Browns have safety concerns

BEREA - It wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility for Browns coach Eric Mangini to move a receiver to safety if depth becomes a problem in the secondary.

There's been no word on the playing status of free safety Brodney Pool, who was hurt during the preseason game against the Detroit Lions last Saturday. Pool reportedly was dazed by a hit, which raises the possibility that he could have had another concussion.

Pool, a second-round draft choice in 2005, has had multiple concussions. If the injury last Saturday was another concussion, concerns about his safety could force him to question returning to the field.

Mike Adams replaces Pool, but there isn't much help beyond him. Mangini pointed out that receiver Mike Furrey has safety experience. There's also been talk about giving the multi-talented Joshua Cribbs time on defense.

"I'm always looking to create depth at every position," Mangini said. "We play different guys at different spots. What I mean by that is a guy like (cornerback) Hank Poteat has played safety. Mike Furrey has played safety."

Poteat played for Mangini in New York last season. He knows the importance of knowing more than one position in Mangini's grand plan.

"Being in coach Mangini's system, every DB is required to know every position," Poteat said. "You never know during any part of the game when guys go down. Last year against New England a lot of guys got hurt and a lot of players had to play a lot of different positions."

Furrey has been the most consistent receiver since training camp opened, which would seem to make a move to defense unlikely. Still, he proved his value at safety when he played the position for the St. Louis Rams in 2005 and had a team-high four interceptions, including one that he returned 67 yards for a touchdown.

Furrey laughed when it was suggested he might be used at safety.

"I'm about a buck 85 (185 pounds) now," he said. "Those were my 205 days."

HITTING A WALL: By now most of the first-year players have hit the "rookie wall" and have come out of it on the other side the better for it.

"Sometimes the wall hits them," Mangini said. "It's a tough transition. I remember my first year (coaching) defense in New York for the Jets. I remember hitting that wall, too. There was a gigantic playbook, and I was studying it every night. You think you're intelligent until you have trouble picking it up."

LIKE A ROCK: Rookie linebacker Kaluka Maiava stood up Lions returner Avelon Cason on a kick return in the first quarter last Saturday. Maiava developed a reputation for his aggressive play on coverage units for USC, and he's carried it over to the NFL.

"I'm looking at him, like I am everyone else, what are you doing on teams?" Mangini said. "Can that get you to the 53 (player roster) and maybe good enough to get you to the 45 (active roster). When you're on the 45, you're always live. At any point you could be in the game."

BACK ON TRACK: Receiver David Patten finally surfaced on the practice field for the first time since he caught two long passes in the intrasquad scrimmage Aug. 9 at Cleveland Browns Stadium. No injury details were given concerning why Patten has missed so much practice time.

Like Patten, defensive lineman Shaun Rogers hasn't logged much practice time, and he sat out both preseason games. Rogers worked one-on-one with offensive lineman Rex Hadnot Tuesday.

ROSTER MOVE: Defensive lineman Rian Shaefering was signed Tuesday. Receiver Paul Raymond was waived.

CAMPING OUT: Receiver Braylon Edwards made an outstanding one-handed catch of a pass from Brett Ratliff. Edwards jumped high to pull in the ball in the end zone. ... Neither Brady Quinn nor Derek Anderson had success running the two-minute offense. Anderson's possession was bogged down by several penalties. ... Hamza Abdullah stepped in front of tight end Nick Walker to intercept a pass by Richard Bartel. ... Linebacker Titus Brown, who was hurt eight days ago, worked out on a bike. ... Tight end Martin Rucker dropped a Quinn pass, but he held on to a pass the next play.

mmclain@tribtoday.com