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Browns fans set bar high as camp opens

'Super Bowl' chant illustrates expectations

By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sportswriter

Published on Thursday, Jul 24, 2008

BEREA: As the Browns opened training camp Wednesday afternoon, the Dawg Pound seemed transplanted into a section of bleachers along the side of the practice fields.

But even if they were prompted by boredom during what was essentially a one-hour walk-through, two chants started by the rowdies sounded totally foreign.

The first was ''Super Bowl, Super Bowl.''

The other, ''D.A., D.A.''

With the Browns coming off a 10-6 season that fell one game shy of the playoffs, expectations are at a high not seen in Northeast Ohio since the glory days of the 1980s. The loudest of the announced capacity crowd of 2,524 were only vocalizing the dreams of long-suffering Clevelanders who hope to see their team play in the league's championship Feb. 1 in Tampa, Fla.

''Everybody expects a lot out of us because of what we did last year and we're going to embrace that,'' coach Romeo Crennel said. ''Around here for a long time there were no expectations. We're glad people have some confidence in us, and we're going to try to prove worthy of those expectations.''

Hearing the fans embrace quarterback Derek Anderson may have been even more surprising.

Anderson threw 29 touchdown passes, one shy of Brian Sipe's single-season record, and went to the Pro Bowl in his first year as a starter. Yet many of the faithful hope Brady Quinn, the former Notre Dame star beginning his second season, will soon take over.

Judging by what Crennel said on Day One, Quinn's time under center may be limited even in preseason games.

''We know the first guy will get the majority of the reps and the second guy will get the rest of them. The third guy [Ken Dorsey] won't get very many,'' Crennel said. ''As far as a number, I can't tell you. But I know you guys will be keeping
track of it. If you find out we're swaying too much one way or the other, let me know.''

General Manager Phil Savage sounded a little more flexible on that issue.

''In this type of setting he'll get a lot of reps because they're basically rotating every two or three snaps during seven-on-seven,'' Savage said of Quinn. ''The game stuff will sort itself out over the next week. We haven't discussed it too much.''

Starter's preparations

Anderson seemed relaxed and refreshed after spending about a month in Scappoose, Ore. But he wasn't sitting idly at home.

''I was throwing and running and lifting with my best friend,'' he said. ''I was doing Thai massage with this lady in Portland, which was amazing. She's pretty well-known, she works on a lot of 'Blazer guys. Flexibility is something I've been working on. She worked on me a little bit too much at times; she was killing me. Getting the body right and ready for the season was kind of my deal when I went back.''

Asked if he now has six-pack abs, Anderson stretched his 6-foot-6 frame and responded jokingly, ''Four and a half.''

On Tuesday, Anderson said he felt the same as he did a year ago, when he was an unknown competing with incumbent Charlie Frye.

''I always get the same little jitters the night before, worrying about getting up on time,'' Anderson said. He didn't oversleep because he always has two alarm clocks set.

''I'm excited about camp, excited about the opportunities we have in front of us this year. I was talking to my uncle. When you're 10 years old, you're like, 'Do I really want to go out and be in the heat all day?' Then I get here and this is what I love to do.''

Feet on the ground

With Anderson established as the starter, Savage seemed relieved that the Browns' biggest issues going into camp are depth at cornerback and finding a No. 3 receiver.

''This camp has quite a different feel to it,'' Savage said. ''We don't have a circus atmosphere, crisis management, No. 1 picks holding out. Our feet are on the ground somewhat. It's not so much about camp battles and determining the roster as getting ready for the first game and the rest of the season.''

The focus will be on two home games to start the season, Sept. 7 against the Dallas Cowboys and Sept. 14 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

''There's excitement, but it's a little bit subdued because we know we need to be excited Sept. 7,'' Savage said. ''Training camp is important to solidify the back part of our roster, but this is all about getting ready for those first few games. That's what we're going to be judged on. Preseason doesn't really mean a whole lot. I can't remember what's happened in preseason the last 18 years I've been in the league.''

Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/.

BEREA: As the Browns opened training camp Wednesday afternoon, the Dawg Pound seemed transplanted into a section of bleachers along the side of the practice fields.

Get the full article here.


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