DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Browns prepared for frenzed pace post lockout

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Cleveland Browns preparing for NFL's frenzied world post lockout
Published: Tuesday, July 19, 2011, 6:03 PM Updated: Tuesday, July 19, 2011, 6:04 PM
By Tony Grossi, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer


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Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer"We've been in endless meetings about (player moves) so that when it actually does happen, we'll be ready to go," says Browns president Mike Holmgren on life after the NFL lockout. "But it'll be wild, you know that."
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- If all goes well over the next 48 hours, a "global settlement" of the four-month-old NFL labor dispute will be resolved by the weekend, thrusting the league back into business on a frenzied pace never seen before.

New rules will be announced governing the signings of undrafted free agents, veteran free agents and rookie draft picks. Teams will sort through their rosters and resume unfinished business with their own players. Trades will be made.

Virtually at the same time, players under contract will be reporting back to their clubs and preparing for an unusually quick turnaround to a compressed training camp and preseason.

"It's doable," said Browns President Mike Holmgren of the volume of work ahead. "Is it challenging? Absolutely, it's going to be challenging. But it is what it is.

"You can either stress over it or roll up your sleeves and do the best you can. We've got a hard-working group of guys who are pretty sharp. They've been working on it now, from what I understand, in this off-season. We'll be as ready as anybody.

"Believe me, we've been in endless meetings about [forthcoming player transactions] so that when it actually does happen, we'll be ready to go. But it'll be wild, you know that."

Based on national reports of the ongoing settlement negotiations, the immediate order of events could unfold this way:

• Wednesday: NFL Players Association executive committee members meet with team player reps and discuss the voting process to approve the settlement. The settlement would pass with a vote of 50 percent plus one.

• Thursday: NFL team owners meet in Atlanta to review the official settlement documents and vote on approval. It needs 75 percent approval -- 24 votes among 32 teams -- to clear the final hurdle to resuming football business.

• Thursday and Friday: Team executives attend NFL seminar in Atlanta to be schooled on the new rules on salary cap, rookie wage scale, player transactions and other key terms of the deal. Up to four personnel executives per club plus owners will attend.

• Weekend: Teams may resume contact with players and agents.

• Monday (tentative): A three-day window is opened for teams to negotiate exclusively with their own potential free agents.

The Browns' free agents are: running back Mike Bell, linebacker Blake Costanzo, kicker Phil Dawson (franchised under old rules), safety Abram Elam, defensive end Jayme Mitchell, tight end Evan Moore (tendered as restricted under old rules), defensive end Derrick Robinson, linebacker Matt Roth, tight end Alex Smith, defensive end Robaire Smith, safety Nick Sorensen, receiver Chansi Stuckey, linebacker Jason Trusnik, fullback Lawrence Vickers, offensive lineman Floyd Womack, cornerback Eric Wright (tendered as restricted under old rules), and offensive lineman Billy Yates.

• Monday: Teams can begin negotiating with and signing undrafted free agents and rookie draft picks. Trades may begin.

According to NFLdraftscout.com, the highest-ranked players by position not drafted are: Pierre Allen, Nebraska (defensive end); Ian Williams, Notre Dame (defensive tackle); Deunta Williams, North Carolina (free safety); DeAndre McDaniel, Clemson (strong safety); Terrence Toliver, Louisiana State (receiver); Kris O'Dowd, Southern Cal (center), Zach Hurd, Connecticut (guard); Pat Devlin, Delaware (quarterback); Adrian Moten, Maryland (outside linebacker); Mario Harvey, Marshall (inside linebacker); Ryan Jones, NW Missouri State (cornerback); Derrick Locke, Kentucky (running back); Willie Smith, East Carolina (offensive tackle).

• July 28: Unrestricted free agency begins. The exact number of players available won't be known until owners and players agree on terms of free agency.

• July 30: Browns training camp scheduled to open.

On Twitter: @TonyGrossi

© 2011 cleveland.com. All rights reserved.

