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Chipmunks "Squeakquel" on DVD/BD March 30
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Late surge gives Zips ugly road win
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Blogmail response on Hafner
Cleveland Browns:
Stallworth's contract terminated
Balanced Ledger:
QB in Browns future: another mock draft
Kent State Sports:
KSU Notes – February 9
Cleveland Cavaliers:
NBA Power Rankings from Around the Internet
Buckeye Blogging:
Buckeyes grab 18 players on signing day
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Five local gridders to play in Big33
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Palin At The Tea Party Convention
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Law, Love and Chocolate
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Collector Car Hobby Loses One of the Best—Jim Roll
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Decisions Decisions: Credit Cards or Your Mortgage?
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Loucile is looking for a Lake Erie getaway in June for three kids, ages 1, 3, and 5.
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Talk of the Town – Top entertainment picks for the weekend
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OFCCP Report
Akron Gamer:
Makers of 'Castle Crashers' unveil 'BattleBlock Theater'
See Jane Style:
Do IT this week: Layering
By Stephanie Storm
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 07:32 p.m. EDT, Oct 28, 2009
Fighting the flu and a hamstring strain and trying to get by with a mangled finger, Browns tight end Robert Royal couldn't play last week against the visiting Green Bay Packers.
Still dealing with a balky knee after surgery in December, veteran tight end Steve Heiden had to sit out last week, too.
Their absence left a glaring hole at tight end, one that was patched by sliding over versatile offensive lineman Hank Fraley and adding a new player in Michael Gaines.
And those two didn't fare too badly, considering the circumstances.
Fraley has played many fill-in roles this season. After starting all 16 games last season at center, Fraley, a 10-year veteran, now has started at guard and tight end while helping out in various other roles this season.
''Every year I take that mindset that [if I'm not playing] center, hopefully I can play guard or tackle,'' Fraley said. ''I joke with them all the time, but it's whatever I can do to help the team. This year, it's been trying to help [rookie center Alex] Mack out, make sure he's on top of everything, because I know how it can be as a rookie and just going out and playing.''
Fraley's willingness and ability to play various roles has been noticed.
''I really like Hank for a lot of reasons,'' Browns coach Eric Mangini said. ''I like the way he approaches everything. He has great professionalism. He's willing to play whatever role he can play. He's helped Alex throughout this process. He's an excellent communicator. . . .As you get to know Hank more, you really respect his versatility. An offensive lineman that can play three interior positions has a lot of value.''
Gaines, who was signed last Wednesday after being released from the Chicago Bears, showed his worth immediately Sunday. He caught two passes for 30 yards, including a key 21-yarder at the end of the third quarter that set up a first-and-goal at the 1-yard line.
''I think Gaines did a great job just coming in and picking things up and being a football player,'' quarterback Derek Anderson said. ''[He's] not out there worrying about things, just understanding and reacting to things.
''He's played in the league for some time; it's not like he's a rookie out there. He knew what to do. I told him before the game, I said, 'Just have fun and relax. I'll try and help you if you have any questions, but just go play.' He did a great job.''
Gaines quickly gets a shot against his former team, the Bears, whom the Browns play Sunday at Soldier Field.
''Michael did a good job for us here,'' Bears coach Lovie Smith said. ''We [just] needed a [roster] spot at that time. Very few teams have four tight ends up on game day. Gaines is a very talented athlete; that's why we brought him in. He's a good blocker and good in the locker room. I had no complaints about him at all.''
Royal was in uniform for practice Wednesday but worked solely with a trainer. Heiden, who was limited but participated, looked as if he were still a ways from playing.
Linebacker for hire
With D'Qwell Jackson out for the season after pectoral surgery, the Browns are searching for a linebacker to take his place. They tried rookie linebacker Kaluka Maiava on Sunday.
When asked about Maiava, Mangini didn't exactly give a ringing endorsement.
''I think there were times he did really well,'' Mangini said. ''[But] that personal foul penalty is something that I wasn't real fired up about. . . .But overall, for his first start and extended action, I thought there were some things to build on. He'll get some more chances. I [just] don't know if it will be every package or a variation of packages.''
Savage shots
Ex-General Manager Phil Savage continues to take shots at his former team, even as he continues to draw a paycheck from the the Browns.
In a story Wednesday from the Mobile Press-Register, Savage said he doesn't relish the struggles the lowly 1-6 Browns have endured this season, but he did have some words for the new regime.
''You don't take a lot of solace in watching a place you leave go downhill further,'' he said. ''But they took what we did have going there and they just dismantled that even further. We left two quarterbacks behind that both seem ruined right now. They traded a lot of players out of there. I feel for the guys we brought in, because they're good players and good people and they're stuck in a situation and can't get out for at least the time being.''
Dual Furrey
Mike Furrey not only has been playing at wide receiver but he also has seen his role as a defensive back increase.
Furrey's most action playing both ways came against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week Four and last week against the Packers.
''The game's a lot more exciting,'' Furrey said of playing both ways. ''You don't really get to sit down too much. It's been pretty neat.''
But can a player be as effective playing both ways?
''You [just have to] stay warm so you don't have to worry about stiffening up on the sideline,'' Furrey said. ''I had a lot of fun last week. The game went really fast. Special teams is a good time to take a break.''
Mangini conceded that there's a learning curve for Furrey when playing in the nickel defensive packages, but he believes Furrey can catch on.
''He's a smart guy,'' Mangini said. ''He can get the things he needs to do offensively, as well as defensively, without it being an overload situation.''
