?ll be ready to go Sunday. We?ll see how the year plays out. We need him.?
Issue: Ken Dorsey has two wins as an NFL starter, two more than Derek Anderson. Crennel has said bringing in a veteran backup at quarterback is an option.
Savage: ?That is a situation that we have monitored. Derek took steps forward during this preseason. I watch a lot of preseason games, looking at other players, and there is some atrocious quarterback play around this league. Derek put points on the board four drives in a row at one point.
?Ken Dorsey brings that cerebral mindset. He really studies the game. He?s been good for Charlie because he can bounce ideas off of Ken. There is a comfort level there.
?We?ve been less inclined to make a move, especially after the second and third preseason game. If something were to happen to Charlie, we have a plan in place.?

EXTRA POINTS
Romeo Crennel said Charlie Frye will have ?some freedom? in terms of changing plays at the line of scrimmage. Last year?s starting QB, Trent Dilfer, wasn?t supposed to change plays. ?By design, some things were limited last year,? Crennel said. ?Maybe we could have opened it up a little more than we did, but why be exotic? Get the fundamentals down first. Being in the second year and knowing each other more, we are further along.? No. 1 free safety Brian Russell was still listed as doubtful because of recent surgery to remove a bursa sac from his elbow. Crennel keeps saying he will decide Sunday in Russell can play. Reach Repository sports writer Steve Doerschuk at (330) 580-8347 or e-mail [email protected].


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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

Savage on offensive line, Frye, Carthon and more
Saturday, September 9, 2006


Browns General Manager Phil Savage addressed a number of topics during a session with the media Friday:
Issue: Free agency pickup Joe Jurevicius caught only two passes for 18 yards in the preseason.
Savage: ?Joe has brought a lot of value to us already in terms of the presence in the meeting room and on the field. We expect him to be a force, particularly down in the red zone.?
Issue: New left tackle Kevin Shaffer was perceived by some to have fallen short of the play expected from a free agency pickup with a $36 million contract.
Savage: ?Kevin is doing well. He?s tough, competitive and he?ll give you an honest day of work. We felt like he was a worthwhile investment for us because we?ve had such a revolving door at left tackle.?
Issue: Nose tackle Ted Washington and linebacker Willie McGinest are proven defensive players, but they?re old.
Savage: ?There has been no indication of Ted slowing down. We?ve all been surprised at how much running he has done. He?s participated in every drill. I think you will all see the best of Willie McGinest, starting Sunday. He?s been in a mode where he?s trying to get to the regular season without putting himself at risk to lose the season for no reason. He had a very good practice Wednesday.?
Issue: Praise for Round 2 pick D?Qwell Jackson faded as the preseason wore on, particularly after the linebacker got beat in coverage. Romeo Crennel won?t say whether Jackson or Butch Davis-era Round 2 pick Chaun Thompson will start Sunday.
Savage: ?We tend to focus on one play, but in reality D?Qwell has done well during camp. He has a chance to start on Sunday. He?ll be a very good player for the Browns.?
Issue: Rookie Round 5 pick Jerome Harrison and second-year Brown Jason Wright pushed William Green and Lee Suggs off the roster.
Savage: ?Jerome gives us a dimension we didn?t see last year. He has the confidence to step on the field as a rookie and make plays. As you backed away from the situation and looked at it, Jason Wright was going at it every day. He was doing all he could to make this team. When Jerome began to emerge, it seemed like Jason fought harder. The coaches were impressed by that.?
Issue: Savage once said 2005 Round 2 pick Brodney Pool might have been a top-20 overall pick had he stayed at Oklahoma. Now, Pool is behind 2004 Round 2 pick Sean Jones at strong safety.
Savage: ?Both guys are going to be contributors, be it as a starter or substitute. Brodney Pool has as much ability as anyone we have on this team. He?s a young guy, came out as a young junior, just recently turned 22, so he?s got a high upside.?
Issue: Offensive Coordinator Maurice Carthon was unpopular with many fans in 2005. Does he have a better chance to win friends in 2006?
Savage: ?We?ve added a number of players. We have another year under our belts. Getting Kellen Winslow and Braylon Edwards back will help. Through the years, who has been a popular offensive coordinator in Cleveland, other than maybe Lindy Infante?
Issue: Charlie Frye has gone through a lot of centers lately. Crennel isn?t saying whether recent pickups Hank Fraley or Lennie Friedman will snap to Frye on Sunday.
Savage: ?Being able to stabilize this offensive line situation at the 11th hour will help. I don?t know how it is going to play out Sunday, but I think ideally we would like to see Fraley start and see Lennie be the swing center-guard. (Friedman) probably has more mileage as a swing backup than a full-fledged starter.?
Issue: Kamerion Wimbley has exceeded expectations in the preseason, even though they were already high because he was a No. 12 overall pick.
Savage: ?This is a player who came in on time, has been here every minute of every day, and is doing everything he can to be a player. We are enthusiastic about what he is going to bring.?
Issue: Last year?s most expensive free agency pickup, Gary Baxter, is a mystery after missing most of last season with a pectoral tear and most of this preseason with a pectoral strain.
Savage: ?You have to investigate why certain things are happening, but he?ll be ready to go Sunday. We?ll see how the year plays out. We need him.?
Issue: Ken Dorsey has two wins as an NFL starter, two more than Derek Anderson. Crennel has said bringing in a veteran backup QB is an option.
Savage: ?That is a situation that we have monitored. Derek took steps forward during this preseason. I watch a lot of preseason games, looking at other players, and there is some atrocious quarterback play around this league. Derek put points on the board four drives in a row at one point. Ken Dorsey brings that cerebral mind-set. He really studies the game. He?s been good for Charlie because he can bounce ideas off of Ken. There is a comfort level there. We?ve been less inclined to make a move, especially after the second and third preseason game. If something were to happen to Charlie, we have a plan in place.? COMPILED BY STEVE DOERSCHUK

