Cleveland Browns Training Camp

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

yahoo.com

8/9/05

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Mistakes by the Lake

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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>By Charles Robinson, Yahoo! Sports

August 8, 2005

<TABLE id=ysparticleheadshot cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 align=left border=0 hspace="5" vspace="5"><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=3 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><SMALL>More Robinson: Browns season preview</SMALL>

CLEVELAND – A man hung over the front row of one of Cleveland Stadium's end zones Saturday night frantically pumping his fist and waving his arms. With his Cleveland Browns jersey pulled snugly over his abundant midsection, he was giving new meaning to the latter half of the Shakespearean muse "Wherefore art thou …"

"ROMEEEEEEOOOO! COACH ROOOOOOMEEEEEO! OVER HERE ROMEEEEEEEO!" Fan appreciation night had just concluded, but new Browns coach Romeo Crennel didn't have the time to respond to the source of adoration. Crennel was having a hard enough time just yelling to one reporter beneath the chaos when it seemed all 32,752 fans in attendance were wailing his name. But you have to believe Crennel heard every one of the screams. You have to believe everyone in the Browns organization has heard these cries since the day Crennel's hire became official more than seven months ago. If a franchise could be fueled simply by fan fever, the Browns' work would be done. But since it can't, you get the feeling the regime is hoping for some patience among the faithful.

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Asked if there was such a thing as a five-year building plan for Cleveland's new regime, Crennel chuckled as he headed into a tunnel lined with admiring masses.


"Probably not," he said. "It should be a two- or three-year plan. If you can show progress in that amount of time, then as a staff, maybe you've got a shot of stretching it into a five-year plan."

Surely, that's not what Cleveland fans were cheering about. But Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither were the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles. Make no mistake, those are the paramount franchise models for the Browns, who are in the infancy of the NFL's most daunting reconstruction.

It sounds strange to talk about patience for a team that has a 58-year old head coach, a 33-year old starting quarterback and a fan base that wants to quickly distance itself from last season's 4-12 record. But if you pay attention to Crennel and new general manager Phil Savage and temper the optimism for a moment, there is an unmistakable reality looming overhead: The Browns have to approach this rebuild with the patience of a Sunday drive. After crashing and burning twice in the last six years, there's no other way to go.

"Patience seems a little elitist to me," Browns owner Randy Lerner said as the team opened training camp late last month. "This town is now going through its third rebuilding process. And that is asking a lot of people who support a team. … As a result, you can't not build it right. That includes making sure the hidden parts are built right. That takes time; we all know that."

That mindset begs the question of what is reasonable to expect from Cleveland's current roster. It's no secret around the state of Ohio – or the league, for that matter – that the franchise still is suffering a massive hangover from horrendous mismanagement of past regimes. Much of it even predates Butch Davis, who resigned last season and took the lion's share of blame for the latest troubles. But perusing the roster shows an organization that has virtually nothing to show from 1999 to 2001, an era that should have laid the foundation for the current team.

For those who want to understand why the Browns are 30-66 since 1999, they might look at the poor drafts and free-agent decisions by former president Carmen Policy and personnel director Dwight Clark. Their roster moves produced only two players who were able to start for last season's team – defensive lineman Orpheus Roye and cornerback Daylon McCutcheon.

Only eight players remain from that three-year period, and worse yet, only four of Cleveland's 32 draft picks are still with the team. To add some perspective, the Patriots and Eagles used those same drafts to cull cornerstones of last season's Super Bowl teams, with players the Browns passed on (Tom Brady, Richard Seymour and Matt Light for New England; Donovan McNabb, Corey Simon and Todd Pinkston for Philadelphia).

It's a stinging reality Cleveland fans know well, and it plays a big part in the fan base craving some instant success from Crennel and Savage. But neither of those men have been in situations with such dire need for a roster revival. And it's worth noting that even the currently pristine coaching staffs and front offices of the Patriots and Eagles both went 5-11 in their first seasons. That alone should be enough to buy Crennel and Savage their three-year window to steer the franchise into the right direction.

But it's going to be a bumpy turnaround. The offense is a relative bright spot, with respectable talent at the skill positions, including running backs Lee Suggs and Reuben Droughns and wide receivers Andre Davis, Antonio Bryant and Dennis Northcutt. Guard Joe Andruzzi gives the offensive line something to build around, and if tackle L.J. Shelton can resurrect his career, the unit should be productive. Even starting quarterback Trent Dilfer, who has been battered by critics since arriving in Cleveland, has looked surprisingly fresh in preseason practices.

"We'll wait and see what they have to say [when it's over]," Dilfer said Saturday. "I'm going into this season with a very, very healthy chip on my shoulder."

He might want to share that chip with the defense, which may be the team's biggest concern.

While the 3-4 defense had an amazing amount of success throughout the league last season, and Cleveland has skimmed some underachieving fat from last year's unit, it's incorrect to assume the new scheme will mean big dividends in 2005. Crennel knows the formula as well as anyone in the NFL, but his measured optimism in training camp hasn't sounded much different than it was at the league meetings in March, when he still wasn't sure if he had the right personnel to make the switch to a 3-4.

The Browns are going ahead with it, but like most changes from the 4-3 to the 3-4, the first year typically reveals unforeseen weak spots that have to be addressed the following offseason. Already, there are questions swirling around Cleveland's linebackers, where nobody is sure if Kenard Lang and Chaun Thompson will be able to provide a pass rush. That's a significant worry for Crennel, who prefers his linebackers be the marrow of his defense. Also, the secondary is still jelling with new additions like cornerback Gary Baxter and safety Brian Russell.

"The defense is a little uncomfortable," Baxter admitted earlier in training camp. "I think there is a learning curve for everyone right now. It's a new organization. There are new coaches and it's a new system. A lot of guys are trying to get a feel for one another and there is a lot of chemistry that has to be formed out there. Right now, everything is a little bit shaky but we are working hard and trying to get everyone on the same page."

Truer words couldn't be spoken about the entire franchise. But there are clear bright spots amidst the uncertainty. Most people around the league believe that, given time, Savage is going to work wonders for the roster. And it's already clear that the players have embraced the low-key straightforwardness of Crennel, who, unlike Butch Davis, never comes off like a used car salesman. So it's not surprising to see players inspired and flaunting bigger visions than most believe possible.

"We're working to get this thing together as fast as possible, but for me, the moment is now," Dilfer said. "I can't wait. I look at it and don't think we need three or four years to turn it around. I want to get it done right now." Judging from the optimistic screams in Cleveland Stadium on Saturday night, Dilfer isn't alone. But if you truly understand what the Browns are trying to accomplish with Savage and Crennel, you realize the here and now has to be about tomorrow and beyond.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>Passan: The Dawg Days

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</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>By Rich Passan
Date: Aug 9, 2005

Romeo is looking for mental light bulbs, not bodies crashing together, this hot and humid summer. Rich reflects on a Browns training camp which has been very different from those before it...
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OK, who’s bored?