Brownies
The Browns signed wide receiver Darnell Jenkins to the practice squad and released running back Cedric Peerman. . . .Linebacker David Bowens missed practice Wednesday because of the birth of a son, David Jr. . . .Anderson (hip) and Mack (shoulder) fully participated in practice Wednesday despite dealing with new injuries. . . .Asked whether kicker Phil Dawson (calf strain) might play Sunday at Chicago, Mangini was optimistic. ''I'd like to think we have a good shot at that.''
Stephanie Storm can be reached
at sstorm@thebeaconjournal.com.
Fighting the flu and a hamstring strain and trying to get by with a mangled finger, Browns tight end Robert Royal couldn't play last week against the visiting Green Bay Packers.
Still dealing with a balky knee after surgery in December, veteran tight end Steve Heiden had to sit out last week, too.
Their absence left a glaring hole at tight end, one that was patched by sliding over versatile offensive lineman Hank Fraley and adding a new player in Michael Gaines.
And those two didn't fare too badly, considering the circumstances.
Fraley has played many fill-in roles this season. After starting all 16 games last season at center, Fraley, a 10-year veteran, now has started at guard and tight end while helping out in various other roles this season.
''Every year I take that mindset that [if I'm not playing] center, hopefully I can play guard or tackle,'' Fraley said. ''I joke with them all the time, but it's whatever I can do to help the team. This year, it's been trying to help [rookie center Alex] Mack out, make sure he's on top of everything, because I know how it can be as a rookie and just going out and playing.''
Fraley's willingness and ability to play various roles has been noticed.
''I really like Hank for a lot of reasons,'' Browns coach Eric Mangini said. ''I like the way he approaches everything. He has great professionalism. He's willing to play whatever role he can play. He's helped Alex throughout this process. He's an excellent communicator. . . .As you get to know Hank more, you really respect his versatility. An offensive lineman that can play three interior positions has a lot of value.''
Gaines, who was signed last Wednesday after being released from the Chicago Bears, showed his worth immediately Sunday. He caught two passes for 30 yards, including a key 21-yarder at the end of the third quarter that set up a first-and-goal at the 1-yard line.
''I think Gaines did a great job just coming in and picking things up and being a football player,'' quarterback Derek Anderson said. ''[He's] not out there worrying about things, just understanding and reacting to things.
''He's played in the league for some time; it's not like he's a rookie out there. He knew what to do. I told him before the game, I said, 'Just have fun and relax. I'll try and help you if you have any questions, but just go play.' He did a great job.''
Gaines quickly gets a shot against his former team, the Bears, whom the Browns play Sunday at Soldier Field.
''Michael did a good job for us here,'' Bears coach Lovie Smith said. ''We [just] needed a [roster] spot at that time. Very few teams have four tight ends up on game day. Gaines is a very talented athlete; that's why we brought him in. He's a good blocker and good in the locker room. I had no complaints about him at all.''
Royal was in uniform for practice Wednesday but worked solely with a trainer. Heiden, who was limited but participated, looked as if he were still a ways from playing.
Linebacker for hire
With D'Qwell Jackson out for the season after pectoral surgery, the Browns are searching for a linebacker to take his place. They tried rookie linebacker Kaluka Maiava on Sunday.
When asked about Maiava, Mangini didn't exactly give a ringing endorsement.
''I think there were times he did really well,'' Mangini said. ''[But] that personal foul penalty is something that I wasn't real fired up about. . . .But overall, for his first start and extended action, I thought there were some things to build on. He'll get some more chances. I [just] don't know if it will be every package or a variation of packages.''
Savage shots
Ex-General Manager Phil Savage continues to take shots at his former team, even as he continues to draw a paycheck from the the Browns.
In a story Wednesday from the Mobile Press-Register, Savage said he doesn't relish the struggles the lowly 1-6 Browns have endured this season, but he did have some words for the new regime.
''You don't take a lot of solace in watching a place you leave go downhill further,'' he said. ''But they took what we did have going there and they just dismantled that even further. We left two quarterbacks behind that both seem ruined right now. They traded a lot of players out of there. I feel for the guys we brought in, because they're good players and good people and they're stuck in a situation and can't get out for at least the time being.''
Dual Furrey
Mike Furrey not only has been playing at wide receiver but he also has seen his role as a defensive back increase.
Furrey's most action playing both ways came against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week Four and last week against the Packers.
''The game's a lot more exciting,'' Furrey said of playing both ways. ''You don't really get to sit down too much. It's been pretty neat.''
But can a player be as effective playing both ways?
''You [just have to] stay warm so you don't have to worry about stiffening up on the sideline,'' Furrey said. ''I had a lot of fun last week. The game went really fast. Special teams is a good time to take a break.''
Mangini conceded that there's a learning curve for Furrey when playing in the nickel defensive packages, but he believes Furrey can catch on.
''He's a smart guy,'' Mangini said. ''He can get the things he needs to do offensively, as well as defensively, without it being an overload situation.''
Brownies
The Browns signed wide receiver Darnell Jenkins to the practice squad and released running back Cedric Peerman. . . .Linebacker David Bowens missed practice Wednesday because of the birth of a son, David Jr. . . .Anderson (hip) and Mack (shoulder) fully participated in practice Wednesday despite dealing with new injuries. . . .Asked whether kicker Phil Dawson (calf strain) might play Sunday at Chicago, Mangini was optimistic. ''I'd like to think we have a good shot at that.''
Stephanie Storm can be reached
at sstorm@thebeaconjournal.com.
Comments
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churchview, va
Posted 08:08 PM, 10/28/2009
Ahhh the renowned Darnell Jenkins. nice move after getting dismembered the week before. The team and the fans are just riding the season out.
Canton, OH
Posted 09:48 PM, 10/28/2009
the browns sux. . . .
