Expectation, not desperation, is Browns' companion as training camp opens
by Tony Grossi
Saturday July 19, 2008, 11:34 PM

The Browns training camp that kicks off with its first open practice on Wednesday is like none other in recent memory.

There's no quarterback controversy, no scramble to field five healthy offensive linemen, no high-round draft pick holdout to occupy the headlines.

Coach Romeo Crennel won't be presiding over any coin tosses to decide starting positions. Most, if not all, are fairly obvious.

"Really, the biggest questions we're going to face is sorting our [roster] numbers," said General Manager Phil Savage. "Will we keep five or six defensive linemen, five or six receivers, three or four tight ends, nine or 10 linebackers?"

It's a sign of the team's growth.

Having been tabbed by the NFL as a team to watch in 2008, the Browns must adjust to high expectations and newfound notoriety. Their training camp will be a popular destination for members of the national football media.

The big issues as camp opens are health and acquiring a veteran cornerback.

Receiver Joe Jurevicius and offensive lineman Ryan Tucker will begin camp nursing injuries. Jurevicius could miss all of preseason -- and some regular-season games -- after needing a third surgical procedure this month to clean out a staph infection in his right knee. Tucker is expected to be ready sometime in August after having hip surgery in June.

As for cornerback, Savage has to decide how long to wait for a veteran to become available. He can trade for one or sign one released from another team.

"I feel pretty good about our depth overall," Savage said. "The cornerback thing is something ongoing. That's a position we're watching closely."

The key battles

1. No. 3 wide receiver

Candidates: Josh Cribbs, Kevin Kasper, Travis Wilson, Paul Hubbard (rookie), Syndric Steptoe, Steve Sanders.

Analysis: Joe Jurevicius was third in the NFL last season with 29 receptions on third downs (Kellen Winslow had 24, Braylon Edwards 19), so this is a critical role to fill until he returns. Cribbs really is a specialty player and may not be an official candidate for the full-time job. He's more of an insurance policy if nobody steps forward. Kasper is a well-traveled veteran who's been with five teams in four years and also spent two complete seasons out of the NFL. Still, his 24 career receptions are 22 more than all the remaining candidates. After two disappointing years, Wilson needs a good camp to make the team. Hubbard was drafted for his size (6-2 and 225 pounds). He is still learning the position after walking on at Wisconsin as a track athlete. Steptoe and Sanders have the benefit of learning the offense on the practice squad last year.

2. No. 4 cornerback

Candidates: Jereme Perry, A.J. Davis, Mil'von James (r), Damon Jenkins (r), Gerard Lawson (r).

Analysis: The first two weeks of this battle may determine whether the Browns overpay in a trade for a cornerback or wait for scraps from roster cuts. Perry has a big edge because he's the only one with NFL experience. He played in 12 games for the Browns in 2006 and preserved a win in Atlanta with a recovery of a late fumble by Michael Vick. Davis, a fourth-round draft pick of Detroit in 2007, spent the majority of the season on the Browns' practice squad. James and Lawson were signed as undrafted rookies. James started opposite Eric Wright at Nevada-Las Vegas in 2006. At Oregon State, Lawson was also an accomplished special teamer. Jenkins, of Fresno State, won a roster spot in a minicamp tryout.

3. Backup defensive linemen

Candidates: Louis Leonard, Melila Purcell, Chase Pittman, Ahtyba Rubin (r), Damon Jenkins (r).

Analysis: A maximum of two spots are available behind Corey Williams, Shaun Rogers, Robaire Smith and Shaun Smith. Rubin might be the only natural nose tackle on the roster and was championed by several Browns scouts prior to the draft. His presence means Leonard needs a big camp to win a roster spot. Purcell and Pittman were late-round picks in 2007. Both needed to beef up to play end in the 3-4. Purcell added 10 pounds and now is listed at 296. Pittman added 25 pounds to reach 300.

4. Nos. 3 and 4 tight ends

Candidates: Martin Rucker (r), Darnell Dinkins, Kolomona Kapanui (r), Brad Cieslak.

