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Cleveland Browns second minicamp winds down
by Tony Grossi/Plain Dealer Reporter
Thursday May 28, 2009, 1:57 PM
BEREA -- Minicamp tidbits ...

• Jamal Lewis still isn't quite 100 percent back from offseason ankle surgery.

The Browns running back worked exclusively with trainers and other injured players on Thursday and did not participate in team drills, as he did the previous day.

Lewis, of course, is entering his 10th NFL season and will turn 30 in August. It's the magic number for NFL running backs, the age at which a back's decline speeds up.

Yet the Browns haven't collected much depth behind Lewis as they have at other positions.

Coach Eric Mangini did not rule out adding a veteran running back to join backups Jerome Harrison and rookie James Davis. He also hinted at one way of preserving Lewis over the long haul is to use Harrison more on first and second down.

"You can work the running back rotation a lot of different ways," Mangini said. "I've done it different styles in New York, where Leon (Washington) was able to take some first and second down reps off the starter. How that's going to play out we'll just have to see and try to get the best mix."


• Practice went about a half-hour long and it almost seemed as if Mangini was waiting for the offense to make a play to finish on a positive note. Not a great day for the offense and the quarterbacks in particular.

Brady Quinn was intercepted by rookies Don Carey and Coye Francies and Derek Anderson was picked by linebacker D'Qwell Jackson.

• There continued to be a lot of shuffling on the No. 1 offensive line. The starting unit was Joe Thomas, Floyd Womack, Alex Mack, Rex Hadnot and Ryan Tucker. We'll write more about this, and how it pertains to Eric Steinbach, in Friday's Plain Dealer.

Newly arrived cornerback Rod Hood already is working as the No. 1 nickel back.





http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2009/05/cleveland_browns_second_minica.html

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Just a general thought / observation.

I'm all for versatility as I think anyone would be. But is there a chance we could be going overboard here ... reading about Tucker at C made me think about this although I had been thinking about it prior. I mean at what point is the versatility experiment one of diminishing returns where it actually has a negative impact on where a guy most likely will be?

We want guys to be versatile but to also be dominant at their natural positions. I wonder if there will be a point where Mangini takes this too far.

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It's months away from training camp let alone the season. I think Mangini is just trying to get a feel for each players limits as it pertains to their versitility.

He's still getting a read on players here and taking them out of their comfort zone is one way to do it.


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Well, we have to remember it's still very early. Maybe Mangini just wanted to see if Tucker could do it with no real intent of ever playing him there outside of an emergency situation. Better safe than sorry, I guess.

The way injuries happen in the NFL, it might not be such a bad thing to have a lot of guys at least be somewhat familiar with other positions.

I have a feeling that once it gets closer to the season, we'll be seeing a lot less of this rotation.

I will say that I am very curious about Steinbach. It doesn't seem he's being mentioned at all when it comes to the OL. Is his back still a problem? Does Mangini just plain not like the guy?

Right now, it seems all we have it speculation on that, and I have a feeling that's all we're going to see in Friday's Plain Dealer.


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On one play, wideout Lance Leggett got open deep along the left sideline. Quinn unloaded but was short. Leggett had to turn and wait a half second for the ball to arrive.

I believe that was a 60yard bomb down the sideline that did go for a TD.

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I'm just waiting for people to pounce on that as evidence BQ can't throw deep. Meanwhile, DA hit all the long ones but missed every pass under 15 yards.


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I will say that I am very curious about Steinbach. It doesn't seem he's being mentioned at all when it comes to the OL. Is his back still a problem? Does Mangini just plain not like the guy?





Quote:

MANGINI LIKES STEINBACH: There have been some speculation that Mangini might not be high on OL Eric Steinbach. Seen as a tall, slender lineman at 6-6, 295 pounds, some have felt that Mangini might be more in favor of a road grader type player on the interior such as Rex Hadnot (6-2, 320).

“Steinbach’s very athletic and I really liked him coming out of college,” Mangini said. “I feel like I’ve known him for a long time and he has a lot of good qualities. Now, we want to continue to accentuate them.”

