INDIANAPOLIS ? Chris "Beanie" Wells says it would be a dream
come true to be drafted by the Browns after playing at Akron Garfield High
School and Ohio State.
Wells is here, at the NFL Scouting Combine, to
prove to skeptical scouts and coaches he has no lingering problems from the toe
injury that forced him to miss the three games in 2008 as a junior at Ohio
State.
Wells is rated by NFL.com as the top
running back in the draft. But the Browns pick fifth and that is higher than
Wells is projected to go. He is expected to be picked before the Browns' turn
comes around again at 36 in the second round.
"That would be beautiful,
to be able to stay home and play," Wells said Friday in the East Lounge of Lucas
Oil Stadium. "But it's a dream already for me to have the opportunity to play in
the NFL. Me playing for the Browns, that would be just blessed."
Wells said the toe injury suffered in the first game made him tentative when
he returned. He plans to run the 40-yard dash and every other athletic test at
the combine; normally, the top-rated running back would wait until his college's
pro day, but Wells wants to prove he can run and prove he's a tough
guy.
"I want to do everything here just to prove to everybody I'm a
competitor," Wells said. "I can go out there, 235 pounds, and I can run with the
little guys. I can run with the best of them."
Wells rushed for 1,197
yards in 10 games and averaged 5.8 yards a carry last fall. As a sophomore in
2007 he rushed for 1,473 yards and 14 touchdowns while averaging 5.8 yards a
carry.
When Wells was a freshman, Ohio State running back Dick Tressel
said Wells reminded him of Jim Brown. The comparison stuck for three
years.
"That was exciting," Wells said. "It's a blessing
and an
honor to even be mentioned in the same sentence with Jim Brown. He's a great
running back and a great ambassador for the sport of football."
Original Story:
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