The Cleveland Browns are going to be in pads for their second straight training camp practice on Tuesday.
And they are more than happy to have graduated to this phase.
Day One in pads was mostly viewed as a success.
Although the action was not "live," with tackling to the ground prohibited, it was an opportunity to get reacquainted with the physical aspect of the game, something most of the players hadn't experienced for at least seven months.
It was something they were definitely ready for after months of non-contact workouts during the offseason and similar drills through the first two days of training camp Saturday and Sunday.
For rookie cornerback Justin Gilbert, Monday's session was the first chance to show off some of the skills that helped convince the Browns to make him the eighth overall pick of the draft.
"It was better than (Sunday), better than the last two days, being able to get hands on receivers, reroute them at the line, to be able to play more like I want to play and be more physical at the line of scrimmage," Gilbert told reporters.
Still, the best result, in the eyes of coach Mike Pettine, was that players weren't reckless about the hitting and remembered that, while camp is highly competitive, they are still teammates and need to do their best to avoid injuring each other.
ELSEWHERE AROUND THE NFL …
BEN ROETHLISBERGER'Slong-term future with the Pittsburgh Steelers has been the subject of considerable speculation, because the quarterback's contract does not compare with those of NFL's other top players at the position and the earliest team will be able to address it is 2015. And if a long-term agreement can't be reached next year, the Steelers could end up paying Roethlisberger more than $22 million via a franchise tag in 2016 and more than $26 million with the same designation in 2017. Nevertheless, Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert is certain the club will find a way to retain Roethlisberger. "I don't see any circumstances where Ben does not finish his career (in Pittsburgh)," Colbert was quoted as saying in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
SPEAKING OF ROETHLISBERGER,former Steelers wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, now a member of the Denver Broncos, says there is a major difference between his former quarterback and his current one, Peyton Manning. "I feel like Peyton is a far better leader, in terms of staying after practice, catching balls, wanting guys to get on the same page with him, things of that sort," Sanders told 104.3 The Fan in Denver. "This is the first time that I've had a quarterback that every single day after practice – no matter what his accolades, NFL MVP, Super Bowl ring – he keeps guys like me and (rookie receiver Cody) Latimer after practice. He's not one of those guys you've got to chase down. He's going to be right in the same spot, ready to work, every single day. I just feel like that's a difference from a mental standpoint."
SPEAKING OF LEADERSHIP,Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman says his team has a tremendous amount of it from several players. Some, like himself and safety Earl Thomas, are vocal leaders, but most lead by example. "We lead by example and the example will be what it has been," Sherman told reporters covering the Seahawks. "Earl Thomas is going to say a lot, (safety) Kam Chancellor is not going to say a lot. Guys know who the leaders are, guys know who to follow and when you are following those guys then we will be fine. We have guys who show up in big games. They don't have to talk, they don't have to say what they are going to do, they don't have to give a rah-rah speech but when you need them they will be there for you. That's the kind of guys we got and those are the kind of guys we need." >>Be sure to tune in Monday through Friday, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET, for "Cleveland Browns Daily, Driven by Liberty Ford" on ESPN 850 WKNR or catch the live stream right here on ClevelandBrowns.com. We take your questions at 216-578-0850 and via Twitter @Browns_Daily.
