Former Browns receiver Braylon Edwards, now with the Jets, told the New York Times that he was just too "New York," too flashy for the nothing city of Cleveland.
UPDATED: 8:48 p.m.
Braylon Edwards was just way too hip and flashy for those little ol' folks from Cleveland.BROWNS TRAINING CAMP LOG: AUG. 9
What happened: The day started with coach Eric Mangini lecturing his players about the hazards of Twitter as a result of an obscene tweet by cornerback Brandon McDonald that became an issue. Cornerback Gerard Lawson joined the team on the field after pleading not guilty in the morning to charges of DUI and hit-and-skip as a result of an arrest Sunday morning.
Hot and ugly: Not the greatest practice ever for the offensive unit. Some of Jake Delhomme’s passes wobbled as if thrown against a 30 mph gale. Seneca Wallace was intercepted once and had another pass deflected at the line of scrimmage. On successive plays, backup centers Billy Yates and Shawn Lauvao had to run laps for errant snaps beyond Colt McCoy out of the shotgun formation. A few plays later, starter Alex Mack had to run one for another miscue.
Injury report: Players who did not practice included linebacker David Bowens (knee), linebacker Titus Brown (undisclosed) and punter Dave Zastudil (knee). Offensive tackle Tony Pashos left the field with an apparent injury to his shoulder. Running back James Davis left the field, but returned.
Tuesday’s schedule: Practices 8:45-10:45 a.m. and 5:45-7:45 p.m. For updates, call 877-627-6967.
— Tony Grossi
BEREA, Ohio -- Receiver Braylon Edwards, traded to the Jets last season, explained to the New York Times why things didn't work out with the Browns: he was just too Hot in Cleveland.
He also slammed Cleveland and everyone in it for being un-hip and un-happenin'.
"There's nothing going on in Cleveland," Edwards told the Times. "There's no real estate. There's no social life, no social networking. All the people who have something going on leave Cleveland. So Cleveland has nothing, and I came in there with a New York-type of essence. So what? That was the attitude I came in with. Like, this is who I am. They didn't like the flash."
His mother, Malesa Plater, told the paper: "He came from a team that was always looking for a savior to a team that knows how to win. No one would understand what he's been through unless you've been drowning."
Really? Drowning?
Edwards also played the tired, worn-out card that people in Cleveland didn't like him because he showed up on the first day in an expensive Italian suit and a Bentley. He also played the "they didn't like me because I was from Michigan" card. (Note to Edwards: fans didn't like you because you dropped pass after pass after pass. The coaching staff didn't want you because you refused to obey the rules).
Edwards and his Jets visit Cleveland on Nov. 14. Have your cameras ready. It's not often that we get to see someone with so much pizzazz around these parts.
Lawson practices: Defensive back Gerard Lawson returned to practice Monday afternoon after being released from jail in the morning. He pleaded not guilty to drunken driving and leaving the scene after allegedly hitting a car in the Warehouse District early Sunday morning. He posted 10 percent of his $2,500 bond and is due back in Cleveland Municipal Court at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 17.
But before taking the field, he had to meet with coach Eric Mangini.
"I told him I was disappointed in him putting himself in that position," said Mangini. "The value in this and the value in any experience is what you can learn from it and make sure that this type of thing doesn't happen again. Not just for him, but for anybody in our group. In terms of the other aspects of it, I think [General Manager] Tom [Heckert] talked about that the other day and I really have nothing to add on that component."
Lawson's DUI arrest came about 17 months after former Browns receiver Donte Stallworth killed a man while driving drunk.
"I don't want any incidents to happen with the team at any point," said Mangini. "You talk about it and you try to educate and do as much as you possibly can and sometimes poor decisions are made. You want them to be safe and you want them to make sure they aren't putting anyone else at risk."
Lawson, who declined comment, was having a good camp, but the arrest won't help his chances. Last week, he intercepted two passes in the same practice and returned both for touchdowns. Lawson was arrested at 2:30 a.m., after the Browns had their curfew lifted for the night for playing hard in the Brown-White scrimmage at the Stadium.
"I gave the captains of the winning team the option whether to keep them under curfew or not," said Mangini. "They felt that it was a well-fought game and everybody deserved the night off, which I agreed with. As much as we can, have to help each do the right thing."
Zastudil's return uncertain: Mangini said punter Dave Zastudil will miss more time after he returns Wednesday from Colorado, where he went to have his knee re-checked by his surgeon.
Originally, Zastudil was supposed to return on Friday. Mangini said Zastudil did not have surgery while was in Colorado. He also didn't specify how long Zastudil might be out or whether he'll need more surgery in the future. He's recovering from a torn right patella tendon.
Cribbs on D: Josh Cribbs said "it's always a big possibility" that he'll play some at safety during the regular season. He played one snap there during the scrimmage, blitzing from the left side.
"You saw [receiver] Mike Furrey out there last year because of injuries," he said. He said he doesn't need to practice it in camp. "It's real basic things I've already seen before," he said.
Hillis returns: Running back Peyton Hillis returned to practice after a week off with a mild groin strain, but hit the ground running, literally. In addition to churning out some yards, he caught several passes downfield, including one from Seneca Wallace and one from Jake Delhomme.
"It was heartbreaking to sit inside and watch your teammates practice," he said. "I've been in my playbook and the offense is coming real good to me now. I've just got to get back in shape, get out in the heat and prepare for this Saturday's game [in Green Bay]."
He said he's gained all of his weight and strength back from missing some organized team activities and minicamp with the flu.
Hardesty update: Mangini said rookie running back Montario Hardesty will be back "hopefully next week -- hopefully." If not, he will have missed all of camp, which ends Aug. 19.
Plain Dealer reporter Donna J. Miller contributed to this report.
| Cleveland Browns Training Camp update: Day 10 |