DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Baxter upset about 'setback' comments: Steiny, Bentley, & Roye info as well

j/c

Article about Steinbach, Bentley, and Baxter from the ABJ.

Baxter gets a little hot under the collar with the media, funny how (and who) he immitates, wonder if he tried to do a voice impression as well.




http://www.ohio.com/sports/browns/9437716.html

Browns' Steinbach plans to face Steelers
Bentley out first six games. Baxter's return in doubt

By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sportswriter

Published on Wednesday, Aug 29, 2007

BEREA: The Browns' star free agents of the past three years now represent varying degrees of hope.

All are injured. Only one is on track to start when the Browns open the regular season Sept. 9 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. But while the situation seems dire for two, they are not ready to give up on their football careers.

Guard Eric Steinbach, who signed a seven-year, $49.5 million contract in March, has been sidelined since Aug. 7 with a sprained right knee. But he said he would ''definitely'' play against the Steelers after sitting out Thursday's preseason finale at the Chicago Bears.

The odds are longer for center LeCharles Bentley and cornerback Gary Baxter.

Bentley, a Cleveland St. Ignatius and Ohio State product who received a six-year, $36 million contract in 2006, tore his left patellar tendon on the first day of training camp last summer.

He has needed four surgeries since, three for a resulting staph infection. On Tuesday, the Browns placed him on the reserve/physically unable to perform list, which means he cannot practice for the first six weeks of the regular season.

Baxter, lured from the Baltimore Ravens with a six-year, $30 million deal in 2005, is trying to make an unprecendented comeback.

On Oct. 22, he tore both patellar tendons in a game against the Denver Broncos. He returned to practice on July 30, but has worked mainly on the scout team and has not participated in full team drills. On Saturday, the Browns must decide whether to place him on injured reserve, meaning he will miss the season, on the active roster, or cut him. Coach Romeo Crennel might wish PUP was still an option for Baxter, but that's not possible, because he has practiced.

''I'm not going to wish because I can't do anything about it,'' Crennel said.

The strain of the impending decision appears to be weighing on Baxter, who lashed out at the media after practice, disputing the notion that he'd suffered a setback. Crennel shut him down for two weeks because of sore knees and said Aug. 22 the Browns would ''almost restart with him.''



''You said a setback,'' Baxter said. ''Did I ever say I was going to play a preseason game? My goal has been always to play the first game. But you guys write these opinions.

''It doesn't seem my opinion counts for (bleep) around here. I didn't come out for those couple days, what does that mean? Was that a setback? You guys haven't written anything positive about anything that I've done.''

Baxter said he doesn't read newspapers and sees only what's handed to him. But when reporters told him that everyone has been rooting for him, he went into his imitation of the non-committal Crennel.

''I'll be like Romeo, I've got two legs and I'm rehabbing. Things are great right now,'' Baxter said.

''I'm doing everything I can to get well and get back. Things are positive. You guys write the (darn) article.''

Bentley, meanwhile, can attend meetings and rehab, but cannot return to practice until Oct. 15, the Browns' bye week. After that, the Browns have a three-week window for him to begin practicing, then another three weeks to look at him and decide whether to activate him.

''He needs more time,'' Crennel said. ''In that window in October I can put him on the field; that gives him the best opportunity to show me how he's recovered. He wants to play as a Brown; that's been his lifelong dream. That's what we want for him. Putting him on PUP gives him the best chance to do that. Otherwise I'd have to make a rash judgment.''

Crennel said he's talked with Bentley in his office once a week since Bentley returned to team headquarters about two weeks ago after rehabbing with a private trainer.

''He's disappointed,'' Crennel said. ''I think he appreciates my concern. I've told him all along I want the best for him.''

Steinbach was upbeat Tuesday after spending two days in individual drills and working on the side, some with defensive lineman Orpheus Roye, who is also rehabbing a knee.

''I'm feeling pretty good right now,'' Steinbach said. ''If I can knock some rust off and get loose, I should have no problems at all.''

He said it shouldn't take long to get his timing back because he ''had two solid weeks of training camp practice.''

When asked if he's getting the best of Roye, Steinbach was cagey.

''Stalemate,'' he said.




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Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com.





Didn't see it posted. Thought about including in the Bentley thread, but felt the Baxter comments probably warranted their own thread, rather than 'hi-jacking' the Bentley thread.

sheesh... GBAX must feel the pressure from someone... maybe knowing he can't go on PUP and will probably end up IR if he can't get on the field. good article kinda shows that writters twist words and things that happen all the time.

I'm def excited stiney is gna be back soon

Good Read. I hope Baxter can make it back. He really went all out rehabbing from a very serious injury this offseason.