Here we are 12 days into Romeo Crennel’s first training camp and the best one can say is that Crennel has completely redefined the term laid-back.

Sure, the guys work hard. And yes, the weather conditions, for the most part, have been difficult. The three H’s – hot, humid, hazy – have prevailed as the team readies for the 2005 National Football League season.

The discipline is obvious. The precision with which the team goes through its paces speaks mutely for Crennel’s detail-oriented approach to his new job.

Only the jolting sound of the air horn signaling a change in routine breaks the monotony.

At times, it appears as though the rookie head coach is doing his Teddy Roosevelt thing. You know the one with a soft walk and a big stick. The only time he can be heard is when he addresses the media following practice.

Todd Grantham, at the other spectrum, screams with the best of them. The new defensive coordinator turns up the volume to the point where he leaves no doubt of his approval or disgust with certain players.

Initial indications are that Crennel coaches quietly. But the players know he’s watching.

So why is this camp so boring?

Because the emphasis is being put on the mental aspect of the game. The little things are being paid attention to.

The fans want the more eye-pleasing 11-on-11 skirmishes. They want to see how Joe Andruzzi and Cosey Coleman, the new guards, help solidify an offensive line that has been rather putrid since the team was reborn in 1999.

They want to see how Crennel’s 3-4 defense operates and who will comprise the front seven. They want to see which rookies step up and which rookies struggle to make the switch to the professional ranks.

They want to see action.

Instead, Crennel gives them classroom-on-the-field stuff. Boring drills. Stultifying mundane exercises that draw yawns and make the time pass like sand in an hourglass.

In the past, those little things were ignored. Perhaps that’s why the new Browns have struggled.

While the there is a decided toning down of the physical game from previous regimes, Crennel ratches up the mental part of the game.

Of course, hitting your teammates instead of the opposition can get tiresome after a while. Beating the snot out of teammates accomplishes nothing. Taking it easy on them seems to be the mantra of the camp.

Then again, maybe it’s the Browns’ history of injuries, fluke or otherwise, that has Crennel taking it easy. About the only category in which the team leads the NFL year in and year out is injuries.

The fans at the club’s Berea complex have been extremely patient as the Browns go through the various position drills before coming together occasionally for a little 7-on-7 or 11-on-11 action.

It’s gotten so frustrating for the onlookers, appreciative applause in smattering form at the conclusion of the few head-knocking sessions falls on deaf ears. It’s almost as the fans believe the applause will trigger an encore. They want more and are left wanting.

With the first exhibition game Saturday night against the New York Giants, it’s possible Crennel and his staff might amp it up a bit and actually turn the team loose between now and then. But not likely.

Boring? Depends on your perspective. Effective? We’ll find out soon enough.

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<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>Browns Release Unofficial Depth Chart

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</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>By Bernie's Insiders
Date: Aug 9, 2005

Here are our early reactions to the depth chart released by the team today. Talk about it on the Bernie's Insiders forums or with us on the radio Tuesday night!
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(NOTE: Yahoo! readers need to go to http://browns.scout.com to see the links in this article)

The Browns sent out their normal press release to all media outlets and Browns Backers groups this afternoon, and in it was contained the team's first "unofficial" depth chart. We have replicated the depth chart, which you can see (slightly modified) by clicking here. There are two different printable versions of the depth chart available via that link as well.

We're happy to see that there are very few changes of any note from the speculative depth chart which we developed in June. Most of the changes from our previous version of the chart involve different listings of players at linebacker positions, which can easily be moved back and forth.

Here are some of the most notable changes we noticed on the team's initial depth chart, and some quick impressions:

1. The chart at kick returner reads Andre Davis, Josh Cribbs, and then Richard Alston

This is a little bit of a surprise, as Alston was extremely effective in a kick return role last season, and was assumed to be a player on the rise. That Cribbs - like Alston a quarterback turned pass catcher - is ahead of Alston on the depth chart should worry the veteran who broke through in NFL Europe last season.


2. Mike Pucillo appears to have established himself quickly

With the releases of Marcus Spears and Phil Bogle in the last couple of weeks, Mike Pucillo is the only backup listed behind Cosey Coleman at right guard. The RG position is generally more of a run blocker and a little larger than left guard, but there are several players who might be able to move into a back-up role at RG instead of Pucillo, including fellow G/C Craig Osika.


3. Amon Gordon drops behind the rookies

Amon Gordon was a fourth-round pick of the Butch Davis administration, which doesn't appear to gain him an edge on the team's "unofficial" depth chart. Gordon does have one thing going for him, however, and that's some flexibility to move into the Nose Tackle spot, where he has taken some reps. Don't assume that just because he has dropped behind Hoffman and Fraser on the depth chart at defensive end that he is going to get cut.


4. Corey Jackson falls behind Nick Eason

This is pretty predictable to anyone who has been reading this site and listening to the radio show. The Browns coaching staff has repeatedly praised Eason, while 2004 NFL Europe terror Corey Jackson may be the wrong body type to play end in the team's 3-4 defense and a better fit for the speed 4-3 scheme employed by Davis and Campo.


5. Josh Harris is losing ground

Again, this one come as a surprise to anyone tuned into the website and radio show. Harris has been overthrowing receivers badly, and Charlie Frye has inserted himself into the competition at back-up based on his performance last Saturday night. This isn't over by a long shot, but we've been consistently saying that Harris, while athletic, has underwhelmed at both the team's mini-camp and training camp.


6. C.J. Jones needs to impress, and fast

The highlight of the 2003 training camp was this unheralded wide receiver from Iowa, with the quick moves and lightening speed. That was a long time ago, though, and Jones is almost the forgotten man in this years WR battle. He is currently listed behind Cribbs and Alston on the chart, which is not a good sign. Jones needs to look very good in the first two pre-season games.


7. Some veteran defenders are buried

There are some veteran (read: kind of expensive) players who are buried on the depth chart, which is never a good sign in these days of the salary cap. Veterans who are listed as third-string or lower on the "unofficial" chart in the press release are Dyshod Carter (4th), Sherrod Coates (4th), Michael Jameson (3rd), Justin Kurpeikis (4th). Orlando Ruff and Antwan Harris are both listed third or fourth, but are somewhat special cases since they are relatively new to the team and may still be working their way up the depth chart.

ALSO: The team did not list Braylon Edwards on their depth chart. We have him listed behind Dennis Northcutt, although we suspect he'll wind up starting shortly into the season as Northcutt assumes a role more typical of his time with the Browns.


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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>Crennel Plans the Rotation

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Sean Jones, Brian Russell

</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>By Mike McLain
Date: Aug 10, 2005

The Romeo Crennel Browns hit the field on Saturday... who gets to play? Challenges including finding time for all the safeties, including Sean Jones and Brian Russell (pictured).
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BEREA - Coach Romeo Crennel plans to play the starters about one quarter in Saturday's preseason game against the New York Giants.