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

Browns report
Saturday, September 9, 2006


FREEDOM FRYE?S Romeo Crennel said Charlie Frye will have ?some freedom? in terms of changing plays at the line of scrimmage. Last year?s starting QB, Trent Dilfer, wasn?t supposed to change plays. ?By design, some things were limited last year,? Crennel said. ?Maybe we could have opened it up a little more than we did, but why be exotic? Get the fundamentals down first. Being in the second year and knowing each other more, we are further along.?
RUSSELL DOUBTFUL No. 1 free safety Brian Russell was still listed as doubtful because of recent surgery to remove a bursa sac from his elbow. Crennel keeps saying he will decide Sunday if Russell can play. STEVE DOERSCHUK

Canton

Browns vs. Saints matchups
Saturday, September 9, 2006

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>[FONT=Verdana, Times New Roman, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Sunday, 1 p.m. Cleveland Browns Stadium TV Channel 8[/FONT]


Quarterbacks
The players Drew Brees, 26, isn?t much older than Charlie Frye, 25, but Brees is a sixth-year pro who leads Frye 12,348-1,002 in NFL passing yards and 30-2 in pro wins as a starter. Coming off shoulder surgery, Brees was 39-of-62 for 394 yards and a 67.5 rating in the preseason. Frye was 25-of-38 for 148 yards and a 79.7 rating.
The edge Saints ... but don?t be surprised if the gritty Frye parlays nervous energy into a lights-out home opener.
Running backs
The players No. 2 overall pick Reggie Bush broke a 44-yard run and had an 11-yard catch in the preseason. Otherwise, he generated just 86 yards on 27 touches (3.18 average). Deuce McAllister has faded since a 1,641-yard year in 2003. No one knows how much Jerome Harrison will be used as a change of pace to Reuben Droughns; it might be a lot.
The edge Saints ... McAllister is coming off knee surgery, which means young Superman will get a chance to burst out of his phone booth.
Receivers
The players Brees is finding that neither of his tight ends (Ernie Conwell, Mark Campbell) is Antonio Gates. No. 1 receiver Joe Horn dropped from 1,399 yards in 2004 to 654 last year; he?s 34 and fading. The other starting wideout, Round 7 pick Marques Colton, was at Hofstra last year.
The edge Browns ... Kellen Winslow Jr., Braylon Edwards, Joe Jurevicius, Dennis Northcutt and Joshua Cribbs are a fascinating fivesome.
Offensive line
The players Saints left tackle Jammal Brown was a No. 13 overall pick out of Oklahoma last year, but center Jeff Faine, a No. 21 overall pick of the Browns in 2003, is the unit leader. The soft spot is right guard, where Jahri Evans is a rookie Round 4 pick out of ... Bloomsburg? Starting left guard Jamar Nesbit, 29, has been a backup the last three years. Look for Hank Fraley to start at center for the Browns. He?s not LeCharles Bentley, but he had been a fixture with the Eagles.
The edge Browns ... Despite the center issue, it really isn?t close.
Defensive line
The players The Saints think Ohio State alum Will Smith will break through to stardom. He has 15 sacks over two years. The other bookend, Charles Grant, had 27 sacks from 2002-04 but just two last year. Tackles Hollis Thomas and Brian Young are ordinary veterans.
The edge Browns ... New nose tackle Ted Washington won?t just free up linebackers; he?ll lighten the loads of competent ends Orpheus Roye and Alvin McKinley.
Linebackers
The players Recent trade pickup Mark Simoneau was an Eagles backup who starts in the middle for the Saints. Former Round 7 pick Scott Shanle and former Round 5 pick Scott Fujita are suspect starters on the outside who are likewise new to the Saints. The Browns? lone trouble spot figures to be the inside spot alongside Andra Davis, where Round 2 pick D?Qwell Jackson must play well.
The edge Browns ... Willie McGinest and Kamerion Wimbley bring real juice to an otherwise solid group.
Defensive backs
