Cleveland Browns (2009 Season)

[3074326]

There are going to be some intriguing players being released or traded soon.

Short list..

Lito Sheppard - likely going to be traded
Ladainian Tomlinson - looks like he's unwilling to restructure his contract.
Anthony Weaver -DE who has not excelled at getting sacks, but might be good for depth. He's big (6'3, 275) and might be a decent run-stuffer.
Marvin Harrison
Kalimba Edwards - probably not an interest to the Browns.
Gibril Wilson - Didn't think he was that bad of a safety.. can't be much worse than what the Browns currently have.
Ronald Curry - I think he'd be a solid WR for someone who doesn't have Jamarcus Russell throwing.
Derrick Burgess - dude can get to the QB, not sure if he'd fit in a 3-4

There are obviously other guys that I think the Browns could use (Dre' Bly, Leigh Bodden), but those ones are a little more recent.. any of you think the Browns take a look at any of them? I seriously doubt interest in LT, I just threw him in there for some reason.

[Buckeneye]

I think LT would be a fine pick up. Certainly not a long term solution by any stretch, but look at what Jamal did his first year. Chip on the shoulder with something to prove.

And off-season of conditioning and therapy he could possibly produce a couple more solid seasons. On top of that he's a great leader and solid presence to an organization. He could help school some of the younger guys and bring an added stability in the locker room.

Imagine having to answer to Lewis and LT as a teamate - you'd keep your nose clean I bet.


As for Brown, please god no.

I defense needs to be seriously addressed in this draft - and if it isn't in FA, I'd like to see Jenkins or a LB taken 1st.
If we want something of a longer hall for the RB spot (and ward doesn't come in) I've always liked the thought of Shonn Green in the 2nd round.
That's just me though.

[osugrad21]

CPD

Like father, like son: NFL teams bullish on Clay Matthews III (who wouldn't mind being a Brown)

by Tony Grossi/Plain Dealer Reporter Monday February 23, 2009, 6:36 PM


Mark J. Terrill/Associated PressSouthern California linebacker Clay Matthews III made a big impression in his final season with the Trojans, and it wasn't simply when he removed his helmet.
CLEVELAND -- At the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, Ozzie Newsome was asked to evaluate Clay Matthews, the linebacker from Southern California. A look of feigned confusion crossed his face.
"You mean his father?" said the Baltimore Ravens general manager, chuckling.
In the NFL, you know you're getting old when the sons of former teammates start showing up on draft boards.
"That has happened over the last four, five years," Newsome said. "One of the tough things you have to do is tell a former teammate, someone that you went to war with, that I don't think your son's good enough to play for us. That's a very tough thing to tell a father.
"Now in the case of Clay, I won't have to make that statement because he is a good player playing on a team with a lot of good players."

Newsome and Matthews were co-first round draft picks of the Browns in 1978. Matthews was taken at No. 12, Newsome at No. 23. Now, Matthews' son, who is not Clay Jr. but Clay III, is rising into first-round territory.
"He's a pretty impressive kid," the older Matthews said from his home in Agoura Hills, Calif. "Granted I'm his father, but he's really worked hard."
Of course, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
Clay Matthews, the former Browns linebacker, grew up in an affluent family, himself a son of a former NFL player, Clay Matthews Sr. Although Matthews arrived in Cleveland from USC with the golden looks of a California surfer, he proved himself as a blue-collar player over 16 seasons with the Browns and three more with the Atlanta Falcons.
One of the most on-spot assessments of the Browns linebacker, in fact, was made by his son at the combine.

Cont...

