Browns need to play ex-OU stars Perkins, Wilson

By Darrell Laurant  |   Thursday, April 12, 2007  |  Comments( 3 )

Cleveland Browns
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Even if they don't select Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson with the third pick in the NFL draft, the Cleveland Browns are looking for immediate help in 2007 from a trio of players with Sooner connections.

The Sooner, the better.

The departure of cornerback Daylon McCutcheon (released) and safety Brian Russell (signed away by Seattle) has left the Browns' defensive backfield looking thin. And while it's generally conceded that third-year man Brodney Pool (drafted out of Oklahoma in 2005) will move in for Russell, Pool's former college teammate, Antonio Perkins, will also be expected to step up.

Of course, it's hard to step up when you're sitting down, and Perkins barely escaped the practice squad, much less the bench.

Taken in the fourth round by Cleveland two years ago (Pool went second), Perkins has good size (5-foot-11, 194 pounds) and unquestioned speed. He left Oklahoma with 125 career tackles, 11 interceptions, two fumble recoveries and a sack. He also left memories of one of the most spectacular individual performances in Sooner history, returning three punts for touchdowns against UCLA and earning himself highlight reel legend status.

Oddly enough, Perkins has never returned a punt as a Brown. He has hauled back three kickoffs, averaging a more-than-respectable 27.5 yards.

Meanwhile, his lack of work at cornerback is probably due to inexperience. But the only cure for inexperience is experience, which only comes with meaningful playing time..

The same could be said of Travis Wilson, Cleveland's third pick in the 2006 draft. The current crop of Cleveland receivers is a bit shaky -- Braylon Edwards, the 2005 No. 1 pick, averaged just over 22 yards a game in receptions over the second half of 2006, Joe Jurevicius is 33 years old and TE Kellen Winslow, while still a threat, has lost a step because of his motorcycle accident.

That leaves Oklahoma product Wilson with the best chance to stretch the field, thus opening up more opportunities on shorter routes for the others. But he, also, hardly played in 2006, starting one game (in his hometown of Houston) and catching two 16-yard passes.

"It was a humbling experience," Wilson dutifully said on the Browns' Web site, "but I've learned from it."

Pool came into his own last season, finishing with 54 tackles (47 solo), two sacks, two interceptions, 16 pass breakups, and two fumble recoveries. He also contributed one the the most memorable plays in a largely forgettable season, shoving Jets receiver Chris Baker out of bounds to preserve one of the Browns' victories. He's big enough (6-2, 210) for strong safety and has the instincts to play free safety.

It seems to be a gradual takeover. If Peterson joins the club, perhaps the Browns can bring in that covered wagon for home games.

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