DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Who realistically can the Browns land in Free Agency?

Exactly my point. There is no reason to let Cameron walk when we could easily keep him around for one year without damaging our short or long term prospects. And there is no one available who is equally talented.

after his season and his injury history, I wouldn't expect Cameron to get more than a 2year $12mil contract anyway. so, I don't think we really need to spend $8mil on a 1 year deal to keep him though I agree that it woudn't be terrible.

My fear is that he wants to leave. And why wouldn't he? If a player is going to sign a short term contract to reestablish his value a team like the Browns (no QB, new offensive coordinator, history of dysfunction, etc.) is among the last places he would sign. The franchise tag requires him to stay and play hard as he is looking for a big contract.

So. . . .in the pressbox? Think JM needs to worry more about Manziel. The idea of his skills and motivation "picking" the OC to any degree troubles me.

We spent a first round pick on a QB. If we didn't try to cater to his abilities I would be worried.

Thanks Vers...and your absolutely right...heck I think even the Oakland Raiders are a preferred choice vs our Browns as a landing spot for Crabtree and other WRs, as they have a QB in spot vs us being unsettled

I think Jordan really hurt himself this season with all the down time due to injury. I don't think really any team will be willing to write him a superstar contract as tight end. And for that reason, I don't think it will cost cost and there won't be any need to adequately replace him. I'm guessing he'll be made a decent offer to stay, will want to test the market and he'll come back and take the offer here cause it likely is the best one to be offered.

And not knocking him in any way, just think having one big year and then a year of injury and when he returned, didn't make too much a splash won't be making any team willing/wanting to open up the wallet for him.

All JMO

j/c

With the concussion protocol and as long as he missed with his last concussion, Cameron would be someone I would be very leery of. I believe the time to cut ties with him and make a draft investment at TE is now.

I would bet that he still harbors a grudge from the whole draft experience with the Browns - if those stories were true, or at least perceived to be true by him.

Good thing we've changed the people running the organization 72 times since then.

Some times the stink sticks with the organization even though the people directly involved have changed.

How many of us have a special hate the Ravens because Modell moved the Browns to Baltimore? Model is no longer a part of the Ravens yet that hate persists.

well, we also hate their hypocritical fanbase

[video:youtube]http://youtu.be/j-trg7HGoGE?t=45m10s[/video]

I think this has been mentioned before, but I think another transition tag might be in play.

We have tons of cap space like we did last year, so we really have the upper hand against other teams that may be interested in Cameron. Also, there really isn't anyone else worth tagging (IMO) relative to their position. The only person that comes "close" (mildly put) is Sheard, but even still I don't do it.

So even if Cameron does get offered a deal we don't want to match, it's not like we made a mistake by tagging one person and not another. Who else was worthy of a tag? And if we end of matching the deal....Cameron gets paid to a contract he signed and we have at least one more year based on the contract structure. If he doesn't sign another deal and submits to the tag, we have him for another year all the same.

I think I said this before but I might consider offering him a Dennis Pitta-like contract prior to the tag deadline. That seems comparable, IMO.

This^^^^^^

We could have just used the ESPN best player available board and done better. The atrocities in the first round of the last three drafts netted us ZERO impact players. If three of these picks were hits it could have put the team in the playoffs this year, but the FO blew it big time.

Mack will be gone after next season for sure, the schedule will yield a losing record, and we will start the madness all over again in 2016.

Evans and Bridgewater in 2014 would have made a difference this season.....but alas....

And don't even try to tell me Johnny Jamboogie can turn it around....all the Snickers in the world can't make that happen!

Let Cameron go, he didn't want to extend this year. He really didn't contribute much, doesn't block, and has had three concussions. Just say no to Jordan!

We need less talent!

With Cameron, its easy...noticed how long it took for him to recover from his concussion? That's all you need to know...the guy has been making pennies on his rookie contract (NFL wise) I really do believe he was advised to hang it up...but Cameron wants one shot of FA to land a signing bonus and some other earned money...I wont be surprised if he calls it quits in another year or so...figure he makes maybe 400K a year...why not land 5 million or more on a signing bonus...


Anyways I'd be focused on these players in my ideal world with budget still in mind...the Browns land...

