Browns play Super Bowl champions

By STEVE DOERSCHUK

Cleveland will see how good it is against the Giants tonight in the Meadowlands.

BEREA — The horn sounded one last time. The portion of training camp open to the public was over for 2008.

The short ride to the Sept. 7 opener against Dallas passed another milestone.

The next one comes at the Meadowlands, where a game against the Giants tonight will take the Browns through the halfway point of their preseason schedule.

“We’re gonna see where we are against the world champs,” said safety Sean Jones, practically smacking his lips at the thought.

Saturday’s last call for fans put players in a festive mood under a hot sun.

Slim cornerback Eric Wright ran out of the locker room and put a flying headlock on strongman Robaire Smith.

“You’re lucky I like you,” said Smith, aiming a mosquito-swat slap at Wright.

The young starting cornerbacks have been the life of the party throughout camp. Brandon McDonald strode out the door alongside quarterback Brady Quinn.

“Write this in your book,” McDonald shouted to a writer. “I’m gonna pick No. 10 today.”

During a light practice intended to ease into the Giants game, McDonald never got that interception.

“Quinn didn’t come at me,” McDonald protested.

After practice, the Browns spread out to sign autographs for another big crowd, this one surpassing 2,000. One by one, players filed back toward the locker room door. On the way, they signed an orange foam pad wrapped around a goal post — it will be sold for charity.

Amid the tension-relieving scenes, this camp left one paramount thought about the Browns: They are convinced they are a serious team.

To prove it, they will need a big contribution from new defensive lineman Shaun Rogers, who nursed camp aches and didn’t practice Saturday but is expected to suit up tonight.

Obviously, the Browns also need their commitment to quarterback Derek Anderson to pan out.

Judging from camp reactions to the quarterbacks, the people still love Brady Quinn, but they are warming up to Anderson.

“Derek has settled into the role as a leader,” running back Jason Wright observed. “He’s growing in confidence every day ... and he was always very confident.”

It doesn’t hurt Anderson’s confidence to have Pro Bowler Joe Thomas as his left tackle. Thomas and the offensive line had a quiet, efficient camp, during which right guard Ryan Tucker quietly worked his way back from a broken hip.

Crennel seemed to light up when he said Tucker finally made it out for some individual drills Saturday. He was a welcome sight in a camp nickeled and dimed to distraction by smaller injuries.

It’s not unusual for players to hate camp, but Thomas is one of those football junkies who loves it.

“It is really nice to have all the fans out here cheering for you every day like it’s a game day,” Thomas said.

The soundtrack changes as they lock the gates to fans, but ...

“Camp is not over yet,” Crennel said, with some attitude. “I’m not breaking camp for at least another week.”

Insofar as a milestone was reached, and the fans made their last stand Saturday, is there anything Crennel really liked about this leg of camp?

“Well, I’ve got two good quarterbacks, and I’ve got a nice-looking defensive front,” Crennel said.

There are three more weeks to fill in the rest of the details. Three weeks to Dallas.