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Browns wide receiver gives details of injury in practice
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Saturday, Aug 30, 2008
Browns receiver Braylon Edwards said his right foot injury, suffered in a ''case of horseplay going wrong,'' won't keep him out of the regular-season opener next Sunday.
Appearing on Jim Rome's nationally syndicated radio show Friday, Edwards explained what happened Aug. 9 when teammate Donte' Stallworth stepped on him with his cleats in a post-practice jog. The cut required stitches, and Edwards spent a night at the Cleveland Clinic.
A first-time Pro Bowler who set Browns' single-season records with 1,289 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns in 2007, Edwards missed the final three preseason games and has not spoken to local media since he was hurt. He was on the sideline Thursday night as the Browns finished the preseason 0-4 with a 16-10 home loss to the Chicago Bears.
''It used to be a bad foot, hint, hint,'' Edwards said of his availability for the
Sept. 7 home game against the Dallas Cowboys. ''It's fine.''
As for his conditioning level, Edwards said, ''Considering I've missed two [actually three] weeks, I'm sure I'll be somewhat winded at times. But I've got a week to get into some kind of shape. It shouldn't be too hard.''
Edwards told Rome he was sticking with his usual routine on the evening he was hurt.
''I had on socks,'' Edwards said. ''I take off my shoes after every practice, stretch and go inside.
''This particular practice we had to run over-and-backs because myself and Donte' messed up on a play. Donte' and I were racing and messing around, I got ahead of him. Then he caught up with me, I slowed down thinking it was over with. He was messing around, just jumped on me, playing around a little bit. When he jumped on me and came down, his cleat gashed into my ankle.''
Stallworth said he nearly passed out twice at the sight of all the blood. The two are close friends, with Edwards the primary recruiter luring Stallworth from the New England Patriots to the Browns as a free agent.
Despite the outcome of their joking around, Edwards said it wasn't a moment he'd like to have back.
''No. It was a freak accident,'' Edwards said. ''Guys horseplay all the time and they don't get hurt. It's no big deal.''
When Rome ended the interview, he told Edwards he would pick him for his fantasy team, but ''keep those cleats on, though.''
''Luckily there won't be any more over-and-backs during the season, so we should be OK,'' Edwards said.
Edwards' comments about the injury won't raise any eyebrows, but what he said about his first two years with the Browns might. When the former Michigan star arrived as the third overall pick in 2005, the Browns went 6-10 and 4-12.
Asked if there was ever a point where he thought it wasn't going to happen and he might have to leave, Edwards said, ''It wasn't ever a point, it was always the point. I hated Cleveland, and I didn't want to be here. I was happy to be drafted, but then I looked at the bigger picture and said, 'Wow, not Cleveland.'
''Playing here was hard, the fans were tough, we were terrible. It just seemed like it was way too much undeserved pressure for a team. Every year, expectations are high around Cleveland and, every year, we're terrible. It wasn't a good fit for me.
''Plus, I'm from Michigan and being in Ohio, this is Buckeye country and that rivalry is a little blown out of proportion down here, let me tell you.''
Going 10-6 last year and falling a game shy of the playoffs seems to have changed Edwards' mind. He also sounded like he enjoyed the success of the Cavaliers and Indians.
''It was a lot of fun last year,'' he said. ''You could go out to eat, go around the city and go to Cavs games and the fans were excited. They saw a flash of what was to come, of what could be in the city.''
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/.
Browns receiver Braylon Edwards said his right foot injury, suffered in a ''case of horseplay going wrong,'' won't keep him out of the regular-season opener next Sunday.
Get the full article here.
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