DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Browns willing to deal Barkevious Mingo, source says; Reports also say Joe Thomas, Alex Mack, Paul Kruger on block

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ss...ncart_big-photo

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns are apparently having a fire sale on some of their top veterans.

A source told cleveland.com Sunday that the Browns have made it clear that 2013 first-round pick Barkevious Mingo is available in a trade. The deadline is 4 p.m. Tuesday.

In addition, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that the Browns "have engaged in discussions about potentially trading two of their best players'' in eight-time Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas and two-time Pro Bowl center Alex Mack.

Also, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that linebacker Paul Kruger is on the block.

Mingo is playing sparingly in the Browns' defense and his agent told cleveland.com last month that "Keke is an impact player and needs to be on the field.''

Mingo also hinted that he'd be open to a move.

Thomas, who's signed through 2018, has repeatedly said he wants to remain here despite the losing.

Mack, who can void his contract after this season, has a no-trade clause in his contract, but can waive it if he likes the new team.

Kruger, signed through 2017, still only has a half a sack through seven games after leading the club with 11 last year.

League sources have told cleveland.com that a potential fire sale is a sign that the Browns are prepared to make changes after the season, most likely to the personnel department, but possibly the coaching staff too, and that they're evidently trying to acquire draft picks for the potential new regime.

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam spent time chatting with general manager Ray Farmer on the sidelines before Sunday's game against the Cardinals, and Johnny Manziel soon joined them for a few minutes.

Money quote:

<<sigh>>

This team never ceases to amaze me.

Love to be a fly in on that discussion!

If it makes you feel any better, Pettine dismissed these rumors in his press conference.

he also said we were gonna be a running team.

well...

Who leaked this and what was their intention?

I bet Bill Belichick leaked Joe Thomas' name just to see if there was a chance he could come available.

I said it in other threads, but trading Mack would be fine by me. We already drafted his replacement (in the first round) and we would be better off having Erving taking his lumps this year instead of next year (we will probably have a rookie QB).

I'd trade anyone on our team besides Thomas. Not that I think he'll win us games, but I want him to play his entire career in Cleveland so that when he goes to the HOF we can all celebrate something

Apparently the Browns have forgotten how horrible the LT position was from 99-07 before JT arrived. And how many QBs got killed from edge rushers.

I'd look at Denver if I was going to trade JT.

Their 1st + Shaquielle Barrett at least.

Their first and Ryan Clady for Thomas. That's about the only deal I'd consider.

New players, new coaches, new GM...go 2-14, rinse and repeat.

Same here. If they trade Thomas, it'll make it a lot easier to tell them to go away forever.

Trade Mingo? For what? A bowl of rice? Yes he's decent in coverage. But that's it. Zero pass rushing ability. Not great against the run. You draft guys like that in the 4th and 5th round. Not 6th overall.

Trade the only player since the return to be a sure first ballot HOF candidate? Why? He's healthy. He's reasonably young for a lineman. Joe Thomas better RETIRE a Brown. Then straight into Canton five years later.

If you are absolutely SURE you can't get Mack to resign here then and only then do you entertain offers. Problem is if you get picks, Farmer is the one doing the picking so.....

i wonder if they put an ad out on radio for this fire sale. like car sales and get a free hot dog.

No one would give us ANYTHING for Mingo, are you serious?

Mack and Kruger, I am okay if they deal. JT, unless he requested a trade which I fully would understand 100%, would be fully against. He's simply our best player and has been for several years. Our only good #1 pick pretty much...

If they can get a bag of beans for Kruger, do it.

Except cannelini beans. Those are gross.

Are you even allowed to trade injured players? Clady's out for the year isn't he?

I like Joe Thomas, but they may as well trade him to a team where he has a chance to win. He has more than earned it. Just get rid of Farmer before the draft.

I DO NOT like the idea of trading Thomas at all. I know it's bleak (as hell) but I'm not ready to give up to that extent.

Mingo, sure. Other than that pick against the Bronco's he's been silent since his rookie year.

Krueger, I dunno. Seems like one of those guys who genuinely wants to play in Cleveland. It would have to be a sweet deal before I let him go.

