Berea Report: A #23 Worth Cheering

[BernietheKid]

Berea Report: A #23 Worth Cheering
		By Don Delco OBR Reporter Posted Dec 3, 2010 Will we be witness to Cleveland returning the favor on Sunday? 0 Comments
BEREA — Browns rookie cornerback Joe Haden was among the Cleveland professional sports figures and celebrities that took in the Cavaliers game Thursday night at Quicken Loans Arena. The game was a big deal, if you haven’t heard. It was the first time Miami Heat forward LeBron James returned to Cleveland since he decided to leave the Cavaliers last July. Actor Drew Carey and former Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar were among the famous contingent wearing wine-colored Cavaliers jerseys in support of Cleveland. Haden received a jersey, too. His donned the same number he wears for the Browns, No. 23. That was James’ number when he played seven seasons in Cleveland. Oops. “I was walking around and everyone saw the 23 on the front,” said Haden, who later turned the jersey backward to revel his name, not James’. “I was like, ‘Don’t worry. My name is on the back.’” Haden, who was a starter on his high school’s state championship basketball team, admitted Friday he is a LeBron James fan. Thursday’s game was the first chance Haden had to see James play in person. “It was really sweet to watch him play,” Haden said. “It wasn’t too good, though, he smashed us.” Haden, along with teammate Josh Cribbs, where shown on the Jumbotron before the game. Fans responded with a loud ovation. Both Browns players took notice. “I know Cleveland fans would have rather cheer for LeBron than against him,” Cribbs said. “We’d rather have him on our team. This is a great sports town, though, and yesterday they showed their passion.” “They say Miami doesn’t have a good fan base. They can’t fill seats at their stadiums. Cleveland doesn’t have that problem. Cleveland is football. Cleveland is sports. This is a great city to play sports in. The whole city is behind you. You don’t worry about filling the stands. They’re going to come.” James’ Heat would win Thursday’s game in a rout, 118-90. The outcome was decided by halftime. As Cribbs left the arena, fans were already looking ahead to the Browns game Sunday at Miami. “I heard fans say, ‘That’s all right, wait until the Browns go down there,’” Cribbs said. “I was saying that, too. I can’t wait to go down there and play with our team and we know we have the city behind us.” Some Satisfaction: Mangini said Friday he did have a conversation with the NFL this week regarding official’s late-game ruling last Sunday. The missed 42-yard field goal by Carolina kicker John Kasay was set up by a 28-yard reception by Brandon LaFell with five seconds remaining. Since the play occurred under two minutes, there was a mandated booth review on whether or not LaFell caught the ball. Mangini said after the game last Sunday, he was told by an official that if it is indeed ruled a catch, LaFell was touched down in bounds. Carolina had no times outs remaining and the final five seconds on the clock would expire. Thus eliminating the possibility of a field goal attempt. Instead, the catch was ruled good and the Panthers were allowed to attempt the kick. Although Mangini said he did discuss what happened with the league, he would not go into specifics on what was said. “I don’t think I’m able to,” Mangini said. “I am satisfied with the answer.” Fishy stats: Since public relations departments of NFL teams work hard compiling statistics, here are some interesting ones when it comes to Sunday’s opponent, the Miami Dolphins: Of the Dolphins’ five losses, four have occurred at home. It’s not so much the Dolphins can’t play at home, it’s who the Dolphins play at home. In those four losses, the opponents — Jets (31-23 on Sept. 26), Patriots (41-14 on Oct. 4), Steelers (23-22 on Oct. 24) and Bears (16-0 on Nov. 18) enter week 13 a combined 34-10. In five seasons with Miami, running back Ricky Williams is second on the team’s all-time list with 6,259 rushing yards and needs 478 to surpass Larry Csonka (6,737) for most in Dolphins’ history. Williams also needs 612 to reach 10,000 career yards. Williams assault on Csonka does not end there. He needs 44 attempts to tie Csonka (1,506) for the highest rushing attempts in Dolphins history and he needs five touchdowns to tie Csonka (53) for the team’s most rushing touchdowns. Csonka is not the only Dolphins legend with team records in danger. In 1984, Mark Clayton and Mark Duper combined for 144 catches. Currently, Brandon Marshall (58) and Davone Bess (55) are on pace to finish the season with 164. Kicker Dan Carpenter was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for November. He has made 28 consecutive field goals inside 45 yards. Injury Report: Linebacker Scott Fujita (knee), Peyton Hillis (personal reasons), quarterback Colt McCoy (ankle) and defensive lineman Shaun Rogers (ankle) missed practice Friday while wide receiver Josh Cribbs (foot) did see some reps, at least while practice was open to the media from 11:15-11:45 a.m. “It’s not 100 percent,” Cribbs said. “It’s a matter of battling through it.” When it comes to game time Sunday, Mangini expects Cribbs, Hillis and Rogers to be ready. “We’re further along with Josh than we were last week,” Manigni said. “I’m comfortable with his ability to play Sunday and play at a high level.” Cribbs will return to his role as the Browns primary kick returner. As far as his role as a wide receiver, it will be addressed once the game starts. “We’ll play it by ear during the course of the game,” Mangini said. Scout.com: Berea Report: A #23 Worth Cheering

