http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/browns/home.htm Some of the 18 front-office employees fired by the Browns since the end of last season were sacked for having loose lips and whispering too often to the media. Coach Eric Mangini believes the less information that gets out, the less opposing teams know about the Browns.
Mangini will be secretive about injuries to the point he won't reveal a player is undergoing surgery unless maybe, just maybe, the player is carted off the field and put on injured reserve.
The Browns' new head coach is being just as secretive about free agency. Through the first week, the only free agent signed by the Browns was tight end Robert Royal, formerly of the Bills.
Mangini is not revealing which players have visited the Browns. Word eventually leaks, but the Browns are not confirming the reports.
The secrecy has spawned baseless rumors. The wild one that spread around the country in the first week of free agency had the Browns trading quarterback Brady Quinn and nose tackle Shaun Rogers to the Broncos for Denver quarterback Jay Cutler.
Broncos coach Josh McDaniels squashed the rumor of Cutler being traded to Cleveland or anywhere else. The story never had legs in the Browns training complex, but it kept fans buzzing. Last year the Browns played the Broncos. Cutler passed for 447 yards and three touchdowns. He might have thrown for 500 yards in a 34-30 Denver victory if not for three or four dropped passes.
Such a trade even with another team makes no sense from a Browns' standpoint. If the Browns traded Rogers they would have a hole the size of the Grand Canyon in the middle of their defensive line. If they traded for a starting quarterback they would have two, just as they do now with Quinn and Derek Anderson.
The reason the rumor seemed at all believable is Rogers last week reportedly asked to be traded because he felt slighted by Mangini and because the Browns were concerned about his weight, but the Browns were emphatic - and still are - Rogers is going nowhere.
As for trading Quinn, if a quarterback is to be traded the one expected to go is Anderson. He is due a guaranteed bonus of $5 million on March 13. If he is not traded before then it is unlikely the Browns would peddle him until the draft.
NOTES, QUOTES
—Coach Eric Mangini wants the locker room at the training complex expanded. The plan is to eliminate a player's lounge adjacent to the locker room. Lockers that were in the middle of the locker room, dividing the offense from the defense, will be eliminated.
—One player the Browns had in for a visit was cornerback Chris Carr from the Titans. Carr would be a candidate for a nickel or dime back, but he would also challenge Josh Cribbs as a punt returner. Relieving Cribbs of some special teams duties would keep him fresh to be a wide receiver. Mangini would like to use him as a receiver more than Romeo Crennel did.
—Crennel is rehabbing after recent hip replacement surgery. The door is not closed on Crennel working with the Browns in some capacity, but Crennel is also considering an opening with the Chiefs. Crennel's contract with the Browns ran through 2011.
—With Winslow traded, Steve Heiden recovering from knee surgery and Darnell Dinkins, a free agent, the Browns were down to Martin Rucker as their only healthy tight end under contract before signing Robert Royal in free agency. Rucker caught two passes last season.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "They've done a lot for this football team. They represent things we want to strive for. They're good people." — General Manager George Kokinis on Joe Jurevicius and Ryan Tucker.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
The Browns have been moving slowly in free agency but they have been busy creating salary cap room.
Offensive lineman Ryan Tucker, due to make $3.25 million in 2009 before free agency began, agreed to contract restructuring that will reduce his salary to $850,000. Kellen Winslow's salary of $4.5 million is also off the Browns' payroll.
With the adjustments and adding back in amortized bonuses for both players, the Browns are at least $20 million under the salary cap. They were about $14.5 million under the cap before free agency began.
TEAM NEEDS/OFFSEASON STRATEGY
The Browns did not score an offensive touchdown in any of their last six games, yet in the first week of free agency they spent most of their time concentrating on defensive players. None was signed, but that is where the focus has been, primarily because the majority of their own free agents are on defense.
The fact the Browns did not make a big splash early in free agency is an indication General Manager George Kokinis and Coach Eric Mangini believe the Browns need rebuilding. If they thought they could be a playoff team in 2009 they would not have traded Kellen Winslow on the first day of free agency.
TEAM NEEDS
1. Outside linebacker: The Browns had 17 sacks in 2008, a drop-off of 11 from the year before. They have to find a way to generate a pass rush from the left side. They do not have a starting left outside linebacker. They have the fifth pick in the draft and could use it on Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry. If Curry is taken they could trade down or hold their breath until they pick fourth in the second round.
2. Strong safety: Their strong-side starter since 2005, Sean Jones, signed with the Giants. However, backup Mike Adams re-signed. The Browns will have to find a partner for free safety Brodney Pool in the draft if they do not think Adams is the long-term answer.
3. Running back: Jamal Lewis' production dropped by more than 300 yards in 2008 and he played in one more game than in 2007, but Coach Eric Mangini seems convinced Lewis can still be the feature back, judging by his inactivity early in free agency. The Browns do not have to spend a high pick on a running back, nor do they have to break the bank in free agency, but they better start grooming a replacement for Lewis soon.
MEDICAL WATCH: Tight end Steve Heiden is continuing his rehab from ACL and MCL surgery. ... Defensive end Corey Williams is recovering from arthroscopic shoulder surgery. ... Running back Jamal Lewis is rehabbing from arthroscopic ankle surgery.
FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
—CB Travis Daniels made one tackle in 2008 and will not be re-signed.
—TE Darnell Dinkins might be re-signed as a backup because Steve Heiden is recovering from major knee surgery and Martin Rucker is unproven.
—OL Lennie Friedman missed all of 2008 with a shoulder injury, lost weight during his recovery and is unlikely to be re-signed.
—LB Kris Griffin has a long injury history and won't be back.
—CB Daven Holly is worth re-signing if the price is right. He is coming off major knee surgery and doesn't have much bargaining leverage.
—S Sean Jones has to be a priority to re-sign. He would get more recognition if he did not play in the same division as Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu.
—LB Willie McGinest is expected to retire.
—OL Seth McKinney is valuable as a backup but will not be re-signed unless the Browns get him for a bargain.
—LB Shantee Orr made four tackles from scrimmage and six on special teams. He will not be back.
—RB Jason Wright carried the ball only 23 times in 2008. He won't be back.
—OL Scott Young is unlikely to be back.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (not tendered)
—DE Chase Pittman (not tendered as ERFA).
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: Unknown.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
—S Mike Adams: UFA; $4M/3 yrs, guarantees unknown.
—WR Syndric Steptoe: ERFA; terms unknown.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
—TE Robert Royal: FA Bills; $10M/3 yrs, $3M guaranteed.
PLAYERS LOST
—CB Terry Cousin (released).
—LB Andra Davis: UFA Broncos; $5M/2 yrs, guarantees unknown.
—P Mike Dragosavich (released).
—QB Bruce Gradkowski (released).
—QB Ken Dorsey (released).
—LB Antwan Peek (released/failed physical).
—PK Jason Reda (released).
—TE Kellen Winslow (traded Buccaneers).
—OT Eric Young (failed physical).
Apparently you knew him well because he is nothing but a troll. 100 posts and about 90 were nothing more then bashing Quinn.
JMHO Go Brownies!!!
