The Associated Press

BEREA – Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Orlando Brown, unable to play since being hit in the right eye by a referee’s penalty flag in December, was placed on the physically unable to perform list Sunday.

Monday, August 28, 2000

BEREA – Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Orlando Brown, unable to play since being hit in the right eye by a referee’s penalty flag in December, was placed on the physically unable to perform list Sunday.

The expected move means Brown cannot practice or play for the first six weeks of the season. After that, Brown could remain on the PUP list or be placed on the non-football injured reserve list.

Another option is the team could release Brown, who signed a six-year, $27 million free-agent contract before last season.

Brown, a 6-foot-7, 350-pound offensive tackle, suffered the eye injury during a Dec. 19 game against Jacksonville when referee Jeff Triplette accidentally hit him with a penalty flag weighted with BBs.

He has been restricted from running or lifting weights since being injured. Brown has attended practices and meetings, but not traveled with the team for exhibition games.

”Nothing has changed with his status,” Browns coach Chris Palmer said at a Sunday news conference.

Brown shoved Triplette to the ground as he left the field. The lineman said later his reaction came out of fear because his father was blinded by glaucoma.

The league initially suspended Brown indefinitely, but lifted the penalty in late February. Triplette has not been reprimanded.

Brown is considering filing a lawsuit against the NFL and has retained lawyer Johnny Cochran to explore that possibility.

The Browns placed Brown on the physically unable to perform list in July, but the team had to make another decision on his status Sunday because of roster cuts.

The Browns made 18 other roster moves Sunday. Released were tight ends Kyle Allamon and Randy Palmer; linebackers Jeff Kerr, Jason Kyle, Tony McCombs and Ryan Taylor; defensive linemen Bill Duff and Jeff Dyra; wide receivers Damon Dunn and Ronnie Powell; defensive backs Corey Ivy and Tony Maranto; running back Rahshon Spikes; and punter John Ballantyne.

The team also placed running back Madre Hill on the injured reserve list with a neck injury. Linebacker Kendall Ogle was placed on that list with a hip injury and offensive lineman Noel LaMontagne was placed on the reserve-non-football injury list.

Palmer also said the team was placing defensive back Tim McTyer on injured reserve. McTyer has a shoulder injury and Palmer said an MRI would be performed Monday.

Players on injured reserve are out for the season.

One player who survived the cut was running back Terry Kirby, last year’s starting tailback. Kirby came into training camp as the backup to Errict Rhett, but lost that spot to rookie Travis Prentice.

”You (the media), were the only ones who had him cut,” Palmer said of Kirby. ”He has value as a third-down back. He’s done a very nice job and has accepted his role.”

The cuts left the Browns with 10 offensive lineman, 10 defensive backs and 11 defensive lineman, surpluses considering the team only has five wide receivers, five linebackers and two tight ends.

”If you’re going to be heavy in a position, you want to be heavy on the defensive and offensive lines,” Palmer said. ”It’s what’s up front that counts. Big people are hard to find.”

Eleven of the Browns’ 13 draft picks made the club.

Palmer also said the team was scanning the waiver wire to possibly pick up a backup quarterback for starter Tim Couch. Veteran backup Ty Detmer has been lost for the season with a ruptured Achilles’ tendon.

Palmer said one of the players the Browns are considering is quarterback Doug Pederson, waived Sunday by Philadelphia.