Mangini was asked if he wanted to Steinbach to gain weight, but he didn’t really answer the question.

“We want them to be at the optimum weight to get to the point where they can be the most effective.”




http://cle.scout.com/2/868054.html

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Well, that answers some things for me. But, if Steinbach has some back problems to begin with, how wise is it for him to put on weight?

Thanks, though, for that.


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np. i'm not familiar with the system the jets ran but it's sounding like mangini is favoring a power, in-line blocking scheme....

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Well, until I hear Mangini say that, I'll take it with a grain of salt. It might be true, but so much of what the papers print is speculation by the writer that it's tough to know what's real and what isn't.

I will say that it would make sense if they want Steinbach to put on weight to be more punishing at the line. I didn't really pay attention to him last year, so I wouldn't know if he got abused on running plays. He seemed to hold his own ok on passing downs.

Correct me if I'm wrong on that anybody.


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On one play, wideout Lance Leggett got open deep along the left sideline. Quinn unloaded but was short. Leggett had to turn and wait a half second for the ball to arrive.

I believe that was a 60yard bomb down the sideline that did go for a TD.




I think rule #1 of deep passing is to overthrow a covered guy to avoid the pick.

Rule #2 is to underthrow the wide open guy so you don't overthrow him.

Is that right?

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Actually on a long route that is open you want the QB to throw the ball with some air under it so that the WR can adjust his route to the ball.

1. We know it was a deep pass. We also ASSume he was wide open.

2. Half second to stop and catch...Usually a long pass will have at least 2 seconds of air time at least - Was it Leggetts fault not to adjust and slow down a second earlier so that he didn't have to stop and catch?

Its the least of our worries - The INTs I didn't like to read about.

Surprised nobody Copied and pasted the quote about DA throwing a pass that MoMas had to make a Shoe String Catch???

Mougrym how accurate was your statement that it was a 60 yard pass???

Thanks for all of the articles dawgs...made some good readings

JMHO


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Well, at the same time, is it possible that the INTs happened because the play was a repeat of a play previously run, so the LBs were anticipating? Not saying it's an excuse at all, but it's a possible explanation.

In the end, I think we all understand that every QB is going to throw INTs. The keys to me are (1) when does the INT happen? If it's on 3rd down at our own 40, that's one thing. If it's on 2nd down at the goal line, that hurts a lot more, IMO. (2) How did the INT happen? Was it a poor decision by the QB or a great play by the defensive guy? Was it just a lucky DL getting his finger on the ball causing the defender to be able to get a jump on it? Or did the QB just plain force it where he shouldn't?

When I read "he threw an INT", I don't take it as "oh man, the QB's fault", and I'm not saying you're saying that, EO. I just try to look at it as "since I didn't see it with my own eyes, it's tough for me to really say who was at fault."

JMHO


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Its the least of our worries - The INTs I didn't like to read about.

Surprised nobody Copied and pasted the quote about DA throwing a pass that MoMas had to make a Shoe String Catch???




Both these grabbed my attention too...

Man I miss not being able to go to camp.

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One time, when players were slow getting into an offensive set, Mangini took a step forward and screamed two syllables at the top of his lungs.

The players moved into place. Quarterback Derek Anderson fired a sideline pass on which wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi made a shoestring catch.

Mangini went back to watching like a hawk, taking notes.

In recent years, swearing has been minimal when coaches bark at players. In the two 2009 practices open to the media, the air has been a good deal saltier.




Any speculation as to what the "two syllables" were?

I'm thinking "Well shucks!"


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BEREA, Ohio -- Listed at 6 feet, 6 inches tall, weighing 295 pounds, Eric Steinbach has always been a tall, wiry offensive guard during his playing career.

But Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini wants Steinbach to pack on some extra pounds this offseason if the former Pro Bowler expects to be effective in Cleveland's new offense.

"I think the more Eric hangs out with me, the better chance he has to bulk up," Mangini said with a smile Thursday. "I've got it down. [Defensive coordinator] Rob [Ryan] got it down. [Offensive coordinator] Brian Daboll got it down. We got a lot of guys on the coaching staff who can help him in that area.