Crennel will deviate from the plan at position groups where there is plenty of competition.



"The only way I'd give a starter more time is if I have a couple of guys competing for a starting position," Crennel said. "Then I'd have a rotation with those guys, and they'd end up with a quarter."



Position areas that will see a rotation with possible starters are at free safety and running back. Brian Russell and Chris Crocker are battling at free safety. Lee Suggs, Reuben Droughns and William Green are competing at running back.




DECISION TIME SOON: The front office will have to make a decision soon on the cornerback Daylon McCutcheon's playing status for the regular season. McCutcheon has missed all of camp with persistent headaches.



General manager Phil Savage said that McCutcheon's health status remains baffling. McCutcheon has seen a specialist three times.



'We're going to talk about it and see where we want to go with it,' Savage said. 'It has gone on a little further along than we thought.'



Michael Lehan has replaced McCutcheon with the first team. Lehan has a history of leg and shoulder injuries. His lack of durability might force the Browns to sign another cornerback.



QB ROTATION JUGGLED: The first depth chart has been released by the team. Rookie quarterback Charlie Frye is listed third. Doug Johnson is second, and Josh Harris is fourth.




INJURY UPDATE: Droughns missed another two practices with a strained hamstring. Crennel expects to know Wednesday if Droughns will be able to play Saturday. Offensive lineman Craig Osika (toe) and tight end Aaron Shea (hip flexor) were sideline observers. Shea has no structural damage and should be back later this week.




THE HITTING STARTS: Crennel is starting to get anxious in anticipation of Saturday's game.



"I want to see how we hit and how we tackle," Crennel said. "We really haven't been tackling. I told them, 'You've been playing tag. On Saturday, tag isn't going to be good enough.' "




NICE PASS: Johnson connected with Dennis Northcutt on a deep sideline play. Trent Dilfer has been sharp most of camp. He teamed with Antonio Bryant on a deep pass.
GREEN GALLOPS: William Green broke off a long gainer around the right side. Green's practice time has increased due to Droughns' absence.

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[bucknut11]

Simon Fraser's up to #3 on the depth chart at DE.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>Browns Claim Offensive Lineman; Waive Osika

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Craig Osika

</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>By Site Staff
Date: Aug 10, 2005

The Browns this afternoon announced the signing of offensive lineman Dave Yovanovits and the release of G/C Craig Osika. Here is the team's press release.
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The Cleveland Browns announced a pair of roster moves today, claiming OL Dave Yovanovits (6-3, 294, Temple) off waivers from the New York Jets and waiving OL Craig Osika.

Yovanovits, originally a seventh round (237th overall) draft choice of New York in 2003, spent the last two seasons (2003-04) with the Jets. In 2003, he was inactive for all 16 games and opened the 2004 campaign on the Jets’ practice squad before being signed to the active roster on Oct. 13, 2004. He played in four games, mostly on special teams, with the Jets last season.

A complete bio of Yovanovits is below.

DAVE YOVANOVITS
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Offensive Line
Height: 6-3
Weight: 294
College: Temple
Birthdate: March 6, 1981
How Acquired: W (N.Y.J.) – ‘05
Year with Browns: 1st
Year in NFL: 3rd

Games Played/Started: 2003 (0/0); 2004 (4/0).

Career Totals: 4 games, 0 starts.

Career Transactions: Originally drafted by the New York Jets in the seventh round, 237th overall, of the 2003 NFL Draft…Waived by New York on Sept. 6, 2004…Signed by the New York Jets to the practice squad on Sept. 7, 2004…Signed by the New York Jets to the active roster on Oct. 13, 2004…Waived by New York on Aug. 8, 2005…Claimed by Cleveland via waivers on Aug. 9, 2005.
​

Seasonal Reviews:

2004: Played in four games for the New York Jets, mostly on special teams…Started the season on the practice squad before being signed to the active roster on Oct. 13…Saw action in field goal protection vs. San Francisco on Oct. 17, and at New England on Oct. 24…Participated on both offense and field goal protection in Monday Night Football win over Miami on Nov. 1, and saw action on special teams at Buffalo on Nov. 7…Was inactive for weeks 9-16, as well as the Jets’ 20-17 OT loss at San Diego in an AFC Wild Card playoff game.

2003: Earned a roster spot with the New York Jets, however was inactive for all 16 regular season games.

College: Played every snap in 40 of his 45 career games at Temple (1999-2002)…As a senior in 2002, participated in 854 plays and started every game at left tackle…Registered 81 knockdowns and helped the offense average 317.8 yards per game…Started nine contest as a junior in 2001 and posted 56 knockdowns as the offense averaged 285.3 yards per game…Started every game at left tackle as a sophomore in 2000…Played as a true freshman in 1999 and moved into the starting lineup at right tackle…Helped the team account for 15 TDs and 2,250 yards passing.

Personal: Is the son of Kenneth and Katherine Yovanovits…Resides in Stanhope, N.J. in the off-season…Majored in environmental engineering at Temple and was named to the Dean's List in the spring of 2001…Cited on the Athletic Director's Honor Roll in the fall of 2001 and the spring of 2002….Was a three-year varsity letter winner on both the offensive and defensive lines at Hopatcong (N.J.) High School…Earned First-Team All-West Jersey, All-Area and All-League honors as a senior in 1998…Received Second-Team All-West Jersey, Third-Team All-Group II, All-Area and All-League accolades as a junior…Was active in the Jets community relations initiatives by visiting the Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital and joining teammates at the Annual David Center Bowling gala.

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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>Levine: How Will Crennel Handle Edwards?

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</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>By Les Levine
Date: Aug 11, 2005

Les looks at several Browns items, including the way he expects Romeo Crennel to handle integrating new wide reciever into the team's rotation. Here, perhaps, is another opportunity to see the difference between Romeo Crennel and Butch Davis...
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After a false start, apparently Braylon Edwards has agreed to terms with the Cleveland Browns. Now his fate is out of the hands of his agent and the Browns front office. It is in the hands of Head Coach Romeo Crennel. On Wednesday, Romeo said that he would be somewhere below former Toledo wide receiver Lance Moore on the depth chart.

That is part of the mental aspect of the game of football. With the first exhibition game coming up on Saturday against the New York Giants, Crennel has some choices, and his veteran players will be watching. Last year, Butch Davis gave first pick holdout Kellen Winslow, Jr. a slap on the wrist, demoting him for the first practice, then moving him up to the first unit for the second practice. Obviously, Edwards will be the starter for the regular season opener against Cincinnati, and he will need plenty of work with the first unit, along with Trent Dilfer, but Dilfer probably won’t see more than one quarter of action in the first exhibition game.



