The last thing a fan of the Cleveland Browns needs, especially in this preseason
of discontent, is yet another injury to worry about.
With that in mind, we’d like to give you some encouraging news regarding
linebacker Willie McGinest and his healing elbow.
McGinest, who underwent surgery in the off-season to remove bone chips from the
elbow, is listed as questionable for tomorrow’s game. This comes on the
heels of his missing the preseason opener due to a “coach’s decision”.
However, The OBR has been told that, if this were a regular-season game,
McGinest would be on the field and in the starting lineup.
While the staff would like to get McGinest on the field for at least one fake
game, their concerns are lessened by the fact that the veteran LB knows the 3-4
defense so well that he could probably play the defense in his sleep, which,
oddly enough, is precisely how the majority of LBs in the first five years of
the Browns re-existence executed the 4-3 defense.
*****
With the critically-panned soap opera As The Center Turns continuing to
play out on a daily basis, the Browns have not yet given up on the possibility
of acquiring Eagles center Hank Fraley.
The two clubs have spoken regarding Fraley, although there is no deal in hand
that could be considered even remotely imminent.
For their part, the Browns are leery of giving up a high-round draft pick for
what could amount to be a one-year rental. The veteran offensive lineman
is in the final year of his contract and could become a free agent at the end of
the 2006 season.
Regardless of whether it’s by trading for someone like Fraley, or paying close
attention to the waiver wire in the coming weeks, the Browns are in a have-to
mode when it comes to acquiring another interior lineman before the start of the
regular season.
The four-game suspension of Alonzo Ephraim guaranteed that.
*****
Speaking of Ephraim, here is the Merriam-Webster online dictionary definition of
the word “contrite”:
“feeling or showing sorrow and remorse for a sin or shortcoming.”
Now, here is the Ephraim-Webster on-field dictionary definition of the same
word:
“None
of that stuff there is my concern right now. I got so much on my plate just
making sure I go out and get better and focus on just trying to make this team,”
the veteran said when asked about his suspension for violating the league’s
substance abuse policy.
“I'm
not focused on that. I'm focused on the game. I'm here to help the team any
way I can. This is a team. It's not about one individual player. We've all been
together and we help each other. That's what we're doing. We're trying to grow
as a team.”
You know, it warms the heart to see today’s professional athletes stepping up to
the plate, admitting to their shortcomings and showing such far-reaching
remorse. Kinda makes even the most grizzled of fans get a little moist in
the eye area.
*****
Injuries that have seriously depleted both the center and cornerback positions,
as well as the voided deal involving Lee Suggs, has allowed the Browns
backup quarterback situation to pass—or flutter harmlessly to the ground as the
case may be—quietly under the radar.
As a public service, we would like to offer the following play-by-play update on
Kenny Dorsey and his big band of not-so-hip swing men: Incompletion.
Incompletion. Interception. Incompletion. Interception. Completion. (practice
is halted for approximately fifteen minutes to allow grounds crew to remove
streamers and confetti and balloons from the field.) Incompletion, followed
by an interception as the ball was being tossed to the ball boy to be wiped off.
Incompletion.
Thank you and have a safe drive home…
*****
With the cornerback carousel continuing to spin out of control, the Browns have
decided to allow Ralph Brown to hop on and take a few spins as the
starter.
Head coach Romeo Crennel told reporters yesterday that Brown would be
given the starting nod in tomorrow’s preseason game against the Lions. The
seven-year veteran signed with the Browns on Aug. 6 after spending the last two
seasons with the Vikings.
Pete Hunter, who started the preseason opener in place of the injured Gary Baxter and
was torched by the Eagles on two deep pass plays, is currently still aflame
despite the best efforts of the Berea Fire Department and his availability for
the game is unknown.
*****
For those who have asked and/or wondered, the answer is “yes”, rookie D’Qwell
Jackson is still the odds-on favorite to start at one of the inside
linebacker spots, despite the return of Chaun Thompson from injury and
the paucity of reports on his continuing progression.
*****
According to the Canton Repository, former Browns quarterback
Bernie Kosar
spent quite a bit of time talking to current Browns QB Charlie Frye
after practice yesterday.
Guess that unofficial job for Kosar The OBR wrote about last week is
coming along quite nicely.
*****
The following is the first paragraph in an Associated Press story
that appeared in today’s Canton Repository: “An Ohio University football player who authorities said
punched a police horse pleaded no contest to disorderly conduct and was
fined $100.”
It has nothing to do with the Browns or the NFL, but I just feel that when a
scene from the movie “Blazing Saddles” gets played out in real life it deserves
a mention somewhere.
*****
Memo to Whom It May Concern: It was a four-hour physical, not a five-hour one.
Oops, my bad. Please adjust your future articles accordingly.
*****
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“It’s been a different type camp, hasn’t it?”—running back Reuben Droughns, on the unique twists and turns training camp 2006 has taken.
QUOTE OF THE DAY, THE SEQUEL:
“This isn’t my first rodeo. I’ve started 24 games
and I don’t know how many preseason games. So this is a good opportunity for me,
and I’m looking forward to going out Friday night and showing what I can do.”—center
Ross Tucker, on drawing his first starting assignment as a member of the
Cleveland Browns.