Submitted by admin on Sun, 2006-12-03 08:00. ::
There have been so many new experiences for Kamerion Wimbley, routines and responsibilities amid a contentment he could have only imagined eight months ago.
"There are a lot of new adjustments," Wimbley said four days ago. "You think you know what it's going to be like, but it's still a learning experience. It's great, really. I couldn't be happier."
And then there's the football, too. Wimbley, the former Wichita Northwest star, is in his rookie season with the Cleveland Browns. The 13th pick in April's NFL Draft out of Florida State, Wimbley will make his 11th start in 12 games today against the visiting Kansas City Chiefs and is a contender for defensive rookie of the year.
The adjustments he was referring to, however, had nothing to do with playing outside linebacker for the Browns. He was speaking about the title he acquired in July: husband.
Oliver does know a thing or two about marriage, however. So when Kamerion told him about his plans to get married before beginning his NFL career, Oliver did not shy away.
"I asked him if he was sure he wanted to do that now," Oliver said. "I mean that's a lot to take on when you're already taking on so much. But he was adamant that he wanted to. He's a strong kid, and I mean a strong willpower and mind. He is always pushing forward."
That is what Wimbley continues to do. He turned himself into a college prospect at Northwest and then graduated early to leave for Florida State.
At FSU, his work ethic and commitment are still used as a measuring stick. They are traits that allowed Wimbley's draft stock to soar after a late-season injury, earning him a six-year contract worth up to $23.7 million, $9.3 million of which is guaranteed.
Now with the Browns, Wimbley has taken on the task of converting from defensive end to outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme and kept getting better.
Entering today's game, Wimbley has 6 ½ sacks. It was actually 7 ½ until Thursday, when the NFL ruled Wimbley's sack last week was a quarterback rush.
Still, Wimbley ranks among the NFL's top 20 in sacks and second among rookies (Mike Anderson, a fifth-round pick by the Chicago Bears, has eight).
"I'm really enjoying the NFL," Wimbley said. "Coming from Wichita, Kan., it's like a dream still. My goal since the beginning, since little league, was to get here. And then I wanted to make noise loud enough where people back in my hometown will hear about it."
He spent four seasons at Florida State perfecting the defensive end position. The Browns were asking him to become an outside linebacker, one of those new hybrids who can rush the passer, drop into pass coverage and everything in between.
Wimbley knew he had to learn quickly, that the spotlight of being the team's top pick was shining on him. The Browns were last in the NFL in sacks last season, and Wimbley was supposed to make sure that did not happen again.
Yet she had stress of her own, not the least of which was the culture shock of a Florida native living in Cleveland. She was also overseeing the dog kennel business Kamerion started in Florida and coordinating everything with the couple's new home outside Cleveland.
Things have settled down for the Wimbleys now. Kamerion said the new position, even dropping into pass coverage, has begun to feel like second nature. Wimbley's two sacks at Oakland in the Browns' first win of the season helped endear him to his fans and teammates.
Oliver will tell anyone it's no coincidence that big performance came a week after Oliver traveled to Cleveland for a 15-14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
"That was a tough loss, but it was great to see Kamerion play," he said. "I had the chance to go to other NFL games before, but I always told people I would wait until one of my sons was playing. And that's what I did. He looked really at home out there."
The real expert, Browns coach Romeo Crennel, agrees. Wimbley is becoming a complete player. Of the 19 guys with more sacks, only nine top Wimbley's 39 total tackles.
"Each week, Wimbley is improving and progressing," Crennel told reporters recently. "We feel good about where he is. The pass rush that he is able to give, we like that."
He believes plays he has just missed -- he abused a blocker to get his hands on Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger two weeks ago, only to have Roethlisberger muscle a short pass for the game-winning touchdown -- this year will turn in his favor.
"I think about that Biggie Smalls song, 'Mo' Money, Mo' Problems,' " Wimbley said. "It's the truth sometimes. You hear from people you haven't talked to in a long time. They don't understand I'm thinking about my kids someday and a lot of other things. It's not just me."
"I tell you, I really like Cleveland," he said. "They have great fans here, a lot of blue-collar workers who expect a lot of hard work from their football team. There are similarities to Wichita.
"I really think this team has upside, too, that we have young pieces and are just trying to put the puzzle together. I'm excited about that, and I'm excited about Cleveland. It feels like home already."
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