By Steve King, Staff Writer
July 30, 2006


Romeo Press Conference 7-30-06
Update with Rookie Linebackers


Because he's been able to break some longstanding habits, Browns
right tackle Kirk Chambers has broken into the lineup while Ryan
Tucker has been sidelined since Friday with knee problems.

Chambers was a left tackle all through Provo (Utah) High School and
Stanford, but since he's been with the Browns, the 2004 sixth-round
draft choice has split time between left and right tackle. Now, with
Tucker out, Chambers has been working exclusively on the right side.

"With high school and college, that's eight years of playing left
tackle," Chambers said following Sunday's training camp
practice. "That's a long time. There are a lot of habits you have to
break. I feel more comfortable on the right side now. It's not
instinctive with me there yet, but it's coming."

Browns head coach Romeo Crennel thinks Chambers has just about got
the different footwork and hand technique down on the right side, but
there's more to it than that.

"Chambers has improved since I've been here, but he's not as good as
Tucker," Crennel said. "That's why he's a backup, so he's still got a
long way to go."

Chambers is doing the best he can to close that gap. While he doesn't
want to see his friend, Tucker, go down, his injury nonetheless and
the subsequent undetermined amount of time he'll be out has provided
the 6-foot-7, 314-pounder an opportunity to show the coaches what he
can do.

"I want to prove just how dependable I am," Chambers said. "I think
I've made a lot of improvement since last year, but I know the
coaches came into camp with pre-conceived notions about me. They do
that with every player. I want to solidify the good opinions they
have of me, and I want to change the bad ones."

INJURY UPDATE: Cornerback Daylon McCutcheon also is out with a knee
problem. He has what Crennel described as inflammation. The Browns
will monitor it to see if ice and rest take care of it. If not, then
he will be re-evaluated. In the meantime, Leigh Bodden will continue
to work out for the opportunity to win the the starting job opposite
Gary Baxter. . Center LeCharles Bentley remains hospitalized after
having season-ending knee surgery Friday but has been able to get out
of bed. . Rookie cornerback Demario Minter is out of the hospital
after undergoing minor knee surgery but will remain on crutches for a
while. He may still be able to return at some point during the
regular season. . The Browns are hoping rookie running back Chris
Barclay has just a twisted ankle and not "the dreaded high ankle
sprain," as Crennel called it.

ROSTER MOVE: Still trying to fortify themselves after the loss of
Bentley, the Browns signed veteran backup Todd Washington. He has
played center and both guard spots over the previous eight years with
the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Houston Texans. He was a member of the
Bucs' Super Bowl championship team following the 2002 season and
started 14 games at left guard for the Texans in 2003. Career-wise,
he has played in 97 games with 17 starts. To make room on the roster
for Washington, the Browns waived rookie guard Ben Brielmaier.

SPIRIT OF COMPETITION: Inside linebacker Chaun Thompson and Joe
Jurevicius tussled after they got tangled up in the middle of the
field on a short passing play. "It was just a little competition,"
Thompson said. "That's my brother and I love him. We weren't mad at
each other. We were just bringing a little excitement to the
practice. We already talked. I kind of got him on a cheap shot, and I
said I was sorry. He said he accepted it, and we go on."

STOKING THE FIRE: The fact Sunday was the hottest day of camp to this
point no doubt played a role in the scuffle. Crennel liked the fact
it was in the upper 80s with high humidity, creating sauna-like
conditions. "I thought today was a good day to get better because of
the weather," he said. "If they can push through practice on days
like these, it will help their conditioning and make them better
players." The players could really makes strides as it is forecast to
get even hotter, with temperatures in the 90s, for much of the rest
of the week.


Brian Russell hits Steve Heiden during practice.


Photo By John H. Reid III


WHAM: Tight end Steve Heiden dropped the ball and stayed on the
ground for two minutes while trying to clear his head after getting
hit by safety Brian Russell on a pass play. It came as the result of
Russell trying to correct a mistake he made Saturday on a similar
play. "He left the middle of the field wide open and was told about
it," Crennel said.

OTHER BIG PLAYS OF THE DAY: Baxter made a hard hit to break up a Ken
Dorsey pass intended for rookie wide receiver Travis Wilson. .
Quarterback Charlie Frye and wide receiver Dennis Northcutt hooked up
on a nice 15-yard crossing route. . Defensive end Orpheus Roye
knocked down a Darnell Hackney pass. . Joshua Cribbs looked lightning-
quick on a kickoff return...

Running back Lee Suggs made some good cuts to get 15 yards on a
sweep. . Tight end Kellen Winslow made a catch despite taking a hard
pop from safety Shawn Mayer.

BEE CAREFUL: Browns defensive end Alvin McKinley caused practice to
stop briefly and drew a lot of laughter when, just before the ball
was snapped, he quickly rose up, ripped off his helmet and started to
violently swat at a bee that was buzzing around his facemask.

TRICKERY: Dave Zastudil and Kyle Basler practiced throwing passes off
a fake punt.

UP NEXT: The Browns will practice twice on Monday, from 8:45 to 10:45
a.m. and then again from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. For updated practice
information, call the team's training camp hotline at 1-877-627-6967
or log on to www.clevelandbrowns.com.