BEREA — Safety Sean Jones had a few things to get off his chest Friday.
He isn’t happy he may lose playing time this week, doesn’t think his play has slipped and said his surgically repaired knee isn’t a hindrance.
“I want to be on the field for every snap,” Jones said. “I’m one of the better safeties in this league and I want to be out there trying to make plays. If I’m not on the field, then I can’t make plays.
“I didn’t know it was an issue until I heard about it on Monday.”
Coach Romeo Crennel told the media Monday that Jones, in his third year as a starter, could lose time to Mike Adams in a rotation. Jones, who said he heard about the rotation in a team meeting, is listed as the starter on the depth chart and doesn’t know for sure if he’ll lose time.
“They said they were going to rotate guys,” he said. “It really wasn’t clear who or when or where. I’m just going to go out there and just play my ball.”
Jones missed four games after having arthroscopic knee surgery in Week 2, and Crennel continues to mention swelling in the knee as hampering his play.
“My knee feels good. There’s no excuse, I feel good out there,” Jones said.
Jones has 41 tackles and a forced fumble in five games, but doesn’t seem to be playing up to his prior standards. He whiffed on an open-field tackle during a 60-yard run by Baltimore’s Ray Rice on Nov. 2 and was carried for 2 yards and a first down on a fourth-and-1 in a loss to Denver on Nov. 6.
Jones had five interceptions in each of the last two seasons but is looking for his first in 2008.
“The picks and everything hasn’t been up like it’s been in the past, but I’ve been playing pretty good, consistent ball,” Jones said.
Despite Crennel’s weekly mentions of swelling, Jones said the knee isn’t a concern.
“I take my career serious. I don’t want to try to injure myself for future games or future years in this league,” he said. “If it was feeling like that, swelling after each and every game, I wouldn’t go out there and play.”
Jones, who’s in the final year of his contract, appeared headed for a big deal in the offseason. The knee injury and possible loss of playing time could hurt his value on the free-agent market and give the Browns a better chance of re-signing him.

Smith denies quitting

The quitting question continues to follow the Browns.
A report on Profootballtalk.com, citing multiple unnamed sources, said defensive end Shaun Smith was one of the players running back Jamal Lewis was referring to when he said some of the Browns quit during the loss to the Broncos.
“I’m no quitter,” Smith said Friday. “My mom always told me there would be haters in your life, you have to keep moving.
“I knew it wasn’t true, so I wasn’t worried about it, it was funny to me. Everybody who’s seen the way I play, they know what it is.”
Smith is the most vocal member of the team and often shouts funny insults at the offensive linemen during stretching before practice. He was perhaps at his loudest Wednesday, hours before the report appeared on the Web site.
He said he didn’t know where the report originated.
“A snitch? Who knows?” he said. “I’ve got thick skin, I’m not worried about that. I’ve got a job to do, stop the run and create some pressure in the pass rush.”

Jerome-mania

Now that quarterback Brady Quinn is starting, running back Jerome Harrison is the fans’ favorite backup.
“I don’t go nowhere no more,” he said. “I don’t go sit down and eat lately because the owner or manager of wherever I’m at is always like, ‘Man, you should play more.’
“I’m like, ‘Telling me ain’t going to help.’ But the fans like me a little bit, you know, so it’s all right.”
Harrison has had a cult following since his rookie year in 2006, when he impressed during the preseason. This year, the popularity has soared as he’s averaged 7.5 yards on 17 carries and 13.7 yards on six catches.
“First of all, I think I’m a very handsome guy and I’m nice and I’m a people person. That’s why they like me,” Harrison said. “And I can play a little bit.”
Harrison, who set a Washington State record with 1,900 rushing yards as a senior, has been answering questions about a lack of carries since he was a rookie. He’s made one start and played in 27 games in three years.
“I’m just going to keep practicing hard and every opportunity I get I’m going to keep on trying to make the best of them,” he said.

Outside the Law

Veteran cornerback Ty Law, who played under Crennel in New England, signed this week with the Jets and played Thursday night. Law had been a free agent and since training camp was continually mentioned as a possibility to join the Browns.
“We talked about it and thought about it,” Crennel said. “But it didn’t work in our system — or our budget, let’s put it that way.”

Injury report

Fullback Lawrence Vickers (ankle) didn’t practice again and is expected to miss his third straight game. He was listed as doubtful.
• Tight end Steve Heiden (back) was added to the injury report. He was limited and listed as questionable. Left guard Eric Steinbach (oblique) was limited but lined up with the first-team offense. He’s questionable.
Contact Scott Petrak at 329-7253 or spetrak@chroniclet.com. 

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