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BEREA, Ohio – Taped to the inside of Braylon Edwards’#39; locker is an interview transcript from the day the Cleveland Browns drafted him.
Quarterback Trent Dilfer put it there to remind the rookie wide receiver of what he said about being a team player.
So far, Edwards has kept his promise.
Edwards had a humbling first game as a pro on Sunday with some Browns fans shouting obscenities at him because he played for Michigan.
He caught two passes for 16 yards and Dilfer was intercepted on a pass that the rookie was nowhere near.
Asked to assess Edwards’#39; performance, coach Romeo Crennel said only, “He’#39;s still learning.”
But Edwards is taking the experience in stride, saying he’#39;s not concerned about being a bigger part of the offense.
“The big thing with me is whatever’#39;s best for the team – however the coaches want to go about the game plan,” he said Wednesday.
He made similar remarks after the Browns selected him with the No. 3 overall pick in April’#39;s draft – words that Dilfer won’#39;t let him forget.
Two-plus sheets of his quotes from an interview he did with the media April 23 are posted on the inside of his locker, held up with athletic tape.
Dilfer highlighted some of Edwards’#39; comments, including: “I just want to be a player and a guy who they know is a team guy they can depend on and make plays whenever they need it.”
Dilfer also added a few notes of his own, such as “Prove it to us!!!” and “I will hold you accountable to this!” and finally, “I will be watching to see if all this is true or just talk. TD.”
Dilfer put the transcript up before Edwards signed a five-year, $40 million contract, ending a nearly two-week holdout. Edwards has left the quotes up as inspiration.
“They serve as a constant reminder of what I said I was going to do,” he said.
Edwards was an All-American at Michigan where he set school receiving records for receptions, yards and touchdowns and was labeled by the Browns as the most talented player in the 2005 draft class.
Yet it wasn’#39;t Edwards who had the big game for Cleveland on Sunday. It was former undrafted free agent Frisman Jackson, the Browns No. 4 receiver, who had eight catches for 128 yards and a touchdown in a 27-13 loss to Cincinnati. Starting receivers Antonio Bryant and Dennis Northcutt also had more receptions than Edwards.
“I’#39;m not the focus right now,” he said. “Dennis Northcutt and Antonio Bryant have had exceptional camps. The plays that we have designed are designed for them. I’#39;m just sitting here waiting and learning so when I do get a play called my way I know what to do.”
He isn’#39;t concerned about having a bust-out game like Tampa Bay rookie running back Carnell “Cadillac” Williams, who finished his first game with 148 yards on 27 carries, including a 71-yard touchdown run.
“It’#39;s just being patient and waiting for things to come,” he said. “Eventually, things will flow my way.”
Edwards, who has never been shy about expressing his confidence, said he has the Browns playbook down despite his holdout and just needs to perfect little things like what to do in different coverages.
He was philosophical about his first road game coming against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, saying he appreciated the history there but couldn’#39;t allow it to overwhelm him.
“I won’#39;t be lining up against Ray Nitschke. I’#39;ll be lining up against Al Harris and Ahmad Carroll,” he said. “So we’#39;ve got to get ready to play those guys.”
And if he did face Nitschke?
“It might be a battle.”
