Broncos’ Cleveland imports optimistic about fresh start

Tuesday, April 5, 2005 | 9:11 a.m.

SUN WIRE SERVICES

Still dripping with sweat from his first offseason workout as a member of the Denver Broncos, former Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Gerard Warren sat in the media hot seat Monday morning.

Inquiring minds wanted to know how Warren and three other former Browns defensive linemen -- Courtney Brown, Ebenezer Ekuban and Michael Myers -- will shed their collective image as chronic underachievers and help transform Denver's defensive line into a formidable unit.

"After we're holding up that Lombardi Trophy, that will answer all questions and doubts about the guys coming in, the entire team and this organization," was Warren's answer.

Brown, Ekuban and Warren were all first-round draft picks. Brown was the first player selected in the 2000 draft and Warren was the third pick in the 2001 draft. Yet Cleveland got little for its investment and critics began referring to Brown and Warren as Cleveland's "Mistakes by the Lake."

Brown finished each of the past four seasons on injured reserve and is being treated for an injured foot. He was released by Cleveland last month. Brown's best season came his rookie year when he started 16 games and made 61 tackles, including 4.5 sacks.

"Courtney has been through a lot of hardships," Ekuban said. "We have a lot in common, because in my career, especially in Dallas, I went through a lot of injuries. But (Brown) is physically imposing and strong. And if he can just stay healthy, he's a dominant factor in any defensive-line rotation he's going to be in."

Ekuban and Myers were traded to Denver last week in a deal that sent running back Reuben Droughns to Cleveland. Ekuban, who spent his first five seasons in Dallas after being picked in the first round in 1999, did not work out with his new Broncos teammates Monday. He is rehabilitating shoulder injuries that plagued him during much of his 2004 season in Cleveland. He had offseason surgery to repair a torn labrum and also underwent arthroscopic surgery to clean up a sore knee.

"The shoulder started giving me problems in late October, maybe early November," Ekuban said. "I played with pretty much one arm for the rest of the year because I didn't want to miss any games. But it's feeling great right now. Range of motion is terrific and it's getting stronger every day."

New Browns coach Romeo Crennel has been cleaning house. But Warren said the Cleveland quartet will be reborn in Denver.

"Not to point any fingers or place the blame anywhere else, but team chemistry and the lack of an effort of a team as a whole hurt," Warren said of the Browns' 4-12 season in 2004.

The 6-foot, 200-pound Edwards could wind up being a replacement for longtime starting cornerback Patrick Surtain, who is being sought by the Kansas City Chiefs.

Dolphins coach Nick Saban said last week that trading Surtain remains an option, but also said he's still hopeful Surtain could remain in Miami.

A five-year veteran, Edwards has played in 73 games, including 50 starts. He spent four years with Dallas after going there as the Cowboys' sixth-round draft pick in 2000, then played last season for Tampa Bay -- which had the NFL's top pass defense.

Edwards, a member of Florida State's 1999 national championship team, has four interceptions and three fumble recoveries in his pro career.