Miami- Mike Doss can't deliver any messages to the Chicago Bears. Knee surgery in October ended his season.
But he has a message for the Browns.
"Tell [General Manager] Phil Savage if he doesn't sign me in free agency, he'd be making a big mistake," Doss said Thursday at the Indianapolis team hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
The Colts' safety is in the final year of his contract. A calf injury in training camp sidelined Doss and gave rookie Antoine Bethea an opportunity. Doss stepped back into the lineup when All-Pro safety Bob Sanders was hurt and played well until tearing his anterior cruciate ligament on Oct. 22 against Washington.
Doss said he'd like to be reunited with Browns defensive back coach Melvin Tucker, his coach at Ohio State during the 2002 season when the Buckeyes won the national championship.
"Playing in a dome is clean and nice," said Doss, who starred at Canton McKinley. "But back home, in the rain, the sleet, the snow, the lake effect, that's real football to me."
Doss, who expects to be healthy for spring minicamps, said he hopes Savage makes room not only for him but for Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith.
"Troy told me before he left Ohio State his name would be bigger than mine, and it is," said Doss. "We've talked about both going to Cleveland together to play for the Browns."
Although Savage has collected players with ties to Northeast Ohio, he might not bite on Doss in free agency because of young safeties Sean Jones and Brodney Pool. The Browns also are debating whether to re-sign free agent Brian Russell.
