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Winslow debunks rumor
2007-03-21 03:11:00
On the Browns official website is an interview with Kellen Wins low, in which he states that his rehab is progressing well saying, "As far as my rehab goes, I am ahead of schedule. I'll be back by training camp, if not before."Earlier in the week a rumor on the internet claimed that Winslows season, and possibly career, were in jeopardy. "I don't even know where that came from - I don't know who said that," he said. "But I love to prove people wrong. That's fuel for me. I'll be back. People continue to count me out, and that lights my fire."Whew.
More About: Rumor , Slow , Debunk

Free Agency Grades
2007-03-20 16:17:00
So how have the Browns done in free agency relative to everyone else? The Huddle Report grades each team and rates Cleveland's efforts at an A-. This report was prepared before Smith & Smith were signed however, so it's probably more like a solid A now.Also, if you are keeping score at home, the Browns are tied with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for most players signed during free agency, with 7. In the AFC North, the Steelers and Bengals have each signed 1 player, while the Ravens have zero (although they did make a big trade for Bills' RB Willie McGahee).
More About: Agency , Free , Grades , Ades , Free agency

Rumors: Good news & Bad news
2007-03-19 14:46:00
I heard & read a couple of rumors today. Keep in mind, these are just rumors and haven't been verified by the players or by the Browns.First the good news: A friend told me that The Orange & Brown Report (Scout.com) reported that LeCharles Bentley won't need another surgery and should be ready to play by October. I looked all over the site and couldn't find a word about this, so I am skeptical. This would be great news if true!Now the bad news: Profootballtalk.com is reporting that the Browns have concerns about whether Kellen Winslow will be able to play in 2007 or ever again for that matter. While this is a possiblility, as the microfracture surgery is a major one, it seems to me that it is too early to determine Winslow's availability next season and especially beyond. One small possibility is that this information is erroneous, but was intentionally leaked to increase the speculation that the Browns would draft play-maker WR Calvin Johnson. Some mock drafts have Johnson ...
More About: News , Rumor , Rumors , Good News , Bad News

Top 10 Free agent moves
2007-03-19 03:23:00
This article which appeared in the Detroit Free Press last week lists their opinion of the top 10 free agent moves so far. They list the signing on Jamal Lewis as #6 and the signing of Eric Steinbach as #8. Personally I would have listed those the other way around. Among trades, they rank the Droughns-Carter trade at #4.
More About: Agent , Top 10 , Move , Moves

Phil on the way out?
2007-03-18 14:28:00
Phil Dawson may be on his way out of Cleveland. The Miami Dolphins signed kicker Jay Feely in free agency and are no longer in need of the services of Olindo Mare, but the Dolphins are trying to trade Mare rather than release him and receive nothing. The Miami herald reports that the Browns are one of 4 teams that have expressed an interest in Mare.An 8-year veteran, Dawson has made 82.1% career field goals. Last season he went 21 off 29 (72%), his worse season ever. In his 10 season, Mare has made 80.9% of his FG attemps and went 26 of 36 (72%) last year.I can't see the Browns giving up a draft pick for Mare. In doing so, they would be acquiring someone 2 years older with nearly identical career and last-season stats. There are usually a few decent unsigned kickers available around the start of training camp if the Browns want to bring in someone to compete with Dawson. Another possibility is that the Browns could use a late round draft pick on a kicker or sign an undrafted...
More About: The Way , Phil

Comings & goings
2007-03-18 04:31:00
Ace Davis has a nice analysis on his blog of who's come and gone so far during free agency for Cleveland.
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Browns add another DT Smith
2007-03-17 21:32:00
The Brown s acquired defensive tackle Shaun Smith from the Cincinnati Bengals on Friday. Smith was a restricted free agent, giving the Bengals a chance to match the offer sheet Smith signed with the Browns . Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said in a statement, "For our offseason and future planning, we have chosen to allocate our cap resources in a different direction." Generally, when restricted free agents are signed, the signing team has to compensate the players original team with draft picks. However, because Smith was undrafted, the Browns owe the Bengals nothing. Smith, signed as a free agent out of South Carolina, has been in the league three years as a backup DT with the Bengals. He recorded 14 tackles in 13 games last year. His best season was 2005 when he had 25 tackles. He has never recorded a sack in his NFL career.At 6-2, 325 lbs, the Browns project Smith as a nose tackle in the 3-4. He is expected to compete with Ted Washington for the starting spot. I think this sa...
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Terrelle Smith almost traded
2007-03-17 05:04:00
Per Profootballtalk.com, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that the Green Bay Packers were one of four teams who were interested in trading for Terrelle Smith before the Browns cut him.My only thought is that maybe the roster bonus that Smith was due would have had to be paid regardless of if he was traded, and nobody, including the Browns, wanted to pay it so the Browns cut him. Otherwise they certainly would have traded him, even if just for a 6th or 7th round draft pick....wouldn't they?
More About: Trade , Elle , Most

Off-season analysis
2007-03-16 16:02:00
The Akron Beacon Journal's Patrick McManamon provides a nice overview and analysis of free agency so far.It's encouraging that even after Eric Steinbach signed, the Browns offered Kris Dielman of the San Diego Chargers $49 million to sign. Its nice to see the Browns putting some emphasis on building the o-line, but free agency hasn't proven an effective way to build a good line thus far. I would like to see the Browns also add a linemen during the first day of the draft. If LT Joe Thomas is available the Browns should take him. If not, they should look at the best lineman available in round 2.
More About: Analysis , Season , Seas , Anal , Off Season

