DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Browns interested in Chargers WR Eric Parker

Kind of a head scratcher. Thought we were in pretty good shape here?

Report: Browns Interested in WR Eric Parker

By Barry McBride
OBR Publisher
Posted Jun 21, 2008


The veteran wide receiver is again healthy, and is being made available by the Chargers. According to reports out of San Diego, the Browns are among the teams who have contacted the Chargers.

The Cleveland Browns have gotten some good news out of OTAs and the recent minicamp with the seeming resurgence of WR Travis Wilson and a good prognosis for WR Joe Jurevicius.

The team may still be looking at wide receivers, however, as the San Diego Union-Tribune is reporting that the Browns are among the teams interested in WR/PR Eric Parker. The Chargers are believed to be asking for a late-round draft pick.

The 6'0", 180-pound Parker is a seven-year veteran out of Tennessee who went undrafted out of college and latched onto the Chargers roster after a failed attempt at making the Texans roster. In his third season, 2004, Parker became a valuable receiver for the Chargers, pulling down 47 passes for 690 yards.

In 2005 and 2006, Parker reeled in 57 passes (726 yards, 12.7 average) and 48 passes (659 yards, 13.7 average).

Last season, however, was a lost one for the receiver, who had built a reputation as dependable target and a good route-runner in San Diego. Foot problems lingered throughout the off-season for Parker, who had surgery during the summer. His recovery wasn't as fast as hoped, and the Chargers placed him on the IR mid-season.

The receiver is believed to be back to 100% at this point, however, but is facing a tougher fight for a roster spot thanks to the Chargers acquisitions of Chris Chambers and Mark Jones.

Parker is also a veteran punt returner, and could fill in for Josh Cribbs if needed. WR Syndric Steptoe is also a capable punt returner, but is viewed as having fairly long odds at making the team.

http://cle.scout.com/2/763879.html

Well we know that Chud knows him well.

My take on this is we know very well how teams will game plan against us. They are going to overload on taking away the 15+ routes in our pass plays and force DA to hit the short routes.

This was similar to the Pats and opened up the doors of stardom for a once regarded OK WR Welker. We are looking for that precision route runner with quickness (punt returner quickness) to take advantage of what we expect to see this year. Welker went from 67 catches to 112. We might be looking for a similar transition in a slot WR.

JJ just doesn't have the quickness - he's more of a sit in a zone WR and hit him high. We have been pleased with Wilson but he's an unproven commodity and we need insurance. Steptoe just isn't a proficient route runner. Kasper has a bad rap of not showing up game day.

The acquisition of Parker will bring us that perfect piece to the puzzle at least in the mind of Chud. Wilson I see more as a replacement for Stallworth if need be - in other words not from the slot.

This also would give the team room to take away Punt return duties from Cribbs who is the best Kick Returner in the game but relegated to just Good on punt returns. Cribbs just isn't the route runner Parker is for that slot position and Chud I believe is putting special packages in for Cribbs mostly from the backfield (oh he'll motion out to a WR position from time to time).

Of course we haven't pulled the trigger. And what OBR just doesn't understand its not about overkill of a position. Its about a perfect piece to a puzzle...a TEAM PUZZLE. Parker just might be that piece???

JMHO

Parker to be traded or released



Browns among teams interested in Chargers receiver, punt returner
By Kevin Acee
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

June 21, 2008

The signing of Mark Jones yesterday, in itself, is not a big deal. Jones, a receiver and punt returner, faces a major challenge making the Chargers' opening day roster.
But the presence of the four-year veteran gives the Chargers yet another option at receiver, where they will by training camp be without one of their most prolific and dependable pass catchers over the past five years.



K.C. ALFRED / Union-Tribune
Eric Parker's 170 receptions since 2003 rank third on the Chargers behind Antonio Gates and LaDainian Tomlinson.
Sources said yesterday the Chargers have fielded calls from several teams about trading Eric Parker and that Parker will be traded or released by the start of training camp next month.

