Braylon Edwards, Cleveland Browns / Photo: Newscom

It’s been a season of turmoil for the Braylon (and the entire Browns organization, for that matter)—who never realized his full potential in Cleveland. In four games, Braylon only has 10 catches for 139 yards and no touchdowns. (Of course, he’s probably dropped more balls than any other receiver in the National Football League since he was drafted five years ago.) And he’s under investigation by the league for allegedly assaulting local club owner Edward Givens just two days ago. So, Braylon doesn’t arrive in New York without baggage. But his upside for success apparently outweighed the obstacles according to the receiver-needy Jets, who hope a change of scenery will enable Braylon to catch more balls than he drops.

Source: NFL.com

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Braylon Edwards Traded to N.Y. Jets

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Cleveland Browns quarterback Brady Quinn can put down the clipboard, unhook the wires and get into the game now. The Browns confirmed today that Brady will be the starting QB against the Denver Broncos as the NFL’s Thursday night schedule begins this week. Brady will replace an inconsistent Derek Anderson who didn’t have a terrible game (17-of-33, 219 yards, 2 TDs) against the NFL’s second best defense yesterday, but he threw a costly late interception that was returned for a touchdown and sealed the Browns’ fate in a 37-27 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Apparently, head coach Romeo Crennel has seen enough and is ready to give-in to a city who has been clamoring for Brady since he was drafted by the team last year.

Let me start by saying I think the timing of this decision is a bit unusual. It points to desperation in Cleveland. Derek hasn’t had a great season. His passer rating is rather miserable (68.9), but he had gone 132 pass attempts without an interception before he was picked for six yesterday. So it’s not like he’s making a ton of mistakes. Plus, receiver Braylon Edwards dropped a sure touchdown pass in the 4th quarter with the game tied. That wasn’t Derek’s fault. Braylon drops balls all the time. So, maybe it’s not so much Derek’s poor play as it is the team needing some kind of change that might spark them. And at 3-5, they need a spark. I’m not sure Brady’s going to fare a whole lot better in the second half of the season than Derek did in the first half. What he might do for the team is give them a lift. Sometimes a change at the quarterback position will do that for a team.

I’ve said before that I’m all for this switch because it’s inevitable anyway. At some point, Brady Quinn is going to be the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns. In fact, I think the Browns should’ve made this decision before the season even started. I know Derek Anderson had a Pro Bowl 2007 season. He’s a good quarterback. And he will play (and probably succeed) somewhere other than Cleveland next season. But this was Brady’s team without even taking the field. If that makes any sense.

Source: ClevelandBrowns.com, Photo: Newscom

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Brady Quinn Era Begins in Cleveland

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Whenever you hear “undisclosed illness” on an NFL injury report, you might as well go ahead and assume it’s a staph infection. OK, I’m only partially kidding, but such was the case with Cleveland Browns tight end Kellen Winslow last week. His recent “undisclosed illness” was kept quiet because the team has had an alarming number of staph infections over the past few years and they didn’t want the news getting out. This was Kellen’s second infection. His first case came in 2005 after surgery to repair a torn knee ligament in which he was hospitalized and lost almost 30 pounds. Then there was LeCharles Bentley, Joe Jurevicius, Braylon Edwards, Brian Russell and Ben Taylor. They’ve all been through staph infections while playing for the Cleveland Browns. So yeah, you could say there’s a problem with it in Cleveland. And it should concern the Browns players because staph is potentially deadly. Kellen was so distraught about the whole incident, he vented to the media after yesterday’s loss to the Washington Redskins:

“A big reason I’m upset right now has to do with the (staph infection). I heard from Romeo Crennel and I heard from my position coach (Alfredo Roberts) when I was in the Clinic. I heard from my teammates. But I never heard from the main man — Phil Savage — and that really disappoints me. Sometimes I don’t even feel a part of this team. I feel I’ve done a lot for this team, played through a lot of pain and given it my all. I just thought there’d be a little more ‘how are you doing?’ by him ….. There’s obviously a problem (with staph) and we have to fix it. Just look at the history around here. It’s unfortunate, because it happens time and time again ….. I’m just frustrated with a lot of things. I feel it’s been going on for a while. I don’t get treated right and it’s not fair. Sometimes I just feel under-appreciated. I felt it was time to say something ….. I give my heart and soul to this team. I just wish there had been a little more concern over this situation.”