I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Crennel waits until the third or final exhibition game before officially naming Edwards to the starting lineup, after he has given everyone enough time to see just how good he is, and that he deserves it based on performance rather than the contract he has just received.

<HR width="75%" color=#ff9900>The release of offensive lineman Marcus Spears was curious. He was originally signed for all the right reasons, but didn’t even stay on the team until the first exhibition game. He either was a distraction in the locker room, or the Browns made a mistake by overestimating his ability. The only other possibility is that some veterans use training camp just to get in shape for the regular season; others have to be impressive enough to win a job. Spears must have been told by the front office, upon signing, that he’d have to win a job, rather than have it guaranteed. Now he will have plenty of time to latch on to another team prior the regular season.

<HR width="75%" color=#ff9900>I don’t blame the Browns and the rest of the NFL for doing this, but it continues to amaze me that they are able to charge full price to season ticket holders for exhibition games. I have been a season ticket holder for years, and have trouble giving those tickets away. I know the popularity of the NFL, and the hold that the Browns have on this community, but this question begs to be answered. If season ticket holders only had to buy the eight regular season games, and were given the opportunity to purchase exhibition games at full price, how many would buy them? I once did an un-scientific poll on my television show and found that 90% would not buy the exhibition games at full price. An additional 40% said they would buy them at half price.

It’s just an educated guess, but my gut feeling (Butch Davis term) is that not more than 15-20,000 fans would attend exhibition games at full price.

I’d be interested to know if you agree or disagree with that. And I’d also like to know if you think one of the two exhibition home games for NFL teams should be taken back on the road, as was done in the past. The Browns front office has shown some interest in moving training camp to Columbus, which would be a PR mistake in northern Ohio. But I don’t think many would object to having the first exhibition game of the season being played at the Horseshoe, as opposed to paying full price to see a glorified scrimmage.

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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>Edwards Eager for Action

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Braylon Edwards (AP)

</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>By Fred Greetham
Date: Aug 11, 2005

Now that the windstorm of has-he / hasn't-he signing speculation has died down, the Browns first-round pick can finally get down to business. After putting ink to paper Thursday, Braylon Edwards sat down to talk to reporters, including BerniesInsiders.com's Fred Greetham.
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BEREA – Even though he’s officially signed, sealed and delivered, Braylon Edwards will most likely not play in Saturday’s preseason opener against the Giants.

“I think it will be good for him to suit up and go through the pregame,� coach Romeo Crennel said. “I think it will be a good experience for him. However, it is doubtful he’ll play.

“If I put him out there and he misses an assignment and the quarterback gets hurt, what would you say?� he said. “When I feel he has a comfort level with the offense, I’ll put him out there.�

Edwards is raring to go after missing nearly the first two weeks of training camp.

“I’m just glad it’s all over and behind me,� Edwards said. “My teammates won’t like it, but I’d like to go out and practice right now.�

Crennel said the coaches will run him through conditioning tests and then begin to catch him up on the offense.

Edwards said contrary to reports he did not leave Cleveland on Wednesday night.

“I was committed to getting the contract done once I was in Cleveland,� he said. “I wasn’t going to leave.�

The holdup was his agent, Lamont Smith, did leave and was detained in Chicago until late Thursday afternoon, causing Edwards to miss the practice.

Edwards said he’s been working with his father, who is a track coach to work on his speed and he has worked out with his alma mater in Ann Arbor.

Some of the receivers had been in contact with Edwards during his holdout.

“I don’t care who you are,� Antonio Bryant said. “You can’t just walk off the street and be ready to play. It’ll take a little time.�

“Braylon is going to be fine,� Andre Davis said. “He’ll catch up with everyone.�

Injury Update: RB Reuben Droughns (hamstring) was back at practice Thursday afternoon. Crennel said it will be a game time decision whether or not he will play. He also said TE Aaron Shea (hip) might play against the Giants. CB Daylon McCutcheon is showing some improvement according to Crennel.

(On Droughns) “It’s still to be determined,� Crennel said. “With a hamstring, sometimes it tightens up after a work out. We’ll see how he is tomorrow.�

“Daylon’s a little bit better,� he said. “Shea is still hopeful for Saturday.�

Green Anxious: RB William Green is anxious to show what he can do as he’s in a battle with Droughns and RB Lee Suggs for playing time.

“This is the same situation I’ve faced every year,� he said. “Competition is part of the business and I’ll do my best.�

Green said he’s willing to do whatever he’s called upon.

“I’ll do whatever my job is,� he said. “I’m a professional and I’m just going to focus to do the best I can possibly do.�

Green has been impressive in training camp and seems to be reinvigorated after the Browns gave him permission to work out a trade in the off-season and he found no takers.


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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>Passan: The Good Old Days

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2005 Training Camp

</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>By Rich Passan
Date: Aug 13, 2005

Rich describes the atmosphere at Camp Crennel
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Watching the Browns entertain their fans at the club’s summer training camp the last several days conjures up disparate thoughts. One of recent vintage; the other belonging to a long-ago, golden age.

First, Browns owner Randy Lerner and club President & CEO John Collins need guide dogs if they can’t see there is only one place for the club to hold its summer training camp.

They reportedly have cast covetous eyes toward the Columbus area for the team’s summer training camp in the near future. Stop it, guys. Right now.

Ringing the field on three sides, the fans this past weekend poured out their joy, their passion, their unrelenting and unconditional love for their team. It is a love affair that knows no bounds.

Even when sloppiness prevailed – and there was plenty in the first couple of days – the fans (well, a great majority of them) showed patience and showered the players with words of encouragement.

Just getting football back into their lives seemed good enough. At least for the time being.

They were all there in generational fashion. Fathers and grandfathers with young sons and grandchildren – from toddlers to teenagers – eyed the action on the field intently. The young ones, many of them clinging to small footballs cradled in their arms, viewed the proceedings wide-eyed.

This is how it all starts. Fathers and sons. Cleveland Browns football. It passes from generation to generation. It is more than a love affair to many. It is a part of the fabric of their lives.

It has been that way since 1946, when the Browns were formed by businessman Arthur (Mickey) McBride.

Giving rise to the second thought.

The scene at training camp today is different than it used to be. Far different. Worlds different.

Back in their fledgling days when the Browns trained at Hiram College, they did so in relative seclusion. Enthusiasm for the team was in its infancy.

The little pastoral town of Hiram, about 35 miles southeast of Cleveland, housed the Browns for many summers after a brief stay at Bowling Green University. Coach Paul Brown loved the rural setting for his team.

The atmosphere was completely different. It was casual to a fault. A few people would drop by practice, joining the three or four newspapermen assigned to cover the team.

It also wasn’t unusual to drop in on a Browns practice in Hiram and see reporters within yards of the players. Sometimes close enough to hear quarterback Otto Graham call the play in the huddle.

It must have worked because the Browns won championship after championship back then.