"What you want him to do is be at the optimum weight to perform the best for the long haul. Sometimes that means you have to lose weight, sometimes that means you have to gain weight."

Steinbach's strengths have always been his athleticism as a pulling guard and the ability to play both tackle positions if needed. Steinbach said he's already gained 12 pounds, which should put him around 307 pounds.

"That was one of things that was addressed in the offseason," Steinbach said.

Cleveland wants to be primarily a physical running team this year, which means less finesse and more blocking at the point of attack for Steinbach. He signed a seven-year, $49.5 million contract with the Browns in 2007.





http://myespn.go.com/blogs/afcnorth/0-2-575/Mangini-wants-Steinbach-to-bulk-up.html

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From Steve Doerschuk's blog :

D’Qwell Jackson: Browns will be ‘damn good’

May 28th, 2009 @ 1:41 pm by Steve Doerschuk

We’ve suspected for a while that creativity and attention to detail will add up to a better-coached Browns defense this year.
Linebacker D’Qwell Jackson seems sold.
Here’s what he said about Eric Mangini today after a practice in which the defense made both Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson look bad:
“It’s amazing what the guy can think of. He’s really, really smart.
“I’m not making predictions, but we’ll be a damn good team come this year.
“We’re letting guys go. At D-line, they’ve got a lot of free rein to basically … if they can run it, run it. He’s allowing those guys to play to their strength.”
Jackson said he has “no problem” with Mangini bringing in a large cast of ex-Jets. He and fellow inside linebacker Eric Barton have formed a strong bond.
“All of those Jets are real smart guys who really know the system,” Jackson said. “And every one of them is a football player.”


J-Lew good for the kid

May 28th, 2009 @ 10:57 am by Steve Doerschuk

Things you may not know about Eric Mangini, revealed this morning.
- He thinks Jamal Lewis is a strong fit for his style of football: “I’ve always been impressed with how tough and physical Jamal is.”
- Lewis is a mentor and leader. “The most impressive thing about him is what he does in the meeting room. He takes the time to mentor and tutor young running backs.” That translates to a good situation for rookie RB James Davis, who hails from the same high school as Lewis.
- There might be a surprise or two when the starting offensive line trots out in September. Players are moving around, getting long looks at different spots. Ryan Tucker has played center. Lastv year’s right guard, Rex Hadnot, has lined up at left guard. Today’s quote: “At the end of the day, we’ll figure out who the best five are.”
- New safety Abram Elam is “good against the run” and is aggressive to a fault. Sometimes coaches must slow him down so he does not over-run plays.
- His charitable foundation began when he became aware that a kid was wearing pajamas to school, for lack of a minimal wardrobe. The foundation serves disadvantaged kids.
- He will conduct a camp this weekend at which 800 kids are expected to attend.


Steinbach needs ice cream … or something

May 28th, 2009 @ 10:46 am by Steve Doerschuk

Eric Mangini hinted today that he likes left guard Eric Steinbach, but wants him heavier.
“The more Eric hangs out with me,” Mangini said before this morning’s practice, “the better chance he has to bulk up.”
That was a joke. Mangini was alluding to his mid-life-crisis type of weight. He’s serious, though, about what Steinbach, one of the thinnest guards in the NFL, must do to be at his best.
“What we want him to do is be at at optimum weight to performt the best for the long haul,” Mangini said.
Steinbach is a former tight end who still looks the part.
Mangini has followed Steinbach since the latter’s days with Kirk ferentz at Iowa.
“He has a lot of positive traits,” Mangini said. “It’s continuing to accent those traits …”
Steinbach is eating up a ton of salary cap space and needs to be an elite guard to justify that.
“He’s very athletic and has very good awareness of what’s happening around him,” Mangini.
Presumably, he has been made very aware that the new head coach wants him heavier than perhaps he has wanted to be in the past.

(In response to a few comments):

- pdb,
Joe Thomas told me today that he’ll play 10 pounds heavier than he did in 2008. He said the team wants to focus on the run and that heavier blockers lend themselves to what the team wants to do.
- brownsmania,
Steinbach probably would like to play at his previous weight. Doing so might be better for his health in later life. Accepting a $49 million contract in 2007 probably means he’s beholden to a coach who wants him heavier.