Well, I agree with Kellen on the staph infections and yes, it would have been appropriate for Mr. Savage to visit Kellen in the hospital. Head coach Romeo Crennel said Kellen’s comments were a distraction to the organization and should have been kept within the team. I agree with that, but if the organization isn’t willing to protect one of their players with the truth (like why Kellen was really in the hospital), I don’t think Kellen had any other choice but to go to the media. I don’t blame him for being upset. As far as being treated unfairly and being under-appreciated — well, join the club, dude. It happens to all of us at one time or another.

I know the Browns are doing everything they can to get to the bottom of this problem. I’m not trying to beat up on the front office folks. But with their history and with two cases reported last month in San Francisco — and maybe more being kept under wraps — I wonder how concerned the league is?

Source: Cleveland.com, Photo: Newscom

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Kellen Winslow Had Staph Infection

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As part of the festivities surrounding the 2008 NFL PLAYERS Gala featuring the JB (James Brown) Awards in Washington D.C., players from around the National Football League joined local Special Olympics athletes for a football clinic yesterday morning. The clinic featured more than 75 local Special Olympics athletes participating alongside NFL player-honorees in five friendly, non-contact football stations. The players interacted with the athletes and helped demonstrate a variety of offensive and defensive skills, including passing, receiving, and kicking. At the conclusion of the clinic, athletes took part in a group photo session with the NFL players.

The 2008 JB Award recipients that participated in the clinic were Amobi Okoye (Houston Texans), Marques Douglas (San Francisco 49ers), Chris Draft (St. Louis Rams), Warrick Dunn (Tampa Bay Bucs), Braylon Edwards (Cleveland Browns), Israel Idonije (Chicago Bears), Kassim Osgood (San Diego Chargers), Mack Strong (formerly of the Seattle Seahawks), James Thrash (Washington Redskins), and Brian Waters (Kansas City Chiefs).

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NFL Players Join Local Special Olympics Washington D.C. Athletes For Football Clinic

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The Cleveland Browns are doing more than staying competitive this offseason. The Browns are preparing themselves for a Super Bowl run. First, they locked up QB Derek Anderson for three-years yesterday. Then they got him another weapon on offense — former New England Patriots WR Donte Stallworth. The Browns are wisely building their team around their quarterbacks — Derek and Brady Quinn. GM Phil Savage said:

“Donte’ will be the major addition to our offense this year. He will bring legitimate speed, quickness and playmaking ability to the receiving corps and add a different dimension to the skill players we already have in place.”

He’s not kidding. Combining Donte with Braylon Edwards, Jamal Lewis, Kellen Winslow, Josh Cribbs, and Joe Jurivicius gives Cleveland a serious upgrade to the NFL’s already eighth-best offense (2007).

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Donte’ Stallworth Agrees to Deal With Browns

The New England Patriots and San Diego Chargers lead the AFC’s 2008 Pro Bowl squad with a conference-high eight players each. New England’s eight All-Stars equals a franchise high set by the 1985 Pats. The AFC roster includes 18 first-time All-Stars, including Cincinnati WR T.J. Houshmanzadeh, who leads the NFL with 101 receptions.

Among a group of talented AFC quarterbacks, four-time All-Star Tom Brady of New England, who leads the NFL in passing yards (4,235), TDs (45) and passer rating (119.7), will be the starting QB in his fourth Pro Bowl. Tom is one of seven Patriots that will start for this year’s AFC squad. Joining him to aid the AFC passing attack will be Indianapolis QB Peyton Manning, who will make his eighth Pro Bowl appearance, and first-time selection Ben Roethlisberger of Pittsburgh, who ranks third in the NFL with 29 TD passes.

San Diego’s duo of running back LaDainian Tomlinson and fullback Lorenzo Neal have been named starters for a second year in a row. Earning his fifth Pro Bowl honor, L.T. ranks second in the NFL with 1,311 rushing yards this season and has passed the 1,200-yard rushing mark for the seventh consecutive year. Lorenzo, in his 15th NFL season, has been selected to his fourth Pro Bowl and third as a Charger. Adding to the AFC’s explosive backfield will be Pittsburgh’s Willie Parker and Joseph Addai of Indy. This is the second consecutive Pro Bowl trip for Fast Willie, who leads the NFL with 1,317 rushing yards. In his second NFL season, Joseph Addai ranks second in the AFC with 11 rushing TDs and will make his first Pro Bowl trip. Once again, Jacksonville’s Fred Taylor has been snubbed despite averaging a gaudy 5.1 ypc. He’ll need to lead the league in rushing to get consideration.

