DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Cleveland Browns facing five important free-agent decisions

Cleveland Browns facing five important free-agent decisions: Tony Grossi analysis


January 15, 2012
Tony Grossi, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer


CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Before the Browns can plot their strategy in NFL free agency, which begins on March 13, they have to finalize decisions on their own potential free agents.

They have five key players who will be unrestricted free agents if they don't re-sign. Here's a look at each and the circumstances that may influence the Browns' decisions.

Running back Peyton Hillis: Each of the Browns' top decision-makers has repeatedly declined to say he wants Hillis back.

At his season-ending press conference, coach Pat Shurmur said, "That's one of those questions I really can't answer at this point."

President Mike Holmgren said at his season-ender, "That's one of our players that is a free agent and we're not going to talk about it today."

General Manager Tom Heckert said this week on 92.3 FM: "Would we be averse to bringing him back? No. We have to see what else is available and what our plans are for all our free agents."

Not exactly a ringing endorsement.

A late spurt by Hillis lifted him to the top of the Browns' rushing list in 2011 with 587 yards and three touchdowns. Injuries and controversy limited him to 10 games.

Before contract negotiations broke down, the sides were wide apart in their estimation of Hillis' value. Reportedly, Hillis was looking for $10 million in guarantees and the Browns were offering about $4 million.

Prediction: Hillis leaves.

Kicker Phil Dawson: Dawson is the only player to receive the franchise tag in the Browns' expansion era. The Browns made this surprise move a year ago when talks for a multiyear deal went nowhere. Dawson signed the one-year deal for $3.25 million.

If the Browns elect to franchise Dawson again, he would receive a 20 percent pay hike to about $3.9 million. That's a hefty sum for a kicker, even one as reliable as Dawson.

The more sensible thing would be to resume talks for a multiyear deal, but it doesn't appear to be in the cards. No doubt, Dawson is the franchise's premier player of the expansion era. He recently turned 37 and last year relocated his family to Austin, Texas -- a strong indication he would like to leave in free agency.

Prediction: Dawson leaves.

Middle linebacker D'Qwell Jackson: Jackson proved to be a bedrock in the middle of Dick Jauron's 4-3 defense, leading the team by plenty in tackles and establishing himself as a locker-room leader. He is the leading contender for the league's comeback player of the year award.

Heckert has pretty much said Jackson will be back in 2012. The big question is whether they sign him long-term or use the franchise tag on him. If they choose the latter, it wouldn't be available for Dawson.

Prediction: Jackson returns.

Cornerback Dimitri Patterson: He didn't have any interceptions and was credited with only 27 tackles, yet Patterson logged a lot of plays in his role as the nickel cornerback covering the slot in three-receiver formations.

Towards the end, the Browns gave him some reps in Sheldon Brown's cornerback position. It appeared the Browns were testing Patterson as a replacement for Brown. If they liked what they saw, they could proceed with a transition of Brown to free safety.

Brown will be 33 in March. He is agreeable to moving to free safety, but it is a transition that the team must commit to in the off-season. If they go ahead with it, Patterson or somebody else must move into the starting cornerback spot.

Patterson will be 29 in June. That means he doesn't have too much time left as a starter. His price tag surely will dictate this move.

Prediction: Patterson returns.

Safety Mike Adams: In five seasons with the Browns, Adams played for three head coaches. Each would come to appreciate Adams' versatility on the field and value as a locker-room leader.

Every year Adams has been with the Browns, he was pegged as a special teamer and backup safety. This year, the Browns signed Usama Young in free agency and drafted Eric Hagg with the expectation of phasing out Adams.

In fact, Adams, 30, went on to have his finest NFL season in eight campaigns. He made 16 starts for the first time, and posted career highs in tackles and interceptions (three).

Adams' future with the Browns would appear to be tied to that of Brown. If the Browns intend to move Brown to safety, there would be no room for two safeties over the age of 30. Odds are that Heckert would favor Brown, whom he drafted in Philadelphia and traded for in Cleveland.

Prediction: Adams leaves.

On Twitter: @Tony Grossi

web page

Sounds about right.

I don't like the idea of Dawson leaving, but it is what it is.

If Hillis leaves we better look hard at who is going to run the ball for us next season. Heckert telling us Hardesty is a great option is about as convincing as it was when he was telling us Pashos was a great option at RT.

We better look for a real free agent and put running back on our draft wish list....heck, Big O is better than Hardesty.

