BEREA: Browns rookie cornerback Charles Gaines loves a good challenge, so when defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil gave him an ultimatum two months ago demanding he lose weight, the sixth-round draft pick knew he would respond well.
Gaines lost about 20 pounds in about three or four weeks, rehabilitated a hamstring injury that led him to injured reserve with a designation to return and now he’s on the verge of making his NFL regular-season debut Sunday when the Browns (2-7) visit the Pittsburgh Steelers (5-4).
“The real wake-up call was when Coach Jim O’Neil just called me out in front of the whole defense and told me, ‘Since you’re on IR right now, when you come back, if you ain’t in shape or you didn’t lose weight, you ain’t going to be here,’ ” Gaines said.