Cleveland Browns (2007 & prior)

[NFBuck]

Awesome that Thomas is heading to Hawaii. Dude was a beast all year and has given the Browns the franchise LT all franchises need. That draft pick may end up being the turning point for the franchise.

[buckiprof]

Originally Posted by JCOSU86

I remain skeptical. This year may very well have been the result of a great Oline, receivers and easy schedule. I need more evidence that 1 year to give away the store on Romeo.

I couldn't agree more. It does seem that the players honestly respect Romeo and will play hard for him, but I need to see it done another year. BTW, it is for this concern that I was thrilled to hear that Chud got an extension through 2011.....if Romeo's year was a fluke, Chud is the next head coach.

Originally Posted by muffler dragon

I can understand this sentiment. The impact of Chuds on O is obvious. The languishing of the D falls on Grantham's and Romeo's backs as far as I'm concerned. If they continue with the Prevent D every time they have a lead; then they lose sympathy from me more and more.

The last 5-6 games, the Browns defense was better than at the beginning of the year. To me, that is somewhat significant since seeing a defense improve like they did from beginning to end is really unusual. (Not so much so for an offense.) They still need to address key areas in the off season via free agency and the draft, but the improvement that I saw in the last 5 games gave me some reason to be optimistic for the future (assuming upgrades that is).

Originally Posted by BuckeyeMike80

I'm still relatively shocked they even tried to fix the O-line. I mean it was only a glaring weakness since 1999.....

Do not forget that Savage did sign in his first year as Gm the best o-lineman that was a free agent, a pro-bowler named LeCharles. So it really hasn't been that Savage didn't know that it was a huge weak link on the team, he was aggressive in the free agent market, got the best, then watched as the best got injured on the first play of contact drills.

I was happy when Savage did sign LeCharles, or should I say shocked, because it signaled that we had a GM that got it. It seems that since the 1980's I have been bitching about the Browns ignoring the o-line, so I do know where you are coming from.

Originally Posted by LitlBuck

I might add Anderson to that also

I do too. There are too many instances over this past season to leave little doubts about whether or not the overall result was somewhat flukish or with some seasoning he could become everything that any Browns fan would hope that he could become.

Just like with Romeo, show me what you can do next year. I hope they both surpass what they did this year.

[osugrad21]

DDN

GM works to bring Browns back

Cleveland hopes to resign Anderson and Lewis, and lock up Crennel long-term.


By Tom Withers
Associated Press

Thursday, January 10, 2008

BEREA ? Romeo Crennel and Derek Anderson are about to cash in on Cleveland's comeback season. Their rewards: job security and fatter paychecks.
For his efforts in helping drag the Browns out of the NFL's basement, Crennel is on the verge of being rewarded with a contract extension by the club. Cleveland went 10-6 and barely missed making the AFC playoffs in his third season as head coach.
"We have every intention of doing something for Romeo," Browns General Manager Phil Savage said Wednesday.
In his first public comments since Cleveland's turnaround ended one win shy of the postseason, Savage also said he's hoping to re-sign Anderson, who went from an inexperienced backup quarterback to a Pro Bowl alternate in just months. Savage feels the 24-year-old restricted free agent did enough in his first season as a starter to deserve a long-term contract.



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[osugrad21]

ABJ

Browns want to keep Anderson General manager says goal is to get deal done with QB before start of free agency
Published on Thursday, Jan 10, 2008



BEREA: Phil Savage made a strong commitment to quarterback Derek Anderson being part of the Browns' future during a media get-together Wednesday afternoon.
Savage said the Browns would like to have Anderson with the team in 2008 ''and beyond.''
''I think the deserving thing is to say that he's the starter going into next year,'' said Savage, the Browns general manager.
Now it's down to numbers.
If the Browns are to keep Anderson for the next few years, they will have to give him a contract that will entice him to stay off the restricted free-agent market, which usually opens around March 1.
Savage indicated that the Browns would definitely give Anderson the contract tender that would allow them to be given first- and third-round choices as compensation should Anderson sign elsewhere (and the Browns not match).
Savage, though, strongly stated that the Browns do not want to get to that point.

Cont..

[osugrad21]

CPD

Cleveland Browns aim to sign, start quarterback Derek Anderson for 2008 season



Thursday, January 10, 2008 Mary Kay Cabot

Plain Dealer Reporter
The Browns plan to sign quarterback Derek Anderson to a multiyear deal soon, keep him off the restricted free-agent market and let him start at least one more season, Browns General Manager Phil Savage said Wednesday.
In his end of the season news conference, Savage said the Browns have been talking to Anderson's agents and that negotiations could heat up by the end of this week.
"We've been kicking some ideas back and forth, and we'd like to get something done," said Savage. "Our goal is to get him out of that restricted free-agent market."


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