DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum The Browns Front Office....still not ready for prime time..(imo)

Just clicking

I think that since I have no voice in the matter, I'm just going to make my hot dogs, hamburgers, Tacos or whatever food happens to excite me on Game Day, then sit back and watch.

Nobody can predict what the Browns have in mind or why they make the moves they make.

If it works, nobody will care. If it doesn't, oh well, back to the drawing board.

But to make things very clear, you can hate Haslam all you want, you can't get him fired.

"

Brown originally joined the Jaguars in the 2005 offseason. During his seven seasons with the Jaguars, Brown handled contract negotiation, employment matters, insurance and risk management, intellectual property and licensing issues and litigation management.

It is said that Brown is who caught the clause in Tim Tebow's contract when the Denver Broncos were trying to trade him, which required teams to pay back part of a salary advance that the Broncos had given Tebow.


It is unclear what Brown's exact title will be, but I suppose he could be making a lateral move if Jacksonville was willing to let him go.

I don't see where signing or re-signing players listed in his role.

I think this is a point often overlooked and it normally boils down, between poster debates, that the FO failed to sign 'these guys', regardless of year or FO. That's not to say this is the prevailing factor in all FA cases, because money is certainly in the mix as well. However, I bet in many cases, players just wanted out. And if they weren't tagged and new they were going to cash in on the open market...peace, they're gone.

I feel like he was used as overall general counsel as well as the contract duties. If so, language of contracts would have been a big negotiating piece here as a lawyer....perhaps even moreso than monetary negotiations.

Yes, he was.


http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/arti...d3-96d67481e74c

I completely agree. I don't know if this plan will work, but I like that they are trying a different approach.

One of Farmer's first acts as GM was to put the Transition Tag on Alex Mack. Mack then negotiated a contract with the Jags(?) which was designed to discourage the Browns from matching it. To me that means he wanted out. The Browns matched it, forcing him to stay with the team. So when that contract was up, and the Browns had just announced yet another HC/FO reboot, I am absolutely convinced there was nothing that was going to keep him. He was alienated by Farmer's move, and complete lack of improvement of the team locked it in. Blaming Sashi Brown for Mack leaving completely ignores this.

But what was Farmer supposed to do? He just took over as GM and had to make a decision on Mack, and Ward for that matter. This goes to an earlier opinion I made in this thread-- about changing FO so often, but generally starting over with a new one that has a very limited time to act on upcoming FAs. Mack was alienated by Farmer's move? What about Banner not locking Mack up long-term a year before FA like most teams do. That's were I put the blame. Just like I put the blame on Farmer for not locking up a young player like Mitchell Schwartz who was clearly worth an extension ahead of his final year in Cleveland. It should have happened before FA and Farmer didn't do it. Mack was gone regardless (IMO), Gipson was out of here too. Benji, I don't know, honestly.

From your link...

"Browns add Brown and Stehlik to front office

Posted Jan 16, 2013



As Browns Executive Vice President – Chief Revenue Officer, Stehlik will oversee all aspects of revenue generation and client service. Prior to joining the Padres, Stehlik spent the 2009 season as the Director of Business Development with the Dallas Cowboys, as well as two years (2007-09) as the Vice President – Ticket Sales & Service with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He has also held positions as the Chief Operating Officer of the Frisco RoughRiders (MiLB) (2003-07) and Director of Group Sales with the Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL) (1999-2003).

That seems more business side stuff. Not football/personnel related.

Still nothing that stated that Sashi had the POWER to sign or re-sign players.

Point taken. It still supports my point that Sashi is not to blame for Mack leaving. (I also see your point about Farmer not locking up Schwartz.)

Which is why the way they've amassed draft picks makes even more sense. It's highly unlikely a team is going to go 3-13 one season, then to the playoffs the next. It's even more unlikely that IF they should make the playoffs that they will become a perennial contender. There will be 4-6 win seasons along the way. And you are right, those aren't quite good enough for "rebuilding" picks. Having a butt load of picks like we did and do will help make a draft post 5 win season more productive for us.

I agree with that.

