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Do IT this week: Layering
OSU standout Mitchell puts master's degree on hold for Cleveland
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Monday, Aug 11, 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
Today'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.''
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/.
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.
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