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BEREA, Ohio -- Listed at 6 feet, 6 inches tall, weighing 295 pounds, Eric Steinbach has always been a tall, wiry offensive guard during his playing career.

But Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini wants Steinbach to pack on some extra pounds this offseason if the former Pro Bowler expects to be effective in Cleveland's new offense.

"I think the more Eric hangs out with me, the better chance he has to bulk up," Mangini said with a smile Thursday. "I've got it down. [Defensive coordinator] Rob [Ryan] got it down. [Offensive coordinator] Brian Daboll got it down. We got a lot of guys on the coaching staff who can help him in that area.

"What you want him to do is be at the optimum weight to perform the best for the long haul. Sometimes that means you have to lose weight, sometimes that means you have to gain weight."

Steinbach's strengths have always been his athleticism as a pulling guard and the ability to play both tackle positions if needed. Steinbach said he's already gained 12 pounds, which should put him around 307 pounds.

"That was one of things that was addressed in the offseason," Steinbach said.

Cleveland wants to be primarily a physical running team this year, which means less finesse and more blocking at the point of attack for Steinbach. He signed a seven-year, $49.5 million contract with the Browns in 2007.





http://myespn.go.com/blogs/afcnorth/0-2-575/Mangini-wants-Steinbach-to-bulk-up.html




Well it's obvious that Mangini wants a bigger, more run dominating offensive line rather than the quick, agile, pass protection that we are used to.

Also like hearing about Harrison...


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BEREA: If Eric Mangini was using historical examples from old Browns-Denver Broncos games for the two-minute drills run at practice Thursday, the Broncos won again.

Granted, the Browns have had just two voluntary minicamps to begin installing coordinator Brian Daboll's offense. But quarterbacks Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson both struggled, their possessions ending with interceptions.

Linebacker D'Qwell Jackson nabbed Anderson's final attempt, and Quinn's was picked off by rookie cornerback Coye Francies.

Anderson's series almost ended before that when defensive back Hamza Abdullah dropped an interception and receiver Braylon Edwards broke up another that was nearly swiped by cornerback Eric Wright.

Quinn couldn't complete a pass longer than 3 yards, was sacked once and scrambled another time. Receiver Syndric Steptoe bailed him out with one nice catch.

Earlier in the practice, rookie cornerback Vernon Carey intercepted a Quinn pass. It was Carey's second interception in two days.

Wednesday, quarterback Richard Bartel was Carey's victim.

Quinn also had a rough moment before his final series. When Quinn didn't get the play off in time and was forced to take a timeout, Mangini yanked him in favor of Anderson and made Quinn run a lap.

Anderson didn't take advantage of that chance, making a wide open Edwards leap over Brandon McDonald for a poor throw and overthrowing Edwards by 10 yards when he had cornerback Hank Poteat soundly beaten.





http://www.ohio.com/sports/browns/46410807.html

i'd bold the whole thing but kinda defeats the purpose. hope they keep on learning. doesn't sound like either is that much better than the other at this point.

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i'd bold the whole thing but kinda defeats the purpose. hope they keep on learning. doesn't sound like either is that much better than the other at this point.




Perhaps the D has been given some clues on what the O is doing, so the QBs have to work harder. I find it hard to believe we are installing some crazy complicated scheme on O.


We're trying to throw the ball downfield and he checked the ball down to Trent Richardson and the Indians on the choice.
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I wouldn't read into the OL shuffling much. It's OTA's, not even minicamp. Staff is working them out, seeing what the best combo we'll be.

Once mini camp rolls around, we may see less shuffling and have a better idea of what the coaching staff is thinking.

Glad the D looked good, unhappy that the O didn't. Then again, when you're playing against yourself, someone is gonna have to look good. Let's just hope it's because the D truly is playing well, not because the offense blows.


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perhaps, or perhaps the simpler answer is true, in that both qbs are struggling. we still have plenty of time though but it's clear no one is ahead right now.

