Browns notes: Anderson among those injured in loss to Giants
Scott Petrak | The Chronicle-Telegram
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Besides getting blown out in the first half Monday night versus the Giants, the Browns were hit with a series of injuries.
Quarterback Derek Anderson suffered a possible concussion when he was crushed by Osi Umenyiora on a sack. Anderson faked a handoff and was set to roll out, but two Giants linemen were waiting. Anderson avoided the first, only to be dropped by Umenyiora, who jumped on his back.
Anderson stayed on the turf for a minute, as center Hank Fraley called for the medical staff. Anderson got up, but couldn’t stay in the game. He sat on the bench for minutes as the trainers examined him and his helmet stayed on. He eventually removed his helmet on the walk to the locker room.
He didn’t return to the field and was replaced by Brady Quinn. Anderson went 4-for-10 for 20 yards. He led a field-goal drive in six possessions.
Kick returner Joshua Cribbs left with a left ankle injury after covering a punt in the first quarter. He walked slowly to the locker room and didn’t return.
Safety Brodney Pool was sidelined with a concussion after a collision with Giants running back Brandon Jacobs on a sweep. He was taken into the locker room for evaluation.
Linebacker Willie McGinest suffered what looked like a groin injury. He stayed on the sideline but didn’t return to the game.
Linebacker Leon Williams suffered a neck injury and his return was doubtful.
Color scheme
No, someone did not steal the traditional, plain orange helmets and put them on a different team.
Yes, those were the Cleveland Browns wearing dark brown uniform pants Monday night on the artificial turf of Giants Stadium.
For the first time in team history, which dates back to 1946, the Browns wore brown pants. They were solid with no stripe, and accompanied by solid brown socks. The team wore their usual white jerseys with brown numbers.
“I think the new brown pants and socks mixed with our traditional jersey and helmet is an exciting new look,” kick returner Joshua Cribbs said on the team Web site. “It’s exciting to experience any kind of ‘first’ with this storied franchise, and I’m proud to be a part of it.”
When the team integrated the gray face mask in 2006, they created the brown pants as an option for their away uniform. A decision hasn’t been made on whether the team will wear the brown pants again this year.
The Browns wore mostly white pants from 1946 through ’74, then went to orange pants from ’75-’83. The white pants returned in 1984 and have stayed the norm, except for orange on a few special occasions.
Rogers sits
Defensive lineman Shaun Rogers made the trip, but was inactive. Shaun Smith started in his place at nose tackle.
Rogers missed three practices last week with what coach Romeo Crennel described as general soreness, including a sore knee. Crennel said Saturday he was hopeful Rogers would be able to play.
Rogers was the biggest acquisition of the offseason, coming over in a trade with the Lions. He ended the 2006 season on injured reserve with a knee injury.
Receiver Braylon Edwards (foot) led the contingent of injured Browns who didn’t make the trip. Fullback Lawrence Vickers, who practiced last week after being sidelined with a hamstring injury, and receiver Kevin Kasper (hamstring) also stayed in Cleveland.
Steptoe steps up
Syndric Steptoe, a seventh-round pick in 2007, had kickoff returns of 40 and 90 yards after Cribbs was injured. He added a 7-yard touchdown run in the second quarter on a lateral from Quinn and a
44-yard touchdown pass from Quinn when the ball bounced out of defensive back Kevin Dockery’s hands inside the 5-yard line.
Steptoe’s 90-yard kickoff return took the ball to the 9-yard line. He had rookie receiver Paul Hubbard as an escort but couldn’t get in the end zone.
Jamal Lewis never got the handoff two plays later, and safety James Butler returned it 95 yards for a touchdown and 30-3 lead.
Friends first
Anderson and Quinn may be fighting for snaps, but there’s no animosity, according to Crennel.
“It is a good relationship,” Crennel said last week. “There is no negative part of that relationship that I see. They work very well together. They try to help each other and that’s what you want from teammates.”
Crennel said Anderson’s breakout 2007 season makes the pecking order clear.
“When a guy has proven that he can do it, it’s hard for jealousies to get in the way,” Crennel said. “D.A. has won 10 games and Brady wants to get to the point where he can win 10 and he’s confident he can. He’s going to wait his time and then when he gets his opportunity he’s going to make the best of it.”
Extra points
Receiver Joe Jurevicius is doing stretching and low-impact activity at the team facility as he rehabs from the latest surgery to clean out staph infection from his knee. He is expected to open the season on the physically unable to perform list.
* Steelers director of football operations Kevin Colbert scouted the game, because they play the Browns and Giants.
* Former Browns coach Chris Palmer is quarterbacks coach for the Giants.
* The Giants entered the game with an 8-7 edge over the Browns in the preseason.
Contact Scott Petrak at 329-7253 or spetrak@chroniclet.com.
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Filed by Scott Petrak | The Chronicle-Telegram August 19th, 2008 in Sports. Popularity: 10% |
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