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Linebacker stars aligned for Browns in draft By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 12:54 p.m. EST, Feb 18, 2009
For once, the Browns' timing might be right.
They are in desperate need of linebackers, especially those with speed, and the NFL Draft this year is loaded with them.
''This is a great year for outside linebackers, especially when you're talking about 4-3 defensive ends in college who are expected to stand up and play rush linebacker,'' NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said on a recent conference call. ''It's the deepest group of 3-4 outside linebackers I've seen in the last five or six years.''
Browns coach Eric Mangini and General Manager George Kokinis will continue the team's search for defensive upgrades this week at the NFL Scouting Combine, which opened Wednesday and runs through Tuesday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Among the area players participating are Ohio State running back Chris Wells (Garfield High School) and receiver Brian Hartline (GlenOak) and Northwestern running back Tyrell Sutton (Hoban).
The Browns hold the fifth overall pick but have only four selections in the April 25-26 draft, in the first, second, fourth and sixth rounds. Former General Manager Phil Savage dealt away the others for tight end Martin Rucker, receiver Paul Hubbard and cornerback Travis Daniels.
Many mock drafts have the Browns selecting Wake Forest outside linebacker Aaron Curry, whom Mayock said ''might be the safest pick in the entire draft.''
''He's a little different,'' Mayock said. ''He's a 4-3 (strong side) linebacker who dominated the tight end, but I could see him converting to a 3-4 outside linebacker. He rushes well, he drops well, he's a fifth-year kid, he's mature. He's scheme-diverse. He's intelligent.''
Mayock said he expects Curry will get a long look from Kansas City Chiefs General Manager Scott Pioli, who holds the third pick.
ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. is one of those who projects Curry to the Browns. But he didn't seem as high on him as Mayock.
''He probably falls into that category as the safest guy, maybe not a boom, but not a bust,'' Kiper said. ''Curry doesn't have any real weaknesses, although he's not as fast as some would prefer.''
Cont...

[osugrad21]

CPD

Browns tackle Shaun Rogers reportedly wants off team, upset with new coach Eric Mangini

by Mary Kay Cabot / Plain Dealer Reporter Wednesday February 25, 2009, 3:07 AM


Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerPerceived snubs by new Browns coach Eric Mangini reportedly have defensive lineman Shaun Rogers looking to get out of Cleveland.
Browns Pro Bowl defensive tackle Shaun Rogers is so disgruntled with new coach Eric Mangini and the new regime that he's asked the team not to pay his guaranteed $6 million option bonus next month, nfl.com's Adam Schefter reported Tuesday night.
Eric Mangini
Schefter, according to a source close to Rogers, said the tackle would rather be released after only one season even though he's owed $15 million in guaranteed money. However, he hasn't asked yet to be released, the Browns told nfl.com.
Rogers is reportedly miffed about two off-season incidents in which he feels Mangini snubbed him. The first time, Mangini walked into the Browns' training room and didn't say hello to Rogers, the source said. The second time, Mangini and Rogers were together in the media room at the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards on Jan. 23 and neither acknowledged the other.

Mangini said at a news conference Feb. 4: "I didn't even realize Shaun was there at the time. I know that's probably hard to believe considering how big he is and how big I am. It's like two destroyers missing each other."
Mangini recently reached out to Rogers, according to the report. And a source within the Browns organization told Schefter that Mangini is still optimistic he can sway Rogers once they speak. But sources close to Rogers say he won't change his mind.
The report says some believe there are other reasons why Rogers wants to leave the Browns, but didn't specify.

Cont...

[osugrad21]

CPD

Terry Pluto blog: Talkin' to myself about the Cleveland Browns quarterbacks ...

by Terry Pluto / Plain Dealer Columnist Tuesday February 24, 2009, 12:31 PM



Joshua Gunter / The Plain DealerDerek Anderson, left, and Brady Quinn shared practice time last season. Will it be the same this year?
Question: Did you hear what Eric Mangini said the other day about possibly keeping both Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn? Answer: He said he may keep them both. He said that he and his coaching staff have not decided on a starter. He said you can never have enough good quarterbacks, and he said he could even have a quarterback competition in training camp.
Q: Why did he say all that?
A: Because it is possible it could happen, but don't bet on it. Nor would it be a good idea. But if you're General Manager George Kokinis and if you are even considering the trade of Anderson, the last thing you want is your coach declaring Quinn the starter right now.
Q: Why?
A: Because you want to make Anderson sound like Otto Graham. You want other teams to believe with just the right coaching and the proper play-calling, this guy can be a franchise quarterback. You want to talk about the Derek Anderson who threw 29 touchdown passes in 2007 and made the Pro Bowl, not the Anderson who was waived by Baltimore early in his career, or the Anderson who struggled last season.
Q: Are you blaming Anderson for the 4-12 record and ...
A: It's not about blaming. It's about the Browns figuring out which quarterback will be best for them in 2009, then using the other to bring the most in trade. Odds are they prefer Quinn. New offensive coordinator Brian Daboll was a wide receiver coach in New England when Charlie Weis called the plays. Weis had Quinn at Notre Dame and insists Quinn can be star in the NFL. It seems Daboll and his offense would lean toward Quinn, given the New England offense and the influence of Weis.

