With a loud cheer from the huddle at the end of practice Wednesday, the 2009 Browns Training Camp officially reached its conclusion.
While some spent training camp battling for playing time and others were trying to make improvements from last season, Browns wide receiver Braylon Edwards had one simple goal: recapturing his love of the game.
"(I was) just trying to have fun, get back to what football is ultimately about from your childhood and what we still believe it's about," said Edwards. "We've had fun and now it's over with. Now, it gets serious, but at the same time, that doesn't mean the fun has to go away from it. That's the message I'm going to keep harping on. If you're having fun, then you win games. Just look at the Cavs last year. The Cavs were all about fun and they had one of the best records ever.
"I feel like I've gotten a lot accomplished," he added. "I've come out here, practiced hard, given my all. (I've) tried to help the young guys out as well as try to help myself out and get better. I've had fun when I was supposed to have fun."
In addition to having fun during training camp, the Browns focused on becoming a more disciplined team.
Head Coach Eric Mangini ran a physical camp, with players in full pads almost every day. If the players fumbled the football or committed penalties, they ran laps around the field. After a mistake-filled series early in camp, Mangini sent off the entire offensive unit for a lap.
Now that camp is over, the players feel Mangini has prepared them for the challenges that lie ahead, including the final two preseason games as well as the regular season opener on September 13th against the Vikings.
"We're just ready to play football," Edwards said. "We've accepted that this is a new opportunity for ourselves as players, as teammates, as players coached by this new coaching staff.
"Second of all, we realize that this is another chance for the Browns to resurrect themselves," he concluded. "With that said, we're just going to come out and give it our all under this new system and we're going to go out there every day with those values, those characteristics that he's instilled in us."
MANGINI SHOWS APPRECIATION
After breaking down the huddle at the end of practice, the Browns players headed over to the fans and signed autographs for those still in attendance. Though the players signed autographs every day after the practice sessions, it was one final thank you from the team to the fans for their support.
During those stretches when the Browns struggled to pick up adjustments and play mistake-free football, the fans could still be heard encouraging the team, with a "Here we go, Brownies" chant or the simple dog bark.
"It's always great to have the fans here during training camp," Mangini said. "There are some days wheretheyget a little bit long and you get a little bit tired. To build from their energy and to meet some of them that I was able to meet and some of the players were able to meet, it's such a positive aspect of training camp."
