...is one of the Browns' most popular players inside the locker room because of his humor and personality. As the club makes its playoff push, the 26-year-old Robertson also has become the quarterback of the defense in the absence of fellow inside linebacker Karlos Dansby. He made all the calls, playing a season-high 71 snaps, in the Browns' 26-24 victory in Atlanta last Sunday. Robertson earned unsolicited praise from coach Mike Pettine for his performance against the Falcons, the latest evidence of a bounce-back season for the third-year pro.


View full sizeBrowns linebacker Craig Robertson with his infant daughter, Lexi, born Sept. 24.Craig Robertson

In recent weeks, he's deflected a punt in a Nov. 2 win over the Buccaneers and supplied a tone-setting interception four days later in Cincinnati as the Browns stunned the Bengals, 24-3. Robertson will continue to make the calls and checks on defense until Dansby returns from a sprained knee.

"We're just happy that we have a guy who's been a productive special teamer for us and has had the ability to come in and give us quality reps in a linebacker rotation," Pettine said. "Just due to his character and professionalism and how he prepared himself, when we had the injury to Karlos, he was able to step up and perform at a high level."

For an admitted "class clown," Robertson takes a serious approach to all his life's pursuits.

He earned his masters in programming from North Texas in the offseason with designs on obtaining a doctorate degree. He immerses himself in football, excelling in the classroom, serving as an alternate union rep and spending his fall Friday nights at local prep games....

...His parents, Beverly and Craig Sr., stressed the importance of responsibility and education to their two sons. Robertson earned his undergraduate degree as a junior at North Texas and interned in the school's marketing department during his senior year.

His job with Verizon helped Robertson pay for his graduate work. "This is my 13^th year here and I could count on one hand the players who have come back and gotten their advance degrees," said Eric Capper, an associate athletic director for media relations at North Texas. "Craig is such an ambassador for our school. When he worked in our marketing department, he'd go out in the streets and provide such great outreach for us.

"People are just drawn to Craig because of his infectious personality."

Robertson, who earned a graduate degree in program management, plans to pursue a career in college administration. He believes he could be a valuable fundraiser for an institution....

...His value extends beyond the field. Robertson's locker has a gravitational pull with teammates being drawn by the occupant's charisma and caring. He thinks nothing of mentoring Kirksey even though the rookie's progression costs him snaps.

Browns defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil called Robertson a locker room "spark plug" and asked him to address the defense on the eve of a game, an honor usually reserved for older players.

Defensive end Billy Winn said Robertson has leadership qualities similar to former Browns' defensive captain D'Qwell Jackson. But Jackson never could make teammates and coaches laugh the way Robertson can with his jokes, hijinks and energy.
"He's a funny dude," Winn said. "He comes with a lot of different experiences and really paints a picture when he tells you a story.

"But when it's time to get down to business he's the best in the game. He learned from the best, he learned from DQ."
Robertson cannot get enough of football or its atmosphere. He attends high school games at Strongsville, Berea-Midpark and North Olmsted.

"I'm just a sports junkie," he said. "I go watch basketball, baseball, it really doesn't matter. But when it comes to football, (there's) just a special place in my heart for football."

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