See: Carlos Carrasco for some context of this situation.

I'm sorry...but you can't keep trading key players away EVERY year...no matter what. You trade JT...you create ANOTHER hole on this roster. Mack is gone so sure...trade him where HE wants to go...get a good price for him. Mingo? Are you kidding me? Name ONE team stupid enough to give the Browns ANYTHING (related to a draft pick or a player) for him? LOL

Maybe we can get one of these guys to do the pitch?



Or

[quote=clevesteve]If they can get a bag of beans for Kruger, do it./quote]

Same with Mingo. Might as well get value out of guys who won't be on your roster long term. Kruger will probably be cut this off-season and Mingo is a role player at best.

Great idea! Lets bring in a bunch of rookie linemen to go with next years rookie QB.

What has happened to Kruger. A few comments he's made including those when asked on trade rumours have let slip he isn't too thrilled at how he's being used. Mingo is Mingo. Dudes done jack since being here, bad fit, bad pick in a bad draft. Joe Thomas. Man.....folk forget what the expansion era was like with absolute amoeba skill levels on the line. Mack....still one of the leagues best centres but something up with that line.
Keep Joe, find out a way to use Kruger effectively get what you can for Mingo, and Mack because the latter is gone in 8 games anyways.

Because someone thought it wise to use him in coverage to fool the opposing offense; why outsmart yourself if you're the Browns DC? Kruger/Bryant are your best pass rushers, why not maximize their talents? In terms of Mingo, he's athletic and has speed, but he's probably better suited for a 4-3 team unfortunately.

I get frustrated at these players, too. Thomas seems to be having his worst year yet, Kruger has regressed, Haden can't cover anyone and the running game stinks.
Then, I think to myself - these guys have played fairly well before. They have a bit of a track record. The coaching staff has none. These coaches have never proven they can perform in the NFL. So getting rid of proven NFL players because he have terrible coaches might be a big mistake.

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ss...ncart_big-photo

Browns' Joe Thomas doesn't want to be traded despite the losing: 'I'm not a quitter'

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns left tackle Joe Thomas, the eight-time Pro Bowler and future Hall of Famer, hopes that he's still on the team when the Browns leave for Cincinnati on Wednesday to face the 7-0 Bengals on Thursday night.

Thomas is one of four players who were reported to be on the trading block Sunday morning before the Browns' 34-20 loss to the Cardinals. The other were center Alex Mack, linebacker Paul Kruger and linebacker Barkevious Mingo. The trading deadline is Tuesday at 4 p.m.

A source told cleveland.com that the Browns have asked some teams if they'd be interested in Mingo, their No. 6 overall pick in 2013 who's been playing sparingly on defense.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that the Browns have engaged in talks about potentially trading Thomas and two-time Pro Bowler Mack, and ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the Kruger is available in a trade.

"I'm not a quitter,'' said Thomas. "I'm not a guy that gives up on my goals and my goal from day one was to be part of the turnaround here and that hasn't changed.

Thomas, who extended his consecutive snaps streak to a league-most 8,443, heard about the report after the crushing loss to the Cardinals, one that dropped the Browns to 2-6.

"The reality of it is we're right now a 2-6 team and the trade deadline is coming up,'' said Thomas. "If you're a team that doesn't have a winning record I imagine it happens all the time where teams will call up your team and find out if you're available for a trade. It's happened in the past with me in my career. But it's out of my control. I want to be here. I want to finish my career here. I want to be part of the turnaround here. That's the way it is sometimes, you've got to control the things you can control.''

Browns coach Mike Pettine indicated the reports are false.

"This fictitious trading block, to me, you get near the trade deadline and reports start coming out,'' said Pettine. "To me, I am not even going to go there. It seems to happen every year. We are focused 100 percent on this game this morning, and now, we are moving on. I am aware of what is out there, but I have no comment."

The Browns have a general of philosophy that every player on the team is available at the right price. If a team wants to trade for a Pro Bowl starter such as a Thomas or a Mack, they'd likely have to offer at least a first-round pick for the Browns to even consider it. Multiple conversations take place at this time of year, but so far, no one has made the Browns an offer they can't refuse.