I know that it's fashionable to blame Farmer, but in reality, I don't think Mack wanted to be here and he did whatever he could to get out. Yeah, it took an extra couple of years (one of which was spent on IR)

I don't really think there was much Farmer could have done and certainly NOTHING that Sashi could have done. That die was cast and it was over before it started.

How do you know that?



Most type A personalities do it that way. And yes, he did hire people that didn't work out. Inept, perhaps they were here, but at some point in their careers they demonstrated success. It's funny but you get a group of guys together (the no name defense for instance) and they click and everything works. Those same guys in a different setting flop around like a fish out of water (see what I did there)



Come on already, Two different businesses. One has nothing to do with the other. this is getting stupid at this point.



Serioiusly, I'm on this board or another one every day and to be honest, I never heard anything about a Homeless man telling Haslam to draft JM.... Please enlighten me.

I can't go on because I'm laughing so hard

I think Haslem is quoted for saying that very thing...in jest, however I think Haslem had a direct hand in the selection. Or maybe it was reported by ESPN (Sal Paolantonio) or something. I'll try to find it.

It was in an interview .. after the draft .. when everyone ( especially ESPN ) thought Manziel was God's gift to the NFL. Haslam said he had been told by many many people.. all over Cleveland.. that Manziel was the way to go. He said that he and Dee were leaving a Restaurant one night and saw a homeless man on the street who even told them to Draft Manziel. It made good copy for the media, but was a way of saying that a consensus of fans in Cleveland wanted Manziel during the draft.

LOL Ok now I remember it. It was, as memphis noted, said in Jest but somehow, Mac takes it seriously.


Geez.

To clarify, when I say 'in jest' I mean I don't think it was a contributing factor in Haslem's decision to draft him. However, I'm not surprised if a homeless guy in Cleveland actually suggested it. Many people wanted Johnny.

Yes, it was one of those off-hand comments that meant nothing but became very good media fodder because the Browns are... well, the Browns.

I don't mind it being used as "Media Fodder" but really, did anyone take it seriously besides Mac LOL That's what I find funny and a bit odd.

I've seen it quoted by the National Media any time they want to trash the Brown.. That Haslam's "Head Scout" was a homeless man... but then.. maybe.. just maybe.. the scout who recommended Manziel is now homeless...

Come on, guys.

Da Man is trying to get you to all gang-up and make fun of mac. Get w/the program, will ya?

It really does not take much to set Mac off on the FO Mac has left the building years ago.

That's exactly what happened .. . it really did mean nothing and was an offhand - flippant comment. Used by those that didn't like the man/pick to bash him. I can't complain - Butch Davis did something similar with the "stars aligned" comment when he made a switch as QB .... it's a quote that I've held as a grudge against Butch even though he took the Browns further than any other HC since 99.

Steelers' $142-million O-line rebuild complete with David DeCastro

http://www.espn.com/blog/pittsburgh-stee...-david-decastro

Nnew front-office

A new front-office approach arrived in Cleveland this offseason to the tune of many skeptics and discontent. In truth, every team employs some sort of analytics department—what differs for each team is what set of data they prioritize and how they implement that. Chief Strategy Officer Paul DePodesta was brought in to oversee the Browns’ organization, implementing processes that resulted in some positive offseason moves.

Time will tell as to whether or not DePodesta actually turns Cleveland into the “moneyball” franchise of football, but this much is certain—another offseason has brought yet another front office overhaul for the Browns.
Offseason grade: B+

Free agency/Trades

New Arrivals: QB Robert Griffin III, S Rahim Moore, LB Justin Tuggle, ED Jackson Jeffcoat, LB Demario Davis, OT Alvin Bailey, CB Eric Patterson, CB Jamar Taylor

Re-signings: S Don Jones, WR Terrelle Pryor, LB Tank Carder, OL Austin Pasztor

Departures: OT Mitchell Schwartz, S Donte Whitner, DI Randy Starks, C Alex Mack, LB Karlos Dansby, WR Travis Benjamin, LB Craig Robertson, WR Dwayne Bowe, QB Pat Devlin, CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, ED Scott Solomon, QB Johnny Manziel, TE Jim Dray, S Tashaun Gipson, CB/ST Johnson Bademosi

