Events Calendar
In This Section
Shalersville, Richfield towers are links to 1949 cross-country marathon
American soldier killed in Iraq
Researcher says she found text on Shroud of Turin
Ohio native takes second place on 'Project Runway'
White House at odds with bishops over abortion
End of an era: Oprah ending show after 25 years
Kin want right to sue after man assumed dead
Most Read Stories
Police accuse bank robbery suspect of gobbling up note (with dashcam video)
Victim of beating in Kent last week is declared dead at Akron hospital
Dad accused of forcing son into field, killing him
Can DNA tests free ex-Akron captain?
Man found dead in North Akron home is identified
Browns' roster nearly devoid of consistent players
Coventry man killed in crash at I-77 ramp
Does it work? Test team returns to try out new products advertised on television
Review: You've never seen 'Sound of Music' like this
College student mistaken for deer, shot to death
NFL star Chris Spielman's wife loses cancer battle
Blogs:
Pets:
Cat-loving chihuahua suckles seven abandoned kittens
The Heldenfiles:
Friday Night Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
Browns vs. Lions live …
Akron Zips:
Akron trounces Howard to reach .500
Tribe Matters:
Seven players added to Tribe’s 40-man roster
Cleveland Browns:
Robiskie, Harrison inactive
Kent State Sports:
Kent State blown out in second half, loses to Temple 47-13
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Gameblog: Cavs vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Buckeye Blogging:
OSU – Michigan college football rivals meet in Baghdad
Varsity Letters:
Four area football teams play tonight
All Da King's Men:
The Sunday Sanity Challenge
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Will Health Care Reform Pass?
Akron Law Café:
Health Care Financing Reform: (69) The Brookings Institute Study on "Bending the Curve" – Four General Strategies
See Jane Style:
Vintage Chic
Car Chase:
TIME TO GET YOUR COLLECTOR CARS WINTERIZED
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Silverdome Potentially SOLD!
Ohio Travels with Betty:
George is looking for a Thanksgiving buffet in Akron.
Sound Check:
Steely Dan Plays "The Royal Scam" at E.J. Thomas Hall
HRLite House:
A Random Rant on Testing
Akron Gamer:
Nintendo's Mario endures even as games come and go
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 04:52 p.m. EDT, Aug 10, 2008
BEREA: Brandon Mitchell was updating his resume and wondering whether it was time to enroll in the two courses he needs to complete his master's degree in communications.
Then the former Ohio State safety's telephone rang.
He tried out for the Browns on Saturday and was signed that night, along with former Michigan State defensive back Travis Key, an undrafted rookie.
They were on the field Sunday, replacing safeties Gary Baxter and Steve Cargile after Baxter's contract was terminated and Cargile was waived. The Browns have only two other backups behind starting safeties Sean Jones and Brodney Pool, nickel back Mike Adams and special teams standout Nick Sorensen.
''I'm glad to be back in Ohio,'' Mitchell said.
A 6-foot-3, 205-pounder, Mitchell played in 45 games and started 20 at OSU, including all 12 his senior year in 2006, when he was a second-team all-Big Ten selection. Undrafted, he was signed by the Houston Texans last May and spent all season on the practice squad. He was released July 31.
Browns coach Romeo Crennel didn't offer a glowing endorsement of Mitchell or Key, who is listed at 5-10, 185.
''One guy has good size, and the other guy doesn't have as much size but he was a playmaker in college,'' Crennel said. ''So we are going to take a look at them and see how they might help us.''
If they're not deemed worthy of at least the practice squad, Mitchell might be moving on toward his goal of attending law school and becoming a district attorney. But being reunited with former Ohio State defensive backs coach and co-defensive coordinator Mel Tucker, now the Browns' defensive coordinator, could help Mitchell.
''I learned so much in those three years I was with him, I was really sad to see him leave Ohio State,'' Mitchell said. ''Already, he's been talking with me about some pointers.''
Mitchell said he was one of the players Tucker really liked at OSU.
''I think he saw some of the same qualities in him in me,'' Mitchell said. ''I like to watch film. I think he took a liking to the fact I want to go the extra mile.
''He knows exactly what buttons to push to make me go. I was brought up to never believe in the word can't. He'd always say, 'I don't think you can do this.' That would drive me.''