We better re-sign Hillis.

I am in favor of that as well.

Bad teams can't keep losing talent. They have to build on the talent they have.

This list seems about what I expect. I loved healthy chip on his shoulder Hillis. I hate disgruntled, unhealthy, pulled hammy, contract negotiation Hillis. More trouble then he thinks he's worth.

Dawson is great, no doubt. I'd love to see him play forever, but it aint gonna happen.

I think Hillis leaves, Dawson stays, DQ stays, Patterson stays, and I hope Adams stays, but I have my doubts.

I think the most important one is DQ, He was one of your best players last year, he showed signs of being part of this future, and he's a very good fit for the system. Appears his injury problems are behind him too.

Hillis leaving sucks, but it is what it is, and we're almost forced to add someone significant. We cannot go into the season with Obi, Montario, and B-Jack. Although with how much Pat likes to throw, maybe it doesn't matter.

I'd like to see Phil stay, I think he does, but I wouldn't be shocked if he left. I think it's 50/50.

I think he means the FO should try their best to re-sign him. Pretty obvious the decision is ultimately up to Hillis.

I'd like to see all 5 stay but I dunno if they will.... if Hillis is gone we better replace him with someone because I don't think Hardesty is the answer...

I think the safety position will just become a five headed monster if Sheldon moves there.

As it is a transition, we cant rely on him to be that, and Usama played much better near the LOS which would make him a stronger SS in my opinion. Mike Adams I still think was very very close to becoming a phenomenal safety, he was consistently "almost there" on several plays and with an offseason to study the system and give what he's got, the confidence and abilities that he has i almost asure you that Jauron can make him a force as a starter.

Eric Hagg, Sheldon Brown, and Usama can fight it out for the other 3 spots, plus having Sheldon there provides us with the ability to carry one less corner because he can still play there. Which lets us keep 5.

I hope Mike Adams stays.


As for Hillis...I'm fine either way. Especially if Trent Richardson is on the radar. He reminds me of a stronger Ray Rice/bigger MJD. Even if, we could always sign a guy like a Tashard Choice (not him, but a similar talent) that fits our system. We have Chris OGB and a returning to fully healthy Hardesty (no one is "back" the year after an ACL tear, it takes 2 years, so this year we'll see what Hardesty is made out of, especially with an offseason in the system), and an Armond Smith with an offseason to fix his ills that had him on the outside looking in at our roster. Hillis, while talented, may just have too inflated a view of himself.

I say give him an offer, hold fast on it, and let him test the waters and if he doesnt find any takers that have better offers, welcome back buddy.

DQ must come back.

Dawson...I could go either way. Wolfert did a fine job in the preseason and I would be comfortable with him on the roster.

Dmitri must come back. He and Skrine need to be in a position battle to improve. We dont need to create a depth hole to be filled with a guy who needs the whole offseason to acclimate, we got a guy here that knows what we want and really came on late in the year. Keep the guy, let him and Skrine battle it out to replace Sheldon...

so because a 37-year old player nearing the very end of his career would choose to move his family from cold, economically depressed Cleveland back to the warm, thriving Austin area where he went to school and grew up means that player no longer wants to be here.

Got it.

Would anyone be interested in Carl Nicks?

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/01/15/nicks-expected-to-leave-new-orleans-in-free-agency/

Report: Carl Nicks “expected to leave” New Orleans in free agency
Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on January 15, 2012, 11:44 AM EST

Drew Brees is a free agent, but we know he’s not going anywhere this offseason.

So the Saints essentially have two options. They can strike a deal quickly with Brees or they can place the franchise tag on him to retain his rights while continuing to work on a long-term deal, like the Colts did with Peyton Manning last year.

Option No. 2 includes a hidden cost. The Saints won’t have the option to use their franchise tag elsewhere, and they have at least two other great candidates.

Guard Carl Nicks and wide receiver Marques Colston are both headed for free agency. Florio has explained previously Colston won’t take a hometown discount.

Nicks will be especially difficult to keep on a long-term deal because the Saints have already paid huge money for Jahri Evans and Nicks is viewed as one of the very best guards in football. Retaining Nicks on a one-year deal would be ideal, but it won’t be possible unless Brees’ contract is worked out quickly.

Nicks is “expected to leave” town, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

This gives Brees greater leverage in negotiations, but it also puts him in a tricky spot. The Saints can’t handle their other important free agent business and build the best team around Brees until they get his contract done.

