Cleveland Browns (2008 Season)

[LitlBuck]

I guess I don't understand where all this whining about the Stallworth signee is coming from. He had about 50 receptions with the Patriots last season and that is pretty decent amongst their receiving corps.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

espn.com

Browns' recently acquired defensive tackle gets 6-year deal

By John Clayton
ESPN.com
(Archive)

Updated: March 5, 2008, 11:34 AM ET

The Cleveland Browns moved quickly to acquire former Detroit Lions defensive tackle Shaun Rogers after a trade with the Bengals was nixed, and moved just as fast in securing him to a long-term contract.
Rogers and the Browns agreed to a six-year, $42 million deal on Wednesday, a restructuring that will keep him in Cleveland until 2013. With his existing contract scheduled to expire in 2010, three years and a guaranteed $20 million were added to make the deal work.
Under terms of the new contract, Rogers will make $23 million over the first three years.

Continued....

[BuckeyeMike80]

Who is whining about the Stallworth signing?

Seriously? Someone is whining about that? Are they actually Browns fans?

That had to be about the most obvious signing of the period so far. If you have a chance to get someone of his talent level to be your #2 (not your #1 but your #2) receiver, YOU DO IT.

[jlb1705]

Originally Posted by BuckeyeMike80

Who is whining about the Stallworth signing?

Seriously? Someone is whining about that? Are they actually Browns fans?

That had to be about the most obvious signing of the period so far. If you have a chance to get someone of his talent level to be your #2 (not your #1 but your #2) receiver, YOU DO IT.

I wasn't referring to anybody here whining about Stallworth - just stuff I've heard from non-Browns fans I've talked to and some other people and columnists across teh internets.

[LitlBuck]

Originally Posted by jlb1705

I wasn't referring to anybody here whining about Stallworth - just stuff I've heard from non-Browns fans I've talked to and some other people and columnists across teh internets.

They are probably just jealous but I hope his contract is backloaded because with the Rogers signing we probably have only enough $under the cap for 2 more FAs plus re-signing all of our free agents.

[jlb1705]

Originally Posted by LitlBuck

They are probably just jealous but I hope his contract is backloaded because with the Rogers signing we probably have only enough the cap for 2 more FAs plus re-signing all of our free agents.

Agreed. And as already discussed here, the Browns could stand to shore up the secondary.

[BuckeyeMike80]

Originally Posted by jlb1705

I wasn't referring to anybody here whining about Stallworth - just stuff I've heard from non-Browns fans I've talked to and some other people and columnists across teh internets.

Ahh ok.....clears it up. The more griping from people who aren't Browns fans and/or the failed English majors that comprise the sports media, the better

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Free agents put Browns in position to win now Some NFL watchers say Savage's actions make team a threat
Published on Thursday, Mar 06, 2008


Next time Phil Savage tells us he's going to take free agency slow, it might be wise to strap ourselves in like we're riding the Top Thrill Dragster.
Savage, the Browns' general manager, takes things slow and easy the way the space shuttle takes it slow when taking off.
In the first few days of free agency, Savage:
? Re-signed quarterback Derek Anderson, something that he had said was an offseason priority.
? Added a very good defensive tackle in Corey Williams via trade from the Green Bay Packers.
? Added a defensive tackle with much baggage in Shaun Rogers via trade from the Detroit Lions.


Cont...

[osugrad21]

CPD

Going big on defensive line means going big on payroll for Cleveland Browns



Thursday, March 06, 2008 Tony Grossi

Plain Dealer Reporter
They are big. They are bad. And they aren't cheap.
The Browns' new defensive line pulls in $100 million. That is, if the top four players see everything in their contracts.
The $100 million defensive line came to fruition on Wednesday when the Browns ripped up the final three years of Shaun Rogers' Detroit contract and substituted a new six-year deal.
The total value is for $42 million, according to multiple reports, with $20 million guaranteed.
Rogers was scheduled to make $19.5 million over the final three years of his Detroit contract. The new deal ups that figure to $23 million.
This is a player who the Lions feared would slack off after his previous base salary was scheduled to increase from $1.5 million in 2007 to $4.25 million in 2008.
The Browns are betting that even more money will bring out the best, not the worst, in Rogers. They also invested a third-round draft pick and starting cornerback Leigh Bodden to trade for Rogers.
Previously, the Browns traded their second-round pick to Green Bay for defensive lineman Corey Williams. They signed Williams to a six-year deal for $38 million.




