Company

As we get closer and closer to meaningful Browns action this season, I thought it would be instructive to keep an eye on what the Browns’ main competitors have been up to in their respective camps.  Sometimes it is annoying to hear too much about those other teams as they seem to outperform the Browns year in and year out.  Still, the Browns do have to play each of them twice, so knowing is better than not knowing, I guess.  Without further ado, here is your report.

Pittsburgh Steelers

• Tell me if this sounds familiar.  The Steelers just cut a defensive lineman to create a roster spot so they could sign an offensive lineman after another O lineman was injured.  In the Steelers’ case defensive end Jordan Reffert was released so they could sign former Ohio State Buckeye Alex Stepanovich to provide depth.  The Steelers have injury issues with Darnell Stapleton (arthroscopic knee surgery,) and Justin Hartwig (toe.)
• Injuries are piling up in Pittsburgh even if they are minor.  Casey Hampton left practice Sunday with a knee injury.  Limas Sweed left the same practice with a hamstring injury and Willie Parker was out with back spasms.
• Also, the Steelers appear to also run a tough camp.  Mike Tomlin talked to reporters about a goal-line stand drill that he calls “backed up.”  It has the offense backed up on their own 1 yard line.  It allows the offense to concentrate on getting a first down and giving the punter at least enough room to work.  It also has the defense on their heels a bit because they know the offense could try to bomb them for an extra long play on first down.

Baltimore Ravens

• The Ravens appear to have a special teams battle going on between Yamon Figurs and the newly acquired Chris Carr.  Figures had a shaky year last year and the Ravens signed Carr to a two-year $5 million deal this off-season.  Figurs is coming off a foot injury.
• The Ravens are also practicing without talented defensive lineman Terrell Suggs.  Suggs hurt his achilles tendon and had a bruised left heel.  It doesn’t sound all that serious yet, but any time a high motor guy has a messed up wheel it could linger.
• There is also a battle going on at kicker for the first time in Baltimore Ravens history.  Matt Stover wasn’t re-signed in the offseason.  The candidates are Steve Hauschka and Graham Gano.  Hauschka was a long kicking specialist for the Ravens last year, and Gano is a newly signed 22 year-old rookie from Florida State.  On Saturday Gano made his first kick under NFL pressure.  He was tasked with hitting a 36 yard field goal that would determine whether the team got the afternoon practice called off.  Gano made the kick.  Gano also won the Lou Groza award last season in college.

Cincinnati Bengals

• Maybe I am not remembering another occasion where this has happened but a Bengal player has made an odd move.  Jason Shirley has moved from defensive tackle to offensive guard.  Shirley spent last season on the scout team so it doesn’t really have much impact on the actual playing field.  Still, I couldn’t remember ever hearing of a move like that before.  The WhoDeyRevolution finds this move less than entertaining as they use it as yet another example why the Bengals are the most mis-managed franchise in all of pro sports.
• The Bengals’ #1 pick Andre Smith (#6 overall) is still not in camp for the Bengals.  The two sides are reportedly $7 million apart in negotiations.  This is one of the big benefits of trading down for more players.
• Carson Palmer is attempting to come back from last year’s elbow surgery and his results have been mixed, but he is seemingly healthy.
• The only other thing to really pay attention to with the Bengals are the exploits of the WhoDeyRevolution.  I found this from an AP story.

An estimated 6,500 fans showed up for the annual scrimmage. Soon after it started, a small plane flew overhead towing a banner that read: “101-187-1 … HIRE A GM!” That’s the Bengals’ record since 1991, when Mike Brown took control of the team after his father’s death.

Don’t get me wrong.  I don’t like the Bengals and I consider their fans to be competitors and enemies in an NFL sense.  Still, I can’t help but get a little feeling of “atta boys!” when I see them execute the various tasks of “Project Mayhem.”  A plane with a banner message over practice?  Hilarious.  Especially in the season where HBO’s Hard Knocks cameras should be there to catch all the action.

For pics of the banner messages click here and here to visit WhoDeyRevolution.