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Free agency is next for Cleveland Browns, whenever the NFL opens for business again: NFL Insider

Sunday, May 08, 2011, 1:51 AM
By Tony Grossi, The Plain Dealer

The Browns didn't expect to fill all their holes in this season's draft. But they did expect to fill more through free agency.

Now that the draft is over, free agency would be the next order of business when the NFL gives teams the green light. Everything depends on a ruling from the Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which is considering the NFL's argument to stay Judge Susan Richard Nelson's decision to lift the owners' lockout.

At some point, temporary rules will be set to resume business. These are expected to be similar to the 2010 rules -- no salary cap, unrestricted free agency for players with six or more NFL seasons, restricted free agency for players with three, four or five seasons.

Only about 220 players qualify for unrestricted free agency. Another 300 or so fall in the restricted group, but some of those may have been tendered offers by their clubs. The NFL does not intend to release the list of restricted free agents tendered until free agency starts.

We have confirmed the Browns have tendered contracts to cornerback Eric Wright and tight end Evan Moore. They also re-signed linebacker D'Qwell Jackson for one year and quarterback Seneca Wallace for three years. They won't comment on the status of other RFAs, such as fullback Lawrence Vickers.

The RFAs are attractive because they are younger and just hitting their prime. But without confirmation of the pool of RFAs, we can only speculate on potential restricted free agents such as Buffalo safety Donte Whitner.

The Bills say they might not bring him back; Whitner says he'd like to return to Buffalo. Whitner figures to be attractive to the Browns because of their need to replace unrestricted free agent Abe Elam and because Whitner played four years under Dick Jauron, the current Browns defensive coordinator, in Buffalo. Whitner, in fact, was the first draft pick made by Jauron as Bills head coach.

So when trying to match up Browns' needs with free agents, it's very speculative to consider restricted free agents until the official leaguewide list is revealed.

Let's take a look at the Browns' most apparent major needs and possible free agents at those positions.

DEFENSIVE END

On the Browns: Second-round draft choice Jabaal Sheard has to be penciled in as one starter. He's the only true 4-3 end on the roster. GM Tom Heckert said he wants to re-sign Jayme Mitchell, the mystery man acquired last year who did not get on the field for a single play. Another possibility is trying to convert linebacker Marcus Benard to a full-time end.

Unrestricted possibilities: Jason Babin, Tennessee; Dave Ball, Tennessee; Anthony Hargrove, New Orleans; Travis LaBoy, San Francisco.

Restricted possibilities: Jacob Ford, Tennessee; Mathias Kiwanuka, N.Y. Giants; Victor Abiamiri, Philadelphia; Cliff Avril, Detroit; Turk McBride, Detroit; Ray Edwards, Minnesota; Charles Johnson, Carolina; Tim Crowder, Tampa Bay; Stylez White, Tampa Bay.

Summary: Lots of intriguing players here, especially in the restricted group.

SAFETY


On the Browns: T.J. Ward is the in-the-box safety, the hammer, the enforcer. Mike Adams is a solid backup, capable of playing some nickel back, also. The need is for a free safety to replace Abe Elam. Seventh-round draft pick Eric Hagg is a long-shot contender.

Unrestricted: Brandon McGowan, New England; Sean Considine, Jacksonville; Aaron Francisco, Indianapolis; Ken Hamlin, Indianapolis; Jordan Babineaux, Seattle.

Restricted: Donte Whitner, Buffalo; Jarrad Page, New England; Chinedum Ndukwe, Cincinnati; Michael Huff, Oakland; Eric Weddle, San Diego; Atari Bigby, Green Bay; Charlie Peprah, Green Bay.

Summary: Whitner, a native Clevelander from Glenville and Ohio State, makes the most sense.

RUNNING BACK


On the Browns: There's nobody behind Peyton Hillis and Montario Hardesty. The team worked out two players prior to the draft but was unable to get one. The preference here is for a change-of-pace scatback with catching ability.

Unrestricted: Brian Westbrook, San Francisco; Julius Jones, Seattle; Darren Sproles, San Diego; Mewelde Moore, Pittsburgh; Jason Wright, Arizona;

Restricted: Patrick Cobbs, Miami; Jerome Harrison, Philadelphia; Brandon Jackson, Green Bay; Jerious Norwood, Atlanta.

