Davis tries to avoid off-the-field subjects

The Browns' coach wants to stick to football talk, not the front-office disarray.
BEREA (AP) -- Coming off the practice field, Browns coach Butch Davis was eager to discuss pulling guards, Jeff Garcia's arm strength and Courtney Brown's knee.
"Let's talk about football," Davis said, dismissing another question about Cleveland's many off-the-field matters.
"I'm the football coach."
Trouble is, the Browns' season doesn't open for four more months, and the team has undergone a massive and messy organizational shakeup this off-season that has some around the NFL wondering what's going on in Cleveland.
On Thursday, Davis made his first public comments since the firing of Lal Heneghan, the team's chief contract negotiator, last week. Heneghan's departure is significant for a number of reasons.
He was the club's most seasoned negotiator for player contracts, and with talks for top draft pick Kellen Winslow Jr. expected to be difficult, Heneghan will be missed.
Front-office disarray
Also, Heneghan's firing continued months of front-office upheaval that began when team president Carmen Policy unexpectedly announced his resignation in April.
Policy's decision to leave was followed by the resignations of personnel specialist Ron Wolf and chief administrator Kofi Bonner. Davis said the departures are merely part of team owner Randy Lerner's reorganization plan.
Lerner assumed ownership in 2002 following the death of his father, Al.
"Randy, although he has the same name as his father, is a different man and a different guy," Davis said. "He has a vision for this organization and how he would like this organization to be set up and how he would like it to be run. That's what this is the result of."
Davis was asked if Heneghan's departure will make the Browns better.
"Sure," he said. "I think the way that it is set up, it's the way Randy wants the organization to be set up."
Collins in picture
Davis said incoming president John Collins will be the lead negotiator when the Browns attempt to sign Winslow, the No. 6 overall pick whose agent, Kevin Poston, already has hinted he may demand No. 1 money for his client.
Collins negotiated nearly $2 billion in marketing deals for the NFL before joining the Browns, but has never dealt with an agent on a player's contract.
Davis, though, has confidence the Browns will be able to effectively deal with Poston.
"We've got some very, very quality people here," Davis said.
The Browns completed their first week of "voluntary" quarterback school Thursday and will have 10 more practice sessions over the next three weeks.
Davis was pleased with his team's progress since mini-camp, and was even happier that 77 players attended this week's workouts.
Quarterback Tim Couch is still on the Browns' roster, but remains in effect without a team.
The Couch situation
Davis said Green Bay had resumed talks with Couch, who is under contact for two more years at $15.6 million.
The Browns have been trying to trade him since signing free agent quarterback Jeff Garcia.
"We have tried to help Tim to get done what Tim wants, which is to move him to a team where he has a future either as a backup for a year and can compete for a starting job or compete for a starting job immediately," Davis said.
The team has no plans to release Couch after June 1, Davis said.
The Browns are continuing contract talks with wide receiver Dennis Northcutt, whose free agency was denied when his agent missed a deadline.
Davis remains optimistic that Northcutt will re-sign with Cleveland.
"He has a number in mind and when we get close to that number we'll probably get Dennis back," Davis said.