Barton's season in jeopardy

By Don Delco
NoLogoNeeded.com staff writer

As if the Cleveland Browns needed any more bad news. Remember when Browns linebacker Eric Barton was helped off the field last Sunday aginast hte Bears?

Apparently he "was informed by a spine specialist at The Cleveland Clinic that he had a bulging disc between the C3 and C4 vertebrae." That's near the neck. His season is in jeopardy.

ESPN's Chris Mortenson has the breaking news here.

The Browns linebacking corps was already weak. Not only did they lack talent, but D'Qwell Jackson is out of the remainder of the season. Barton and Jackson were the lone bright spots, especially in run defense.

It's only getting worse.

Of the linebackers that remain, the Browns have:

•Kamerion Wimbley — A former first-round pick that has seriously underperformed.

•David Veikune — An undersized rookie from Hawaii.

•Kaluka Maiava — An undersized rookie from USC.

•David Bowens — A 10-year veteran whose best days have passed him by. (See: McGiniest, Willie)

•Alex Hall — A second-year player that is raw with flashes of talent mixed with a steady stream of inexperience.

•Blake Costanzo & Jason Trusnik — Solid special teamers who have no business starting on a defense.

  November 03, 2009 at 4:08 PM