Cleveland Browns (2008 Season)

[LitlBuck]

Cleveland.com

... About the Browns

Shaun Rogers and Corey Williams both impressed in the OTAs, especially with their quickness. Rogers weights in the 360 range and is wearing Ted Washington's No. 92. While Rogers had a lot of work at nose tackle, the coaches are still talking about Williams and Rogers at the ends with Shaun Smith starting at the nose, with Robaire Smith the first substitute. He can play either end.

Antwan Peek is finally over his foot problems from last year. The Browns believe he can be the pass rusher from the opposite side of Kamerion Wimbley that the team desperately needs. Look for the Browns to play Andra Davis and Willie McGinest at linebacker in the early running-situation downs, then go with Leon Williams and / or Beau Bell along with regulars D'Qwell Jackson, Wimbley and Peek in passing situations. The Browns are anxious to get Bell together with the veteran linebackers so they can begin to gauge how quick he can be used to key situations.

Article also talks about Winslow and the fact that after Dallas Clark received his big-time contract that maybe Winslow had second thoughts and compares Winslow's season to that of Clark's.

 

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Tucker has surgery on hip Starting guard expected to be ready for opener against Dallas Cowboys
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sportswriter

Published on Sunday, May 18, 2008
Offensive lineman Ryan Tucker, a starter since joining the Browns in 2002, underwent surgery Friday at the Cleveland Clinic to repair a nondisplaced hip fracture.
Tucker is expected to be ready for the Sept. 7 season opener at home against the Dallas Cowboys, according to a statement that the Browns released Saturday.
The 11-year veteran limped off the field Wednesday during the second day of the Browns' organized team activities with what coach Romeo Crennel called ''a little uncomfortableness in the hip area.''
Head team physician Anthony Miniaci performed the surgery.
Last year Tucker found a new home at right guard, starting the final eight games there after Seth McKinney underwent season-ending shoulder surgery.
Tucker felt rejuvenated by the switch from right tackle, where he had spent the majority of his career, including his previous five seasons with the Browns. After serving a four-game suspension, Tucker rotated

Cont...

 

[LitlBuck]

Tucker has surgery on hip Starting guard expected to be ready

They better put him under lock and key somewhere out of Cleveland so he does not develop a staph infection like the rest of the Browns who have been injured

 

[exhawg]

They better put him under lock and key somewhere out of Cleveland so he does not develop a staph infection like the rest of the Browns who have been injured

Has anyone checked to make sure they don't have a doctorb performing these surgeries? I suspect foul play.

 

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Crennel updates Tucker outlook Akron Browns Backers pay tribute to Anderson and Dawson at banquet
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sportswriter

Published on Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Browns coach Romeo Crennel said offensive lineman Ryan Tucker is resting at home after undergoing surgery Friday to repair a fractured hip.
But resting is not really the operative word.
''Probably the biggest deal will be his comfort,'' Crennel said Monday night at the 28th annual Akron Browns Backers Banquet at Tangier restaurant. ''They say that sitting down is not a good position for that recovery. We're going to have to see how we can keep that hip straight, but he can still get some things done.''
The 11-year veteran started the final eight games at right guard in 2007 after an injury to Seth McKinney.
Tucker had been a mainstay at right tackle since joining Cleveland in 2002.
''You're always concerned when you lose a starter,'' Crennel said. ''They put some pins in [the hip]. We expect him to come back this year and help us. He'll do everything he can to get back.''
Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

Canton

Browns' Derek Anderson keeps grinning as the pressure grows
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
BY Steve Doerschuk
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

AKRON The Browns are looking for consistency from Derek Anderson.

Off the field, he's as consistent as can be. His amused nonchalance never changes.

No one was surprised Monday night at the way he answered a question relating to the season opener, Browns vs. Cowboys.

Does he know Tony Romo?

"I met him at the Pro Bowl. A real nice guy."

Does he know Jessica Simpson, Romo's girlfriend?

"I met her at the Pro Bowl. She was very nice."

He didn't slobber over the "very." There was just enough inflection to make a small crowd laugh.

As the night wore on, the crowd got bigger at the annual Akron Browns Backers dinner. Anderson was the star of the show.

He said he should have tried to "sneak in," wearing gym shoes and a T-shirt. Like that was going to happen with one of the tallest quarterbacks in the NFL, on one of the hottest teams.

Unless something unforeseen happens, one of the biggest Week 1 games in the NFL will pit Cleveland against Dallas.

In this corner, Romo, an unexpected star who was undrafted out of Eastern Illinois in 2003.

