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Maiava chasing job with Browns

By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal staff writer

POSTED: 09:50 p.m. EDT, May 02, 2009

BEREA: When the subject of hunting was broached to Browns rookie linebacker Kaluka Maiava, he wasn't sure how to respond.

''What do you mean, on the field or actual hunting?'' Maiava said.

That's because the fourth-round draft pick from USC honed his skill for chasing down opponents as a teenager, hunting wild boar in the the mountains of Maui.

And there were no guns involved, just a of couple dogs and presumably a long knife.

''We don't use guns, that's cheating,'' Maiava said Saturday after practice at the Browns' rookie minicamp that concludes today. ''Anybody can shoot something.

''It takes the fun out of it. It's the rush to chase something and tackle it, just like football.''

Actually, there is no tackling involved, either.

''You don't grab 'em, you stick 'em a couple times,'' he said.

Maiava acknowledged he gets nervous every time he goes.

''Sometimes I run into a big one, they've got tusks that can hurt you,'' Maiava said. ''We lost a couple dogs; he stuck the dog with his tusk. I never got hit.''

The next chance for that might not come anytime soon. Since NFL contracts prohibit such activities as motorcycle riding and sky diving, Maiava's might include a clause on boar hunting.

''No comment,'' he said, hinting that subject already might have been brought up.

Maiava (pronounced my-ava) started boar hunting with friends around age 15. Tradition requires the youngest hunter to carry the boar, so it was Maiava who packed it on his back and hauled it home to be roasted.

''I got lucky, it was only like 150 [pounds],'' he said. ''It was a small one.''

The subject of hunting came up before the draft when Browns coach Eric Mangini visited USC before the Trojans' pro day. Mangini met with the USC prospects individually, and Maiava said Mangini asked about his hobbies. Surfing and hunting are his favorites, and Mangini remembered Maiava's disdain for guns.

Even if his quest for boar has been indefinitely suspended, Maiava said his hunting days can translate to the football field.

''Say you're on kickoff team and you're chasing down the kick returner . . . '' Maiava said.

That might help explain why Maiava was USC's two-time special teams player of the year. Overshadowed by Trojans linebackers Rey Maualuga, Brian Cushing and Clay Matthews III, Maiava started only one season and finished 2008 as the third-leading tackler with 66 (41 solos), 71/2 for losses and five pass breakups. He was voted defensive player of the game in the Rose Bowl with four solo tackles and two passes broken up, one on the opening drive, in a 38-24 rout of Penn State.

''It was a shock to me. I was on the way to the locker room when they stopped me and told me I won the award,'' Maiava said. ''It's a blessing . . . to [go out] with a bang in my last game at USC.''

Maiava will move inside with the Browns, but he sees no problems with the transition.

''At SC I was called outside linebacker, but most of the time I was stacked over the center,'' he said. ''It's not a big change for me. I'm very comfortable in that position.''

At 5-foot-11 and 226 pounds, Maiava might seem small, but Mangini said Saturday he will stay at linebacker.

''He was an outstanding fourth-down player at USC,'' Mangini said. ''I thought he played extremely well in their defense. I was really impressed with his intelligence, his recall of the system, the way he played, his temperament. He is a tough, tough guy.''

Technology takes over

Mangini seemed to indicate that all players will have a Skype video phone program to talk to their position coach when they're away from team headquarters. Mangini said offensive quality control coach George McDonald is already using it. According to Skype's Web site, the program also can be used on a cell phone without a computer or Internet connection.

''I use Skype to talk to my kids every night,'' Mangini said. ''George McDonald is using it for Mohamed [Massaquoi] or Brian [Robiskie] to go through information. I'm sure those guys are bummed out we can call them up and have videoconferences and go through the playbook, but I think it's a very good way to have some face-to-face time and go through that information.''

Asked if players have Skype, Mangini said, ''If they don't, they will.''

Quiz whiz

Outside linebacker David Veikune, the Browns' second-round pick from the University of Hawaii, cost Mangini some money Saturday morning.

Mangini said he brought Veikune to the white board with the task of drawing up a full blitz.

''The defensive staff had the option to bet on him and I was the house,'' Mangini said. ''He nailed it. I'm always happy to pay those.''

Grateful guy

Former Ohio State defensive lineman David Patterson, a Warrensville Heights native, was one of 20 players invited for tryouts over the weekend. It was his second chance with the NFL after being released by the Atlanta Falcons in training camp last year. Even if he doesn't earn a contract, Patterson was thrilled by the experience.

''It's actually a dream come true no matter which way it goes, just to put the Browns' helmet on and practice, be in the facility, be around the coaches and be coached by a great coach like Bryan Cox,'' Patterson said.

Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/. Follow the Browns on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ABJ_Browns

Cleveland Browns linebacker Kaluka Maiava (56) warms up at the NFL football team's minicamp Friday, May 1, 2009, in Berea, Ohio. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

BEREA: When the subject of hunting was broached to Browns rookie linebacker Kaluka Maiava, he wasn't sure how to respond.

''What do you mean, on the field or actual hunting?'' Maiava said.

That's because the fourth-round draft pick from USC honed his skill for chasing down opponents as a teenager, hunting wild boar in the the mountains of Maui.

