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 Brodney Pool departed Browns Headquarters a better, more polished and more mature player than he was when first arrived, as a second-round draft choice last April.
All indications are that the best is yet to come. Pool, who’s just 21 years old, played in 13 games as a special teamer and nickel package defensive back in 2005. He got some important on-the-job training and flashed the athleticism that made him so attractive to the Browns last spring. Browns General Manager Phil Savage said Pool is “potentially the best athlete on our defense.” “He’s an excellent athlete,” coach Romeo Crennel said. “He came out early, so he’s still got some maturing to do. But I think he’s shown enough in practice that we feel good about his prospects. We like his abilities, and I think that he’ll have a chance to be a pretty good player for us.”  When the Browns drafted Pool atop the second round last April, Savage said Pool would have been a top 20 pick this year had he stayed for his senior season at the University of Oklahoma.
Thirteen games, 25 tackles, a sack, and one game-clinching interception later, that feeling hasn’t changed. “I’m pretty sure I’m a better player in all areas,” Pool said. “I know there are things I did early on, that when I see the film I won’t be able to believe that was me. I’ve come a long way. The coaches have done a great job with me. It’s been fun to work with them and keep getting better.”
Pool said when he returns to Cleveland and starts breaking down film of his rookie season “I’m going to be very hard on myself. But, I’m going to be excited, too. I’ll be watching and learning and getting anxious. It’s going to be fun.” Pool intercepted Steve McNair’s desperation pass to seal the Browns’ win over the Titans on Nov. 13. Pool also ranked sixth on the team with 10 special teams tackles and two special teams fumble recoveries, both in the Dec. 24 loss to Pittsburgh. He missed three games in the second half of the season due to ankle injury, something that stunted his progress and probably cost him more opportunities to play in the Browns’ final three games. “The ankle injury set me back, definitely,” Pool said. “I don’t know that I would have been starting but I do believe I would have been playing more at the end of the season. It was a setback. It was disappointing, but it comes with the territory in the NFL. LINK |