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

Canton

Browns' Phil Savage to highlight Night of Champions
Tuesday, May 20, 2008

REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

PLAIN TWP. A night of Cleveland Browns talk and inspirational messages is planned for Friday during Canton Night of Champions at First Christian Church. Speakers will include Browns General Manager Phil Savage, players Kevin Shaffer and Steve Sanders and front-office executive Trip MacCracken.

The program begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $5 and available at the door. More than 2,000 can be seated.

A free tailgate party begin at 5:30 p.m. in the church's large parking lot, 6900 Market Ave. N. Look for the Canton Browns Backers' big orange bus, parked near the road.

The event is presented by Winners Influence, operated by Savage's brother Joe.

Joe Savage is a former college baseball players whose path to the Christian ministry took shape when he played for the Athletes in Action.

"We went into Eastern Europe. We went into the Soviet Union," he said. "It drove home the idea of utilizing sports to reach people,. After that, I went down the conventional path of pastoring."

Joe Savage said Shaffer, the Browns' starting right tackle, is an example of how he is trying to use Winners Influence.

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

Canton

Tucker begins his road back
[FONT=Verdana,Times New Roman,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Out until after start of camp[/FONT]
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
BY Steve Doerschuk
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

AKRON Sometimes, an injury doesn't mean you take a seat. Sitting hurts.

Such is the case with Browns right guard Ryan Tucker, who is home recovering from surgery to repair a broken hip suffered during spring practice Wednesday.

"Probably the biggest deal will be how he can keep himself comfortable and not put himself in bad positions," Head Coach Romeo Crennel said Monday, "They say that sitting down is not a good position for that recovery."

Crennel said the injury figures to keep Tucker out of team activities until after the start of training camp.

Tucker, who turns 33 in three weeks, is entering his 12th NFL season.

"You're always concerned when you lose a starter, but they said it would heal," Crennel said. "They put some pins in it. ... But we expect him to be able to come back this year and help us.

"I know Ryan will do everything he can to get back."

If Tucker can't return, the right guard will be Seth McKinney, who started eight games at the position before going on injured reserve last year, or free-agent Rex Hadnot, who was a starter with the Dolphins.

Cont...

 

[LitlBuck]

uch is the case with Browns right guard Ryan Tucker, who is home recovering from surgery to repair a broken hip

I just hope that he doesn't take any extra "medication":( like he did the last time he was injured in order to get back on the playing field faster. Just let nature do its thing.

My concern isn't so much to replace him at guard but I am worried about who we have to back up at both tackle positions. If Shaffer would go down we really don't have anyone to fill his month and Sheaffer is also the backup LT.

 

[tsteele316]

I just hope that he doesn't take any extra "medication":( like he did the last time he was injured in order to get back on the playing field faster. Just let nature do its thing.

My concern isn't so much to replace him at guard but I am worried about who we have to back up at both tackle positions. If Shaffer would go down we really don't have anyone to fill his month and Sheaffer is also the backup LT.

actually, steinbach can play LT. He did for a while in Cinci. If Thomas goes down, Steinbach slides out. If Schaffer goes down, Thomas goes to RT and Steinbach out to LT.

Once Tucker gets healthy it isn't an issue.

 

[LitlBuck]

actually, steinbach can play LT. He did for a while in Cinci. If Thomas goes down, Steinbach slides out. If Schaffer goes down, Thomas goes to RT and Steinbach out to LT.

Once Tucker gets healthy it isn't an issue.

Thanks. Forgot about Steinbach playing tackle while he was a #*& @!. I will take my medication now and relax.

 

[LitlBuck]

Cleveland.com


Some excerpts from the above linked article:

Q&A with Browns defensive coordinator Mel Tucker
Posted by Tony Grossi, Plain Dealer Reporter May 20, 2008 14:01PM

Q: The team appears to be content with its situation at cornerback after the trade of Leigh Bodden. Why is that?

A: The way I feel about it is we're going to work with the players we have. I've had success in coaching in keeping that focus. I think that's a good approach. I have all the confidence in the world in Phil (Savage) and his staff, as far as the personnel side of things go. The players we have, I feel like we're gonna coach them, work with them and get them as good as we can get.

Q: Are you concerned at all about the depth at cornerback?

A: Right now, I'm excited about the guys that we do have. We have some young guys that have good ability and I believe there's potential there, room for improvement. When you look at some of those guys we have, they've shown some playmaking ability in the past. I'm excited about those guys.

Q: You mentioned jamming and re-routing receivers. Do your corners do that enough? It seems they play way off receivers.

A: Yeah, I think we have jammed and disrupted. But I would like to even re-emphasize that this year and we're doing that now. That's going to be an emphasis for us. That's one of the things you can do to disrupt the rhythm of the passing game, jam and re-route those receivers, within that five-yard area.

