Cleveland Browns (2008 Season)

[IronBuckI]

On a more serious note, do is you guys think that the Browns should keep that kicker from Illinois strictly for kickoffs. Dawson was just not very impressive last year when it came to kickoffs. I know this takes up a roster spot but is it worth it.

Yes. I think that it's about time for everyone to stop pretending that Ken Dorsey is a football player and just make him a coach. Make Cribbs your emergency QB and free up the roster spot for another specialist or DB. Cribbs isn't really a long-term solution at QB, but if DA and BQ both go down in a game, we'll have just as good of a chance with a Cribbs run pass option than we would with no arm having immobile Dorsey. If only DA goes down, we would probably still cut Dorsey and pick up Vinny Testaverde anyway.:tongue2:

 

[LitlBuck]

I would have no problem just replacing Dawson if the other guy can make FG's.

I sort of agree with you but if the first field goal Reda made last Thursday is any indication of his accuracy I think we better keep Phil around for one more season. My concern is his length on kickoffs but he is sort of getting long in the tooth when it comes to his field-goal length.

Yes. I think that it's about time for everyone to stop pretending that Ken Dorsey is a football player and just make him a coach. Make Cribbs your emergency QB and free up the roster spot for another specialist or DB. Cribbs isn't really a long-term solution at QB, but if DA and BQ both go down in a game, we'll have just as good of a chance with a Cribbs run pass option than we would with no arm having immobile Dorsey. If only DA goes down, we would probably still cut Dorsey and pick up Vinny Testaverde anyway.:tongue2:

They already have a QB coach and a assistant QB coach and probably an assistant to the assistant. I know stranger things have happened but I can't see us losing both QB's and I think it is sort of different when a guy is on the roster as a player as far as comradery goes with other players. This offense is not made for Cribbs and this season would just go in to the tank if both DA and Quinn would go down. In fact, I probably would go into the tank if both of them went down this season. Did you really have to bring up Vinny's name That just made me cringe.

 

[IronBuckI]

They already have a QB coach and a assistant QB coach and probably an assistant to the assistant. I know stranger things have happened but I can't see us losing both QB's and I think it is sort of different when a guy is on the roster as a player as far as comradery goes with other players. This offense is not made for Cribbs and this season would just go in to the tank if both DA and Quinn would go down. In fact, I probably would go into the tank if both of them went down this season. Did you really have to bring up Vinny's name That just made me cringe.

Haha. I didn't have to bring up his name. I didn't even think about the whole Kosar thing when I brought it up. I was just using him as the example as everyone's fall back veteran emergency QB. Sorry about that.

My point is, that DA and BQ going down would put us in the tank regardless of whether Dorsey is on the team or if he's on the staff. Cribbs doesn't fit any NFL offense, but could be capable of filling in for a couple of quarters in an emergency situation.

I just don't think that we'd be any worse off with Cribbs as opposed to rag arm Dorsey as an emergency QB for one game. Dorsey can always be re-activated and we would end up signing another veteran QB all while returning Cribbs to emergency status. I do agree with you about the comradery. I don't think that the Jim Brown mentor/spy experiment worked very well, and I don't know if Dorsey would be happy with his new title: Assistant Film Study Coordinator.

 

[exhawg]

I sort of agree with you but if the first field goal Reda made last Thursday is any indication of his accuracy I think we better keep Phil around for one more season. My concern is his length on kickoffs but he is sort of getting long in the tooth when it comes to his field-goal length.

Or bring in Josh Huston instead. He kicked well for the Giants in preseason last year.

 

[LitlBuck]

I would think that if there were going to replace Dawson this year with someone else that player would already be in camp today used to the holder, snapper, etc. However, I do think this will be Dawson's last year. Hopefully, he will not cost us a game. I can't remember how Huston's distance was on kickoffs but I know his accuracy on FG's was very good.

 

[NFBuck]

Dawson is accurate inside of 45 yards, anything past that it's a crapshoot. He's never had much leg strength, but is a serviceable kicker. I would think this is probably his last year. I can't see them using up a roster spot just for a kickoff specialist. If there were somebody out there to replace Dawson, I'd be all for it, just don't see it happening this year.

