DeMar dropped; Jameson banned

Coach Romeo Crennel cut the team's roster to 53.
BEREA (AP) -- Cleveland rookie coach Romeo Crennel released 14 players and placed six on various injury lists. The NFL sidelined another player for him.
Offensive guard Enoch DeMar, who started 11 games last season, was the most notable player cut Saturday as Crennel reduced the Browns' roster to the league limit of 53 one week before the season opener against Cincinnati.
Crennel also announced that defensive back Michael Jameson has been suspended four games for violating the league's substance-abuse policy.
Jameson, taken in the sixth round of the 2001 draft by former Browns coach Butch Davis, played in all 16 games and starred on special teams last season. The 26-year-old will miss at least games against the Bengals, Green Bay, Indianapolis and Chicago before he's eligible to rejoin the roster on Oct. 10.
Crennel said he had "an inkling" that Jameson was going to be suspended. The coach declined to expand on why he felt that way.
Rules were changed
Jameson can attend team meetings and work out during his suspension, but he can't practice. Previously, suspended players were prohibited from taking part in any team functions. However, the league has amended that rule hoping it will offer support to players needing help.
"That changed that this year to allow the men an opportunity," Crennel said. "If he couldn't be around at all then why keep him on the team? I think the NFL realized that and wanted to help the players recover to give them a chance on the team. He'll serve his suspension and we'll look at it in four weeks to see if we need to keep him or want to keep him."
The Browns may have helped changed the rule. When running back William Green was suspended for the final eight games in 2003, the club argued that Green would be better off around his teammates.
Crennel feels good about the opening-day roster that he and new general manager Phil Savage have put together after their first training camp and preseason.
The Browns will have 25 players -- 10 rookies -- who weren't on their 2004 roster. It's a start as the pair try to turn around a 4-12 team that lost nine straight games and Davis, who resigned with five games left.
Some hopeful signs
The work is far from done for Crennel and Savage. But they're pleased with some developments like the emergence of rookie wide receivers Brandon Rideau and Joshua Cribbs and defensive lineman Simon Fraser, un-drafted free agents spotted by Cleveland scouts.
Rideau, from Kansas, was impressive from the first day of camp and is one of six wide-outs on the roster. Fraser, once a co-captain at Ohio State, is one of seven defensive lineman kept by Crennel, who has switched the Browns into a 3-4 base defense.
Crennel said the 6-foot-6, 288-pounder's versatility helped him make the squad.
"Simon has done a nice job for us as far as his attitude and work ethic," Crennel said. "He had determination about making this team and he showed that early on. I think another thing that he has been able to do is make a role for himself on special teams."
Top kickoff return man
The mult-italented Cribbs will begin the season as the club's primary kickoff return player. After a strong start in exhibitions, the former Kent State quarterback has struggled the past two weeks.
"I know that he wasn't perfect because he screwed some things up, but I think he's showed us enough that we feel like he can grow and develop to be a return man in the NFL," Crennel said. "We feel good about his abilities and potential."
Crennel said the club would like to keep tight end Paul Irons and running back Sultan McCullough on their eight-man practice squad. Both players were released and can be claimed by other teams.
McCullough rushed for 103 yards on 19 attempts in Cleveland's 16-6 win over Chicago on Thursday.