Training camp was so laid back, Brown sometimes would invite reporters to join in a film session to give them a better understanding of what the Browns tried to do and why. The man was a teacher.

Can you imagine Bill Belichick or Romeo Crennel or Bill Parcells – or any coach for that matter – doing something like that today with all the saturation coverage?

Unfortunately, that has changed dramatically over the years. Professional football has become big business.

A normal media turnout these days includes numerous television and radio stations, a large number of newspaper reporters, Web site reporters and occasional drop-ins from the national media.

Nothing wrong with that. But in many ways, it impersonalizes the event. There’s almost too much.

That’s because we live today in a society that wants – and needs – to know it all. It starves. It craves. Every last detail. Can’t get enough of the Browns.

In many ways, the yearning for the good, old days is tough to fight off.

But it is what it is and some day, today will be the good, old days.

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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>Camp Report: Ruff is Ready

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</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>By Fred Greetham
Date: Aug 15, 2005

Based on last Saturday night's performance, a linebacker few Browns fans had heard of prior to July may have a major impact this season. Orlando Ruff, a Saints salary cap casualty, is quietly moving up the depth chart...
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BEREA – He’s got the name that would make the Dawg Pound happy—meet Orlando Ruff.

One of the newest additions to the Browns linebacking corps, the seven-year NFL veteran found his name among the casualties of the June 1 salary purge of the New Orleans Saints.

The Browns brought him in and he caught Romeo Crennel’s eye in the preseason opener against the Giants.

“He had an active game,� Crennel said. “We’ve now put him into the rotation with the second team.�

Ruff led the Browns with six tackles and recorded a sack.

“I’m felt comfortable out there,� Ruff said. “I said when I first came here that my main purpose is to just contribute.

“Saturday’s game against the Giants was a starting point for me,� he said. “I try to not get too excited and just keep moving forward.�

Ruff has never played in the 3-4 defense, but is on the inside and could push Ben Taylor for playing time if he continues his progression.

He played his first four years with the San Diego Chargers after making the team as an undrafted free agent. He then was with the Saints the past two seasons.

“The coaches have been moving us around and looking at us in different situations.�

Ruff is a big, physical linebacker (6-3, 253 pounds) with speed. However, he says his biggest attribute comes from the inside.

“When the lights come on, that’s when it starts,� he said. “When I come into play, I want to run around out there and make things happen.

“My biggest attribute is my heart,� he said. “When I’m on the field I went to be around the ball. That’s my mentality.�

Ruff is used to battling the odds after playing after not being drafted coming out of Furman.

“I’ve fought my entire career and I’m used to it,� he said. “Coming in undrafted, nothing comes easy.�

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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>Passan: Realistic Expectations

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</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>By Rich Passan
Date: Aug 16, 2005

Trent Dilfer said after Saturday night's game that the Browns problems were fixable. Perhaps so, but Rich Passan suggests that you brace yourself for more of what you saw in the first quarter. Still, there were positives for Browns fans to take away from the game...
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It’s all about expectations. Realistic expectations.

How can anyone be upset at – or critical of – a team very few people expect to win as many as six games this season?

Yes, the Browns’ first-team offense and defense looked awful in Saturday night’s 17-14 victory over the New York Giants. Yes, the run defense was abysmal. Yes, penalties again blunted drives. Yes, the defensive line will be a problem area all season. And yes, poor tackling has not yet left town.

What did you expect? Really.

Romeo Crennel and Phil Savage to shut their eyes, click their heels three times and saunter down the yellow brick road? OK, wind up back in Kansas.

The Browns are in transition, much like they were when ol’ Paul Hilton rode in on his white horse in 2001 and made Chris Palmer the Houston Texans’ offensive coordinator. This is no different.

Back then, the Browns were coming off two seasons in which they were 5-27. Now, they’re coming off two seasons in which they were 9-23.

So the Browns won. Big whoop. What did they win? An exhibition game. A meaningless game. A game that had more rough edges than a chainsaw.

Mistakes were coming at such a feverish rate, it became laughable. They started early with three holding penalties on the first drive, causing one to think that nothing had changed.

Following the game, quarterback Trent Dilfer said the mistakes were “correctable.� Hmmmm. Where have we heard that one before?

Start with Jeff Garcia last season. Follow that with Kelly Holcomb the season before. And finish with Tim Couch. Notice a trend?

Hopefully, Crennel won’t make the same mistake Paul Hilton made last season with his starting quarterback. Garcia was ill prepared when the 2004 season began because he saw so little action in exhibition games. His complaints for more reps fell on deaf ears.

Dilfer and the first-team offense needs to work as much as possible to hone their game. There are too many new faces to trust that everything will be OK by the season opener Sept. 11 against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Right now, this is a team in search of itself. It is trying to be a run-first-, pass-second team on offense and a scheme-oriented team on defense. It will not overpower opponents defensively as much as it will fool them.

Don’t use what happened Saturday night as a barometer as to how good or bad this team will be this season. And don’t get too giddy that the Browns won.

They could go 4-0 in the exhibition season and still struggle to win six games when it counts.

There are still a truckload of questions that need to be answered. Like:

• How are the Browns going to stop the run with a nose tackle who gets blown off the ball way too many times?

• How long will it take before the players are comfortable with the 3-4 defense?

• Is Gary Baxter really as good a cover corner as Anthony Henry?

• Why wasn’t the first-team pass rush as good as that of the second and third team? Are the Browns’ second- and third-teamers that much better than the Giants’?

• Why weren’t the wide receivers incorporated more into the offense against New York?

• Will tackling technique now become a part of the club’s practice routine?

• Why can’t the offensive line stop holding?

• Why is it so difficult to catch a pass when you get your hands on the ball? And

• Will the Browns ever get a pass rush?

There are plenty more, but why belabor the issue. This is a team deeply in need of talent and it’s going to take a lot of time to assemble it.

Crennel, of course, was happy with the victory even though it was uglier than Cinderella’s stepsisters. But he can’t honestly be happy with the way his team played.

Of course, it wasn’t a total disaster.

The positives: The poise of quarterbacks Doug Johnson and rookie Charlie Frye; the pass rushing of outside linebacker Justin Kurpeikis; the special teams play of rookie Josh Cribbs; the performance of the second-team offensive line, especially Melvin Fowler and Greg Randall; the running of William Green; safety Sean Jones enjoying his blitzing role; Orlando Ruff’s solid play at inside linebacker.

The highlight of the evening, however, was the microphone malfunction of Channel 19 sideline reporter Sharon Reed, a news reader at the station. Her mouth moved furiously during a fourth-quarter report, but the television audience heard nothing but dead air.

If that report was as interesting and relevant as her other reports, we didn’t miss a thing.

It was a little like the Browns’ performance. Lots of effort, very little substance.

What else did you expect?