Four receivers are named to each All-Star squad. And it has to be nearly impossible to come up with just four. Chosen for the AFC’s 2008 team are New England’s Randy Moss, the NFL’s receiving yardage (1,343) and TD (19) leader. Randy records his first Pro Bowl appearance since 2004 (because he was lost in the black hole for several years) and sixth overall. Lined up across from Randy will be Reggie Wayne of Indianapolis, who will make his second All-Star game in consecutive seasons. Two first-time selections from clubs in Ohio will round out the AFC All-Star receiving foursome — Cleveland wide receiver Braylon Edwards, whose 13 TD receptions ranks second in the AFC, and the aforementioned T.J. Houshmandzadeh of Cincinnati. I know this is a very elite list of receivers and it’s incredibly hard to pick just four, but I could make a case for Wes Welker (Pats), Chad Johnson (Cincy) or even Brandon Marshall (Denver) in this group.

Representing the AFC at tight end will be nine-time all-star Tony Gonzalez (big surprise) of the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Diego’s Antonio Gates, who will play in his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl and start for the second year in a row.

Pittsburgh’s 10-year veteran guard Alan Faneca will make his seventh consecutive Pro Bowl trip and will be joined at the other starting guard position by first-time All-Star Logan Mankins of New England, who has helped pave the way for the league’s top-ranked offense. San Diego’s Kris Dielman, a former undrafted free agent who has been a mainstay for the Chargers offensive line this year, will make his All-Star debut.

AFC starting center Jeff Saturday will book his trip to Hawaii for his third consecutive Pro Bowl. First-time AFC All-Star Dan Koppen of New England will back him up.

Assigned to keep the pocket clean against a talented group of NFC edge rushers are a group of AFC All-Star tackles — New England’s two-time Pro Bowler Matt Light and first-time Pro Bowl selection Jason Peters of Buffalo. Jonathan Ogden of Baltimore will play in his 11th consecutive Pro Bowl in his 12th NFL season.

Lining up in the middle for the AFC defensive front are starting interior linemen Albert Haynesworth of Tennessee and New England’s Vince Wilfork. Both linemen will make their first appearances in the All-Star game. Accompanying Vince and Albert will be San Diego’s Jamal Williams, who has secured his third consecutive Pro Bowl berth.

Ranked second in the AFC with 11.5 sacks, Kansas City defensive end Jared Allen will make his Pro Bowl debut as a starter and will be joined by Tennessee defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch, who will play in his second Pro Bowl in three seasons with the Titans and his first as a starter. Miami’s Jason Taylor will cap off this trio with the sixth Pro Bowl of his career.

Two first-time All-Stars — Mike Vrabel of New England and Pittsburgh’s James Harrison — will start at outside linebacker for the AFC. Mike has tied his career-high with 9.5 sacks and James leads the league’s top-ranked defense with 8.5 sacks. Joining them at outside linebacker is Shawne Merriman of San Diego, who tops NFL linebackers with 11.5 sacks. Shawne will make his third consecutive All-Star game appearance.

Roaming the middle of the AFC defense will be middle linebackers Ray Lewis of Baltimore and DeMeco Ryans of Houston. DeMeco, the 2006 NFL Defensive Rookie of Year, will start in his first Pro Bowl, while Ray-Ray, a 12-year veteran, will record his eighth appearance in Hawaii.

Interceptions are plentiful for the trio of AFC All-Star cornerbacks. Starter Champ Bailey of Denver has earned his eighth consecutive Pro Bowl selection and will be teamed up with two first-time All-Stars. New England’s Asante Samuel will start opposite Champ and Antonio Cromartie of San Diego, who leads the league with 10 INTs, will make his All-Star debut in his second season.

Indianapolis strong safety Bob Sanders earns his second consecutive AFC All-Star berth and Ravens ball-hawking free safety Ed Reed is a four-time Pro Bowl choice in six NFL seasons. Four-time Pro Bowl selection Troy Polamalu of Pittsburgh will join them as a reserve.

The AFC special teams unit is comprised of four players, including two first-time Pro Bowl honorees. Cleveland kick returner Joshua Cribbs is making his first trip to Hawaii. Joshua leads the NFL with a 30.9-yard average and is tied for second in the league with two scores. Tennessee kicker Rob Bironas, who leads the NFL with 31 field goals and set the NFL record for most field goals in a game earlier this season, will make his All-Star debut. San Diego wide receiver Kassim Osgood, who will serve as the AFC’s special teamer, makes his second consecutive trip to Hawaii. Concluding the special teams group will be Oakland’s veteran punter Shane Lechler (third Pro Bowl). Shane leads the NFL with a 49.0 average and has placed 21 of his 63 punts inside the opponents’ 20-yard line.

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Patriots, Chargers Lead AFC All-Star Squad, 18 First-Time Selections Named