Dawgs By Nature

Recap of Monday's Holmgren / Mangini Presser

2010-03-17T16:48:45Z

I meant to get this up yesterday, as I'm sure by now that many of you have already digested what Mike Holmgren and Eric Mangini stated in Monday's press conference that addressed the trading of Brady Quinn and Kamerion Wimbley. If you'd like to read the full transcript, you may do so here. Otherwise, continue on to see some select quotes and comments.

For simplicity, I am mostly going to provide the quotations made by Holmgren. We all know that what he has to say is typically far more interesting than Mangini's reserved manners. Naturally, then, I'll start off with something from Mangini:

Eric Mangini

(On why he is confident in Jake Delhomme) - "I’ve known Jake a long time. I was the DB coach in New England at the Super Bowl against Carolina. I felt pretty good going into the first half, one of the lowest scoring Super Bowls and I can tell you that last 30 minutes were part of the worst coaching experience I’ve had. The way he lit us up. Then we come back the next year and it’s kind of the same. Over time, he’s been a proven winner. He’s been a consistent winner.

His completion percentage over the years, that’s been consistent as well. I don’t think it’s uncommon for a guy to have a bad year, but when you look at his body of work last year, I know the touchdown to interception ratio, I know what that was and I get that, but there were a lot of good throws on that tape too. There were a lot of winning throws on that tape as well. Guys do go through bad years, but over time, I think as Mike said, he’s been consistent in terms of his level of production and his ability to win games."

Comments: This is what I tried to stress in my article that tried to highlight the positives of signing Delhomme. The Panthers were consistently able to do well under him for the most part. You can attribute that to other areas of the team, but you can't deny that Delhomme played his part. Trying to say that there were a lot of good throws on last year's tape is quite a stretch for optimism though.

Mike Holmgren

(On naming a starter before training camp)- “I would hope or not too long into that we have decided that this is the way we want to go. I know this, Seneca Wallace, who I had in Seattle, will come in and will compete like crazy. You guys will like what you see. He’s a fine player. He can really pass the ball. There are a lot of things you are going to like about Jake as well. He is 35 years old. We understand that, but physically he is really fine. It does kind of beg the question about the future and long term and all of those things. There aren’t many (Brett) Favre’s around that can play until, what is Favre? 45? I don’t know. Because of the moves we made right now, it doesn’t preclude us from continuing to do stuff. I will tell you that too. We have this draft coming up, you know. So we will see.”

(On judging Quinn on 12 starts)- “It was difficult and I’m not sure it’s really fair, to be honest. I’ve said and I meant it when I told you that, 12 games aren’t enough to get a real good feel and certainly Eric has a better feel than I do, having coached him and been around him. That’s the unfortunate part of this. He was here three years and only played in X amount of games and that really isn’t enough. You should have a pretty good idea as a coaching staff, kind of where this is headed, I would think, but it’s not enough. Sometimes you have to make decisions that you think it’s the way to go and we’ll see.”

Comments: The interesting thing for me would be how soon the trigger would be pulled on benching one of these quarterbacks if (or when) they struggle to start the season. The impression that Holmgren gives is that "the guy" will be "the guy," but this isn't the typical situation where I think either one of these quarterbacks will make our team this year (as opposed to breaking it).

Mike Holmgren

(On why the quarterback position is better after trading for a career backup and an aging veteran)- “That doesn’t sound that great (joking). One, the ‘career backup’ played for me so I know him better than any quarterback that has been mentioned in this room. I think he is a potential starter. Yes, he has been a backup, but he has been a backup to a Pro Bowl player. Mark Brunell was a backup for me to Brett Favre and he went to the Pro Bowl. You get into a situation and you are a career backup, but that’s a phrase and I’m not sure exactly what that means sometimes. As far as the ‘aging veteran,’ my own belief is this team needs an aging veteran. They need a guy who’s going to grab everybody by the throat and say follow me through that door. That’s what we need. I don’t look at him as an aging veteran. I look at him as the leader that I wanted in the locker room if in fact he is the starter. We are using a different lens to look at those two guys, I guess, is the best way to put that.”

(On if he ever remember another team having to deal with an older quarterback joining a new team who had a good career then a bad year)- “Personally, I’ve never had to deal with anything quite that specific with his age and so on. I think this, when I was able to sit down and we talked extensively about his year. Quite honestly I said, ‘Hey. I’ve watched you play and played against you a long time. What the heck happened?’ He was very candid, very open. I suspect he will be with you, when you ask him those questions. Once we had that discussion, I really felt like this will work. If there are physical reasons why, now you probably don’t do it. You can’t overcome those. The reasons why this happened, I think we have a fine coach, a fine staff and I have every confidence they are going to make that work and I really have a lot of confidence in this guy. Again, let me just say this, how long is Jake going to play? I forget how many years we signed him to. How many years? Who knows? Two? Thanks. So we have two and you can kind of paint the picture yourself what we are going to try to do, but as for right now, this next season, I think we have a great combination.”

(On if the quarterback position was stuck here last year)- “I did not. When I watched film of last season, which is what I had to go on. It looked like they were struggling a little. I’ve told you this and I will say it again, when your quarterbacks play kind of the way they played, forget about the reasons why, you can come up with a million reasons why, but when they play the way they played it’s pretty hard to win games in this league. I just felt I wasn’t going to be doing my job if I didn’t attack that situation. It wasn’t just me, I want you to know that. You can ask me all the questions you want and I said this in our first day, Eric, Tom Heckert, there’s a group of five guys that get in there and we bang around pretty good on all these decisions. He’s the coach and I made him a promise when I first got here. I am not going to give him a player he doesn’t want. I’m not going to do that. We have to talk about this stuff. The quarterback thing was very important and that’s kind of how it happened.”

Comments: Looking forward to recapping Delhomme's presser, which I think might be happening today at noon. Also, Holmgren was a little too kind when he said that Quinn and Anderson looked like they were struggling a little last season.

Eric Mangini

(On Peyton Hillis)- “I like Hillis as a tailback. Hillis had 126 yards against us in New York. He had a string of three or four weeks there, before he got hurt late in the season, this was in I think ’08. He had been very productive as a tailback and that’s what he played in college and he got behind two really good draft picks and kind of got lost in the shuffle there. He’s a physical guy. He’s tough with the football in his hands. You could use him as the tailback and (Lawrence) Vickers as the fullback and you get a lot bigger.

You could use him as a fullback with Jerome (Harrison) and both of those guys are really effective catching the ball and even running with the ball, you can give the fullback the ball, not that we gave Lawrence a few bones this year. You can mix him in a lot of different places. He’s returned some kicks. He’s played on special teams. He’s done a lot of good things in a young career. In terms of where we will use him, I’m not sure, but it adds versatility when you try to decide on the 45-man roster to have a fullback that can play tailback and can also do something on (special) teams.”

Comments: Hillis is the type of all-purpose player that really could define the Cleveland Browns (halfback, fullback, special teams, receiver). We'll probably even mix a halfback toss in at some point for him ;)

Mike Holmgren

(On Delhomme being a mentor)- “We talked specifically about that. He is going to have his hands full learning a new offense. Being the player I want him to be and Eric wants him to be. This is not a stop gap. As a quarterback, we want him to win games for us. Not manage the game and all that stuff, but win games for us as the quarterback. That’s his job. When I told him was this, because he has this natural instinct I think. He is a very friendly guy, he is easy to like, with his teammates as well. I said, ‘I want the younger players to just watch you. You don’t have to be anybody but what you are. You don’t have to go overboard to be their teacher. We have coaches, we have good coaches. They are going to coach the team, you play, and they will watch how you do things. That is your mentoring.’ If it goes any farther than that it’s fine, but that’s what I asked him to do.”

