BEREA, Ohio (Oct. 13) -- Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini said he's cooperating with the NFL in its investigation into rookie running back James Davis' mysterious season-ending shoulder injury.
On Sunday, ESPN.com reported that Davis was injured during a recent post-practice period for extra work when he was hit by a Browns linebacker. According to the report, witnesses said Davis was not wearing shoulder pads while the unidentified defender who hit him had them on.
ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 11: Eric Mangini, head coach of the Cleveland Browns stands on the sidelines against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium on October 11, 2009 in Orchard Park, New York. Cleveland won 6-3. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Eric Mangini
ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 11: Trent Edwards #5 of the Buffalo Bills throws a pass against the Cleveland Browns at Ralph Wilson Stadium on October 11, 2009 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Trent Edwards
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ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 11: Eric Wright #24 of the Cleveland Browns intercepts a pass intended for Terrell Owens #81 of the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium on October 11, 2009 in Orchard Park, New York.Cleveland won 6-3. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Eric Wright;Terrell Owens
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ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 11: Marcus Buggs #53 of the Buffalo Bills sacks Derek Anderson #3 of the Cleveland Browns at Ralph Wilson Stadium on October 11, 2009 in Orchard Park, New York. Theplay was nullified by a penalty. Cleveland won 6-3. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Marcus Buggs;Derek Anderson
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ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 11: Marshawn Lynch #23 of the Buffalo Bills runs against the Cleveland Browns at Ralph Wilson Stadium on October 11, 2009 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Marshawn Lynch
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ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 11: Terrell Owens #81 of the Buffalo Bills looks to run around Mike Adams #20 of the Cleveland Browns at Ralph Wilson Stadium on October 11, 2009 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Terrell Owens;Mike Adams
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ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 11: Derek Anderson #3 of the Cleveland Browns hands off to Jamal Lewis #31 of the Buffalo Bills against at Ralph Wilson Stadium on October 11, 2009 in Orchard Park, New York. Cleveland won 6-3. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Derek Anderson;Jamal Lewis
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ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 11: Jairus Byrd #31 of the Buffalo Bills intercepts a pass as Drayton Florence #29 of the Bills and Mohamed Massaquoi #11 of the Cleveland Browns look on, at Ralph Wilson Stadium on October 11, 2009 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jairus Byrd;Drayton Florence;Mohamed Massaquo
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ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 11: Terrell Owens #81 of the Buffalo Bills tries to make a case for pass interference with side judge Joe Larew #73 against the Cleveland Browns at Ralph Wilson Stadium on October 11, 2009 in Orchard Park, New York. Cleveland won 6-3. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Terrell Owens;Joe Larew
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ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 11: Dick Jauron, head coach of the Buffalo Bills stands on the sidelines against the Cleveland Browns at Ralph Wilson Stadium on October 11, 2009 in Orchard Park, New York. Cleveland won 6-3. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dick Jauron
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ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 11: Trent Edwards #5 of the Buffalo Bills readies to pass against the Cleveland Browns at Ralph Wilson Stadium on October 11, 2009 in Orchard Park, New York. Cleveland won 6-3. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Trent Edwards
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League spokesman Greg Aiello said the league is aware of the alleged incident and has been looking into the matter.
"The review is ongoing," Aiello said in an e-mail response to The Associated Press.
Mangini confirmed Monday that he has had discussions with the league, and said that following his own research that he's "comfortable with where we are on it."
"I like James Davis a lot," Mangini said. "The last thing we want to do is ever put him in a position or anybody in a position where they could get hurt. I've talked to a lot of people involved in it and we're going to continue to work with the league on it."
Mangini did not deny the report, but repeated several times that he has been in touch with the league.
He said the post-practice period is open to all players to get in extra work, but that it's normally attended by rookies and younger players. He said the workouts are done in a controlled environment, supervised by coaches. Mangini said he occasionally watches.
Mangini noted that Patriots quarterback Tom Brady took part in similar sessions during his first season with New England.
Mangini said he would never condone a situation like the one being reported.
"We'd never do that," he said. "If something like that did happen, it shouldn't happen. Ever."
A sixth-round draft pick from Clemson, Davis was impressive in training camp and the exhibition season. He was hurt in the season opener against Minnesota and was placed on injured reserve on Oct. 3.
The ESPN report said the NFL Players Association may file a grievance, although Davis may hesitate for fear of losing his job. His base salary is $310,000 this season.
Browns linebacker D'Qwell Jackson did not see the incident, and thought it sounded implausible. He said players can be fined by Mangini for not wearing the proper pads at practice.
"That sounds crazy to me that something like that would be reported," Jackson said. "But I wasn't there. I don't know exactly what happened. That doesn't make any sense to me. That wouldn't be fair to him (Davis)."
Running back Jamal Lewis, who knows Davis well, avoided any specific questions about the incident.
"Actually, I don't really know none of that," said Lewis, who attended the same Atlanta high school as Davis. "I just know that he had hurt his shoulder in the first game. That's all I really know about."
Mangini confirmed that Davis will need surgery but would not say if an operation has been scheduled.
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First of all, I'm a Browns fan for 40 years. Good, bad whatever. Please Al Lerner, sell the team to a football guy ! Since '99 it's one horrible blunder after another...Tim Couch ?..Butch Davis ?..Courtney Brown ?..Eric Mangini ?...Braylon Edwards....??? You passed on Adrian Peterson and took Brady Quinn ?? Really ??? The Vikings thank you. The Browns fans hate you !!
get mangini out of cleveland. he's not head coach material and never will be. nice job getting winslow jr. and braylon edwards out of there, dolt. get a coach in that can turn the culture around not somebody whose going to play head games with everyone including own insecure down beaten players. he sucked with the jets and just because he was a ball boy in cleveland and a coordinator for the pats doesn't mean he's your head coach answer (other coordinators from the pats have certainly proved that). Yeah i can see this fail coach letting or making a player play with out pads because he doesn't understand the game or how to motivate players. get rid of this cancer before he kills another team.
I'd have to say that the player himself should be responsible for wearing the proper equipment, or take what he gets. I very seriously doubt that he was made to practice with no pads. that's common sense wouldn't you think??
The sad thing is that Davis got hurt and misses the year. He was, in my opinion, a bright spot for the Browns for this season. To lose him in such a way is just not right. As a Browns fan and from the area we need all the help and talented players we can get, to lose one is this fashion is wrong. I do hope they get to the bottom of this!!!!