[SoCalBrownsFan]

Love Haden and Ward. Two damn good draft picks.

[Danamal]

Originally Posted by SoCalBrownsFan

Love Haden and Ward. Two damn good draft picks.

+1 Throw in a little McCoy for good luck!

[OzDawg]

Haden,Ward, McCoy
Does Hardesty do his rehab AT the Browns facility? Is he getting to know his team mates and them him?
(I'm really hoping he comes back in tip shape next season!)

[Sez.EJ]

We can see the fruits of this draft on the field already. ... and still untapped possiblities.. could be a monster draft when we look back in a few years. Maybe one of the best in franchise history.. mmm that's scary to type that.. I'm not drinking the coolide and I know it is WAYYYY premature.. ..but I look at laovao (just now getting his feet wet) and Hardesty.. ton of potential there.. Mitchell is a late round flyer so not much expectation there.. but.. We are looking at 3 on the field and playing great already and 2(3?) more in the wings.... very nice 1st year for the new management regime.

[Enigmatic Evil]

Hell yes! I've felt so good about Haden this year and it seems that he gets better and more comfortable with every game. He leads the team in interceptions which is great to see. He's only going to get better and better and that makes me so happy. The thing I love about Haden is that he's completely commited to what he does. He's not going to sulk and whine like Eric Wright because he's all of a sudden got some competition that can play ball. Haden's going to work hard and he's going to get better and he will be our #1 corner for a long time if we can keep him happy. Eric Wright is going to be a thing of the past before long. Man I'm pissed at Wright, I shouldn't have read that Wright thread before posting here. I digress...

Great to see Haden playing at the level he has this season when so many people questioned taking him where we did in the draft. It's vindicating to get one of those picks that seems like it's going to work out for once, especially when we DESPERATELY needed the upgrade at Cornerback.

[PlaygroundLegend]

Originally Posted by BernietheKid

“I was walking around and everyone saw the 23 on the front,” said Haden, who later turned the jersey backward to revel his name, not James’. “I was like, ‘Don’t worry. My name is on the back.’”

Haden, who was a starter on his high school’s state championship basketball team, admitted Friday he is a LeBron James fan. Thursday’s game was the first chance Haden had to see James play in person.

“It was really sweet to watch him play,” Haden said. “It wasn’t too good, though, he smashed us.”

[golfer704u]

Originally Posted by PlaygroundLegend

This is why Joe Haden is going to not only be a great player, but a fan favorite here in cleveland, this one word. He is taking after Josh Cribbs now. That is leadership. When he refers to cleveland sports teams, and the cleveland fans, and he inserts himself in there and uses the collective word, us, you know we have a great guy.

Think Dez Bryant would have done that?

[Enigmatic Evil]

Dez Bryant is a "me" guy and always will be. How many stand out WR's are "Team" and "City" guys? I can't really think of a single one. Wes Welker?