Front and ‘Center’, Hallen to Retire
Things have gone from bad to worse for the Browns, with the agent for C Bob Hallen announcing his client will retire tomorrow for the NFL. Nagging back problems are being blamed for the sudden move by Hallen, who was brought in to be the “utility” guy on the Brown’s revamped Offensive Line. All that changed on July 27 when starting Pro Bowl center LeCharles Bentley was lost for the season with a knee injury. Suddenly Hallen was thrust into the starting role, a role it seems he never really wanted to begin with.
After complaining of back pain after Monday’s practice, Hallen left camp to visit a back specialist on the West Coast, against the will of the Browns and Head Coach Romeo Crennel. Crennel used the term, “AWOL” when describing Hallen’s absence from the team and the Browns traded a late round pick to New England for backup Center Ross Tucker.
The Browns now have two centers in camp, both with little or no NFL experience. Tucker will battle with Alonzo Ephraim for the starters job. Ephraim will get the nod tonite as the Browns open their Pre-Season campaign in Philadelphia.
What once was considered a strength of the 2006 Browns is quickly becoming a major catastrophy. Bentley has been joined by veteran Ryan Tucker, who had his knee scoped and is hoping to return by week 1. Ross Tucker and Ephraim will be tasked with protecting 2nd year quarterback Charlie Frye against some of the best nose-tackles in the game. Casey Hampton of the Steelers, Sam Adams in Cincinnati and 1st Round pick Haloti Ngata in Baltimore.
It doesn’t take a Guru to figure out the Browns need to make a move to get a more established center and there should be a few available by the end of the pre-season. One name to keep your eyes on is former Ohio State standout Alex Stepanovich, who went to High School about 100 yards away from the Browns’ training facility in Berea. Just a hunch…..