Comments: Delhomme's not here to be a Ken Dorsey, and we're not paying him to be a Ken Dorsey. Although he did have Steve Smith to work with in Carolina, he also worked with a lot of young (albeit unsuccessful) receivers, and that should be beneficial in terms of experience in coordinating with them.

Eric Mangini

(On Watson)- “I was there Ben’s rookie year and the year after. Ben has the ability to threaten in the middle of the field. He can really run. He puts pressure on the safeties, which is something you are always looking for from the tight end position. He is good on over routes, the deep overs or seven cuts, things like that. In playing against him in New York, multiple times, he creates issues. You guys probably saw that Buffalo game early in the year last year where he caught the two touchdowns there pretty close to back-to-back.

He’s made some big catches in some big games. I really like the guy. I like all the aspects of him as a worker, as a person. I think his best football is ahead of him. Remember New England had quite a few guys they could throw to. You trying to cover (Randy) Moss and (Wes) Welker and Watson kills you. You try to deal with Watson and one of the other two guys kills you. I am looking for him to kill somebody else now.”

Comments: We're back in the category of "respectability" at the tight end position, and perhaps one could say that we're only behind the Steelers in terms of the TE position in the AFC North. However, mentioning about the Patriots having Moss and Welker to benefit Watson doesn't compare to our situation, where we have the dynamic duo of Massaquoi and Robiskie.

Eric Mangini

(On if he has thought or dreamt about Cribbs and Wallace on the field at the same time)- “I haven’t dreamt about it, but I have thought about it and I think that’d be good. Both guys can throw the ball. Both guys can run with the ball. We may want to run the option. You can do a lot of things with guys like that. It creates problems defensively. Seneca’s primary position is going to be quarterback. That’s where we want him to play, but he’s a competitor and like Josh, he wants to do whatever he can to play football. His primary goal is to get on the field in whatever capacity. You do have to make those decisions if he is the two, how many of those plays are you willing to live with and roll the dice on.”

Comments: Ultimately, the same thing that held Seneca Wallace back from playing regularly at receiver in Seattle will probably hold him back in Cleveland: he's the backup quarterback. If he's the third-stringer, maybe you have the flexibility of inserting him into a few packages at receiver. At No. 2, his focus will be on holding the clipboard and perhaps counseling Delhomme on his experience of the West Coast offense.

Haden runs 4.44 at pro day, per twitter.

2010-03-17T15:24:25Z

Haden runs 4.44 at pro day, per twitter.

Early info on Joe Haden and Brandon Spikes' pro day times.

Around the Pound (2/15): Media Reacts to Quinn, Wimbley Trades

2010-03-15T19:17:26Z

More photos » David Zalubowski - AP

Peter King says versatile backup runner Peyton Hillis "might be the best player in the Quinn trade."

Browse more photos »

Today's edition of Around the Pound is almost a continuation of yesterday afternoon's discussion of the Cleveland Browns' version of March Madness excitement -- trading QB Brady Quinn to the Denver Broncos and trading LB Kamerion Wimbley to the Oakland Raiders. If you missed the 900+ comments from Part 1 of the discussion, check it out here.

Now it's time to take a look at what the media thinks of the deal, both local and mainstream. Let's get started...

John Clayton: Browns Under Construction, Again

Don't think Holmgren, who ripped apart the Seahawks' roster after settling into the Seattle job in the late 1990s, is done at quarterback. Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace are caretakers until Holmgren develops a young quarterback from this year's draft. Drafting seventh, Holmgren would have to trade up to get Sam Bradford or Jimmy Clausen. Bradford probably will go No. 1, so the Browns would have to target the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' pick at No. 3 to jump ahead of the Redskins for Clausen.

If that fails, the Browns will have to look at Colt McCoy or Dan LeFevour in the second or third rounds.

Pete Prisco: Denver Fleeced Cleveland

Quinn has had some tough moments with the Browns, but he's never really been given much to work with or been truly given the keys the car. He will compete with Kyle Orton in Denver, and here's a guess that Quinn pushes Orton for the starting job.

The one knock on Quinn is that he didn't let it go last season, that he wouldn't make the chance throw. He has to do more of that. But once he gets around a better offense, I think he’ll do more of that.

I still can't believe the Browns are willing to play with Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace. Did they watch tape from 2009? Unless they draft a guy in the first round, the Browns will be a disaster in 2010. Delhomme and Wallace? How would you like to be stuck with that mess?

Terry Pluto: Browns Prompt Plenty of Questions

*Note: I encourage you to read Pluto's full column as always, as he offers more opinions on recent team moves than the selected quotations reprinted below.

Q: Do you think the Browns will draft a quarterback?

A: Definitely, perhaps as high as the second round. If not, then they'll use one of their three third-round picks on a quarterback. When he was in Philadelphia, current Browns General Manager Tom Heckert picked quarterback Kevin Kolb out of Houston with the second-round pick in 2007. Heckert targeted the guy, and took Kolb even though Donovan McNabb was clearly the starter. This makes me believe the Browns have their eye on a Kolb-type player in this draft.

Q: Like who?

A: The four quarterbacks expected to be taken in the second and third rounds are Colt McCoy (Texas), Dan LeFevour (Central Michigan), Tony Pike (Cincinnati) and Tim Tebow (Florida). At least one of these guys intrigues the Browns. Maybe they think Tebow can surprise his critics and develop into a solid pro despite his unorthodox throwing style. Or perhaps they really like McCoy or LeFevour.

Q: Did Wimbley have a good season?

A: I thought so. He led the team with 6.5 sacks. He is a good citizen. He is a free agent after 2010, and the Browns may have decided they didn't want to re-sign him.

Peter King: Monday Morning Quarterback

You think the McNabb market is soft? Look at what Brady Quinn yielded. Denver gave Cleveland versatile backup runner Peyton Hillis (who might be the best player in this trade), a sixth-round pick this year and a conditional pick in the 2012 draft that I'm told won't be better than a fourth-round pick. This for the 22nd pick in 2007, who had 12 starts to prove he belonged.

Unfortunately for Quinn the Cleveland regime changed, and Eric Mangini wasn't a big fan -- not that Quinn gave him much reason to be. In Denver, Quinn enters camp as the clear backup to restricted free-agent Kyle Orton (Josh McDaniels called Orton to tell him he was the starter on Sunday). But being under the tutelage of McDaniels should help Quinn, who needs to become less frenetic in his drops and picking out the open receiver.

Hillis prove more than capable under Mike Shanahan in 2008, playing running back and fullback for the Broncos and going on a strong five-game run in the backfield before tearing his hamstring late in the season; I guarantee he'll be a favorite of Mangini's for his versatility, the way Mangini loves players like Josh Cribbs and Blake Costanzo.

