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Two blowouts, one night
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Seven players added to Tribe’s 40-man roster
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Holmgren expresses interest in Browns position
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Singletary update
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Silverdome Potentially SOLD!
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Colloquium at University of Akron
Akron Gamer:
Nintendo's Mario endures even as games come and go
League says no evidence of eye-gouging claim by Ravens' McGahee
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Friday, Sep 26, 2008
BEREA: No fines were levied after Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh accused the Browns of intentionally gouging running back Willis McGahee's eyes Sunday.
McGahee suffered a cut on his right eye and came to the sideline twice in the third quarter. But the NFL said Thursday it found no evidence of a deliberate act, absolving Browns defenders of a financial penalty.
On Wednesday, Harbaugh told Baltimore reporters the team had sent footage and talked to the league about the injury to McGahee, who wears a visor.
''It's on the tape. There were two incidents, two different guys,'' Harbaugh said. Asked to identify the culprits and whether he thought it was done blatantly, he added: ''I don't think we should say. I wouldn't want to comment on it, but you can see it on the tape.''
ESPN.com reported that one of the offenders was linebacker Andra Davis. On a 7-yard run by McGahee to the Browns' 1-yard line with 6:25 left in the third quarter, Davis was blocked to the ground by tackle Jared Gaither and Davis appeared to get his hand caught in McGahee's face mask. McGahee headed to the sideline, bleeding profusely.
The first time it happened was on a 1-yard run by McGahee with 11:49 left in the same quarter and the Ravens took a timeout.
McGahee's right eye is still swollen, and his availability is in question for Monday night's game at the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Browns coach Romeo Crennel seemed unaware of Harbaugh's charge.
''I tell my team to play hard all the time,'' he said. ''We tell them what the rules are and I expect they play within the rules.''
Browns safety Brodney Pool and linebacker Leon Williams, a teammate of McGahee's at the University of Miami, didn't know what happened.
''I have no idea, man; I know he went out,'' Pool said. ''Hopefully that's not the case but you never know.''
Williams said, ''I find it hard to believe it could happen in a game with a visor on.''
Injury update
Missing practice for the Browns were linebacker Willie McGinest (hamstring) and left guard Eric Steinbach (shoulder). Limited were receivers Braylon Edwards (shoulder) and Donte' Stallworth (quad), linebackers Kris Griffin (calf) and Kamerion Wimbley (groin) and defensive tackle Shaun Rogers (shoulder).
Crennel seemed optimistic Rogers will play Sunday at the Cincinnati Bengals, but said Stallworth looked rusty Wednesday. On Thursday, he was seen lightly hitting his right quad in practice.
What's in a name?
Browns defensive lineman Shaun Smith played for the Bengals from 2004-06 and still has friends in the Cincinnati locker room. But he's not crazy about receiver Chad Johnson changing his name to Chad Ocho Cinco.
''It doesn't make sense to change your name,'' Smith said. ''When football's over with, you can't get a job like that.
''I know Chad well enough; he does stunts because he wants attention. He's not getting it enough.''
Asked if Ocho Cinco, 30, will grow up eventually, Smith said: ''Not Chad. You might as well give him a pacifier. Hopefully I can send him a pacifier soon.''
Tough callers
Center Hank Fraley hosts a radio show on WMMS (100.7-FM), so he can relate to fans' frustration over an 0-3 start.
''I had one after the second game, he said, 'Tell Romeo to kick another field goal.' I just laughed at him,'' Fraley said. ''I was like, 'All right, I will.' As fans you should be frustrated. We're frustrated with you guys. We're 0-3 and we want to do better for this city.''
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/.
BEREA: No fines were levied after Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh accused the Browns of intentionally gouging running back Willis McGahee's eyes Sunday.
Get the full article here.
