Matt Roth a mad man on the field

Associated Press

BEREA

Eyes fixed ahead, Browns linebacker Matt Roth, full of tattoos and controlled aggression, stomped across the carpet in Cleveland’s locker room looking as if he was ready to start a fight.

Not in here. Roth saves his brawling for the field.

As he walks by, everyone gets out of Roth’s way.

“I’m scared of him,” joked Pro Bowl tackle Joe Thomas, “and he’s one of my friends.”

Roth is the Browns’ resident tough guy, whose mission on the field is to hit anything in front of him. In last week’s win over Cincinnati, Roth matched a career high with two sacks, the last coming when he relentlessly chased down Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer.

Needless to say, the 6-foot-4, 275-pound Roth, claimed by the Browns last November year after four-plus seasons in Miami, is a bit of a character. Some of his teammates think he’s funny. Others think he’s a little crazy. There’s no debating that he’s a physical force.

An undefeated state wrestling champion in high school, Roth is a guy you want on your side. He’s big and he’s bad.

“That’s the main reason I’m glad training camp is over ’cause I don’t have to deal with Matt Roth and everybody else on every other team does,” Browns tight end Benjamin Watson said. “That guy, I really haven’t seen anybody block him — tight end, tackle, running back. When he wants to get going and he wants to bust through there and make a play, there’s very few people that can stand in his way.”

Roth’s job is simple. His assignment each week is to take the other team’s tight end out of the game, and he’ll do whatever’s necessary to complete the task.

Is there a tight end that can block him?

“I haven’t see him,” Roth said, chuckling. “But you know, that’s my deal. It’s a mismatch. I go to the tight end side and rough those guys up. That’s who I am.”

Sunday, Roth’s challenge is to make life difficult for Atlanta’s Tony Gonzalez, who has faced Roth four previous times.

Gonzalez expects another rough day.

“He doesn’t have too many moves,” Gonzalez said. “Just bull rushing and a guy that likes to get after it. He has a high motor. He’s one of those guys you better be prepared for or he’ll embarrass you.”

Coach Eric Mangini loves what Roth brings to his defense. Mangini wants the Browns to be tough and physical, and Roth has tough and physical down to a science.

“He’s hard to block with a tight end, he can challenge any tackle that they put out there and he’s just angry,” Mangini said. “It’s a good angry.”