Analysis: Rucker would have to bust out not to make the final roster. Keeping a fourth tight end is probable, but not guaranteed. Dinkins has been the third tight end for two years, but the team was not happy with his penalties on special teams. Kapanui was a fairly prolific pass catcher for two years at West Texas A&M. Cieslak finished 2007 on Browns practice squad.

Brandon McDonald (22) had his moments for the Browns last season, but will he be able to hold up as a starter across from Eric Wright?

Relevant questions

1. Can Brandon McDonald make people forget Leigh Bodden?

Grossi's take: The second-year cornerback filled in well as a rookie, but defending starting wideouts over a full season is a greater challenge.

2. How critical is the return of Ryan Tucker?

Grossi's take: Expected back in August after fracturing a hip prior to minicamp, he could still be one of the five best linemen and is the only proven tackle behind the starters.

3. How will the coaches divide playing time for Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn?

Grossi's take: Expect each to start two preseason games. Anderson's starting spot won't be challenged, but Quinn needs to play with the first team, too.

4. How will the defensive front shake out?

Grossi's take: The top four will share three starting spots with Shaun Smith and Shaun Rogers playing nose and end.

5. What role on offense will be defined for Josh Cribbs?

Grossi's take: They're preparing a special package of plays, but they don't want to over-use him because he is a rare impact player on special teams.

6. Which returning player has the most to gain with a good preseason?

Grossi's take: Inside linebacker Andra Davis took a paycut to stay. He possibly could earn a new contract by elevating his game this year.

7. What's in store in Year 3 for Jerome Harrison?

Grossi's take: The running back may earn more playing time, but the coaches know that Jamal Lewis needs 20-plus carries a game to be most effective.

8. What can Gary Baxter contribute?

Grossi's take: He could be a backup safety and have a role in "dime" coverages, but his days at cornerback appear to be over.

Roadell Hickman/The Plain DealerMuch as he did in New England with teammate Randy Moss, Donte' Stallworth will be asked to help defenses pay for double-teaming the Browns' Kellen Winslow and Braylon Edwards.
Other newcomers to watch

1. Donte' Stallworth, receiver

Grossi's take: He was miscast early in his career as a No. 1 receiver. Here, coaches expect him to be a plus in yards after catch -- something the Browns weren't particularly good at last year.

2. Beau Bell, inside linebacker

Grossi's take: The fourth-round draft pick from Nevada-Las Vegas is expected to be an immediate core player on special teams. How soon he contributes on defense is a mystery.

3. Alex Hall, pass rusher

Grossi's take: The seventh-round pick is trying to jump from Division II college football to the NFL. There's a spot for him if he can rush the passer like he did at St. Augustine College.

4. Travis Thomas and Austin Scott, running backs

Grossi's take: One of these two undrafted free agents will stick on the practice squad and be groomed as a candidate to succeed Lewis down the road.

Another about rosters and camp.


Cleveland Browns and other NFL teams dealing with smaller rosters for 2008 training camps

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Tony Grossi
Plain Dealer Reporter


What do you think is General Manager Phil Savage's great est concern as Browns training camp kicks off Wednesday?

The still-thin cornerback situation? The absence of a proven runner behind Jamal Lewis? Receiver Joe Jurevicius' lingering staph infection?

All are reasons for Savage to fret. But his biggest worry is that his camp roster isn't big enough. And he's not alone among NFL GMs.

Training-camp rosters are one thing in sports that have been consistently shrinking. In the 1980s, it was routine for teams to bring 100 or more players to camp.

Expansion in the 1990s diluted the player pool and roster limits gradually came down to 80. But it was a "soft" cap. For 15 years, teams would get roster exemptions for players loaned to spring developmental league NFL Europe. That would enable teams to carry 85 to 90 players in training camp, counting the players returning from the spring league.

NFL Europe was extinguished by team owners last August because it wasn't making money. Now the 80-player roster is a hard cap. It can't be exceeded.

The Browns' 80-player roster for the opening of camp will not include Jurevicius and offensive lineman Ryan Tucker. Both will open the summer on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.

Jurevicius is struggling to defeat a staph infection in his right knee and likely will miss all of camp. If so, he would begin the season on the PUP list and then be lost for a minimum of six weeks and probably more.

Tucker is out after having hip surgery in June. He is expected to return to practice sometime in August.

