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Robiskie knows about Cleveland

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BEREA (AP) -- Brian Robiskie still has to carry other players' equipment off the Browns practice field, only now the pay is much better.

Robiskie is back with the Cleveland Browns. Sometimes it feels like he never left. Drafted in the second round with the 36th overall pick in April's draft, he grew up cheering for the Browns as the son of an assistant coach.

Terry Robiskie worked on the Browns' staff from 2001-06, even serving as interim head coach for the final five games of the 2004 season following Butch Davis' resignation. While his father was on staff, Brian Robiskie sometimes served as the team ballboy -- while also setting records at Chagrin Falls High School and then Ohio State.

"It was strange walking into the building and not being a coach's son, not being a ballboy, not being an assistant equipment guy," Robiskie said. "Being a player was definitely a different feeling. But that's been over for a while. I've gotten pretty used to what I'm doing now."

Robiskie hasn't given up all his old duties, since by tradition rookies carry veterans' shoulder pads and helmets off the field. Robiskie doesn't mind. He's focused on more important duties, such as competing for a spot against fellow rookie receiver Mohamed Massaquoi, selected 14 picks after him in the second round.

Based on practice snaps, Massaquoi seems to hold a slight edge over Robiskie, although both rookies are behind veterans Braylon Edwards, Josh Cribbs and Mike Furrey.

Massaquoi started at receiver against the Detroit Lions on Saturday in Cleveland's second preseason game, but was back working with the second team during practice on Tuesday. Robiskie and Massaquoi each had a 24-yard reception against the Lions.

With Donte' Stallworth suspended for the season by the NFL, Cleveland is searching for a receiver to start opposite Edwards. So far, neither rookie has been able to supplant Cribbs, a special teams star who is getting his first real shot on offense this summer.

Browns coach Eric Mangini concedes Robiskie may have hit a wall during training camp, similar to how most rookies deal with their first tour of the NFL.

"I think with rookies, they don't hit the wall, the wall hits them," Mangini said. "It's a tough transition."

Intelligence is a strength for both of the Browns' rookie receivers. Robiskie was a two-time Academic All-American at Ohio State and a finalist for the Draddy Trophy, otherwise known as the academic Heisman. Massaquoi was an Academic All-SEC member at Georgia.

Mangini looked at the rookies' notebooks last week and was particularly impressed with Massaquoi's intricate notes.

"I like to go back and review and retain and put things in my own words so I can better understand how it relates to me," Massaquoi said. "I like to put a more vivid description of what is being said."

Robiskie left Ohio State in the top 10 in career receptions and receiving yards. Massaquoi's 2,282 career receiving yards rank fourth all-time at Georgia, where he was catching passes from quarterback Matthew Stafford, the No. 1 overall pick in April.

Happy to get receiving in place

ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford didn't blame last weekend's poor performance on the absence of his four top receivers.

The No. 1 pick does think having them back will make his life easier.

Calvin Johnson (thumb), Bryant Johnson (ATV crash) and Dennis Northcutt (hand), as well as rookie tight end Brandon Pettigrew (thigh) all missed last Saturday's 27-10 loss at Cleveland. All four returned to the practice field this week.

"It's going to be great to have them back -- you always want to have all of your weapons," Stafford said. "But that's not an excuse for anything that happened against Cleveland. You need to be able to execute no matter who is on the field."

Lions coach Jim Schwartz said he's hopeful all four will play Saturday against the Colts.

"That's a huge part of our offense," Schwartz said. "Everyone knows what Calvin brings us, and we brought in Bryant Johnson and Dennis Northcutt to give us more options in the passing game, and then we drafted Brandon in the first round."

Although the receivers will take some pressure off Stafford and Daunte Culpepper, Schwartz knows they will help the running game.

"There's only so much you can do against the run when you have to account for Calvin Johnson on one side of the field and Bryant Johnson on the other side," he said. "It works hand-in-hand. If the run game is going to get going, it will be because teams have to respect our receivers. The way we're going to get our receivers open is to get the running game going."

Bryant Johnson, who signed as a free agent after playing last season with the 49ers, is excited about playing with Calvin Johnson, who caught 78 passes for 1,331 yards and 12 touchdowns in last year's 0-16 season.

"Calvin is a phenomenal athlete, and he's driven to get better," Bryant Johnson said. "This team has a lot of offensive weapons, and it feels great to be out there with them."

Injuries give Poppinga shot to start

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Brady Poppinga says championship teams need players who care only about winning, not about who gets to stand in the spotlight.

The veteran Green Bay Packers linebacker insists he's one of those guys.

"You can't lose focus on what's truly important, and what's truly important is winning a championship," Poppinga said. "You look at the model, it's the New England Patriots. I think they're one of the most successful teams this decade, that's the model that they've established and worked for them. (They) have a bunch of team guys, whether this guy gets the credit or that guy gets the credit, they don't care. They want to win the Super Bowl."

But don't take that to mean that Poppinga isn't excited about the prospect of leapfrogging a pair of recent high-profile draft picks to open the season as a starting outside linebacker in the Packers' new 3-4 defense.

"It does not mean that I'm not ambitious, and that I'm not giving my very best and I'm not going to go out and strive to be whatever I need to be in order to help this team win," Poppinga said.

For the moment, at least, the Packers need Poppinga to start.

The fifth-year veteran wasn't expected to be in this position coming into training camp, given the competition at outside linebacker. Despite having to make the difficult transition from pass-rushing defensive end to outside linebacker, Aaron Kampman wasn't going to be challenged for a starting job on one side.

And Poppinga had a pair of recent draft picks in front of him on the other side, first-round rookie Clay Matthews III and last year's fourth-round pick, Jeremy Thompson. But Thompson is gradually returning to action after sustaining a stinger, and Matthews continues to sit out with a nagging hamstring injury.

Meanwhile, Poppinga came up with an interception and a fumble recovery in Saturday's preseason victory over Buffalo.

Seahawks sign James

RENTON, Wash. -- Edgerrin James is Seattle's latest aging star running back, less than a year and half after Shaun Alexander was unceremoniously booted out of town.

The league's leading active rusher signed a one-year contract with the Seahawks on Tuesday night. He's being asked to help revive a rushing offense that has been generally dormant since February 2006, when Alexander was the NFL MVP and Seattle was in its only Super Bowl.

Earlier Tuesday night, Seattle waived fellow veteran running back T.J. Duckett to clear roster space.

The deal comes 16 months after Seattle released Alexander, when he was 30.

The 31-year-old James is 11th on the NFL rushing list with 12,121 yards but was benched for the first time in his career last season by Arizona. He is expected to practice for the first time with his third NFL team today.

Merriman says progress is OK

SAN DIEGO -- Shawne Merriman isn't in top form with less than three weeks to go before the regular season -- and he's not worried about it.

The San Diego Chargers' star outside linebacker is still working his way back from knee surgery that sidelined him after the season opener in 2008.

Merriman didn't participate in either practice Tuesday -- the last day of camp with two practices -- but said there's nothing to be alarmed about. He spent part of the afternoon working out in the pool and expects to be back for this afternoon's practice.