NEWS

When it comes to big catches and timely touchdowns, Darnell Dinkins may not be Kellen Winslow or Steve Heiden.

But that's not a problem to Dinkins. No one seems as cognizant of the many roles that need to be filled on a winning team than the five-year veteran and offseason free agent signing of the Browns.

In four NFL seasons (35 games and 8 starts), Dinkins has only 17 receptions for 165 yards. Unlike many NFL players, however, he's not asking for the ball more and insisting on his ability to change the outcome of a game. In fact, he's quite comfortable where he is.

"On every team you can't (only) have a Kellen Winslow, Jeremy Shockey or Todd Heap," Dinkins, who now has played with all three of those premiere tight ends, said. "To win the Super Bowl, you need consistent hard workers like (Steelers linebacker) James Harrison, your special teams guys from around the league and your role-players like (tight end Jeremi) Toomer from Pittsburgh. They're not going to get all the limelight, but they're going to go out there and help the team win."

But that's not to say Dinkins wouldn't take the ball more if it were thrown his way. During the first week of training camp, he split two Browns' safeties and streaked down the middle of the field for a 60-yard touchdown.

It's this sort of versatility that keeps Dinkins on the radar of his coaches.

"If I get more balls, that's great, if I don't get a lot of balls, that's great too," he said. "The main thing at the end of the day, nobody is going to care how many passes I catch. If we win, make the playoffs and win the Super Bowl, that's all people are really going to care about."

"I might get a catch in a game and not get another catch for 3 or 4 games. At the end of the day, it's about staying consistent. When my number is called I hope to come up and make a big play."

Dinkins didn't have the easiest path to the NFL. A college safety at Pittsburgh, he played a season at quarterback with the semi-pro Pittsburgh Colts and then played for the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe before landing a spot with the New York Giants as a backup tight end.

After two years with the Giants, he was released during training camp in 2004. He signed to the Baltimore Ravens practice squad in October before being called up to the active roster four weeks later.

He signed with the Browns on March 19, 2006 after two seasons as a Raven. The Browns hope he will be a significant contributor on special teams and as a blocker.

So far, he said head coach Romeo Crennel's training camp fits his style.

"It's been physical," Dinkins said. "That's what you need. You play in the AFC North. What do you expect? You have the Steelers, Cincinnati, the Ravens - physical teams. If you can't get it done here, you won't be able to get it done on Sunday.

"This is a league where you have a tendency to baby some of the bigger-name guys and not be as stern on them. Coach Crennel and coach (Maurice) Carthon, one thing they do is stay on everybody and make everybody work out here."

Now, in a day and age when a lot of players are demanding the playing time and chances to make big plays, Dinkins is content playing a role and making an impact through unsung roles - ones that may not get him headlines, but may garner his teams success.

"I'm a team player," he said. "I really want to go out there and knock someone into the ground. Let me block against the Steelers or Ravens and get down and dirty with some guys. I don't need the glitz and glamour. As long as my teammates and coaches respect me, I don't care what everyone else is saying