5 year-old cancer survivor scores touchdown with Browns on Family Night

The Cleveland Browns held their "Family Night" during practice at FirstEnergy Stadium Saturday and capped off the evening with Ryan Encinas, a 5-year-old cancer survivor, taking a hand-off from quarterback Brandon Weeden and running 50-yards for a touchdown with Trent Richardson leading the way.

With a few tons of blockers ahead and the weight of cancer treatment behind him, the tough five-year-old — wearing an over-sized Browns helmet and a No.1 with the name "Encinas" on the back of his jersey —clutched the football and ran for the goal line in front of a crowd of 24,134 fans cheering every emotional step.

From his parents view:

The youngster got caught up in the the excitement of the moment, and lost in the canyons of 300-pound linemen,  and prematurely spiked the ball around the 30-yard line before head coach Rob Chudzinski picked up the loose ball and handed it back to his little running back.

As Ryan crossed the goal line, he was lifted onto the shoulders of linebacker Craig Robertson and congratulated by the entire team in the end zone.

“That was cool,” Weeden said. “When Chud told us we were going to do that in team meetings, I was pumped about it. That was a cool deal. The kid is 5-years-old and he's been through a lot. I do a lot of stuff back home with Children's Hospital, so every time something like that happens, it brings a lump to your throat.”

Good play call, guys.

[Browns.com]

Former Browns player Ausar Walcott claims self-defense in attempted murder case

Former Cleveland Browns linebacker Ausar Walcott is arguing that he was acting in self-defense when he nearly killed a man during a fight last month, according to The Record.

A lawyer representing the 23-year-old Walcott said in court filings that the former Hackensack, N.J. football star and a group of friends were surrounded by 10 to 20 men outside the Palace Gentleman's Club in Passaic during the early morning hours of June 23. The men made various threats, and punched one of Walcott's friends "for no reason at all", the papers argue.

Walcott eventually punched Derrick Jones, injuring him so badly that he in critical condition in a New York City hospital for two weeks, according to police.

The Browns, with whom Walcott had recently signed as a free agent linebacker, released him shortly after he turned himself in on an attempted murder charge days after the incident.

State Superior Court Judge Raymond A. Reddin in Paterson reduced the cash-only bail to $85,000 from $500,000.

"I know that the Browns have cut him," Reddin said, adding if the team reconsiders, he wanted Walcott to have the chance to attend training camp.

"I don’t know if they will allow him that opportunity," Reddin said. "But if he had a chance to play in the NFL, I would hate to see him lose that chance if acquitted."

Reddin ordered Walcott not to have contact with the victim or his family. Defense attorney Miles Feinstein must also inform the court if Walcott leaves the state.

Among those who wrote letters of support for Walcott were former coaches, classmates, his agent, the Hackensack Police commissioner and a Hackensack Police detective.

Cleveland Browns rookie charged with attempted murder

Ausar Walcott, a former New Jersey high school football star and recent Cleveland Browns signee, was charged Tuesday with attempted murder for allegedly punching a man outside a bar in Passaic, N.J.,  reported North Jersey.com.

The victim, Derrick Jones, 24, of New York City, remained hospitalized Tuesday in critical condition at Harlem Hospital Center in Manhattan, Passaic Police Detective Andrew White said.

The Browns issued a brief statement Tuesday saying the team was "aware of the situation."

While at the University of Virginia, Walcott was briefly suspended from the football team after he was arrested and charged with assault after a fight near James Madison University,the Washington Post reported. The charges were dropped.

The 23-year-old Walcott was a standout player at Hackensack High School.