 

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Crennel says he sees improvement Coach has wait-and-see approach for victims of Jets
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer

Published on Tuesday, Aug 12, 2008
BEREA: Even if it had been newly acquired New York Jets quarterback Brett Favre burning the Browns' inexperienced secondary Thursday night, it wouldn't have been easy to take.
But Brett Ratliff?
The first-year player from Utah toasted the Browns' backups on touchdowns of 71 and 70 yards to receiver David Clowney in the Jets' 24-20 triumph. On the first, A.J. Davis and Nick Sorensen gave chase. On the second, since-released Steve Cargile and Mil'Von James, a rookie from UNLV, were the victims.
But Browns coach Romeo Crennel refused to jump to conclusions about the secondary's lack of depth after one performance.
''I don't think you can make a generalization about the secondary depth on two plays,'' Crennel said. ''You're always concerned about players not doing the right thing. If they give up those kinds of plays the next game, then I will be more concerned.''
Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Receiver Steve Sanders seizing opportunity to prove himself with Cleveland Browns' first team

Tuesday, August 12, 2008 Mary Kay Cabot
Plain Dealer Reporter

Browns receiver Steve Sanders, the Cleveland native and East High grad, looked over his shoulder during a team drill Sunday night and noticed that it was Derek Anderson poised to take the snap instead of Ken Dorsey. Then he looked down to his left and saw that Donte' Stallworth was the other wideout instead of rookie Paul Hubbard.
Nope, there was no mistaking it. Sanders, who's been scraping the bottom of the depth chart in camp, was working with the first team.
"I was like, Wow,' " Sanders said. "The opportunity has come for me to get a few reps, and I'm trying to take advantage of it."

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Cleveland Browns coach Romeo Crennel not worried about receiver Braylon Edwards' foot wound

Tuesday, August 12, 2008 Tony Grossi
Plain Dealer Reporter

Pro Bowl receiver Braylon Edwards remained away from his teammates Monday after spending Saturday night in the Cleveland Clinic and needing stitches to close a wound on his right heel.
Coach Romeo Crennel said he did not know how many stitches Edwards received. He discounted the injury from having a big impact on Edwards.
"I'm not worried that he won't be back," Crennel said. "They checked him out at the hospital so that they could investigate if there was anything more than a cut, but it's nothing more than a cut.

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

Canton

Anderson staying loose in Browns camp
If QB is under pressure, he's not letting on
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
BY Steve Doerschuk
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

BEREA Derek Anderson is still joking as the focus on Dallas grows more serious.

He interrupted his regular Monday press conference to pick on a reporter.

"I did see somebody out there today ? I'm not gonna mention who ? with binoculars on the sidelines," Anderson said, turning sarcastic as he added, "Who has binoculars?"

Anderson has looked good to the naked eye in training camp.

Some will view him skeptically until he takes Cleveland to the playoffs, but he's not going to let "you're-not-BQ" syndrome ruin his life until then.

The view in the organization has it that, if a football scout showed up and didn't know he was watching Anderson, he'd simply conclude, "That No. 3 looks like a heckuva QB."

Anderson's strong camp ? left tackle Joe Thomas calls it "awesome" ? has provoked optimism that his throw-anywhere arm and newfound experience could amount to stardom.
Cont...

 

[LitlBuck]

PD

Browns' Rogers, Rucker dealing with knee issues
Posted by Tony Grossi [email protected] August 12, 2008 12:19PM
Browns training camp report: Day 21
Observations after the morning practice on Day 21 ...

? Everybody notices when Shaun Rogers is not on the field. He was given the morning practice off with a sore knee. Also, coach Romeo Crennel disclosed that rookie tight end Martin Rucker was out getting an MRI on a knee. The top of the 2008 draft class could be having a redshirt year. Linebacker Beau Bell is out 6-8 weeks after knee 'scope surgery.

? New Ryder Cup team member Ben Curtis, of Stow and Kent State, visited his golfing buddy, Derek Anderson. The two hit it off a couple years ago when Curtis visited camp and tried some field goals. Curtis lauded Anderson's golf game, especially his putting, and disclosed that Anderson shot 78 from the tip tees at Sand Ridge prior to training camp. Curtis shot 66 that day.

? Anderson won over two young fans from Fairview Park who were hit by the ball when one of his bullet throwaways skidded off the wet grass and into the aluminum bleachers abutting the field. The ball skimmed off the face of Alice Chambers, 3, and into the nose of Zachary Pejeau, 6, knocking off his eyeglasses. Equipment manager Brad Melland came by and presented Chambers with a football. After it was pointed out that Pejeau took the brunt of the hit, Anderson himself strode over with an autographed football.

