Cribbs supports Cleveland and its sports fans in a story on USAToday.com. Also, looks at tonight's Browns-Rams game; position competitions; Jake Delhomme, and more.
The Browns' Josh Cribbs signing autographs during Family Day at Cleveland Browns Stadium on Aug. 7.Cleveland, Ohio -- Given that a self-absorbed basketball player recently left the Cleveland Cavaliers to take his talents to South Beach, there is an opportunity for athletes and individuals in other vocations to represent northeast Ohio.
The Cleveland Browns' versatile playmaker, Josh Cribbs, seems intent on doing that. Skip Wood writes a feature story on Cribbs for USAToday.com. Wood writes how Cribbs spends time with family, friends and fans after practices open to the public (the final open practice was on Thursday) and, later in his story, writes:
Cribbs simply is happy to have the chance to expand his game, and do it here.
For the kids. And for the other fans. That rings trite in some circles. Not here, particularly where a certain professional basketball player decided to do his thing elsewhere.
"When anybody asks me about what Cleveland has to offer," Cribbs says, "(I answer that) they are the most die-hard fans ever. That's what I tell them. I don't tell them about the Rock and Roll of Fame...
"I tell them about the city, the people of Cleveland and how die-hard they are and how much they'll fight for you in any type of weather."
Cribbs has their hand-warmers, as well as their back.
Cribbs and the Browns play the St. Louis Rams in a preseason game tonight at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Plain Dealer Browns beat writer Mary Kay Cabot writes about the Browns as they go into the game, and also previews the contest.
The Plain Dealer and the cleveland.com/browns section on The PD's cleveland.com website feature extensive Browns coverage.
Coverage includes Pat Galbincea's report on how Browns' fans must be aware of prohibited parking areas around the stadium; a video by David I. Andersen of Browns training camp highlights; D'Arcy Egan's report on Browns linebacker Scott Fujita's interest in the Louisiana wetlands.
Opportunity knocks
The Browns were 5-11 last season, and they are in the mormal mode for a team trying to improve. Many starting jobs and roster spots are up for grabs. Steve Doerschuk writes for the Canton Repository that some surprises could be in store, such as at running back:
Even the known quantity, Jerome Harrison, isn’t well known. He averaged more than 30 carries a game in the last three games, a shocking volume in a league whose workhorses maybe get 20 lugs a game.
It will be a surprise if Harrison gets as many as 20 carries in any game in the first half while the Mike Holmgren directive — develop a passing game — kicks in.
The surprise could be Peyton Hillis, James Davis or Chris Jennings. All three should get extended work tonight. One of them could persuade the brass to make rookie Montario Hardesty wait indefinitely until he gets his shot to prove he was worth a Round 2 pick.
Now that Hardesty has missed the entire training camp with a knee problem, the team risks a dropoff in production if it tries to force-feed him into the rotation.
If Hillis, Davis or Jennings light it up, one of them could get as many carries in the real games as Harrison.
Jake Delhomme, welcome
Tonight, quarterback Jake Delhomme will play in Cleveland for the first time as a Brown. Nate Ulrich writes for the Akron Beacon Journal:
He's a 35-year-old veteran who's played in a Super Bowl, but those facts don't exempt him from feeling nervous during special occasions. The Browns' preseason game against the St. Louis Rams will provide such a moment.
''When you're new to a place, anytime you suit up, there's always those butterflies or that feeling you get before you play,'' Delhomme said. ''And that's something I still get. The day I don't get that, it's time to hang it up. It'll be fun to be at home. It'll be good. Hopefully we can try to take another step.''
No Dave Zastudil boots
Scott Petrak looks at some of the happenings during Browns' training camp for the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram and Medina County Gazette, including:
Worst injury: Dave Zastudil
The fact that the punter from Bay Village won’t be able to play this year isn’t a huge surprise. That doesn’t make his placement on injured reserve any less painful for him or the Browns.
His right knee wasn’t recovered from patellar tendon surgery in December and flared up the day camp opened. He’s in the final year of his contract, so this could be the end of his Browns career.
Reggie Hodges was an adequate replacement last season, but he doesn’t have the leg or consistency of Zastudil.
Sideline to sideline
Don Delco previews tonight's game for the Orange and Brown Report on Scout.com.
A report on the Browns' tight ends by Mike McLain for the Warren Tribune-Chronicle.
James Walker answers a question about the Browns and includes a couple Browns' fans comments on his AFC North Blog for ESPN.com.
Jeff Schudel writes about Jake Delhomme and also tonight's game for the News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal.
Brian Dulik writes about Delhomme and Rams rookie quarterback (and first overall draft pick) Sam Bradford for the Medina County Gazette and Elyria Chronicle-Telegram.
Don't expect much national interest in tonight's game. Typically, the ESPN.com power rankings have the Browns ranked very low and the Rams as low as it gets. Also on ESPN.com, Mike Sando analyzes the Rams and some of their problems and hopes -- such as the feeling that Bradford will be a fine quarterback.
From Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, "Rams vs. Browns: 5 things to watch"