When looking at Cleveland’s arrivals and re-signings, the list doesn’t inspire confidence in the new front office—especially when compared to what the Browns lost via free agency or cuts. Mitchell Schwartz was PFF’s highest-graded RT in 2015, Alex Mack has been to multiple Pro Bowls, Tashaun Gipson has 14 career interceptions with 13 of those coming in the past three seasons, and Travis Benjamin was Cleveland’s top WR in 2015. Donte Whitner and Karlos Dansby were very productive in 2015, but were cut due to their age and the front office’s commitment to fielding a younger roster in 2016. That’s six starters that need to be replaced, not to mention Craig Robertson and Randy Starks, both whom played significant snaps in 2015.

While we gave the Browns a D+ in free agency, that’s more because of the short-term impact it will have on the team in 2016. Because most of the signings the Browns made didn’t impact compensatory picks in 2017, the 2016 free-agency period won’t be noticed positively until next offseason. They will most likely have four compensatory picks next year, with at least three of them in the fourth-round or better.

The signing of RG III is one of low risk, high reward. He was given a two-year, $15 million contract with $6.75 million guaranteed in year one, with nothing guaranteed in year two. Colleague Sam Monson addressed the signing in March. If he still is the player we last saw on the football field—a broken quarterback lacking confidence in his abilities—Cleveland can cut ties next offseason with no cap hit. If he reclaims his rookie form under Hue Jackson’s tutelage, Cleveland will stop adding to the infamous jersey of shame. The table below shows Griffin’s career decline.

His rookie year was special, and his second season could be attributed in part to injury, and part to defenses adjusting to his style of play.

The other signings are players that have showed flashes or good play in the past, but regressed in 2015. Rahim Moore has been an average safety over the course of his career, with solid play in coverage. Demario Davis has been inconsistent in his career, grading positively just once in four years in 2014, and Alvin Bailey has experience at all positions on the offensive line, albeit with very poor play.
2016 NFL draft

Round 1 (pick No. 15) (from Los Angeles via Tennessee) Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor
Round 2 (pick No. 32) Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State
Round 3 (pick No. 65) Carl Nassib, DE, Penn State
Round 3 (pick No. 76) (from Los Angeles via Tennessee) Shon Coleman, OT, Auburn
Round 3 (pick No. 93) Cody Kessler, QB, USC
Round 4 (pick No. 99) Joe Schobert, OLB, Wisconsin
Round 4 (pick No. 114) Ricardo Louis, WR, Auburn
Round 4 (pick No. 129) (from Carolina) Derrick Kindred, S, TCU
Round 4 (pick No. 138) Seth Devalve, WR/TE, Princeton
Round 5 (pick No. 154) (from Oakland) Jordan Payton, WR, UCLA
Round 5 (pick No. 168) (from Carolina) Spencer Drango, OT, Baylor
Round 5 (pick No. 172) Rashard Higgins, WR, Colorado State
Round 5 (pick No. 173) Trey Caldwell, CB, Louisiana-Monroe
Round 7 (pick No. 250) Scooby Wright III, ILB, Arizona

We gave the Browns the highest grade of any NFL team post-draft because of a combination of who they selected and the trades they made. The draft is where this front office is mortgaging their future, and where Paul DePodesta’s impact has first been felt. DePodesta, along with the newly-promoted Executive Vice President of Football Operations, Sashi Brown, had a plan to acquire picks for the future as well as add to this draft class was put to full force. The Browns had 10 picks before any trades, and ended up with 15 players (14 draft picks and Jamar Taylor via trade) from this draft, with four future picks including an extra first, second, and seventh in 2017, and an extra second in 2018.

Corey Coleman was our highest-ranked WR and No. 9 overall prospect. His athleticism and production are evident on tape, and he had a best-in-class 4.88 yards per route run last season before his quarterbacks started going down to injury. Ogbah and Nassib were two of the most productive pass-rushers in college. Cody Kessler was the most accurate QB under 20 yards, and was top-four in accuracy under pressure in both 2014 and 2015.

