Terry Pluto's Talkin' ... about Cleveland Browns' plans and a disappointing Indian
by Terry Pluto/Plain Dealer Columnist
Saturday June 20, 2009, 11:59 PM
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- On Father's Day, Terry Pluto's talkin' ...
About the Browns ...
Odds are that Braylon Edwards will remain with the team this season. ... unless a team comes out of nowhere with a huge trade offer late in training camp because a receiver is hurt and it is desperate for a replacement. So far, Edwards has been doing what the coaches have asked. The Browns are hoping that as Edwards heads into some type of free agency (depending upon what happens with the collective bargaining agreement), he will be at his best this year. It's in his self-interest to do so and it's also a chance to revive his reputation, which took a hit when he led the NFL in dropped passes a year ago.
It turns out the Giants never did offer a package that included their first-round pick plus some other players for Edwards. Nor did any other team offer a first-rounder for Edwards. The trade offers the Browns received were far more modest than that -- middle-round picks and so-so veterans. So they decided to keep Edwards and see if they can get him back to playing as he did in 2007.
Even if Donte Stallworth stayed out of trouble, it's hard to know how much of a role he'd have played this season. One thing all the coaches appreciate about Edwards is that he blocks and can be a physical player. Stallworth has never been accused of that. Nor is he considered mentally tough. Brian Robiskie has been solid in camp. The hope is with Edwards stretching the defense with deep patterns on one side and Robiskie running strong medium routes, the Browns can develop a 1-2 receiving punch and also get contributions from others such as David Patten, Mike Furrey, Mohamed Massaquoi and maybe a long shot such as Lance Leggett or Jordan Norwood. Furrey, who has excellent hands, had some very good moments in the minicamps and he could play a lot early in the season as the kids adjust to the game.
Joshua Cribbs has been spending nearly all his time on offense as a receiver. The key will be his ability to run sharp routes and make sure he catches the ball before taking off down the field. Sounds simple, but nuances of the position are new to the former Kent State QB. He has played some receiver in his first four years with the Browns, but this is the most intense training the special teams star is receiving at the position.
By the end of last season, Eric Steinbach was playing in the 275- to 280-pound range. The Browns want Steinbach to at least get into the middle 290s because the linemen he's facing are so large. The new regime knows Joe Thomas and Steinbach can be one of the best blocking duos on the left side in the NFL, but they want more strength from both guys. Thomas has especially impressed the coaches with his willingness to buy into their program.
Continued