GARAY OUT AGAIN: A reporter mentioned to rookie
defensive lineman Antonio Garay that he should be used
to rehab by now with all the injuries he suffered at
Boston College.
Garay leaned on his crutches, rolled his eyes and
said, “tell me about it.”
Contrary to reports that have been circling in the
media, Garay said the upcoming surgery to repair a
torn ACL and MCL will be the first time he’s ever gone
under the knife.
“I had a medical redhsirt my junior year at Boston
College for a sprained knee, but I did not have
surgery,” he said.
The Browns team doctors have not told Garay how long a
recovery period he should expect, but the 6-4,
300-pound rookie is hopeful it will be close to four
months. He used his younger brother, Daniel, who plays
at Hofstra, as a bench mark.
“He had an ACL injury and he was back doing sprint and
everything in four weeks,” said Garay. “If he can do
it, I can do it ... And after the injury, he just came
off his best season.”
Garay said he wasn’t exactly sure how he got hurt
Sunday.
“I was just trying to make a tackle,” he said. “I
tried to go one way and I guess my knee didn’t react.”
SYMPATHY FOR THE FANS: Gerard Warren was asked if
he could speak to the Browns fans in the wake of a
humiliating 35-0 loss to the Baltimore Ravens and the
team’s current 4-11 record, what would he say?
“I would apologize to them,” said Warren. “I would
tell them to keep believing. We will restore the
pride, tradition and history of the Cleveland Browns.
“We have the best fans in the country. Here we are,
4-and-10, and the house is still packed. Guys continue
to travel around the country just to watch us play ...
I love this city. I love the atmosphere. I know they
are very frustrated to see us not performing to the
level they want us to. It’s disappointing to me to let
the city down.”
AS FOR BEING A SPOILER: Gerard Warren could care
less about that title.
“Not spoiler. Ass kicker,” Warren said regarding the
Browns season finale against the playoff-hopeful
Cincinnati Bengals. “I don’t care about trying to be a
spoiler. We aren’t trying to ruin anyone’s season. We
just want to hand them a loss.”
REMEMBER QASIM MITCHELL? The Browns bad luck
apparently followed Mitchell from Cleveland to
Chicago. The player anointed the next Gene Hickerson
during training camp caught on with the Bears after
the Browns released him from the practice squad.
Mitchell moved into the Bears starting lineup last
week, replacing the injured Mike Gandy at left tackle.
Unfortunately, he broke his right leg in the second
half, ending his season.
MORE ROSTER MOVES: After placing Garay on the
Reserve-Injured list with his knee injury and
releasing the recently-signed David Thompson from the
practice squad, the Browns signed defensive lineman
John Nix to the active roster and defensive back Davis
Young to the practice squad.
Nix played for the Cowboys in 2001 and 2002 after
being a seventh round pick in 2001. Like Michael Myers, he knows the scheme and the terminology and
could be ready to step right in if necessary Sunday.
Nix was Brandon Noble’s backup at defensive tackle
with the Cowboys, appearing in 30 games.
Offensive lineman Scott Osborne has been moved up from
the practice squad to add an extra lineman with Paul Zukauskas to miss the game. To make room, the Browns
released defensive back Ron Israel and will attempt to
resign him to the practice squad.