If injuries turn secondary's future fuzzy, it might be Furrey to the rescue:
Browns Insider
by Tony Grossi/Plain Dealer Reporter
Tuesday August 25, 2009

BEREA, Ohio -- Remember all that talk in March about Josh Cribbs perhaps adding to his multiple roles as a fill-in at safety?

Well, the receiver now being mentioned as an emergency safety is Mike Furrey.

The discussion came up as a result of Brodney Pool missing his second practice in a row after suffering a possible concussion in the Detroit game. Pool had at least three concussions previously. His absence obviously has a domino effect on the perilous depth at the position.

Mike Adams moved into Pool's starting spot. In the No. 1 dime defense fielded on Tuesday, cornerback Hank Poteat played safety.

Coach Eric Mangini, who force-fed New England receiver Troy Brown into a nickel back role one season, casually mentioned that Furrey has done the same at safety. It was one of those "You're kidding, right?" moments.

Sure enough, Furrey disclosed that he played 11 games at safety for St. Louis in 2005.

With some previous experience in the defensive secondary, Browns receiver Mike Furrey isn't afraid of filling in there in an emergency."I had four picks and one returned for a touchdown," he said. "I still don't know how that happened. Some day I'll reflect on it."
Furrey actually led the Rams in interceptions that year. His touchdown return was for 67 yards. His emergency role came about because the Rams had injuries at safety and had a surplus at receiver. Furrey played two-way football in the defunct Arena League in 2002 and '03.

"My first game at safety was against Indianapolis on Monday Night Football," he said. "It was the game that Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison set the record for career touchdown passes. We took a lead and ended up getting beat, 45-28."

http://www.cleveland.com/brown...urn_secondarys_fu.html

Yeah he had some game changing picks for the Rams back in the day. I've got his Rams jersey in his WR number though. I'd love to see him play both, the Lions really stopped utilizing him after his 97 catch season so he better get some action in Cleveland. Thankfully for Sunday ticket I'll be watching!

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Follow me on twitter (@BYSchwartz).

Brodney Pool has missed quite a few games in his 5 year career due to concussions. I hope it's not severe, they can take their toll.

That TAINT of his helped the Rams beat the Saints IIRC.

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NFL IRONMAN of the week goes to Mike Furrey.

He played WR and Safety as the game is still in Overtime.

And he didn't do bad!!

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Furrey enjoys double duty
Zac Jackson, Staff Writer
10.05.2009

The Browns' secondary had a different look early in the game against the Bengals Sunday.

Mike Adams started at cornerback in place of Brandon McDonald, a short-term move that was noteworthy but not earth shattering. Adams has played just about everywhere for the Browns in his three seasons here.

The next - which came when the Browns went to their dime package - was a little more surprising.

Wide receiver Mike Furrey was in at safety. By the end of the game, Furrey had 4 catches for 37 yards (including a big third-down conversion) on offense and also broke up a crucial pass in overtime playing defense.

"On the first possession it was a little crazy," Furrey said after the game. "But I settled in after that. Maybe I shook the rust off a little bit. It was a lot of fun."

Furrey broke into pro football playing on both sides of the ball in the Arena League and originally broke into the NFL by playing safety. Furrey had 4 interceptions for the Rams in 2005, when he exclusively played defense. The following year he caught 98 passes for the Lions.

He'd never played both sides in a single game before, but he's open to doing it again.

"That's up to the coaches," Furrey said. "Whatever they need me to do."

Mike Furrey is the Cleveland Browns' Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee
By Starting Blocks
December 31, 2009

Veteran Mike Furrey has made a solid contribution to the Cleveland Browns, as one of those rare players who play on both offense (wide receiver) and defense (safety).

It's just his first year in Cleveland, but Furrey has already made quite an impact as an active citizen in the community.

Furrey has been selected as the Browns' nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. Payton, who died in 1999 at age 45 of the liver-related disease primary sclerosing cholangitis, played 13 seasons with the Chicago Bears and is the NFL's second all-time rushing leader. Payton was known for giving time and support to charitable causes.

Furrey, who caught 98 passes for the Detroit Lions in 2006, was selected earlier this month by the Browns as their winner of the Ed Block Courage Award. Click here for a Starting Blocks report on December 12, highlighting Furrey's off-the-field activities, and a WKYC/Channel 3 video of Furrey speaking at the Cleveland Christian Home.