Q: A new rule allows you to call plays into the helmet of one defensive player on the field. As coordinator, you'll have to choose which player wears the radio helmet. Whom will it be?

A: At this point, I'm really not prepared to talk about that right now. We don't have the system in place yet. Everything has not been ironed out, as far as the ins and out. Obviously we'll have it ready for training camp.

 

[LitlBuck]

Holly blows out knee--probably out for season

Cleveland.com

Cleveland Browns lose CB Holly to knee injury
Posted by Mary Kay Cabot, Plain Dealer Reporter May 21, 2008 14:04PM
Browns cornerback Daven Holly injured his knee in practice on Tuesday and could be lost for the 2008 season.

"It doesn't look good,'' said Browns general manager Phil Savage.
Holly was set to battle Brandon McDonald for a starting cornerback spot opposite Eric Wright. Now, McDonald will get the nod and the Browns will look for someone to replace Holly.

Savage said 13-year veteran cornerback Ty Law, a free agent, has too high a price tag right now. Law is close to coach Romeo Crennel, whom he played for in New England. Savage also said Eagles cornerback Lito Sheppard, who's been on the trading block, is out of the Browns' price range at this time.

Savage said it might take a couple of players to replace Holly. The Browns were already in the market to replace cornerback Leigh Bodden, who was traded to Detroit along with a third-round pick for defensive lineman Shaun Rogers.

Holly suffered the knee injury, which includes ligament and cartilage damage, when he jumped to break up a pass to Braylon Edwards and landed awkwardly. Edwards sustained a hip pointer and remained inside Wednesday to work out. He's listed as day-to-day.

Holly is scheduled to undergo surgery as early as Friday.

-------
Savage really now has his work cut out for him. He now needs to find a quality CB along with a backup. Hopefully, one of the signed UDFA will come through.

 

[LitlBuck]

Winslow to attend minicamp

Cleveland.com
Browns Winslow to attend minicamp
Posted by Mary Kay Cabot May 21, 2008 15:31PM

Kellen Winslow's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said on YouTube Wednesday that Winslow will attend the mandatory June minicamp and will be at training camp in July.

Winslow is not attending the 12 voluntary organized team activities, which are in the second of three weeks.

"These are voluntary activities,'' Rosenhaus said. "They are not mandatory, and a player has a right to train on his own. Kellen is coming off of an off-season knee surgery, and he is doing his rehabilitation and his training with a very fine trainer in his hometown of San Diego. He will be at the Browns mandatory mini-camp and he will be at the mandatory training camp."

Continued

 

[LitlBuck]

Cleveland.com
Cleveland Browns OTAs reach their second week
by Tony Grossi Plain Dealer Reporter
Wednesday May 21, 2008, 2:00 PM

Observations from today's voluntary offseason practice:

? With Daven Holly lost for the year with a severe knee injury suffered at Tuesday's practice, Brandon McDonald took over as the starting cornerback opposite Eric Wright. McDonald moved inside to cover the slot receiver in sub packages. Safety Mike Adams also had some reps in the slot. Filling that important position probably will influence whom the Browns acquire to replace Holly's roster spot. It may too tough a task for McDonald to ascend to a starting role and learn the new position -- to him -- of covering the slot.

? Among the undrafted cornerbacks signed after the draft, Mil'Von James of Nevada-Las Vegas will be a player to watch. Eric Wright touted his former college teammate after practice.

? Another under-the-radar corner with a chance is A.J. Davis, a former fourth-round pick of Detroit signed to the Browns' practice squad last season. Davis made a good play breaking up a Brady Quinn pass for Efrem Hill.

? Third-year receiver Travis Wilson will be a player under a great deal of scrutiny this offseason. He continues to have highs and lows in each practice. He couldn't come down with a Derek Anderson pass down the seam and had the ball broken up by Sean Jones. But later, Wilson made an outstanding catch of Anderson's deep sideline throw over Brandon McDonald.

? Rex Hadnot has taken over the right guard spot vacated by Ryan Tucker's hip surgery. The surprise signing of Hadnot in free agency now looks like an unbelievably prescient move by the Browns. Hadnot is a wide body with starting experience at guard and center.

? Tucker is said to be expected back at some point during training camp. His loss is doubly costly because he was also the team's third offensive tackle, a long-time starter on the right side. Now the Browns have moved third-year lineman Isaac Sowells back to tackle. When he was drafted in the fourth round in 2006, Sowells was touted as a future starting guard. He's happy to be back at tackle. He was a three-year starter at left tackle at Indiana.

Continued