BEREA — Safety Brodney Pool declared himself recovered from a concussion and ready for the Steelers game.
“I’m fine,” he said Friday. “I’m gonna play.”
Pool was injured Aug. 18 against the Giants when he took a Brandon Jacobs knee to the head. It was Pool’s third concussion in his four years with the Browns.
“I’ve been schooled on it,” he said of multiple concussions. “I know what can happen if I do go back out there and do it again.
“I haven’t been in a big rush to rush back out there and do something that could hurt me, so I’ve just been taking it slow.”
Pool was held out of the opener, then returned to practice this week in a limited basis. He said another concussion could force him to miss extended time, possibly the rest of the season.
“You don’t want to rush back out there and it happen again and then I’m out for 6-8 more weeks,” he said.
Pool’s first concussion came on his first play as a rookie, when he was knocked out in the preseason. No. 2 came in Week 2 last year, but he was able to play the following week.
Pool changed to a helmet with more padding after the latest injury, but said he won’t alter his playing style.
“I’ll still go out there and tackle the same way and play full speed,” he said. “I’m not going to be thinking about it.”
And retirement was never a consideration.
“No, not at all,” he said.

Injury report

Linebacker Kamerion Wimbley (groin) was listed as probable, along with special teamer Kris Griffin (elbow). Both were limited in practice Friday.
Receiver Donte Stallworth (quadriceps) and offensive lineman Ryan Tucker (hip) didn’t practice and were listed as doubtful.
Receiver/returner Joshua Cribbs (ankle), guard Rex Hadnot (knee) and Pool were listed as questionable but are expected to play.
• For the Steelers, cornerback Deshea Townsend (foot) is doubtful and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (shoulder) is probable.

McGinest milestone

Linebacker Willie McGinest will play in his 200th regular-season game Sunday. Of the 199, 172 came with New England and the last 27 with the Browns.
“I didn’t even know about that until somebody told me,” he said. “It’s a blessing to be able to be in the league that long and play that many games.”
McGinest is 36 years old and in his 15th season. He won three Super Bowls in New England.
“To meet and play with and play against some of the top players in the world has been something special, always a dream of mine,” he said. “I’ve been able to meet and play for some of the best coaches who’ve ever coached the game and continue to do it at a high level.”
McGinest said in the offseason this will likely be his final year, but he said this week he’s only thinking about the Steelers.

Scramble drill

Offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski was forced to scramble Sunday when Stallworth was a late scratch against the Cowboys. Chudzinski said he’d never been in that situation before.
“It was fast and furious there right before the game,” he said. “We went and marked up the game plan quite a bit.”
Contact Scott Petrak at 329-7253 or spetrak@chroniclet.com. 

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