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Browns' Wright looks forward to big tackles by top draft pick Bell
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Sunday, May 04, 2008
BEREA: Browns cornerback Eric Wright has already envisioned what will happen when former UNLV teammate Beau Bell makes his first NFL tackle.
''Hopefully, he'll make them fumble so I can pick it up and go in for a touchdown,'' Wright said. ''It will definitely be a high-speed collision.''
Bell was Cleveland's first choice in the 2008 draft, and the Browns traded up in the fourth round to pick the 6-foot-1, 244-pound inside linebacker whom General Manager Phil Savage called a ''hammer-type hitter.''
Savage and his staff agreed with the assessment of the Sporting News, which rated Bell the No. 1 inside linebacker prospect in its draft guide.
That publication's War Room scouts, including ex-Browns staffer Gary Horton, wrote that Bell was ''highly productive at UNLV and has the best combination of production, size and speed of all the inside linebacker prospects. He plays with the intensity and passion NFL teams covet and has consistently shown the ability to make hard tackles.''
Wright saw that firsthand in the two years he spent with Bell at UNLV, one of those when Wright was sitting out after transferring from USC.
''Beau's a guy who plays sideline to sideline. He's got a lot of speed and hard-hitting ability,'' Wright said. ''Certain people have that type of explosiveness and he definitely has it. It's very impressive.''
Wright has a favorite play he believes captures Bell's essence. ''Beau came on a blitz, but never sacked the quarterback,'' Wright said. ''It was a screen pass, they got the ball off to a running back and Beau chased the guy down and hit him hard enough to make him fumble. It was one of those effort plays that tell you a lot about a player. He's going to give 100 percent and go full speed all the time.''
One of four Rebels invited to the Senior Bowl in the game's history, Bell's stay in Mobile was short , because he bruised his knee on the second day. He believes that caused him to slip in the draft.
Predraft reports on Bell also found plenty to pick over. Pro Football Weekly's Draft Guide said he ''has a bad body, is high-cut and top-heavy and looks like he has not seen a weight room.'' ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. said Bell ''needs to work on gaining quicker separation.''
''I try not to read it, but people throw it in my face,'' Bell said. ''It really doesn't do anything to my head because all that is just people guessing. Obviously, they guess wrong. People were telling me, 'You've got tight hips.' I'm like, 'OK.' I never thought about it. I just go out there and play football. Everybody else wants to talk about it, so I let them talk about it.''
Addressing the media Friday at the Browns' rookie minicamp, Bell sounded like an unassuming type who isn't shooting for the stars in his first season.
Savage said he'd be shocked if Bell isn't on the field for the opening kickoff playing special teams. Bell could challenge six-year veteran Andra Davis for his starting middle linebacker spot. But Bell didn't seem cocky.
''Coming in, I don't really have that mentality,'' Bell said. ''What I'm telling myself is I'm going to do best what I need to do to make the team and contribute to the team's wins.''
Browns coach Romeo Crennel doesn't put much stock in what he sees from players in shorts, especially when linebackers aren't allowed to hit. But his early impression of Bell seemed solid. ''He has some movement skills,'' Crennel said. ''We need good players and we think he might have a chance to be a good player, so we'll see if he fits the bill.''
Biggest long shot
Savage said the longest shot to make a team he's been around was fullback Charles Ali last season. He said there was some discrepancy whether Ali was draft-eligible, and the Browns signed the undrafted rookie from Arkansas-Pine Bluff for $1,000 on May 3, 2007. Ali played in 13 games and drew praise from running back Jamal Lewis.
Brownies . . .
Crennel said the 54 tryout players would be told today whether they'll be invited back. OTAs begin the week of May 11. . . . The Browns are in desperate need of cornerbacks, so it's no surprise that 20 of the 74 were defensive backs, and four were already signed. Crennel said Darnell Terrell, 6-1 and 203, from Missouri ''had a pretty good grade and so far he's done decent.'' Standing out to Crennel was UNLV safety Milvon James, 5-10 and 196.
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/.
BEREA: Browns cornerback Eric Wright has already envisioned what will happen when former UNLV teammate Beau Bell makes his first NFL tackle.
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