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Cleveland Browns can't be shy in adding more talent when lockout ends: Terry Pluto
Published: Tuesday, July 19, 2011, 8:13 PM Updated: Tuesday, July 19, 2011, 8:14 PM
By Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer


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John Kuntz, The Plain DealerIs D'Qwell Jackson a truly viable candidate to be a linebacking stalwart for the Browns this season? Terry Pluto isn't buying it.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- With the National Football League nearing a labor settlement, the shopping season for teams could begin as soon as this weekend. Remember, this is more than free agency.

It also can include trades, and Browns General Manager Tom Heckert made two significant deals last season -- he turned Brady Quinn, Alex Hall and a seventh-round draft pick into Chris Gocong, Sheldon Brown and Peyton Hills. Three starters for a guy who became a third-string quarterback in Denver and defensive end who had one tackle for all of last season with the Giants.

So Heckert has a knack of making little deals that can turn out big, especially for a team with so many needs such as the Browns.

Not sure about Heckert's priority list, but here's mine -- the top six in order.

1. Where are the linebackers?

No matter how many nice things the Browns say about D'Qwell Jackson, how can they count on him as a starter? He has had major injuries to both shoulders. He has played only six games in two years, none last season. I believe they praise Jackson because he's a good guy who desperately wants to heal and play in the 4-3 defense.

But the fact remains you need three linebackers in this defense, and the Browns have two-- Scott Fujita and Gocong. Titus Brown, Jason Trusnik and Eric Alexander are linebackers on the roster -- but all are backups.

I say the Browns need not one, but two legitimate linebackers to help new defensive coordinator Dick Jauron. This is the thinnest area on a team without much depth -- and that's a scary statement.

Since the Browns didn't draft a linebacker, you have to believe they have an eye on a free agent.

2. They must lean right

The starting right guard is ... well ... probably Shawn Lauvao, a third-round pick from 2010. He played 118 snaps last season, about 11 percent of the plays. Maybe he is ready to start.

But listing Tony Pashos as the starting right tackle is like saying Jackson is a starting linebacker. It's buying a lottery ticket to pay the mortgage. Pashos will be 31 this season. He has played 11 games (four starts) in the last two years.

The Browns hope to retain veteran Porkchop Womack, who is a solid backup at guard and tackle. They did draft Jason Pinkston in the fifth round, and he is a left tackle expected to help on the right side. But we're talking a fifth-round rookie.

Some media people say, "Get Colt McCoy help at receiver."

I say, "First, get him help on the line so he has time to find an open receiver."

3. Can someone rush the QB?


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Keith Srakocic, Associated PressJabaal Sheard earned a solid college reputation for rushing the quarterback, but Terry Pluto would like some free-agent additions to the new 4-3 lineup.
Second-rounder Jabaal Sheard maybe be their most exciting draft pick, but it's a lot to ask for him to be the prime pass rusher. Who plays the other defensive end? Let's hope Robaire Smith is right when he insists he's healthy enough to return.

Smith and Ahtyba Rubin at least bring some experience as the team looks for four linemen. First-rounder Phil Taylor and Sheard are expected to start -- two rookies.

They have Jayme Mitchell, who is supposed to be able to rush the quarterback -- but never played last season. There is Marcus Benard, who showed he could rush as a 3-4 linebacker, but now has to learn defensive end.

Brian Schaefering and Derreck Robinson remains as backups, but the Browns need another legitimate NFL starter on the line.

4. Safety in numbers

The Browns need more people for the safety spot. T.J. Ward is a viable starter, a hard-hitter. He played next to Abe Elam last season, who is now a free agent and isn't the best fit for the Browns, who need a safety who can cover receivers.

Yes, they still have Michael Adams, a nice utility man in the defensive backfield. So they have Ward, and they have Adams ... and that's not enough.

5. Running backs and backups

Can anyone expect Peyton Hills to stay healthy for all 16 games? He may play in each one, but the Browns need him to be more than 240 pounds of welts and bruises by December.

Montario Hardesty? Maybe he stays healthy, maybe he doesn't. But knee problems knocked him out of all of 2010.

They need a viable veteran running back to help the situation.

