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I don't think he's a FA or RFA this year because his vesting/contract term stalls each year he is suspended.

Hogan will be the camp arm and I use the term arm loosely.

McCown I like, but his best days are in the rear view window.

I'd like to go for someone like Micah Hyde if he's a fit schematically. He's a SS but he's versatile and played well this year. Ohio native too I believe (for whatever it's worth). I think he could possible play the FS spot - he's showed good range in the games I've watched but would welcome opinions on him. Falcons game will be a huge test and his value could increase / fall based on that. No better shop window for him.

Lots of decent FS options in the draft - Hooker, obviously, Adams would also fit with Hyde IMHO. Budda Baker, Desmond King (now re-badged as a S, concerns about the transition from CB but he has great coverage skills, isn't afraid to tackle and has ball skills) may be available in the 2nd. Maye (Florida) a little later. I want playmakers in the secondary - people who we can turn to to provide a spark, a turnover, when needed.

I think a veteran safety (and Hyde is just 26) alongside a rookie would aid their development and help our CBs.

This is all written assuming the pipe dream of Berry won't happen. I could only see Berry coming here if we threw silly $$$ his way. Perhaps front load the contract with guaranteed money? We have the cap.....would depend on his desire to be part of the greatest turnaround ever. Sell it Hue, they will come...

You are correct.

I didn't even think he could be an RFA because of his 10 game suspension last season... or two seasons ago? I can't remember anymore.

He lost a year of accrued service because he had that 10 game suspension, and then was also suspended by the team for game 16. That gave him only 5 games "on the roster" in that season, which is below the 6 games required to accrue a contract season.

A player can miss an entire season on IR and still accrue a year on his contract, but being suspended for 11 games, as Gordon was, does not accrue a year on his contract.

When/If he is ever active ever again, then he will play under the contract he still has. However, the way he's going, he might stand an equal chance of being the 1st 40 year old to play under his rookie deal.

Lol, Ytown.
I do at times wonder, what are we gonna do with that boy? Have we moved on? Are we gonna just retain his rights until he puts down the bottle and then trade him for peanuts?
Like, what's the word on him these days??

My top 2 targets:

1. Trumaine Johnson / CB / LA
2. Tony Jefferson / S / Arizona

I think the word is that he is out of the NFL until he proves that he deserves to be in the NFL.

Am I the only one that salivates to the idea of Coleman, Pryor AND Gordon????? I'm wondering why, after Hugh said we were moving on, we haven't cut him. I wonder if there is some kind of league rule against termination of contracts while suspended...if that was the case, Jax couldn't have moved on from their headache a few years ago.

I seriously doubt Gordon will ever play in the NFL again. He can't stay off the pot and booze long enough to get his life together.

Gordon will 99.9% be done in the NFL IMO. And I think he's 100% done here

Probably. Salivating over to the idea of Coleman, Pryor, Art Monk, and Jerry Rice will make as much sense.

No - i still hold out hope Gordon will return. i think there was a turning point this year ... only time will tell. I wish him the best in his life. As a selfish Browns fan I would love to see him back on the field for the team. . . what the odds of that happening are, I don't know but they are not high!!

I did ....last year ....before Gordon blew yet another chance.

You can have the most talented player in the entire NFL,but if he can never play, he's not even as useful as the worst.

When a player is suspended, their contract is suspended along with them,

I am not certain that's factually correct. And to be honest maybe I missed some news. My recollection was Gordon was about to return, then had a revelation or realization that he is in fact an addict and needs help and checked into rehab ....

There was rampant speculation that he did that because of another failed drug test. But to my knowledge that never actually happened. I don't think anyone knows for sure do they? And I would have expected the team to cut ties before now if it was an issue like that. . . . it's why I remain with just a tiny wincey bit of hope that he gets his shtick together and comes back. Be best for him as an individual and potentially good for the Browns. . . . I will say that the way the team - top to bottom - handled it, was professional and didn't appear to create a sideshow.

it's worth nothing, but Josh Gordon is posting training photos on Instagram again...

Those are my top two targets as well...as they fill GIANT needs for us...With alot of cap room FA will be key...Considering Jamie Collins, TP, and Crow are re-inked

1. Trumaine Johnson CB- Our secondary was perhaps the leagues worst...pray for a healthy Haden, With Trumaine and Jamar Taylor makes a very good trio of corners...

