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Posted on Thu, Nov. 23, 2006

Browns vet takes new role in stride
Dennis Northcutt says being limited to punt returns `is what it is'
By Patrick McManamon
Beacon Journal sportswriter

BEREA - For some, it would be an insult.

For Dennis Northcutt, it's pretty much one more sign that his role with the Browns has been defined to one duty.

``I'm a punt returner,'' he said this week as the Browns prepared for Sunday's game against the Bengals.

According to Northcutt, the Browns coaching staff does not see him as a receiver.

``I was told by (coach) Romeo (Crennel) that the offensive coaches said I was too small,'' Northcutt said. ``They feel like they want bigger receivers. Josh (Cribbs) is the same size as me, but it's OK.''

Northcutt sounded like he knows his days in Cleveland are coming to an end (Northcutt's contract expires after this season).

``I understand the business,'' he said. ``And it's OK. It's very OK. I'm a grown man. I'm a seven-year vet. I know the signs. I know everything that's going on.

``It's OK. I want to help this team win any way possible without being a distraction.''

The Browns are playing at a time when Braylon Edwards says coaches are not aggressive enough in the red zone and Kellen Winslow says the coaches were holding the offense back. Questions are asked about why Reuben Droughns doesn't get the ball enough and where Joe Jurevicius has been.

But since Crennel arrived and brought Maurice Carthon with him as offensive coordinator, Northcutt has never been part of the offense.

``Absolutely not,'' Northcutt said. ``But it's not my system. It's his. I just got to fit in where I get in, help in any way possible.''

In the Butch Davis era, Northcutt was used as the third receiver, primarily in the slot. Using Northcutt in the slot meant he could use his quickness to beat the third corner -- a matchup that favored the Browns. Northcutt had his best seasons that way.

In 2002, the Browns' only playoff season, he caught 38 passes and had five receiving touchdowns -- second on the team. He was part of the system. The next two seasons, he caught 63 and 55 passes for bad teams. Last season, the number dropped to 42, and this season he has 16 catches.

In the Crennel era, Northcutt has rarely been used in the slot, if ever. He's been used as a starter, where at times he appeared to try too hard or not be comfortable, or now he's the fourth receiver.

``I'm a fourth receiver/punt returner,'' Northcutt said. ``We really don't run four receiver sets, so I'm a punt returner for the Cleveland Browns.''

Northcutt was given a starting job last season, and this season he started seven games while Joe Jurevicius was out with a rib injury. And Northcutt didn't exactly grab hold of the job.

He did not catch a lot of balls -- and he dropped others.

His drop that turned into a touchdown in Carolina was a killer for the offense.

The Browns are trying to get the ball to several players while they also are trying to develop Cribbs.

``We have everyone who wants the ball, but there is only one ball, and it can only go to one guy,'' Crennel said in frustration when asked about Jurevicius. ``It's tough to split the ball up and throw them with both hands.''

But part of using players is finding their proper role and using them so all succeed. In their one playoff season, the Browns got production from five players catching passes -- Northcutt, Jamel White, Kevin Johnson, Andre Davis and Quincy Morgan -- and had William Green running.

Northcutt is now with his sixth offensive coordinator in seven years, and he has been near AWOL while starting 18-of-26 games.

Sunday against Pittsburgh, he did not look happy. Often Northcutt sat alone at the end of the bench.

``Of course (I wasn't happy),'' Northcutt said. ``We lost. I didn't play and contribute. I should be mad.''

The size issue is interesting, because Crennel often has said of linemen that it doesn't matter what they weigh if they are productive. Small receivers have succeeded in the NFL.

``I've been told that since high school,'' Northcutt said. ``I've made a lot of money at my size. I wouldn't change it for the world. And I will continue.''

So as another long Browns season fades away, Northcutt will play his role as a punt returner -- and he leads the league in that category with a 14.4-yard average.

He won't say it, but he also will play out the final six games and then head to another team as a free agent.

``It is what it is,'' Northcutt said. ``I'm a seven-year vet, I've been here. I've seen guys get mad, and it doesn't do anything for you. I don't think they put me in this position. God put me in this position.

``Strengthening my mind. He put me in this position. I don't blame anybody.''

Brownies . . .