<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>Browns Counting on McKinley

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</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>By Fred Greetham
Date: Aug 16, 2005

With four defensive linemen busy wearing the blue and orange of the Denver Broncos, the Browns had some holes to fill. Stepping up into that void is DL Alvin McKinley. Fred Greetham talked to McKinley on Tuesday in Berea...
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BEREA – When the Browns decided to unload veterans Gerard Warren, Courtney Brown, Ebenezer Ekuban and Michael Myers in the off season—there was a huge void created in the experience factor of the defensive line.

Part of that void is expected to be filled by 6-3, 294 pound Alvin McKinley. The Browns have shown a lot of confidence in McKinley as he has just started two games in his prior five NFL seasons.

“I want to take advantage of the opportunity the Browns have given me,� McKinley said. “They have shown confidence in me and I want to show them they were right.�

McKinley’s only two NFL starts were last year with the Browns and yet he totaled 60 tackles, including three sacks and had 20 quarterback pressures. He also recovered two fumbles. In one his starts, against San Diego, he had 10 tackles.

He has 133 tackles in his career, including three sacks, three passes broken up and two fumble recoveries. He has also blocked two field goals in his career. He was a fourth-round draft choice of the Carolina Panthers in 2000 and after spending his rookie season with the Panthers he joined the Browns for the next four seasons after being released at the end of the 2001 training camp by Carolina.

McKinley is slated to open the season at defensive end opposite of Orpheus Roye. For McKinley, it’s the first time he’s played on the outside.

“It’s more of the scheme,� McKinley said. “The biggest difference is I’m taking on tackles 6’6� and 350 pounds as opposed to guys who are 6’-6’2� and 275-300 pounds.

“I have a whole lot bigger guys around me and blocking me,� he said. “It’s more about leverage and technique.�

McKinley, 27, played in the 3-4 defense while at college at Mississippi State, but was a nose tackle.

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[exhawg]

I knew Fraser would be a good pickup for the Browns. I just hope I can watch their next game to see him play.

Posted on Wed, Aug. 17, 2005 <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5"> <tbody><tr><td><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="250"><tbody><tr><td>
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Browns notebook

Dilfer has respect for Crennel's call

Quarterback believes Edwards should have to work his way to top

[size=-1]By Patrick McManamon[/size]

[size=-1]Beacon Journal sports writer[/size]

<!-- begin body-content --> BEREA - The first-round draft pick remained with the fourth team on Tuesday, and the quarterback had no problem whatsoever with it.

``I've been in situations where picks have held out and come in and been pampered and coddled,'' Browns quarterback Trent Dilfer said. ``I've never seen that work. It's not my decision. I have nothing to do with it.

``But as a player looking at how it's being handled, I respect it.''

Browns coach Romeo Crennel has made it very clear that he does not believe in giving rookies anything. They must earn their way up the depth chart -- and that includes the third overall pick in the draft.

``I have a great deal of respect for RAC (pronounced `rack') -- for a lot of reasons,'' Dilfer said. ``And that is one of them.''

Regarding wide receiver Braylon Edwards, Dilfer said: ``He's got a lot of work to do.''

McCutcheon works

Cornerback Daylon McCutcheon appeared on the practice field for the first time since camp started. McCutcheon, who has been suffering from headaches and dizziness, did individual drills, then watched the team practice from the sidelines.

There is no timetable on McCutcheon's return.

``He said he's feeling better,'' Crennel said, ``and he's glad that he's feeling better. But he also knows that he's not where he wants to be.''

The Newark Star-Ledger reported Tuesday that veteran corner Ray Mickens, released by the New York Jets, had narrowed his choice for a new team to the Tennessee Titans or the Browns.

Monday, Crennel said only an injury would prompt him to look for help at cornerback.

Bigger cast

Linebacker Chaun Thompson has an even bigger cast on his left hand, the remnants of breaking a bone in his wrist in training camp a year ago.

``I just listen to what the doctors tell me,'' Crennel said. ``The doctors tell me that he has a problem with that cast and it's still on. We thought we had made some progress with it; we haven't made as much progress as we thought we did.''

Crennel said Thompson will wear the cast for more support.

``He's hampered a little bit because he's not able to grasp with that hand as much,'' Crennel said.

Depth chart

Kyle Richardson moved to first-team punter on the Browns' new depth chart.

Other changes included Orlando Ruff being moved to second-team inside linebacker and rookie Simon Fraser of Ohio State moving to backup defensive end, behind Orpheus Roye.

Edwards is bracketed at fourth team with Lance Moore.

Brownies . . .

Dilfer said he had his worst practice as a Brown in the morning.After one errant throw, he took off his helmet and slammed it to the ground in disgust.... ``It's training camp and guys display some emotion in training camp,'' Crennel said. ``I think also it's a sign that he wants to get it done right and he wants to do it right. If he keeps throwing his helmet then it's frustrating because that means he's not getting the job done.''... Dilfer kicked himself for losing his cool.... Center Jeff Faine (pulled rib muscle) again missed practice, but running back Reuben Droughns was fullspeed, and the coach said he ran well.

Today's schedule

Practice is set for 2:30-4:30 p.m. For information, call 1-877-6-BROWNS.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>Fraser Creeps up the Depth Chart

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Simon Fraser

</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>By Fred Greetham
Date: Aug 17, 2005

Unless you are watching carefully, you might be missing an OSU Buckeye moving up the Cleveland Browns depth chart. Fred Greetham has the story...
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Berea – Don’t look now but undrafted rookie free agent Simon Fraser is quietly having a pretty good training camp. Normally, a player not drafted is not given much of a chance to make an NFL roster, but with the switch to the 3-4 and a plethora of inexperienced defensive linemen, Fraser is in the mix.

“He’s a very active young man,� Romeo Crennel said. “He’s got some juice, some energy out there. He’s moving around on the depth chart.�

Fraser is listed as the backup at left end behind Orpheus Roye—ahead of sixth-round draft choice Andrew Hoffman and second-year player Amon Gordon. He was listed on the third team prior to the Giants’ preseason game.

“I’m in a great place,� Fraser said. “Whether or not I was drafted or not at all, we’re on the same level out on the field. I just want to compete for a place on the team.�

Fraser doesn’t want to get too excited yet.

“It’s too early to tell,� he said. “I’m definitely getting more reps in practice, but the coaches are moving a lot of people around now.�

Fraser (6-6, 288 pounds) was a solid player at Ohio State, but was lost in a rebuilding period on the defensive line after the 2003 season. He played in all 51 games with the Buckeyes totaling 88 tackles, including 10 sacks, 22 tackles for loss, 16 passes broken up, two forced fumbles and one recovered fumble

Fraser batted down a Trent Dilfer pass and caught the ball with one hand for an interception last week at practice. He has knocked down several passes thus far in training camp.

