Browns notes: Crennel warns players in wake of Burress incident
Brian Dulik | The Chronicle-Telegram
BEREA — New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress never played for the Browns, but he has been a major topic of discussion within their training facility.
Burress accidentally shot himself in the right leg early Saturday morning in Manhattan and has been charged with two felony counts of criminal possession of a weapon. That incident prompted Cleveland coach Romeo Crennel to talk to his players about their personal security.
“I did give the team a reminder about guns yesterday,” Crennel said Thursday. “If you have a gun and you haven’t taken a gun safety course, then maybe you should take one. Then, hopefully, you can prevent an accident like what happened to Plaxico.
“Generally, we all know that if you don’t have a gun, then those gun accidents don’t occur.”
Crennel said he did not know how many members of the Browns own weapons, nor did he believe it should be public knowledge. He did, however, stress the importance of knowing all local ordinances pertaining to carrying a handgun.
“I told them they need to be up on gun laws in different states, particularly the ones they reside in,” Crennel said. “Or if they have a gun and are traveling between states, they need to know the laws there, as well.”
Several players brusquely declined to talk about the subject when asked, but one defensive lineman later relented and said, “You got to protect yourself. That’s all I’m gonna say.”
Cornerback Brandon McDonald, who said he did not own a gun, was the exception. One of his former teammates at Memphis (Taylor Bradford) was shot to death on campus in 2007, which reinforced his commitment to living as safely as possible.
“You have to avoid certain situations and know what’s going on when you go out to nightclubs,” the second-year pro said. “It’s your responsibility to only do things that benefit you and your family.
“If you don’t put yourself in those situations, you don’t have anything to worry about.”
McDonald admitted, though, that professional athletes often face additional risks regardless of how many precautions they take.
“Sometimes trouble does come looking for you,” he said. “That’s why you have to take care of everything you can control. That’s all you can do.”
Titans talk
The Browns face an old AFC Central Division rival Sunday when they travel to Nashville to battle the Tennessee Titans, who formerly were known as the Houston Oilers. The teams played twice annually from 1970-1995 and 1999-2001 before being separated in the NFL’s 2002 realignment.
Titans coach Jeff Fisher, who took over the team in 1994, says he is wary about facing Cleveland’s offense this week.
“Believe me, they stress your preparation time because of everything they do with the different packages and the motions and the unbalanced lines and everything,” he said. “Our staff is very impressed with the offense, the creativity, the execution and everything they do from week to week.”
Perfect 10
Andre Davis, Braylon Edwards, Hank Fraley, D’Qwell Jackson, Jamal Lewis, Shaun Rogers, Joe Thomas, Corey Williams, Kamerion Wimbley and Eric Wright are the only Browns to start all 12 games. A total of 35 players have made at least one start this season.
“With everything that’s happened with the high expectations and everything being talked about with the coaching staff, we look at games as being our escape,” said Jackson, who has an NFL-high 115 tackles. “For those three hours, we don’t think about anything but beating the guy in front of us. Guys around here are just itching for a win.”
Indy postscript
The NFL did not credit Shaun Rogers with a blocked field goal on Indianapolis kicker Adam Vinatieri’s 46-yard miss, but replays appeared to show he deflected it.
* Colts quarterback Peyton Manning is 4-0 in his last four games against Cleveland, but his passer rating is only 71.7, and he has thrown six interceptions.
Injury update
Browns fullback Charles Ali (rib) and tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. (ankle) did not practice Thursday, while linebacker Beau Bell (knee), tight end Darnell Dinkins (ankle), defensive tackle Shaun Smith (calf), wide receiver Syndric Steptoe (ankle) and defensive end Corey Williams (shoulder) were limited. Quarterback Brady Quinn, who underwent surgery Wednesday on his right index finger in Alabama, was expected to be back in Berea on Thursday night.
* For the Titans, backup quarterback Vince Young (right thumb) and cornerbacks Cortland Finnegan (hamstring) and Nicholas Harper (ankle) were unable to practice.
Extra points
New Browns quarterback Bruce Gradkowski was assigned a locker between wide receivers Donte Stallworth and Braylon Edwards.
* The Titans can clinch the AFC South Division title by beating Cleveland. The clubs have split their four previous meetings at Nashville’s LP Field (formerly Adelphia Coliseum).
* Tennessee has invited country singer Trace Adkins to sing the national anthem.
* Longtime Browns running back Earnest Byner is the Titans’ running backs coach.
* Players and coaches will vote for the Pro Bowl next week, but fans can cast their ballots now at nfl.com.
Quote of the day
“If those preseason games counted somehow, it might open up another can of worms as it relates to — I probably shouldn’t say this — (player) compensation.” — Crennel on the NFL’s competition committee considering the use of preseason win-loss records as a tiebreaker for playoff berths.
Contact Brian Dulik at (330) 721-4059 or brisports@hotmail.com.
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Filed by Brian Dulik | The Chronicle-Telegram December 5th, 2008 in Sports. Popularity: 4% |
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