Cleveland Browns (2009 Season)

[itownbuckeye]

Originally Posted by LitlBuck

I guess so because it was probably guaranteed money but it's not nice to have a vacant roster spot worth> $7 mil. I guess if the NFL had the NBA's CBA the Browns would be off the hook for his salary.

If he wasn't suspended then he'd likely either be a non-factor or injured so there would basically be a vacant roster spot either way.

[LitlBuck]

I would love for the Browns to go to this type of defense if for no other reason that it was named for an Ohio State Buckeye In addition, it would just be a change from what we have been seeing that what we have been seeing has not been very good.

Cleveland.com

NFL Insider: Mangini, Rob Ryan want the Cleveland Browns' defense to have a '46' look
by Tony Grossi/Plain Dealer Reporter
Saturday June 20, 2009, 7:43 PM

"His defense changed everything," Parcells said during a visit when Bill Belichick, his protege, first took over as Browns coach.

Ryan's "46" defense of the Chicago Bears bludgeoned foes in the 1980s with relentless pressure on running and passing downs. Ryan's defense might have been the most dominant the NFL has ever seen.

The 46 name came from the jersey number of hard-hitting safety Doug Plank, who lined up close to the line of scrimmage and played with the reckless abandon Ryan sought from the entire unit. Plank was the so-called eighth man in the (tackle) box. On any given down it was possible that all eight players -- four linemen, three linebackers and Plank -- would rush the passer or the ball-carrier.

The 46 is synonymous with the Ryan coaching name. And now, Rob Ryan, Eric Mangini's defensive coordinator, will try to incorporate a version of the 46 with the Browns.

It won't be the Browns' base defense, but Ryan is putting it into the overall package.

"Really, the 46 was designed as a nickel defense," Ryan said. "It wasn't really the base of my father, either. It just started stopping everything so it became a base."

Without getting too technical, the 46 attempts to confuse and swallow quarterbacks with its eight-man front. It features four down linemen, three linebackers and a safety close to the line of scrimmage. The two outside linebackers may overload the same side.

Continued

[LitlBuck]

Terry Pluto's Talkin' ... about Cleveland Browns' plans and a disappointing Indian - Cleveland, OH Sports Blog | Terry's Talkin' Sports - cleveland.com

Terry Pluto's Talkin' ... about Cleveland Browns' plans and a disappointing Indian
by Terry Pluto/Plain Dealer Columnist
Saturday June 20, 2009, 11:59 PM
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- On Father's Day, Terry Pluto's talkin' ...

About the Browns ...

Odds are that Braylon Edwards will remain with the team this season. ... unless a team comes out of nowhere with a huge trade offer late in training camp because a receiver is hurt and it is desperate for a replacement. So far, Edwards has been doing what the coaches have asked. The Browns are hoping that as Edwards heads into some type of free agency (depending upon what happens with the collective bargaining agreement), he will be at his best this year. It's in his self-interest to do so and it's also a chance to revive his reputation, which took a hit when he led the NFL in dropped passes a year ago.

It turns out the Giants never did offer a package that included their first-round pick plus some other players for Edwards. Nor did any other team offer a first-rounder for Edwards. The trade offers the Browns received were far more modest than that -- middle-round picks and so-so veterans. So they decided to keep Edwards and see if they can get him back to playing as he did in 2007.

Even if Donte Stallworth stayed out of trouble, it's hard to know how much of a role he'd have played this season. One thing all the coaches appreciate about Edwards is that he blocks and can be a physical player. Stallworth has never been accused of that. Nor is he considered mentally tough. Brian Robiskie has been solid in camp. The hope is with Edwards stretching the defense with deep patterns on one side and Robiskie running strong medium routes, the Browns can develop a 1-2 receiving punch and also get contributions from others such as David Patten, Mike Furrey, Mohamed Massaquoi and maybe a long shot such as Lance Leggett or Jordan Norwood. Furrey, who has excellent hands, had some very good moments in the minicamps and he could play a lot early in the season as the kids adjust to the game.

