Haden and Mack still not practicing

Associated Press

BEREA

Browns starting cornerback Joe Haden and center Alex Mack are not practicing again, increasing the likelihood one or both will miss Sunday’s game in Oakland.

Haden sprained his left knee on Oct. 2 against Tennessee. He remained indoors doing rehab and getting treatment on Thursday as the Browns worked out.

Mack, who is still recovering from an appendectomy on Oct. 3, was on the field but didn’t participate in practice for the third time this week.

Coach Pat Shurmur said both players are progressing. Shurmur added there’s a chance Haden and Mack could play against the Raiders even if they don’t practice this week. Browns defensive coordinator Dick Jauron said “it would be a big blow” if Haden, Cleveland’s top defensive back, can’t play.

Meanwhile, as Marcus Benard recovers from a motorcycle accident he’s lucky to have survived, the Browns defensive end has one less thing to worry about.

The Browns have decided to pay the injured lineman for the remainder of this season, a gesture they didn’t have to make because he sustained a nonfootball-related injury. A person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press the Browns will pay Benard roughly $370,000 he’s still due this season.

Benard’s base salary this season is $525,000. The team placed him on the reserve nonfootball injury list, ending his season after four games.

On Monday, Benard broke his hand — and sustained other undisclosed injuries — when he smashed his three-wheel Can-Am Spyder into a guardrail on Interstate-71 shortly after leaving the team’s training facility following practice. Brooklyn Police estimated Benard, Cleveland’s sacks leader last season, was thrown an estimated 80 yards.

The impact of the crash tore the front off Benard’s vehicle, which has two front wheels and one rear wheel. A witness told police Benard was traveling at “a high rate of speed” before he lost control of the motorcycle, crossed four lanes of traffic and slammed into the guardrail.

Police said no other vehicles were involved in the crash and the investigation is closed.

Benard has been hospitalized at the Cleveland Clinic since Monday, but Shurmur expected the 26-year-old to be released at some point Thursday.

Benard isn’t the only Browns player who owns a motorcycle.

This week, several of Benard’s teammates said his accident caused them to reflect.

“It’s a real-life reminder that risky behavior can’t happen,” Shurmur said. “It’s like anything in life and you can call it whatever you want, it wasn’t a good event.”