Bengals running back Rex Burkhead cashing in on opportunity

HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 24: Rex Burkhead #33 of the Cincinnati Bengals looks for room to run between Benardrick McKinney #55 of the Houston Texans and Jadeveon Clowney #90 at NRG Stadium on December 24, 2016 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

By Jay Morrison - Staff Writer

December 29, 2016
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CINCINNATI

It took four years and a fast friend’s bad break for Rex Burkhead to finally get his chance to show what he can do as an NFL running back.

And that patience, along with his production, is about to pay off with Burkhead set to enter free agency after the Cincinnati Bengals wrap up the season Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens.

“I’m really not getting caught up in what’s going to happen after the season, as far as free agency goes,” Burkhead said. “I’m just really focusing on my assignments and doing my best.

“It is tough,” he added. “I’ll admit, sometimes in your mind you’re thinking ‘what if this happens, what if that happens or what not,’ but you try not to think about it. Because you can only do one thing, and that’s control what you do out on the field.”

Since Giovani Bernard tore his ACL on Nov. 20 against Buffalo, Burkhead has been the team’s most effective rusher.

In the last five games, Burkhead has 186 rushing yards, which is only slightly less than Jeremy Hill’s 217 despite the fact Hill has carried 87 times to Burkhead’s 41.

Saturday night in Houston, Burkhead had a career-high 12 carries for 42 yards while Hill rushed seven times for 8 yards. Burkhead’s longest run of the game was 9 yards on the final play from scrimmage, setting up 43-yard field goal attempt to win the game, which Randy Bullock missed.

“I wish I could have done more, maybe scored a touchdown there or something, but I just tried to put the team in position to win and it didn’t happen for us,” Burkhead said. “It felt good getting into a rhythm for sure. The more plays you run, the game slows down for you. It felt good to get those carries and be running around out on the field. It doesn’t have to be a carry. It can be a catch or just pass pro. Once you start playing more and get into a rhythm, it helps you out.”

Burkhead, who also leads the Bengals with 12 special teams tackles, could see his role increase further Sunday against the Ravens with Hill missing practice the last two days with a knee injury.

Limited to just 13 carries and 17 receptions in his first three years after the Bengals took him in the sixth round out of Nebraska, Burkhead surely has increased his value over the last month and a half.

“I feel like I have, but I also feel like there’s a lot more I can do,” he said. “I feel like I’m just getting started and hopefully can do more down the road. I haven’t had these opportunities in the past. I’m definitely sad for Gio and his situation but still excited for my opportunity. It’s been fun. I’m enjoying it as much as I can and just trying to relish it.”

The question for the Bengals heading into the offseason isn’t whether Burkhead is capable of contributing, it’s if there is room for him in a backfield with Hill and Bernard.

“I don’t know that answer,” Burkhead said. “I don’t think that’s a question for me.”

The Bengals may not know the answer either, given that Hill, who will be entering the final year of his contract in 2017, has struggled since rushing for 1,124 yards as a rookie with a 5.1 average. And any time a player like Bernard is dealing with ACL rehab, there is an uncertainty about how quickly he can recover and whether he will be the same back once he does.

Regardless of what the future holds for Hill and Bernard, Burkhead knows Sunday could be his last with the Bengals.

“It really hasn’t crept into my mind yet,” he said. “I’m just kind of focusing on my assignments right now and what I’m supposed to do this week. I’m sure right when the game ends, though, I’ll probably be thinking about it.”

Cleveland Browns DL Jamie Meder came up hard way, remembers Ashland roots

Cleveland Browns defensive linemen Jamie Meder (98) and Danny Shelton (55) celebrate after a win over the San Diego Chargers on Saturday in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

By Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer

December 27, 2016

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- There was a ding on Lee Owens' cellphone. The Ashland University football coach clicked on a message from a friend, a link to the New York Times.

"It was Jamie," said Owens. "There was a picture of him in the New York Times!"

Jamie is Jamie Meder, the Browns defensive lineman who blocked a fourth-quarter field goal in Saturday's 20-17 victory over San Diego.

Meder was one of the stars in the team's first victory of the season, helping them avoid a winless season and all the grief that would accompany it.

"The Pierogi Prince of Parma," is what Browns All-Pro tackle Joe Thomas affectionately called Meder.

After the game, Thomas said Meder "is a man after my own heart ... he is a guy who has fought his way from the bottom to make a huge impact on this team."

Part of the reason Meder is in the NFL is Lee Owens.

