Free Agent possibilities for Cleveland

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<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>Rich's Rant: News and Views

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</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>By Rich Passan
Date: May 25, 2005

Rich Passan is back, with opinions on subjects that range from Winslow to Whizzinators. Here are Rich's takes on a number of Browns topics, including some thoughts on whether offensive tackle L.J. Shelton (pictured) would be a good fit in Cleveland...
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News: The Browns try to win back fans by reaching out to the fans in order to get their seats back in the seats at Browns Stadium.

View: Browns CEO John Collins says he wants the team to be more accessible to fans. He wants to please them. He correctly senses the paying customers have become a disgruntled lot, especially after last season’s collapse.

Yes, there is a long list for season tickets. No problem there.

Collins, however, worries that many season ticketholders don’t show up on game day. They are upset. Upset that the Browns have become a National Football League laughingstock.

To lure back those upset fans, plans call for a weekly magazine featuring columns by Phil Savage and Romeo Crennel. (Wonder who’s going to ghost-write for them.) Linking up with the Great Lakes Science Center and Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame on game days is a possibility. Building stronger bridges to corporations helps.

Collins, a non-football man, is taking a non-football approach to his grand plan to win back a fan base that has sprung a few leaks. He looks at it from a businessman’s standpoint.

In the business world, that’s fine. But in the eyes of the fans, the Browns are football team first, a business second.

Collins’ grand plan is not going to work. One thing he fails to understand is that all only one thing will get the disgruntled fans back to Browns Stadium. It’s the same thing that lured baseball fans back to Jacobs Field after years of failed promotions and futility.

Winning.

The Browns can put out their pulp of pap for the fans all they want. That’s not going to get them to Browns Stadium 10 times a year. Neither are agreements with the Rock Hall or Science Center. The corporate community will not turn its back on the Browns no matter what.

There’s only one way to reach out to the fans and have the fans reach back. Concentrate on putting together a winning team and the rest will fall into place.

Nothing else will work.

<HR width="75%" color=#ff8000>News: The Arizona Cardinals release veteran offensive tackle L. J. Shelton.

View: A lot of Browns fans want to see Shelton in brown and orange. Why?

Granted, the Browns need good offensive tackles. But Shelton, only 29, is not one of them. The 6-6, 335-pounder is corpulent and lazy. Don’t need anyone like that around here.

Shelton was cut recently by Dennis Green, a coach who knows a good football player when he sees one, particularly on offense. The Cardinals need all kinds of help on that side of the ball, so why would he cut the former first-rounder?

Simple. Shelton is not that good.

Four years remained on his contract that would pay him $3 million a year. That’s relatively cheap for an offensive lineman. So money was not a factor.

When Green arrived in Arizona last season, Shelton was the starting left tackle. Reporting overweight to training camp did not endear him to his new coach.

Soon after the season started, Shelton was picking splinters out of his considerable butt. Injuries forced Green to stop the splinter-picking and the big guy was back in the lineup at right tackle.

Now if Shelton had the work ethic of his father, then maybe the Browns would be interested. Lonnie Shelton was a hard-working, overachieving power forward who played 10 seasons in the National Basketball Association with the New York Knicks, Seattle SuperSonics and Cavaliers.

He played here for three seasons during the World B. Free era, retiring after the 1985-86 season with the reputation of being a blue-collar guy who maximized his potential. He was primarily known for his rebounding, a skill that required hard work and determination.

If the younger Shelton had his daddy’s work ethic, the Cardinals most likely would not have cut him.

<HR width="75%" color=#ff8000>News: Kellen Winslow Jr. continues his silence.

View: This has got to be killing the Browns’ daredevil tight end. A guy who likes to talk a lot has been silenced. Muzzled.

There are those in Browns Nation who believe Winslow owes the Cleveland pro football public an explanation and an apology for his mind-numbing actions of a few weeks ago. They don’t understand the deafening silence emanating from Berea.

Sooner or later, they say, he’s got to step up and face the fans. The longer this goes on, the harder the task when he decides to explain away his stupidity.

That might prove more difficult than the comeback that lies ahead.

<HR width="75%" color=#ff8000>News: Minnesota Vikings running back Onterrio Smith might be suspended for one year by the NFL for missing a drug test. Missing a test automatically results in a positive result.

View: Let’s see now. That’s the same Onterrio Smith who was caught in the Twin Cities Airport mean carrying a Whizzinator, a device designed to help beat drug tests, and a vial of dried urine. That didn’t warrant some sort of punishment for the two-time drug offender?