The players Saints strong safety Omar Stoutmire had a cup of coffee in Cleveland in 1999 and hasn?t had much more than that in the NFL since 2003. The Saints use older corners, Mike McKenzie, 30, and Fred Thomas, who turns 33 on Monday. Strong safety Josh Bullocks was a Round 2 pick last year. Injuries to Daylon McCutcheon (out), Brian Russell (questionable) and Gary Baxter (questionable) hurt Cleveland.
The edge Saints ... Leigh Bodden, Sean Jones and Brodney Pool have promise, but factor in their youth and injuries to others and the Browns have no sure thing.
Special teams
The players New Browns punter Dave Zastudil might want to keep the ball away from new Saints return man Reggie Bush. Saints kicker John Carney is 42, the same age as Head Coach Sean Payton, but he was 8-of-12 outside 40 yards last year.
The edge Browns ... Old pro Dennis Northcutt offsets Bush, and Joshua Cribbs is poised to make trouble on kick returns.
Strategy
The coaches New Saints Head Coach Sean Payton, a Miami (Ohio) college quarterbacks coach not that long ago, groomed himself under Bill Parcells the last three years in Dallas. Browns Offensive Coordinator Maurice Carthon worked closely with Payton on the 2003 and ?04 Dallas staffs. Former Oklahoma Head Coach Gary Gibbs is Payton?s defensive coordinator. Offensive coordinator Doug Marrone was the Jets? offensive line coach the last four years.
The edge Browns ... In theory, a year of getting everything in place gives Romeo Crennel?s men a big leg up on a new regime.
Intangibles The items It has been a year since Katrina washed the Saints out of the Superdome. It has been eternity since either team went to a Super Bowl. The Reggie Bush buzz is susceptible to getting flattened by the Dawg Pound. Charlie Frye will make a stir if he plays well. The edge Browns ... Hank Fraley, of all people, has re-energized many Browns fans for the home opener.
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

BROWNS NOTEBOOK
Frye fine with offensive system

Saturday, September 09, 2006

James Walker
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

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BEREA, Ohio ? It was well documented that Trent Dilfer and offensive coordinator Maurice Carthon did not always agree while working together last season.
Starting quarterback Charlie Frye said that will not happen this year with him, starting with the season opener Sunday against New Orleans.
"I think our relationship is good," Frye said. "I think it?s important that you have that. You can?t have your quarterback and your offensive coordinator on different pages, arguing and things like that."
One of the complaints was that the offense was too limited and had little freedom to audible. There would be subtle comments made by Dilfer throughout last year when things didn?t work out, such as "I ran the play that was called."
Some of the playbook has expanded for Frye, but, in general, the freedom has not. It might get even tighter with a second-year quarterback, but Frye says he?s fine with the system.
"I can?t just have a play and change it to anything," Frye said. "It?s limited, but I think it?s also going to be effective."
Faine returns

Remember Jeff Faine?
The former Browns center left Cleveland with little fanfare in a draft-day trade in April. Then suddenly Faine became a hot topic of conversation once the Browns began losing centers in training camp, notably LeCharles Bentley and Bob Hallen.
Now Faine returns to Cleveland as a starter with the New Orleans Saints, looking to further prove the Browns made a mistake in trading him.
"I expect to see a fired up player who is going to try to play his best, because that?s what he did when he was here," Browns coach Romeo Crennel said. "He always gave good effort."
Brownie points

The Browns have reached an injury settlement with former running back William Green. Cleveland, if it chooses, could re-sign Green if there?s a need at the position and he is healthy. ? Safety Brian Russell (elbow) hasn?t practice this week but will be a game-time decision, Crennel said. [email protected]