Heiden might have played final down for Browns
By MIKE McLAIN Tribune ChronicleBy MIKE McLAIN
Tribune Chronicle
BEREA - The knee injury that ended the season for tight end Steve Heiden could signal the end of his eight-year stay with the Browns.
Heiden will turn 34 shortly after the start of the 2010 season. He's battled knee and back injuries in recent seasons. If the Browns have a new coach next season, it's possible Heiden might not be part of the plan.
Coach Eric Mangini isn't certain that Heiden's playing days are done.
"He's disappointed that it went the way that it did," Mangini said. "He's worked incredibly hard to play this season, and he'll work equally as hard this offseason to get back. I see him being ready to go next season."
The loss of Heiden is a hit at a position that lacked quality depth from the first day of training camp. Robert Royal has been injured and has just nine receptions for 100 yards and one touchdown.
Greg Estandia was signed after the second game but has been inactive each week he's been with the team. Michael Gaines was signed after the sixth game. He's played in two of three games and has two catches for 30 yards.
Heiden was expected to play a prominent role in the short passing game that the offense runs with Brady Quinn at quarterback. He missed two games because of physical problems. He finished with 10 receptions for 73 yards and one touchdown.
WAIT & SEE: Hank Fraley, the Browns representative to the union, isn't certain if a plan to expand the regular-season schedule to 18 games will be accepted by the players.
"It's hard enough now to get through 16 games," he said. "If you add two more games, that's two more games where there's an opportunity to get injured. You have to weigh everything. It's a touchy subject."
HELPING HAND: Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis occasionally talks to Quinn about the difficulties of the season.
"Any time he sees things out there and I see things, we'll talk about it," Quinn said. "A lot of what we talk about isn't always football-based. Sometime it's off-the-field stuff, just friend to friend."
NEW LOOK: Fraley is sporting a Mohawk haircut. His wife Danielle joked that he should get the style after his three sons got the look. Fraley got the haircut without telling his wife and sprung it on her on the field before the Monday night game.
GOOD NEWS: Joshua Cribbs returned to the practice field Thursday after sitting out Thursday's session with a neck injury. Cribbs was hurt when he was leveled by Dawan Edwards on the final play in the 16-0 loss to the Ravens.
TOUGH TIME: Kicker Phil Dawson feels bad for punter Dave Zastudil, who was placed on injured-reserve with an injury to his right knee. Zastudil had been battling through the pain for most of the season and had a 44.1-yard average.
"He was having a tremendous season and was helping our team with field position, and I know that's important to Dave," Dawson said. "To lose him is a big loss."
Reggie Hodges will fill in for Zastudil. If Hodges were to get injured, Dawson, who last punted when in high school, would be the next option.
"We're in bad shape if I come trotting out there," Dawson said. "I'd be more worried about catching the ball."
ALL BUSINESS: Rookie linebacker Kaluka Maiava sat in front of his dressing area in the locker room before Thursday's practice and scribbled notes on a wrist band. Maiava played well in a starting assignment last week, registering eight tackles.
"I felt comfortable in there," Maiava said. "There's always room for improvement, getting off blocks and doing the little things."
|
ClevelandDrones
|
|
|---|---|
|
11-20-09 12:37 PM
|
Heiden was a good player, made a lot of touchdown catches and other key catches, but he just couldn't stay healthy. "Joshua Cribbs returned to the practice field Thursday after sitting out Thursday's session with a neck injury." Huh? lol Kaluka Maiava played well. Actually, the defense as a whole played excellent against the Ravens. Other than the one big play, they all but shut them down in holding the offense to 9 points. Too bad the Browns scored 0 lol. (-:
|
