DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum TC Day 4 - Morning Practice

Went to the morning practice and thought I would post some info here:

Syndric Steptoe looks like a high school kid out there. I am amazed how small he looks. Overhearing that, one of the training camp staff told me "Yeah, but you wouldn't believe how fast he is. He should win the PR job hands down"

Eric Wright is phenomenal athlete. In a one-on-one drill, Steptoe ran an out route, Anderson threw a great pass, and Wright was with him every step of the way, knocking the ball out of Syndric's hands. That got a huge ovation from the crowd.

Someone else posted this before, and I want to echo: Joe Thomas gets into his stance quicker than any other offensive lineman I've seen here.

None of the QBs looked particularly good. I suppose if I had to choose who looked the best, it'd be Frye.

Phil Dawson looks good - he hit two 55-60 yard kicks in a row. Each time, the kick hit the crossbar and flipped over

Braylon dropped at least three passes today in various drills and 7-on7s. Travis Wilson made a nice catch on a fade route, and Carter showed some ability. Probably the biggest surprise was WR Steve Sanders - he caught everything to him and ran some good routes.

Afterwards, the o-line signed autographs. Eric Steinbach was genial with everyone he talked to, and Joe Thomas joked around with a bunch of kids

I wish someone would watch the defense and the line in particular.

Thanks for the info!!


Good to hear generally good things. I am not very surprised by what is going on with the Qb's I have saw all I need to see out of both start the best guy until Quinn is ready to takeover.

More from the Dispatch's James Walkers Browns and Camp coverage

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Browns camp sights and sounds
Tuesday, July 31, 2007 3:34 AM

• Recap: After a subpar weekend, quarterbacks Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson are starting to put together consistent practices. There haven't been as many turnovers or miscommunications in the passing game. The offensive line is looking impressive in the running game, and the atmosphere is beginning to get chippy. Safety Sean Jones and fullback Charles Ali got into a brief shoving match, the first scuffle of camp.

• Day's best: Rookie fifth-round pick Brandon McDonald intercepted an Anderson pass that bounced off the hands of receiver Efrem Hill and returned it 40-plus yards for a touchdown.

• Position battle: Receiver/return specialist Joshua Cribbs is having a good camp and is out to prove that he's not just a special-teams player. He has been one of the few receivers not to drop a pass, and he's in the mix for the third- and fourth-receiver spots.

• Rookie watch: No. 3 overall pick Joe Thomas is still working with the second-team offense, although he's expected to be the starting left tackle. "If he keeps working, he might have the chance to do that," coach Romeo Crennel said. "He has good ability for the position. He has good size, good feet, and it looks like he has an awareness for the competition. … That says a lot about the kid right there. All of that is encouraging."

• Itinerary: Single practice today at 2:30 p.m.

• You're invited: With temperatures expected to be in the high-80s to low-90s most of the week, fans might want to find seats on the bleachers up the right sideline, where there is an abundance of shade.

• Quotable: "The biggest perspective that I got working out away from here was being with Donovan McNabb. He had some of his guys out there, and just seeing how he interacts with his players. I picked up some ideas about his scrambling abilities and why he doesn't do it anymore. Just little stuff like that, and being around a player that has gone to the Super Bowl and to Pro Bowls -- I really learned a lot." -- Frye, on working out with the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback in Arizona this summer. McNabb introduced Frye to trainer Warren Anderson and a conditioning program that includes boxing, to improve hand-eye coordination.

• Cybercamp: Visit dispatch.com/sportsblogs for James Walker's suggestions on ending rookie holdouts.

-- James Walker

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July 31, 2007
Rookie holdouts a league-wide issue
Don’t blame Brady Quinn and don’t blame the Browns. Rookie holdouts are a league-wide problem in the NFL, not just in Cleveland.

As of today, seven first-round picks still remain unsigned and part of it is due to a faulty system. The amount of money spent on first-rounders increases every year, which will only make things worse.

But here are three suggestions that collectively or individually could help reduce rookie holdouts.

1. Adopt a rookie pay scale similar to the NBA

A strict rookie pay scale is one thing the NBA does have over the NFL. In the NBA first-year players know exactly what they are getting because it’s based on where they were drafted, nothing more, nothing less. Most NBA rookies sign within a week because there's little to negotiate. Imagine the headache the Browns would save if it was easy to pay Brady Quinn the slotted figure as the 22nd pick? The difference is NBA contracts are guaranteed and have fewer bonuses and performance incentives.

2. Begin hard contract talks immediately after the draft

The NFL runs like clockwork. Following the draft there is a long sigh of relief on the part of general managers, agents and incoming players. The three parties put in so much work prepping for the draft that the last thing either side wants is jump into weeks of hard negotiations. So everyone takes off for lengthy summer vacations, and before you know it training camp starts in two weeks and just a handful of first-rounders are signed. Treat May and June with the same urgency as July and there would be significantly less holdouts.

3. Set a deadline or miss the entire season

Agents of first-round picks have leverage in these negotiations because the team needs the player it drafted and there is no deadline to report. By setting a stern cutoff date (perhaps one or two weeks into training camp) this puts pressure on agents to get a deal done or lose the client for the current season. This also puts pressure on the team of getting use of its pick, but if a rookie missed most of training camp that player usually has a bad rookie year anyway. The player would be allowed to re-enter the draft, and perhaps a compensation package of the team regaining its pick the following year would balance it out.

