NFL notebook: Browns' Weeden says picks are 'an ego thing'
BY Associated Press
Friday, October 12, 2012
10/12/12 at 2:32 AM
Five games, nine interceptions and numerous other mistakes into his NFL career, Browns rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden finally realizes he can't throw the ball the way he did in college.
There's no room for recklessness in the pros.
Weeden gets that now.
"It's an ego thing," he said. "I just need to get rid of the ego and take what they give me and move on and not be as stubborn. Just throw the football away and move on."
Weeden knows he must be less risky for the Browns (0-5) to have any chance of snapping their 11-game losing streak dating to last season. The first-round pick, who turns 29 on Sunday when Cleveland hosts the Cincinnati Bengals, has thrown costly interceptions the past two weeks.
He's inexperienced, but that's not an excuse for carelessness.
"I've played five games, I can't play the rookie card. It's long gone," Weeden said. "When you're in college and guys are open all the time, it's easy to be aggressive. In this league not everybody's open."
Peterson set to return to scene of knee injury: The image, and the pain, is still fresh in Adrian Peterson's mind.
He remembers taking the handoff and bursting for three yards before Redskins safety DeJon Gomes collapsed Peterson's left knee on a tackle and he crumpled to the FedEx Field turf.
Less than 10 months later, the Vikings are returning to the same field. And remarkably, Peterson will be right there with them ready to go at it again. The star running back was in the lineup on opening day and has been getting stronger every week to help the Vikings jump out to a surprising 4-1 start.
"I guess you could say that because each week I've been taking a step to improving, just feeling stronger and more explosive," said Peterson,. "As a team, we're doing the same things ... It's going to be good for us as a team to go out and continue to move forward and take those steps."
Chiefs' Cassel ruled out Sunday: Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel has been ruled out for Sunday's game at Tampa Bay with a concussion, and Brady Quinn will start an NFL game for the first time since the 2009 season.
Coach Romeo Crennel said Thursday that doctors have not cleared Cassel after he was hurt in the fourth quarter of a 9-6 loss to Baltimore last Sunday. Cassel has only spent a short period of time at the practice facility this week and it's unclear how long he might be out.
