Cleveland Browns (2008 Season)

[osugrad21]

Canton

Browns analysis: Players must tell themselves, 'It's only a preseason game'
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
BY STEVE DOERSCHUK
steve.doerschuk@cantonrep.com

BEREA The management mantra remains: "The name on the door is Cleveland."

The intended pride is illegible, though, after the Browns had their doors blown off in New Jersey.

The Browns were down, 30-3, faster than you could spell Kornheiser. With their heads reeling, it may take a while to get their expectations back on straight.

For Head Coach Romeo Crennel, the worst-case scenario is deja vu all over again. His 2005 team was surprisingly competitive, but his 2006 team ground the gear box into reverse. Who can guarantee Crennel's unexpected 10-6 season won't be followed by a surprise retreat?

As former Browns Coach Sam Rutigliano put it on WKNR-AM on Tuesday, "It looked like the players were trying to get everybody fired."

Crennel and Browns fans obviously thirst for a different outcome.
Cont...

[osugrad21]

Canton

Browns notebook: Special teams' blunders led to giant hole vs. Giants
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
BY Steve Doerschuk
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

BEREA The No. 1 offense and the No. 1 defense were not first in the line of blame.

True, Dont? Stallworth missed an easy early catch.

Andra Davis threw a stupid punch.

Eric Wright gave up 53 yards on an amateurish display of interference, then got smoked for six by Domenik Hixon.

Derek Anderson, with a chance to dig the Browns out of a 14-3 hole, misfired on a key pass not even Kellen Winslow Jr., who was wide open, could catch.

The offense and defense, however, were outdone by special teams in terms of doing in the New Jersey road trip.

At one point as the rout was worsening, special teams operated eight times and produced six game-altering foul-ups.

Itemizing:

1, (Giants lead 7-3) Joshua Cribbs' usual strong kick return was wiped out by Steve Heiden's holding penalty.

2, (Giants lead 7-3) Mike Adams crashes a fair catch. A 15-yard penalty gives the Giants possession at midfield.

3, (Giants lead 14-3) Brandon McDonald makes a fair catch inside the 10 on a punt seemingly headed for a touchback.
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[jlb1705]

It's not a cure, but it's another warm body at least.

Dolphins trade cornerback Travis Daniels to Browns - NFL - Yahoo! Sports

Dolphins trade cornerback Travis Daniels to Browns



DAVIE, Fla. (AP)?The Miami Dolphins traded cornerback Travis Daniels to the Cleveland Browns on Wednesday for an undisclosed draft pick.
Daniels played in all 16 games last season for Miami, including five starts. He had 27 tackles and an interception.
The Dolphins took Daniels with a fourth-round draft pick in 2005. Then-coach Nick Saban made the pick after coaching Daniels at LSU. Daniels has played cornerback and safety.
He started 14 games his rookie season and had 62 tackles and an interception. Daniels recorded 36 tackles and an interception in 2006.

[NFBuck]

Originally Posted by jlb1705

It's not a cure, but it's another warm body at least.

Dolphins trade cornerback Travis Daniels to Browns - NFL - Yahoo! Sports

Anything is an upgrade at this point. At least it's some depth if nothing else.

[Crashcup]

Originally Posted by NFBuck

Anything is an upgrade at this point. At least it's some depth if nothing else.

That's what I like to see...PROGRESS!

Nowhere but up, up and away.

[NFBuck]

Originally Posted by Crashcup

That's what I like to see...PROGRESS!

Nowhere but up, up and away.

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Six starters on sidelines for Lions Quinn to open Saturday's game at quarterback. Anderson is out with concussion
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer

Published on Thursday, Aug 21, 2008

BEREA: Traditionally, NFL coaches play their starters extensively in the third preseason game to fine-tune them for the opener.
Cleveland's Romeo Crennel is being forced to buck tradition.
The Browns will be without five starters ? six if you count right guard Ryan Tucker ? and receiver/returner Joshua Cribbs for Saturday afternoon's game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field.
Quarterback Derek Anderson (concussion), running back Jamal Lewis (hamstring), linebacker Willie McGinest (groin), free safety Brodney Pool (concussion) and Cribbs (ankle) were injured in Monday night's 37-34 road loss against the New York Giants.
Joining them will be Braylon Edwards, who might be shut down for the rest of preseason after being cut on the heel by fellow receiver Donte' Stallworth while jogging in his socks Aug. 9. Tucker is rehabbing after undergoing hip surgery in May.
All but Pool and Tucker have been to a Pro Bowl in their careers.
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[osugrad21]

