DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Plain Dealer: Browns to cut Andruzzi

Thanks for your time here Joe!

You helped get our new Era off the ground. Thank you!
You're Always a Brown.

See you Joe, good luck.

I have no ill will towards a player that is struggling through injuries over a career, and gave a good effort, even though it was not adequate.

It is unfortunate, but injuries take their toll.

I really didn't expect Joe to even make it to training camp. His time with the Browns had simply come to an end. Injuries, age, cap space, and younger guys available to take his roster spot is what this move is all this is about. Anything else is just wishful thinking.

So now to wishful thinking. I hope that Sowells is ready to assume a greater role on the OL. The team screams for a solid RG and I would love for him to be the guy. McKinney might very well be holding down the spot for Sowells until he is ready to be the starter in '08.

Thomas, Steinbach, Bentley, Sowells, Shaffer. Looks good to me.

Sowells gets the most noise, because of the 4th round selection, but I would not discount Smith or Matua just yet.

Both of these players came out early. Last year was their "red-shirt" season, just as Sowells got a pass for the tackle to guard conversion.

If McKinney is healthy, I think he'll the favorite to man the RG spot.

Quote:

---

Good Luck Joe. I wish you well in whatever you do and thank you for your service to
the Browns. I know you played the best you could.

---

Amen....Your a class act Joe, Thank -you.

News of release stuns Andruzzi
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Mary Kay Cabot
Plain Dealer Reporter

Browns left guard Joe Andruzzi admitted he was surprised Thursday when the Browns told him they were releasing him.

"I thought they'd bring me into camp and let me fight for my position," said Andruzzi, who was a starter last season. "In this business they tell you one thing and do another. I guess they're going with a youth movement."

Andruzzi, entering his 11th season, will not be released until Friday because he requested a physical after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery in January. If not completely healthy, he might seek an injury settlement.

"I played on two bum knees last season and fought through the pain," he said. "But [coach Romeo Crennel] knows what kind of guy I am and that I gave it my all."

In 2005, Andruzzi signed a four-year free-agent deal worth $9 million. He was due to make $1.5 million in 2007 and $2.5 million in 2008. But he might have come back at the $820,000 minimum.

"I was really excited about the direction of the team and the moves that have been made in the off-season," Andruzzi said. "Now I have to uproot my wife and four children and start all over. They made their decision and I have to live with it."

Andruzzi, a favorite of Crennel's from their three Super Bowl victories in New England, said he doubts the coach made the decision.

"It was probably a mutual thing, but I think it mostly came from somewhere else," Andruzzi said. "[Crennel] knows I was a guy that wasn't supposed to make it in this league, and I hung around for 11 years and won three Super Bowls. I don't think he would've wanted it to end this way."

Andruzzi's agent, Joe Linta, said, "Now that the Browns have three $30 million-plus players on the line, it became apparent they couldn't keep a guy like Joe around."

The Browns signed tackle Kevin Shaffer and center LeCharles Bentley each to $36 million contracts last year and guard Eric Steinbach to a $49.5 million contract this off-season. Shaffer is seeking a trade because the Browns drafted left tackle Joe Thomas.

The Browns also signed guard/center Seth McKinney to a one-year contract this off-season and are grooming second-year pro Isaac Sowells.

"I've still got a lot of fight in me and if the right situation comes up, I'll play," Andruzzi said.

Andruzzi said he's not 100 percent healthy, but should be by the start of the season. He missed two games with the knee last season and three with a knee/calf injury the year before.

"I'm grateful for the opportunity the Browns gave me two years ago," Andruzzi said. "I've loved playing here, loved the city and loved the fans."

The last time Andruzzi was cut, by Green Bay after the 1999 season, he signed with New England and went on to win three Super Bowls.

"Maybe that's a good omen," he said.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

mcabot@plaind.com, 216-999-4670

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/1178181193224960.xml&coll=2

Best of luck to you, Joe!

I hope things turn out for you.

He may not have been the best OLine man, but he is still a man.

Quote:

---

"I'm grateful for the opportunity the Browns gave me two years ago," Andruzzi said. "I've loved playing here, loved the city and loved the fans."

---

Us fans are also gratefull for the hard nose, effort you gave us over the last two years, you came to Cleveland to play when at a time we couldnt even get players to vist, much less sign with us.

Joe even if you go elsewhere to play, your still a Brown.....Good luck and God bless...

Joe is a class act. He did his best for us, it's just too bad that he was not 5 years younger. Although, I'll have to say that I'll probably remember him as a Patriot more than anything, after all that is where he won his S.B. rings. I'm sure if he were still in his prime he would help us out loads with getting to the BIG GAME. In any case, I wish Druzzi the best. Hope things work out for you.

"Browns left guard Joe Andruzzi admitted he was surprised Thursday when the Browns told him they were releasing him."

In the off season your employer signs two new FA guards and drafts a tackle #3 and you are surprised?

http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/sports/football/nfl/cleveland_browns/16686711.htm


Browns' big worry not quarterback
Lineman, cornerback positions present more important dilemmas
By Terry Pluto
Scribbles in my Browns notebook...

• While they don't say so, it's no secret that the Browns would like to sign free agent Eric Steinbach, the outstanding guard from the Cincinnati Bengals. The Browns want him as a guard to replace free agent Cosey Coleman. They also have major questions about veteran guard Joe Andruzzi, who is having physical problems. Finding guards is one of the key quests for the offseason.


The problems between General Manager Phil Savage and Davidson were typical of a coach/GM. The coach favored his veteran players, especially Andruzzi. Savage wanted to look at someone else at guard because he thought that Andruzzi was so banged up physically. There might have been some other disagreements, but the main problem was the Browns did not want him back as offensive coordinator.



There you have it..Phil wanted to replace Druzzi with a younger healthier player for a while..now he got his opportunity..
Now some will jump at this but it's actually smart..Druzzi had too many problems last year and that left side was horrible ...

Quote:

---

He means.. Phil called it (by signing other guards) but Romeo agreed (mutual).

---

I don't know if that's what he meant, but that was the way I took it,,,

Quote:

---

There you have it..Phil wanted to replace Druzzi with a younger healthier player for a while..now he got his opportunity..
Now some will jump at this but it's actually smart..Druzzi had too many problems last year and that left side was horrible

---

If this truely was the case. I am glad davidson is gone.

I would have liked to see Joe Andruzzi kept around( at the league minimum) as back-up.But I know that may not have been feasible.

Shaeffer is looking for a trade because he is getting top money for less than top game play and he is being asked to possibly switch positions or sit the bench????? It's too bad we could not keep Joe!!

Keeping a guy as a backup who is clearly on the downside and almost has little left in his knees is not good planning..
For the Browns they need younger more atheltic types to play the backups..
And even in that area you can upgrade your backups.

I totally agree but it seems he was in a quite a bit of pain last year and did what he could.I just personally like players like that.But you gotta do what you gotta do.