K Stephen Gostkowski...Perhaps the best kicker in the game, he'll be expensive per kicker salary but money well worth it, I think he helps everyones confidence around here...and can easily improve our team 6+ points a game compared to where Cundiff really put us in a hole often

OG Mike Iupati...49ers have cap issues, why not grab one of the leagues elite guards whom is superb in run blocking...really pushes our line to elite status, well on paper at least...well be pricey for a guard...but we need to improve this team and we have $51 mill in cap

FB Henry Hynoski...one of the leagues best run blocking fulbacks, and the best FA FB...we clearly need someone to pave the way for our young RBs...wont cost more than $2 mill a year...small price to pay to actually have someone rock people back

TE Jermaine Gresham...much better blocker than Cameron, will play hurt...has solid-good hands, drops an easy one here and there...but less injury scares and also a Pro Bowl caliber TE (went to pro bowl once, came very close to being there twice)...will get a nice deal in FA

T/G Gabe Carimi...will be rather cheap, versatile, never played up to his status...but being a former Badger, I can see Joe Thomas putting this guy under his swing...can serve as a swing position at guard and tackle

RB Steven Ridley...Has always been a platoon runner in NE...runs strong and is a goal line beast...we need someone who doesn't mind splitting reps with Crow and West...will also be rather cheap...still like 25 years old?

DT Cedric Thornton...an overachiever whom is one of the better DTs in collapsing the run, very active...will get a good payday...let Rubin walk and plug Thornton here.

OLB Akeem Ayers...Assuming Sheard walks, this guy really turned things around in NE and is a lot more active and quicker than Sheard (downfall not as stout against the run as Sheard) I believe he fits a 3-4 way better than Sheard...and will be cheaper in addition...young too

Assuming we resign Hoyer, Gibson, Robertson and Skrine...

Looking into the draft we can go for a WR,OLB,C,T,DE,S,PR

Why did Cameron have that 3rd concussion?



That is a hit that cost Ross $22,050. It was a lot worse in full motion. He mashed Camreon's head down, like in a car wreck.

I seem to recall that one of Cameron's other concussions was caused by being kicked in the head.

These are not just "Oh, he took a minor bump and missed weeks and weeks with a concussion". I am concerned about the cumulative effect, but if he is medically cleared, there is no reason not to try and sign him, and even if we have to franchise him, that is not such a bad way to go. He is a weapon, and if we franchise him, he gets somewhere around $8 million .... which would come right back off of our cap the following year. It would be a business decision, and other players would understand that.

Why bring him back? Because he is a weapon. We need weapons. We have 2 solid blocking TE in Dray and Barnidge. We have a couple of receivers who are sure to be back, a couple of RB who are sure to be back, and a couple of journeyman level TE who are likely to be back.

Cameron averaged 17 yards/catch this season, That was incredible good for a TE. 1/3 of his catches went for 20+ yards. (8 of 24) 4 actually went for 40+. He took an illegal shot to the back of his head, that created a whiplash type concussion, and there is nothing you can really do about that.

He is worth bringing back. We need weapons.

I remember this play like it was yesterday.

I think the concussion came AFTER what we see in the pic. His head flung backward, and SLAMMED into the turf. A recoil 'bang-bang' like that is definitely going to do some damage.

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As to the rest of your post: no argument from me. He's a proven performer (when healthy), and he's already HERE. If I'm Farmer, I'd take the risk. He's the very definition of "a bird in the hand."

I think that maybe that was the play where he was hit with the elbow, and then blasted with Ross's knee after the elbow. I wish I could find a video of that play.

This I agree with. Cameron is a gigantic mismatch and has great hands.



This I don't agree with. I saw some pretty bad blocking from both guys last year, particularly Dray. Are they better blockers that Cameron? Sure. But that's not a good barometer per se for what we need, IMO.

I'm a broken record, but I say keep Cameron (tag if need be) and still draft a TE early in the draft if there is one Farmer likes. One with better blocking and adequate catching ability. I'd love to see a combo similar to what New England played with, what Cincinnati could have had, or what Detroit hopes to have:

Gronkowski-like (possible draft pick)
Hernandez-like w/o murder wrap (Jordan Cameron)

Eifert and Gresham.
Pettigrew and Ebron

Wishful thinking.....

Iupati- There is no question he is very, very good. But if we stay with the zone blocking scheme I wonder if he'd have trouble fitting in. Plus, I'm more than satisfied with our offensive line starters. Not sure if we'd want to commit a substantial amount of $$ to the guard position.

Hynoski- I'm all about looking to bring him in. Hopefully he is a target. He's young too (26). I guarantee NY will try to keep him too.

Gresham- I think he is one of the players that just hasn't lived up to his potential in Cincinnati. I tend to recall hearing on the radio or reading reports that Gresham didn't put in all the needed effort to take that next step when I lived in Cincy. Maybe others can chime in that live in SW Ohio. He certainly flashed at times, but if he could ever get it together he'd be the kind of TE we could add alongside Cameron if we kept him. I'm hesitant to overpay for him.

The thing about concussions is that it doesn't really matter how you got them. What matters is that once you get more than one, you seem to keep getting them.

Sure, the hits were legit and perhaps even severe. But, Cameron is at a point in his career that might lead one to believe that it's now a chronic problem.