Cont...

[osugrad21]

CPD

Cleveland Browns are taking a chance with Shaun Rogers, says The Plain Dealer's Bud Shaw



Thursday, March 06, 2008 Bud Shaw

Plain Dealer Columnist
nly seeing is be lieving.
"Whatever happens in the past stays in the past," said new Browns defensive lineman Shaun Rogers.
What is this, a commercial for Las Vegas?
Come to think of it, that might be appropriate since this is the one move that looks more and more like a roll of the dice.
The Detroit Lions saw enough of Rogers that they didn't want to give him the raise coming to him. And now the Browns, who haven't been Rogers' employer for even a week, are adding to his wealth with a contract that will guarantee him $20 million.
It's owner Randy Lerner's money to spend. It's General Manager Phil Savage's salary cap to manage. But the Browns are putting a lot of trust in the old "change of scenery" curing some character issues.
Proving oneself with money as the carrot stick is usually a stronger motivator. But Rogers already has hit the lottery before making a single tackle.
The Browns gave up a third-round draft choice and cornerback Leigh Bodden for Rogers. So they better not only have some inside information that tells them Rogers will respond, but it had better be more reliable than say, those WMDs in Iraq.




Cont...

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Link

Stallworth gives Browns options

Steve King, Staff Writer
03.05.2008

Sometimes, what you don't see is exactly what you get.

That seems to be the case with the Browns' newest wide receiver, former New England Patriot Donte Stallworth.

When the speedy Stallworth was signed in free agency last Saturday, the reaction was predictable. The Browns had acquired another deep-ball threat to go along with Pro Bowler Braylon Edwards. They are perfectly suited to play in an offense with a big-arm quarterback such as Derek Anderson.

The Browns like to stretch the field. Now with Anderson throwing to these two, they can stretch it into the end zone.

Continued....

[LitlBuck]

The only concern that I have in sending Rogers and Williams to those big contracts is that the two Smith guys are probably going to be asking for a little hike in their contracts because both Rogers and Williams are making 2-3 times more than what Shaun and Robaire are making. The same might hold true with regards to Edwards with the signing of Stallworth.

[jlb1705]

Originally Posted by LitlBuck

The only concern that I have in sending Rogers and Williams to those big contracts is that the two Smith guys are probably going to be asking for a little hike in their contracts because both Rogers and Williams are making 2-3 times more than what Shaun and Robaire are making. The same might hold true with regards to Edwards with the signing of Stallworth.

Robaire and Shaun Smith are going to have to go out and actually do something of note before they get paid like Rogers and Williams. Rogers has been to a couple pro bowls. Since 2004, Williams has 17 sacks. Shaun and Robaire combined have 10. That's about all Savage would need to say to tell those two to shut up and play ball if they somehow decided they had already earned that kind of pay raise for themselves.

As for Braylon Edwards, despite the nice contract Stallworth got, Braylon still makes more money. Stallworth got a $35 million contract, $10 million guaranteed; Braylon got a $40 million contract, $20 million guaranteed when he was drafted no. 3 overall. Besides, he knows that the Browns had other important things to address in FA this offseason, and that if he puts together another season this year like he did last year he's gonna get another big payday.

[LitlBuck]

Originally Posted by jlb1705

Robaire and Shaun Smith are going to have to go out and actually do something of note before they get paid like Rogers and Williams..

I understand what you are saying about the Smith guys but I think you have to take in mind how professional athletes think. They all think that there has good as the next guy especially when the next guy is getting paid a hell of a lot more money. Just sayin...

[OH10]

I've liked just about every offseason move so far except for the big contract they threw at Shaun Rogers. I'm not buying that he's going to be able to get it fully together to be worth that much. He's certainly an upgrade, but he's not a sure thing, so why toss around that much money like there's no salary cap?