Meder was a good player at Parma's Valley Forge High School, but needed to put his academics in order for college. He attended Cuyahoga Community College for a semester, then enrolled at Ashland.

A Division II football program, Ashland has been successful because Owens and his coaching staff find players who are missed by larger colleges.

For example, Meder could have attended a junior college with a football program. From there, he probably would have been recruited to play at the Division I level.

"There's no doubt about that," said Tim Rose. "The first time I saw him, I knew Jamie had Division I talent."

Rose is Ashland's defensive coordinator. He coached at the Division I level for 29 years, including six season as the head coach at Miami of Ohio.

Meder wanted to go Ashland because Owens had recruited him in high school and had waited for him to raise his grades at CCC.

"After he enrolled, we had a workout with him," said Rose. "It was just speed, strength, agility. He had it all. He was a wrestler, and that really helped his footwork."

TRUE TO HIS SCHOOL

Owens made sure Meder was set up with study tables and tutors so he'd make the grade in college.

"We wanted to make sure Jamie graduated," said Owens. "Only once did I have to get on him hard about school. It was right before his first college game. He missed a couple of classes. He was supposed to start, but I sat him out a quarter."

Harsher penalties would have followed, but Meder got the message.

He played four years at Ashland and was a Division II All-American as a senior.

"Unlike some kids who have a shot at getting drafted, Jamie didn't leave school early," said Owens. "He made sure he stayed and graduated. He worked out hard with us."

In scouting reports after his senior season, Meder was measured at 6-foot-2, 293 pounds. His 40-time was listed at 5.05 by NFL.com.

CBSsports.com's Dane Brugler had him rated as the No. 33 defensive tackle in the 2014 draft. Profootball Weekly's Nolan Nawrocki labeled Meder "a priority free agent."

Owens was an assistant coach at Ohio State (1992-94) and then the head coach at the University of Akron (1995-2003). He kept telling scouts about Meder.

"In the end, I think they couldn't get past the fact Jamie was at Division II," said Owens. "They didn't get to see him on tape against teams such as Ohio State or Alabama."

Owens said once Meder played a season at Ashland and showed his talent, "he could easily have transferred to a D1 school, sat out a year and then played. But that's not Jamie. He is a loyal guy."

FINDING THE RIGHT TEAM

After his senior season, Owens suggested Meder meet with Cleveland-based agent Neil Cornrich.

It was an excellent pairing. Cornrich found Meder to be "a great guy, quiet, hard-working. He's so humble."

After Meder was ignored in the draft, Cornrich talked to several teams. Baltimore defensive coordinator Dean Pees was intrigued by Meder. So was General manager Ozzie Newsome.

Meder signed with Ravens, made it through rookie camp and opened the season on Baltimore's practice squad.

Meder was cut by the Ravens on November 10, 2014. One of the good moves by former Browns general manager Ray Farmer was to sign Meder the day after he became available.

Meder has slowly worked his way into the Browns defensive line scheme. He played in one game in 2014, and then appeared in all 16 games last season.

He has played in all 15 games this season, starting 14 times. He is now 308 pounds, and definitely will have a nice pro career if he stays healthy.

GIVING BACK

Owens gushes about how Meder consistently stays in contact with Ashland.

He has attended some spring games. He has appeared in a video for the school.

"He has signed lots of autographs. He does all the right things," said Owens.

At Valley Forge, Meder finished second in the state as a high school wrestler.

Rose talks about Meder having "a certain spirit. He was a high school wrestler and he has that relentless wrestler's mentality."

Owens has been the head coach at Ashland for 13 years. His record is 98-44 and four times he's led the Eagles to the D2 playoffs. Owens relies on players from Ohio. His quarterback is North Royalton's Travis Tarnowski, who has set a school record for touchdown passes.

"It's great to see what Jamie is doing with the Browns because he's a great fit for Cleveland," said Owens. "He's earned everything. He loves playing here. We're so proud of him."

Jamie Meder named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week

By Zac Jackson

December 28, 2016

Browns defensive tackle Jamie Meder was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his blocked field goal last Saturday that preserved a lead and led to the Browns getting their first win of the season.

Meder blocked a field goal by Chargers kicker Josh Lambo with 3:49 left, and Lambo then missed another field goal as time expired. There was much rejoicing as the Browns improved to 1-14.

Meder, who grew up near Cleveland, is in his third year with the team and has played in 14 games this season. He broke into the league with the Ravens in 2014 as an undrafted free agent out of Div. II Ashland.