By Zac Jackson
This report filed August 26, 2001

In two days, the Browns’ roster will be trimmed to 65 players. In a week, it will be down to the final 53.

Let the guessing games begin.

Here’s a safe bet: Tim Couch, Courtney Brown and Gerard Warren will be on the team. Ditto Kevin Johnson, Dwayne Rudd, Daylon McCutcheon, Mike Sellers and a couple dozen or so others.

Here’s a sure bet, but not one to be excited about: Rookie DB Michael Jameson won’t be on the final roster. He’ll instead be on the injured reserve list for the 2001 season after fracturing his leg in Friday’s game at Washington. Jameson will undergo surgery this week.

Here’s a bet to ponder: Rumors of a possible Ty Detmer to Detroit trade are hot. If the deal goes through, the likely quarterback pecking order would be Couch, Kelly Holcomb and Spergon Wynn.

“Back in the springtime I had a conversation with Ty because it had been reported in the newspaper that Detroit was trying to acquire him," Davis said. “We came to the mutual agreement that if he had the opportunity to be a starter somewhere else, and it was good for him and good for us, that we would certainly consider it.

“At this time of the year, everybody is speculating that there are trades all over the league, at every single position. But Ty has great value to this team and for us to consider the possibility of a trade, it would have to be for a great value. He’s too valuable to us to just let him go for something that really wouldn’t help the Cleveland Browns.”

As it stands now, Detmer and Holcomb are dead even in the battle to be Couch’s backup.

“It could be,” Davis said, “that they end up in a tie and it may be that every other week, one would be the number two and one would be the number three.

“They’re both very, very talented and our players have confidence in them.”

Here’s a long shot: A published report Sunday said OT Tony Jones is considering a possible return to football. Jones, a 13-year veteran, signed with the Browns last month but retired after one day of camp.

The report said Jones planned to call Head Coach Butch Davis to discuss things.

“You don’t know because it’s all hearsay right now,” Davis said. “If he calls, I will certainly talk to him and find out. But at this point, more than likely, we’re going to probably stay with the guys we have on the team.”

Here’s a bet that might even scare a compulsive gambler away: The battle for wide receiver spots is about as settled as the situation in the Middle East.

Kevin Johnson and rookie Quincy Morgan have been the starters in the preseason. Dennis Northcutt and JaJuan Dawson have missed the entire preseason with injuries. Dawson was a one hit wonder in last year’s season opener (six catches, 83 yards and a TD) before being lost for the year the next week.

Northcutt, who’s expected to play this week at Carolina, had an up-and-down rookie campaign, but, “when we left Quarterback School (in June), Dennis was this team’s best receiver,” Davis said.

Lenzie Jackson was the star of the show Friday in Washington with two catches for 51 yards and 81 yards in the return game. His play in the preseason has been a bright spot and most observers see him as a lock to make the final roster.

“They’re all fighting, one, to make the team and two, for playing time,” Davis said. “Lenzie has had two good back-to-back games. He’s played well in the return game and he made some outstanding catches.

“He has absolutely been a beneficiary of JaJuan Dawson, Dennis Northcutt and some of those guys being injured. Lenzie has done a very good job and we’re very pleased with the way he’s played.”

Jammi German had three catches for 36 yards Friday and flashed some speed near the end of the game. German’s opportunities have been limited, but he has something that Northcutt, Dawson, Quincy Morgan and Jackson do not—experience.

German, who played for Davis at the University of Miami, spent the last three seasons with Atlanta and saw action in 21 games. Dawson, Northcutt, Morgan and Jackson have a combined 24 games of NFL experience.

Andre King, a seventh-round draft choice and another former Hurricane, had no receptions Friday but totaled 49 punt and kick return yards. King, who’s been a solid performer in training camp, is a definite candidate for a roster spot. He also could be placed on the Browns’ practice squad.

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