Cleveland Browns Training Camp Week 1: No News Is Good News

The Browns capped off the first week, well half week, of Training Camp 2008 in Berea, Ohio today.  No major news to report, which is a good thing.  This is normally the time of year that season threatening or season ending injuries occur. Just ask the Washington Redskins.

But the Browns survived Week 1 with no major incidences.  WR Donte Stallworth tweaked his ever-sensitive hamstring last week but was back in action today.  TE Steve Heiden is still working his way back from offseason back surgery and into game shape.  Some other nicks and dings here and there but nothing really worth reporting.

Head coach Romeo Crennel intermittently rested some of his veteran players during some of the two-a-day sessions to keep them fresh as the first preseason game approaches in 11 days.  Status quo for the most part.

It’s hard to discern anything of real value until the exhibition games actually start.  However, The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports the Browns’ revamped defensive line has been strutting its stuff at the expense of young Brady Quinn.  The offense looks to be firing on all cylinders this year after struggling to pick up Offensive Coordinator Rob Chudzinski’s offense last season.

Jamal Lewis showed up at camp almost 20 pounds lighter than last season in hopes of showing that last season’s 1,304 rushing yard campaign was no fluke.  Kellen Winslow continues to seem robotic, as he has shown little, if any, affect from another offseason knee surgery.

As far as the new guys go, the rookie making the most noise is the last one the Browns drafted, LB Alex Hall out of Division II St. Augustine.  A DE in college, the Browns hope to make an edge pass rusher out of Hall, who has caught the eye of the coaches and media so far. 

Once again, it means nothing until the games start, but with fellow draft choices Beau Bell, Martin Rucker and Paul Hubbard struggling, Hall could be a nice surprise if he can contribute in 2008.

Hopefully, Week 2 of Training Camp goes as smoothly as Week 1 as the Browns prep for their exhibition opener August 7 versus the New York Jets.  Who knows, maybe that Brett Favre guy will make a cameo, but until then…

Go Browns. Believeland. Believe in Now.