The Raiders get a rusher. Maybe. Kamerion Wimbley, the Browns' first-round pick in 2006, got off to a great start rushing the passer for Cleveland, with 11 sacks in 16 games as a rookie. In the 47 games since, Wimbley's had 15.5 sacks and too often gets caught in traffic, unable to consistently turn the corner and get to the passer. The Raiders paid a third-round pick for Wimbley on Sunday, a price I think is a little generous -- except when you consider they dealt another pass-rusher, Derrick Burgess to New England for third- and fifth-round picks last year, and Wimbley is much younger than Burgess.

Mike Lombardi: Hillis Iffy to Make Roster, Interested in John Fox

Yes, I know some fans might think Hillis is a valuable commodity, but his lack of blocking and production without the ball makes him very iffy to even make the Browns roster next season. Hillis might look good occasionally with the ball in his hands, but his lack of overall toughness without it has to be in question.

The Browns under Mike Holmgren are changing their approach to everything, and these changes will keep happening. Holmgren is in charge and is making his presence felt, so much that I often ask myself, “Where is Eric Mangini?” Mangini has gone from being in control of everything, from the décor of the office to just being in the office. His fate now is tied to Delhomme and Seneca Wallace.

Once the signing of Delhomme was announced, I wondered how much longer until the Browns announce the hiring of John Fox as head coach? Fox has less than a year left on his deal in Carolina, so the “Fox Watch” in Brownstown has officially begun. More on that later.

Final Compensation in Wimbley Deal

We originally thought we might receive the higher of the Raiders' third-round picks, which would have been No. 69 overall. Instead, we are receiving pick No. 85. It's still good to have another third-rounder, but it's not as close to a second-rounder as I had hoped.

Off-Beat Notes

There are no off-beat notes today. Eric Mangini and Mike Holmgren are scheduled to speak to the media at 4 PM, where they will surely address the big moves made on Sunday.

Cleveland Browns Massive Overhaul Continues: Brady Quinn Traded to Denver, Kamerion Wimbley Shipped to Oakland

2010-03-14T21:45:31Z

More photos » Tony Dejak - AP

LB Kamerion Wimbley is headed to Oakland.

Browse more photos »

So, you thought things would calm down for a little bit after the signing of QB Jake Delhomme?

Think again.

The Cleveland Browns made two significant trades Sunday afternoon, both involving teams in the AFC West. In an expected move, QB Brady Quinn was traded to the Denver Broncos. In an unexpected move, LB Kamerion Wimbley was shipped to the Oakland Raiders. Here are the reported details of each trade:

The Brady Quinn Deal (Source):

BRONCOS GET:

QB Brady Quinn

BROWNS GET:

RB/FB Peyton Hillis
6th round draft pick in 2011
Conditional draft pick in 2012

Commentary: Hillis was a seventh-round draft pick by the Broncos in the 2008 draft. There was no way the Browns were going to get the same value they spent on Quinn (almost two first round draft picks), but I'm definitely intrigued by acquiring Hillis. During the 2008 campaign, Hillis became a spot starter for the Denver Broncos due to an array of injuries the team suffered. The 250-pound fullback finished the season with 343 yards rushing (5.0 average) and 5 touchdowns, and also proved to be an effective receiver. He didn't get nearly as many touches last year.

I still am not thrilled with the thought of "giving up" on Quinn; I guess we'll see how long it is before he takes over for Kyle Orton in Denver. If Josh McDaniels had an interest in Quinn last year and still went out and acquired him this year, I don't think he wants him to be some form of a veteran backup. Eric Mangini made this statement regarding the Quinn trade:

“I appreciate everything Brady did for us last year and in his three seasons with the Cleveland Browns,” Browns coach Eric Mangini said in a statement. “He is professional in the way he goes about doing his job and worked extremely hard at every aspect of his game. I wish him the best of success in Denver.”

The Kamerion Wimbley Deal (Source):

RAIDERS GET:

LB Kamerion Wimbley

BROWNS GET:

3rd round draft pick in April (speculation)

Commentary: The reports seem to indicate that the Browns received a third-round draft pick for Wimbley. Wimbley never lived up to the hype, and I suppose I'm "ok" with getting rid of him. We probably received the maximum compensation we could have for him, since the Raiders have an early third-round draft choice. It's funny to see Oakland again going after speed again.

The details of the trades above will be updated as more information becomes available. Feel free to sound off on both of these deals in the comments section below!

Quinn traded to Denver and Wimbley Shipped to Oakland

2010-03-14T21:18:04Z

Quinn traded to Denver and Wimbley Shipped to Oakland

Per Jay Glazer (with a nod to Dorn) has the Quinn deal.

Peyton Hillis and 2 conditional draft choices for Brady Quinn.

According to Schefter the picks are a 6th rounder in '11 and a late round pick in '12.

Adam Caplan of Sirius is reporting that the Browns have also traded Kamerion Wimbley for undisclosed draft pick.

Dawgs By Nature Layout Issues

2010-03-14T20:21:46Z

Dawgs By Nature Layout Issues

There have been some reports of funny-looking layout issues here on DBN. I just want to let everyone know that the technical team is looking into the problem. This is not a re-design or anything, it appears to be a network-wide issue related mostly to recent versions of Firefox.

Jake Delhomme Will Attempt to Revive Career in Cleveland

2010-03-14T01:41:04Z

More photos » Seth Wenig - AP

6 days ago: FILE - In this Nov. 29, 2009, file photo, Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme (17) throws a pass during the third quarter of an NFL football game against the New York Jets in East Rutherford, N.J. Released last week after seven seasons with the Carolina Panthers, Delhomme is visiting Thursday, March 11, 201, with the perpetually rebuilding Cleveland Browns, who have been busy this week trying to improve their unstable quarterback situation. Delhomme's agent, Rick Smith, confirmed that the 35-year-old free agent QB is at the Browns' team headquarters in Berea, Ohio. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

Browse more photos »

What was the general reaction upon hearing that the Cleveland Browns signed QB Jake Delhomme? If you look through the initial reaction thread here, most of the comments look like this:

"Why?"

"Ugh."

"MY HEAD JUST EXPLODED."

I could come up with about 100 other lines that were used, but the one thing you won't really find is a positive reaction. I sort of summarized my thoughts on QB Jake Delhomme a few days ago with this statement:

Between Delhomme and Quinn, I'd stick with Quinn because the possibility exists that he can still improve with a full season's worth of work. As much as I liked Delhomme for several years in Carolina, ever since his playoff meltdown two seasons ago, he has been awful -- perhaps just as bad, if not worse than Anderson.

Now that Delhomme and Seneca Wallace are each on board, I doubt either of them, particularly Delhomme, came to Cleveland to compete for the second or third quarterback spots. The negative reaction with respect to the Delhomme signing stems from the many comparisons that can be made to Derek Anderson. Both quarterbacks just were among the worst in the NFL last year given the amount of opportunities they had; the only other quarterback I might lump in with them is JaMarcus Russell.

Questioning the signing, which was reportedly a two-year deal, is certainly valid.

Why sign a player who struggled just as bad as the guy you just let go?
Why sign a player who had a great running back tandem in Carolina but couldn't minimize the turnovers?
Why sign a player who has battled injuries the past few years at such an important position?