General Manager A.J. Smith declined comment.

“We don't discuss our football business,” Smith said.

Parker's agent, Jack Bechta, is expected to take a role in facilitating a trade, though he said he was just learning about the situation.

“If this is happening, I will get involved,” Bechta said. “I will start taking the lead. With the relationship I have with the front office and the respect Eric has garnered, I'm sure they'll let us participate in the process.”

The Cleveland Browns, whose offensive coordinator is former Chargers tight ends coach Rob Chudzinksi, are among the teams that have shown interest in Parker. The Chargers are believed to be asking for a draft pick somewhere in the final three rounds.

Message received
Catching up with Eric Parker, who is expected to be a former Charger by late July:

Missed '07 season after big-toe surgery.

Ranks third on team in receptions since '03.

Next stop could be Cleveland.


Parker, 29, had surgery on his right big toe in October and did not play last season. He has been running and doing other drills but did not participate in minicamp or offseason coaching sessions.

Parker is healthy enough to play and will pass any physical with another team, according to several people with knowledge of his health.

Even after missing the entire 2007 season, Parker's 170 receptions since 2003 rank third on the team behind Antonio Gates and LaDainian Tomlinson. Parker was also the Chargers' primary punt returner from 2004-06.

But in addition to the injury, Parker has become expendable because of the arrival of Chris Chambers and development of the team's young receivers and punt returners. Behind No. 1 punt returner Darren Sproles, the Chargers have Buster Davis, Antoine Cason, Chambers, Antonio Cromartie, Eric Weddle and others.

The news that Parker will be gone is presumably good for Malcom Floyd. Floyd was inactive the final 10 weeks and both playoff games last season. A final roster spot figured to come down to Floyd or Parker.

web page

Excellent points my friend.

Parker is quick, and yes, Cribbs can't do everything, especially if we plan on using him on O more often. I would like to see him relieved of returning punts.

It's a worth a try, and by that I mean nothing more than a 6th rounder. Punt returns aren't the safest thing in the world so I wouldn't mind getting someone else in there to spell Cribbs.

If Savage and RAC want him then I want him.

Quote:

---

“We don't discuss our football business,” Smith said.

---

Not for nothing, but if he won't talk football business, why the hell do we even want to hear from him

Excellent take on that EO.

I would like to see us obtain him without giving up a draft pick though.

This doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. I don't care if it's the 5th round...you guys are forgeting how phil likes to bunch them late round picks together to move up in the draft. It would b nice to have eric parker but not at the expense of a draft pick....esp when they might release him anyways if they can't trade him.

I would like for us to have a viable option at WR. Its nice to hear that Wilson is doing well in OTAs but I would like to see a legitimate game tested WR, esp for the future with JJ only playing one more season.

The only thing I disagree with in your take is that IMO, Cribbs will still be the full time punt returner because he seemed to make huge strides in his punt returning ability. Other than that, I agree completely with your take.

Additional depth can't hurt....IF the price is right ! ....

would be great having him

"The only thing I disagree with in your take is that IMO, Cribbs will still be the full time punt returner"

Unfortunately you are not a mind reader for if you had read my mind you would have noted that I don't think that Parker would come in and have the punt return duties from day one.

He would handle some in practice and maybe when Cribbs is off with the WRs or RBs working on something Parker could handle some returns in practice.

Possibly somewhere in pre-season or even after the season commences...we would always have the option then of utilizing Parker at the punt return duties. Heck if Cribbs gets better at the duties and is like the best there...especially with the new D creating more punts (hopefully) - then Cribbs stays but if he's good and Parker is good and Cribbs is doing too much...we got the OPTION. Anyways it was easier for me to do the mind reading version

JMHO

Proof that the Travis Wilson hype might be a bit more guarded. A good depth move, Parker is an underrated WR/PR.

