BEREA — Starting receiver Donte Stallworth worked outside with a trainer Thursday, but didn’t join his teammates for practice. Coach Romeo Crennel said he’s doubtful to play Sunday night against the Steelers.
“I’m not ruling him out yet,” Crennel said.
Stallworth strained a quadriceps before the Cowboys game Sunday and was unable to play. If he doesn’t play versus the Steelers, Joshua Cribbs, Syndric Steptoe and Steve Sanders would share his duties.
Cribbs missed the opener with a high ankle sprain, while Steptoe and Sanders made their NFL debuts. Steptoe got the start.
“Sanders caught one ball and did a good job catching that ball,” Crennel said. “The biggest impact Steptoe had was in the return game. He looked confident, caught the ball well and returned it well.”
Sanders’ one catch was for 18 yards. Steptoe caught one pass for 12 yards and averaged 20.3 yards on three kickoff returns and 11.5 yards on two punt returns.
The pair, pressed into action when Stallworth was injured in pregame warmups, struggled to line up properly on several occasions.
“Generally those guys are pretty much on top of their alignment and that hasn’t been a problem with those guys before,” Crennel said.

Cribbs confident

Cribbs said he’s ready to return — and the Browns can’t wait to get him back.
“I think I’m ready,” he said, despite being limited in practice Wednesday and Thursday. “I’m showing I am able to move. It looks really good.”
With Stallworth doubtful, Cribbs will see time at receiver as well as kick returner.
“We definitely need him on offense,” Crennel said.
The offensive package for Cribbs was expanded in training camp, but might be curtailed Sunday night. Crennel said a play needs to be practiced during the week before the coaches can feel comfortable calling it during the game.
“The coaches are working me back in there, seeing how far I can go,” Cribbs said. “They’re taking that information and running with it.”

A fine time

Veteran Willie McGinest was fined $7,500 for impermissible use of the helmet, according to a league spokesman. He made helmet-to-helmet contact while rushing Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo.
Romo needed 13 stitches on his chin after a cut resulted from the hit.

Sorry, King James

Receiver Braylon Edwards took some grief in the media this week for a comment about Cavaliers superstar LeBron James.
 Edwards was asked Tuesday during a personal appearance about James cheering for Dallas and hobnobbing with the Cowboys before the game.
“LeBron isn’t a Cleveland guy,” Edwards said. “LeBron only plays for the Cavaliers, and who knows if he even likes the Cavaliers?”
Edwards backtracked Thursday.
“LeBron is a good friend of mine,” he said. “All I did was make a statement that was exactly true. He is a Dallas Cowboys fan, which everybody knows. He is a New York Yankees fan, which everybody knows, and I cracked a sarcastic joke.
“I will take it up with LeBron if there is even an issue, which I don’t think there is.”

Extra points

Linebacker Kamerion Wimbley (groin) was added to the injury report and was limited in practice. Guard Rex Hadnot (knee) and safety Brodney Pool (concussion) were limited but are expected to play.
• For the Steelers, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (throwing shoulder) was limited and cornerback Deshea Townsend (foot) didn’t practice.
• An Al Lerner statue has been erected at the entrance to Browns headquarters. Lerner, the former owner who died in 2002, is shown holding a cigar.
• A tribute to Heisman Trophy winner Ernie Davis will be held before the game Sunday. “The Express,” a movie about the life of the former Brown who died without playing an NFL game, is set to open in theaters. Dennis Quaid and other actors from the film will be at the game.
Contact Scott Petrak at 329-7253 or spetrak@chroniclet.com.

Browns hit $1 billion mark in Forbes ranking

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns are worth $1 billion according to Forbes Magazine’s annual ranking of NFL franchises.
The Browns ranked 15th among 32 teams and their value went up 7 percent from last year.
Al Lerner, the late father of Browns owner Randy Lerner, paid $530 million for the expansion Browns in 1998.
The magazine found that for the first time in any sport team values averaged $1 billion. Ten years ago the average value of an NFL team was $288 million.
Dallas ranked first at $1.6 billion followed by Washington at $1.5 billion and New England at $1.3 billion.
The Cincinnati Bengals ranked 21st at $941 million.
— The Associated Press

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