You can count Frye among those who can’t wait for the real bullets to start
flying. Or, at least, the real fake bullets.
“I'm
ready to play against somebody else to tell you the truth,” Frye said.
“We'll see what K-2 (Kellen Winslow Jr.) can do when they really have to
tackle, not just stand him up or touch him. Kellen is a guy who can catch a
five-yard pass and turn it into 50 yards.”
Frye, who has had what can be best described as a pedestrian training camp thus
far, has never been a player who’s been enamored with and shined during
practice. Hopefully, his eagerness to face players in a different colored
uniform will show up in his performance on Thursday and allow fans to at least
breathe a slight sigh of relief.
*****
Pat McManamon
of the Akron Beacon Journal speculates that, if running back
Lee Suggs is indeed traded at some point this month, a
likely destination could be the New York Jets. With Curtis Martin
still hobbled following offseason surgery, the Jets may be in the market for an
insurance back.
*****
Another rumor being bandied about, this time courtesy of Cleveland Plain
Dealer: the Browns may look to lock up wide receiver/kick returner
Josh Cribbs to a
long-term contract, provided the
Kent State product makes the
final roster.
*****
A significant portion of this past offseason’s free-agent budget was spent on
players with ties to the city of
Cleveland
and its surrounding suburbs.
You can add current Ohio State starting quarterback
and former Glenville High star Troy Smith to the list of players who
would
love to return to his hometown and don the brown and orange.
“I love the Browns. You’d be crazy not to want
to play for the Browns. A lot of people that I deal with in general say they are
moving when they got some money. That bothers me. I think Ohio is where it’s at.”
*****
Just a reminder to Browns fans: today is August 6. It’s not September 1 or
2. A single exhibition game has yet to be played, let alone the full slate
of four plus the whole of training camp. The Browns have had 10 days of
camp and one intra-squad scrimmage. Put down the noose, the pistol, the bottle
of pills and the razor blade and step away from the ledge. At least for
now.
*****
FORMER BROWNS IN THE NEWS
---Wide receiver Antonio Bryant, dropped by the Browns in the offseason
like a pass thrown his way in a critical situation last season, is apparently
fitting in quite well in his new San Francisco digs.
Cleveland’s
leading receiver last season, Bryant is reportedly developing a solid chemistry
with second-year quarterback Alex Smith. The two have hooked for
several long completions since the start of training camp, including a couple
yesterday’s intra-squad scrimmage.
---Defensive tackle Gerard Warren dislocated a toe on his left foot
during a goal-line drill yesterday and will miss the next two to four weeks.
The Broncos’ team doctor was quoted as saying “of all of the dislocated toes
I’ve treated, Warren’s
was one of the nicest, if not the nicest.”
---Ben Taylor is starting opposite rookie A.J. Hawk at outside
linebacker for Green Bay, while Barry Gardner—in place of the injured Tedy Bruschi—is starting inside for
the Patriots.
*****
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Sometimes we tend to get caught up
in the players, the games now. Honor your history. Bring back the Hall of
Famers. Bring back their teammates. Let the fans show their appreciation to the
history.”—Hall of Fame inductee John Madden, telling teams around the
league to be the anti-Carmen Policy.
QUOTE OF THE DAY, THE SEQUEL:
“The
thing I noticed was, I know it’s practice and everything, but the game is just a
lot slower. Last year at this time, things were just flying around. I didn’t
know what to think. Now, I’m coming to the line of scrimmage with a plan. I
mean, I feel real good.”—Charlie Frye, on training camp this year versus
last.