And there were no guns involved, just a of couple dogs and presumably a long knife.

''We don't use guns, that's cheating,'' Maiava said Saturday after practice at the Browns' rookie minicamp that concludes today. ''Anybody can shoot something.

''It takes the fun out of it. It's the rush to chase something and tackle it, just like football.''

Actually, there is no tackling involved, either.

''You don't grab 'em, you stick 'em a couple times,'' he said.

Maiava acknowledged he gets nervous every time he goes.

''Sometimes I run into a big one, they've got tusks that can hurt you,'' Maiava said. ''We lost a couple dogs; he stuck the dog with his tusk. I never got hit.''

The next chance for that might not come anytime soon. Since NFL contracts prohibit such activities as motorcycle riding and sky diving, Maiava's might include a clause on boar hunting.

''No comment,'' he said, hinting that subject already might have been brought up.

Maiava (pronounced my-ava) started boar hunting with friends around age 15. Tradition requires the youngest hunter to carry the boar, so it was Maiava who packed it on his back and hauled it home to be roasted.

''I got lucky, it was only like 150 [pounds],'' he said. ''It was a small one.''

The subject of hunting came up before the draft when Browns coach Eric Mangini visited USC before the Trojans' pro day. Mangini met with the USC prospects individually, and Maiava said Mangini asked about his hobbies. Surfing and hunting are his favorites, and Mangini remembered Maiava's disdain for guns.

Even if his quest for boar has been indefinitely suspended, Maiava said his hunting days can translate to the football field.

''Say you're on kickoff team and you're chasing down the kick returner . . . '' Maiava said.

That might help explain why Maiava was USC's two-time special teams player of the year. Overshadowed by Trojans linebackers Rey Maualuga, Brian Cushing and Clay Matthews III, Maiava started only one season and finished 2008 as the third-leading tackler with 66 (41 solos), 71/2 for losses and five pass breakups. He was voted defensive player of the game in the Rose Bowl with four solo tackles and two passes broken up, one on the opening drive, in a 38-24 rout of Penn State.

''It was a shock to me. I was on the way to the locker room when they stopped me and told me I won the award,'' Maiava said. ''It's a blessing . . . to [go out] with a bang in my last game at USC.''

Maiava will move inside with the Browns, but he sees no problems with the transition.

''At SC I was called outside linebacker, but most of the time I was stacked over the center,'' he said. ''It's not a big change for me. I'm very comfortable in that position.''

At 5-foot-11 and 226 pounds, Maiava might seem small, but Mangini said Saturday he will stay at linebacker.

''He was an outstanding fourth-down player at USC,'' Mangini said. ''I thought he played extremely well in their defense. I was really impressed with his intelligence, his recall of the system, the way he played, his temperament. He is a tough, tough guy.''

Technology takes over

Mangini seemed to indicate that all players will have a Skype video phone program to talk to their position coach when they're away from team headquarters. Mangini said offensive quality control coach George McDonald is already using it. According to Skype's Web site, the program also can be used on a cell phone without a computer or Internet connection.

''I use Skype to talk to my kids every night,'' Mangini said. ''George McDonald is using it for Mohamed [Massaquoi] or Brian [Robiskie] to go through information. I'm sure those guys are bummed out we can call them up and have videoconferences and go through the playbook, but I think it's a very good way to have some face-to-face time and go through that information.''

Asked if players have Skype, Mangini said, ''If they don't, they will.''

Quiz whiz

Outside linebacker David Veikune, the Browns' second-round pick from the University of Hawaii, cost Mangini some money Saturday morning.

Mangini said he brought Veikune to the white board with the task of drawing up a full blitz.

''The defensive staff had the option to bet on him and I was the house,'' Mangini said. ''He nailed it. I'm always happy to pay those.''

Grateful guy

Former Ohio State defensive lineman David Patterson, a Warrensville Heights native, was one of 20 players invited for tryouts over the weekend. It was his second chance with the NFL after being released by the Atlanta Falcons in training camp last year. Even if he doesn't earn a contract, Patterson was thrilled by the experience.

''It's actually a dream come true no matter which way it goes, just to put the Browns' helmet on and practice, be in the facility, be around the coaches and be coached by a great coach like Bryan Cox,'' Patterson said.

Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/. Follow the Browns on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ABJ_Browns



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Slovensko
Canton, OH

Posted 11:48 PM, 05/02/2009

I like ManGenius. . .


Wolf
Akron, Oh

Posted 08:20 AM, 05/03/2009

Maiava hunts with dogs an a knife..now that takes balls..


Timbo
Cuyahoga Falls, OH

Posted 10:48 AM, 05/03/2009

I remember when 6' and 230 lbs. was the average size for a linebacker in the NFL. My how things have changed.


mississippibuckeye
Oxford, MS

Posted 09:11 AM, 05/04/2009

Id like to see him used like troy palamalou, let him roam the field and wreak havoc


fartz
cool treehouse, oh

Posted 12:31 PM, 05/04/2009

State parks should hire Maiava to chase down and kill the local surplus deer.


BCinLA

Posted 04:11 PM, 05/05/2009

that pic looks like massey is auditioning for dancing with the stars.
















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