More Bad Luck for Crennel, Browns

Romeo Crennel probably is coaching for his job this season in Cleveland, but he's having typical Browns' bad luck in training camp.

First the team couldn't get a contract done quickly with agent Tom Condon for rookie quarterback Brady Quinn, dealing a setback to Quinn's progress. Then right tackle Ryan Tucker was suspended for the first four games of the regular season for a violation of the league's policy on steroids and banned substances. Now the lineup is being depleted by injuries to key veterans.

Linebacker Willie McGinest is scheduled to undergo surgery to correct a disk problem in his back and is to miss at least six weeks. The Browns are hopeful that McGinest, the former longtime standout for the New England Patriots who was reunited with Crennel in Cleveland last season, will return to play this season. But they have no way of being certain about that until they see how McGinest progresses after the surgery.

The Browns are hopeful that guard Eric Steinbach, a big-money free agent addition this past offseason, will be in the lineup at the outset of the regular season. But they don't know how long he'll be sidelined, either, after he suffered a sprained knee during a practice this week.

The draft-day euphoria after the Browns managed to get both left tackle Joe Thomas and Quinn in the first round back in April has worn off. That day of maneuvering seemed to create hope for the future and buy some time for both Crennel and General Manager Phil Savage. But if the Browns have another dismal season, Crennel might not be able to keep his job long enough to see if Thomas and Quinn eventually will transform the team into a winner.

By Mark Maske |  August 10, 2007; 9:50 AM ET  | Category:  Browns
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