BROWNS CAMP

BROWNS CAMP
News and notes
Bledsoe weighs in: Drew Bledsoe was smack in the middle of another quarterback controversy on Friday. This one, though, wasn't his problem. Buffalo's starting QB offered some insight and perspective into Cleveland's heated quarterback battle between Tim Couch and Kelly Holcomb. Just two years ago, Bledsoe was involved in a similar situation with New England when he got hurt and lost his starting job to Tom Brady, who eventually led the Patriots to a Super Bowl title. Bledsoe said the Browns' controversy can have an adverse effect on a team if it's not handled properly. "It has been my experience that if you are in the NFL as a teammate, you are a professional and you are going to get your job done," he said. "And I know the two quarterbacks who are battling for the job here are both excellent football players and I know their team will have confidence in whichever one of them wins the job." The Bills and Browns will scrimmage this morning at Cleveland Browns Stadium.
Late arrivals: Rookie linebacker Chaun Thompson said Friday that he wasn't pleased with the hardline stance Browns president Carmen Policy took at the end of their contract negotiations. Policy said Wednesday that if Thompson didn't sign before Thursday, the Browns would reduce their offer. "I was upset, my agent was upset. We thought that was very unfair," said Thompson, the No. 52 overall pick. "At the same time, it's a business." Thompson, who missed nine days of training camp, said he believed the negotiations were making progress before Policy gave his ultimatum. "It hurt, but we put that aside," he said. Thompson, who attended tiny West Texas A & amp;M, said he is eager to prove the Browns were right to make him a second-round pick.
On the mark: Bills tight end Mark Campbell was back in Berea for the first time Friday since being traded by Cleveland to the Bills in February for a draft pick. "This is a little weird," he said. "No, this is a whole lotta weird." Campbell said never wanted to leave. "It was disappointing," he said. "More than anything, I was shocked." After making the Browns as an undrafted free agent in 1999, Campbell spent four seasons in Cleveland, playing in 46 games. He said he has great memories of his time here, but a hazy one about the day coach Butch Davis told him he was leaving. "It's all a blur," he said. "He said a couple things that it was a pleasure to have me. He told me he was going to trade me, and the whole time I was trying to think who needed a tight end."
Faine is fine: Rookie center Jeff Faine played with the first-team offense about 40 percent of the time Friday against the Bills. Faine, a three-year starter at Notre Dame, said he enjoyed practicing against another NFL club. "It was good to be able to play someone else, just to experience that a little bit, but really you just have to go out there and attack just like you would at any other practice," he said.
-- Associated Press