Where Cleveland really won this draft was on day three: Higgins (the No. 40 overall prospect on PFF’s draft board), Wright (No. 71), Schobert (No. 74), Drango (No. 107), and Payton (No. 118) all were steals relative to where they were drafted. Higgins graded as our No. 2 WR in 2014—ahead of 2014 No. 4 overall pick Amari Cooper. With plays like this, what’s not to like:

Conclusion

Owner Jimmy Haslam cleaned house after another disappointing season in Cleveland, firing GM Ray Farmer and head coach Mike Pettine. Farmer was replaced with Sashi Brown, Paul DePodesta and Andrew Berry (vice president of player personnel), while Hue Jackson was hired as the new head coach. Jackson is a clear upgrade, as well as the staff he brought in. Hue has experience as a head coach, and turned an Oakland Raiders team that had been struggling for years into a team that was one win from a playoff berth. He took Andy Dalton to a new level of play in 2015, and has truly brought a new culture to Cleveland. “Team Harvard” (Brown, DePodesta, and Berry all graduated from Harvard) is committed to building through the draft, and cut ties with older, unproductive players.

There were some hiccups early in free agency with the waffling on resigning Mitchell Schwartz, but when this offseason is taken as a whole, the organizational structure and continuity along with the transactions, it’s hard to not argue that the franchise is heading in the right direction. The front office is clearly committed to building through the draft and relying on an experienced coaching staff to get the most out of every player. Hue’s system—designed to play to his player’s strengths—will put the team in good situations.

as they should, they know ben's window is 4-5 years

They also know Landry Jones is their backup.

I've always felt that while Pitts OLine has been deemed "terrible" the past few years, it's not that bad..

It's not great.

But Ben holds onto the ball ALOT trying to extend plays, and eventually you are going to lose your block..

Or he's going to run around a bit and then all bets are off..

They now have the great Zach Mettenberger. Major upgrade.

So they're starting a "'berger" joint?

Though they probably shouldn't use that last word around Le'Veon Bell.

Yeah, Mett is there now ... not their future, but an upgrade

I can see them drafting a QB soon to be honest

Here come the excuses...


Browns V.P. Sashi Brown talks about how pain led franchise to change direction -- Terry Pluto

September 10, 2016 at 7:04 AM
link

This is one of three stories from a long interview with Sashi Brown, the Cleveland Browns executive vice president of football operations. Brown explained why the Browns made dramatic changes in the front office. He talked about the approach to drafting, the blending of old school football scouting and analytics. He discussed the importance of Hue Jackson, the drafting strategy and the decision to sign Robert Griffin III. Here, Brown discusses the front office changes. - Terry Pluto

BEREA, Ohio -- Late in the 2015 season, Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam had to face reality. His team was headed to a 3-13 record.

They had the highest-paid defense in the NFL, yet the defense ranked 27th out of 32 teams.

Nor were the Browns an especially young team. They opened the 2015 season with the 16th-oldest team in the NFL.

"It would be hard to look at where we were at the end of last season and say we should keep it together, it's on the right track," said Browns executive vice president Sashi Brown.

The team had lost 18 of 21 games after a 7-4 start in the 2014 season. Overall, the Browns had not had a winning season since 2007.

"I'm not trying to disparage anybody," said Brown. "We just weren't where we needed to be."

Brown said the franchise had to face reality.

"We were coming off a 3-13 season," he said. "Not only were we 3-13, but we didn't have a lot of the pieces in place you need to be successful in the NFL. In this league, you are where your record says you are."

Brown won't comment on the obvious disconnect between former general manager Ray Farmer and former head coach Mike Pettine.

"We had some hard discussions about everything, including our roster," said Brown. "We didn't want to sugarcoat it or be unrealistically optimistic."

TURNING TO BROWN

Brown has been in charge of the team's salary cap since 2013. In that position, he is supposed to know all the nuances of the salary cap. But he also is at the service of his general manager.

So if the general manager says, "I really want this free agent," it's up to those in Brown's salary cap position to make a deal with the player's agent.

Brown had spent 12 years in the NFL, previously working for Jacksonville. He was in draft rooms. He worked with various general managers and coaches. He played high school football.

But Brown's main experience was the business, legal and contract side of the NFL -- until Haslam turned to him late in the 2015 season.

