Archives for December 10, 2010

‘Starting defensive tackle Kyle Williams missed Friday’s practice because of a tight neck, but he will play. Coach Chan Gailey said defensive backs Terrence McGee (nerve behind knee) and Donte Whitner (knee) also should be able to go.’

‘Buffalo has the third most fumbles in the league this season with 24 and ranks fifth in the NFL in fumbles lost with 11, including four last week. On a day that’s forecast to be wet and cold with a rain-snow mix, the Bills cannot cough up the football and expect to win what could largely be a field position type game.’

‘”I think you always have a plan in place if something goes bad weather-wise and really the wind affects you more than maybe the cold or the snow does,” said head coach Chan Gailey. “I mean, if it’s sloppy snow and mounds of it, it creates a problem. Holding onto the ball is the biggest issue. For the most part, wind creates more of a problem than actually snow or rain or anything like that does.”‘

‘"Over the past few years there’s been something to the game," he said. "It’s always been a tough game on each side. So, this weekend shouldn’t be any different."’

‘"There’s always a mindset of being bigger than the next guy and more mentally prepared and wanting to be tougher than the next guy," Hillis said this week during a conference call with the Buffalo media. "When you do that, good things tend to happen."’

‘"I have 70 people coming up," said Whitner, a Cleveland native who attended his first Browns game when he was 5. "I don’t know why the games are so weird, but it’s been that way since I came here. But I like it, and my family likes it."’

‘"I was very happy for him," Jackson said. "As soon as I heard I gave him a call. I knew that he probably would be too busy to take the call, but I just wanted him to know that I was happy for him and rooting for him and hopefully he can make some things happen for them out there."’

‘The NFL ownership rules state that no person who owns a majority interest in, or has direct or indirect operating control of an NFL member club, may own or acquire any interest in a club in another major team sport (baseball, basketball, hockey), except for a club located in: a) his or her NFL club’s home city, or b) a non-NFL city that is not a potential NFL city.’

‘Fitzpatrick, a seventh-round pick in 2004, was asked if his Harvard background has helped him in the NFL, to which he replied, “Uh, no.” “If anything,” he said, “it hurt me in the sense that people were wondering how into football I really was. I don’t think any of that classroom stuff converts to the field too well.”‘

‘”C.J. is like most rookies. He’s in a learning mode,” Gailey said in a conference call. “He did things one way in college, and we’re trying to get him to adjust some things. He’s been hurt off and on. I was hoping there would be more opportunities for him and things would be further along than they are right now, but it is what it is. I think in the future he is going to be a very good football player for us and be very productive. He just has some things to learn.”‘

Cleveland Browns’ Ben Watson is a special tight end, not a specialist (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

Fullback Lawrence Vickers paves way for running backs (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

Browns, Bills brace for the cold Sunday in Buffalo (Canton Repository)

Browns about to run into one of those rare Ivy Leaguers (Canton Repository)

Mangini has close group of cornerbacks (Canton Repository)

Cribbs responds to fans’ criticism (Willoughby News Herald)

Spiller trying to get up to speed (Willoughby News Herald)

Browns are venturing into a winter wonderland (Elyria Chronicle Telegram)

Browns coach Eric Mangini loves winter weather (Elyria Chronicle Telegram)

Dawson might be Cleveland’s weather beater (Warren Tribune Chronicle)

Newcomer on course to reach milestone (Akron Beacon Journal)

Cribbs’ mind set on full return (Akron Beacon Journal)

Colder the better for Browns (AP)

Facing the elements (ClevelandBrowns.com)

Browns change looks (ClevelandBrowns.com)

Benard missed, Barton limited (ClevelandBrowns.com)

Mangini press conf. transcript – 12/9 (ClevelandBrowns.com)

Player Quotes – 12/9 (ClevelandBrowns.com)

Browns Backers Clubs Give Back (ClevelandBrowns.com)

‘”I’m really excited about the potential,” Reed said. “I put 100 percent into everything I do. Failure was never an option for me in my career. When you have the right people behind you, and I do, there’s no reason it can’t be a big success.”‘

‘Johnson’s taken a lot of heat from fellow believers for his audacious tweet. But I invite you to hear a kind of a prayer in his tweet.’

‘Bills 13, Browns 10.’

‘Browns 17, Bills 10.’