Key was signed by the Minnesota Vikings for their organized training activities, but released on July 2. He said he'll have to unlearn the Vikings' Cover 2 defense and take a crash course on the Browns' Cover 4 scheme.
''Corner, safety, nickel, I can jump around and do whatever's asked of me,'' Key said. A three-time academic all-Big Ten selection, Key scored three touchdowns in college on returns of a blocked punt, interception and fumble.
Brownies
Monday's practice is closed to the public. Sunday's evening session was moved indoors because of rain, the first of camp. . . .Receiver Kevin Kasper's wife, Lisa, gave birth to the couple's third child Friday. Braylon Robert Kasper weighed nine pounds and was 201/2 inches long. . . .Crennel was asked whether he has had any contact with free-agent cornerback Ty Law, who played for him with the New England Patriots. General Manager Phil Savage has said several times that Law is too expensive for the Browns. ''I don't call him every day and he doesn't call me every day,'' Crennel said of Law. ''Ty understands that he's going to have to wait until training camps are over and maybe some injuries develop before he gets the kind of opportunity he wants.''
BEREA: Brandon Mitchell was updating his resume and wondering whether it was time to enroll in the two courses he needs to complete his master's degree in communications.
Then the former Ohio State safety's telephone rang.
He tried out for the Browns on Saturday and was signed that night, along with former Michigan State defensive back Travis Key, an undrafted rookie.
They were on the field Sunday, replacing safeties Gary Baxter and Steve Cargile after Baxter's contract was terminated and Cargile was waived. The Browns have only two other backups behind starting safeties Sean Jones and Brodney Pool, nickel back Mike Adams and special teams standout Nick Sorensen.
''I'm glad to be back in Ohio,'' Mitchell said.
A 6-foot-3, 205-pounder, Mitchell played in 45 games and started 20 at OSU, including all 12 his senior year in 2006, when he was a second-team all-Big Ten selection. Undrafted, he was signed by the Houston Texans last May and spent all season on the practice squad. He was released July 31.
Browns coach Romeo Crennel didn't offer a glowing endorsement of Mitchell or Key, who is listed at 5-10, 185.
''One guy has good size, and the other guy doesn't have as much size but he was a playmaker in college,'' Crennel said. ''So we are going to take a look at them and see how they might help us.''
If they're not deemed worthy of at least the practice squad, Mitchell might be moving on toward his goal of attending law school and becoming a district attorney. But being reunited with former Ohio State defensive backs coach and co-defensive coordinator Mel Tucker, now the Browns' defensive coordinator, could help Mitchell.
''I learned so much in those three years I was with him, I was really sad to see him leave Ohio State,'' Mitchell said. ''Already, he's been talking with me about some pointers.''
Mitchell said he was one of the players Tucker really liked at OSU.
''I think he saw some of the same qualities in him in me,'' Mitchell said. ''I like to watch film. I think he took a liking to the fact I want to go the extra mile.
''He knows exactly what buttons to push to make me go. I was brought up to never believe in the word can't. He'd always say, 'I don't think you can do this.' That would drive me.''
Key was signed by the Minnesota Vikings for their organized training activities, but released on July 2. He said he'll have to unlearn the Vikings' Cover 2 defense and take a crash course on the Browns' Cover 4 scheme.
''Corner, safety, nickel, I can jump around and do whatever's asked of me,'' Key said. A three-time academic all-Big Ten selection, Key scored three touchdowns in college on returns of a blocked punt, interception and fumble.
Brownies
Monday's practice is closed to the public. Sunday's evening session was moved indoors because of rain, the first of camp. . . .Receiver Kevin Kasper's wife, Lisa, gave birth to the couple's third child Friday. Braylon Robert Kasper weighed nine pounds and was 201/2 inches long. . . .Crennel was asked whether he has had any contact with free-agent cornerback Ty Law, who played for him with the New England Patriots. General Manager Phil Savage has said several times that Law is too expensive for the Browns. ''I don't call him every day and he doesn't call me every day,'' Crennel said of Law. ''Ty understands that he's going to have to wait until training camps are over and maybe some injuries develop before he gets the kind of opportunity he wants.''
Comments
Click here to post your comments