Those are the negatives. Let's take a look at some of the positives right now though, under the assumption that Delhomme has and never will be one of the league's top-tier quarterbacks:

Delhomme had a stretch in his career in which he was playing above average football. During the 2004-2005 season, Delhomme had 29 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. He wasn't a one-hit wonder -- the following season, he threw for 24 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. He played in fewer games the next year, but again, he remained fairly consistent -- 18 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. During the 2007-2008 campaign, he was on fire to start the season. In three games, he threw 8 touchdowns and one interception. That's when he needed Tommy John surgery, and his season was over.
He returned during the 2008-2009 campaign, but he wasn't as sharp, throwing 15 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. The Panthers finished with a 12-4 record, thanks to the dynamic duo of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. In the postseason, Delhomme had a meltdown that no one could've seen coming, especially how he had thrived in the playoffs several years earlier when the Panthers made it to the Super Bowl.
Delhomme's struggles from the postseason continued into last season, where he finished the year with 8 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. That's the season he looked very much like Derek Anderson.
It seemed to me that one of Delhomme's biggest issues was that he turned into a headcase of sorts. Whether he was too tentative to throw the ball or he had simply lost all confidence, Delhomme's career in Carolina was toast, and it was certainly the right move for Carolina to move on without him.
It's hard to tout the Delhomme signing as a positive one due to his recent failures. Believe me, I'm not exactly thrilled by the signing, and I've admitted that I was a huge Delhomme fan several years ago. But, due to the consistent stretch he showed for several years, could we give him the benefit of the doubt that he'd be capable of reproducing an 18-touchdown, 12-interception type of season. Those numbers don't have me jumping out of my seat, but if Delhomme is meant to be a one-year holdover, I'm not going to concede the season just yet.
Holmgren said that he wants to provide options for head coach Eric Mangini to choose his starting quarterback before training camp. Fine. In terms of experience, that's what Delhomme has. In terms of untapped potential and intrigue, that's what Wallace has. It'll be up to Mangini to determine how Delhomme's arm looks when minicamp rolls around. If he performs well, he'll probably be the starter heading into the regular season. If that's the case, we're going to have to suck it up and root for "our guy" and hope for the best. Remember, quarterback isn't supposed to be the strength of our football team this year, so the expectations shouldn't really change regardless of which quarterback we choose.

I'd still like to see Brady Quinn stay in Cleveland and win the starting job, but the odds appear to be stacked against him now. I hope we don't give him up for too much of a bargain, because as a former first-rounder who I still don't believe has received a fair shot at starting, someone else could be getting a steal.

Oh, yes, and Brett Ratliff is still the No. 3 quarterback.

Poll

We know you hate the Jake Delhomme signing. BUT, considering he was signed by Holmgren, what will his role be by Week 1?

Jake Delhomme signs with Browns

2010-03-13T22:52:19Z

Jake Delhomme signs with Browns

Per Schefter.

Sigh. The only people happy about this signing are the defensive coordinators on the Browns schedule.

A Look Back: 2003 NFL Draft

2010-03-13T22:11:59Z

A Look Back at the 2003 Draft: Here are the '99, '00, '01, and '02 Draft Look Backs.

Butch Davis has no idea what this board behind him is. He drafts on gut.

For the first time in over 10 years the Cleveland Browns were drafting in the 20's. The Browns were coming off a playoff trip that ended in one of the greatest passing days in Cleveland Browns history. The Browns were on the verge of becoming a great team. Going into the 2003 draft the Browns had some needs, but we were being lead by Butch Davis and his amazing powers! Nothing can stop Butch!

How did this team go from playoffs to 5-11? In hindsight, the better question should have been who in the hell did this team make the playoffs?

Going into the draft the Browns had one glaring weakness. Their offensive line was still a hodge podge of veteran free agents, cast offs with a hint of crap late round draft picks. The '02 starting offensive line for your Cleveland Browns was Ross Verba, Barry Stokes, Dave Wolobaugh, Shaun O'Hara, and Ryan Tucker. Sadly, this may have been the best O-Line since the return.

Almost all pundits had the Browns choosing between two players.

1. Jeff Faince, Center, Notre Dame. Without an elite Tackle expected to be on the board when the Browns picked at #21, everyone had shifted their focus on the interior of the line. Faine was a big, nasty Center that excelled with the technical side of playing in the trenches. With the loss of Dave Wolobaugh to the St. Louis Rams, center had become a pretty big need for the Browns.

2. Eric Steinbach, Guard, University of Iowa. Steinbach was an interesting player. Some teams thought he could play LT. Others thought he would be a great guard. Either one of those would have been a massive upgrade for the Browns. Steinbach's tweener role could make a team pick him in the 1st (LT) or let him slide (OG).

Either way you cut it, the Browns were going to come away with a first round offensive lineman for the first time since 1973. You read that right.

21st Pick, 1st Round, 21st Overall: Jeff Faine, Center, Notre Dame

Looking back at it, this had to be the pick with Wolobaugh going to St. Louis. Faine would never be a Hall of Fame center, but he was going to be positive player for us. Maybe Stienbach could have played LT, but that was a risk that the Browns didn't need to take with a sure thing at center on the board at the same time.

Faine was just as advertised. He struggled against the strong NT's in the AFC North (Casey Hampton got paid abusing Faine), he just wasn't string enough to go toe-to-toe with the Hamptons and the Greggs of the world. This being said, he was probably the second best OLineman we had, behind Tucker, the day he walked into the locker room. All in all, a good, not great, pick that really helped the team.

Career Stats:

Started 36 games in three years.

Players we could have drafted: (Yes I know this is stupid and 100% subjective to many factors, but I always like looking back at who we "could have drafted" just for fun.): Larry Johnson, Willis McGahee, Dallas Clark and some dude named Nnamdi Asomugha.

20th Pick, 2nd Round, 52nd Overall: Chaun Thompson, LB, West Texas A&M

This pick is Butch Davis personified. He saw the raw talent. The speed, the size and the possibilities of a monster LB. 6'4 240lbs. Scouts drooled at the combine, you knew Butch had to have him.

Never mind the fact that he was good, never dominated at West Texas A&M, just good. Shouldn't that have been a red flag? Dude looks like Tarzan but doesn't just wreck folks at a school playing in Division eleventy-billion. A NFL player in a small division should be totally dominant to be selected in the second round. Again, this was pure Butch, draft the measure-ables, worry about the lack of production later.

As we know, Thompson was never any good. He was mostly a ST player and only started two years in Cleveland, and those two seasons were nothing to write home about. A classic Butch Davis draft pick.

Career Stats (with Browns, Thompson is with the Texans; 4 years with Browns)

142 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 2 FF

Players we could have drafted: Anquan Boldin, Osi Umenyoria, Jason Witten, Lance Briggs, Nate Burelson

20th Pick, 3rd Round, 84th Overall: Chris Crocker, S/CB, Marshall University

Not many teams had Crocker as a third rounder. In fact, Sports Illustrated had Crocker ranked as the 50th saftey in the draft. Not 50th overall, 50th in his position. I am by no means saying that Si is the end all be all of college scouting, but that is pretty scary IMO.

He was a 5'11, 190lbs safety that ran a 4.55 coming out. This pick didn't fit Butch's usual MO of size and speed, so many people assumed that Crocker would play CB for the Browns. He didn't. Crocker went on to start 22 games for the Browns over three seasons, and was far from memorable.

Why Butch went for Crocker about 5 rounds to early (pun intended) we will never know. This pick pretty much made sure we would need a safety in the coming seasons. Crocker left the Browns after three seasons and signed with ATL where he was a starter for two seasons. He was let go from there and has bounced around the NFL as a third safety and ST player.

