DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Browns re-sign Rashard Higgins

Wasn't Kevin Johnson with us for 5 years? I can't believe he didn't get a second contract. He was a second round pick.

It's true:

http://pfref.com/tiny/gKlTB

That was my first thought as well. According to this: https://apnews.com/e23377d70171c56d5fab199cb76922e4

... he signed an "extension" for 4 years, before getting cut the next year. Maybe that's not the same thing.

Right. So he didn't reach his second contract but signed an extension.

Also, who cuts a guy after he signs a four year extension?

Which is also weird, because that says he played till 2005, but the 2 articles I found about it said that Butch Davis cut him in 2003. Even our team records are sketchy.

Edit: Ahh ... those are his career years, not team years. He played for two more with other teams after we cut him.

Icing on the cake ... but the cherry on the cake would be another DE.

Do people put cherries on cakes?

YES!!!

I don't know about cherries on cakes, but my aunt used to put grape jelly between layers of her cakes. It wasn't good.

I thought when people said "with a cherry on top" they were talking about ice cream.

I knew a Cheri that came out of a cake once!! Wait is that the same?

It can be, if your metaphor is ice cream.

But what are you doing discussing cherries ... don't you have a ship that is sailing to catch?

It sank.

... *L* ...

thats how i met my girlfriend

It was at our prom. Not proud of some things . . . .

I’d post the warrant video for cherry pie but it’s awful.

I'm glad he's back, but I'm not sure how happy he will be in this offense. Looking at snap counts for the Vikings last year Link1 Link2 , if Landry and OBJ stay healthy, Higgins will probably only see 15-20% snaps. That'll likely get him about 20 catches over the course of the season.

IDK. Love the guy, but he shoulda signed elsewhere and moved on if he really wants to make a name for himself.

Solid! Let's go!

Okay, but what if one or both staters are not ready when the season starts?

I guess now we can put to rest the "go to guy" discussion

True. But does a player who wants to make a name for himself sign somewhere that will give him the snap counts, or sign somewhere where he needs someone to get hurt in order to get the snap counts.

Turk was talking about Hollywood's point of view. This is a good move for the Browns, maybe not so much for Higgins.

Unless the Browns have a season that they are capable of having. I think Higgins is betting on them as much as he's betting on himself.

Where does he stand to gain more over the long haul? Going to another team after a season where your team embarrassingly under performs and you were in the dog house? OR after the Browns turn in a season in which they were legit playoff contenders (maybe even plays a game) and you've been able to make some clutch plays throughout that season?


I'm glad we re-signed him even if its for one year. He's consistent and reliable which is really all you need from your #3.

What about Kellon Winslow Jr, he wasn't technically a WR, but was used like one.

What about Dennis Northcutt?

Oh well, The Browns don't sign (almost) anybody they draft to a 2nd contract, check out any position,
Not sure, just off hand, how about Linebackers,
Safeties.

Drafted ones that got a 2nd contract with the Browns?
It's got to be a short list.
Part of that may be because they change, Coaches, GM's, Ownership, There have been 3 owners since 99' and The Walrus acted like one at league meetings.

Josh Cribbs may have gotten a 2nd contract, but was he drafted?
Did Kevin Johnson get a 2nd contract? He should have.
What about Braylon Edwards.
Vance, what's his name, 5th round, Terrelle Pryors first year with the Browns, is about like the only Browns Wr drafted, who didn't make the team his rookie year, since 99.

That prior quote so reminded me.
Joe Juravicious, He signd a 6 year extension,
I was so happy the Browns were going to have (well anybody) for 6 years,
and he quit, 9 months later, or something like that.

"Who cuts a guy after a 4 year extension?" A new regime does.

Emmanuel Ogbah, (is currently with the Dolphins, nevermind)

Shoulda kept him. arrgh!

Only thing from this entire thread that matters,
someone posted

" The chemistry between Quarterback and WR is very important."

Baker should be tickled by this. It would be nice to see our air offense take off, what with better receivers doing what they should, when they should, and being on their routes as designed. I was really pleased to see some of his magic with BM.

Let's go to war.

I agree ... to be honest, Baker has as much as any QB in the NFL right now ... from the OL, TE, RB, WR, system fit

It’s on him now ... the table is set

Taking less money to play here is huge to me. This is the team that drafted him, he has good rapport with Baker, and he worked hard at getting better. The fans love him, and evidently he loves Cleveland.

If he does well in this offense, he might be looking down the road a year or two, when someone making big money is let go. He will be in position to step right in.

Team loyalty is rare these days. I myself appreciate it.

Technically, it's his 3rd contract. He was waived in his second season and resigned under a new contract to the practice squad.

He didn't even make it through year 2 of his "rookie" deal.

If you count the tendered contract from his RFA year, It's his 4th.

Linky


Brownswire at USAToday:
When the Cleveland Browns elected to roll out the red carpet and welcome Rashard “Hollywood” Higgins back to the Dawg Pound, the team put what should be the finishing touches on the wide receiver corps for 2020.

Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry will be the primary WR weapons. Both topped 1,000 receiving yards and Landry earned another Pro Bowl berth in 2019. Higgins returns with every intention of being the quality No. 3 wideout he was in 2018. The troika blends nicely together with complementary skills.

Rookie sixth-rounder Donovan Peoples-Jones fits well as the outside speed option as the fourth WR, though he’ll need to beat out young Damion Ratley. Newcomer Jojo Natson can back up the slot position, though he’s only making the roster if he’s the return specialist. That’s a role Natson will have to earn over Peoples-Jones, who has high-end promise as a returner to go with his higher-end skills at receiver.

With KhaDarel Hodge capable as a physical, possession-type receiver while primarily thriving on special teams — Hodge was outstanding on coverage units — the Browns have themselves a receiving corps that is ready to roll in 2020.

That means little chance for the likes of holdovers Taywan Taylor and D.J. Montgomery, or anyone invited to training camp to crack the solid lineup. Barring injuries, the Browns are set at wide receiver in 2020 with Higgins’ return.

j/c:

A new/old theme for Cleveland Browns: Second chances for Rashard Higgins & David Njoku

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Who saw that coming?

That being Rashard Higgins signing a one-year, $910,000 deal to return to the Browns.

I thought it was possible in March, when the free agency period opened. But when more than a month passed and nothing happened, I figured Higgins was headed out of town.

Higgins has been my favorite Browns receiver since 2016. He was not the best, just a guy I liked when I talked to him a few times. In my first interview with him, I asked, “What kind of receiver are you?”

He said: “I’m a catch-the-ball kind of receiver.”

I loved that.

Higgins had an excellent high school career at Mesquite High in Texas. Because of his lack of speed, he had no Division I scholarship offers until the spring of his senior year. A new coaching staff at Colorado State had taken over. They were desperate for receivers. A high school coach sent them Higgins’ name, and he was scouted in a basketball game.

Football season was over by the time the Rams’ new staff took over. They eventually gave him a scholarship. Three years later, Higgins left the school as the team’s all-time leading receiver.

Then he was the fourth receiver drafted ... by the Browns! They drafted four receivers in 2016. The other three? Corey Coleman, Ricardo Louis and Jordan Payton.

Higgins was the 173rd name called in that draft. His 76 career receptions are more than Coleman, Louis and Payton. In case you’re wondering, Coleman is still in the NFL. He is on the New York Giants’ roster, recovering from an ACL surgery last year. Louis and Payton are out of the NFL.

LOOKING BACK

Last season, the Browns promoted Freddie Kitchens to head coach. As offensive coordinator for the final eight games on 2018, Kitchens developed an excellent relationship with Baker Mayfield. He also found productive roles for David Njoku and Higgins.

Know who was the Browns’ second-leading receiver in 2018 behind Jarvis Landry? It was tight end Njoku with 56 catches. Higgins had 39. They combined for eight TDs.

Last year? Nine catches, two TDs.

Part of the issue was Njoku suffering a wrist injury early in the season, missing eight games. When he returned, he fell out of favor with the coaches. Higgins followed the same pattern. He hurt his knee in the opener, missing six games. When he returned, there was a clash with the coaches. He played little over the final six games.

Njoku and Higgins caused some of their own problems with a lack of maturity. But Kitchens clearly had leadership problems and made the situation worse.

LOOKING AHEAD

Browns GM Andrew Berry was part of the Sashi Brown front office when Higgins was drafted in 2016. He also had a role in the drafting Njoku in 2017.

Last season, Berry was an assistant GM for the Philadelphia Eagles. When he returned this season, he reconnected with Chief Strategy Officer Paul DePodesta, who also was a part of the Sashi Brown front office. Kevin Stefanski has been intrigued with the athleticism of the 6-4 Njoku. The new coach plays multiple tight ends. He likes the idea of free agent acquisition Austin Hooper and Njoku on the field at the same time.

Njoku is only 23. The Browns picked up his option for 2021, meaning they have him under control for two years. It is a vote of confidence in the University of Miami product. A day later, they signed Higgins.

For both players, it’s a fresh start with a new/old front office that never lost faith in them.

Now, it’s up to Higgins and Njoku to prove Berry & Company are right.

https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2020/04...avid-njoku.html

Its a crying shame KJ overpaid for VG ... what a horrible move that was ...

Actually Higgins will be #4.

I count the TE's when it comes to targets. Hooper might be #1 or #2

I'm happy.. Welcome back Hollywood

I am as well. He is a decent player. You have to have guys like that on the team. Not everybody is going to be a top 10 player in the league.

Hopefully your "4-game stretch" critique extends beyond more than one player.