The Browns practiced early and finished around noon so players could celebrate Thanksgiving.... Cincinnati receiver Chad Johnson finally owned up to his feeling that Leigh Bodden is one of the better corners he's faced. ``He has a technique that he plays with that I've never seen before,'' Johnson said. ``He used it the first game, where he threw (Carson Palmer) and my rhythm off. It was something new that I had never seen before.''... Bodden missed practice Wednesday and is questionable with a sprained ankle.... Coach Marvin Lewis on Cincinnati's chances to make the playoffs at 5-5: ``We've got to make hay now.''
Patrick McManamon can be reached at pmcmanamon@thebeaconjournal.com

? 2006 Beacon Journal and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.

link it up

Oh yeah:

86 Northcutt, Dennis WR 5-11 171 12/22/1977 7 Arizona

16 Cribbs, Joshua WR 6-1 192 06/09/1983 2 Kent State

I haven't been on here much lately. And I'm almost glad with the kind of stuff I'm reading about on here. It's almost better not to know what's going on with the team when it gets like this.

Sure could use some winning to get this thing turned around. It's getting ugly....

Dennis thinks he's Cribbs size and that his decreased role is a size issue? Isn't that contradictory?

This really is a non-issue or just a statement of the obvious. Northcutt is an excellent PR, but as a reciever, he probably should be down on the depth chart. This is based upon his production (or lack thereof) as a starter this season when JJ was out with the rib injury.

Nothcutts contract is up at the end of the season, It is a forgone conclusion that he will not be back. The draft of Wilson was for the replacement of Northcutt. Savage stated as much.

From what I have seen of Cribbs, as a reciever, he is similar to Northcutt. But Cribbs has upside in the fact that this is his first year as a wideout.

FWIW

Cribbs is listed at 6-1, 192.

Northcutt is listed at 5-11, 171.

Northcutt is a lightweight as a reciever.

[color:"white"]

No, your agent put you in this position.

I for one won't miss you when you're gone.

And by the way, you're too small to play receiver <img src="/images/graemlins/naughtydevil.gif" alt="" />

Hey Dennis, you had your chance to earn playing time. Pun intended, you dropped it.

Bye.[/color]

It would be serious folly to ignore Northcutts skills as a punt returner... He's one of the best in the league if not the best. Seems we always talk about not having guys on this team that dominate in thier roles,,, well, we have one in Northcutt and some of you are ready to kick him to the curb..

Thank god some of you guys don't run this team!

Having said that, if all they see him as is a Punt returner and not a receiver of any note, then yeah, he's probably gone. If the Browns want him to stay, they'll make an offer, but my guess is that Cutt will run to another team as quickly as possible..

I bet his agent doesn't screw up this time around <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Even if Northcutt is the best punt returner, he gets paid like a guy who could return punts and catch the ball.

This guy is writing an article about how good Northcutt was in the slot.

Last year wasnt Northcutt the one who went to the media and stated how he is a vet in this league and should be starting? Well he got his wish and didnt prove himself.

He does his job in helping the Browns get field position, but he gets paid to do more then that. I wont miss him when hes gone.

I've always like 'Cutt - great PR - but he's done like dinner in Cleveland. I see him heading west.

As others said, he had a chance to prove himself as a receiver, it didn't work. He is a slot receiver and another NFL team will lure him with the promise of a larger role on offence.

I thought the O coaches think he is too small..and he is simply pointing out that if thts the case..."how come cribbs gets the nod ahead of me? since we are both similar" thats what i got out of it anyways...


Kind of sad to see cutt go after this season...but it's time to part ways i think....i thank him for everything he has done for us in the years past...he was never meant to be a game breaker....i think he is awesome when used properly....he has had some great plays with us.....latest being the TD against BALTIWHORE last year at home...the last game...when he broke that punt return for TD....

[color:"white"]

That's the thing. He is being paid as a dual-threat: Punt returner/receiver. When given the chance to start last year, the thing he wanted most, he showed that his hands aren't up to standard, and that he isn't physical enough to fight for the ball. That's all about size, and if he thinks that he's the same size as Cribbs, he needs to get that pigeon-eye fixed so he can bring reality back into focus <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Cribbs is listed at 6'1 192. I've been around long enough to see the reports that have leaked out on Dropcutt. They list him at 5'11 171 <img src="/images/graemlins/rofl.gif" alt="" /> He might be 170, but only with full pads on. The Run & Shoot days are gone in the NFL. He doesn't have a place as a receiver here.

The bottom line here is that Dennis wanted out three years ago. His agent screwd the pooch. Davis had him by the cahones, so Dropsies had no choice but to resign. He wanted playing time as a receiver. He got it. He failed. Miserably. Now he's riding bitch at the end of the bench, the part of the bench that formerly belonged to Willie "I'm going where the hole is supposed to be no matter what" Green. He's not mad because he's wanted out all along. He wants to go back to the West coast.