Cont...

[3074326]

List of FAs/FAs that could/should be interests to the Browns.

DaytonDailyNews: Dayton, Ohio, news and information

[NFBuck]

Originally Posted by osugrad21

CPD

[censored]ing wonderful. Well, to be honest, that's some prima-donna bull[censored] from Rogers. Sounds like he's just looking for an excuse to get outta Dodge. Either way, it's the best defensive player, hell, the best player on the team upset and wanting out.

This franchise will never win anything of significance...NEVER. Us Browns fans are doomed to be like Red Sox fans that died before 2004.

[tsteele316]

Originally Posted by NFBuck

[censored]ing wonderful. Well, to be honest, that's some prima-donna bull[censored] from Rogers. Sounds like he's just looking for an excuse to get outta Dodge. Either way, it's the best defensive player, hell, the best player on the team upset and wanting out.

This franchise will never win anything of significance...NEVER. Us Browns fans are doomed to be like Red Sox fans that died before 2004.

1. mary kay cabot is a raging douchenozzle. she makes roger brown seem credible.

2. the word today is that rogers is [censored]ed that mangini instituted a policy that the team shows up for March OTA's at their playing weight, which for Rogers was supposed to be 350. he himself said that he was more like 335-340 last year. so, i fail to see why it is an issue.

my guess is that he liked the crennel system of showing up to camp obese and spending most of the time trying to shed some pounds instead of actually practicing and getting better. of course, that's why cleveland failed to look competitive until week 5.

the bottom line is that the lazy rogers that detroit hated so much is showing back up, but the difference is that instead of having the inept lions organization or softy crennel in charge, there's a hardass.

[billmac91]

Originally Posted by tsteele316

1. mary kay cabot is a raging douchenozzle. she makes roger brown seem credible.

2. the word today is that rogers is [censored]ed that mangini instituted a policy that the team shows up for March OTA's at their playing weight, which for Rogers was supposed to be 350. he himself said that he was more like 335-340 last year. so, i fail to see why it is an issue.

my guess is that he liked the crennel system of showing up to camp obese and spending most of the time trying to shed some pounds instead of actually practicing and getting better. of course, that's why cleveland failed to look competitive until week 5.

the bottom line is that the lazy rogers that detroit hated so much is showing back up, but the difference is that instead of having the inept lions organization or softy crennel in charge, there's a hardass.

exactly.

I'm hopeful with this new approach, announcers for the Browns in week 1, won't be commenting on the players telling them they expect to lose, and will be prepared for week 2.

That had to be my favorite highlight from last year....

[jlb1705]

Well, at least there's a hardass coach now, so we've got that going for us, which is nice.

[NFBuck]

Originally Posted by tsteele316

the bottom line is that the lazy rogers that detroit hated so much is showing back up, but the difference is that instead of having the inept lions organization or softy crennel in charge, there's a hardass.

Agreed. Either way though, it's a loss if the fat, lazy Rogers shows up and not the one who was so dominant at times last year. I get the feeling his productive days are now behind him as he will not mesh with Mangini's style.

[ysubuck]

You want out?

Go.

You fat [censored]ing baby.

[OState29]

Originally Posted by tsteele316

the bottom line is that the lazy rogers that detroit hated so much is showing back up, but the difference is that instead of having the inept lions organization or softy crennel in charge, there's a hardass.

I just hope he is the hardass that you believe and not the douchebag psycho that he appeared to be in New York or else all the players will turn on him.

[ysubuck]

Originally Posted by OState29

I just hope he is the hardass that you believe and not the douchebag psycho that he appeared to be in New York or else all the players will turn on him.

True. You can be a dick and look like a genius if you win games.
If you lose your just a dick.