Marcus Bernard Collapses out in Berea

[nickers]

Well Im glad its not a stroke...I had one...And know just how horrible it really is...It still affects My life to this day.

[Dan in Florida]

I'm sorry you had/have to go through that nickers.

[nickers]

Originally Posted by Dan in Florida

I'm sorry you had/have to go through that nickers.

Thanks but its ok...What doesnt kill ya only makes ya stronger.

[Dan in Florida]

Guys like you are an inspiration!

GO BROWNS!

[BernietheKid]

Benard getting better

By Matt Florjancic, ClevelandBrowns.com Staff Writer
Posted 1 hour ago

Linebacker Marcus Benard is getting better after collapsing in the team's locker room Thursday.

Prior to Thursday afternoon’s practice, linebacker Marcus Benard collapsed in the Browns locker room and was taken to a local hospital for evaluation. According to the team, he was released from the hospital at 8:15 Thursday evening.
Benard missed Thursday’s practice and will also sit out Friday’s session.

“He went through tests last night and I talked to him this morning. He’s doing a lot better,” Browns coach Eric Mangini said in his Friday morning press conference. “He’ll go through some more tests today. What we’re doing is trying to rule out anything and make sure everything is okay, but he’s in good spirits and I expect him here this afternoon.

“He has not been ruled out for Sunday,” he added. “We’re just really taking all precautions in terms of tests and things like that to make sure that we get as much information as we can. It will all depend on medically where it is. Marcus always wants to play. The key thing is just getting all the information. There’s been no new news based off the tests.”

Benard entered the week with a team-leading 4.5 sacks in addition to his 13 total tackles and one pass break-up.

“He does a really nice job in a lot of areas and I’ve like the way that he’s developed as a complete linebacker,” Mangini said. “He does a really nice job in terms of generating some pass rush. That’s a real plus, but it’s important to him, it’s important to us that he’s not a one-dimensional player where that’s the only thing that he does. He works at that and plays on special teams as well, which is a very good thing.”

When he arrived at the Browns’ training facility in 2009, Benard was an undrafted rookie free agent from Jackson State. He spent the first nine weeks of the year on the Browns’ practice squad before being signed to the active roster on November 9, 2009.

In six games, Benard registered 3.5 sacks, the highest total among Browns rookies. He was sixth among all NFL first-year players and with two sacks against the Pittsburgh Steelers, became the first Browns rookie to register a multi-sack game since Kamerion Wimbley had two against Tampa Bay on December 24, 2006.

“He came in about as raw as you could get,” Mangini said. “There were times where I didn’t know if he was going to hang around because there were some things that he wasn’t quite getting, but he kept working at it. Because of the way he worked, he kept getting more and more chances. As he got those chances, they eventually turned into being activated and being able to play in the game for a substantial amount of time. He performed, which was great to see.

“This year, I had him speak to the rookie class and just the growth from him coming in that first rookie class to him now speaking to the rookie class, I thought his message was powerful,” he added. “He was very articulate, very comfortable with who he was and what his goals were. It’s just great to see. It’s really great to see.”

EXPRESSING CONCERN
Benard’s collapse drew concerned looks from players throughout the locker room. Several teammates, who had yet to make their way out to the practice field, looked on as the medical personnel addressed the situation.

“You’re always concerned when something happens to a teammate, whether it’s at practice, before practice, during a game, any of those things,” said Mangini. “I would expect nothing less from this group of guys. They care about each other deeply.”

REFLECTING ON THE PAST
Of the 20 draft picks the New York Jets made during Coach Mangini’s tenure with the team, 11 are on the active roster, five are starters and one is a contributor as a kick returner and Wildcat quarterback.

From the first draft in 2006, the Jets solidified their offensive line, taking left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson (No. 4 overall) and center Nick Mangold (No. 29 overall) in the first round. Back-up quarterback Kellen Clemens and utility player Brad Smith also came out of that draft class.

In 2007, the Jets drafted defensive back Darrelle Revis in the first round.

“It’s fantastic to see that and it’s great to see their growth and development,” said Mangini. “You remember what they were like right after the Draft in rookie mini-camp that first year and the struggles that they had, the different conversations that you had, the different things you did in relationship to their development, how important it was to teach them how to be pros, to teach them how to play in the NFL and give them good mentors so that they learn the right habits.

“That’s going to serve them well for years to come,” he continued. “It’s so important to get those rookies and teach them the right way when they’re young and teach them what it means to be a pro. It’s really rewarding.”

PRACTICE SCHEDULE
The Browns are following their typical Friday practice routine in terms of getting their final preparations in before Sunday’s home game the AFC East-leading Jets.

“It’ll be red area, goal line and some things that we have to clean up in terms of what we had to do on third down yesterday,” said Mangini. “They bring in a lot of different looks defensively and it’s just being able to ID (identify) those, adjust to those and be able to play fast.”

The Browns tackle the Jets at Cleveland Browns Stadium on Sunday. Be there! Click here to buy tickets now.

Benard getting better