Mr. Laz
06-03-2005, 11:23 AM
Posted on Fri, Jun. 03, 2005
Boulware leaves without offer
Browns want to inspect market for linebacker
By Patrick McManamon
Beacon Journal sports writer
CANTON - Free agent Peter Boulware visited Cleveland on Thursday morning and departed for Seattle early in the afternoon without a contract offer from the Browns.
``We don't want to be the team, so to speak, to kind of set the bar right now because we don't know where the bar is going to be,'' general manager Phil Savage said before speaking at the Canton Browns Backers banquet at the Hall of Fame.
The Browns gave Boulware a physical, and though he didn't say it directly, Savage sounded cautious about the health of the former Baltimore Ravens linebacker. Boulware missed all of last season with knee and toe injuries.
``I think he checks out OK physically,'' Savage said. ``The question is that the two most recent injuries, the left knee and the right big toe, are untested. It's a little bit of a venture into the unknown because this is a situation where he has not played in a year and you're not going to get an opportunity to see him work on the field prior to signing him.
``There's a risk involved there.''
Boulware will visit the Seahawks, where his brother Michael plays safety. Savage said Boulware has ``a couple other things lined up'' after that visit.
In other matters, Savage said some of the medical information on tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. was sent to Winslow's doctor.
``I think most of it (the medical information) has been basically confirmed,'' Savage said. ``(There's) nothing set in terms of surgery or what have you. That's probably a few more weeks down the road.''
Winslow will not play this season because of a torn knee ligament suffered in a motorcycle crash.
Finally, Savage gave no indication that he is willing to honor the request of left tackle Ross Verba to redo his contract at a greatly increased salary.
``He's under contract to the Browns,'' Savage said. ``He has two years left. This (redoing the contract) is a subject that has been raised several months ago. At this point he's like the other guys on our team. He's under contract and there are obviously certain expectations that go with that.''
Savage said during his presentation that former Arizona tackle L.J. Shelton visited on Wednesday and was ``fairly impressive.''
The Canton Browns Backers banquet benefited the Stark County Children's Network.
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Messages for Patrick McManamon can be left at pmcmanamon@thebeaconjournal.com
Boulware leaves without offer
Browns want to inspect market for linebacker
By Patrick McManamon
Beacon Journal sports writer
CANTON - Free agent Peter Boulware visited Cleveland on Thursday morning and departed for Seattle early in the afternoon without a contract offer from the Browns.
``We don't want to be the team, so to speak, to kind of set the bar right now because we don't know where the bar is going to be,'' general manager Phil Savage said before speaking at the Canton Browns Backers banquet at the Hall of Fame.
The Browns gave Boulware a physical, and though he didn't say it directly, Savage sounded cautious about the health of the former Baltimore Ravens linebacker. Boulware missed all of last season with knee and toe injuries.
``I think he checks out OK physically,'' Savage said. ``The question is that the two most recent injuries, the left knee and the right big toe, are untested. It's a little bit of a venture into the unknown because this is a situation where he has not played in a year and you're not going to get an opportunity to see him work on the field prior to signing him.
``There's a risk involved there.''
Boulware will visit the Seahawks, where his brother Michael plays safety. Savage said Boulware has ``a couple other things lined up'' after that visit.
In other matters, Savage said some of the medical information on tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. was sent to Winslow's doctor.
``I think most of it (the medical information) has been basically confirmed,'' Savage said. ``(There's) nothing set in terms of surgery or what have you. That's probably a few more weeks down the road.''
Winslow will not play this season because of a torn knee ligament suffered in a motorcycle crash.
Finally, Savage gave no indication that he is willing to honor the request of left tackle Ross Verba to redo his contract at a greatly increased salary.
``He's under contract to the Browns,'' Savage said. ``He has two years left. This (redoing the contract) is a subject that has been raised several months ago. At this point he's like the other guys on our team. He's under contract and there are obviously certain expectations that go with that.''
Savage said during his presentation that former Arizona tackle L.J. Shelton visited on Wednesday and was ``fairly impressive.''
The Canton Browns Backers banquet benefited the Stark County Children's Network.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Messages for Patrick McManamon can be left at pmcmanamon@thebeaconjournal.com