Already a legend, now a Cleveland Brown
BEREA, Ohio -- Armanti Edwards showed up at the Cleveland Browns training facility for a workout earlier this week, hoping for the chance to stick around, a contract and a fresh NFL start.
He was unaware he's an Ohio football legend of sorts, but it didn't take him long to find out. In fact, he wasn't even done with his physical when he heard it from people on the Browns training staff with Ohio State ties.
"I've gotten that a lot," Edwards said Wednesday, smiling like he's starting to understand.
The quarterback at Appalachian State in 2007 when the Mountaineers pulled maybe the most famous college football upset of all time by beating Michigan, Edwards assured with his performance in that game that he'd never have to buy a drink in Boone, N.C. -- or Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State fans printed t-shirts, hats, posters, basically anything they could to commemorate their hated rival suffering such a loss.
"We (saw) everything online," Edwards said.
Until this week, though, Edwards said he'd only heard from Ohio State fans via Facebook. But that tryout went well, and the Browns signed Edwards and have presented him with an opportunity to make an impression while actually playing in Ohio.
The Carolina Panthers traded up in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft to select Edwards, hoping he'd make a successful and productive transition from quarterback to wide receiver and return specialist. It didn't work; he was released earlier this season with just five career receptions and 51 opportunities in the return game, only one of which (an 82-yard reception last season) yielded anything spectacular.
"My best is yet to come," Edwards said, and the Browns are hoping he's right. "To come in and play with the best players in the world while changing positions, that was tough.
"In Carolina I was just waiting on my opportunity and it never came. Here, I'm just hoping to get my opportunity as soon as possible."
Browns Coach Rob Chudzinski was the offensive coordinator in Carolina the last two years. Chudzinski said Edwards "is a talented guy" who can play multiple wide receiver positions, can return punts and has at least some familiarity with the offense the Browns are running.
The Browns losing Travis Benjamin to a torn ACL last week and the overall ineffectiveness of any receiver besides Josh Gordon opened the door for Edwards, and his familiarity with Chudzinski probably helped move him to the top of the Browns free-agent list. Benjamin had been really good in spurts, and his loss will hurt the Browns on both offense and special teams and ends his personal breakout season before the halfway point.
The NFL is full of cruel moments and cruel irony; the Panthers signing of former Ohio State star Ted Ginn Jr. last spring probably sealed Edwards' fate in Carolina. Now, though, comes a second chance he wasn't sure he'd get.
"It's very tough waiting because you don't know if that call is coming tomorrow, in a week or even next year," Edwards said. "It will take a toll on you.
"I just want to come in, get familiar with the scheme and maybe play special teams. I'll fill a role wherever they need me. I just look at it as a new start, fresh beginning, and I want to make a huge impact."
Edwards said he has no problem being remembered for that Michigan win, but he said that wasn't the highlight of his football career. He passed for 74 touchdowns and ran for 64 in his college career.
"That was a great win and I'm very proud of it but a lot of people don't realize I was part of two (FCS) national championships and we only lost two conference games in my four years," Edwards said. "That one at Michigan made history forever. I just try to make the point that many people don't realize the other things we did."
Michigan opens next season hosting Appalachian State. Edwards hopes to be in Cleveland, which isn't a bad drive to Ann Arbor. Maybe he can go there with some new stories to tell.