He looks like a Raider to me. I won't miss him when he's gone.

Yes, he's a first-rate punt returner. Always has been. But in today's NFL, you can't pay a punt-returner more than $3 million per year when he's not good enough to be your 4th receiver. Cribbs isn't the answer as the punt returner. I bet Savage puts his eye back on Perkins. [/color]

It's a bad situation,he's a lameduck WR,on a rebuilding team,not headed for the playoffs.The smart thing for the coaches to do is to look towards the future.And those plans don't include DN.
That's too bad.He's a damn fine PR,but as a WR,he's not that good.I will compliment him on accepting his fate,and not raising a big stink about it,as some WR's do.

[color:"white"]Don't compliment him. He threw the coaches under the bus with his comments. He also doesn't want to be here, so being allowed to walk away is what he's always wanted. It's what he wanted three years ago, but couldn't get.

He might as well come out and say it: "I never wanted to stay here, so this is a blessing. I've no reason to be upset."[/color]

[color:"orange"]He is what he is...a very very good Punt Returner.
Charger Dawg...lol <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> he thinks they are the same size
<img src="/images/graemlins/rolleyes1.gif" alt="" /> Can you see Cutt slamming his body against the Wall in Special teams
<img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> we'd have to pick up the pieces every game.

As for the insinuation of our misuse of him - Starting WR for most of the year.
Well he was the starting WR basically cause of Injuries...BE late last year and JJ for the beginning of this year.

Then when JJ started to get healthy and grumblings were heard about why is Cutt starting??? If Mo and RAC were against him for being part of the Offense why would they start him??? But then Cutt got hurt...now since his return Cribbs started to emerge more of a weapon of the future!

And this isn't much to do about Cutt grumbling about his current status...its actually Pat stirring the POT <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />
JMHO

Toad said it all on the size issue. They are probably very close in terms of height but Northcutt is built like a 13 year old girl.

Cutt's only role?
To finish out his contract and pack up his gear.
<img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I always wondered why 'Cutt got so much fan mail from Steeler fans.

Hallelujah!!!!!!!

He's always been a punt returner---nothing more.

Northcutt would kill as a Patriot!! IMO....

the pats took A Davis... I think they will be looking at Northcutt too...

j/c,
I think many, many teams will be taking a look at Cutt. He is probably the top 3 punt returners in the league. When used properly can be very very dangerous. These teams just can't put him into a roll that you need to lean on and depend on him as a constant game plan target.

[color:"orange"]Hey, Cutt I think has matured and outside of his physical liabilities but they would not be a liability in all Offenses. He has survived all 3 regimes and has been able to stick with all three. There must be a reason for this as KJ, QM and Dre are all gone but Cutt remained.

I don't think he will have any problems procurring a good contract. He has been smart and has been a good team mate and leader the last couple of years. This will go well for his next contract.

We will not re-sign him not so much cause we had enough of him...more so cause we can't afford him. Him losing playing time now is twofold.

1. Not starting for us and dropping to #4 maybe we can compete and give him the best offer and keep him here for a Punt Returner...4th WR.

2. Not starting for us and dropping to #4 so that we can give Cribbs the experience and try to develop him as a game breaker...and we also have Wilson who can use some reps too.

JMHO

A good leader and a good teammate dont say " I will never put on a Cleveland uniform" after his agent messed up him being a FA.

A good teammate also dont take out a teammate at his knees like Cutt did to Sean Jones when Cutt came back on his contract was done. Sean Jones gets an int. and is out for the season after Cutt takes him out at the knees. When I first heard that, after seeing what kind of attitude Cutt has, that hit as being intentional because he was mad to be here to begin with, was the first thing that came to mind. You dont here of many teammates taking out each other knees in practice. Cutt was the first time I heard about it.

I can never remember Cutt coddling it up with teammates.

Cutt also went to the media after his teammates were called for holding during his 2 or 3 TD punt returns that were called back. He was qouted as saying "get rid of them, or get rid of me"

As much as I like debating on how much I dont like Cutt as a WR, I hate Cutt as a team player. Go let Cutt be a loser in Oakland.

About time.

[color:"white"]
There are several reasons, but it has absolutely nothing to do with maturity.

Let's be real here for a moment. He's only a Brown because his agent screwed the pooch. If that doesn't happen, he doesn't "survive" the Butch Davis era, let alone the Savage era, which he most likely won't survive.

