Browns notebook: Jim Brown upbeat about Trent Richardson

By Marla Ridenour,
Nate Ulrich and Ryan Lewis
Beacon Journal sports writers

CLEVELAND: Hall of famer Jim Brown was upbeat about the Browns’ future after a 7-6 home victory over the San Diego Chargers on Sunday. And his excitement seemed to have more to do with the players than new owner Jimmy Haslam, who won his first game.

“My feelings are great. That’s why I stopped here,” Brown said in the locker room after the Browns improved to 2-6. “I’ve seen the improvement in the team.

“You’ve got a quarterback, OK? You’ve got some other pieces; you’ve got a couple defensive guys that are really good. You’ve got two or three spots you’ve got to get somebody to fill, but you’ve got a young team. I think we’re the youngest team in the league. We’re looking towards a good future, no doubt about it. The foundation is being built properly.”

The temperature at kickoff was 44 degrees with the wind out of the north-
northeast at 19 mph, and the game was played in constant rain. Brown knew the conditions well.

“This is Cleveland weather. What do you mean do I remember? Of course I remember,” Brown said.

Brown was waiting at the locker of running back Trent Richardson after the rookie from Alabama recorded a career-high 122 yards on 24 carries and scored a 26-yard touchdown.

“A great running back breaks tackles. And when a running back breaks tackles, then you have someone who can control the ball,” Brown said. “On the TD run, I think he broke about four tackles. That’s the sign of a real fine running back.”

Although he once called Richardson “ordinary,” Brown no longer thinks that way.

“He’s done everything I thought he should do. He never took anything that I said the wrong way,” Brown said.

Asked what Richardson can do for the Browns, Brown said: “You eat the clock up, you can throw the ball in the last two minutes. The offensive line likes the fact that they can do some run blocking. They don’t like to just sit back and do pass blocking. It makes the defense feel bad when they’re being controlled by the running game and a great runner. Absolutely that choice was a good choice.”

Richardson was thrilled that Brown was waiting for him.

“It means a lot. He’s always been an icon,” Richardson said. “With him being here today, it shows a lot of how he feels about us.”

Asked what Brown told him, Richardson said: “He said, ‘Keep doing what you do. Keep preparing and don’t let anybody tell you what you can’t do. Just keep fighting.’ ”