DaytonDailyNews.com

CINCINNATI — Quarterback Carson Palmer tossed another log onto the "Battle of Ohio" fire on Wednesday, April 16, just to stoke the rivalry's flames in the offseason.

He saw Cleveland's 2008 schedule and noticed the Browns were awarded a franchise-record five nationally-televised games.

Palmer wondered what the Browns did to deserve all the prime-time exposure.

"I was as shocked as anybody to see that because they're still a ways away from being a ..."

Palmer's voice tailed off.

"They weren't even in the playoffs," he said.

The Browns finished 10-6 in 2007, but lost a wild-card playoff berth to Tennessee when the Titans beat Indianapolis, 16-10. The Colts rested many of their starters.

Nevertheless, the Browns are the newest darlings of the NFL.

"I think it's a lot of hype early," Palmer said. "Just like every year, there's hype around one or two teams early. It'll fizzle out once they start playing games."

Opportunity knocks

Former Oakland and New England wide receiver Doug Gabriel said he entertained offers from Tennessee, Tampa Bay, Buffalo and Miami before Cincinnati came through. He jumped at the opportunity.

"You don't just want to be another guy," he said. "I wanted to be able to contribute. To get an opportunity like I've got here, I'm going to take it. I'll take it over anything."

Playing with Palmer tipped the scale.

"He'll make you a great player," Gabriel said.

Rugby, anyone?

Linebacker Dhani Jones was in London in February, on assignment for the Travel Channel, when he decided to play a new position.

Flanker ... in rugby.

He joined the scrum for Blackheath in a match against Launceston.

Jones, who owns Five Star Ties, a New York-based company specializing in bow ties, simply added to his résumé as a renaissance man.

"I just like to travel and try new things," Jones said. "Rugby's incredible. It's a great sport. When you go overseas, rugby players are admired to the Nth Degree. A lot of NFL players should try it."

Draft watch

Cornerback Leon Hall, the Bengals' first-round draft pick in 2007, is eager for the 2008 draft to unfold.

"I'm definitely interested in how the Bengals are going to do, how they go about the draft and who they're going to bring in," he said.

Hall is rooting for his former Michigan teammate, left offensive tackle Jake Long, who has begun negotiations with Miami as the possible No. 1 overall pick.

"He's really good," Hall said. "I'm not surprised at the situation he's put himself into. He actually has been bigger than he is right now (6-7, 313), which is kind of crazy because he's already huge. Basically, he's just a beast."

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2253 or cludwig@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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