If they do, there could be some movement by Tuesday.

Thomas, who could immediately help upgrade up any team's left side, has been through this before.

"I want to say maybe three or four years ago there were some rumors about getting traded,'' he said. "About the same time, around the trade deadline. I think it's pretty common this time of year for teams that are in position that are in position to make a run for the playoffs to call teams that don't have a winning record, and that's where we are right now.''

Thomas, one of the most popular players on the team and one of the few constants on the team since he was drafted third overall in 2007, isn't going to waste his time fretting about it between now and Tuesday afternoon.

"Worrying doesn't really help you, it just wastes energy,'' said Thomas. "Obviously we're not where we want to be, 2-6 is not a good record, we've got to find a way to find some answers to win some of these games. But it's important to control the things that are in your control.

"I heard a while ago something about people that are mentally weak are ones that worry about things that are out of their control. It's a battle when you're on a team that's not winning to worry about things that are out of your control. But that's a fight that you deal with in the NFL when you're on a team that's not winning.''

Thomas signed a seven-year extension in 2011 through 2018. It's worth $80.5 million, with $44 million guaranteed. A team would have to pay him the remainder of his 2015 salary of $8.8 million. It would also assume the final three years of his deal at $8.3 million, $8.8 million and $8.8 million, plus a $1 million roster bonus in each of those years.

A team trading for Thomas would have to offer at least a first round pick, but the Browns would likely want more. Thomas has started all 136 games since he arrived in 2007 and hasn't missed an offensive play.

Mack, who has a no-trade clause in his contract, wasn't concerned about the reports.

"I don't know what the story is,'' he said. "I'm really concerned about today's game and now we have a short week coming up."

Mack was asked if he'd be willing to waive the trade clause to go to a contender.

"That's a question for my agent,'' he said.

Mack signed a five-year $42 million extension last year with $26 million guaranteed. A team trading for Mack would have to consider that he can void the three remaining years of his contract after this season. They're for $8 million, $6 million and $6 million. But for a team badly needing a Pro Bowl center, it's a trade-friendly contract. The Browns would also have something to show for Mack in the event he voids the deal.

"I've never paid attention to the trade stuff,'' Mack said.

Like Thomas, he said he wanted to remain in Cleveland.

"Absolutely, I want to help this team win,'' he said.

Left guard Joel Bitonio, who works between the two Pro Bowlers, would hate to see them go.

"I know Joe and Alex are all-in in Cleveland and those are just two stand-up guys,'' he said. "They don't have a choice in the matter, they're just here to play for the Browns and play as hard as they can.''

He acknowledged it would be crazy to trade the line's two anchors.

"In my opinion,'' he said. "I think they're one of the best at what they do in the NFL. But we don't make those decisions, we just play football.''

Bitonio said the rumored fire sale hasn't caused him to question Browns management.

"It's really hard to say, because I think it's just rumors right now,'' he said. "Who knows, someone might've called them and been like, 'Hey, is Joe Thomas available?' And then that's considered they're talking about it. You don't question that, they're doing their job too, they're trying to put the best team on the field to win. And right now I think we have the best five guys on the field, but we'll see what happens.''

JT is one hell of a stand up guy

I Know! He stood up too fast yesterday and cost us 5 yards.

I don't think Thomas is having one of his worst years. In fact, I think he is having one of his better years.

Kruger? I don't think they are using him correctly, so I can see blaming the coaching staff for that one.

Haden? I don't think he puts the work in, has the professional pride, or wants to win enough to due the necessary work to hone his craft. I think he is a guy resting on his laurels.

Agree with all of this 100%.

200% on the Haden part.

I believe Thomas has allowed something like three QB pressures this season and one sack. He is doing what he always does.

Wanted JM to get a few dogs and a couple brews; the special sets put in place for him.
Dust off Davis this week.

Yes, yes he is. If we trade him, I think that'll force me to take a long break from this team. A very long one.

Sometimes, I think Farmer believes he is playing Fantasy Football.

To be fair, he hasn't actually made any horrible trades yet.

trade Kruger to the Patriots for Sheard
trade Whitner to the Broncos for Ward
trade Bowe to the Argonauts for a set of cleats