2. Tony Jefferson- Loved this dude in Oklahoma, can do it all..while our safeties can't do nothing at all...Greatly improves that back end...Hoping a fast playmaking FS can be found in round 2 or 3...(safety is deep this year)

3. Ricky Wagner RT- Wanted this dude when he left Wisconsin...big nasty road grader and a fellow Badger for Mr. Joe Thomas...Stealing from the Ravens...Assuming Patzor walks, I think Wagner is in upgrade imho

4. Lawerence Guy DT/DE- Has quick step and is always around the ball...Will be nice to pair up with Shelton when we run 4-3 fronts...Plus taking away from the Ravens is always nice.

5. Robert Woods WR- Will be relatively cheap and still very young, I don't think our FO is going to draft a WR as they spent alot of draft picks on WRs last year, most of whom didn't show much. But the FO wont admit to it...so they will sign someone. Pryor, Coleman, Woods, will be a solid trio (assuming Coleman learns routes and health) assuming Hawk may be let go

The draft you have to take Myles Garrett at #1 overall...We need a QB as rg3 will last a mere week(s), Add a playmaker FS...add a sure thing at LB, a competent Center...then fill depth along the lines and else where.

Hmmmmm............sounds like you know your football.

Nice post.

I also want Trumaine. As we signed Jamar to a decent deal, I don't know if we will though. I would also argue that maybe TJ McDonald would be better as a safety as he is also coming from Gregg Williams system and will be able to immediately slot in.

Nevertheless, both would be able to bolster our Defensive backfield.

Thanks Vers...This team is execrable on talent, easily lacking all over the field. The team needs to hit not only big in the draft (which we all know they never do lol) But FA is key...Now I know we have a ton of cap and have several big FAs to resign (TP, Crow, Patzor, and Collins) assuming one will hit the market...We should have a vast money market to utilize...I hope we can bring in some vast talent FA wise...at least 3 starters...

Then again I assumed we would do the same last year lol

I don't like TJ McDonald at all.

He is a big hitter and I followed him a ton in college because he was supposed to be so great. However, the more I watched, the more I saw a guy who has almost zero lateral movement and a guy w/stiff hips who misses a ton of tackles in space due to those deficiencies.

But, when you change coaches............moves happen, just like Williams bringing in other coaches including his son to replace some well respected guys.

We keep changing coaches and that leads to changing players and we never ever develop an identity.

Losing begets change and change begets losing. It's a vicious cycle that has been ongoing for almost two decades. I call it the Merry Go Round of Misery!

I think TJ McDonald played exclusively SS..he's another one to look for and he should be slightly cheaper coming off injury...I do like Tony Jefferson as he sometimes slide over to FS at times, (with an injury riddled team as we always have...that will come in hand lol) But either would be big upgrades over what we have...or dont have

Given what the FO has said in the past about building through the draft and not spending much money on free agents early in the process, do you think they will spend money on quality free agents this year?

If so, is that the tweaking of the plan that some of us wanted? If not, what do you think will happen if we continue to lose a huge number of games due to lack of talent?

Again, I don't like McDonald. However, I do like T. Johnson, who you mentioned earlier.

I liked J. Jenkins even more and was hoping we would sign one of the two last year.

Fair enough. But, he is considered one of the better S in FA. And, he is a hell of a lot better than anybody on our current roster. AND....as he played with Williams and the DBack coach he is bringing over he would know the system very well. It would be an immediate upgrade over Poyer, who was arguably our best tackler as safety.

I think we'll sign at most 3 FA's and try to roll over the rest of our cap.

Well, we shall see. I do think they are going to be aggressive to keep our better players. Collins was first, I suspect we will try to keep Pryor and maybe Crowell.

My feeling is Hue will have had frank discussions regarding retaining, building in the draft and also going after quality players. Williams will probably most certainly be having discussions about some of the Rams FA's who he values.

How many we sign, who knows. Oline, QB, Defense? Zero? We shall see.

I think they will spend big on 2 guys, but that's it. I expect a combination of Trumaine + Tony Jefferson or Johnathan Hankins. Even Ted Thompson spent money his 2nd year on Charles Woodson and Ryan Pickett.

I hope you are right, candy.

That would show they realized their mistakes and will tweak their doomed to fail plan.

We'll see............

TBH JC Tretter would be my favorite target.

