Q: I was just wondering, how does it feel to be named to the Pro Bowl in your rookie season? That must be the best honor (besides winning a Super Bowl) ever! -- Ryan R. from Zanesville, Ohio.

A: I was thrilled to be named to the Pro Bowl.  Making the Pro Bowl was one of my personal goals when I got drafted, but I didn’t expect it to happen after my first season in the NFL.  I had so much fun in Hawaii getting to meet all of the other players who I’ve looked up to and watched play while I was in high school and college. I would give it up in a heartbeat if it meant the Browns could make it to the Super Bowl.  Winning the Super Bowl is the number one goal for our team. 

Q: I was wondering how you decided to become a pro football player. And how long it took you to get in the position your in today.  What should I do to become a good player like you?  -- Brigid B.

A: I have been a huge football fan my whole life.  Since I’m from Wisconsin I grew up a Green Bay Packers fan and it was always my dream to play in the NFL. It took a lot of hard work and dedication to get where I am today.  I’ve been preparing myself for this opportunity for a long time.  You have to make sacrifices to be the best and sometimes that means missing out on some fun things that other kids might be doing.  You need to set short-term and long-term goals and do what ever it takes to reach them.  Never give up.  I also had a plan if I wasn’t able to make a career out of playing football.  The most important thing to do is make sure you study, get good grades, stay out of trouble and make good choices. 

Q: We went to the Miami game this year and got in the stadium early and watched the team warm up.  We saw a crazy fan dressed up in a uniform with your jersey and an orange mohawk.  We even ran into her after the game too.  The next week our dad was watching "Inside the NFL" and told us that crazy lady is your aunt and she drove all the way from Wisconsin to watch you play!  We thought it was neat that we saw her and recognized her on TV.  We drove three hours from West Virginia, but your aunt and uncle had us beat!  Is she planning on coming to any games in 2008?  If she is you should get her Dawg Pound tickets because she definitely would fit in there! -- Kyle S., age 10 & Drew S., age 7, Mineral Wells W.Va.

A: My aunt and uncle are definitely unique, interesting and wonderful people!  They have been supporting me all throughout my college career and I love having them at the games.  They try to come to as many games as they can fit in to their schedule.   Most people don’t know this, but they are professional tri-athletes and compete all around the United States.   

Q: Who was the hardest to block last season? -- Charlie N., Greenville, Pa.

A: I had to go up against many excellent players during my rookie season, but I feel Terrell Suggs from the Baltimore Ravens was the hardest to block.

Q: How old where you when you started working out and lifting weights? -- Joey F.

A: I started working out with weights my freshman year in high school with the football team.  Before that I was mostly doing a strength routine that primarily used my own body weight like lunges, push-ups, pull-ups and core work. 

Q: Coming is as a rookie, who was the nicest player to you?  (And my dad wanted to know how many fish did you caught on draft day?) -- Jack G.

A: Ryan Tucker really took me under his wing as soon as I became a Cleveland Brown.  He is an 11-year veteran and gave me a lot of great advice on how to handle certain situations that would come up and also gave me many tips on technique to help me on the field. We caught four fish on draft day – all brown trout.

Q: I would like to know, what do you expect from your second year after a great first year in the NFL? -- Shay Nicole H., age 8, Delaware, Ohio

A: I expect to get better this upcoming season.  I know what to expect after having a year under my belt.  I want to get bigger and stronger and continue to work on my technique. 

Q: How much of the coaches’ insight do you listen to and how much has it helped you in the NFL? Also do u have a dog? – Michael A. K.

A: I always listen to my coaches.  Coaches always want what is best for us and their insight helps us become better players. I just surprised my wife, Annie, with a black lab puppy for her birthday.  Her name is Madison (after Madison, Wisconsin – home of University of Wisconsin where Annie and I both went to college).

Q: What is the craziest thing you ever did as a kid? -Carter R.

A: I played a prank on my younger sister one time that was pretty funny!  I put a fake snake in her bed while she was sleeping and when she woke up she started crying and was really scared.  I got in big trouble from my parents for scaring her so bad!

Q: I would like to have your opinion on Mr. Savage’s off-season moves: Do you feel that with the signing of Donte Stalworth, and the acquiring of Cory Williams and Shaun Rogers will improve the Cleveland Browns to playoff potential? – D.J. C.

A: I think Mr. Savage is an awesome general manager.  The moves he and Coach Crennel made this offseason will definitely help our team.  I’m not the type of person to make predictions, but I can tell you we are all working hard to get better and we are excited for the upcoming season. 

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