Browns' defense tough in middle

Tuesday, August 22, 2006 Nose tackle Ted Washington brings loads of experience to the defense. BEREA (AP) — As the horde of cameras, microphones and notebooks drew closer, the mountain of a man in the brown No. 92 jersey leaned against the padded goal post and growled his welcome. "WHAT?" roared Ted Washington. By NFL standards, the 38-year-old Washington is an old man. A bit of a grumpy one, too. But the 15-year nose tackle is also a terrific player, a 6-foot-3, 365-pound (or so) walking vending machine who manhandles anyone brave enough to try and block him. He's big, he's bad and he's making the Cleveland Browns better. "He's great," linebacker Willie McGinest said. "Guys try to run up the middle and it's like they are running into a wall. The middle linebackers are loving him." In the Browns' 20-16 exhibition win over Detroit Friday night, Washington tied up two and three offensive linemen at a time in the first half while helping Cleveland's defense limit the Lions to just 3 rushing yards on nine carries. Thankless job Washington's job is a thankless one in the Browns' 3-4 alignment. His dirty assignment is to bottle up the middle, clog holes and cut off running lanes. When he's doing it well — and that's more often than not the case — the four-time Pro Bowler allows more athletic linebackers to make tackles. He has done that in San Francisco (three seasons), Denver (one), Buffalo (six), Chicago (two), New England (one) and Oakland (two). Stop No. 7 is Cleveland, where he has been reunited with Browns coach Romeo Crennel, his defensive line coach with the Patriots in 2003. With Washington manning the middle, the Patriots' run defense improved from 31st to fourth that season. "He was pretty good," Crennel said. "I think that was the year we were in the Super Bowl and he hadn't been to one before. He had a pretty good impact and he solidified the middle for our defense. Hopefully, he'll be able to do that here." Hasn't missed a workout So far, Washington, who has made 215 career starts, has led by example. Despite the scorching summer heat and two-a-days, he hasn't missed a single workout and always practices the way he plays — full throttle, all the time. It's the only way he knows, and he hopes it makes an impression on Cleveland's younger players. "That's part of the game," he said. "Being in this many years and being one of the biggest guys, you see these younger, smaller guys and when they see a guy my size still going, it should boost them up that they can do better than me. That's just part of being a leader." One of Washington's newest teammates, second-year defensive tackle Simon Fraser, has quickly become one of the big man's biggest fans. "First of all, his football career has been from the time I was in the first grade until I graduated college," Fraser said. "That's pretty impressive in itself. Here I am in my second year and he's been doing it for 16. I don't know how he's done that. Then again, he's also the largest human being I've ever met in my life." In a world roamed by giants, Washington stands out. There's large, there's extra large and then there's Washington, originally drafted in 1991 by the 49ers. If Jerome Bettis was The Bus, Washington is The Double Decker. Washington takes exception to any questions about his size or age. Before answering a query about his productivity at 38, the father of five rolled his eyes and said his birth date has no bearing on his ability. "I don't think about it," he said. "If I'm still playing and I feel good at 38, 39, 40; if I can still move and the coaches are satisfied, Ted Washington will continue to play." Why bother, he was asked. "'Cause I love the game!" he bellowed. The secret to his longevity? "That man upstairs has been watching over me and I'm thankful for that," he said.