I think its very possible we don't resign Crow if he wants too much money. There will be some nice running backs in the draft and Duke was far more explosive this past year I felt. I don't know about the stats but he just seemed to hit the hole at full speed a lot more often while Crow got caught waiting for a hole too often. I am not expert on HB so I am just referring to the way it felt when I watched the game. Feel free to correct me if I am being crazy.

Thanks. I used Spotrac, and they had him as a FA

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000...-agents-of-2017




Le'Veon Bell, Eric Berry head top 25 free agents of 2017

By Gregg Rosenthal
Around The NFL Editor
Published: Jan. 12, 2017 at 12:54 p.m. Updated: Jan. 17, 2017 at 05:26 p.m. 0 Likes | 0 Comments


NFL free agency always winds up looking drastically different in March than it does in January.

Most of the top players on my first crack at the "best of" list of pending free agents below will be re-signed or retained with the franchise tag before the new league year officially starts on March 9. The list of available players will also swell with veterans released for performance or salary reasons.

In short: Expect a much different set of rankings by the time Chris Wesseling and I post our annual Top 99 Free Agents list in late February. In the meantime, here's a quick first look at the upcoming market. The players are ranked by their ability to impact a team for the next two to three years -- this does not necessarily reflect who will make the most money.

Top 25 2017 Unrestricted Free Agents

1) Le'Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers running back: NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reports that the Steelers will use the franchise tag on Bell, the author of an entirely unique style of running. A one-year deal is ideal for the Steelers, considering Bell's previous suspensions and injuries, but it could lead to offseason friction between the running back and team.

2) Eric Berry, Kansas City Chiefs safety: Berry checks every conceivable box. He's a superstar at a scarce position (practically every team is looking for a safety). He's a locker-room leader and squarely in his prime at 28 years old. Retained with a franchise tag that created acrimony before the 2016 season, it's time for the Chiefs to pay up.

3) Kirk Cousins, Washington Redskins quarterback: In his "prove it" season, Cousins proved he's a mid-level starting quarterback. That's worth a lot in today's NFL. The Redskins would likely use the franchise tag on Cousins for a second consecutive season if they can't reach a long-term deal.

4) Kawann Short, Carolina Panthers defensive tackle: General manager Dave Gettleman unceremoniously booted cornerback Josh Norman last offseason, in theory because the team needed room to retain Short. Now it's time to pay up.

5) Chandler Jones, Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker: After being traded to Arizona, Jones did a better job than his former teammate Patriots Jamie Collins of proving he can thrive in any defensive system. Cardinals coach Bruce Arians already declared the team will retain Jones with the franchise tag if it can't sign him long-term.

6) Alshon Jeffery, Chicago Bears wide receiver: Jeffery could wind up No. 1 on this list by March 9 because he's the most likely player ranked in the top eight to hit free agency. Injuries marred his 2015 campaign, and his suspension in 2016 is a concern, but there's no denying his ball skills or production. True No. 1 receivers don't become available too often.

7) Melvin Ingram, Los Angeles Chargers outside linebacker: Don't just look at the sack total. Ingram slowly evolved into one of football's most disruptive, complete outside linebackers in 2016. His profile isn't so different from that of Olivier Vernon, who scored big in free agency last season.

8) Calais Campbell, Arizona Cardinals defensive end: There's no other player quite like Campbell, as thoughtful and savvy as he is physically overwhelming at 6-foot-8, 282 pounds. He would make a great "get over the hump" piece for a team looking for a title.

9) Brandon Williams, Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle: Williams is a one-man solution to your favorite team's run-stopping problems. Damon Harrison paved the way last season for nose tackles to get paid like pass rushers.

10) Jason Pierre-Paul, New York Giants defensive end: Before his recent sports hernia surgery, Pierre-Paul's incredible stamina and snap-to-snap effort was a calling card. He proved this season he can still finish plays despite having an amputated index finger. Just don't offer him a one-year contract.

11) Jamie Collins, Cleveland Browns outside linebacker: The hardest free agent to rank on the list. The Browns will be highly motivated to retain Collins after dealing a compensatory third-round pick for him. His time in Cleveland was unremarkable, and New England's willingness to trade him is a red flag for interested teams. While his production does not match his skill set or reputation, Collins should not fear. He may not get top-tier money as hoped, but any player this versatile will get paid somewhere.