Career Stats: (Still in NFL, was with Cincy last year)

124 tackles, 3 INT's, 4 sacks, and 2 FF

Players we could have drafted: Visanthe Shiancoe, Justin Fargas, Terrence McGee, Seneca Wallace (Rough round that year)

18th Pick, 4th Round, 115th Overall: Lee Suggs, Running Back, Virginia Tech

Not going to lie, I was stoked about this pick. If you don't know about Lee Suggs here is some info. He was one of the most explosive RB's in all of college football. He along with Kevin Jones in VT teamed up for "The Untouchables". He was the Co-POY in the ACC in 2000 (with Mike Vick) and was on his way to stardom.

In 2001, he tore his ACL early in the season and missed the rest of the season. In 2002 he came back and had a fine senior season (1,325 yards and 22 TD's) but lacked the top end speed that he once possessed. Still most people expected him to be taken late first, early second round. Apparently his knee scared teams more than we knew. He fell all the way to the 115th pick.

As for his time with the Browns, Suggs showed flashes as a rookie (5.2 YPC) and was thrust into the starting role when William Green and James Jackson weren't getting the job done. He finished the 2004 season on a tear with three straight 100 yard games.

But again, his downfall was injuries. He was always getting banged up and never seemed to be able to be consistent enough to be a major RB in this league.

Before the 2006 season the Browns tried to trade Suggs to the Jets for defensive back Derek Straight, but Suggs failed his physical and was returned to the Browns. He was then cut, picked up by the Dolphins where he had 6 carries before he was cut.

Today, according to Wiki, Lee Suggs is a QB coach at the small Ohio college of Oberlien.

Career Stats:

269 carries, 1074 yards, 4.0 YPC, 4 TD's, 28 catches, 217 yards, 1 REC TD.

Players we could have drafted: Asante Samuel, Robert Mathis, and Ovie Mughelli

7th Pick, 5th Round, 142nd Overall: Ryan Pontibrand, Long Snapper, Rice University

First of all, I love Ryan Pontibrand.

This being said, since 1982 there has been 12 long snappers drafted. The Browns had just selected their second one in four seasons. Again, I cannot make this stuff up. This wasn't a team that didn't have holes. We still could have used more lineman on both sides of the ball, but that didn't matter to Butch.

What is there to say about Pontibrand? He is a long snapper and a damn good one at that. Would we trade a him for a fifth rounder today? You bet your ass we would. Long snappers are like batteries in your TV remote, you don't realize how essential they are until yours go bad, but they are very easily replaced.

Again, I like Pontibrand, but to use a fifth round draft pick on a second long snapper in four years makes my head hurt. It isn't a surprise that this franchise has stunk as long as it has.

Career stats:

A crapload of perfect snaps, except for one game.

Players we could have had: David Diehl, Dan Koppen, Hunter Hillenmeyer, Justin Gage and Tony Pashos

17th Pick, 5th Round, 152nd Overall: Michael Lehan, CB, University of Minnesota

I liked this pick. 6 foot 195lb CB that runs a 4.5 is worth a gamble at this point in the draft. He had the speed and the size that you look for in a NFL CB. Some questioned whether or not Lehan was a CB or a safety, but the Browns liked him as a CB.

Too bad he never cashed in on those tools as a Brown, and never really made any impact plays. He wasn't lacking in opportunities as he appeared in 32 games with the Browns. He was let go after three seasons where he then hooked on with the Miami Dolphins and two seasons ago he was signed to the Saints at the end of the season.

Career Stats (with Browns):

43 tackles, 1 Fumble recovery

Players we could have drafted: David Diehl, Dan Koppen, Hunter Hillenmeyer, Justin Gage and Tony Pashos

22nd Pick, 6th Round, 195th Overall: Antonio Garay, DT, Boston College

Garay was a surprise pick, reason being was that most people didn't think he was going to be drafted at all. Sports Illustrated didn't even rank him in their top 50 DT's in this draft. Turns out that Sports Illustrated may have been on to something.

If you don't remember Garay, it's okay, you probably just blinked. He lasted one season with the Browns. Awesome.

Career Stats:

12 tackles (2 of those were with the Browns). That is it.

Players we could have drafted: Yeremiah Bell, Cato June, David Tyree and Tully Banta-Cain

Undrafted Players: Leigh Bodden

As much crap as I give Davis, he did a nice job picking Bodden off the scrap heap. As we know, Bodden went from being one of the most underrated CB's in all the NFL to being one of the most overrated. But while he was here, Bodden should have gone to the Pro Bowl at least once as a Brown.

Other noteable undrafted players: Tony Romo, Antonio Gates, Kassim Osgood, and Brendon Ayanbadejo

Draft Recap:

Quick rundown. Chaun Thompson and Ryan Pontibrand are the only draft picks from this entire draft to last more than three seasons with the Browns. No starters from this draft after three seasons. In all, the Browns may have had one of the worst, if not the worst, 5 years of drafting that we have ever seen out of a NFL franchise.

Butch made a good pick in the first, but followed it up with bad pick after bad pick. If we look back after four years and say that the best player we have left from this draft is a long snapper, something went horribly wrong.

Around the Pound (3/12): TE Ben Watson Signs, Heiden Cut; Holmgren Comments on QB Situation

2010-03-13T02:46:14Z

More photos » Stephan Savoia - AP

6 days ago: FILE - This Dec. 12, 2007, file photo shows New England Patriots tight end Benjamin Watson talking to reporters during a media availability in the locker room at the team's football facility in Foxborough, Mass. The Cleveland Browns have signed free agent tight end Ben Watson to a multiyear contract. Watson spent the past six seasons with the New England Patriots. Watson visited the Browns on Thursday, March 11, 2010, along with quarterback Jake Delhomme and running back Justin Fargas. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia, File)

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Since the start of free agency, "Around the Pound" was shelved for awhile so that some of the transactions of free agency could have their own dedicated topic. Now that things have slowed down a tiny bit, it's time to bring the feature back and get caught up on some of the loose ends we need to cover.

There's a full plate on tonight's agenda, including the Browns' revamped tight end situation, Mike Holmgren commenting on the state of our quarterbacks, where some of our former free agents have ended up, and more.

Watson Arrives, Heiden's Legacy With Cleveland Ends

After eight seasons with the Cleveland Browns, veteran TE Steve Heiden won't be back for a ninth one. Heiden was released today, and I really can't imagine many other teams being interested in signing a 33 year old tight end who has battled through injuries the past two seasons. Heiden was one of the longest-tenured member of the Browns, and I think the fans always appreciated him. Even last year, there were times when we were wishing Heiden would see passes go his way as opposed to other receivers on the team.

Taking Heiden's spot on the roster is the team's newest free agent signing -- TE Ben Watson. Watson is certainly an upgrade over any of the tight ends we had on our roster last season. He's not necessarily past his prime either, as he leaves the Patriots after six seasons. Watson has proven before that he can be a 50-catch, 600-yard type of receiver if necessary. He's not a great pass-catching tight end, but if you compare him with Robert Royal, I'm sure Watson would look great in comparison. Better than the fact he can catch is that he's a solid blocker, which is probably as close to a "complete" tight end we could've acquired through free agency.

