Benjamin to practice punt returns

SPORTS SHORTS

Travis Benjamin might not get the chance to do it in a real game for a long time, but the manwho holds the Browns team record for punt return yardage in a game vows to keep fielding punts in practice until he gets it right.

“I still have the confidence,” he said in the locker room on Oct. 6. “Every day, until I get better at it, I’m going to practice and catch punts, at least 100 punts a day.”

Benjamin muffed a punt in Tennessee on Oct. 5, and the Titans recovered with 1:25 left in the third quarter. The Titans led, 28-13.

Fortunately for the Browns, the play didn’t count because of a Titans penalty.

Benjamin let a punt in the Baltimore game float over his head after signaling for a fair catch. He should have caught it around the 20. Instead, the Ravens downed the ball at the 7. The Browns punted without making a first down.

Benjamin did not get another chance in the Tennessee game. Jordan Poyer replaced him when the Titans had to punt after the penalty. Poyer fielded the free kick after the Browns got a safety in the fourth quarter.

Benjamin returned a punt 93 yards for a touchdown against Kansas City in 2012 and 79 yards against Buffalo for a touchdown last year. In the Buffalo game, he set a Browns record with seven returns for 170 yards.

This year: three returns for a 0.7 yard average.

“In Travis’ case – I said it yesterday – (he) clearly has confidence issues with catching punts, but certainly doesn’t have them catching passes the way he was able to compartmentalize that and put the negative behind him and not let that affect him,” Browns coach Mike Pettine said.

Benjamin caught two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter after his muff.

“Me and (special teams coach Chris Tabor) have this connection,” Benjamin said. “Everyone makes mistakes. It’s still the beginning of the season, and it’s 16 games. I know that by the end of the season, I will score a punt return touchdown.”

Benjamin suffered a knee injury midway through 2013. He won’t use that as an excuse for his punt returning problems and points to his eight catches for 117 yards and two touchdowns as evidence. Bench time for Gilbert

Rookie first-round draft choice Justin Gilbert is losing playing time to undrafted rookie cornerback K’Waun Williams. Gilbert was on the field for only nine snaps vs. the Titans. Williams played 36 snaps.

Gilbert’s playing time has steadily diminished.

He played 59 snaps (83 percent) against the Steelers, 47 snaps (67 percent) vs. the Saints and 14 snaps (21 percent) vs. the Ravens. His nine snaps vs. Tennessee were just 13 percent of the snaps.

“We haven’t given up on Justin. But it’s something (where) he has some stuff he’s just got to work through at practice and get the point where he can trust the coaching and trust his technique,” Pettine said. “We’ll get him back out there.”

Joe Haden has a hip injury. His status for the Pittsburgh game Sept. 12 “is up in the air,” Pettine said. Because of that, the Browns might be forced to use Gilbert more. No laughing matter

The CBS cameras caught rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel laughing on the Browns sideline after the Titans took a 28-3 lead. Prac- tice squad quarterback Connor Shaw was standing next to Manziel.

Shaw did not laugh along and, judging by his body language, seemed uncomfortable with whatever made Manziel laugh.

The quick camera shot provided a hot topic for talk radio on Oct. 6, but Pettine said he is not upset with Manziel.

“Down, 28-3, the way we were playing, I think probably you could term it laughable, but I don’t know the context of it,” he said.

The laughing episode had nothing to do with it. But Manziel did not play against the Titans. Dance goes viral

A celebration dance in the Browns’ locker room posted on defensive end Phil Taylor’s Instagram account has become an internet sensation.

The short clip features quarterback Brian Hoyer and left tackle Joe Thomas. Teammates joked about their dancing abilities.

“They have pretty groovy moves,” Benjamin said. “Back in the ’80s, ’90s moves.”

“I think Joe can be helped but I don’t know if Hoyer can,” running back Ben Tate said.