DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Tucker happy to be back on the field

Steve King, Staff Writer
05.22.2007

You're going to turn 32 in about three weeks.

You're embarking upon your 11th NFL season.

You've played in two Super Bowls, winning one.

You were part of a team that was the first in NFL history to score 500 points in three consecutive seasons, earning the nickname of "The Greatest Show on Turf."

You've blocked for three NFL MVPs.

With a resume like that, you might almost feel as if you've tested out of the organized team activities (OTAs), better known as offseason practices in shorts without pads. That's especially the case on an unseasonably late spring day such as Tuesday, when temperatures soared into the low 80s, making the work not just tedious, but hot and sweaty as well.

But there were no signs of drudgery, boredom or disinterest on Browns right tackle Ryan Tucker. On the contrary, he had a smile on his face and even a little spring in his step as he exited the field following the team's first OTA session.

OK, maybe not exactly a spring in his step, but at least he wasn't shuffling along wearily as if his legs were 500-pound lead weights he was having to drag along.

Yes, in a football sense, this might have been the most "it's-good-to-be-alive" day in Tucker's career.

"It's a blessing to be out here. It's awesome," he said as he stared off into the distance at the team headquarters about 40 yards away.

"I love football," he said. "It's good to be back. It's exciting. I'm just happy to be back."

That's because as recently as about five months ago, there was no guarantee that Tucker would be back on the football field as a player.

A big (he's 6-foot-6 and 318 pounds), tough man who has recovered from two knee injuries and numerous other assorted injuries that come with being an NFL offensive lineman for over a decade, battling defensive ends the size of small cars -- a dedicated gamer who could be called a lineman's lineman -- encountered something that truly tested his mettle -- an unspecified mental disorder that caused him to miss the final five games of 2006.

Tucker left the Nov. 26 game against the Cincinnati Bengals and then was placed onto the reserve-non football illness (NFI) list two days later.

"I couldn't have played any more football at that time," he said. "There was no way."

There were steps Tucker had to take before that happened. He had to get his body back into playing shape again, and his emotions and mind as well.

"I'm just taking it day by day," Tucker said. "I'm still the right tackle. The way I look at it, it's my job."

At the same time, Tucker said he's played "all of the positions on the line" and, if push comes to shove, he would be willing to move anywhere for the good of the team.

"I'm sick of losing," he said. "I just want to win."

What Tucker failed to mention at that moment is that by merely getting back out onto the field and running around in shorts with no pads during an OTA session in late May, a full 3

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Spread the word.

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No crap!

he can say that...he is one of the players thats been on the team for a while and has seen his fair shares of losses....i wish him well and hope he stays this way for rest of his life and whatever prb he had is gone

"On the contrary, he had a smile on his face"

Oh no...anyone been to the Asylum lately? They all have smiles on their faces

j/k...lol

Great to have Tucker back healthy and funny thing is that he's been going one injured year one healthy season...one injured one healthy...this might be a healthy year - and the fact he went on the IR (or whatever that was) without a physical ailment just means his body is fresher and better than ever!

I'm happy for Tucker I hope he has a career Season

JMHO - will Shaffer even have a spot?

Just saw his interview vid, what he actually said was, "We're not gonna lose this year. We'll lose one or two but we're definitely gonna have a winning season. We're just sick of losing. And I know that's the overall attitude of this team and I think this year's gonna be special."

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good luck Big guy.

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You talking to me?

No Tuck and I am glad to see him back.

Note to Kevin Shaffer: see below

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"I'm just taking it day by day," Tucker said. "I'm still the right tackle. The way I look at it, it's my job."

At the same time, Tucker said he's played "all of the positions on the line" and, if push comes to shove, he would be willing to move anywhere for the good of the team .

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We have been having some good things happening to us but it is especially good to see Tuck again.

Well.................I've been a Tuck pimp since he got here. And when Timid was playing, you were an idiot if you dared say one offensive lineman was playing well. *L*


I'm glad the big man is back. He is a very good RT and I believe the key to our offensive line's success this year.

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At the same time, Tucker said he's played "all of the positions on the line" and, if push comes to shove, he would be willing to move anywhere for the good of the team .

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TEAM ATTITUDE......Browns draft Quinn, Charlie shuts up and works harder, Tucker's statments...Maybe this is what stability of the coaching staff & Front office brings, players & others consintrating on doing thier job better, not worried about having a job....


Time to WIN

Truthfully I've never been a Tucker fan...he 's labeled the Browns best linemen simply because they didn't have a better one on that line..
His laterial movement has always been slow..his strength better than that...
Now it seems the wear and tear is taking it's toll not to mention that disorder..
Not a situation I put 100% trust in..

Here is a little snippet from the Dispatch. I struggled with where to put it because the Edwards portion of the article..I really didn't wanna put it in the other Edwards thread on account of how snippy everyone is about his missing the OTA first day.

What I wanted to show and note was which teams people were playing with:

Tucker was 1st team RT, Frye worked mostly with the first-team offense, Anderson with the second team. Quinn quarterbacked the third team.

web page

Browns notebook: All three quarterbacks have mind-set of a starter
Wednesday, May 23, 2007 3:39 AM
By James Walker

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Comment on this story
The Dispatch's James Walker blogs on the Cavs and Browns
BEREA, Ohio -- Ask Charlie Frye, Derek Anderson and rookie Brady Quinn about their mind-sets, and each believes he is the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns.

Yesterday, Frye, the incumbent, added his two cents in his first public statement since the Browns drafted Quinn in the first round.

"I really can't predict the future, but I'm preparing like I'm the starter," he said. "I never knew I lost ( the job). That's the way I'm preparing. You talk about getting it back, but I kind of figured they were going to bring somebody in, either a rookie or a veteran guy."

Frye and Quinn struggled yesterday in their first workout together. Quinn threw three interceptions in drills and Frye two, including one that safety Sean Jones returned for a touchdown. The defense was dominant in the first day of voluntary team workouts.

Now that Quinn has joined the others on the field, it will be interesting to see how things develop.

Will they push each other? Will they all improve? Will they develop a healthy rivalry, or a harmful one that divides the team?

Everyone will be monitoring the situation closely.

"They know the scrutiny that the quarterback position carries with it and they know that they have to deal with it," coach Romeo Crennel said.

"Every snap, every throw, everything that they do is scrutinized. They've been there. It's not like this is the first time that they have played the position."

Yesterday, Frye worked mostly with the first-team offense, Anderson with the second team. Quinn quarterbacked the third team.

Pooch punts
Receiver Braylon Edwards was the only no-show, but he is supposed to rejoin the team today. … Left tackle Kevin Shaffer said he is happy to be with the Browns and never asked for a trade. … Ryan Tucker worked with the first team at right tackle and said his goal is to regain the team's trust. Tucker, who missed the end of last season because of a mental disorder, said he is fully recovered and expects to play next season.

jwalker@dispatch.com

I'm glad Tuck is back as we have some depth now ( OL ) .. BE is BE . not really on the guys band wagon and throwing int's with the first team is worse than throwing them with the third team ..

Good to see Tuck back on the field. I wish nothing but the best for him and hope his "I'm tired of losing" attitude rubs off on some of the other players.

Sounds like they ALL have the right attitude. Good news !