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BEREA, Ohio -- William Green's teammates refuse to give up on the fallen running back.
On a day they would normally be discussing the rival Pittsburgh Steelers, several Cleveland players expressed concern and offered support to Green.
"I don't hope -- I know he's going to make it," defensive tackle Gerard Warren said Thursday. "He's a strong guy. He's a fighter. He's been fighting his whole life. Adversity and tragedy, this isn't the first time he's faced this stuff."
In the past three weeks, Green was stabbed in the back, arrested on drunken driving and marijuana possession charges, suspended for one game by the Browns and banned for four games by the NFL for violating the league's substance abuse program.
"I try to tell him every man's a grown man," Warren said. "You have to walk your own path. But if there's anything I can do to help him out, I'm always there for him."
Green's fiancee, Asia Gray, was charged with stabbing him in their Westlake home Wednesday. She pleaded innocent Thursday to assault and domestic violence charges and, if convicted on both counts, could face two to eight years in prison. They have two young daughters.
Green, who turns 24 next month, was wounded under his left shoulder blade during a fight Wednesday, police said. He told police he was carrying a load of trash when he slipped on some stairs and was cut. His lawyer, Brian Downey, said the player was released from the hospital later that night after getting three stitches.
William Green violated the terms of his four-game suspension under the NFL's substance abuse policy the night before he was stabbed, reportedly because he consumed alcohol.
Gray was ordered held on $18,500 bond. She is charged with assault and domestic violence, and if convicted on both counts could face two to eight years in prison.
"She was in another room when it happened and she called for help," said her attorney, Henry Hilow. "It's also important to note that she took him to the hospital."
Judge Maureen Gravens prohibited her from having any contact with Green.
Just three weeks ago, Green appeared in the same courtroom after he was arrested on charges of drunken driving and marijuana possession. He is under suspension for violating the NFL's substance-abuse program.
Earlier Wednesday, Gray made an emergency call to police saying Green cut himself. Green later told police he was injured when he fell down stairs.
"It's sad that he was involved in a situation like that," Browns coach Butch Davis said. "Certainly his teammates and coaches are glad it was not more severe."
Police responded to the 911 call from Gray, who requested an ambulance for Green. But Gray had taken Green to the hospital by the time the emergency vehicle arrived.
Police wouldn't say what the fight was about or what Green was stabbed with.
Green was arrested Oct. 27 after police said they spotted him driving erratically. Police said he failed a field sobriety test and a breath test, and had a bag of marijuana in his car.
The NFL suspended Green for four games last week for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. The Browns suspended him for the Nov. 9 game at Kansas City for "conduct detrimental to the team," and the league will count that game as part of its suspension.
Green's emergence in the second half last season helped get the Browns to the playoffs. But because of his off-the-field problems, the Browns, who face the Steelers on Sunday, may be without their leading rusher for the remainder of this season.
"We would love to have him on the football field, but he has some serious issues," safety Earl Little said. "The most important thing right now is getting his life straight. I'm just glad the guy's not dead."
Green is not permitted to be at the team's training facility, and the Browns are not allowed to have contact with him.
Browns president Carmen Policy said the team hopes the league will make an exception and permit the club to help Green deal with his problems.
"The thing he needs most in his life is structure and attachment and an awareness that there are people supporting him," Policy said.
Green has had a troubled life. He was 12 when his father, a former heroin addict, died of AIDS. A year later, his mother died of the disease.
While he was at Boston College, Green twice was suspended for marijuana use. He was the No. 16 overall pick in the 2002 draft despite being the top-rated back in that year's class.
The Browns were aware of Green's past drug infractions when they drafted him. Last year, the club signed him to a five-year contract worth $12 million if he reaches incentives.
On a day they would normally be discussing the rival Pittsburgh Steelers, several Cleveland players expressed concern and offered support to Green.
"I don't hope -- I know he's going to make it," defensive tackle Gerard Warren said Thursday. "He's a strong guy. He's a fighter. He's been fighting his whole life. Adversity and tragedy, this isn't the first time he's faced this stuff."
In the past three weeks, Green was stabbed in the back, arrested on drunken driving and marijuana possession charges, suspended for one game by the Browns and banned for four games by the NFL for violating the league's substance abuse program.
"I try to tell him every man's a grown man," Warren said. "You have to walk your own path. But if there's anything I can do to help him out, I'm always there for him."
Green's fiancee, Asia Gray, was charged with stabbing him in their Westlake home Wednesday. She pleaded innocent Thursday to assault and domestic violence charges and, if convicted on both counts, could face two to eight years in prison. They have two young daughters.
Green, who turns 24 next month, was wounded under his left shoulder blade during a fight Wednesday, police said. He told police he was carrying a load of trash when he slipped on some stairs and was cut. His lawyer, Brian Downey, said the player was released from the hospital later that night after getting three stitches.
William Green violated the terms of his four-game suspension under the NFL's substance abuse policy the night before he was stabbed, reportedly because he consumed alcohol.
Gray was ordered held on $18,500 bond. She is charged with assault and domestic violence, and if convicted on both counts could face two to eight years in prison.
"She was in another room when it happened and she called for help," said her attorney, Henry Hilow. "It's also important to note that she took him to the hospital."
Judge Maureen Gravens prohibited her from having any contact with Green.
Just three weeks ago, Green appeared in the same courtroom after he was arrested on charges of drunken driving and marijuana possession. He is under suspension for violating the NFL's substance-abuse program.
Earlier Wednesday, Gray made an emergency call to police saying Green cut himself. Green later told police he was injured when he fell down stairs.
"It's sad that he was involved in a situation like that," Browns coach Butch Davis said. "Certainly his teammates and coaches are glad it was not more severe."
Police responded to the 911 call from Gray, who requested an ambulance for Green. But Gray had taken Green to the hospital by the time the emergency vehicle arrived.
Police wouldn't say what the fight was about or what Green was stabbed with.
Green was arrested Oct. 27 after police said they spotted him driving erratically. Police said he failed a field sobriety test and a breath test, and had a bag of marijuana in his car.
The NFL suspended Green for four games last week for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. The Browns suspended him for the Nov. 9 game at Kansas City for "conduct detrimental to the team," and the league will count that game as part of its suspension.
Green's emergence in the second half last season helped get the Browns to the playoffs. But because of his off-the-field problems, the Browns, who face the Steelers on Sunday, may be without their leading rusher for the remainder of this season.
"We would love to have him on the football field, but he has some serious issues," safety Earl Little said. "The most important thing right now is getting his life straight. I'm just glad the guy's not dead."
Green is not permitted to be at the team's training facility, and the Browns are not allowed to have contact with him.
Browns president Carmen Policy said the team hopes the league will make an exception and permit the club to help Green deal with his problems.
"The thing he needs most in his life is structure and attachment and an awareness that there are people supporting him," Policy said.
Green has had a troubled life. He was 12 when his father, a former heroin addict, died of AIDS. A year later, his mother died of the disease.
While he was at Boston College, Green twice was suspended for marijuana use. He was the No. 16 overall pick in the 2002 draft despite being the top-rated back in that year's class.
The Browns were aware of Green's past drug infractions when they drafted him. Last year, the club signed him to a five-year contract worth $12 million if he reaches incentives.