So that means two of the Browns' 30 or so key players will miss at least the first two weeks of camp. And don't forget that cornerback Daven Holly is out for the year after knee surgery.

"I think that's the biggest concern - we won't have three at the start," Savage said. "You just don't want to wear your team out in July and August. That's the thing you worry about the most."

Some coaches already have talked about reducing practices to keep players from fatigue and injury. Browns coach Romeo Crennel has scheduled 10 two-a-day sessions this summer - up a couple from last year - but it's possible he will shorten or eliminate some of them.

Another way teams are feeling the pinch of the hard 80-player limit is how they allocate their roster. For the first time in memory, the Browns have only three quarterbacks in camp - Derek Anderson, Brady Quinn and Ken Dorsey.

Over the course of camp, they can expect to throw upwards of 300 passes apiece. And that doesn't include the four preseason games.

"We've talked about it a lot . . . a lot," Savage said. "We're going to monitor it. The fourth arm basically is used for drills, and we feel we have enough coaches and ballboys to handle that."

For the record, the Browns head into camp with their active 80-player roster divided this way: 15 defensive backs (cornerbacks and safeties), 13 offensive linemen, 12 linebackers, 10 defensive linemen, 10 wide receivers, six tight ends, five running backs, three quarterbacks, two fullbacks, two kickers, one punter and one long snapper.

Going fast:

Some readers have noted the Browns' advertising blitz to sell single-game tickets and wondered if more tickets than usual became available this year.

Bill Bonsiewicz, club spokesman, said the opposite is true.

"I would say they are becoming increasingly more limited," he said.

Bonsiewicz said tickets remain available for the New York Jets (Thursday, Aug. 7) and Chicago Bears (Thursday, Aug. 28) preseason games, and for regular-season games against Denver (Thursday, Nov. 6) and Cincinnati (Dec. 21).

Cornerback hunt:

Savage said he has had discussions with a couple of teams regarding a trade for a cornerback. He'd like to barter a player rather than a draft choice, but each team is weighing its roster and is unwilling to pull the trigger before camps open.

One player still available but seemingly not in the mix is Philadelphia's Lito Sheppard. He recently switched agents, hiring Drew Rosenhaus, in hopes of getting a new contract - either with the Eagles or with a new team.

Sheppard has four years to go on a contract that pays him $2 million this season. After signing Asante Samuel in free agency, the Eagles would like to unload Sheppard, who has missed 16 games because of injuries the past three years.

Rosenhaus, who is in town attending the Kellen Winslow football camp, said on Saturday that he has not received permission from the Eagles to hunt for a trade partner.

The Eagles asked for a high second-round pick for Sheppard prior to the draft. They may raise their demand now to a first-rounder. Sheppard was a first-round pick in 2002.

The Eagles answered Savage's prayers in 2006 by giving him center Hank Fraley for a seventh-round pick. It's doubtful they would help the Browns now at cornerback.

Inflation:

Would you rather have Brady Quinn or Joe Flacco at quarterback? The Ravens, who tried but failed to trade into the first round for Quinn last year, drafted Flacco with the No. 18 overall pick out of Delaware this year. They're also paying him more than the Browns are paying Quinn. Flacco reportedly signed a five-year deal that could reach $30 million, with $8.75 million guaranteed. Quinn, the 22nd pick last year, got $7.75 million guaranteed with a maximum of $20.2 million.

Another...this time from Ridenour


By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sportswriter

Published on Sunday, Jul 20, 2008

When the Browns open training camp Wednesday, there will be one notable absence.

A quarterback controversy.

Since the franchise returned in 1999, most summers have been consumed by the question, ''Who will take the first snap from center on opening day?''

Couch vs. Detmer, Couch vs. Holcomb, Frye vs. Anderson vs. Quinn. Even in the years when a newcomer such as Jeff Garcia or Trent Dilfer was brought in to take over, there was an underlying sense of dissatisfaction — Garcia with coach Butch Davis' offensive scheme, Dilfer with his role as a mentor to Charlie Frye.

But when Derek Anderson signed a three-year, $26 million contract with $14.5 million guaranteed, the Browns committed to Anderson in 2008. Brady Quinn, the Notre Dame star drafted in the first round in 2007, will be the backup for another year, barring injury.