Today's news release from the Browns:

Wide receiver/defensive back Mike Furrey was selected as the Cleveland Browns' 2009 Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee. Renamed in 1999 after legendary Chicago Bears Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton, this honor recognizes a player's off the field community service activities as well as his playing excellence. The three NFL finalists will be announced next week, and each will be present at Super Bowl XLIV in Miami on February 7, 2010, for the announcement of the NFL Man of the Year. The award has been given annually since 1970 and past winners include many of the league's greatest players, 13 of whom are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Since joining the Browns in May, Furrey has made his presence felt both on and off the field. He has volunteered his time with the Cleveland Foodbank, Cleveland Christian Home, Cleveland Clinic Rehab Hospital, NFL Hometown Huddle and numerous school visits, among other community events. Furrey supports the Cleveland Browns Foundation through annual fundraisers including the Browns Foundation Golf Outing. He encourages kids to Play 60 through Browns Fitness Zone installation projects, autographed over one-hundred items that were sent to local auctions/fundraisers, and embraces the Browns Backers Worldwide, the official fan club of the Cleveland Browns. Furrey is the spokesperson for Children's Hunger Alliance and visits schools to speak on the importance of healthy food choices and staying active. Furrey created a game day ticket program to offer incentives for some and retreat from medical treatments for kids and individuals at the Cleveland Clinic Hospital for Rehabilitation, City Mission and the Cleveland Christian Home. Guests attending Browns home games through Furrey's Fanatics program receive tickets, food vouchers, game programs and custom shirts on behalf of Mike Furrey.

On the field, Furrey has picked up starts on offense and defense as a defensive back. He is third on the team with 23 receptions for 170 yards, while also totaling 11 tackles and two passes defensed on defense

Take a bow:

Receiver/safety Mike Furrey is collecting all the league awards given for off-the-field activities.

Furrey was named the Browns' nominee for the 2009 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, a prestigious honor which recognizes a player's community service as well as his performance on the field.

Furrey and his wife, Koren, were involved in several fund-raising efforts benefiting organizations such as the Cleveland Foodbank, City Mission, Cleveland Christian Home and others. Recently, they organized a toy drive within the team that raised $45,500 worth of toys. They were delivered to hospitals, shelters and boys and girls homes in the Cleveland area.

The recognition humbled Furrey.

"To be rewarded for stuff you do in the community is not something you should be rewarded for," he said. "I believe it's something we should be doing every day, but for some reason they have an award and it's an honor to be on that list.

"I totally feel that if you're blessed to be in this league, it's great to give back in the community and help others that might not have that foundation you had growing up."

Three NFL finalists from the list of 32 (one per team) will be announced next week. Each will attend the Super Bowl in south Florida as guests of the NFL and be present for the announcement of NFL Man of the Year the day before the game.

Earlier this year, Furrey was named the team's nominee for the Ed Block Courage Award.

Furrey helps others on and off the field
Matt Florjancic, Contributor to ClevelandBrowns.com
12.31.2009

Wide receiver Mike Furrey has done everything to help the Browns win games this fall, including playing on offense and in the defensive backfield.

Because of the opportunities he has been given, Furrey's main focus away from the Browns Training Facility in Berea and the stadium is being actively involved in community events.

In acknowledgement of his charitable work, Furrey was named the Browns' 2009 Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee on Thursday morning.

"I'm honored to be on that list," Furrey said before practice Thursday. "This is a big award that goes around the league. A lot of people just watch the games on Sundays and don't realize what everybody does during the week, their downtime, their off days and stuff like that.

"I truly feel that when you're in this league and you're truly blessed to be in this league like we are, it's great to get out in the public to get out and serve and help others that might not have that foundation you had growing up," he added. "It's a great award."

Furrey was signed by the Browns on May 9, 2009 and it was a homecoming of sorts for him. Furrey was born in Galion, Ohio and graduated from Hilliard High School. Since signing with the Browns, Furrey has embraced being a part of the Cleveland community.

Furrey has taken part in the Browns' Hometown Huddle project, volunteered at the Cleveland FoodBank, the Cleveland Christian Home, made visits to the Cleveland Clinic Rehab Hospital and has also autographed more than 100 items for local fundraisers and auctions.

He also serves as the spokesperson for the Children's Hunger Alliance, is actively involved with getting kids to make healthy eating choices and exercising and held a Celebrity Bowling Party to benefit The Mike Furrey Foundation and the Cleveland FoodBank in October.

"A lot of things really just fit real well with this community," said Furrey. "We picked up on a lot of things and it's been great."

Furrey helped organize a toy drive on the Tuesday following the Kansas City game. It meant so much for Browns players to help with the toy drive that Joshua Cribbs missed an opportunity to present his jersey to the Pro Football Hall of Fame after setting the NFL record for career kickoff return touchdowns.

The team raised $45,500 worth of toys and delivered them to eight different homes, hospitals and homeless shelters.

Those who know Furrey and his wife Koren are glad to see their charity work get recognized.

"Some of the things that he's done off the field I think are special," said Browns coach Eric Mangini. "Both him and his wife do a lot of work in the community.

"I was really impressed with the toy drive that he put together, filling up a tractor trailer full of toys and getting all the guys involved and being able to distribute them in a lot of different areas around Cleveland," Mangini added. "For such a short amount of time to put something like that together and make it such a nice event is a good indication of who he is and what he believes in and it's year-round for him."