Scott Petrak
The Chronicle-Telegram
BEREA — Veteran running back Jamal Lewis skipped Tuesday, the second day of OTAs (organized team activities). It’s believed he was also absent Monday — reporters were allowed to watch practice Tuesday, but not Monday — although the team wouldn’t confirm because attendance is voluntary.
Lewis, who keeps an intense workout regimen in Georgia, attended the two voluntary minicamps last month but was limited following offseason ankle surgery.
Receiver Braylon Edwards and guard Eric Steinbach weren’t at practice Tuesday, but a spokesman said they were working out inside the facility. He said they were also here Monday, with Edwards doing extra running on a hill outside the building.
“Braylon’s been doing great,” coach Eric Mangini said through the spokesman.
Kicker Phil Dawson remained absent from the workouts. It is believed he wants a new contract, although he hasn’t made any public demands. He has two years left at $1 million a year.
Defensive end Kenyon Coleman, who was acquired from the Jets in a draft-day trade, returned to practice after missing last week’s minicamp.

It’s early

Quarterbacks Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson, who are competing for the starting job, have struggled in the handful of practices open to the media. On Tuesday, both failed again in the two-minute drill.
Mangini said growing pains are to be expected in a new offensive system with new coaches and new teammates.
“They’ve both been making some good progress,” he said. “It’s a group thing. As the routes are run crisper and at more precise depths, some of the throws will improve.
“We’ve thrown a ton of stuff at ’em. It’s high, high, high volume.”
Mangini said Quinn and Anderson have done well processing the information.
“The nice thing about quarterbacks, they’re excited about learning as much as possible, hearing as much as possible,” he said. “They’re always very proactive in trying to get the next day’s install, next day’s script, next day’s situations.”

Camera shy

The Cincinnati Bengals will be featured on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” this summer, a behind-the-scenes look at training camp. Mangini was asked if he’d consider letting the Browns be the subject of the program.
“No,” he said quickly, with an exaggerated shake of the head that lasted for seconds. “The more you can focus on what you’re doing …
“This isn’t a judgment. Just for me personally, I’d rather have less cameras in the meeting rooms.”

Camp a success

Mangini’s football camp for under-resourced kids over the weekend in Hartford, Conn., drew 760 kids from five states. Mangini thanked all the coaches and volunteers who helped.
Mangini asked the Browns rookies to help, and they took a “voluntary” 10-hour bus trip each way. Mangini received some negative publicity for the decision.
“The trip was good. So was the camp,” first-round pick Alex Mack said. “It was really fun.”

Extra points

Long snapper Ryan Pontbriand has less free time during practices under Mangini. Pontbriand is used as the designated snapper during passing drills, a role held by a ball boy in years past.
♦ Former Texans general manager and current CBS analyst Charlie Casserly was at practice.
♦ Receiver Joshua Cribbs made a diving catch over the middle.
♦ Anderson connected with rookie receiver Brian Robiskie on a deep fly against rookie cornerback Don Carey.
♦ Defensive ends Robaire Smith and Corey Williams, rookie linebacker Kaluka Maiava and tight ends Steve Heiden and Robert Royal spent practice with the trainer.
Contact Scott Petrak at 329-7253 or spetrak@chroniclet.com.

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