12) Kevin Zeitler, Cincinnati Bengals guard: After earning second-team honors on Pro Football Focus' 2016 All-Pro team at 26 years old, Zeitler is set to make a lot more money than many players with a lot more name-brand value.

13) Stephon Gilmore, Buffalo Bills cornerback: He has weeks, even months, on film where he looks like a true No. 1 cornerback. He had other weeks in 2016 where he looked lost, perhaps fearful of getting hurt in a contract year. If he makes it to the open market, some team will believe it can make him a star because of his skill set, although I suspect the Bills will use the franchise tag on him.

14) A.J. Bouye, Houston Texans cornerback: No player has made himself more money this season. While there is undeniable risk in signing a player with only 19 career starts, Bouye has played like a borderline Pro Bowler in his first full season as a starter. He looks the part of a former first-round pick, not a former undrafted player.

15) Dont'a Hightower, New England Patriots linebacker: After Chandler Jones and Jamie Collins were traded, the conventional wisdom in New England held that Hightower would be re-signed. Bill Belichick has talked up Hightower's leadership in the past, but Belichick rarely does what fans and writers expect.

16) Dontari Poe, Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle: The Chiefs may have to choose between Poe and Berry, resulting in Poe hitting the market. Though he's a solid starter, his career hasn't taken off as I expected after his terrific rookie season in 2012.

17) Martellus Bennett, New England Patriots tight end: He'd worn out his welcome with three different organizations before finding a home in New England. Bill Belichick should do what he can to retain the best Gronk insurance possible.

18) DeSean Jackson, Washington Redskins receiver: There is some risk that Jackson's explosive but limited skill set will erode now that he's 30, but it's hard to detect on the field. Few players can take the top off a defense better, and teams know to pay Jackson as a great puzzle piece, not a No. 1 threat.

19) Terrelle Pryor, Cleveland Browns receiver: Well, here's a ranking that would have looked ridiculous at this time a year ago. Maturity questions linger, but Pryor's 1,000-yard season hinted at an even higher ceiling ahead for the converted quarterback.

20) T.J. Lang, Green Bay Packers guard: A "criminally underrated" starter may have to leave Green Bay at age 29 to get his fair market value.

21) Nick Perry, Green Bay Packers outside linebacker: General manager Ted Thompson brought Perry back on a one-year, $5 million contract last offseason after a boffo playoff run. Perry will cost a lot more after collecting a team-high 11 sacks.

22) Trumaine Johnson, Los Angeles Rams cornerback: Given the franchise tag last season, Johnson turned in a relatively unremarkable campaign as a starter in coordinator Gregg Williams' system. Don't be surprised if Williams' new team, the Browns, go after Johnson.

23) Tony Jefferson, Arizona Cardinals safety: Was he a product of the Cardinals' aggressive system? Jefferson can make plays all over the field if he finds a coach who knows how to deploy him.

24) Ricky Wagner, Baltimore Ravens tackle: Consistent, quality play from a starting right tackle could be worth north of $10 million per season in this market.

25) Barry Church, Dallas Cowboys safety: As Conor Orr mentioned in his great piece this week, Church can up his value with a big playoff run. Church is a steady, tough, run-stopping constant in a Dallas secondary that overachieved this season. He's a glue guy.

Notable omissions: Eddie Lacy, RB, Green Bay Packers; Riley Reiff, T, Detroit Lions; Kenny Britt, WR, Los Angeles Rams; Johnathan Hankins, DT, New York Giants; Mike Glennon, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Andrew Whitworth, T, Cincinnati Bengals; Chris Baker, DE, Washington Redskins; Larry Warford, G, Detroit Lions; DeMarcus Ware, OLB, Denver Broncos; Jabaal Sheard, DE, New England Patriots; LeGarrette Blount, RB, New England Patriots; T.J. McDonald, SS, Los Angeles Rams.

in the notable omission list, I like Larry Warford, Johnathan Hankins, and and TJ McDonald

I felt bad for this guy when he was carted off yesterday. Hope his injury wasn't too severe.

There are a lot of good names on that list. It's hard to comment because many of them won't really become available.

No one talks about this guy, but Ingram is a guy I really like. He was one of the guys I wanted the Browns to consider drafting if they would have done the smart thing and traded down in that incredibly deep draft. Instead, we traded up for TRich and then took Weeden at 22.

from what I remember, he entered rehab after his paternity case, where he found out he had a son. He left rehab sometime in November I think. He's now at some training facility. lol