Any idea what message that will send to other NFL miscreants who don’t want to kick their habits? Whizzinators will become the rage around the league.

Gotta believe Ricky Williams has already put in his order.

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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>Weekend News Wrap-Up

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</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>By NFL Scout
Date: May 28, 2005

Scout.com summarizes this week's Cleveland Browns news, including the team's possible interest in LB Peter Boulware and CB Ty Law (pictured)...
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INTEREST IN VETERANS: Browns coach Romeo Crennel is exploring the possibilities of adding veterans Ty Law and Peter Boulware to his inexperienced defense. Both are coming off major injuries and their better days are behind them, but Crennel believes each could help the Browns.

Law, 31, is the three-time Pro Bowl cornerback from the Patriots released in late February. He is recovering from a Lis Franc injury -- a torn ligament in the bottom of his foot. It is the same injury that sidelined former Browns defensive end Courtney Brown for the last 14 games of 2004.

Crennel has deep respect for Law, having been his defensive coordinator in New England the last four years. Law made 634 tackles, 90 pass breakups and 36 interceptions over 141 games since the Patriots drafted him in the first round out of Michigan in 1995.

"Ty knows how I feel about him and I don't think there's any question how he feels about me," Crennel said. "His injury situation is one that has to be resolved."

Law is able to run, but still cannot cut as well as he did prior to the injury.

Boulware, the pass-rushing linebacker released May 9 by the Ravens, is coming off a knee injury that cost him the final game of 2003 and all of 2004. The Browns are interested because Boulware has 67.5 sacks in 111 games, and one thing the defense sorely lacks is a pass rusher.

"He has experience in the 3-4 so he's familiar with the system," Crennel said. "Plus he's been productive in the NFL, particularly in the pass rush. If you think he'd be a good fit on the field and in the locker room, you go ahead and make that move. I think he could bring a proven dimension. He'd be a plus."

The Jets, Steelers and Dolphins have shown interest in Law.

The Browns expect competition for Boulware to come from Seattle because his brother, Michael Boulware, plays there.




WINSLOW WRAP: Though Kellen Winslow Jr. will miss the 2005 season with a torn right ACL as a result of a motorcycle accident May 1, he continues to work out at the Browns' training complex. Part of his routine includes riding a stationary bike.

Former Browns great Jim Brown, now working in the players relations department, played a role in encouraging Winslow to apologize to fans. Winslow took the opposite approach for close to four weeks.

"The purpose was to have Kellen Jr. really state to the fans and the organization his remorse about the mistake he made -- and there's no question that a mistake was made," Brown said. "We in turn want to support him in his recovery and not beat him up when he's down."


VERBA, LANG MAKE NEWS: Left tackle Ross Verba is skipping passing camp and might sit out minicamp June 13-15 in a contract dispute. Kenard Lang was not a regular in offseason workouts, but he is attending passing camp. Coaches are trying to convert him from defensive end to outside linebacker in the 3-4 defense.


LESSON NOT LEARNED: On the heels of Cleveland tight end Kellen Winslow injuring himself while riding a motorcycle, Broncos coach Mike Shanahan warned his team about dangerous off-the-field activities. A few days later, guard P.J. Alexander tore the ACL in his left knee while riding an off-road four-wheel vehicle.

"I (warned the team about dangerous activities) three days before (Alexander's injury), to give you an idea how strong my speech was," Shanahan said.

Alexander was supposed to compete for the starting right guard spot with Cooper Carlisle but he will miss the entire season with the injury.

"I don't know if he was going to tip over or something, but he put his foot down and tore his ACL," Shanahan said. "It had nothing to do with football."

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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>Take That Ross! Shelton Signs Deal

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</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>By Site Staff
Date: Jun 3, 2005

Quickly answering the holdout by starting LT Ross Verba, the Cleveland Browns have reached a one-year agreement with recently released OT L.J. Shelton (Cardinals). Published reports indicate that the Browns are considering several options relating to Verba's future. Developing....
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According to published reports, the Cleveland Browns have reached a one-year agreement with recently released OT L.J. Shelton (Cardinals). The signing puts the future of erstwhile holdout left tackle Ross Verba in doubt

Shelton was released by the Cardinals on May 19th, and the tackle had been pursued by a number of teams, including the Houston Texans and Chicago Bears. The signing comes quickly after last year's starting tackle, Ross Verba, went public with his decision to hold out of Quarterback School. Verba's holdout was ostensibly a response to what he felt was the team's reneging on a promise to re-do his contact following the 2004 season.

