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Browns receiver, former Michigan standout joins in sideline celebration
By George M. Thomas and Marla Ridenour CLEVELAND:
Published on Monday, Oct 01, 2007
Hell is freezing over and the devil is wearing a parka.
Just after Hang on Sloopy, the song that indelibly is linked to the Ohio State Buckeyes blared from the sound system at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Browns wide receiver Braylon Edwards could be seen making the arm movements that spell O-H-I-O. Given that he's disavowed anything related to OSU since his arrival from the University of Michigan on draft day, more than a few heads turned, and he knows it.
''I think the 'O-H-I-O' is so much bigger than Ohio State. I was definitely doing it,'' he said with a wide grin. ''I told myself, 'I'm part of Ohio. This is my residence. This is where I play football. This is where I earn my paycheck. This is the city I've adopted and has adopted me,' . . . so I don't mind doing O-H-I-O. I don't believe it's just pertains to Ohio State. Cleveland is in Ohio. That's my statement. I can live with that.''
It would seem that Edwards is learning the landscape. When asked if he would be rooting for the New York Yankees in their upcoming American League Divisional Series that begins Thursday, he would only say: ''Go, Tribe!''
Seeing red
Ravens coach Brian Billick wanted to challenge Jamal Lewis' 1-yard touchdown run that gave the Browns a 24-3 second-quarter lead, but threw the red flag after the snap on Phil Dawson's extra point. It was the first rushing touchdown allowed by the Ravens since Nov. 12 at Tennessee, a streak of 10 games that was the NFL's longest.
''I think it was a touchdown,'' Lewis said. ''I hoped I put the ball over the line. That's what I was trying to do.''
Asked about that challenge, Billick said, ''There were a number of things. (The refs) told me it was second down when it was third down. They told me it was third down when it was second down. The officiating matched our play.''
Sweet revenge
The Ravens came in leading the league in run defense at 61.7 yards per game. The Browns managed 99 yards on 30 carries.
Lewis carried the ball 23 times for 64 yards (2.8 average), with 28 coming in one play during a second-quarter drive that led to a field goal.
Facing the team that cut him in February after seven years, Lewis said, ''I had to calm myself down on Monday and not get too drawn up into it so I wouldn't be tired and drained for Sunday.''
He was elated with the outcome.
''Phil Savage knew what kind of back I was,'' Lewis said of the Browns' general manager. ''They felt I was kind of washed up and didn't have that burst anymore, and here I am. We're being successful running the football and have a great offensive line. I'm happy.''
Lewis said Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis talked all day.
'''This is me. You know I'm coming. You know I'll be here,''' Jamal Lewis said of what he heard across the line of scrimmage. ''It sounded like practice in Baltimore.''
He said he told Browns coach Romeo Crennel to run right at Lewis, who finished with six tackles (four solos).
''Any great player as a linebacker, you don't go away from him. Run at him and keep him on his heels,'' Jamal Lewis said. ''That guy, he's strong, he's big, he's fast. If he runs side to side, he's going to get you all day. That's how he makes all his tackles. I told coach that and it seemed like they already had that in their plan.''
McGinest starts
Browns outside linebacker Willie McGinest made his first start of the season after undergoing surgery Aug. 9 to repair a bulging disk in his back. He was credited with one assist.
''It's a great feeling being out there,'' McGinest said. ''I try to rally guys up, keep everybody's heads up, positive, and play hard. Everybody played great today. Everybody was doing their job and pushing each other.''
McGinest cautioned his teammates as they prepare for his former team, the New England Patriots, next weekend.
''It's not big at all. It doesn't mean nothing,'' McGinest said of Sunday's victory. ''We're 2-2. We've got a long way to go. Each game we play only gets harder. We've got the New England Patriots, who are undefeated right now, one of the best teams if not the best team in the league. We can't relax. We can't start patting ourselves on the back.''
Injury update
Browns left guard Eric Steinbach suffered what he called ''a minor stinger'' with about five minutes left in the first half, but returned for the third quarter. He said he was not trying to intimidate the Ravens when he flexed his muscles for them before his first play back.
''They were joking about me since I'd put on that little cowboy collar,'' Steinbach said. ''You know how all the high school guys used to wear 'em. They said, 'Don't worry, you still look skinny.'''
Defensive end Orpheus Roye (knee) and punter Dave Zastudil (oblique strain) were inactive. Scott Player, who replaced Zastudil for a second week, punted three times for a 42.7-yard average.
Star gazing
Mansfield native Luke Perry of HBO's John From Cincinnati, who formerly resided in the FOX network's Beverly Hills 90210, provided the introduction for Hang on Sloopy. Perry grew up a Browns fan and hadn't attended a game in years. He took the opportunity Sunday to bring his son to his first NFL game.
Old school
Former Browns wide receiver and Pro Football Hall of Famer Paul Warfield hit town to take in the Ravens game. He said he likes some of the things he has seen from the Browns thus far.
He emphasized, however, that the Browns still have some young players who need to look at football as their vocation. During the team's 51-45 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2, he noticed a couple of players dancing on the sideline to some hip-hop music when, he said, their heads should have been in the game.
Warfield said it's not something limited to the Browns but to some younger players in general.
Brownies
Kicker Phil Dawson wasn't positive, but he thinks the Browns are 8-1 when his wife, Shannon, sings the national anthem. . . . Baltimore totaled 13 sacks in its two games against the Browns last season. The Ravens got none Sunday. The Browns hadn't done that against the Ravens since Oct. 1, 2000. . . . Kellen Winslow's 49-yard third-quarter reception was the longest of his career. Braylon Edwards' 78-yard touchdown was the second-longest score of his career, surpassed by an 80-yarder at Green Bay in 2005. . . . The Browns, who scored 24 or more points in three games in 2006 and only once in 2005, have now reached that number for three consecutive weeks.
Hell is freezing over and the devil is wearing a parka.
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