Best RB Tandems
2007-03-15 21:13:00
I found a reference on one of my favorite NFL news sites, Profootballtalk.com, to an article on the Sports Illustrated site ranking the top 10 running back tandems in the NFL. What Profootballtalk found odd (and I agree) is that LaDanian Tomlinson and Michael Turner didn't make the list. Come on! You could pair my mother-in-law with LT and still have a top 10 backfield (she's pretty nimble for 83).What I also found interesting is that the #10 pair is Brandon Jacobs & Reuben Droughns. Droughns is coming off a down year with the Browns and Jacobs has a limited resume to say the least. I would think that there would at least a couple of teams with a better tandem than that (but at this point, the Browns aren't one of them).
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Browns add another offensive lineman
2007-03-15 16:29:00
The Brown s signed free agent G/C Seth McKinney to a one-year contract.McKinney was a 2002 3rd round pick by the Miami Dolphins out of Texas A&M. He has played all 5 years of his career with Miami, starting 34. He's listed as 6'3" and 305 lbs. He missed all of last season after undergoing neck surgery.My guess is that he will compete for a starting guard spot and also serve as a backup to C Hank Fraley. One possible scenario: If RT Ryan Tucker is unable to return and Eric Steinbach is moved to tackle, then this acquisition becomes even more important as McKinney would then likely start at guard.
More About: Other , Another , Line , Browns

Browns sign DT Robaire Smith
2007-03-15 04:36:00
After a few quiet days of free agency, the Brown s struck again, this time landing DT Robaire Smith from the Tennessee Titans. Smith was a player the Browns had targeted from the beginning and addressed a huge need.Smith has 8 years of NFL experience, playing his first 4 with the Titans before going to the Houston Texans (where he was coached by Browns defensive coordinator Todd Grantham) as a free agent. He played for 2 years with the Texans before being cut when new coach Gary Kubiak switched to a 4-3 defense. Smith has 246 career tackles, with a high 68 in 2005. He has 15.5 career sacks, with a high of 4.5 in 2003. He is listed as a DT, but is projected to play DE for the Browns. Although not a household name, this should be a good signing for the Browns. Smith knows Todd Grantham and should step in and be an immediate upgrade over Alvin McKinley. In addition, he hasn't missed a game since 2002, which means he is due for a season ending knee injury followed by a staph infection.
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Terrelle Smith released
2007-03-15 03:58:00
FB Terrelle Smith has had his contract terminated by the Browns. Smith was due a roster bonus of an undisclosed sum this week and, with the emergence of 6th round draft pick Lawrence Vickers, was seen as expendable. Last year the Browns indicated that they wanted their fullback to be more versatile, that is, capable of running and catching the ball out of the backfield. Vickers fits that bill more so than Smith, plus he's less of a cap hit.Smith was signed away from the New Orleans Saints as a free agent in 2004. A bruising blocker, in his 3 seasons with the Browns he had only 18 carries for 32 yards rushing and zero TDs. He caught 27 passes for 118 yards and 1 TD. My favorite Terrelle Smith moment is from his first regular season game as a Browns. The Browns were playing the Ravens, and on their first play from scrimmage handed off to William Green. Smith went through the hole, found Ray Lewis, and drove him to the ground. That play set the tone for the game and the Browns won 20-...
More About: Elle , Released , Release , Lease

Antwan Peek to boost pass rush
2007-03-13 15:43:00
A day after landing Steinbach, the Browns announced the signing of LB Antwan Peek from the Houston Texans. Personally, I love this signing. One, it could be the best "sleeper" signing of free agency. Second, Peek is a fellow alumnus of my alma mater, the University of Cincinnati, and I've been a fan of his for years. Peek's signing reunited him with defensive coordinator Todd Gratham, who coached him while with the Texans.Peek has great speed, quickness, and athletism. In fact, in high school he was a two-sport star in basketball and as a wide receiver in football. He still holds the Bearcats' career records for sacks (27.5) and tackles for loss (56) despite being double teamed his last two seasons. His draft prospect profile can be found here.Peek was drafted in the 3rd round of 2003 by the Texans and spent his first two seasons battling nagging injuries and learning the transition from a 4-3 college DE to a 3-4 pro LB. His third season (2005) he began to show his potential as h...
More About: Pass , Rush , Boost

First signing: Steinbach to aid O-line
2007-03-13 04:54:00
Ok, so let's review the signings thus far. The first guy the Browns nabbed was former Bengals offensive lineman Eric Stein bach. He started 62 of the 63 games he appeared in, and while primarily a guard, he also saw time at left tackle and center. Steinbach was drafted in 2003 in the 2nd round out of Iowa by the Bungles. He was reportedly on the Browns draft radar that year, but after taking center Jeff Faine in the 1st round, the Browns chose not to pick another lineman and instead drafted LB Chaun Thompson in the 2nd.According the the Plain Dealer, Steinbach was so impressed with the Browns that he cancelled his planned visits to other teams and signed immediately with the Browns. "This is my first visit and I kind of had a gut feeling. As soon as I sat down and talked to the coaches and the personnel people up in the front office, I knew this was the right place for me." Steinbach said. His contract is reportedly worth $49.5 million, with $17 million guaranteed.I think this is a ...
More About: Sign , First , Bach , Line

Browns Free Agency Frenzy
2007-03-12 03:29:00
What a couple of weeks it has been! I've been thinking about starting this blog for a couple of months, but thought, "Ehh..its the off-season, there's not much to talk about....I'll wait until training camp." Now I wish that I had started a few weeks ago! Phil Savage has been very active this off-season. Over the next few days, I'll give my reaction and opinion of the moves made thus far.
More About: Agency , Free , Brown , Free agency , Frenzy