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You know our qbs are bad when they've been picked off twice by a Miami o-lineman.

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If I had to pick which one I'd want to do better: Offense or Defense...

I think I would go Defense...

DEFENSE wins championships...

Glad Gini' is making everybody on the team run laps if they don't execute...


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Just clicking...I'm sure one of the QBs will settle in and get things going. Won't discuss which one

But what I'm real happy about is the defense gelling and we are flying to the ball everywhere.

1. It will make our offense better when they go out there on game day.

2. Remember there is no Game Plan being utilized with Run, play action and regarding the O pounding the ball and its affects on the Passing game.

3. I think our Defense though is really flying.

4. DA just will be too inaccurate for him to be picked as the starting QB. BQ needs to make better decisions which is good that the Defense is putting him in an environment to do so OR ELSE.

Loved the fact that MGini - took the O away and made BQ run.

I would love nothing more than a Kick Butt Defense and I got a feeling that is what we will see.

JMHO its going to be fun this year and I think everyone is going to be a M/K believer in due time


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Quote:

Just clicking...I'm sure one of the QBs will settle in and get things going. Won't discuss which one




Quote:

4. DA just will be too inaccurate for him to be picked as the starting QB. BQ needs to make better decisions which is good that the Defense is putting him in an environment to do so OR ELSE.





Are those your pants burning? I think they're on fire.

Unless you were talking about Ratliff...

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yeah I'm a liar...

Of course I hope you noticed I didn't compliment either QB in that sector.

One I stated was Inaccurate and will never be our QB if he is so.

The other better start making better decisions "OR ELSE"...

But I'm a BIG LIAR...


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I didn't think this article needed its own thread, so I put it here. I was struck, however, by this writer's more even-handed take on the Browns' off-season so far.


Recent controversy aside, Browns have had good offseason

By Mike Wilkening (mwilkening@pfwmedia.com)
June 3, 2009

Lots of interesting news coming out of the Browns’ minicamps in recent weeks, and at first glance, none of it is anything you would characterize as good news for a team trying to improve upon a 4-12 finish last season. Where do we start?

There is the still unresolved matter of who will begin the season as the starting quarterback, as Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson are splitting practice repetitions. Also, RS Joshua Cribbs wants a new contract and is attending offseason workouts in a show of good faith, but whether he gets his old deal torn up is anyone’s guess.

Finally, there was the fascinating report by The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer about some rookies and their agents being less than pleased about feeling like they had to work head coach Eric Mangini’s football camp in for under-resourced children in Hartford, Conn.

When you mix all of this together and consider how the club finished last season, it is tempting to write off the Browns. Oh, perhaps you’ll keep one eye on them, eyebrow arched in a here-we-go-again gesture, but you can’t possibly take them seriously.

Right?

This is the easiest answer, and it may well be the right one. There’s no way the Browns are going to push the Steelers, and the Ravens look clearly better than Cleveland on paper. Even the Bengals, with Carson Palmer back in the fold, could have an edge on the Browns, who have no starting quarterback, a returner who wants a raise and, reportedly, some unhappy rookies.

But the more I look at the Browns, the more I am intrigued. You may not agree with everything Mangini and general manager George Kokinis have done, but their astute approach in free agency and the draft has bolstered the roster. The Browns have better depth at five positions than they did a season ago: quarterback, offensive line, defensive line, linebacker and the secondary. (The improvements on defense include the hiring of defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, with multiple insiders recently telling PFW that Ryan could have a significant impact on that side of the ball.)
The Browns did not sign any blue-chip free agents, but they weren’t one player away from being a contender. Passing on the first wave of free agency allowed them to be players for veterans like LBs Eric Barton and David Bowens, OG Floyd Womack, OT John St. Clair and DE C.J. Mosley, all of whom figure to contribute in the upcoming season.

In the draft, the Browns added their center of the future, Alex Mack, and two intriguing wide receivers (Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi) among an eight-man rookie class, and it would not be an upset if all eight draftees made the roster.

