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Daniels makes brief start as cornerback against Bills
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Tuesday, Nov 18, 2008
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y.: Brandon McDonald might be out, but he's not down.
Browns coach Romeo Crennel benched McDonald, a second-year cornerback, after two disappointing games and started Travis Daniels on Monday night against the Buffalo Bills in Ralph Wilson Stadium.
Acquired in an Aug. 20 trade from the Miami Dolphins, Daniels, a four-year veteran, made his 26th career start. But he played just one play in the first quarter before McDonald took over.
After earning the nickel back spot as a rookie, McDonald seemed challenged by his demotion.
McDonald came up with the Browns' third interception of the game late in the first quarter. It was his second of the season, the other also coming on Monday Night Football against the New York Giants.
''I'm preparing more than I've ever prepared,'' McDonald said last week. ''I'm hungry to get back to what I've been known to do. Obviously, I'm frustrated by the situation, the game I had [against Denver], but it's in the past.
''I don't really need a lot of people to tell me what I need to do or try to talk to me because they think I'm down. I'm really not. I'm ready to go out here Monday night and show the world what I can do. It's definitely not going to be like it was last week.''
Daniels played against the Bills during his career with the Dolphins and was energized by his practice time against the Browns' receiving corps.
''Being able to go against guys like Braylon [Edwards], Kellen [Winslow], Donte' [Stallworth] and the rest of the receivers has definitely gotten me ready,'' Daniels said.
But Daniels felt for McDonald, who has 11 career starts.
''As long as you're not the first person it's ever happened to, then you just have to learn from it,'' Daniels said. ''When I first came into the league, I was trying to do a lot of things based off my ability, as opposed to the smarts. But the more veteran guys I've been around, they start telling me that sooner or later all that athletic stuff is going to have to be put to the back. Put more of the mental part of the game to the front.''
Playing in pain
Browns defensive end Corey Williams longs for the day his left shoulder is pain-free.
''I wish for that all the time,'' Williams said.
Coming to the Browns in a Feb. 29 trade with the Green Bay Packers and signed to a six-year, $38 million contract the same day, Williams suffered a shoulder injury early in training camp that Crennel said will need postseason surgery.
But playing in a harness, Williams has not missed a game.
''I've kind of gotten used to it now,'' Williams said of the support device. ''It hasn't really affected my play, except I can't move around like I want to. I'm going to keep rehabbing it and trying to get it right so I don't have to wear it anymore.''
Going into Monday night, Williams ranked 10th on the team in tackles with 30, along with half a sack, two quarterback pressures and four pass breakups.
Crennel said fans haven't seen the real Williams.
''Once he gets [his shoulder] fixed and it's not a problem for him, then I think that you'll see a more consistent Corey Williams,'' Crennel said.
Williams conceded that he's trying to avoid the pain by relying on his good shoulder, but that it's not an issue in games.
Pros vs. Guardsmen
Winslow, Joshua Cribbs, Brodney Pool and Charles Ali will take on members of the 237th Brigade Support Battalion of the Ohio National Guard stationed in Kuwait at 4 p.m. today as part of the Pros vs. GI Joes tour.
The Browns play the soldiers in the video game Call of Duty 5. The Guardsmen's families will be able to chat with their loved ones via a webcam from the team meeting room.
Brownies
Linebacker Kamerion Wimbley got the first interception of his three-year career on the first play of Monday's game, nabbing a ball tipped by nose tackle Shaun Rogers. . . . On the Bills' next series, linebacker Andra Davis intercepted a Trent Edwards pass intended for James Hardy. It was his first interception since Oct. 22, 2006. . . . Phil Dawson's 40-yard field goal with 9:29 left in the first quarter was the 200th of his career. . . . The Browns' trip to Buffalo on Sunday was delayed about three hours by mechanical problems with the team's plane, but the traveling party had not left its Berea headquarters when notified of the delay. . . . Fullback Lawrence Vickers (high-ankle sprain) was inactive for the third consecutive game.
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/.
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y.: Brandon McDonald might be out, but he's not down.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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San Francisco, CA
Posted 04:17 PM, 11/18/2008
It was a great game to watch... sorry to hear there was pain involved.
Akron, OH
Posted 11:10 AM, 11/19/2008
Why is it that McDonalds was benched, albeit for a short time, yet Edwards still plays? Granted, he had a great game on Monday... but it took him 10 weeks (not including training camp and preseason) to finally get there.
Posted 01:25 PM, 11/19/2008
Oh well, he still have a job and gets paid!!!