Haslam didn't promote Brown because he considered the Harvard trained attorney the next Paul Brown. He was looking for leadership. He was looking for someone to bring the front office and coaching staff together.

"(Brown) has been involved in the cap and heavily involved in our football administration and operations for the last year or two," Haslam said when Brown was promoted on January 3, 2016.

What the owner said next was more revealing:

"He's very smart, very organized, good at systems and processes. He is an outstanding team player ... I think there's an opportunity for us to work much closer together going forward than we have in the past."

It's Brown's job to blend the old-school scouting with the new-school analytics.

A key component was to find a veteran coach who could "drive the culture, energize our players and maximize their potential, on and off the field," as Brown explained.

The Browns hired Paul DePodesta, the former baseball executive.

Then the Browns believe they have that man in coach Hue Jackson, who has spent 30 years in various roles on NFL and major college coaching staffs.

This is not the usual front office.

"We are going to do some things that are traditional, some that are innovative," Brown said.

HAUNTED BY THE PAST

Brown, DePodesta and Jackson know the Browns have been the NFL's worst franchise since 1999.

The new front office/coaching staff had nothing to do with that, but they inherit the agony and futility. It's like marrying into a dysfunctional family. The moment something goes wrong, they'll hear the lament of "Same old Browns."

Brown understands the impact of history on the psyche of the media and fans.

"You can get wrapped up in that," said Brown. "Nothing we're going to do is going to change anything that happened in the past so we're not going to get wrapped up in that."

When at Hampton University, Brown was a journalism major. He even interned at ESPN, "cutting up video tape for Sports Center... I found out I didn't love it."

He then went to Harvard law school, beginning the long road that led the 40-year-old to this spot with the Browns.

MUST PLAY WELL WITH OTHERS

For decades, the Browns have been submarined by inner conflicts between the front office and coaching staff. Ownership also committed major blunders.

The Browns have had five different front offices run drafts in the last eight years.

That's right, FIVE in EIGHT years.

"We've talked about that," said Brown. "One of the competitive disadvantages we've had in Cleveland is lack of continuity. We really understand that. We have lived through it, paying to some degree for that lack of continuity. It's magnified by being in this division."

The Browns are in the AFC North, perhaps the most stable division in the NFL. Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati have had the same ownership and front office leadership for years.

That has made the challenge of digging the Browns out of the division basement harder than climbing Mt. Everest in bare feet.

Brown knows Haslam's history of making changes. He bought the team in 2012, and fired the key front office people and coaching staff at the end of the season.

After 2013, he changed the front office and coaches again.

After 2015, he changed the front office and coaches yet again.

Brown and his front office have to establish themselves as being effective in the NFL when it comes to drafting, where the franchise has generally failed miserably.

Jackson has to develop players and still try to win games with one of the NFL's youngest teams.

This group has to resist the temptation to split apart when the losses come and pressure mounts.

Given the history, Haslam has a lot to prove in terms of patience and picking the right people.

"Jimmy is committed to producing a front office, coaching staff and people who will work together and focus on winning," said Brown. "In the offseason, we started putting the foundational cornerstones together for something that's going to last over time."

This story is linked from the story above and as the title says, it's the front office talking QBs.


Cleveland Browns V.P. Sashi Brown talks QBs, trades, Hue Jackson -- Terry Pluto


September 10, 2016 at 6:11 AM

This is one of three stories from a long interview with Sashi Brown, the Cleveland Browns executive vice president of football operations. Brown explained why the Browns made dramatic changes in the front office. He talked about the approach to drafting, the blending of old school football scouting and analytics. He discussed the importance of Hue Jackson, the drafting strategy and the decision to sign Robert Griffin III. Here, Brown talks about Jackson, the draft and Griffin -- Terry Pluto

BEREA, Ohio -- Why should the fans care about the Browns this season?

Browns executive vice president Sashi Brown said it starts with new coach Hue Jackson.

"We've found a very good head coach," said Brown. "I've already felt the change in the culture. He's uniquely qualified because he knows how to get the most out of his players. That's critical when you have so many young players."