6. And finally...

Some fans are probably screaming, "What about receivers?"

Yes, they can use a veteran. But at least they have some guys with starting experience from which to pick.

The Browns really do believe a full training camp with McCoy in the new West Coast offense will help Brian Robiskie, Mohamed Massaquoi and second-rounder Greg Little to be at least acceptable. They think Little could soon become far more than that.

They also have Joshua Cribbs and they are intrigued by Carlton Mitchell, a Heckert seventh-rounder in 2010.

At least there is quantity at this position, even if the quality is uncertain. But that's more than can be said at the other five areas of need.

© 2011 cleveland.com. All rights reserved.

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"You can either stress over it or roll up your sleeves and do the best you can. We've got a hard-working group of guys who are pretty sharp. They've been working on it now, from what I understand, in this off-season. We'll be as ready as anybody.

"Believe me, we've been in endless meetings about [forthcoming player transactions] so that when it actually does happen, we'll be ready to go. But it'll be wild, you know that."

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Well we have the talking part done.

It should be a fun week coming up folks.

Pinch me!

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I hope its not a bunch of smoke and mirrors again!

I'm ready to get my fall fix!!

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I think we are all in withdraw and need of our fall fix

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I hope the Browns come away signing Randy Moss and Chad Ocho Cincho

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They would provide great stability for our lockeroom

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Some fans are probably screaming, "What about receivers?"

Yes, they can use a veteran. But at least they have some guys with starting experience from which to pick.

The Browns really do believe a full training camp with McCoy in the new West Coast offense will help Brian Robiskie, Mohamed Massaquoi and second-rounder Greg Little to be at least acceptable. They think Little could soon become far more than that.

They also have Joshua Cribbs and they are intrigued by Carlton Mitchell, a Heckert seventh-rounder in 2010.

At least there is quantity at this position, even if the quality is uncertain. But that's more than can be said at the other five areas of need.

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We've discussed how many "IFs" need to come to pass in order for us to be successful. IF this and IF that happen or IF those guys pan out. Sure this article admits we need to bring in a veteran. But I'll be shocked IF we end up set at the WR position beyond the veteran we bring in.

We gotta get other WRs in here. Fact. I have not doubt Heckert knows exactly who he wants. People round these parts always bring up the biggest names, the contraversial pickups. And I think ( gut feeling ) whoever the brass think are the best guys for the west coast offense we're instilling won't be the biggest names that we have to break the bank to bring in.

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I know he played some early in the year, but IIRC it was like 20-40 snaps and then he was benched because he was not doing that well.

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Don't forget wide receivers are relative. If we could add a solid playmaker (just throwing out a name) like Sydney Rice, then we are asking Mass to be the 2nd receiver at best, and maybe third if Little could be the outside force we would like him to be (he sure has the size).

I think receiver is a big problem ... rather a big question mark ... but adding one name means other teams' third and fourth corners, or safeties, or outside linebackers (depending on coverages) are being asked to cover robiskie and massaquoi/little ... that's not a bad mismatch machine ...

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I don't see Rice wanting to come here at all.

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This just brings me back to which WRs are the best fit for a west coast offense. Are ALL of them expected to just be able to run a bunch of precise, crisp routes? Or is the #1 like any other #1, just expected to book it off the line and get major seperation?

I would LOVE to see who the brass have their eyes on. Veteran and Rookie free agents . . .

Getting excited . . .

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Chad Johnson....meh, he'll sign with the Titans or Jags. Something about him says AFC South.

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There is a wide receiver who may be available cheap, is young, who may have been somewhat humbled after last year, and who I hear has gotten better with his drops. He is definitely a speed guy.

Would anybody be interested in trying BE again?

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There is a wide receiver who may be available cheap, is young, who may have been somewhat humbled after last year, and who I hear has gotten better with his drops. He is definitely a speed guy.

Would anybody be interested in trying BE again?

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Chad Johnson....meh, he'll sign with the Titans or Jags. Something about him says AFC South.

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Ocho is not a FA, so I assume that you think he will be traded?

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