KING FOR A DAY: Andre King started for only the second time in his four-year NFL career
last week. (The first came two years ago when the Browns opened in a
three-wideout formation in Pittsburgh.)
But King didn't get much of a chance. On Cleveland's second possession,
he sprained his ankle after making a catch. The injury wasn't apparent right
away. He went back to the huddle, but as the Browns lined up for the next
play, he fell. He explained later that he was testing the ankle after
leaving the huddle, and he couldn't bear weight on it.
King was starting because Andre Davis was held out of the game with a
sprained toe. With Quincy Morgan traded, and Antonio Bryant unfamiliar with
much of the offense, King got the start.
Bryant played 22 plays and caught two passes for 26 yards. Most
impressively to Butch Davis, Bryant made only one mental error.
As for Andre Davis, the receiver said he would be back for next week's
game at Baltimore.
DAVIS MAKES A CHANGE: Chris Crocker will replace Earl Little as starting free safety after the
bye week.
The move isn't a shock. Crocker had been sharing time with Little in recent
games. Crocker, a 2003 third-round pick who also can play cornerback, has
better man-to-man coverage skills than Little and is a better tackler. Last
week against Philadelphia, he made a nifty play when he chased down wide
receiver Greg Lewis on an end-around to prevent a potentially big gain and
force a punt.
Against Pittsburgh earlier this month, Crocker intercepted a deflected
pass and returned it for a touchdown.
Little had a career-high six interceptions in 2003, but he doesn't have
any this season. Little is one of only four players remaining from the
team's 1999 expansion season.
BY THE NUMBERS: 41. Number of years since the Browns won their first four
home games of the season. Cleveland blew its chance to match that by losing
to Philadelphia.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "On Friday (when I found out I was starting) it was like
going down on Christmas and opening up your gifts. "(Now) it's like I opened
up a bag of coal." - WR Andre King said, reflecting on the sprained ankle
that knocked him out of Sunday's game in the first quarter.
PLAYER / PERSONNEL NOTES:
- Don't look for the Browns to keep shuffling left guards. Paul Zukauskas
started most of the season at that position, but his limited mobility and a
sprained knee caused the Browns to turn to DeMar, an undrafted second-year
player. DeMar is far from a dominating player, but he is smart and fairly
athletic. Most important, he gives the Browns stability on the line.
- WR Andre Davis, who missed the Eagles game because of a sprained big
toe, expects to return to the lineup after the bye week.
- RG Kelvin Garmon, who barely managed to finish the game Sunday because
of a quadriceps strain, is welcoming the bye week as a chance to heal.
Garmon said he expects to be ready for next week's game against Baltimore.
- Linebacker Barry Gardner hopes to return from a torn groin muscle
after the bye, but his status is week to week.
- Look for the Browns to sign a kick returner, possibly by re-signing Dee Brown. Brown was cut last week because the Browns were short-handed at wide
receiver. But fumbles by James Jackson and Frisman Jackson on kickoff
returns may hasten his return.
- TE Steve Heiden said he expects to his sprained knee to be completely
healed following the bye. Heiden has been wearing a brace, which he hopes
not to have to use against the Ravens.