Going into his fourth pro season, Anderson has everything a quarterback could ask for — an outstanding offensive line, a 1,300-yard rusher in Jamal Lewis, two big receiving threats in Braylon Edwards and tight end Kellen Winslow and coordinator Rob Chudzinski, so active in dreaming up new wrinkles that Anderson deemed him a ''mad scientist.''

So there will be no controversy when the Browns hit the fields in Berea for 28 practices during 19 days of camp.

But there might be a quarterback quandary.

Will Anderson take a majority of the snaps to get sharp? Or will coach Romeo Crennel be cautious to keep him healthy? A case can be made that Anderson needs work. He could have wrestled the job from since-traded Frye in last year's camp, but failed to throw a preseason touchdown.

Or will Crennel give more practice and preseason game time to Quinn? As a rookie, he held out, missing 11 days, then took only 10 snaps in the regular season.

Will the Browns think only about the Sept. 7 opener against the Dallas Cowboys and put aside the decision they must
make between Anderson and Quinn in early 2009? Will they be content to evaluate Quinn strictly off limited practice and preseason film if Anderson stays injury-free for the second consecutive year?

Only a select few know the answers. Those scenarios might not have been discussed at length. Going into camp, Crennel surely will be more worried about his inexperienced cornerbacks than his talented quarterbacks.

Rich Gannon, the 2002 NFL Most Valuable Player as quarterback of the Oakland Raiders and now an analyst for CBS, thinks that Quinn will get the majority of the preseason time.

''Since they know who the starter is, usually the guy who gets the bulk of the work is the second guy,'' Gannon said by phone Thursday. ''You want to protect the starter. That allows a player like Brady to get a lot of work. The guy needs to play. You need to find out how he's going to respond. It's almost impossible to duplicate the tempo, the speed and the confusion of the game in practice.

''From the offseason training activities, quarterback school, minicamps, you're going to get a pretty good feel of where he is coming out of training camp.''

Considering Anderson led the team to a 10-5 record during a 10-6 season, threw 29 touchdown passes (one shy of Brian Sipe's record), went to the Pro Bowl and became a millionaire, he should be more relaxed about the situation. Anderson spent the offseason trying to improve throwing to his left, his touch on the short pass and his accuracy.

Quinn, who had been a starter since Game 4 of his freshman year at Notre Dame, is still telling himself there's a competition. The Browns are going to camp with only three quarterbacks, with five-year veteran but little-used Ken Dorsey as the third.

Quinn said he wasn't curious about his preseason playing time.

''Looking forward to whatever reps I get,'' he said in June. ''I'm sure it will be more than during last regular season.''

As far back as January, Browns General Manager Phil Savage was asked how he could project Quinn's starting skills from what little he has seen.

''One thing that we know about Brady is that he has some inherent leadership qualities,'' Savage said then. ''He has a great work ethic. He's a gym rat. He's got a lot of qualities you're looking for in a quarterback. We're excited about it.''

When he received a contract extension in May, Savage said drafting Quinn ''in a dramatic way'' was one of his proudest transactions. He didn't mention snatching Anderson from the Baltimore Ravens when they tried to sneak him through waivers in September 2005.

What will happen in the regular season is also anyone's guess. Several first-round draft choices have been forced to wait. Carson Palmer sat for a year behind Jon Kitna with the Cincinnati Bengals. Steve McNair started only six games in his first two years while the Houston Oilers went with Chris Chandler. Like Quinn, Philip Rivers probably blew a chance to start with the San Diego Chargers with a 2004 holdout, then rode the bench for two years when Drew Brees seized the opportunity.

''While Derek Anderson had a real solid year a year ago, in my opinion, he's on a fairly short leash,'' Gannon said. ''If they lose a couple games, and he doesn't play well, you know how fans are and not just in Cleveland. They're going to be pulling for the other guy. That's the situation Cleveland hopes doesn't happen, but it very well could.

''They'll try to find a way to get Brady some playing time, whether it's in games you have under control or games going in the other direction.''

Gannon knows unless you're coaching New England or Indianapolis, that's easier said than done.

