T.J. Ward says he won't change after Bengals complain about hit on Jordan Shipley: Browns Insider

Carson Palmer and Terrell Owens accuse rookie safety T.J. Ward of a cheap-shot hit on rookie receiver Jordan Shipley, who left the game with a concussion.

View full sizeJoshua Gunter / The Plain DealerBrowns safety T.J. Ward knocked Cincinnati's Jordan Shipley out of the game with this fourth-quarter hit that resulted in a roughness penalty. Eric Wright (right) had initially broken up a pass intended for Shipley before Ward arrived.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer and receiver Terrell Owens both accused Browns rookie safety T.J. Ward of "a cheap shot" for a helmet-to-helmet hit on rookie receiver Jordan Shipley in the end zone, which knocked him out of the game.

Shipley left with a concussion and didn't return. Ward, who hit Shipley's head with his shoulder first and then his helmet, was flagged half the distance to the goal line (four yards), and could get fined later in the week. The Bengals scored a TD on the next play to close to within 23-20 in the fourth quarter.

"I think it was a ridiculous play," said Owens. "The guy is defenseless. I hate to see a guy get hit like that. The ball had already bounced off and for him to take a cheap shot like that, that's uncalled for.

"In a situation like that, people get hurt. Just to see him like that, I thought he was out cold. He was real groggy, eyes were rolling to the back of his head. You never want to see a teammate in that situation."

Added Palmer: "You hate to see Shipley hit like that. It was a cheap shot, a shot that shouldn't happen. When you see a guy laying on the ground like that, it makes you realize how violent the game can be."

Replays showed Ward struck Shipley with his shoulder first and caught him with his helmet just after Eric Wright knocked the ball away. But Ward said he didn't think it was unnecessary roughness.

"No. I tried to lead with my shoulder," Ward said. "It's a physical game out there. No one's trying to hurt anybody to the point they can't play. We'll see what the ruling is and hopefully they see it in my favor."

Ward said the play won't change his big-hitting style, one he was well-known for at Oregon.

"No. I'm going to try to be more precise where I hit him, but it's not going to change how I play."

Even if he gets fined?

"I'm going to try to hit him where I can't get a fine," he said. "I believe I led with my shoulder. I may have gotten a little helmet, but I didn't lead with my helmet. I didn't try to hit him under his helmet at all."

Browns President Mike Holmgren talked to Ward after the game.

"He was just telling me just be careful out there and try to be smart about situations like that," Ward said.

Coleman's miracle: On Saturday, Kenyon Coleman was a sure scratch for Sunday. He couldn't practice on Friday. But he suddenly felt healed on Saturday evening and scrambled to tell the staff to let him play. They did, and Coleman responded with what he felt was his best career game -- one that included two fumble recoveries that led to field goals and a sack.

"Twenty-four ago I was a scratch," he said after the game. "There's no doubt in my mind. You can ask anybody on the training staff, strength coach or whatever. I wasn't supposed to play."

But on Friday, teammate Brian Schaefering prayed for him "and that's how it turned around," Coleman said.

Coleman called defensive line coach Bryan Cox to say he could play. Cox told him to call Eric Mangini and trainer Joe Sheehan, who thought maybe he re-injured the knee.

"I couldn't even jog on Friday at all," said Coleman. "[Sunday's effort] was awesome."

Mangini kidded, "He's probably going to lobby not to practice this at all this week. The whole team will."

It's just Peyton's place: Peyton Hillis came through with his second straight 100-yard game and fourth TD in as many games. But it was a 24-yard burst on the final drive with two minutes remaining that preserved the victory.

"The play before we ran the exact same play and Eric Steinbach came and told me that if an opening isn't inside, be sure to bounce out because there's nothing out there," Hillis said. "I took his word for it and it ended up being good for me."

Hillis knocked safety Roy Williams out of the game with a knee injury after plowing through him on an 8-yard run in the third quarter. Four plays later, he scored on a 1-yard run to increase the Browns' lead to 20-10.

"It's totally momentum," said Hillis, who said he wasn't aware Williams was injured. "You get adrenaline going, the crowd's going, you're running there in the red zone and you just want to get that seven points."

Hillis is already a fan favorite, just as he was in Denver.

"I love this city because of the hard-working people that are here," he said. "It's a blue-collar town. When I think of Cleveland, I think of myself. They accept their football players with open arms and they show up every Sunday, win lose or draw."

This penalty paid off: Chad Ochocinco threw Joe Haden to the ground on a fourth quarter play to draw an offensive interference call. Matt Roth sacked Palmer on the next snap to end it.

"I broke on the ball and was standing there waiting for the interception and he grabbed me and threw me on the ground," said Haden. "I had a wide-open pick."

Man of the moment: Linebacker Scott Fujita blocked his first career field goal and forced Palmer's third-quarter fumble.

"There wasn't a whole lot to it except I had two big guys, one on either side of me, clear things out and it kind of came open," Fujita said of the blocked kick, which the Browns capitalized upon with a field goal drive of their own to end the first half with a 13-10 lead. "I was as surprised as anybody because I've never blocked a kick in my life."

Mangini said Fujita listened to what special teams coach Brad Seeley told him during the week.

One for the grandmother: Evan Moore had his first TD catch in the NFL, a 24-yarder, and then spontaneously jumped into the end zone stands. Unfortunately, Ben Watson followed and received a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

"It was a great pass," said Moore, who split two defenders, including former Brown Chris Crocker. "[The leap] was something that just came up."

But for Moore it was extra special, because it was Breast Cancer Awareness Day and his grandmother just started chemotherapy this week. He said he'll give her the pink gloves he wore on the catch.

"Hopefully things will turn out okay for her," he said.

A very quiet day: Jerome Harrison, who's recovering from a thigh injury, did not show up on offense until the victory formation at the end. Last week, he said he didn't know what his role was and questioned what carries?" in answer to a question about his role with Hillis so hot.

Inactives: Jake Delhomme (ankle) was the third QB, while Brian Robiskie (hamstring) and James Davis (thigh) sat out.