Forgotten Man: Jurevicius as Browns' Second Receiver

Chris Pokorny — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 17:05:38 -0000

The other day, the options for the Browns to consider at the receiver position after Braylon Edwards were addressed. With 265 votes tallied at the time of this posting, the results are as follows:

(1st -TIE) Big-Name Free Agent, Like Houshmandzadeh (29%)
(1st - TIE) Lower Level Free Agent (29%)
(3rd) Late in the Draft (26%)
(4th) We're Fine With What We've Got (10%)
(5th) Early in the Draft (4%)

The dispersal of the votes among fans is alarming in the sense that no matter what Eric Mangini and George Kokinis decide to do, it's going to be difficult to please the majority. Here's a new question though: would the 4th place finishing statement have been ranked higher if Joe Jurevicius' name was considered a little bit more?

It's easy to forget about the man who missed all of last season, thanks to Cleveland's curse of the staph infection. Many people questioned whether or not Jurevicius would return to football; he may only want to play one more year, and what would be his chances of winning a Super Bowl with the Browns?

If Jurevicius planned on calling it a career, I think he would've done so already. When healthy, nobody can doubt the stability he brings to an offense. Just look at how stable the Seahawks and Browns were at the position with Jurevicius compared to how they were without him.

In Tony Grossi's notes Saturday, Mangini stated that Jurevicius [along with offensive tackle Ryan Tucker] should be ready to return in some capacity to the team's offseason conditioning programs on March 16.

"I like both those guys. . . . I like their toughness and competitiveness."

In a year where the Browns will need to save money after some of the lucrative contracts Phil Savage worked out over the past several years, crossing the receiver position off the "list of needs" could be beneficial, depending on the actual amount of faith the team has in Jurevicius. Although they were very much different circumstances, we all saw what happened to Gary Baxter and LeCharles Bentley under the old regime.

Poll

Let's say Joe Jurevicius is healthy and projected to be productive this year. Does your decision change [what should we do to address the WR position]?

Big-Name free agent like Houshmandzadeh

101 votes

Lower level free agent

129 votes

Early in the draft

45 votes

Late in the draft

156 votes

We're fine with what we've got

233 votes

664 votes | Poll has closed

LB Antwan Peek Injures Knee Again

Chris Pokorny — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 04:05:14 -0000

What's worse? Sustaining a long-term injury like Gary Baxter, or constantly rehabbing from injury only to suffer another injury as soon as you come back? Believe it or not, Browns LB Antwan Peek has caught the injury bug again -- he's getting injured more than a person with no immune system gets sick.

According to Mary Kay Cabot (through sources of her own) of the Plain Dealer, Peek left practice Wednesday and did not return. The extent of his injury is not yet known, which could potentially yield some positive news in the coming day or so regarding his condition. Nonetheless, this seems all-too-familiar, and the Browns may have to be ready without Peek this Sunday against the Cowboys.

If that's the case, then Alex Hall's rookie debut will be fast forwarded several steps, as he would split time with veteran LB Willie McGinest. As soon as more details come in, I'll try to provide an update on Peek's condition.

On the positive side of things, Derek Anderson, Braylon Edwards, and Jamal Lewis all practiced on Wednesday. Lewis was limited, but he will be worked back into full practices in the coming days, possibly as early as Thursday. The Plain Dealer has an update on what Joshua Cribbs and Brodney Pool did during practice Wednesday:

Cribbs did some individual work in with the receivers, more than just the special teams walk-through he participated in on Monday. Pool, who sat out team drills, also practiced for the first time since suffering a concussion vs. the Giants.

Finally, here are the Browns' team captains this season (two per unit):

Offense: Derek Anderson & Hank Fraley
Defense: Willie McGinest & Andra Davis
Special Teams: Phil Dawson & Joshua Cribbs

SB Nation - Gary Baxter