DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Free Agency discussion continued....

j/c



https://twitter.com/nfltrade_rumors

We are not going to be big spenders it appears ... and it's probably smart

But it gets annoying at the same time haha

Kinda glad we didn't sign Ginn. Still would like to see Hartline sign here though.

I never wanted any part of Ginn.

I think our fans say it's smart not to spend money in free agency as a coping mechanism for the reality that guys don't want to play here. We just let all of our home grown talent leave and we're not signing anybody.

Or could it be that our fans say guys don't want to come here as a coping mechanism for the reality that the team isn't spending big money early in free agency?

It's pointless to spend big in FA until you have a QB.

Isn't this the year when a team is required to spend 88% of their cap figure? What are they saving it for?

That is correct, and imo the long and short of it is that we actually need a few years to develop those players.

We have always heard the 'build thru the draft' phrase thrown out there. Its always that 'we suck at drafting'.

For every free agent that we sign we possibly lose a comp pick, and we also lose a spot that could be used to develop another player. Basically if we are developing say 2 linebackers, and we only have a 50% chance of success, then one will probably develop and one won't.

If we only have one to develop and a free agent, then what happens. One of two things. Either the player develops, and takes over when the free agents time is up.

Or the player doesn't develop and the free agent's time is up, leaving us with nothing.

The latter is what we have been doing for years, along with changing systems every year making it even worse.

I honestly think that if we keep the same systems, coaches, front office, in place for a few years, draft and develop talent, then we will see the results that we want.

Plus everyone says Farmer sucks in the first round, but does better in late rounds, so the comp picks make a ton of sense.

No, I don't think it is. I think that is next year and latest reports show the Browns are not in a situation where they will struggle to meet that threshold....unlike the Raiders, Jags, etc.

It sends a bad message when you let your home grown talent just walk. If you're going to be a build through the draft team, you MUST keep your guys. At some point you've gotta spend money. Look at the teams that always have the most cap space. They're usually pretty bad.

I would agree IF we were running the same schemes they were drafted to play. These homegrown guys have been through 3 regime changes since being drafted.

- Sheard was drafted to be a 43DE.
- Rubin's contract was extended to be a 43DT.

Next year there will be some other homegrown players who will become FA who were drafted to play in a 43. Taylor, Winn, Hughes.

Skrine and Cameron are different, I think, than the other mentioned players. I would like to keep them, if the price is right. However, there seems to be a bunch of suitors for both, which will drive the price up I's imagine.

Your last statement is what bothers me. Why does price matter? We will NEVER spend big dollars on free agents. It's a fact of life. That's fine and I get it. However, we're not even spending big dollars on our own guys. So why just let the money sit when you can send the message that we take care of our own? Who on this team do you see earning a massive contract in 4-5 years? Unless Mingo breaks out into a monster, I don't see it.

You guys see it as trying to be wise and saving money, I see it as being cheap and trying to sell hope that maybe one day they *might* actually use that money.

Rubin is getting up there in age.

Sheard is been wildly inconsistent.

Cameron wants to leave nor can he stay healthy.

I do agree 100% that we need to sign Robertson, Skrine and Gipson to long term deals.

I would even re-sign Miles Austin to another 1-year deal if it's cheap.

Price will always matter. I don't get why it wouldn't. There could be some opportunities for guys next year as well, if not sooner...

Gipson, Schwartz, Hughes, Winn, Not sure what is up with Mack's deal, Benjamin, Taylor?

I'm not saying these guys are going to get massive contracts or anything, but if there are a handful they want back, even if for depth, it'll add up.

I still expect the Browns to sign some people this FA, maybe even make an announcement today or tomorrow, but price will always matter... and it should.

How many of these massive FA deals have come back to haunt teams....let me answer that for you....TONS!!

Two words.....Andre. Rison.

Browns money guide: How to manage $53 million in cap space

As it stands (before player cuts and new signings), the Browns must spend roughly $71 million in cash over the next two years to be compliant with the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Why?

Because the CBA requires NFL teams to spend at least 89 percent of the cumulative salary caps from 2013-16, which, for the Browns, projects to $492.17 million in spending by the end of the 2016 league year.

How much have the Browns spent during that span?

To date, Cleveland has spent or committed to $420.99 million. Splitting in half, the Browns could spend $35.5 million in each of the next two years. Or, if they are feeling aggressive, spend a cool $50 million before September. The Browns likely want a larger cushion of space for next year.

http://espn.go.com/blog/cleveland-browns...on-in-cap-space

I agree! Tip of the hat for Power Prose Purple Patch there, friend.

Misery loves company, especially here. Trying to encourage more folks here to let their feelings out. Suffer proudly and post up. Impressivo!

Is he still a possibility? Not much for fantasy numbers maybe, but I believe he could help us over what is here.

Big Money 2: The Sequel, I hope

Thanks for that info, pblack.

Crazy, 60 million guaranteed for Suh is what they're saying?

Suh a good signing/addition to any team, but that's a bank breaker when Miami has about no offense. No run game, Tannehill has a slew of question marks, I just don't get it why Miami would level the bank for Suh when they have lots of holes elsewhere. Suh isn't going to help their offense move the ball and score and we as Browns fans know what it's like to have a defense the get turnovers and etc into the hands of a 3 and out destined offense.

Good luck with that Miami! Jmo

Wow...

Patrick Willis and Justin Smith retiring as 49ers.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/03/09/patrick-willis-justin-smith-retiring-from-49ers/

If Suh signed with us you can bet that the first time he gave someone a cheap shot(especially if it was someone on Pitts.) he would get a 6 game suspension. You could bank on it.

I gotta tell you Dawg LB, I don't get it either. So many questions and they are talking about breaking the bank for Suh? Color me confused as well...

Add Crabtree, Iupati, Gore (already gone), to the group of people most likely gone. Some other FAs as well like Culliver.

And they lost Harbaugh FWIW.

Man, that team is just falling apart.. there is also a rumor about Kap being shopped.. crazy times in the Bay Area...

Sounds like a trade ploy from Willis. He just turned 30!!!!

Mary Kay Cabot ‏@MaryKayCabot 2m2 minutes ago
#browns never brought ted Ginn jr in for a visit after calling his agent Neil Cornrich

good

Still haven't heard any rumblings about Crabtree from any team. Interesting...

Tomorrow is gonna be an interesting day. A lotta things happen at 4pm.

I will be watching intently with hope that this owner and FO do something to put us over the top ...

A name popped up that I think good be a good value acquisition. Stefen Wisniewski from the Raiders.

He can play both centre and guard, pushing greco to the bench for now and giving us a viable centre replacement if Mack decides to bolt next year.

AJ Hawk visiting the Bengals

Also haven't heard anything on Dan Williams, Derrick Morgan, Brandon Graham, Jason Worilds, Brian Orakpo, Chris Culliver, and more.

There are still good players available. My guess is that we already locked up some, but haven't leaked the news.

Stephen Paea to Washington

And this is another major problem. You can only develop and keep your talent if you have some stability and continuity in scheme. Switching from the 3-4 to the 4-3 and back to the 3-4 only means you have a hodge podge of talent that doesn't fit.

They weren't brought here to play the scheme they are playing in and their talents are best suited to play in a totally different D, and sometimes O.

To me, that's why FA signings are more important for us than they are some other teams. If you've had the same type of D and a similar O in place, you can develop drafted players and draft players, that fit what you are doing.

With a constant turnover in coaching, FO's and schemes, talent you drafted a few years ago don't even fit what you are running now, so that development simply doesn't work with a lot of the players that were drafted for other coaching groups.

Yes it will be. Cecil Shorts to Cleveland