Except for the accellerated Cap Hit, Cutting him is the best option if he might be ready to go by Week4 or Week 6 or so.... then we could resign him for Vet Minimum for the year and he could try free agency again in February/March.

if you can afford it take the hit to clear space for next year. When healthy he wasnt as good as Holly and he is our 3rd corner so why keep paying him. Reach an injury settlement and be done with it.

To me, it seems like Baxter's excitement to return to the field might be his undoing. Had he not practiced, he would still be eligible for the PUP list, and there would be no issue. However, since he has practiced, he either will be cut, placed on the IR, or placed on the active roster. Personally, I don't see how we can make room on our roster for a player recovering from one of the worst injuries in NFL history (outiside of a few spinal injuries) whose knees are still "sore" who has yet to see any time in a preseason game. It looks like he might get cut, which is bad for him because all that big money that wasn't guaranteed goes down the toilet, and he'll NEVER see that kind of money again.

It's ironic that all his hard work and determination might actually end up costing him millions. As a person, I have great admiration for what Gary Baxter is trying to do and I hope that he fully recovers and has future football success. But, as a Browns fan, cutting him loose might be in the best interest of the team, but I'm not sure because I don't know all the details of the hit our salary cap will take if he is cut.

By the way, I know IR is still an option. It might be the best option for both the Browns and Baxter, IMO.

Wasn't as good as Holly? You can't be serious.

I really wish Baxter hadn't practiced so we could do the same with him as we did with Bentley - PUP'ed.

As such, this once thought to be a happy ending looks like it is heading for disaster.

The guy worked so hard. I hope we IR him at the least and let him try again next year, if he's ok with that.

If he's not, then we have to do what is in the best interest of the team.

I am sorry but the guy was overrated beyond belief for the one game a year he actually has played. The only good game he had was the one against Green Bay. Its a great feel good story and everyone hopes he can make a comeback but the reality is he was never worth the money spent and its better to just cut your losses and move on.

I think the problem is we brought Gary here as a corner. In Rat town he was constantly burned as a corner. He made his mark as a saftey and was a pretty decent one at that. We overpaid him because he only wanted to make corner money. He really isnt all that great at all, IMO. He wasnt worth the money then and we are paying for it now. Doubt he will be cut, but he is definately wasting some young talents space on our roster.

I've always kind of questioned the Baxter signing. I've always kind of seen it as Savage trying to bring in someone that he knows and overpaying for him. I never paid attention to Baxter before he came to us, and I had never really even heard of him.

I'm not jumping on the "cut Baxter" bandwagon, though. I want the guy to make a full recovery and come out and kick butt for us.

People are defending him compared to Holly by saying he's better than Holly, but Holly isn't constantly injured. Well, how can we really say he's better if he's never on the field? I'd rather have an average corner for 16 games than an above-average corner for 3.

JMHO

Baxter should play safety IMO.. he doesnt have to be as fast and doesnt have to really keep up with any reciever unless he gets behind u....

Sean Jones gets tired... put Baxter in...

Let him split time w/ Pool...

Our corners are locked now:

1) Bodden
2) Eric Wright/ Daven Holly

Baxter needed to be moved to Safety BEFORE he was injured.

If he's not willing to make the switch...he will find his destiny elsewhere...after another year on IR.

Time to cut through the BS and feel-good stories.

Harsh...but true.

I agree that's where he'd be (at safety, splitting time with Pool), but that's one expensive time-splitter. That's a nice part of the salary cap being eaten by a guy who is only going to play part-time? I'd rather accelerate the hit and open up space for a few high quality DL next season.

j/c

I also am proud of the way Baxter is trying to come back, but reality is reality.

He has been injured most of the time he has been here. This doesn't help the team. While it might not be a popular thing to say, but him expecting a roster spot when he can't perform is being selfish on his part. He is putting an unrealistic situation out there, as if it is real. He will not be playing anytime soon, and I have to believe he knows this and it is part of the frustration he is directing at the media.

We have some nice young talent at the corner position, it would be unfair IMO to give him a roster spot that one of these guys might have earned.

I really don't understand why they didn't do with him the same as they are doing with Bentley. By him practicing, the team is being put into a corner. Bottom line in this league is winning. Keeping a player who can't produce on the roster is not a way to win. If he can't play this week, how will he possibly be ready in two weeks?

If the Browns feel he deserves a chance to return to the game, they have no choice at this time then to IR him. If he doesn't want to wait until next year, then cut him, and let him try elsewhere. Tough decision emotionally, but this is a tough business, and emotions sometimes have to take a back seat to what is best for the team.

lol what are you on? Holly is light years below baxter when healthy. When Gary was healthy he was a stud for us

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We have some nice young talent at the corner position

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Young and inexperienced...only Bodden really has much experience. Baxter should be allowed to play as a nickle or as a second S or CB. We will need some help...look at last year.

