Suggs sparkles to regain top spot at running back

Lee Suggs gained 82 yards on five carries in only one offensive series.
PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) -- Lee Suggs re-established his lead in Cleveland's running back derby Saturday during the Browns scrimmage against the Buffalo Bills.
He was the key force in the Browns offense, even though he was limited to playing only the first of four offensive series. Suggs carried five times for 82 yards, including a nifty cutback run of 50 yards on Cleveland's second offensive play of the scrimmage held at the Bills training camp in suburban Rochester.
"We were supposed to go to the left, but there was not enough in there so we went back to the right," Suggs said of the play.
Suggs credited fullback Terrelle Smith for providing him some timely advice on how the Bills were overplaying the strong side.
"Terrelle told me on that play that they were going to try to spill it. He's a veteran. He knows things I haven't learned yet," Suggs said.
Vision and speed
It was a play in which Suggs showed both his vision and speed before being chased down by Bills safety Izell Reese and tackled at the Bills' 4.
And it was a performance in which Suggs appeared to maintain his hold on the starting job ahead of William Green, who carried six times for 8 yards, in what has been described as a friendly running back competition.
"Yesterday, I busted one in team drills. He got one today," Green said, referring to an impressive run he had against the Bills in practice on Friday. "I feel every time I got the ball in there, I made the best of what I had."
The Browns were limited to two touchdowns, scored by Suggs and Green, each coming during a goal-line drill from the 2.
Green was the starter last season, but lost his job after missing the final eight games serving a suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. The scrimmage was the first time Green has lined up against an opponent in a competitive setting since Oct. 19.
Unable to capitalize
As impressive as Suggs' run was, the Browns were unable to capitalize. The drive stalled three plays later when quarterback Jeff Garcia's pass was deflected at the line and intercepted by Reese.
It was Garcia's first pass attempt in a competitive setting with the Browns since he joined the team last March after being waived by San Francisco.
"I was disappointed by the turnovers we had," Browns coach Butch Davis said. "When we got into the goal line, we didn't do as well as we needed to."
Later in the scrimmage, Browns third-string quarterback Luke McCown fumbled at the Bills' 15. The ball was recovered by linebacker Asa Francis, who ran it back for a touchdown.
Of Suggs and Green, Davis said: "I think they both did a good job. We made a significant effort to run the ball. We want to try to get that mentality that we're a tough running team."
Ground attack
Cleveland finished the scrimmage with 18 carries for 104 yards, a 5.8-yard average.
Center Jeff Faine hopes the Browns can take advantage of having two capable backs.
"It's fun blocking for both of them," Faine said. "They're like lightning bottled up."
The Browns returned to their training camp facility in Berea and will prepare for their preseason opener, Aug. 14 at Tennessee.
"It's great to see Lee do those things today," Garcia said. "But I think both backs can be very special backs. We're fortunate to have two of them like that."
The Bills unofficially won the scrimmage, outscoring the Browns seven TDs to two. Willis McGahee scored four touchdowns for Buffalo.
Boyer update
Browns linebacker Brant Boyer will miss 8 to 10 weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a broken bone in his right foot.
Boyer, a 10-year veteran and the Browns' special teams captain, was hurt Friday, when someone stepped on his foot during the first of two practices between the teams.
Boyer was the second Cleveland linebacker to get hurt this week after Chaun Thompson had surgery on Thursday to repair a broken wrist. Thompson is expected to miss at least two preseason games.