The Browns can only hope that this Tucker is half as good as their other one.

Center Ross Tucker, acquired in trade this week with New England for a conditional seventh-round pick in 2007, began his bid Saturday to become the Browns new starting center. He's no relation to the Browns rock-solid right tackle, Ryan Tucker.

If the Browns can't trade for a more experienced center such as the Eagles' Hank Fraley, Tucker is their best hope.

"I think Ross is going to give us everything he has," said coach Romeo Crennel. "Only time will tell how he'll fit. He's going to be a first- or second-stringer now."

Tucker, who practiced with the Browns for the first time Saturday, is on such a fast track that he'll either start Friday against Detroit or rotate with Alonzo Ephraim.

"It'll depend on how the rest of the week goes," Crennel said. "I think he'll have a good chance to pick up the system. Some of the terms and concepts are the same that he saw in New England."

Tucker (6-4, 316), who had a tryout with the Browns last season, said he understands his situation.

"I'm certainly not looking at it like I'm walking into a starting position," he said. "I've been around long enough to know they might bring someone else in. I'm not going to jump for joy. As a player in the NFL, things depend on being in the right place at the right time. I feel I'm in that position, and I can't wait until Friday night."

Tucker originally was signed by the Redskins as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Princeton in 2001. He bounced from Washington to Dallas to Buffalo, where he started 12 games in 2004, including four at center and eight at left guard. Of the three healthy centers on the Browns' roster - all of whom were acquired in the past couple of weeks - Tucker has the most experience. He's started 24 of his 42 games.

He had back surgery in April 2005, "but I feel great. I love how I feel right now. This is the best I've felt in six years."

Can't catch break:

Rookie center Rob Smith will be out at least a couple of weeks with his high ankle sprain from the Philadelphia game, meaning the Browns might have to find yet another reserve center to get through camp. Currently, they're down to Tucker, Ephraim and Mike Mabry, who was playing for the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena League when he got the Browns' call.

The Soul is owned by rocker Jon Bon Jovi.

"I have the Soul to fall back on if things don't work out up here," Mabry said after the Eagles game. "It was neat because I got a call [Thursday] from Bon Jovi. He wished me luck . . . I saved the message on my cell phone."

McGinest excused:

Linebacker Willie McGinest was absent from practice Saturday to take care of a personal matter. Crennel said McGinest might also miss today's double session, but that it's unrelated to his surgically repaired elbow.

McGinest sat out the Eagles game to give the elbow (bone chips) a rest. Linebacker David McMillan got the start and responded with two sacks, two hurries and three tackles.

"Willie knows how to play the game," Crennel said. "We do have to get him some timing and reps before the regular season starts, but while he's waiting, McMillan gets the opportunity to come in and show us a few things."

As for this week, Crennel said No. 1 pick Kamerion Wimbley might start in place of McGinest.