Holly is a better corner than Baxter. He has better coverage skills and a better natural instincts. Baxter is better in run support and thats it.

Also anyone that wants to pay him that kind of money to back up Sean Jones needs to seriously rethink what they are saying.

Holly isnt very good in coverage.

I'm not going to compare Holly and Baxter's skills. All I know is people can toot Baxter's horn all they want, but they always qualify it with "when he's healthy." He hasn't proven to me yet that he can stay healthy.

And, people say that he'd make a good nickel back, etc. Like I said before, that is one EXPENSIVE part-time player. We can get someone who is at least average at a fraction of the cost, freeing up salary cap space for things like the DL or maybe a true change of pace back.

I want Baxter to come back and be great for us, don't get me wrong. But like a few others have said, I want this team to win. If it means cutting Baxter or putting him on IR and making this team better, I'm all for it.

Feel good stories are nice, but the story that will make me feel the best is this team winning and not paying a guy a ton of money to be on IR or potentially be a part-timer. Hell, we could have kept Courtney Brown if we wanted an expensive bench warmer.

JMHO

By now anyone who knows me knows that I don't particularly like when players lose control of thier emotions, but I really can't blame Baxter for this outburst.

I really can't because it's all about what the Reporters that cover teams do all the time. They will take any innocent comment,, even a joke and turn it into a big whoop te do. I think mom used to call it "making a mountain out of a mole hill" or something like that.

So you go for it Baxter,,, tell them to shut up and go sit in the corner.

You are one of the biggest "media" critics on here. But in this instance what has the media done? Reported the options left on Baxter. Whoa....how dare they. Baxter knows he screwed himself by not going on the PUP in camp. Now it's the "media's" fault. He's just pissed 'cause he knows he's probably gonna go on IR for the year. And that's his best option at this point. Because if he gets cut no one is gonna pick him up this year, IMO.

The "media" has been his biggest booster in the last 6-8 months. Dissin' them now because they reported something that isn't all flowers and perfume is kinda dopey. At least from where I sit.

1. Baxter was not that bad as you guys are portraying
2. He hardly saw the field and was forever coming back from some injury.

3. No Baxter might mean Kenny Wright... I'd rather have an injured Baxter.

JMHO

Pretty impressive how you developed such a definitive opinion after "the one game a year he has actually played".

Truth is he was a good corner with the rats...a great safety....but a good corner. Baxter always went agaist the number one WR since McCalister is on the other side. Did he occasionally get burned, yep. But more often than not, he held his own. AND...he NEVER was hurt in B-more. He only got the injury bug when he started for C-Town. Savage had to pay him big to try to get some talent to go to Cleveland. We were a talent-less black hole that no good free agent would want to go.

To say that he is definatley worse than Holly is funny. Holly wouldn't even make the Rats team, then or now.... let alone start and play well.

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But in this instance what has the media done?

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Did you read the original article that was out there on Baxter falling far behind in his attempt to come back.... basically, Baxter is complaining that the reporter exagerated.

I wish I could find that darn thing... dang

Did you read the original article that was out there on Baxter falling far behind in his attempt to come back.... basically, Baxter is complaining that the reporter exagerated.

No offense, but how is this an exageration? As far as I know he hasn't practiced full bore yet. To me that means that if he wants to play in Game 1 he's falling behind. Gary might not like it but that hardly means the reporter is lying as was implied.

Face it, Baxter's options are limited and almost all of them are bad (for him). That's why he's ticked. Not because some reporter allegedly exagerated in a story. I wish him well but I would not be surprised in the least to see him cut after this weekend. Being put on IR would be a gift at this point.

After Henry left he was the best option in FA at that time..so the overpayment was bound to happen just like Henry is overpaid in Dallas.
What really brought GB here is that he was better in run support than Henry and was more of a safey than a corner..

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Baxter knows he screwed himself by not going on the PUP in camp. Now it's the "media's" fault. He's just pissed 'cause he knows he's probably gonna go on IR for the year. And that's his best option at this point. Because if he gets cut no one is gonna pick him up this year, IMO.

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That's what I was saying.He's pissed because he realizes that by practicing, he has a good chance of being cut, or placed on the IR. That's why I feel he's being selfish. He knows he can't play, but feels because of all the hard work, and the really surprising rehab he's had, should be his ticket to a roster spot.

I feel for him for the fact that he did overcome what most couldn't, but should have thought before making comments about starting week one, and wanting to practice so soon. He pretty much is responsible for his own predicament, and is taking it out on the media.