Lets say that the Browns do trade for Parker, and Parker and Cribbs makes the active list on gameday. I have an idea for one small strategy the Browns could use, so that having both punt returners active could benefit the Browns.

Not taking anything away from the blockers or blocking schemes in the return game but Cribbs has almost single handedly won games or brought the Browns closer to victory with his return game (the Baltimore game comes to mind as does the game he had a return for a TD against Pburgh). Towards the end of the season, opposing teams would rather punt the ball out of bounds or kick the ball away from Cribbs. Lets say Cribbs already has a big return in a game and teams continue to punt away from him. The Browns could decide that putting Parker in as a returner, would help the Browns in the battle of field position, rather then let opposing teams punt the ball out of bounds. Parker could maybe have a chance to break a long run to score a TD or give the Browns offense better field position. Plus, this would also allow Cribbs to be able to play more in the offense and not take anything away from Cribbs when he is gunning to make a tackle on special teams. Because not only has Cribbs been one of the best return men I have ever seen, he is THE best specail teams player to get down the field and make tackles.

Metcalf has done some specail things as a returner on his own. The 2 TD game he had against Pburgh was the most fun sporting event i ever attended.

Bennie Thompson was one of the best specail teams tacklers I have seen in a Browns uni. But he made his mistakes. I remember him giving Pittsburgh another chance twice in one game by jumping offsides on trying to block a punt. I think that might have been a playoff game. Cribbs hasnt made mistakes like that yet and is still more consistant on making plays on the opposing return man. You have to give Bennie Thompson credit though for making tackles in the return game with a broken hand(or finger) while playing with a big ole cast on his hand. That dude was a beast on specail teams, but no Cribbs. Lets hope Cribbs dont get caught with a house full of automatic uzis, like Thompson did, with shell casings all over his back yard.

Quote:

---

Now, besides establishing a truly dominant defense, it's all about weapons, options and scoring.

---

Exactly.

If you have a chance to upgrade, you do it.

I like Joe J, but if this guy is better, you start him.

A move like this is all about the evolution of this offense. There were several games last year in which we were behind with 2 mins left and needed a td to win. The Browns simply didnt have the weapons to go out there and spread teams out. Tim Carter was a 3rd nipple reciever (totally useless). Then you had JJ and K2 who were both banged up and had little in the way of speed to seperate from multiple defenders.

Adding Parker continues to add offensive weapons to where Chud can use multiple reciever packages when needed. Keep in mind how this team looked against the Bengals when Cinn decided to double up on k2 and BE.

Last year we simply did not have the horses to use 4 and 5 receiver sets when we needed it and it is one of the biggest reasons why this team did not make the playoffs.

I thought that was what you meant in the first place, but I wasn't 100% sure. No big deal. I guess we pretty much agree on this one.

This makes me scratch my head as well.

I'm all for depth. We've been hit for several years with big injuries, and last year was probably the first year that it didn't hit us too hard.

But, if we're as close to the cap as Phil says we are, and we've already given up picks in next year's draft, I'm surprised he'd be looking for a WR that will probably be 4th on the depth charts. Are Cribbs, Kasper, Wilson and co. all that bad?

Can't be any worse than Tim Carter was, and we did just fine offensively with him in there. Actually, if this turns out to be another Tim Carter deal, I'd be a little tiffed. Granted, Parker can be better than Carter, he seems to go after a ball, get a hang nail, and then sit out for a while.

Being close to our limit, Phil needs to spend it wisely. We're much more thin at corner than we are at WR. Phil is still probably focusing on the CB, but l am not sure what this guy is under contract for.

Also, how long is he under contract? The only way I can see this being worth it is if he sticks a few years since this may very well be JJ's last season.

I want him to go out in style.

The way I look at it is we are one Edwards injury away from going from an elite receiving corps to just average. Granted, Parker probably wouldn't prevent that, but he could help stop the bleeding if something happens to Edwards.

