Browns Fantasy News

Thursday, September 17, 2009, 5:44pm

Brandon Marshall broke his self-imposed boycott with the local media this morning, but the normally loquacious WR basically remained silent.

Marshall deflected, or flat-out ignored, any questions about his attitude or play since returning from his nine-day suspension at the end of the preseason for "conduct detrimental to the team."

Marshall, who has requested a new contract or a trade, had declined to speak with reporters all last week, after Sunday's game at Cincinnati and again earlier this week. Players can be fined by the NFL if they refuse to speak to the media.

In the most revealing moment of his interview, which lasted one minute and 40 seconds, Marshall said that he is completely healthy.
Marshall had offseason hip surgery and missed time early in training camp with a hamstring injury.
"I think I was 100 percent a long time ago," Marshall said. "I'm just taking the time now to prepare myself for each week, and this week is Cleveland."Marshall did not acknowledge those questions and chose to talk instead in clichés about the Browns' defense.

"They are really physical," Marshall said. "They're smart and they fly all around the field."

Thursday, September 17, 2009, 11:05am

Browns running back Jamal Lewis was limited in practice Wednesday because of an unspecified neck injury.

Lewis showed nice bursts of speed while running for 57 yards in a season-opening loss to Minnesota. He went down with an apparent stinger in his neck after a 15-yard run in the first half.

Linebacker David Bowens (knee), wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi (shoulder) and nose tackle Shaun Rogers (foot) were listed on the team's injury report.

Also, rookie running back James Davis did not participate in practice because of a shoulder injury suffered against the Vikings.

The Browns will play at Denver on Sunday.

Browns' Edwards struggles to fit in
Thursday, September 17, 2009, 9:55am

It was a meaningless pass in a warm-up drill Wednesday afternoon, but it came from Brady Quinn. And Braylon Edwards, standing still, dropped it.

He didn't move from the spot and on the next snap from Derek Anderson, Edwards caught it effortlessly.

Edwards always knows when the media is watching, so perhaps he was preoccupied on the throw from Quinn. But those few seconds on the practice field perfectly summed up Edwards' situation.

Now that Quinn has been installed as the Browns' starting QB, coach Eric Mangini and OC Brian Daboll face a major problem with their #1 WR. Not only does Edwards have no chemistry with Quinn like he did Anderson, but he also doesn't seem suited for a scheme that Quinn called ''methodical.''

''We're an offense that's going to try to push the ball downfield in a methodical way,'' Quinn said. ''Whether it be through making smart decisions, checks, running the football. . . . Taking what the defense gives us, we're not going to try to force something. We're going to play smart football.''

CAR: continue to circle wagons around Delhomme
Thursday, September 17, 2009, 9:50am

Panthers QB Jake Delhomme promised Wednesday that he wasn't going to let future mistakes snowball on him the way he did last week, and teammates continued to prop him up.
It's been that way ever since his five-turnover performance in Sunday's 38-10 loss to Philadelphia, a game that got away from them early and kept getting worse.
“We saw very few good things,” he said of the tape study of that game.
Delhomme admitted that he let the first few stay on his mind, and knows he can't let that happen moving forward.

A number of teammates maintained the week's course of mentioning the collective failures of that game. It's been that way since Monday, when the offensive line lined up to talk about their protection problems, and will likely continue until Delhomme's back on track.

Panthers still mum on #2 QB
Thursday, September 17, 2009, 9:48am

The newest Panthers quarterback is spending late nights trying to learn, while the other backups are pondering whether he's about to move up the depth chart.

The Panthers signed veteran A.J. Feeley on Tuesday to fill in for injured backup Josh McCown, but there exists the chance that third-year third-stringer Matt Moore could take a step up and be the backup this week.

Coach John Fox gave his typical “game-time decision” declaration Wednesday when asked which one would be second in line behind Jake Delhomme.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009, 5:33pm

The NFL assessed a total of $125,000 in fines to the New York Jets and former coach Eric Mangini on Wednesday for violating the league's rules on injury reporting with regard to former quarterback Brett Favre last season.

The Jets failed to place Favre, now with the Minnesota Vikings, on the injury report during the final month of last season, even though he had a torn biceps tendon.

The league announced it had fined the Jets $75,000, and Mangini and Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum $25,000 apiece. Mangini now coaches the Cleveland Browns.

"We have been fully cooperative with the league throughout this investigation and respect their decision," the Jets said in a statement.

Panthers sign Feeley, place McCown on IR
Monday, September 14, 2009, 5:44pm

The Panthers have placed QB Josh McCown on season ending IR and signed free agent AJ Feeley.The Panthers could not wait around for Josh McCown's foot to heal, and wanted another quarterback option on the roster. Feeley could eventually threaten to take over Jake Delhomme's starting job, and his presence is a sign that the Panthers may not be that high on Matt Moore.

Sunday, September 13, 2009, 10:01pm

Carolina coach John Fox was asked after Sunday's 38-10 loss to Philadelphia who he's starting at quarterback is for next week's game at Atlanta. His options could be limited because backup Josh McCown suffered knee and foot injuries in limited action against the Eagles.

Here's the way Fox responded to the question:

"Obviously, I think we start back with Jake. I think we’ve got to go back and evaluate what happened to us. Personally, after not seeing the tape, I don’t think that’s all Jake’s fault."

Fox cited the Panthers' pass protection problems.

"I think it’s uncomfortable playing quarterack when you’re getting sacked, knocked around," said Fox.

Jake Delhomme, who had four interceptions and a fumble, was quick to say he played poorly, but made it clear he wants to remain the starter.