 BEREA -- When players in the Browns' offseason program aren't lifting or running at the team complex in Berea, they do what co-workers everywhere in the world do -- they sit around and talk. Sometimes, they talk about business ventures. Often they talk about family. This spring, more than any other year since NFL football returned to Cleveland in 1999, the Browns are talking about how exciting the season that lies ahead could be. ''It is more intense than it has been in other years,'' right guard Ryan Tucker said recently. Tucker is a good judge; this is his seventh season with the Browns, and he has seen all the lows and the scant number of highs over the years.
''Everybody is coming in and working their butts off. Guys are excited. Everybody is talking about the schedule and all these games (five) we have on prime time. Usually at this time we wouldn't be talking about any of that. We'd be talking about, ÔSo what are you doing this weekend?'
''There is more focus. There's a lot of enthusiasm. It's not a grind like it was before.''
The offseason program began March 17. The draft was April 26-27 and rookie minicamp was the next weekend.
The next step toward the start of the season occurs Tuesday with the beginning of organized team activities (OTAs). Players will practice three days a week without pads leading up to the three-day mandatory minicamp beginning June 10. Training camp starting the final week in July would be next, but many players will continue working out at the facility after minicamp.
Before the offseason program began, Tucker invited the entire offensive line to his 1,100-acre ranch in Texas. Much has been made about the Browns re-signing Derek Anderson, re-signing Jamal Lewis, acquiring wide receiver Donte Stallworth in free agency and acquiring Shaun Rogers and Corey Williams in trades. But as far as Tucker is concerned, none of those moves was more important than the decision to keep the offensive line intact -- not only the starters but backups on the line as l.
''It's the same guys in the (offensive line) room we had last year,'' Tucker said. ''I haven't had that since I was in St. Louis (1998-2001), I'm really, really excited about that. We have an excellent group of guys. They prepare well, they're smart and we really get along well. We're there for each other.''
The Texas getaway brought a group that was already tight-knit even closer together.
''They paid for their flights, but we had everything set up,'' Tucker said. ''It was neat. We hung out, had a few Coca-Colas, hunted turkey, fished, played cards ... It was a great time.
''When those guys left, I went down the road and killed an Armenian red sheep.''
Tucker's ranch is stocked with exotic animals such as black bucks, elk, white fallow and buffalo. The entire ranch is fenced in -- sort of like the fence the offensive line formed in front of Derek Anderson last season.
Anderson was sacked only 14 times in 15 starts. Tucker started the final eight games at right guard, and in those games Anderson was sacked six times -- never more than once a game.
Tucker, 32, was a right tackle the first 10 years of his career, but he easily made the transition to right guard when Seth McKinney was knocked out for the season with a shoulder injury. In fact, he said he is a better guard than tackle.
Jamal Lewis rushed for more than 100 yards in five games last season -- four of them with Tucker at guard.
''It didn't surprise me he played as well as he did at guard,'' Coach Romeo Crennel said. ''Ryan has experience as guard from earlier in his career and he also played guard in the (2007) preseason and handled it well.
''Ryan is a competitor. He'll do whatever he can to help the team win at whatever position he's asked. Ryan is a leader and he brings experience and knowledge from his 11 years in the NFL. He knows the inner workings of players and organizations and is a leader in the locker room.''
Tucker always has been optimistic, but last summer reporters wondered if he had sustained too many head slaps when he predicted the Browns would be one of the biggest surprises in the NFL.
''We might lose a few games, but we're gonna have a great year,'' he said.
Turns out he was right. The Browns finished 10-6 in 2007.
The Browns won't sneak up on anybody this season, and they'll be tested right out of the chute in the season opener against Dallas and then in a night game against the Steelers. Both games are in Cleveland Browns Stadium. After that, they finish September with games in Baltimore and in Cincinnati.
''I can't wait,'' he said. ''Expectations are higher than last year. We know we can improve in every area. It's a game of inches. If we can just improve a couple we'll be a really tough team.
''The first game is huge for me. I grew up a Dallas Cowboy fan because I grew up in Texas. I'm still a Cowboys fan.
''The second game is a little bigger. I've only beaten those guys once since I've been here. I just want to stick it to them one time.''
OK, maybe two times. The Browns finish the 2008 regular season on Dec. 28 in Pittsburgh. |