It looks like the Browns are doing what they've always said they would do, and that is always look for opportunities to upgrade EVERY position. I doubt they have much confidence in either Kasper or Wilson at this point - no matter how glowing the reviews. I guarantee you they aren't counting those chickens. That leaves Edwards, an underachieving Stallworth, and an aging, possibly injured JJ. That doesn't sound too good to me.

And I don't put much stock in Cribbs playing wideout, and at this time, I don't think the team does either.

My first thoughts on this was that we may be looking to trade away one of our existing WR. And when that happens Parker would fill in the gap.

2008: $1.85 million, 2009: $2.225 million, 2010: $2.65 million, 2011: Free Agent

RotoWorld.com

Parker for a 6th or 7th would be a HUGE signing for us...

I love the fact that Chud knows this dude and in a like Offense he put up solid numbers...

U gotta look at this for 2009 and beyond...Right now we could possibly be without Jurevicious AND Stallworth who has a serious contract escalation come 2009...He may just be a 1 year deal here...Then we go back to where we were...

Best case scenario is Stallworth produces and we do some adjusting to that contract...Wilson finally gets his head outta his butt and Parker's here for 3 years...

this all could simply mean that JJ's injury isn't recovering as nicely as the FO would like or feel comfortable with.

I guess there are a lot of things we could do.

I am just basing it on the article that was written some weeks back where Joe told the team to go get a #2 receiver.

Joe is the #3...and that is usually a slot guy when we sit the fullback.

Quote:

---

Joe is the #3...and that is usually a slot guy when we sit the fullback.

---

From everything that I have read and/or heard, JJ's request to be the #3 receiver is in regards to playing time and not anything to do with where he lines up. I believe that when they line up three WR's, it will be Braylon and JJ on the outside and Stallworth in the slot.
Concerning possibly trading for Parker: I like what Parker brings to the table, but his injury history does concern me. He plays the game tough (giving up his body to go after the ball, exposing himself to the big hit in traffic, etc.). He isn't the biggest guy and he pays for it, it seems. Just a side-note: the ideal small, nifty slot receiver would be a Wes Welker type...ever notice how defenders never get a clean shot at him, the guy gets even "smaller" by getting low.
I have also read that the Browns are interested in Matt Jones. For the salary mentioned in the link, I would prefer Jones to Parker if the price in trade is the same (6th or 7th rounder).
Dawgs by Nature

Regarding the return duties I really didn't notice the kicking away concern on punts as I did on kick-offs when regarding Cribbs. Kicking out of bounds is a lost art with punters many times it results in 30 yards or less net result with little time coming off the clock and field position ahead of our 20. I don't think we expect too much from punt returns as we do in Kickoffs which starts out with the ball in the Runners hands with mega room to start running. Punt returns heck if you get 7 yards its an achievement. We'll take the ball net 25-30 out of bounds and no chance of a turnover if they give it to us. We won't put a lesser returner (if he don't start he's lesser) out there with the purpose of having them to kick to us...45+ in the air with the hopes that we could break one.

But in regards to kick-offs you did get me thinking that we should have a plan B set up for the short kicks that we definitely will see as they keep the ball away from Cribbs. They won't kick it out of bounds of course. But I'd like to see us have a well planned secondary short return unit worked out...secondary wall the whole bit designed for someone lets say of Parkers status who has the quickness to avoid that first gunner and work himself into the preplanned seam. If the kick away from Cribbs to the 30...lets have a planned return from there and it would be similar to a punt return due to the on rushing defenders...Parker could be used there.

JMHO

Maybe so on the slot thing...at any rate, Joe is the 3rd receiver no matter where he lines up.

As to Parker, he missed time last year with a foot injury.

Before that I don't think he was a frequent visitor to the IR list.

If you have some other information, please share as I want to know.

Thanks

Huh? Must be extra cover for Cribbs or the 'Vicius One is sour somehow. MORE wides?!? I thought we were trying to carry seven or so QBs this season. Win. Period.