I would love to have Carl Nicks, but I don't think signing a 27-year-old free agent is the type of guy we will be going after.

I'd be REALLY interested!!!

I don't mind our o-lineman making a boatload of money... lol..

Put him at RG and keep him there for atleast the next 5 years. 1 less hole to fill, and leaves only the RT spot as a question mark.

Hillis: 50/50. I think the team would be amenable to a nice, short prove it again contract. I don't think he's going to find a team to break the bank on him with what happened in 2011. Does he want to be here? If he does then he stays. I think the Browns make the most sense for him if he was picking his spot with 32 teams in the mix.

DQ: Stays, franchised if not signed long term.

Dawson: Gone. Please go get that ring. Oh and write a tell all book! Sold!!!

Patterson: Stays and we pay him pretty nicely. I like him as a part of the solution in our secondary.

Adams: Stays. I think we value him more than any other team would. Has become a leader. I think he's part of the solution too.

We first have to answer what we're doing with Steinbach

I can't see us bringing Steinbach back at an $8M cap hit next year, when he's coming off season ending back surgery. I think the best bet is that we renegotiate something like $4M for next year on a one year deal (to let him prove himself before going out and looking for one last long term contract).

If he refuses, we definitely need to cut Steinbach, he's just not worth that sort of money.

The choice then either becomes "Sign a top FA Guard" or, "trust Pinkston/Lauvao to improve with another year together". Nicks would definitely be the top target to sign, I think we could get him at around 5 year $50M, and that would really cement our interior line -- but I have a feeling that we will instead go with the "let the rookies improve route", and instead will target a top WR.

Either way, I expect FA this year to be much more exciting than last - we have a ton of money -- with the new CBA we contractually HAVE to spend quite a bit of it. I expect us to get playmakers on the offensive end, and I like a lot of the talent that is out there.

btw....I think that Madden cover screwed with his head and was an incredibly bad influence on him.

Small town boy didn't know how to handle the bright spotlight and adulation. Lost what he was all about for a time. I think he got it back though at the end of the season.

We'll see.

Quote:

---

with the new CBA we contractually HAVE to spend quite a bit of it.

---

That doesn't go into effect until 2013.

Ah - good to know...that being said, given how all NFL contracts are backweighted, we would get into some cap trouble if we suddenly tried to spend $30M of new money in one year.

I would still predict that we spend quite a bit in FA this offseason.

I would say that we will spend money, but only on players that also fit into our long term plan. Guys like Reggie Wayne, Brandon Lloyd, John Abraham, and Robert Mathis aren't really options as they all will be/are past their primes when our team is any good.

Right. Which is the same rule that was in effect last year when we spent almost no free agent money.

Got a ton of guys coming off the books this year though. Plus any dead money from all the old guys we cut this past offseason.

Not saying you are wrong, I legitimately don't know. What guys are coming off the books this year that make any significant amount of money? And what guys did we cut last year that are coming off the books (Delhomme is the only one I can think of)?

Delhomme, Shaun Rogers, Kenyon Coleman, Eric Barton, John St. Clair, David Bowens were all cut this offseason. Since they were cut after June 1st of the 2010 season I think that any guaranteed money remaining on their deals should have accelerated to the 2011 salary cap. There might have been some funkiness with the expiring CBA but typically that's how it works.

Not sure how much those guys had guaranteed collectively in their deals, but in 2008 we extended Rogers including $20 million guaranteed in his deal, and he didn't even last for half of the duration of that extension, so I'd imagine we were on the hook for a pretty decent portion of it. Delhomme was released in July, so that money should've been on the 2011 books as well.

According to spotrac.com, UFAs this year include DQ, Phil Dawson, Oniel Cousins, John Greco, Mike Adams, Alex Smith, Steve Vallos, Peyton Hillis, Brian Schaefering, Brad Maynard and Marcus Benard. Mostly low-dollar guys, but players that will need to be re-signed or replaced nonetheless. Quantity more than anything.

I would love to see an All Pro kinda guy like Nicks ..... but I just don't see the front office going after a Guard in free agency.

I'm telling you ..... don't be surprised if we line up the next LT-RG next year. I think that the only position up front next year that will change will be at RT.

I think that the front office wants this line to grow and develop together. They got better and better as the year went on. I suspect that they want a full off-season and a full training camp for these guys to really gel.

I just don't see the front office spending money that can be spent elsewhere to shore up a position that they feel they have settled.