“Batting down passes is a technique I’ve worked on to try and obscure the quarterbacks throwing motion,� Fraser said. “I try to use my size to disrupt the quarterback if I can’t get to him.�

Playing in front of over 100,000 people a week at Ohio State was a platform Fraser was used to but he still got a thrill playing his first NFL game last week.

“This is the elite level,� he said. “It was very exciting for me and my family to be a part of.�

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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Camp notes: Another corner down
By Zac Jackson, Staff Writer
August 17, 2005


The Browns' thin group of cornerbacks took another hit Wednesday when Michael Lehan pulled up during a 7-on-7 passing drill and left the field holding his right leg. Coach Romeo Crennel termed Lehan's injury a "sore hamstring."

Lehan has been playing with the first-team defense in place of Daylon McCutcheon, who's missed all of training camp due to headaches and visited another specialist Wednesday.

Lehan was attended to by the team's medical staff and spent the rest of practice operating a hand bike with strength coach John Lott. Crennel said he couldn't comment on Lehan's status for Saturday's preseason game in Detroit until Lehan receives further evaluation.

Leigh Bodden replaced Lehan with the first-team defense for the remainder of practice.

Crennel has talked during camp of the team's "short list" of available players at the cornerback position. Published reports have said the Browns are interested in veteran cornerback Ray Mickens, and Crennel said Mickens "is probably at the top of that short list."

Mickens, 32, missed all of last year with a torn ACL. He was released earlier this month when the Jets signed Ty Law. Mickens missed just one game in eight prior seasons with the Jets, totaling 11 interceptions but just 2 since 1999.

Crennel coached the Jets' defensive line for three years (1997-99) when Mickens was playing cornerback. The Jets acquired Mickens with the first pick of the third round in the 1996 draft.

Asked about how serious talks with Mickens were, Crennel said with Lehan's injury "they may be - should be - serious." Crennel said he and his staff would make some calls, and that contract terms would probably be the deciding factor in Mickens decision to join or not join the Browns.

"Ray has been in the league nine years, and I know there are some other teams interested in him," Crennel said. "I don't know what kind of offers these other teams might have put out there."

The Browns added veteran Antwan Harris early in training camp when it became apparent that McCutcheon would miss an extended period of time. Harris, Dyshod Carter, rookie fourth-round pick Antonio Perkins and Michael Grant have been playing corner behind Lehan and Bodden.

MORE INJURIES-Crennel said Lee Suggs twisted his ankle Wednesday but got it taped and returned to action.

Doug Johnson missed practice again and was ruled "doubtful" by Crennel to play in Saturday's game. Crennel said Johnson has a sore shoulder but no structural damage; Johnson said he had a "dead arm" from throwing so much in training camp.

Crennel said starting quarterback Trent Dilfer will probably play into the second quarter Saturday before giving way to Charlie Frye. Last week, Frye had to wait behind Dilfer and Johnson.

Rookies Brodney Pool (concussion), Andrew Hoffman (foot) and Jon Dunn (ankle) missed practice again. Crennel ruled Pool out for Saturday.

Jeff Faine and Aaron Shea participated fully in practice. They had been limited earlier in the week.

PICK PARTY-Gary Baxter intercepted Josh Harris near the end of practice Wednesday, and Orlando Ruff intercepted Lang Campbell on the next play.

Chris Crocker intercepted a Campbell pass on the next play but appeared to come down out of bounds. Two plays later Michael Jameson dropped what looked to be a sure interception thrown by Campbell.

About six plays later, on the final play of practice, Harris was intercepted by Grant.

PADS POPPING-The Browns weren't in full pads Wednesday, but that didn't stop Reuben Droughns from seeking out defenders for head-on collisions.

His best collision of the day with Brian Russell ended in a stalemate. After smacking helmets both players got up, kept running, and drew high-fives from teammates.

A few minutes later Droughns collided and playfully wrestled with rookie James King.

"You ain't gonna bring me down, rook," Droughns told him after the play.

"Reuben enjoys the competition," Crennel said. "When they hit him or he hits them, he enjoys that. It picks the guys up. They seem to rally around each other when Droughns is running the ball."

In another of the day's attention-grabbing collisions, William Green stepped up in the pocket to stop blitzing linebacker Nick Speegle. Green actually lifted Speegle off the ground; Speegle landed on his back.

PLAY OF THE DAY-Andre' Davis jumped and reached over Perkins to grab a high-arching pass from Frye during 7-on-7 drills.

WHAT'S AHEAD-The Browns' final practice of the week is Thursday at 2:45 p.m.

<H1 class=red>Browns Training Camp Log: Day 20

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Thursday, August 18, 2005


What happened: The Browns agreed to terms with Jets nine-year veteran cornerback Ray Mickens. Michael Lehan came up limping with a pulled hamstring. Trent Dilfer rebounded from his poor morning on Tuesday. He hit several long passes, including a 30-yarder to Aaron Shea and a 30-yarder to Antonio Bryant. William Green took out Nick Speegle on a block. Braylon Edwards gained good yardage on an end-around when he cut back inside and ran up the middle. Later, he collided with Lang Campbell on a fake reverse. But he continues to show good progress. After each play, he comes back and discusses it with coach Terry Robiskie.

Pick parade: The defense closed out practice with four interceptions. The good-hands teams included Gary Baxter, Orlando Ruff, Chris Crocker and Michael Grant. Two were off Josh Harris and two were off Campbell. Michael Jameson dropped another. Crennel attributed the picks to heads-up play by the defense, "but some of them might've been bad throws, too," he said.

Play of the day: Orpheus Roye stripped Harris of the ball and then scooped it up and ran it back.

<SCRIPT language=JavaScript1.1 src="http://ads.cleveland.com/RealMedia/ads/adstream_jx.ads/www.cleveland.com/xml/story/s3/s3brn/@StoryAd"></SCRIPT><!-- CLEVELANDLIVE/AOL01CL02 --><SCRIPT language=JavaScript1.1 src="/cgi-bin/donotcount/formatp.cgi/dhtml/jspop/jspop.ata?NAME=AOL&EXP=30"></SCRIPT>Quotable: "A dead arm? Sounds like you might need to cut it off." - Crennel, on Doug Johnson's sore shoulder.

Injury report: The following players sat out practice: CB Daylon McCutcheon (headaches), S Brodney Pool (concussion), OL Jonathan Dunn (ankle sprain), DT Andrew Hoffman, QB Doug Johnson (shoulder soreness).

Today's schedule: One practice, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. For updates, call 1-877-6-BROWNS.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>Les: Don't Believe Anything You Saw

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</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>By Les Levine
Date: Aug 18, 2005

Les Levine takes a look at the Browns pre-season debut...
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Exhibition games don’t mean a thing, although I think Browns fans would agree that, all things considered, it is better that the Browns came out on top of the New York Giants 17-14 on Saturday night, rather than the other way around. For a franchise that is trying to turn things around, under a new GM and head coach, I’m sure the win made things much more comfortable in Berea this past week.

But if Romeo Crennel was serious about getting the win, he certainly wouldn’t have had (or at least I would hope that wouldn’t have had) QB Lang Campbell throwing the ball when the Giants didn’t have enough time outs to prevent the Browns from running out the clock at the end of the game. In addition, the winning field goal was made by Tyler Jones, a guy who has as much chance of making the final roster as I do.

The main point is that nothing you see in the exhibition season, especially the first game, has any relevance to what you will see when the season starts. It is totally erroneous to analyze what the Browns second or third string does against the opposition’s second or third string, because they are not equal.

The game was penalty-plagued, to the point where the coaches had a tough time evaluating what they saw. There was no chance to get a rhythm going, because the down-and-distance situations were rarely normal. You have to wonder if some of the penalties could have been avoided if the Browns played in a controlled scrimmage, as they have in the past with Buffalo, or if the team did more hitting and tackling in practices in Berea. It seems to me that the lack of hitting and tackling might have avoided some early camp injuries, especially helpful because of the lack of depth at certain positions, but it has also led to a problem with timing, especially along the offensive line of scrimmage.

Hopefully Trent Dilfer and the rest of the first unit will get to play longer in game situations. Say what you want about Jeff Garcia, but his complaint during last year’s pre-season was right on the money. He didn’t feel he had enough game experience with his linemen and receivers during the pre-season, and it turned out that he was right. If the Browns are serious about gaining respectability this year, they need to get Dilfer ready for the season, and to see if Doug Johnson is the right guy to back him up. Why Lang Campbell would get any playing time is a great mystery to me.

Having said all that about the exhibition season, I am reminded that it is a total rip-off for the Browns, and other NFL teams to charge full price for tickets. Major League Baseball doesn’t do it, even when their games are mostly over a thousand miles from the home cities. In the case of the Browns, there is no choice. They’ve got us over a barrel, starting with PSL’s and continuing through the exhibition season. Maybe I’d feel better if they raised the price of the regular season games, while lowering the exhibition game prices. The total cost would be the same, but it might not sting as much, psychologically.

In addition, many fans tell me that I’m not alone in resenting the fact that part of my ticket cost goes to pay $12 million to Butch Davis, who quit on this team. I realize that Randy Lerner can do whatever he wants to do with his money, but he’s really doing it with my money, along with all other season ticket holders.
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Much has been said, and not much of it positive, about the telecast of the opening exhibition game, and by the time you read this, a change will be made in the broadcast team. While I am sure that Bob Golic would be a fine analyst, it was easy to predict that he would fail at play-by-play. Channel 19 let the Browns make the call on the broadcast team, trying to avoid a confrontation during the first year of their deal, but the station is the one that wound up with egg on its face. Everyone knows you only have one chance to make a first impression, and this one was a bad one. Hopefully the Browns marketing department will learn from this mistake.

‘More Sports & Les Levine’ can be seen M-F from 6-7pm and 11pm-midnight on Adelphia Channel 15 in northeast Ohio. E-mail [email protected] or www.leslevine.com


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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>Mickens Set to Bolster Secondary

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</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>By Fred Greetham
Date: Aug 18, 2005

New Browns cornerback Ray Mickens was in camp today, and is ready to roll. Fred Greetham talks to the defensive back, who wants to compete for a starting job, and brings us the rest of the news from Berea.
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Berea – When Romeo Crennel said cornerback Ray Mickens was at the top of the Browns’ short list, he wasn’t kidding.

Mickens, 32, was signed and on the field for Thursday’s practice. The nine-year NFL veteran played with the New York Jets his entire career after being the Jets’ third-round draft choice in 1996. He missed the 2004 season after tearing his ACL in a preseason practice. The Jets waived Mickens when they signed cornerback Ty Law.

“I have a lot of work to do to get back to where I want to be,� Mickens said. “I feel I’ve been one of the better nickel backs in the NFL.

“My job is to be a piece of the puzzle to help the Browns get back to the playoffs.�

Crennel sees Mickens fitting into the mix and give the Browns some experience. Crennel hopes to get Mickens on the field against Detroit. Leigh Bodden will start in place of Michael Lehan and Daylon McCutcheon at left corner, but Crennel said Mickens would be in the mix for the starting job.

“He brings nine years experience with him,� Crennel said. “We told Ray he would be a starting nickel back and compete for a starting job at left corner.

“He’s been primarily a backup at corner in his career, but has started a lot of games,� he said. “He was behind a couple of good corners with the Jets in Aaron Glenn and Marco Coleman.�

Mickens (5-8, 180 pounds) has a history with Crennel when Crennel was the Jets’ defensive line coach from 1997-99. His best season in the NFL was in 2003 when he played in all 16 games, including 14 starts and had 75 tackles, 18 pass break ups and two interceptions.

“The defense is familiar to me,� Mickens said. “I just need to get to the point where I don’t have to think about the call on the field.�

In his career, Mickens has played in 126 games and totaled 365 tackles, including 11 interceptions, six sacks, 79 pass deflections, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.

Mickens picked off a Charlie Frye pass in the end zone in his first practice in the brown and orange.

“As a kid growing up Frank Minnifield and Hanford Dixon made me want to play cornerback,� Mickens said. “Even though I was from Texas I followed the Browns. (Dixon and Minnifield) had a big influence on me.�

To make room for Mickens the Browns released defensive lineman Kevin Carberry.


Quick Hits

Suggs Out: QB Doug Johnson (arm), CB Daylon McCutcheon (headaches), OL John Dunn (foot), CB Michal Lehan (hamstring) and RB Lee Suggs (ankle) did not practice. Crennel ruled all but Suggs as out of Saturday’s game with Detroit.

“Suggs is day-to-day,� Crennel said.

Suggs’ ankle was taped heavily and he spent the practice riding on the stationary bicycle. He turned it in practice on Wednesday when he tried to catch a pass behind him.

The injury allowed RB Rueben Droughns and William Green to get most of the work in the backfield.

Bryant Excused: WR Antonio Bryant was excused by Crennel due to a death in the family. Crennel said when Bryant missed practice a week ago it was due to the family member being very ill. He is expected to re-join the team in Detroit either Friday night or Saturday. He is expected to play, but if he is unable to make it rookie WR Braylon Edwards could see more time.

“Braylon’s is slated to play in the second half,� Crennel said. “He might make a cameo appearance in the first half. However, if Antonio is not there, Braylon might get on the field sooner.�

Frye No. 2: QB Charlie Frye will follow QB Trent Dilfer in the rotation against the Lions. He is expected to enter the game in the second quarter.

“He should see action by the middle of the second quarter,� Crennel said. “He will get to go against better competition.�

Frye is ready for the chance.

“I’m excited that I should play more than last week,� he said. “I want to learn to feel more comfortable with the reads I have to make.�

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