Right now, we have four tight ends on our roster -- Watson, Evan Moore, Royal, and Michael Gaines. I don't see Royal and Gaines sticking around come the regular season, but both of them could make it to training camp I suppose. In the end, I'm ready to move past Royal. Having Watson and Moore on the field for double tight end sets works for me. Watson's contract was for 3 years and a reported $12 million, including $6.35 million guaranteed.

Holmgren Speaks on Quinn's Status

Quarterback Jake Delhomme left Cleveland without a contract, according to the Plain Dealer. Holmgren still hasn't closed the door on signing Delhomme though. Delhomme might be turned off by the fact that Holmgren would not commit to anyone as a starter in an effort to lure someone to Cleveland.

With respect to Brady Quinn...

Browns President Mike Holmgren said that trade talk for Brady Quinn is "a little premature," but he indicated that Quinn's future with the club depends on acquiring another quarterback.

"It all depends on what else we can do," Holmgren told The Plain Dealer on Friday. "We are continuing to look for and evaluate quarterbacks."

No matter who the Browns bring aboard, Holmgren is still firm on the fact that a starting quarterback will be named before training camp. As to why he's exploring so many options at quarterback?

"But I'm going to kind of set the table, and then it's really Coach (Eric) Mangini's call."

Justin Fargas Visited Cleveland

Since being released by the Raiders, RB Justin Fargas has been making the rounds. After being a pretty good backup for many years with the Raiders, there's no reason he wouldn't be a solid backup or spot-start running back for other teams. He's already met with the Chiefs, Eagles and the Browns, but has yet to sign a contract. If the Browns end up reaching a deal with Fargas, it would seem to follow the type of signings Holmgren has made thus far -- no one who will break the bank, but players who were good role players for other teams.

New Cities for Hadnot and Pool

The Arizona Cardinals signed OL Rex Hadnot to a three-year deal worth about $9 million. S Brodney Pool signed a one-year deal with the New York Jets worth $1.3 million. Hadnot will probably have the opportunity to start in Arizona with Pool competing for a roster spot on the Jets' talented defense.

Around the AFC North

Baltimore Beatdown: Boldin, Mason Will Spread Defenses
Behind the Steel Curtain: Rambling Thoughts on the Ben Roethlisberger Situation
Cincy Jungle: Terrell Owens in Cincinnati Still a Possibility

Off-Beat Notes

After seeing the performances from American Idol this week, I finally felt that some of the contestants had found their niche and that we'd have a half-way decent top twelve. But then...the results show came, and the people sent home should've have been sent home. All it did was make the Top 12 less competitive, so the one or two guys and girls who have been good now have a near cakewalk to the top four.
The reports have begun circulating that "24" might not be picked up for a ninth season by FOX, and that a decision would be announced soon. It's not that "24" is necessarily a cancel-worthy show, but it's become too expensive to make, and, as most shows do in their later seasons, the ratings aren't what they used to be. Rumors are now swirling that if "24" is canceled, that NBC would pick up the show for a ninth season. As long as Kiefer Sutherland remains with the show, I don't care what network airs it.
I've just started seeing the previews for Ironman 2; can't wait to see it. I love Robert Downey Jr's portrayal of the character, and the addition of Mickey Rourke to the film has my anticipation peaked.
So many good things about last week's LOST, particular because any Michael Emerson-centric episode is interesting. Plus, it's fun to see William Atheron be a peck. The ending sequence was a favorite too, as sort of an homage to earlier seasons, capped off with the "here we go...!" moment of Widmore arriving to the island.
Christopher Nolan again indicates that the next installment of Batman will be his last. There are minor spoiler details at the link, so reader beware.

Cleveland: The Hottest Place for QB Transactions

2010-03-11T03:57:31Z

More photos » Nell Redmond - AP

This guy will be interviewing with the Browns.

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After failing to address the quarterback situation during the first few days of free agency, Mike Holmgren and company have been busy the past several days in their search for the starting quarterback of the Cleveland Browns next season.

If you look around the NFL, Cleveland has become the place for quarterback transactions. Based on the names that have been thrown around, it seems like Holmgren is merely looking for a one-year holdover at the position. I initially thought that Brady Quinn might be given a shot at the starting role, but the news of the Browns bringing in former Panthers QB Jake Delhomme for an interview sort of changes that.

There's no way that Quinn would be on the roster, let alone the starter, if Seneca Wallace and Delhomme were also on the roster. With one of the two, you could make the case that they would be a backup. One of them isn't going to be a third stringer though, and if we're exploring options beyond Wallace, then it wouldn't be too surprising to see Quinn follow in the footsteps of Derek Anderson not too long from now.

Speaking of Anderson, most of you have already seen his outlash at Cleveland fans followed by his retraction of sorts. Anderson had to of known all along that he was going to be released, so I don't buy it that he had some accidental emotional reaction in spite of being released. He said what he's wanted to say for a looonng time. If Anderson ever faces the Browns during his career, I hope Rob Ryan is still our defensive coordinator, because our defense is going to unleash hell on him. Anderson gave us some great memories as well as some horrible ones. In the end, he has no one to blame but himself for not being able to reach a 50 percent completion rate.

Anderson is going to visit the Arizona Cardinals and the Seattle Seahawks, according to ESPN. I wouldn't be surprised if either of those teams sign him, especially the Cardinals. Arizona might be intrigued with the thought of Anderson launching the ball around to Larry Fitzgerald, who can make incredible catches (alas Braylon Edwards in 2007) to help an average quarterback look above average.

Rumors have gone around today that Quinn is being shopped by the Browns. Between Delhomme and Quinn, I'd stick with Quinn because the possibility exists that he can still improve with a full season's worth of work. As much as I liked Delhomme for several years in Carolina, ever since his playoff meltdown two seasons ago, he has been awful -- perhaps just as bad, if not worse than Anderson.

What will the Browns inevitably do at quarterback? The possibilities seem endless at this point. Just about the only thing I'd feel secure about saying is that Brett Ratliff will be on the roster come training camp. The search for a holdover quarterback might seem meaningless, but you never know what could happen. There's always a chance that the right guy will have that one good season to put us into contention next season. Let's hope we find him. If not, we've still got Joshua Cribbs and the ground game to fall back on offensively.

Jake Delhomme to visit Cleveland

2010-03-10T21:30:26Z

Jake Delhomme to visit Cleveland

Per Schefter Jake Delhomme will visit with the Browns on Thursday.

All of the sudden, I wish we would have signed David Carr.

Browns cut Derek Anderson

2010-03-09T19:41:28Z

Browns cut Derek Anderson

Seriously, who didn't see this coming?

With a healthy bonus coming on March 19th, the Browns decided to cut former starter Derek Anderson. It was going to be impossible to get anything in trade because the NFL knew it was just a matter of time before Anderson was going to be axed by the Browns.

All in all it was a wild ride with DA. Big arm, questionable decision making and for one afternoon against the Chiefs, feet of Fred Astaire.

So long DA, and remember your personal mantra, if you can't throw it as hard as you possibly can, it isn't worth throwing.

Did Holmgren Bring Seneca Wallace to the Browns to Start?

2010-03-09T04:51:33Z

More photos » John Froschauer - AP

Cool, green uniforms!

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I couldn't help but chuckle when I read the headline that Seneca Wallace was headed to the Cleveland Browns. In some of the older Madden games a few years back, probably around 2004, I was fond of starting my own fantasy draft version of the Browns on the game. I loved playing with a mobile quarterback, but and I wouldn't draft a quarterback until near the end of the draft. Naturally, Wallace was always a perfect fit for my team, and because of that, I paid close attention to his career in Seattle.

