NFL News Roundup for Friday June 12

Browns‘ coach Eric Mangini kept his team outdoors during a steady rain for two hours at his first practice of mandatory minicamp this morning. Even players rehabilitating injuries and not on the field with the team rode stationary bikes or worked with trainers in the rain. “It’s football. It’s rain. You’ve got to work in it, got to understand it,” Mangini said. “We’re always trying to have players’ safety first. Rain is something we’ll have to deal with. I think the more educated they are, the better they are on how to avoid injures.”
WR Braylon Edwards sat out the first day of mandatory minicamp Thursday with an unspecified injury, but he said it’s nothing serious. Coach Eric Mangini also said Edwards will be fine for the start of training camp in late July or early August. Edwards said he was “slightly” injured at some point this off-season, but “I’m physically fine for the most part. Coach Mangini is taking precaution, so I’m just enjoying my time right now, doing some things on the side and following coach’s orders.”
49ers RB Frank Gore is a big fan of Jimmy Raye’s offense. “With (Mike) Martz, we were more finesse, throw the ball deep, get outside,” Gore said. “This is more running with my shoulders squared up, a lot of power, a lot of downhill plays.” He’s delighted to be reunited with his old running mate, fullback Moran Norris, who spent two years with the 49ers before moving to the Lions last year. “I love it,” Gore said. “As a team, we’re trying to be physical, and that’s what he is.”
When asked if he thinks Brett Favre can still be a “great” quarterback Vikings coach Brad Childress said “Don’t know. Don’t know. Stay tuned”. In an interview with KFAN Radio on Wednesday, Childress said he’s “anxious to see just exactly what he’s got left in that cannon.” Childress also acknowledged he made a phone call to Brett Favre last week.
Buccaneers QB Byron Leftwich is nursing what’s been described as a very minor groin strain and was forced by the coaching staff to sit out today’s practice. “I could have went today,” Leftwich said. “That’s Raheem and them. You have to talk to them. They shut me down. . . I just tweaked my groin a little bit.” Leftwich said he would be ready to go during next week’s minicamp. His absence Thursday opened the door for more meaningful reps for Josh Freeman and Josh Johnson.