? For the first time, rookie linebacker Alex Hall took some turns at the Antwan Peek outside spot opposite Kamerion Wimbley. There is a mounting feeling that Hall might be the rookie draft pick who can contribute something to the team sooner than the rest. Crennel, who doesn't fall head over heels with rookies, will have to be convinced to use him early in the season in rush situations.

? Backup safety Mike Adams is holding off Terry Cousin for the starting nickel cornerback spot. That position will be on the field about 60 percent of the time, so it's a crucial role.

? Receiver Steve Sanders had another good day in the Braylon Edwards role. He caught almost everything thrown at him.

Article also talks about the increased playing time that special-teams player Kris Griffin is getting at ILB a head of Leon Williams. The play of the morning was a double reverse with Anderson handing off to Cribbs and Joshua giving it to Stallworth.

 

[osugrad21]

DDN

Banged-up Browns nurse nagging injuries


Associated Press

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

BEREA, Ohio ? Browns Pro Bowl wide receiver Braylon Edwards was home Tuesday resting his stitched-up right foot, and the guy who put him there said he's in good spirits.
"He was cheering me up more than I was able to cheer him up," said wide receiver Donte Stallworth, who inadvertently stepped on Edwards' heel Saturday night at the end of practice. "I was probably more hurt (emotionally) than he was."
Stallworth talked to the media Tuesday for the first time since the accident that could sideline Edwards for two preseason games.
Stallworth's cleat cut Edwards' heel ? he was wearing socks but no shoes ? as they did some light running. Edwards spent a night in the Cleveland Clinic for precautionary reasons after receiving an unspecified number of stitches.
"It wasn't too pretty a moment," Stallworth said. "He's a tough dude, because I would've passed out, woke up and passed out again probably a couple more times."
Cont..

 

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Stallworth down about mishap Jokes the punishment for injury to right foot of top receiver Edwards
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer

Published on Wednesday, Aug 13, 2008

BEREA: Donte' Stallworth said his Browns teammates are punishing him with Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan jokes.
And Stallworth is still agonizing over the accident Saturday night that left his friend and fellow receiver, Braylon Edwards, laid up at home with stitches in his right foot. Edwards is the Browns' No. 1 receiver; Stallworth No. 2.
Edwards was jogging after practice in his socks when Stallworth stepped on him with his cleats. It's possible Edwards could miss the remaining three preseason games, since starters aren't expected to play in the finale.
''It was one of those things in hindsight you wish you could take back. But he'll be all right,'' Stallworth said Tuesday.
Stallworth said he visited Edwards and: ''It was pretty tough. He was fine, he was smiling and everything. I was more down than he was. I think I was more hurt than he was. He was cheering me up; that felt kind of awkward.''
Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

ABJ

No trophy, but Curtis, still visits Browns camp After near miss at PGA, 2003 British Open champ praises Anderson's putting
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer

Published on Wednesday, Aug 13, 2008
BEREA: Before Ben Curtis played 36 holes Sunday in the final two rounds of the PGA Championship, Browns quarterback Derek Anderson fired off a message that was practically prophetic.
''I sent him a text the other night, 'Why don't you just bring that trophy right out to Berea?' '' Anderson said.
The coveted Wanamaker Trophy went to Ireland's Padraig Harrington, who claimed his second consecutive major. Curtis, the 2003 British Open champion from Kent State, shot 68-71 and finished 2 strokes back, tying for second at gruelling Oakland Hills.
Curtis and his family didn't pull into their driveway in Stow until about 1:30 a.m. Monday after the drive from suburban Detroit. Thirty-two hours later, they arrived at Browns camp to watch Ben's favorite team and visit his friend Anderson.
Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Cleveland Browns tight end Martin Rucker out six weeks with knee injury

Wednesday, August 13, 2008 Mary Kay Cabot
Plain Dealer Reporter

Browns rookie tight end Martin Rucker suffered a torn meniscus in practice on Tuesday and will be out about six weeks after he undergoes surgery, a source told The Plain Dealer on Tuesday night.
Rucker, the Browns' fourth-round pick out of Missouri, twisted the knee on Monday afternoon and on Tuesday underwent an MRI, which revealed the tear.
If Rucker is out all six weeks, he'd be ready about Sept. 23, meaning he'd miss at least the first three games of the season - at home against Dallas and Pittsburgh, and at Baltimore. With the bye week coming Oct. 5, it's conceivable the Browns would hold him out until after that, with the next game being at home against the Super Bowl champion New York Giants on Oct. 13, a Monday night ESPN game.

Cont...