Because of Wallace's speed, I always wondered how he would be as a starting quarterback in the NFL. That wasn't about to happen behind former Pro Bowler Matt Hasselbeck though, who before the past two years was a reliable quarterback. Due to Hasselbeck's injuries over the last two seasons, Wallace did see some starting action, including several games on Mike Holmgren's final year with the Seahawks. While I am no where near as keen to Wallace's abilities as Seahawks fans would be, here is my general assessment of Wallace and the trade:

He's not an "I'm going to take off and run for yardage" type of quarterback. He is athletic for a quarterback, but he generally doesn't net yardage on the ground from the position. Take his rushing statistics from last year as an example: he threw for 700 yards, but in the three games that he started, he had 9 rushes for 9 yards.
Maybe it's just the few times that I have watched him, but I recall Wallace taking really long dropbacks -- perhaps so he can scan the field better at his height. Behind a not-so-great offensive line in Seattle, by the time he turns around he doesn't have a lot of time to make a decision. If the pressure gets to him, he rolls away from the pressure and might avoid a sack, but he doesn't find the open receiver down the field.
His stats don't seem to bad, but a good portion of Wallace's production seemed to come when Seattle was already trailing. Part of that can be attributed to Seattle's poor defense, but when did you ever see the headlines that said, "Wallace Ignites Seahawks to Victory?" I heard more things about Shaun Hill in San Francisco than I did Wallace in Seattle.
Without experienced receivers on the Browns, I don't see how you can make Wallace the starting quarterback. Are Mohamed Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie suddenly going to find chemistry with Wallace that they couldn't find with Quinn? Wallace is 29, and while that's far from being old from a quarterback, without him having been a starter in the NFL, I see no reason why he should be a one-year holdover starter.
Wallace can be used in the Wildcat. Considering we just paid Joshua Cribbs a lot of money with the added expectation that he will be featured more offensively, it doesn't really seem to make sense to have Wallace take reps away from him. But, the option is there, and if you're going to deploy a Wildcat system, I don't see why the potential of it being a multi-threat Wildcat system isn't intriguing. Wallace received reps at the wide receiver position under Holmgren two years ago.
Obviously some things will be different with the Browns offense, but Wallace should have a decent grasp of the general system. We acquired Wallace for a conditional pick in the 2011 draft, which could be anywhere from a 4th to a 6th round draft pick, according to reports.
I'd imagine that in order for the pick to escalate to a 4th rounder, Wallace would receive a lot of reps as a starter. If he's just a backup with minimum reps, then we'll give up a 6th rounder (note: on both accounts, this is pure speculation on my part). Considering Wallace doesn't seem to fit the bill as the Browns' long-term starter, that tells me that he's going to be our backup quarterback next season...
...and that means goodbye to Derek Anderson and the bonus he'd be due in mid-March.
With that in mind, that still leads me to believe that Brady Quinn is set to be the starter this year. If we have any intention of drafting a quarterback next year as opposed to this year, between Quinn and Wallace, it seems to make sense to give Quinn the starting role so the front office can be absolutely sold as to whether or not he can play. Also, if Brett Ratliff, Mangini's QB from the Jets didn't escalate to starter competition when he was brought to the Browns, why would Wallace, Holmgren's QB from the Seahawks, suddenly be in charge of a team after sitting on the bench for so long?

Do I like the trade? Yes -- I feel we just acquired a respectable backup quarterback who can also contribute at other positions for a very low price. In terms of throwing the word "starter" into the mix? I'll defer to rufio from the initial reaction thread on the Wallace trade:

Poll

Will Seneca Wallace be the starter or the backup for the Browns?

Seneca Wallace traded to Browns

2010-03-09T01:14:37Z

Seneca Wallace traded to Browns

This according to Adam Schefter.

Browns gave up a late '11 conditional draft pick.

As for the Browns what does this mean? Did we just acquire a new WR or a QB, as Wallace has played both.

If I was a betting man, I will wager that the Browns just acquired the starting QB for the 2010 Cleveland Browns. Over the past three seasons, Wallace has combined for the following numbers;

238-390 (61%) 2447 yards (6.3 YPA) 16 TD 6 INT

He will be a free agent after the '10-'11 season, so he won't have long to make an impression.

Now we wait for the other shoe to drop in the Cleveland QB Derby.

Scott Fujita Signed by Browns - Another Solid Pick Up

2010-03-08T00:18:25Z

More photos » Patrick Semansky - AP

Scott Fujita, welcome to the Cleveland Browns!

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After sitting back and watching the transactions the first two days of free agency, Cleveland Browns fans finally saw Mike Holmgren and company make their first two additions to the roster on Sunday. After hearing that Tony Pashos signed earlier in the day, it was reported soon after that LB Scott Fujita had signed as well.

One of the members from Canal Street Chronicles, our New Orleans Saints affiliate, weighed in on the type of player that Fujita is:

I think he’ll do great in Cleveland. He came to the Saints coming off of out 3-13 Katrina season, and has been a solid block in our 4 year rebuilding process culminating with a Superbowl. He’s certainly not afraid to step up as a leader on a rebuilding team, and should be a great player to help you guys turn it around.

He’s not the flashiest, highlight-reel player, but he gets the job done and gets it done well. Don’t assume “not flashy” is the same as “not good.” He rarely makes mistakes, and is almost never the reason a defensive play fails. He should be a starter for you guys for the next few years. I’m sure you guys will like him as much as we did. Kudos to you on getting a solid player!

So far, I see this year's free agency as being quite similar to last year's free agency period. We're signing veteran players who aren't superstars but can hold their own at their position. The only difference is that since Mangini drained the pool of Jets last year, we're actually looking around at other teams' rosters.

Fujita is expected to make the move from outside linebacker in the Saints' 4-3 defense to inside linebacker in the Browns' 3-4 defense. Fujita will help to strengthen the Browns' run defense, which has been pretty bad since the return to the league in 1999.

Based on how well David Bowens played last year, an early projection would have our starting linebacker unit consisting of Kamerion Wimbley, D'Qwell Jackson, Scott Fujita, and David Bowens. However, part of me wonders if there's an outside chance that Bowens stays on the inside (where he was at the end of last season) and we work Jackson out of the rotation. Eric Barton would likely be the odd man out, with Jason Trusnik and Matt Roth being the primary backup linebackers alongside last year's draft picks.

Cleveland Browns Find Their New Starting RT - Tony Pashos

2010-03-07T21:47:42Z

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Cleveland Browns have signed RT Tony Pashos to a 3-year deal worth $10.3 million. If you don't count Ray Ventrone, then this is the first free agent signing of the Mike Holmgren era. It's not quite the LeCharles Bentley, Donte Stallworth, or Corey Williams type of acquisition that broke the bank, but it's a move that works toward improving the right side of the team's offensive line.

While the signing doesn't guarantee that Pashos would start, it seems likely that he would. Last year's starter, John St. Clair, is still on the roster but he was considered the weak link of the offensive line last year. Pashos isn't exactly a young player either (30 years old), but he fits the bill of being a lineman who can make a difference when trying to run the football. Based on how the Browns won football games at the end of last season, we'll be running the football early and often against teams this season.

