Green Eyeing the Prize

[slowkidz]

Green closer to getting job back
AP
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PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) -- William Green took
several steps forward Friday in trying to regain
his position as the Cleveland Browns' starting
running back and his place in the hearts of their
fans.

Green, behind second-year back Lee Suggs on
Cleveland's depth chart, broke loose for a long
gain during the first of two joint practices with
Buffalo at the Bills training camp site in
suburban Roch- ester. The two teams will
scrimmage today.

Green's run was impressive enough to elicit a
cheer from fans.

"It was good to hear the crowd," Green said. "On
the offensive line, everybody did a good job and
I took it to the hole."

Green also caught the attention of coach Butch
Davis.

"Our running backs looked good," Davis said.
"William Green, in particular, had really good
runs, like the inside run this morning where he
was able to get into the secondary."

And it didn't seem to matter that Green fumbled
once.

"I don't think that's a problem," Davis said.

Green, the Browns' first-round pick in the 2002
draft, is attempting to make a comeback and, in
the scrimmage against Buffalo, will line up
against his first opponent since October. He
missed one game because of a shoulder injury, and
the final eight because of a suspension for
violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy.

The troubles opened the door for Suggs to get his
chance, coming off the reserve-non-football
injury list, to play seven games last season. He
had 289 yards rushing, with 186 of those in the
season's final game against Cincinnati.

Suggs has come to camp eager to retain the top
spot and show that his performance against
Cincinnati was no fluke.

"It didn't matter whether I had fresh legs or
not," Suggs said. "I'm still one of the fastest
people on the field."

Both backs said the competition is good.

"It's a nice, healthy competition," Green said.
"It's pushing both of us to do better, and the
coaches know they have two good running backs."

Memories of last season are also pushing Green.

"I learned it's not a place I want to be," Green
said. "To be off the field, especially watching
your teammates play, is something I don't want to
experience again."

Suggs is familiar with competing for a job,
having also shared playing time at Virginia Tech
with Kevin Jones, now a Detroit Lions rookie.

"The competition is going to be good for the
whole team," Suggs said.

Right guard Kelvin Garmon agreed, saying, "I
think we're going to surprise a lot of people."

Garmon, however, didn't give any insight into
which running back might win a majority of the
playing time.

"I don't even see the numbers," he said. "I just
see a guy hitting the hole."

LB Boyer breaks foot
PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) -- Browns linebacker Brant
Boyer is out indefinitely after breaking a bone
in his right foot during practice Friday with the
Buffalo Bills. He is the second Cleveland
linebacker to be injured this week.

Boyer, the speci- al teams captain, and team
doctor Anthony Miniachi returned to Cleveland on
team owner Randy Lerner's plane.

Team spokesperson Ju- lia Payne said Miniachi
would insert a screw into Boyer's foot later in
the day.

The Browns won't specify how long Boyer will be
out, but in the past similar injuries have
sidelined players for up to two months.

Coach Butch Davis said Boyer was hurt when
someone stepped on his foot during the first of
two practices between Cleveland and Buffalo at
the Bills' training camp site in suburban
Rochester. The teams scrimmage today.

Davis said Boyer's foot was already weak after he
hurt it in a similar situation last spring.

Earlier this week, starting outside linebacker
Chaun Thompson broke his wrist during practice
and underwent surgery. He's expected to miss at
least two preseason games. Ben Taylor, who
started eight games last season, will move into
Thompson's spot.

Boyer, 33, is a 10-year veteran who spent the
last three years with Cleveland. He agreed to a
four-year contract extension with the Browns in
the offseason.