What’s more, the Browns haven’t stopped adding to the roster, signing CB Rod Hood and WR Mike Furrey after the draft. In a Draft Day trade with the Jets, the Browns landed S Abram Elam, DE Kenyon Coleman and QB Brett Ratliff. Elam is likely to start, Coleman will have a chance to start, and Ratliff, a No. 3 quarterback with some upside, is an upgrade over Ken Dorsey.

Of course, the trade with the Jets did take the Browns out of position to select USC QB Mark Sanchez, which signaled they would let Quinn and Anderson compete for the job. Quinn appears the slight favorite to be the starter — he did get the first first-team snaps at minicamps, and Mangini praised him for his offseason performance — but this battle is not over. The hope is that one of the passers runs away with the job, and with a little more than three months before the start of the season, there is plenty of time for one of the competitors to make the position his.

There is also more than enough time to do something about Cribbs’ contract, which runs through 2012 with base salaries of less than $1 million in each of the next four seasons. You can fault Cribbs for signing a six-year contract extension in 2006, but he is not being unreasonable in asking for a raise after developing into one of the game’s top returners. Also, he has not been a distraction, and he is back with the team after briefly sitting out the first round of voluntary workouts.

“We continue to be optimistic that the situation will be addressed by the Browns,” Cribbs' agent, J.R. Rickert, said in an e-mail message to PFW on Monday. “It is the right thing to do for a player who has significantly outperformed his existing contract and who is being asked to do significantly more on the field than when he first signed his current contract.”

The Browns aren’t obligated to give Cribbs a new contract, but it is a thought that cannot just be waved off by Mangini and Kokinis. Certainly Kokinis, who has worked in pro personnel, knows that the short list of returners whom special-teams coaches fear includes Cribbs. And Mangini, who had the pleasure of watching Leon Washington become a top return threat in his three years as the Jets’ head coach, has to understand how valuable a game-changing special-teams threat can be.

As that situation unfolds, Mangini finds himself in the midst of something of a mild public-relations controversy in the wake of the Plain Dealer story, which claimed that some rookies weren’t pleased about taking a 10-hour bus ride to work Mangini’s Football Fundmentals Mini-Camp. The camp was held by The Carmine and Frank Mangini Foundation, which “provides funding directed at increasing opportunities for under-resourced children.” The Browns countered by telling The Plain Dealer that participation in the camp was voluntary.

Anyone who has paid any attention to the NFL knows that the word “voluntary” in connection with offseason workouts basically means “showing up would be a very good idea,” so you can see why Mangini’s idea to have rookies work the camp might raise eyebrows. However, unless the NFL or NFLPA finds that the rookies’ participation in the camp and the long bus ride violate the Collective Bargaining Agreement — something profootballtalk.com has reported that both organizations are looking into — this figures to be an issue that will fade into the footnotes. A nonstory, if you will.

The real story to watch is what Mangini will do with a roster that is not bereft of talent and has a nice mix of youth and experience.

PFW

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This is exactly what I've been thinking.

The Browns intrigue me this year...and I know I'm optimistic every year coming in but this year I see the moves that ensure that we'll be competitive from 1-53. I also like the approach Mangini's taken towards practice.

"We talkin' bout practice." Damn right we are. You play like you practice.

Rob Ryan intrigues me because I don't think he got to show how talented he is in Oakland.

And as most of us know...this roster was NOT bare last year...it just wasn't deep. We went a long way to make ourselves deep.

We'll see how it goes...

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depth in the secondary killed our defense...

well i won't say that... Terry Cousins killed our defense..


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Quote:

depth in the secondary killed our defense...

well i won't say that... Terry Cousins killed our defense..





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Quote:

depth in the secondary killed our defense...

well i won't say that... Terry Cousins killed our defense..




Really?

Hmm ... I had no idea that they were so instrumental in us getting absolutely no rush on opposing QBs, (17 sacks ... which was worse than everyone in the league except Cincinnati and KC) as well as alowing other teams to run roughshod over them. (Only Oakland, Detroit, KC and St Louis were worse)

I don't think that 1 backup DB did all that to an otherwise good defense.


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Well he was pretty damn crappy.

He definitely didn't help matters.


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