Keeping St. Clair on the roster as a backup seems necessary. He could play either tackle position, and despite the criticism he received last year, he really wasn't that bad. This doesn't rule out the possibility of the Browns choosing a right tackle in the draft, as the right side of the line between Pashos, St. Clair, and Floyd Womack, are nearing the final years of their careers.

RT Tony Pashos to Visit the Cleveland Browns, Brodney Pool to St. Louis?

2010-03-07T02:33:41Z

Two more rumors related to the Cleveland Browns were just floated around. First, let's start with former Browns safety Brodney Pool. Pool was not one of the players to receive a tender from the Browns before Friday, so he became a free agent. According to Pro Football Talk, Pool might be scheduled to meet with the St. Louis Rams on Monday.

I didn't mind Pool as a player, but he never really reached the level of being an above average safety. With his history of concussions, I'm more than willing to address the safety position in the draft. The free agent pool has thinned out, with Antrel Rolle signing with the Giants and Kerry Rhodes being dealt to the Arizona Cardinals.

The other news is that RT Tony Pashos is on his way to visit with the Cleveland Browns, according to the National Football Post:

Veteran offensive tackle Tony Pashos is on his way to Cleveland to visit the Browns, a league source with knowledge of the situation confirmed tonight. Pashos completed a visit with the Washington Redskins, but no deal was completed and he's moving on to visit the Browns.

It's sort of surprising that we are getting the opportunity to meet with Pashos, because a few hours earlier there were reports that he had a done deal with the Redskins. Pashos, 29 years old, has started in 54 of his 69 career games. He played for the San Francisco 49ers last year but his season ended early after he broke his left shoulder blade.

Cleveland Browns Staying Settled in Free Agency (Recap)

2010-03-06T20:27:21Z

More photos » Mark Humphrey - AP

Scott Fujita is meeting with the Browns today.

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Free agency in the NFL certainly got off to an eventful start, even if the Cleveland Browns weren't at the center of discussion. Here is a brief recap of the teams who made the biggest splash:

Free Agency Around the NFL

Lets start with the Chicago Bears. Julius Peppers signed a six-year deal worth about $91.5 million, with about $42 million of that guaranteed. I can't help but think this is a poor decision for the Bears. They already blew a ton of money on Jay Cutler last season, and now they have guaranteed over $40 million to a defensive end who is 30 years old. Peppers' best days are probably behind him, and although he should still be productive, the Bears needed a lot more help on defense than at just one position.

(Browns news after the jump)

Chicago also signed RB Chester Taylor, the player who would've been my top pick to be the Browns' backup running back. Taylor will get $12.5 million over four years, with $7 million of that guaranteed. I imagine Matt Forte and Taylor will split carries. The other signing was that of TE Brandon Manumaleuna, who signed a five-year deal. Now the rumors are circulating as to whether or not TE Greg Olsen will be dealt. He'd certainly be an attractive option for the Browns after being severely underutilized by the Bears.
Besides acquiring Corey Williams from the Browns, the Detroit Lions went out and signed DE Kyle Vanden Bosch and WR Nate Burleson. Overall, I guess the moves were ok for the Lions, as they acquired two starters for their defensive line and a receiver to line up opposite Calvin Johnson. Still, for Burleson's production, it almost seems like a Donte Stallworth type of contract he's receiving. I see the moves as acceptable, but nothing nearly enough to suddenly start contending with the Packers or the Vikings.
I think the Ravens made a really good move in acquiring Anquan Boldin from the Cardinals for a third- and fourth-round pick. He'll get a 28 million contract, but it's not like the Ravens made a move at one player who will be the only threat on their offense. Ray Rice is already a machine on the ground, and between Derrick Mason, Mark Clayton, Stallworth, and now Boldin, one could argue that Baltimore has the best group of receivers in the division.
The Jets didn't get the best cornerback tandem possible in Darrelle Revis and Nnamdi Asomugha, but now they have Revis and Antonio Cromartie. I don't quite agree with Ryan's assessment, as Cromartie has some weaknesses, but he had high praise for the former Charger:

As a cornerback, he has "extraordinary gifts," according to Rex Ryan, who said Cromartie's man-to-man coverage skills are so good that he can use him occasionally on the No. 1 receiver instead of Darrelle Revis.
Without Kurt Warner, Boldin, and now Antrel Rolle (who signed with the Giants), I sense that there will be a new division leader in the NFC West this year. Just in, the Cardinals also just lost Karlos Dansby to the Miami Dolphins. Another big loss for the Cardinals, but a big gain for the Dolphins.

Cleveland Browns in Free Agency

The Browns were obviously active right away with the trading of Corey Williams, a deal which will net a fifth-round pick for the Browns and prevent us from having to pay him his roster bonus (the Browns also gave the Lions a seventh-rounder).

For what Williams contributed to the Browns, in hindsight, I'd love to have that second-round pick back. At the time though, we were pretty much thrilled with the decision and I drank the Kool-Aid in belief that it was a great move. Here are the other notes and rumors that have been surrounding the Browns in free agency:

As everyone knows by now, Joshua Cribbs' new contract was announced Friday. He received a three-year deal worth $20 million, with $7.5 million guaranteed. As anticipated, it was a true compromise between the Browns' $5 million offer and Cribbs' wishes for $10 million.

Cribbs undoubtedly helped make the Browns a respectable team last year, from giving us the best starting field position in football to being a threat out of the Wildcat formation. The team now needs to work on finding a way to get him the ball more often on offense next year, even if it is as a receiver and not out of the Wildcat. As a receiver, we can find opportunities to give Cribbs the ball short and set up quick blocks down the field.
Amidst D'Qwell Jackson being upset about his 2nd-round tender, the Browns are set to meet with LB Scott Fujita today. Fujita played OLB in the 4-3 for the Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints, but would probably move to the inside in the Browns' 3-4 defense. For the right price, I think Fujita fits in nicely with the type of players Eric Mangini likes to recruit.
The situation at quarterback is where we could be seeing the biggest headlines still. Will there be a suitor for Derek Anderson (the Cardinals)? Will there be a surprise in which Brady Quinn gets dealt? Will the Browns move to trade for Matt Hasselbeck, Donovan McNabb, or Seneca Wallace? Or, could the Browns end up bringing in David Carr if he doesn't sign with the 49ers? I'm really not too interested in Carr being a member of the Browns, but I'd be open to the other options. In the end though, I'm still willing to wait patiently and see what Quinn could do with a full season of work.
The Browns did sign one free agent -- one of our own. That would be S Ray Ventrone, who received a three-year, $2.2 million deal.
OL Ryan Tucker officially announced that he's retiring.
Because the Seahawks gave a fourth-round tender to OG Rob Sims, there is speculation that another team will jump in to sign him. He has ties to Ohio and OSU, and a few writers have speculated that the Browns would seem like a good landing spot for him. After losing Hank Fraley and Rex Hadnot, Sims could be the type of former player that Holmgren would want to land in Cleveland.

I can't really say I'm disappointed by the fact that the Browns haven't made a "splash" in free agency. When I look at most of these contracts that are being handed out, I'm saying "pass" at every one of them. The only moves that have been remotely attractive to me are the ones that involve trades.

Browns are interested in David Carr

2010-03-06T19:23:09Z

Browns are interested in David Carr

According to Matt Maiocco, a 49er reporter, the Browns will be an option for Carr if he leaves SF without a contract today.

Seriously. This isn't a joke. I wish it was.