Hawkeyes in the NFL: Matt Roth even scares his teammates

A good read here from Tom Withers of Associated Press on Cleveland Browns linebacker Matt Roth, who has found a home in Ohio after being cast adrift by the Miami Dolphins last season.

An excerpt:

Roth is the Browns' resident tough guy, whose mission on the field is to hit anything in front of him. In last week's win over Cincinnati, Roth matched a career high with two sacks, the last coming when he relentlessly chased down Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer.

Needless to say, the 6-foot-4, 275-pound Roth, claimed by the Browns last November year after four-plus seasons in Miami, is a bit of a character. Some of his teammates think he's funny. Others think he's a little crazy. There's no debating that he's a physical force. ...

"I'm scared of him," joked Pro Bowl tackle Joe Thomas, "and he's one of my friends."

Charles Godfrey of the Carolina Panthers shares the NFL lead in interceptions with three. Godfrey has learned from six-time Pro Bowler Ed Reed of the Baltimore Ravens.

In this story on panthers.com, Godfrey talks about his teachers.

"I talked to Bob Sanders a little bit, but Ed Reed is one of my main mentors," Godfrey said. "I did a Vince Young camp in Houston (prior to the 2009 season), and I met Ed there. He's a real nice guy. He said he watched me in college and liked my game.

"I'm not afraid to ask for help, so I said, ‘Let's exchange numbers.' I called him, and now we talk every week."

Reed, a six-time Pro Bowler with the Baltimore Ravens currently on the Physically Unable to Perform list, has 46 interceptions in eight NFL seasons.

"He's one of the best at doing that," Godfrey said. "He critiques me on my game and tells me what I need to do and what I need to work on."

Offensive lineman Marshal Yanda got some credit from Ken Murray of the Baltimore Sun for helping the Ravens win at Pittsburgh last Sunday. This, from the Sun's Ravens blog.

Marshal Yanda, who has shuffled back and forth between guard and tackle during his four years with the Ravens, did a terrific job preventing Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley from reaching Joe Flacco on Sunday.

Not only did Yanda hold Woodley without a sack, he held him to one quarterback hurry. Woodley, who had two sacks, 10 tackles and a forced fumble in a win over the Ravens last December, contributed just five tackles Sunday.

"Woodley's a great player and I had to work my butt off every time I was blocking him," Yanda said. "I just tried to stay to my fundamentals, my technique, and I think as a group, we did a really good job.