Shelton, apparently like Verba, ran afoul of his last team after a change in leadership. Cardinals Head Coach Dennis Green didn't warm to Shelton, who was the team's #1 draft pick in 1999. Green started Shelton at right tackle for nine games last year, but benched him for three other games. The way he was used in 2004 was a change for Shelton, who has started 77 of the 82 games he's played in his six-year career, and who had spent his entire pro career playing left tackle.

Ross Verba's future is undetermined at this time. The Browns would not absorb a cap hit for releasing Verba, his 2004 signing bonus would be spread over the next two seasons regardless of whether or not he played for the Browns. Trading or releasing Verba are options, as is keeping him on the club and potentially using him in a back-up role.

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<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>Browns Make Shelton Signing Official

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</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>By Browns Press Release
Date: Jun 5, 2005

Here is the press release sent out by the Browns signalling the official announcement of OT L.J. Shelton.
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June 4, 2005
For Immediate Release BROWNS INK OL L.J. SHELTON

The Cleveland Browns signed free agent offensive lineman L.J. Shelton to a one-year contract the club announced today. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Shelton (6-6, 325, Eastern Michigan), a former first-round pick (21st overall) of the Arizona Cardinals in 1999, is a six-year NFL veteran who started 77 of 82 games for Arizona mainly at left tackle.

“We identified the offensive line as an area we wanted to address this off-season,” said Browns Senior Vice President and General Manger Phil Savage. “We have made strides towards that by adding Joe Andruzzi, Cosey Coleman and now L.J. Shelton.”

Shelton, who was released by the Cardinals last month, appeared in 12 games with Arizona in 2004 with nine starts at left tackle.

The Browns will continue with their off-season passing camp next week before concluding the off-season with a mandatory three-day mini-camp beginning on Monday, June 13.


Shelton’s Career Statistics:

Year Team GP GS

1999 Arizona 9 7
2000 Arizona 14 14
2001 Arizona 16 16
2002 Arizona 16 16
2003 Arizona 15 15
2004 Arizona 12 9

Totals 82 77

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<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>Lang Learns a New Position

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</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>By NFL Scout
Date: Jun 6, 2005

Kenard Lang has changed how he eats, paring his weight back to 255 this summer, but a bigger change is in store. Scout.com discusses how the 9-year veteran is making the shift to linebacker...
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Kenard Lang is trying to learn a new position as he switches from defensive end to outside linebacker and he is trying to reshape his body at the same time.

Lang, 30, changed his eating habits to lose weight. He cut fried foods and soda from his diet and is now a lean, agile 254 pounds. That's about 10 pounds lighter than he was last year and 23 pounds lighter than he was in 2002, his first season with the Browns.

Passing camp provides a stage for Lang to learn how to read offenses. For example, the read could tell him whether the player he must cover is going to run a route in the flat or go upfield. He has to pay attention to motion in the backfield. As a defensive end, all he had to worry was the tackle next to him and the play right in front of him.

Lang said the most difficult part physically will be sticking with Ravens tight end Todd Heap and Colts running back Edgerrin James, among others. James, whom the Browns face in the third game of the season, caught 51 passes last year.

"I'd be happy to cover E.J.," Lang said. "I'd be whispering in his ear the whole day. That means I'd be right on top of him. That would be cool.

"I understand teams might (test me). If I was an offensive coordinator and I have a new person out there, I'd want to test him. Once he makes a couple plays, you might decide to throw that fish back in the water and try to find another fish."

Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham says Lang is on schedule. Lang is competing for playing time with Matt Stewart, an outside linebacker acquired from Atlanta in free agency.

"Nothing Kenard has done on the field has told me he can't do it," Grantham said. "Only time will tell, based upon what happens in training camp and how he performs in preseason games, but he's the kind of guy you want on your team because he's very unselfish. He might not do it right all the time, but he makes progress every day."

Lang started the last 15 games at right end in 2004. He led all defensive linemen with 73 tackles, was second behind Ebenezer Ekuban (eight) with seven sacks and second to Ekuban (28) with 21 quarterback pressures.

As an end in the 4-3 defense the Browns played under Butch Davis, Lang often lined up outside the offensive tackle to beat him around the corner. The ends in the 3-4 go head-on with the blocker. Orpheus Roye and Alvin McKinley, the projected starting defensive ends, weigh 320 pounds and 310 pounds respectively.


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