Joe Jurevicius Becomes Sixth Cleveland Brown to Suffer Staph Infection in Last 4 Years

Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer is reporting (via PFT) that Browns receiver Joe Jurevicius developed a staph infection several weeks after having knee surgery in January, making him the sixth Browns player in the past four years to have a staph infection.

For Jurevicius, it does not appear serious. He is expected to participate in organized team activities in May and minicamp in June, and the surgery was just a clean-up of the knee, a very common, very minor procedure for NFL players.

But the larger issue of athletes battling staph infections -- and of the Browns' peculiar inability to steer clear of them -- is serious. Jurevicius learned that he contracted the infection in the knee about two weeks after the surgery, and he could have picked it up anywhere, but when it happens over and over again to the Browns, you wonder what in the world is going on.

Previously, center LeCharles Bentley, tight end Kellen Winslow, receiver Braylon Edwards safety Brian Russell and linebacker Ben Taylor all had staph infections while playing for the Browns. Cleveland Clinic infection specialists have visited the Browns' facilities and the team used a special anti-staph agent to disinfect the locker room, weight room and other places where players congregate. And yet another staph infection has struck.