The 50-year-old Jackson was the first target of owner Jimmy Haslam and Brown to replace coach Mike Pettine. The Browns love Jackson's enthusiasm, his success with quarterbacks such as Carson Palmer, Joe Flacco and Andy Dalton. Even journeyman Jason Campbell had an 11-7 record when Jackson was calling plays for him in Oakland for two years.

They also believed Jackson's confidence and upbeat attitude would be ideal for a team that was building with very young players.

"You have to teach them, motivate them and inspire them," said Brown. "Hue is a great teacher, a great motivator. He is a big piece of what we want to do. He is going to instill a culture, a way of playing and practicing."

The Browns will open the season with 17 rookies on their 53-man roster. Brown confessed that he's never seen that many rookies on an NFL roster.

"We've had consistent dialogue with the coaches when making decisions on the roster," he said. "We had their input, so it's not as though any of them were surprised by the roster. This is where we need to go."

There was some media criticism of the Browns keeping 13 of the 14 players they drafted in April on the roster. But the fact is only two players they cut were signed by other teams: Pierre Desir (San Diego) and Taylor Gabriel (Atlanta).

So it's not as if they were dumping NFL-caliber players simply to make their draft look good.

"The job of the coaches is to take the players on the 53-man roster and put them in the possible position to win and to develop them," said Brown.

The Browns drafted 14 players as part of their new approach -- pile up picks, bring in lots of young players, increase the odds of finding talent.

"You have to build through the draft," insisted Brown.

A MAJOR CHALLENGE

Brown knows Jackson is in for a major challenge.

"We understand it's going to be difficult," he said. "We're going to be in there with him."

That will be a key to the Browns achieving any sort of long-term success. The front office and coaches have to communicate and trust each other, even when they have significant disagreements.

As Brown said several times during our talk: "We were a 3-13 team last season."

And it was a team with the 16th-oldest roster on opening day of 2015. It was a team where the coaches and front office had splintered, a team where morale was somewhere south of Antarctic.

Brown discussed the various changes made by Jackson, such as an increase in the tempo of practice.

"It's attention to detail," said Brown. "It's setting standards and expectations in the building and on the practice field. It's starting to breed leadership in the locker room."

It's things behind the scenes the Browns hope will eventually pay off on NFL Sundays.

QUARTERBACK DECISION

Jackson arrived in town after two years as the Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator. He will call plays for the Browns as he works to revive the career of quarterback Robert Griffin III.

"The quarterback position will always be a position of emphasis with us," said Brown. "There's not enough (good ones) for all 32 teams."

Which led the Browns to Griffin, a major reclamation project. He was the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2012 for Washington. Then came injuries and issues with coaches. He didn't take a single snap in a game last season.

"We had discussions about who was coming out in the draft and who was available in free agency," said Brown.

The main decision makers were Jackson, Brown, player personnel director Andrew Berry and chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta.

"We thought Robert was the right type of person to bring into the building," said Brown.

Really? Griffin was criticized for being selfish in his last few seasons in Washington.

"I can understand why some people would think that if they only listened to a lot of the noise out there," said Brown. "We talked to the player. We talked to a lot of people who had been with him. We went beyond reading the stories and the headlines (about Griffin)."

The Browns brought Griffin to Berea for extensive interviews and a workout.

"We knew if Robert was healthy, his workout would be impressive," said Brown. "He's a great athlete. He has a big (strong) arm. That's exciting (to watch), but you have to keep workouts in perspective."

They measured what possibly trading the No. 2 pick in the draft would bring vs. signing Griffin, a player they identified as young enough (26) and talented enough (when healthy) to make a surprising comeback.

Brown stressed no decision was made to trade the pick when Griffin was signed on March 24.

"Quarterback is such a hard position to play," said Brown. "We don't think you can ever have too much invested in that position in terms of young talent. Robert is still young and developing."

TRADING PICKS

"I think trading (the No. 2 pick to Philadelphia) was the right decision for us and for Philadelphia," said Brown.

The Eagles used that pick to select North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz.

"I've seen headlines where it was said they (the Eagles) gave up too much," said Brown. "And here, we hear why didn't the Browns take him (Wentz)? That's natural. People are going to second guess, especially in something as high stakes as the draft."