The only reason he's survived this long is because he's a pro-bowl caliber punt returner.

[color:"white"]

He doesn't want to be here. He's not wanted to be here for several years. He's only here because we had him by the nutz. He wants to leave, and the only way we're going to keep him is if we tag him. As Butch Davis said, you don't tag punt returners <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> [/color]

I could be wrong, but I think he said that before the contract fiasco, when he thought he was an FA. I was actually really impressed with the humble pie he ate after the screw-up.



I don't think that was the case at all.



He was saying the same things the fans were. Simply put, if I returned 3 punts for TD's that were called back...I might say the same thing.

As far Cutt...it's been fun. I'll remember the Tennessee game now and forever. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> As well as The Drop. <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Oakland, New England, St. Louis...he'll fit in somewhere.

[color:"white"]Sure he was dude, but the fans can say those things. He can't <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> [/color]

[color:"orange"]obviously you missed the words...last couple of years...lol <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

So in a contract dispute he said he would never put on a Browns uni...he did didn't he?

New coaching staff new attitude...I've like that new attitude.

[color:"red"]"A good teammate also dont take out a teammate at his knees like Cutt did to Sean Jones when Cutt came back on his contract was done. Sean Jones gets an int. and is out for the season after Cutt takes him out at the knees."

[color:"orange"]I'm sorry but you have been sorely misled by somebody. Yes, Cutt was diving for a ball - at the same time Sean was running in for an INT...freak accident with helmet to knee.

Whoever told you that Cutt went purposely for Jones' knees is a complete buffoon and an idiot. Please note I'm calling an imaginary person these names not legal...cause he said "When I first heard that" well whoever that was - is a complete buffoon or/and idiot <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Sorry Legal but you were grossly misinformed on that one. Purposely going for Jones' knees...come on - now I heard everything.

The last two seasons under the new RAC regime Cutt has been the perfect player and teamate...possibly its been an act??? to get a new contract...you can call it whatever you want but its been upstanding.

JMHO

[color:"white"]Perfect player and teammate?

I could be wrong, but wasn't it last year when he threw his special teams teammates under the bus to the media?

Didn't he just put the coaches on the spot by saying the offensive coaches said RAC told them he was too small?

Now if you mean the perfect punt returner, I'd agree with that. He's actually not perfect, but playing about as well as a punt returner can. However, as a receiver, he's been bad. When you're battling someone like Winslow as the 3rd receiver in a 3-receiver set, you have to be at least solid. He hasn't been, which is why he's the 4th receiver.

Northcutt is out of here as much as any pending free agent-to-be has ever been out of here. Some team is going to pay him what we did to be the same thing he was here, but in a city closer to where he wants to be. [/color]

Yes IIRC the hit on Jones was accidental. Wasn't it something to do with Jones being airborne and actually landing awkwardly on a diving or falling Cutt? Don't recall it being intentional.

[color:"white"]Eo is correct, as it clearly wasn't intentional.

The problem is that once you act like a jerk and earn a reputation, accidents like that are remembered as being something they really aren't. [/color]

<img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> WHAT? who the hell told you that....i don't think he would have been around for this long if he did that on purpose lol....can't believe so many ppl hate cutt on here...i'm simply shocked...

[color:"white"]He made some good catches today, but then turned around and coughed up the football.

Yup, too little to play receiver in this league. [/color]

i've seen much bigger guys cough up the ball with a hit like that. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[color:"white"]But how many smaller since the "Smurfs" in the Run & Shoot days? <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> [/color]

LOL
that was a good hit. when he fumbled i swear i thought it was his head they were trying to recover. <img src="/images/graemlins/rofl.gif" alt="" />

One thing I noticed about Northcutt:

Whenever the Bengals would punt and it looked like it was going into the endzone, he would literally stand there and do nothing. Before, he'd at least try to fool the other team by running away from the ball. Today, no effort whatsoever in that respect.

[color:"white"] Before, he'd at least try to fool the other team by running away from the ball. [/color]

you lost me here.....
if he knew it was going in the EZ, exactly what good would running away do?

It would fool Cincy into hustling down so they'd wear out, there by having their D tire so that we could mount the comeback. Northcutt cost us the game with his lack of effort on punts in the EZ! Cut him!!

Also, if the ball is about to bounce right before the endzone, it makes the opposing punt team go for the tackle instead of trying pin the offense inside of the 5 yard line before the ball gets to the endzone. Cincys last punt was a fine example. Cutt isnt looking to do the little things anymore, hes looking towards next season with his new team.

<img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />