BEREA, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns' gaping hole at center grew wider, and their training camp more bizarre.
Alonzo Ephraim, an emergency signing after LeCharles Bentley went down with a season-ending knee injury, was suspended Wednesday for the first four regular-season games for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.
The league said Ephraim may continue to participate in all preseason games and practices until his suspension begins Sept. 2. He will be eligible to rejoin the Browns' active roster Oct. 2.
"It's unfortunately that he has the situation," Browns coach
Romeo Crennel said. "I have to look at it like, he's in the
[substance abuse] program and he's getting better. He did whatever
he did to be suspended. You try to help the player the best you can
and then see how it plays out after the suspension is over."
Ephraim's suspension comes on the heels of Bentley's injury and the sudden retirement of backup center Bob Hallen, who walked out
on the Browns last week saying he had a back problem the Browns
said they didn't know about.
Ephraim played two seasons for the Philadelphia Eagles and started three games for the Miami Dolphins last season. For him to be suspended, this would have to be his second violation under the
league's policy.
The Browns rushed to sign Ephraim as a free agent July 29, two days after Bentley tore his patellar tendon on the second day of camp. Cleveland's desperation to get a veteran center and bad timing resulted in the club not knowing about Ephraim's pending suspension, Crennel said. The signing took place on a Saturday when the league's offices were closed.
"We were in a situation where we needed a body and he was
available," Crennel said. "All of the lines of communication were
not open and we went ahead and made a move. As it turns out, he's
suspended. It was one of those things that happened because we
weren't able to communicate the way we needed to."
The 25-year-old Ephraim had little to say about his suspension.
"I'm here to help the team in any way I can," he said. "This
is a team, it's not about one individual player."
Ephraim may work out and participate in activities at Browns
headquarters during his suspension, but he may not practice with
the team.
Last season, Browns safety Michael Jameson was notified of a
league suspension during training camp, but remained with the team.
He practiced with the club during his four-game ban and was
released when it ended.
Ephraim started last week's preseason opener against Philadelphia, but Ross Tucker, acquired in a trade from the New England Patriots, will start Friday against the Detroit Lions.
"I feel ready to go. I feel extremely confident," said Tucker,
who has made 24 career starts, including 14 for Buffalo in 2004.
"This isn't my first rodeo. It's just another game for me, but I
also understand the significance for me. I can't wait to go out
there and show them what I can do."
The shuffling at center is only part of what has been a crazy
camp for the Browns.
Bentley's injury was followed by cornerback Daylon McCutcheon
and right tackle Ryan Tucker needing knee surgeries to clean up
torn cartilage. Both will likely miss the rest of the preseason.
Last week, cornerback Gary Baxter, who missed 10 games in 2005
with a torn pectoral muscle, strained the same muscle on the other
side and will miss at least three weeks. On Monday, the Browns
traded running back Lee Suggs to the New York Jets, who then sent
him back to Cleveland after he failed his physical.
Despite the apparent gloom and doom, Crennel is staying
optimistic.
"There have been some issues at this camp, but I don't look at
it as bizarre," he said. "Things happen. There are a lot of
bizarre things that happen in football. If you've been around
football for a long time, you see quite a few of them. Other things
will happen before it's all said and done."