Better players than him [Aikman, Steve Young, etc] have retired because of multiple concussions.

Memphis, tight end Browns need to seek is Lance Kendricks. He can block and catch. He'd be the perfect partner to Cameron.

I'll defer to you because I don't know much on him but I've never really thought of him as a blocking TE.

First two reports I looked up on him said "has a willingness to block" and is "competitive" in blocking. That's not necessarily a glowing opinion of that part of his game, but then again, they're just journalist reports.

Still, I'm sure it's better in comparison to Cameron.

And to me that's the point some are missing. I like Cameron and believe he is a great weapon for the QB. To me that goes without saying. But there is a cumulative effect to concussions. Your brain can only sustain so many and with each one, it makes the next one much easier to get.

At this stage, Cameron is a huge gamble to put a huge investment in. It's a sad reality, but a reality none the less.

Just clicking.

I like Cameron. He liked a photo of me and my gal's puppy in his Browns jersey on twitter. But is it just me, or is he the worst blocking TE we've had since the return? Like, I'm talking making Kellen Winslow Jr. look like Jim Kleinsasser.

His blocking skills are borderline pathetic, just downright horrid!

Kellen Winslow never had a desire to block.

Cameron is just really bad at it.

Thanks for the reply Memph...

I believe Mack is going to leave after this season...or at least is looking to leave...So we would only have big money tied up with Joe Thomas only...not that I want to lose Mack, but with him signing an offer with even sorry Jacksonville, the intent is here...so I think we could most definitely afford Iupati...And your exactly right with the ZBS I don't think Iupati is the correct fit...he's nimble for his size...but who knows what scheme we will run...he sure would be nice.

FB Hynoski...I sure do get tired of getting the bottom or the barrel FBs...and considering you can get an elite FB for around $2 mill a year...why not lock an elite FB in FA, instead of drafting one and praying he turns out to be good..but like you said he's going to have suitors and NY would love to keep him as well.

With Jermaine Gresham...he has been in the league since 2010 and has accumulated nearly 3,000 receiving yards and 24 TDs...which I would take from our TEs any day lol...he is no game changer like Graham or Gronk...but he's a nice very good TE who has a strong chance to play in a Pro Bowl every year...he has suffered multiple small injuries, but not the career killers to the head that Cameron has...I think Gresham is worth a 4 year $20 mill deal...he disappears sometimes, but is a competent blocker...Not the greatest hands, but will snag some insane balls as well...And then again with Cameron he have seen him drop some easy ones as well. And make some incredible catches too...I just think Gresham is ultimately more reliable and I think he will be a tad cheaper...but watch I will jinx him lol

We may not even need a fullback depending on what offensive coordinator we have. If we sign one it should be Jerome Felton. He is the best fullback currently in the NFL and will be a free agent.

Thanks cfrs for the reply, the only reason I didn't list Felton is because he still is under contract and not yet a FA...I know he took a pay cut to stay with the team and there was talk of him opting out...but idk yet...I wouldn't be disappointed with either...and your right we have no idea what our O's identity will be...may utilize an H-back instead or more double TE looks vs traditional FB

I read a blurb on rotoworld saying how Saints WR Marques Colston is expected to be released as he has an $8 mill cap number and the Saints are in horrible cap room...

This may be the veteran WR we do indeed target if he hits FA...zero character concerns huge body at 6'4 220 is an older wideout though...then again Im sure they will try to retain him on a cheaper deal.

Wide receiver Miles Austin: Clutch. Sign him.
Tight end Jordan Cameron: Too many concussions. See ya.
Quarterback Brian Hoyer: Continuity to the next guy. Sign him.
Nose tackle Ahtyba Rubin: Not impressed. See ya.
Outside linebacker Jabaal Sheard: Not a good fit. See ya.
Cornerback Buster Skrine: Solid nickel. Sign him.
Safety Johnson Bademosi: Solid ST player. Tender him.
Free safety Tashaun Gipson: Solid starter. Tender him.
Nose tackle Ishmaa’ily Kitchen: Rubin leaving. Tender him.

That is all fine but wouldn't you want to have better in place before dumping? You are dumping a lot of starters. I'm ok with your assessment. I like replacements that will improve. Otherwise, they simply take a step backwards.

Rubin & Sheard are not worth big money contracts to bring back, their production last season was way down. I think they need replaced. Jordan Cameron due to his injury history is also not worth a big money contract but I would be very willing to offer him a short/modest "prove it" type of contract to keep him around. I don't like the idea of letting go of another guy whose capable of being a pro-bowler.

For those of you familiar with Fanspeak they have released their Free Agency simulator. You pick the Free Agents you want to offer, make your offer, then see whether it was good enough or if you were out bid. Kind of neat.