The Browns traded the rights to Wentz and a fourth-round pick in 2017 for:

The Eagles first-round picks in 2016 and 2017.
The Eagles third- and fourth-round picks in 2016.
The Eagles second-round pick in 2018.
But they weren't done.

The Browns then traded the Eagles pick (No. 8) and a sixth-round pick to Tennessee for:

Tennessee's first-round pick (No. 15) in 2016.
Tennessee's third-round pick in 2016.
Tennessee's second-round pick in 2017.
HOW IT SHAKES OUT

For the two deals, here's what the Browns had to show:

In the 2016 draft, they used those choices for Corey Coleman, Shon Coleman, Cody Kessler, Carl Nassib and Joe Schobert.
They have Philadelphia's 2017 first-round pick.
They have Tennessee's second-round pick in 2017.
They have Philadelphia's second-round pick in 2018.
"We traded back for the young talent," said Brown. "It's why we have 17 rookies on the roster, and we're excited about that. We're going to see a lot of young guys play and grow together. This is the start of a young nucleus we need. We need to build the entire roster."

A WINLESS SEASON?

That's what some experts are predicting for the Browns.

"That doesn't bother us," said Brown. "We talked to the players when they came back for training camp. We said they'd hear a lot of stuff like that. It doesn't mean anything to us. We've got our own work to do."

Brown is walking the narrow road of trying to keep expectations realistic, yet not wanting people to believe the Browns could care less about what happens during the regular season as they keep adding draft picks.

They were criticized for allowing several players to leave via free agency.

Right tackle Mitchell Schwartz (signed with Kansas City) is likely to be missed. Center Alex Mack (Atlanta) had no real interest in coming back. Too much losing since he was the team's first-round pick in 2009.

The Browns didn't offer a lot in attempts to keep Tashaun Gipson (Jacksonville) and Travis Benjamin (San Diego).

They cut veteran Paul Kruger in the middle of training camp.

Their only significant free agent signings were Damario Davis and Griffin. They did extend the contract of Pro Bowl tight end Gary Barnidge late last season.

"We had a plan for free agency, and we stuck to it," he said. "Free agency is expensive. We have been active in free agency recently, spending a significant amount on defense."

The Browns had the NFL's highest payroll on defense in 2015. They ranked No. 27 in that area. They didn't retain high-priced veterans Karlos Dansby and Donte Whitner.

The Browns did keep veterans Joe Thomas and Josh McCown. Both players were wanted by other teams.

"We have spent on free agency and it doesn't necessarily drive results," he said. "We will spend again in time. My job is to be realistic and put a plan in place to take us to where we want to go ... to move forward, we have to build through the draft and with young players."
link

[color:#FF0000Here come the excuses][/color]

So that's all you got out of that? Huh!

I'm glad we finally have, what looks like anyway, a FO that has a clear plan and will follow it.

As much as you belly-ache about Haslam and the FO, I would think you, of all people, would be happy to have a FO that finally gets it. But I guess what makes you happy is if there is always pain

We may not love it or even like it mac but we do have to give these folks a chance.

Haslim is my biggest concern. He doesn't understand his roll, and may never.. To this point he has been unstable IMO, and that is being kind. But make no mistake he is at the heart of our troubles.

Will he learn to monitor and demand that everyone play nice with each other?

Will he draw clear lines of responsibility and hold everyone accountable to not overstep those responsibilities. Farmer contacting the sidelines during games should have seen him fired.

The problems are many and most of them come from the person we can't fire.

Team building is easy, it truly is. Hire good people and then take their back even when everyone is screaming for heads to roll. Have everyone do their job and only their job Farmer watching game film with the coaches or the owner for that matter, really?

Retain your good players, don't let them play out their contract unless you don't want them back. We had a good young team that was beginning to round into shape then over the course of the past 3 seasons we have watched as that has been dismantled, and now we start again. And it happened because Haslim didn't do his job.

Hue Jackson is absolutely the man to get the job done if the FO will work with him to fill the roster with players that suit his style of play. Its Haslim's job to make sure that happens.

We have a chance if Haslim has finally learned his job, if not we continue to suffer...

The important thing is to stick it out and draw clear lines of responsibilities...