CPD

Lewis, McGinest join Browns' injured; both will be held out of Detroit preseason game

by Mary Kay Cabot Wednesday August 20, 2008, 5:54 PM


Lisa DeJong/The Plain DealerJamal Lewis will miss Saturday's exhibition game against Detroit with a hamstring pull.
Running back Jamal Lewis and linebacker Willie McGinest were added Wednesday to the long list of Browns who will most likely sit out Saturday's preseason game in Detroit with injuries. Lewis pulled a hamstring against the Giants and McGinest pulled a groin muscle. Both were absent from practice Wednesday afternoon. Lewis will be replaced by Jason Wright and Jerome Harrison and McGinest might be spelled by rookie Alex Hall, who saw action with the first team in practice.
Safety Sean Jones also sat out the second half of practice and was replaced by Nick Sorensen, but coach Romeo Crennel said he was just sore from the game and giving him a break. Nose tackle Shaun Rogers returned to action after missing the Giants game and is expected to play against his former team on Saturday.
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[osugrad21]

CPD

Don't blame Romeo: Veterans reject criticism of camp workouts following Giants loss

by Tony Grossi Wednesday August 20, 2008, 7:27 PM


Marvin Fong/The Plain DealerAndra Davis (center) on whether a light training camp schedule contributed to the Monday loss to the Giants: "A lot of people don't do half the stuff we do. Us as players, we appreciate (Romeo Crennel) taking care of us. I don't think ... it wasn't physical, the reason we lost. It was more mental."

Reality check. Wake-up call. Bucket of cold water in the face. The Monday night debacle in the Meadowlands swamp was all of the above to the Browns, they acknowledge. But no player agrees with coach Romeo Crennel's assessment that the discouraging performance in the first half of the 37-34 loss to the New York Giants had something to do with relatively light practice sessions during training camp.
You'll never hear a player complain about hitting too little in practice, and that held true on Wednesday.
Linebacker Andra Davis conceded the physical tone of Crennel's fourth camp as Browns coach has been turned down a notch.

Cont...

[LitlBuck]

Originally Posted by jlb1705

It's not a cure, but it's another warm body at least.

Dolphins trade cornerback Travis Daniels to Browns - NFL - Yahoo! Sports

It was reported today in the Plain Dealer that they traded their 7th round pick next year for this acquisition. Your are right on we need some depth and this guy sounds like that is what he will bring. He is probably better than anything else we have for a backup CB right now.

About the only good thing that I saw coming out of the Giants game was when Alex Hall ran down that guy on the Giants kickoff return. I thought that was pretty impressive for a guy listed at 6'5" and 250 pounds. I will be interested in seeing how he performs this weekend since Willie will not be playing.

[NJ-Buckeye]

We need to trade a TE for a CB (and Philly seems to be a good place to look)

Hall may have run down the kick returner... but he was less than stellar at OLB .. he looked like a matador

[brodybuck21]

Originally Posted by NJ-Buckeye

We need to trade a TE for a CB (and Philly seems to be a good place to look)

Hall may have run down the kick returner... but he was less than stellar at OLB .. he looked like a matador

I know this has been brought up before but what about trading for Youboty? Buffalo has a [censored]-ton of cb's and Ashton is still young. Speculation out of Bills camp is that they are showcasing him for a trade. Plus didnt Mel Tucker recruit Ashton while he was at OSU?

[LitlBuck]

Originally Posted by NJ-Buckeye

We need to trade a TE for a CB (and Philly seems to be a good place to look)

Hall may have run down the kick returner... but he was less than stellar at OLB .. he looked like a matador

Originally Posted by brodybuck21

I know this has been brought up before but what about trading for Youboty? Buffalo has a [censored]-ton of cb's and Ashton is still young. Speculation out of Bills camp is that they are showcasing him for a trade. Plus didnt Mel Tucker recruit Ashton while he was at OSU?

I agree with both of you regarding trading for a CB but the problem is finding a partner. Buffalo actually would be our best bet because they are in need of TE's. The only problem is that while it used to be a position of strength for the Browns with Rucker being out until after the bye week it is really don't longer a position of depth with Heidin's sore back and Winslow being sore all over.

The Eagles want a second round draft choice for Shepard and his contract demands are too outrageous for the Browns. That's about the only CB they have to offer. I would take a fly on Ashton if the Buffalo demands would take one of our leftovers.

I will have to keep my on Hall when he plays OLB. My problem is watching the game and not just one position unless they come right at him. That's why I depend on you guys

[paddio]

If we could land Youboty from Buffalo I would be thrilled. I have also heard the Bills are showcasing him, so we will see what happens.

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Shaun Rogers resists chance to blast Lions Browns tackle to return to Detroit as opponent
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer

Published on Friday, Aug 22, 2008
BEREA: Granted, it's only preseason. And who knows if anyone knows what makes Shaun Rogers tick.
But talking to the new Browns' defensive tackle about facing the team where he spent the previous seven years, going against the coach who gave up on him, some might wonder if he really pushed to play Monday night.
It doesn't seem a stretch to think that Rogers can't wait to unleash all 6-foot-4 and 350 pounds of himself on the Detroit Lions on Saturday.
But if that's his plan, he wouldn't let on Thursday.
''I think I play every game with a certain level of intensity and confidence. That's how I'm going to approach this game as well,'' he said.
Browns coach Romeo
Crennel figures Rogers will have little fire in his gut.
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