Just a thought.

jwalker@dispatch.com

Posted by James Walker on July 31, 2007 8:51 AM

So is there absolutely no way to get an autograph unless you're a kid or a parent of one?

Just asking, because I know some of my friends also want some autographs.

I doubt if the Player's Association would go for rookie salary slotting. Players only have a couple chances to make money... a maximum of three contracts over their career. Loosing control of one of those contracts is not something the Players are going got give up lightly...

Starting contract talks immediately following the draft, without a hard deadline probably won't work either. Humans are procrastinators... ... and it's human nature, as well as a negoitiating ploy, to wait and see what everyone else gets, before signing on the dotted line.

However with a hard deadline, hopefully before camp, everyone can get signed. If a player doesn't sign by the deadline, no season, no pay, and the team gets a compensatory pick the next year.... such as a pick at the end of the first round, for first round picks, at the end of the second round for second round, etc....

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I doubt if the Player's Association would go for rookie salary slotting.

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they would if contracts were guaranteed...

They would also go for it without guarantees if rosters were bumped by 1-2 players and veteran minimums were bumped.

As long as the size of the pie isn't decreased....just the rookie slice, I think things could get worked out.

I was at the practice Sunday and both of them on Monday, and I must say Steinbach looked amazing!! Not once did he get beat and he completely dominated. He look good in the running game, but was extraordinary in the pass game. Thomas looked ok; he handled everyone pretty well but got beat by Wimbley pretty bad, though he did shut him down one time. Wimbley also beat him bad once on Sunday. I do have to admit though I was very dissapointed in Sowells; he got man handled by everyone he faced. Parker made him look pathetic once or twice on Monday and one time even worst on Sunday. Mckinney just looked ok. Tucker looked to be in a lot better shape than last year and played pretty well. Dorsey looked pathetic. Butler looked good run blocking but bad pass blocking. Schaffer just looked ok. Matua looked out of shape and was below average. After one practice Thomas was carrying Fraleys shoulder pads in.

Braylon didnt catch a few very catchable balls. Braylon signed no autographs but did throw a ball into the crowd after the afternoon practice monday, after working extra. Winslow looked good, running some nice routes and did everything though he just sat they when that stretched , Winslow and Braylon seemed to always be right next to each other and talking so it seems like they are pretty good friends. Winslow talked to his wife after the final practice Monday. Joe J made some fantastic catches but looked pretty slow. Wilson dropped a few easy catches but also made a few nice ones. Cribbs looked good. Steptoe did look tiny but quick and I didnt see him drop any passes. Sanders caught everything thrown to him and worked a lot extra. He really wants to make this team. Mosley looked pretty good. Maurice Mann or something like that looked awful, no way he makes the team. Dinkins, dropped two easy passes and punted the ball after one; that earned him an extra five pushups. Heiden looked solid as usual. McDonald was pathetic handling punts; it almost seemed like he muffed more than he caught. Dawson did look very nice, he made one 65 yard field goal.

Vickers looked to have gotten a bit of a gut since last year. Harrison did indeed look bigger and looked good. Wright looked solid. Lewis looked great. I hardly saw Barclay at all and what i did see of him wasnt very good.

All of the quarterbacks looked pathetic, nothing more to say about them.

It was hard to judge the linebackers and d-line, because they didnt really do much. But, Baba looked a lot bigger than last year, and the two Smiths looked huge, but very well put together. Roye looked to be in better shape this year. Big Ted looked about the same as last year. Watching him do jumping jacks are helarious; he sort of dances around while walking forward. Frasier looked a little bigger and was always the first one to do the drills Peek was very buff; maybe even more so than Dinkins. Wimbley looked bigger than this year but seemed to be just as fast. D'Quell seemed to have bulked up a little. Leon and Andra looked about the same as last year.

Pool looked very nice, breaking up quite a few passes. He was carrying Jones shoulder pads after one practice. Jones was solid. Bodden was missing his dreads after donating them, but participated in all the drills and looked solid despite his offseason surgery. Eric Wright looked very nice in every aspect. Holly surprised me with how well he played; he isnt going to lose his starting spot without a fight. Minter looks to be in trouble as he was wearing a boot and did nothing. Baxter was there for both of the practices on Monday and participated in the later one.

Overall I thought we looked pretty well.

Thanks a ton for the up date ..

Thanks for the report!

Sept. 9th. cant get here soon enough!
Thank's for the update

What exactly do you people do with autographs anyway?

If I was a player I wouldn't sign for anyone over the age of 12.

Some people collect them.

Other people sell them.

I have a collection of player pics hanging in my bar with autographs, and an autographed ball right in the middle. Just goes with the theme in my basement.

People collect different things. I'm sure you already know this.

..." back in your day? "

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Ooooooooooo , Ouch !

Thanks for that post man, great update.

Nice to hear about AP. It would be nice to have a rush where the O has no idea where it's coming from.

nordawg

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Frasier looked a little bigger and was always the first one to do the drills Peek was very buff;

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I can attest to personal knowledge of how BUFF Peek is. I was honored by Peek and Schaffrath at Draft Day CBS style to join me in a photo. Peek put his arm around me and that's how I got to find out how BUFF he really is. I don't think he has a roll of fat on his midsection at all. Very firm and fit, made me feel like a shorty.