DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Browns' Offseason Activity Part 2

I feel like when a beat reporter follows up to a past report of a visit like this, it normally means that there is something more to the situation, IMO.

I'm guessing RapSheet is following this rather hard and probably thinks, based on what's he is hearing, things may be a bit further along and is trying to play neutral without showing his hand unless things go sour during negotiations.

And I'm saying this as someone who isn't clamoring at the idea that we sign Clowney. I have some concerns about him and his potential price tag. I just think these types of tweets, as nebulous as they can sometime be, can often be leading in a certain direction.

We'll see.

I actually don't worry about his price tag because I have zero worries of Andrew Berry taking on a foolish signing just to chase a name. I'm pretty confident in him either doing it the right way or just passing on it and moving on to Plan B, Plan C..., Plan Z, etc...

Berry is doing a fantastic job by all accounts but I don't see him as being flawless or omniscient when it comes to making the right decision. In fact, I think his first signing as our GM is rather questionable in Hooper (so far).

That said, I trust Berry is considering all angels when it comes to Clowney or any FA for that matter and he deserves the benefit of the doubt due to this overall decisions. But he chased McKinley last year and got him, so I'm guessing he is chasing Clowney in a similar fashion and wants to land him as well. I hope the chase doesn't wind up in paying extra just to get him. That's all I'm saying.

Injuries are certainly a concern. It's that coupled with the price it would cost to take on the likelihood of an injury.

I just don't want another Olivier Vernon at $15M/year. Or even at the $11M this past season.... unless like many of these contracts in 2021, it'd be incentive-laden based on performance.

Clowney's price will come down. I got a feeling he will do what he did last year and wait until he can miss OTAs. There is something about him that bothers me, I don't think he plays full tilt all the time. A guy with his talent, that can't find a team that will give him a long term contract, gives me concerns. Plus, he is hurt a lot.

And Big mouth has a big mouth...

I stopped listening when he was rattling off people on the roster, and he got to "Olivier Vernon" .... who is a free agent with a serious injury to rehab.

I lol'd when he mentioned Olivier Vernon as a 2021 impact player.

His price should come down... guy has injury concerns and a history of not wanting to practice... has talent, but I'm leery...

He’s a luxury, not a must-have. I wouldn’t mind getting him, based on what he MIGHT do, but not for what he’s probably asking for.

And those character flaws.... pushing 30, he should have mitigated them. I dunno if he has, or if he hasn’t, but I do know I wouldn’t risk a lot to find out.

Cowherd is a 3rd rate hack.

That's a insult to 3rd rate hacks.

I was going to say, this board is full of 3rd rate hacks. We are better than that guy.

I dunno why but I rather take Aldon smith over Clowney.

+2 Smith is the better player. I want no part of Clowney

I was just thinking I needed a new sig. This might be it.

Aldon Smith is 31 (~3 years older), but had a long hiatus from the league.

I suppose it really boils down to if you believe Smith has exorcised his demons or not.

Not sure of that statement. Clowney plays the run much better than Smith. He does set an edge which a good defense needs.

But, he gets people to click and listen just to see what he said so that they can bash him..... so, he's a smart 3rd rate hack that gets paid well for running the same schtick over and over and over.

One might take the opposing point of view and state the our fellow Countryman are 9 cents shrot of a dime .

JC...

While nobody can deny the talent Clowney has/had, he has several flags...which to me doesn't add up to hefty money.

Yes he is only 28...But I am sure with the 15 injuries (had to look it up...that is staggering!) he has suffered in the NFL, his body is much more beat up than his age suggests.

He has a motor than runs cold at times, I have always been one for the all out effort guys...but who knows. I do think he will be better as a "wave" player versus full time starter...should improve his motor and lessen his extremely high odds of probability of being injured.

I would def. be wary of such a signing...unless the contract is rather cheap...which with him, I do doubt.

I honestly enjoy cowherd on some things... But like every once in awhile he just makes a spot in his segment called "I'm gonna randomly take jabs at cleveland today". THat said the majority of the mainstream talking heads have been real bullish on the Browns this whole offseason. They are all saying that last year was a flash in the pan. They're all saying that Odell only harms the team. (Which I think is another motive all on its own). They are all still trying to trot out that Baker is still way too immature.