Joshua Cribbs has been spending nearly all his time on offense as a receiver. The key will be his ability to run sharp routes and make sure he catches the ball before taking off down the field. Sounds simple, but nuances of the position are new to the former Kent State QB. He has played some receiver in his first four years with the Browns, but this is the most intense training the special teams star is receiving at the position.

By the end of last season, Eric Steinbach was playing in the 275- to 280-pound range. The Browns want Steinbach to at least get into the middle 290s because the linemen he's facing are so large. The new regime knows Joe Thomas and Steinbach can be one of the best blocking duos on the left side in the NFL, but they want more strength from both guys. Thomas has especially impressed the coaches with his willingness to buy into their program.

Continued

[itownbuckeye]

Scout.com: Report: Browns Ink James Davis

According to Aaron Wilson of Ravens Insider and Pro Football Talk, the Cleveland Browns have signed RB James Davis to a four-year contract worth $1.85 million.
Davis has made a favorable impression early on in his rookie season, leading one AFC North front office exec to proclaim that the Browns got a "steal" in drafting him in the sixth round.

[MUBuck]

Originally Posted by itownbuckeye

Scout.com: Report: Browns Ink James Davis

Cue torn ACL with several bouts of Staph infections...

[OH10]

Braylon Edwards fails Browns physical; Mohamed Massaquoi signs contract: Browns Insider - cleveland.com

Braylon is listed as having not reported with an undisclosed injury that caused him to fail his physical.

And the Cleveland sports' fan fun continues...

[ysubuck]

Good Lord.

They should have traded his [censored]ing ass when they got rid of The Soulja.

He's really matured since his days at Me[censored]Again, hasn't he? [censored]ing worthless piece of [censored].

[NightmaresDad]

Originally Posted by ysubuck

Good Lord.

They should have traded his [censored]ing ass when they got rid of The Soulja.

He's really matured since his days at Me[censored]Again, hasn't he? [censored]ing worthless piece of [censored].

Actually, I was [censored]ed that they traded Winslow instead of Edwards when it happened.
I know he was a primadonna at scUM south, but face it, Winslow was the best football player the Browns had. Edwards has always been a chicken[censored].
Looks like Robiskie and Massaquoi will get more PT sooner rather than later.

[AmeriBuck007]

Originally Posted by NightmaresDad

Actually, I was [censored]ed that they traded Winslow instead of Edwards when it happened.
I know he was a primadonna at scUM south, but face it, Winslow was the best football player the Browns had. Edwards has always been a chicken[censored].
Looks like Robiskie and Massaquoi will get more PT sooner rather than later.

It doesn't appear to be a huge deal. He rolled his ankle but should be back on track in a week. And let's hope Robo signs a contract soon

[jlb1705]

That "failed physical" sounds much worse than it probably really is at this point.

We all knew that he's immature, so this latest incident is no revleation in that regard. If he just rolled his ankle he'll be fine, and I think he'll try to turn it on this year to increase the value of his next contract which hopefully isn't with the Browns.

[NJ-Buckeye]

Hope it's not gerbils again .. they always seem to get in the way

[jlb1705]

Wait, I forgot this is the Browns. It is a big deal because the injury hasn't turned into a staph infection yet. See you in Week 9, Braylon.

[NFBuck]

Duane Long:

I have watched the Eric Mangini story unfold. His coaching life has paralleled that of his mentor Bill Bellichek so closely. Browns fans will remember his time in Cleveland. He was a surly curmudgeon who would pass players in the hall and not even speak to them. He was just as good a coach back then. His people skills and his leadership skills were simply awful. He learned from that and has become a coach that many would argue as the best ever. Mangini has the same pedigree. Brilliant tactician that many New York Jet players could not be happier to see go. If his career continues to mirror Bellicheks, Browns fans might have found the guy they have been looking for at least since Marty Schottenheimer and I would say since Blanton Collier. Not a list of coaches to be proud of in Cleveland.

Shhhh, don't say anything. Allow me a few moments to pretend he might have a point.

[Buckeneye]

I'd die happy...

[AmeriBuck007]

Robiskie signed today. Congrats to him