Summary: Teams generally don't go the restricted route for role players. Westbrook would be a natural to rejoin Heckert, but several names here would qualify as good fits.

the intent of this article is to show how players have to stay on a budget and do things to make ends meet and et cetera. really, the same sob story for players as has been done.

however, they uncovered a possible note of interest for me. UDFA's are guys that we all want the best of and it would be nice to have our pick of them.

turns out that at least some are working out with NFL guys, and I would venture that some are staying with some of them. what would stop, say Colt from having some of the TX area UDFAs stay with him and then give a little implicit pressure to sign with the Browns when the lockout ended? or the same for other teams.

just wondering if this might be going on and if the NFL is actually paying attention (or if they even can pay attention right now). and if it is going on, then hoping we are not one of the teams left in the cold on it.

edit: adding article blurb

Quote:

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In a normal year, undrafted free agents receive calls from teams as soon as the draft ends to join rookie camps and minicamps. But due to the lockout, DePalma -- who lives at home with his parents in Verona, N.J., and is covered by their insurance plan -- trains with a few Giants at a local gym

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http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/columns/story?columnist=youngmisuk_ohm&id=6535361

NO to Ochostinko. we need a RT. face it. the front office deluded itself about the oft injured run out of jacksonville and San Fran Tony Pashos was any answer. Can't make the club in the tub. While we need a RT the list of usual suspects is pretty thin. Gared was hurt with a bad back all last year and was bothered with it in 09 as well. Pashos2 we do not need. but we need someone or we may have all three QBs in a boot once more.

had we not shoved Rogers out the door as he played on a still gimpy Achilles injury suffered in 09 we would not have had to trade our #3 pick( and maybe drafted Mathews here and not delude ourselves that GoCong is any answer at MLB) and then used the atlanta pick to snag outstanding RT Gabe Carimi of Wisconsin and plugged him in for the next decade. Instead we got a fat young DT who has weight issues to replace an older fat DT with weight issues. makes sense to me.

Why do we constantly create holes and then try to quick fix them? AT least the front office has ended the delusions that we do not need WR help and jake delhomme is a starting QB. new delusions have replaced the old, create a hole and dump Vickers and draft another FB when safety, OT, OLb were all pressing needs, not to mention help for Hillis where we only have chronically injured Hardesty (counting College here as well as his brief stint for 2 carries as a Brown).

It is one thing to have holes it is entirely another matter dumping players until BETTER replacements are found . We got Zilch for Winslow and Edwards, almost nothing in the Franchise QB giveaway trade with the Jets and now create holes with Rogers and Vickers where there were none all the while getting no one for RT, Safety and RB, all dire needs. I am a bit disappointed in Holmgren as i expected much more acumen than i have so far witnessed.

what we need is for there to actually be a Free Agency period. Without that, the rest is kinda moot

Wow!

I didn't realize Elam might not be back, ( not sure I really like the guy but you can count on him for something and they don't need any more holes)

Or Mike Bell wouldn't be back, same as above comment

And since they ... well if your gonna bring Dqwell back for 1 yr, you should have for 2, I'm saying

I was thinking,... I wonder if anyone will get this next comment, but if I had had the internet in 93, I would have been bellyaching about them not giveing Hilgenburg a chance and going with Everett, and it probably worked out.

Interesting how Pashos, who doesn't play or practice, is useless but Rodgers, who doesn't play or practice, was a key part of the defense.

Hey!

Hey!

Hey!

I'll have you know that Shaun Rogers had a whopping 17 tackles and 2 sacks last year ........

I mean ... if we wanted to use younger players we would have to settle for 82 tackles from Rubin .... or 31 from Schaefering ..... or 24 from Robinson ..... or like 25 from Robaire Smith in the 5 games he played ........

Quote:

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Interesting how Pashos, who doesn't play or practice, is useless but Rodgers, who doesn't play or practice, was a key part of the defense.

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Here we go again. Trying to use sound logic as a discussion point!! That never works on this board!

We had five wins last year. One of those five wins was against Miami, where we won by three points. In that game, Rogers had a sack on third down which pushed Miami out of field goal range, he blocked a 40-yard field goal, he pressured Henne into throwing a pick, and I just saw in the stat line that he had a separate TFL. I'd say it's not an exaggeration the he was responsible for that win.

1 win out of 5 is 20%. What percentage of our wins was Pashos responsible for?

I agree on Pashos. All we can do is hope the front offices hopes prove correct.

I disagree on Rogers. He was worn out and offers very little value to this team as a high paid, part time role player.