I sincerely hope the Browns are listening and posting everything on their bulletin boards.

j/c:



Clowney signing imminent.

Maybe

Not sure if I'd go that far, lol. Trevon Young didn't even count toward our salary cap.

Don’t do it Jadeveon! Lol

j/c:

What I’m hearing about Andrew Berry’s approach to defense in free agency – Terry’s Talkin’ Browns

CLEVELAND, Ohio – I talked to some of my NFL sources about what the Browns and General Manager Andrew Berry did in free agency to retool the defense. Here’s what I’m hearing:

THE MAIN THING

When free agency opened, many in the media and the fan base assumed the top priority was adding a defensive end to play opposite Myles Garrett. That narrative grew louder when T.J. Watt hit free agency early and the Browns were one of the teams bidding on him.

But the preferred move was actually adding speed in the secondary, especially in terms of finding a big time safety. It had to be a younger guy coming off a rookie contract, a player in his middle 20s who already was established but still peaking in terms of production.

Or as one source said, “There’s a difference between being aggressive and stupid in free agency. The Browns have been aggressive the last two years, but stayed away from stupid.”

A year ago, the Browns threw big money at right tackle Jack Conklin and tight end Austin Hooper. Both fit the profile of ascending players coming off rookie contracts in their middle 20s.

This year, they planned only one major free agent investment – a safety.

Meet John Johnson III.

SMART SHOPPING

The Browns targeted the Rams’ free agents because they knew Los Angeles had major salary cap problems. Talented players were going to hit the market from the NFL’s top-ranked defense.

Berry called it being “opportunistic buyers” in his press release. Notice the Browns didn’t sign just one former Rams defensive back, they added two.

As Berry said in his press release, a player such as safety John Johnson III “doesn’t usually make it to the free agent market.” Johnson signed a 3-year, $33.7 million deal ($24 million guaranteed).

Just as the front office added players a year ago to fit the head coach Kevin Stefanski’s offense, this time they wanted players who’d work well in the safety-heavy system of defensive coordinator Joe Woods. He prefers safeties over linebackers. Berry believes the modern, pass-heavy NFL is faster and quicker than ever.

After Johnson, the Browns signed Rams defensive back Troy Hill (two years, $9 million). The Browns rated Hill above Terrance Mitchell, the former Brown who signed a two-year, $7 million deal with Houston.

Like Mitchell, Hill is best covering slot receivers. But the Browns believe Hill can do a solid job if he has to cover wideouts.

WHAT ABOUT THE AFC NORTH?

You can say, “The Browns play in the AFC North. You need good linebackers in this division, where teams love to run the ball.”

Guess what team led the NFL in passes attempted in 2021? Pittsburgh. The Bengals ranked 14th out of 32 teams. The Ravens were 32nd, the Browns 28th.

But the Bengals are expected to the throw the ball more in 2021, assuming QB Joe Burrow bounces back from his ACL surgery. Baltimore runs a strange spread offense with QB Lamar Jackson, requiring speed to try and control him.

The Browns are counting on their safeties to play a major role. They are hoping 2020 second-round pick Grant Delpit recovers from his season-ending Achilles surgery. They like Ronnie Harrison Jr., but he missed five games due to various injuries last season.

Don’t be surprised if the Browns add a safety in the draft.

WHAT ABOUT LINEBACKERS?

The Browns did sign a linebacker: Anthony Walker from the Colts. He is much like former Brown B.J. Goodson, only better. Goodson was considered a good leader, the Colts says Walker is a great leader. He is a strong tackler, much like Goodson.

“Walker is one of the fastest linebackers in the league,” said Berry. “His range and tenacity fits well with how we view the modern linebacker.”

Surprising fact: One of my NFL sources told me “linebackers are like running backs on offense. They have the shortest average career of any position on defense.” The reason is just as running backs take the biggest hits, it often is the linebackers delivering those blows. The body is punished, skills diminish quickly.

As the NFL writes off linebackers, their price drops. Walker signed a 1-year, $3.5 million deal. The team also re-signed linebacker Malcolm Smith ($1.2 million, $500,000 guaranteed), who is solid in pass coverage.

WHAT ABOUT J.J. WATT AND JADEVEON CLOWNEY?

The Browns looked at both veteran defensive ends. I heard they offered Watt a contract in the $8 million range that could go much higher with incentives. Watt signed a 2-year, $31 million deal with Arizona.

The Browns recently hosted Clowney. He could end up receiving an offer much like the one Watt received. The 28-year-old Clowney didn’t have a sack in eight games for Tennessee last season. He was rated good against the run, but required knee surgery.

I’m not big fan of Clowney. But the Browns could look at him as a one-year venture, much like Berry did last season when he reworked Olivier Vernon’s contract to $11 million from $15.5 million.

Vernon had only 3.5 sacks with the Browns in 2019. But in 2020, that rose to nine. He had some excellent games, especially in the second half of the season. Then Vernon blew out his Achilles in the final regular season game. That injury probably ended his career with the Browns and it’s a long road for a comeback in 2021.

WHAT ABOUT DEFENSIVE ENDS?

The Browns believe they are adding a 25-year-old defensive end at the right point in his career. Takk McKinley had 13 sacks in his first two pro seasons (2017-18). After that, he had injuries and wasn’t productive.

His $4.2 million ($3.4 million guaranteed) contract is a classic Browns exploratory contract. One year, relatively modest for a player who was a former first-round pick. I called it “exploratory,” but it’s a “let’s go this direction” move. If that decision doesn’t work out, it’s easy to change course.

Berry said: “McKinley’s skillset marries really nicely with what we look for out of our defensive ends in this system. ... He has speed, power and quickness ... an edge player with a very high motor.”

I expect the Browns to keep shopping for a defensive end.

THE QUIET SIGNING

Berry and Woods love veteran defensive tackle Malik Jackson, who signed one-year, $3.75 million deal. Berry became an admirer of the 31-year-old Jackson in 2019 while the Philadelphia assistant GM. Woods was a defensive backs coach in Denver when Jackson played there.

The Browns view him as a tackle who can put pressure on opposing QBs. But he also can play what Berry called “The Big End,” as he wants versatility on the line.

Defensive end Larry Ogunjobi has left for Cincinnati. The Browns view Andrew Billings (returning after opting out of 2020 for COVID concerns) and Jackson as a combined upgrade.

https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2021/03...kin-browns.html

Brian Allen is officially back with the Cleveland Browns. The team announced it has re-signed the veteran cornerback, with exact contract terms undisclosed.

Allen joined the Browns in January when Cleveland signed him off the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad. He was on the Browns’ active roster for both playoff games following the 2020 season but was inactive for the games.

The 6-foot-3, 215-pound corner from Utah was originally a fifth-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He has played in 17 career games, including one in 2020 with the San Francisco 49ers before he found his way to Cincinnati. He offers the Browns some options on the outside with his size and physicality.

https://brownswire.usatoday.com/2021/03/29/browns-sign-brian-allen-free-agency/


The Cleveland Browns have officially waived defensive end Trevon Young.

The move was first noted on Friday but did not appear until Monday on the NFL’s transaction report. Young never appeared in a game for the Browns despite being in Cleveland since the middle of the 2019 season. He spent the 2020 season on injured reserve after reverting from waivers over the summer.

Young was originally a fifth-round pick by the Los Angeles Rams in the 2018 NFL draft out of Louisville. The Rams waived him during his rookie season and again in the following training camp, which eventually led to his appearance in Cleveland.

https://brownswire.usatoday.com/2021/03/30/browns-officially-waive-de-trevon-young/

I've never heard of him.

Just a guy. They filter in and out pretty often and fast.

Unless you are a total roster geek, a guy like that is pretty easy to miss.

Lol!

Just saw this. Cowherd hasn't been right on anything Baker Mayfield since forever...

If he's been right on the Cleveland Browns more than any other team in the NFL, he's wrong an awfully lot.

My Pops had a pet phrase he liked to trot out for folks like this nimnull:

"The next time that due's right about something will be the first time he's right about anything..."

No on Clowney.

If we drafted one of the many good edge rushers in this draft we would probably get much the same production as if we signed Clowney and at a much cheaper price. Not to mention we would have the rookie foe awhile and we can develop him further. I had said I didn't mind if we signed Clowney but now I'm not so sure.