What seems unusual about the Browns' situation is that usually the first-round pick wins out. Another season of big numbers from Anderson will break that trend. But Gannon leans toward Quinn for the Browns' long term.

''I think Brady Quinn has got a future in Cleveland,'' Gannon said. ''They felt strongly about him; they picked him in the first round. He's in probably as good a situation as there can be. He's on an up-and-coming team that's really turned the corner. When he finally does get to play, he'll be fine.''

Thousands of fans will come to camp wearing Quinn's jersey. But being the people's choice or the analysts' choice will have nothing to do with it.

Being a first-round pick might not, either.

When the Browns open training camp Wednesday, there will be one notable absence.

A quarterback controversy.

Since the franchise returned in 1999, most summers have been consumed by the question, ''Who will take the first snap from center on opening day?''

Couch vs. Detmer, Couch vs. Holcomb, Frye vs. Anderson vs. Quinn. Even in the years when a newcomer such as Jeff Garcia or Trent Dilfer was brought in to take over, there was an underlying sense of dissatisfaction — Garcia with coach Butch Davis' offensive scheme, Dilfer with his role as a mentor to Charlie Frye.

But when Derek Anderson signed a three-year, $26 million contract with $14.5 million guaranteed, the Browns committed to Anderson in 2008. Brady Quinn, the Notre Dame star drafted in the first round in 2007, will be the backup for another year, barring injury.

Going into his fourth pro season, Anderson has everything a quarterback could ask for — an outstanding offensive line, a 1,300-yard rusher in Jamal Lewis, two big receiving threats in Braylon Edwards and tight end Kellen Winslow and coordinator Rob Chudzinski, so active in dreaming up new wrinkles that Anderson deemed him a ''mad scientist.''

So there will be no controversy when the Browns hit the fields in Berea for 28 practices during 19 days of camp.

But there might be a quarterback quandary.

Will Anderson take a majority of the snaps to get sharp? Or will coach Romeo Crennel be cautious to keep him healthy? A case can be made that Anderson needs work. He could have wrestled the job from since-traded Frye in last year's camp, but failed to throw a preseason touchdown.

Or will Crennel give more practice and preseason game time to Quinn? As a rookie, he held out, missing 11 days, then took only 10 snaps in the regular season.

Will the Browns think only about the Sept. 7 opener against the Dallas Cowboys and put aside the decision they must
make between Anderson and Quinn in early 2009? Will they be content to evaluate Quinn strictly off limited practice and preseason film if Anderson stays injury-free for the second consecutive year?

Only a select few know the answers. Those scenarios might not have been discussed at length. Going into camp, Crennel surely will be more worried about his inexperienced cornerbacks than his talented quarterbacks.

Rich Gannon, the 2002 NFL Most Valuable Player as quarterback of the Oakland Raiders and now an analyst for CBS, thinks that Quinn will get the majority of the preseason time.

''Since they know who the starter is, usually the guy who gets the bulk of the work is the second guy,'' Gannon said by phone Thursday. ''You want to protect the starter. That allows a player like Brady to get a lot of work. The guy needs to play. You need to find out how he's going to respond. It's almost impossible to duplicate the tempo, the speed and the confusion of the game in practice.

''From the offseason training activities, quarterback school, minicamps, you're going to get a pretty good feel of where he is coming out of training camp.''



Considering Anderson led the team to a 10-5 record during a 10-6 season, threw 29 touchdown passes (one shy of Brian Sipe's record), went to the Pro Bowl and became a millionaire, he should be more relaxed about the situation. Anderson spent the offseason trying to improve throwing to his left, his touch on the short pass and his accuracy.

Quinn, who had been a starter since Game 4 of his freshman year at Notre Dame, is still telling himself there's a competition. The Browns are going to camp with only three quarterbacks, with five-year veteran but little-used Ken Dorsey as the third.

Quinn said he wasn't curious about his preseason playing time.

''Looking forward to whatever reps I get,'' he said in June. ''I'm sure it will be more than during last regular season.''

As far back as January, Browns General Manager Phil Savage was asked how he could project Quinn's starting skills from what little he has seen.

''One thing that we know about Brady is that he has some inherent leadership qualities,'' Savage said then. ''He has a great work ethic. He's a gym rat. He's got a lot of qualities you're looking for in a quarterback. We're excited about it.''

When he received a contract extension in May, Savage said drafting Quinn ''in a dramatic way'' was one of his proudest transactions. He didn't mention snatching Anderson from the Baltimore Ravens when they tried to sneak him through waivers in September 2005.

What will happen in the regular season is also anyone's guess. Several first-round draft choices have been forced to wait. Carson Palmer sat for a year behind Jon Kitna with the Cincinnati Bengals. Steve McNair started only six games in his first two years while the Houston Oilers went with Chris Chandler. Like Quinn, Philip Rivers probably blew a chance to start with the San Diego Chargers with a 2004 holdout, then rode the bench for two years when Drew Brees seized the opportunity.

''While Derek Anderson had a real solid year a year ago, in my opinion, he's on a fairly short leash,'' Gannon said. ''If they lose a couple games, and he doesn't play well, you know how fans are and not just in Cleveland. They're going to be pulling for the other guy. That's the situation Cleveland hopes doesn't happen, but it very well could.

''They'll try to find a way to get Brady some playing time, whether it's in games you have under control or games going in the other direction.''

Gannon knows unless you're coaching New England or Indianapolis, that's easier said than done.

What seems unusual about the Browns' situation is that usually the first-round pick wins out. Another season of big numbers from Anderson will break that trend. But Gannon leans toward Quinn for the Browns' long term.

''I think Brady Quinn has got a future in Cleveland,'' Gannon said. ''They felt strongly about him; they picked him in the first round. He's in probably as good a situation as there can be. He's on an up-and-coming team that's really turned the corner. When he finally does get to play, he'll be fine.''

Thousands of fans will come to camp wearing Quinn's jersey. But being the people's choice or the analysts' choice will have nothing to do with it.

Being a first-round pick might not, either.

I was just about to post the first Grossi article...I'm getting stoked. This is what it means to be a Browns fan--I'm pumped up reading about the start of camp, I think the Browns should be a playoff team this year, and yet a couple of decades of Browns football have me also holding back, just in case.

Why don't other fans have to put up with this? I mean, Cardinals fans root for a team that has always sucked, so if the team goes 10-6 and misses the playoffs by tiebreakers, they can still talk about having one of the best seasons in team history. If the Patriots go 10-6 and miss the playoffs, then it's clearly a hiccup in the dynasty. Case in point: I ran into a friend of mine who's a Steelers fan a few years ago, the week after they won the Super Bowl. Being the gracious fellow I am, I congratulated him on the team's win (even though, as a fan, he clearly did nothing to merit congratulation). He thanked me, but then pointed out that, "You know, it was such a sloppy game...it wasn't like the others." The others being the four in the seventies. To borrow a line from Cartman, I wanted to kick him square in the nuts.

Why can't we have that? All it takes is one--and then, if the season goes to crap, that's fine, the team still has a Super Bowl. QB controversy? That's fine, the team still has a Super Bowl. Life would get so much simpler: no more pity from other teams' fans. No more clinging to pre-merger titles, or titles that the team won while playing in a glorified AAA league. No more favorite moments that start with "This one time, when we were this close to winning a playoff game..."

All it takes is one title, and we can rightly say screw it to all of that nonsense. And yes, I know I'm sounding like a Red Sox fan here, and it tears me up inside. I've got to get it under control here...maybe I'll go pee on Bill Simmons's socks or something.

Dennis

quote:

''One thing that we know about Brady is that he has some inherent leadership qualities,'' Savage said then. ''He has a great work ethic. He's a gym rat. He's got a lot of qualities you're looking for in a quarterback. We're excited about it.''

When he received a contract extension in May, Savage said drafting Quinn ''in a dramatic way'' was one of his proudest transactions. He didn't mention snatching Anderson from the Baltimore Ravens when they tried to sneak him through waivers in September 2005.

Just saying.....

quote:

Originally posted by DesertDawg:
He's a gym rat.

Well, there's a reason for that - you understand, right? And it's non-football related.

Regards



.... an'at



.

Very good reports in today's PD...It all begins Wednesday!