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Barnidge did make a few clutch catches last season ... the Titans, Saints, and Falcons games come to mind down the stretch IIRC

But isn't that what we need the most out of our TE's? Particularly in this offense? Graham is certainly a special player, but I just don't see a guy like that as a "must have". Sure he puts up sexy fantasy football numbers, but certainly a guy who can hold his blocks and can make some clutch grabs to extend the drive is just as valuable?

I mean, if we had Steve Heiden in his prime on this team now, in this offense, I wonder if anyone would be saying our TE's are a weak spot on the roster?

This is where you have to rely on your coaches to maximize what they have. If you have a totally dominant pass catching, field stretching, TE, then you figure out how to use it to your advantage... if you have a reliable hands, better blocking TE, then you figure out how to use it. Both can be very effective if used correctly. I guess ideally you have one of each.

Actually my point was much as yours suggested. DC summed it up quite well.

Yeah, and my post was actually more in a agreement with yours (and DC's) then I guess I effectively got across

I just see often on the boards that just because we don't have that Graham/Gronk/Cameron type of TE, that people then assess our TE position as being weak. I just don't see it that way like they do.

I do believe there is a mile of difference and degrees that fall in between a strength or a weakness. While I wouldn't consider our TE position a true position of strength, I do believe that if we use the talent we have at the position to their strengths and maximize the strengths they have, that the position can be adequate.

Now adequate may not seem like a very positive term, but it is one of the degrees between strong and weak.

I think the concern is bigger... we have major ??? at WR, we have major ???? at QB, and we have reliable but not spectacular TEs... all of that adds up to serious anxiety over whether we will be able to throw the ball effectively.. if we can't, it's probably not going to be because of the TEs...

Was this article written by Kevin Jones? LOL

Don't take my word for it, guys.........Instead, do a google search about Bowe's alligator arms and another about his dropped passes.

Decide for yourselves just how "reliable" he has been.

I will take that as a yes.

Btw........did you do the searches? If not, you might not want to defend your boy.

Not my boy, you are the one who put down anyone who doesn't agree with your opinion...mob mentality.

I posted the story most people here can think for themselves and form their own opinion on it.

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I have no issues w/people who disagree w/my opinion. I do have issues w/you, though.....because you are one of the most biased and unfair posters I have ever encountered.

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You've said that about 10-20% of the board members that post.

Yes, you DO have a problem with people that disagree with you.

I have no problem w/you having that opinion.

A little about the receivers from Pluto, especially Hartline and Pryor:

http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/index.ssf/2015/08/cleveland_browns_quiet_trainin.html#incart_m-rpt-1

As Farmer told me about Hartline: "He is professional in everything he does from taking his run test to running his routes to his warm-up sessions. He is a pro. If you watch the meticulousness of his detail and his preparation, you'll see the reason the guy has played in this league and had success. He does the little things right. I think that is what you need. You need a guy that has size, who can run routes and who catch the football."

Bowe has won the irrational exuberance award for proclaiming that McCown could be "a top five quarterback."

Bowe also said the Browns had three possible No. 1 receivers -- then mentioned four names.

It's training camp. These things happen. But the point is Bowe has delivered positive energy.

In Bowe and Hartline, Farmer added two receivers who had a combined 99 catches last season. I know, only two touchdowns.

But any reasonable person has to admit that Hartline and Bowe added to Andrew Hawkins, Taylor Gabriel and Travis Benjamin has improved the situation.

The only real loss among the receivers is Miles Austin, who signed with Philadelphia. He caught 47 passes last season before suffering a lacerated kidney in the 11th game of the year. Durability is the biggest battle for the classy Austin, who also has had leg problems.

Bowe has only missed five games in the last five seasons, Hartline has not missed a game in the last four years.

Then there's Terrelle Pryor.

This is a legitimate training camp story. Can an elite athlete who played quarterback at Ohio State and the Oakland Raiders become a receiver?

And can he do it with the Browns, a team desperate for playmakers at any position?

Pryor teamed up with McCown before training camp to work out. He arrived in tremendous shape and blew away the coaches with his performance in the pre-camp conditioning drills.

Pryor has a long road, but he was gifted enough to rush for 112 yards in a game against Indianapolis. And he ran for 106 yards against Pittsburgh. And 94 yards against Philadelphia.

That was in 2013, when he started nine games as a quarterback with Oakland. He was far more effective running than throwing, so that's why quarterback is not in his future.

But a guy who averaged 6.9 yards per carry and is 6-foot-4, 223 pounds should be able to help the Browns in some capacity. Just find ways to get him the ball where he has some room to run.

Bowe and the over the shoulder catches, they said the same thing about Pryor 2 days before.

The offense had a bad day, it was also Joe Thomas' day off.

Benjamin? Maybe he turns from bad to good, I remember a day when I feel Eric Metcalf went from a complete liability to a complete star and I didn't see it coming. I hated that guy for taking a knee on the 1 on a punt or kickoff return, thought they got to cut this guy, then afterwards Metcalf made only solid game changing plays it seemed.

Maybe Benjamin can end up like that. He has been consistently decent the last couple years, up to a level, like a glass ceiling, .. despite the prevailing opinions on this board that Benjamin has constantly been about to be cut.

J/C

For all the talk about how bad our receivers are, it looks to me like we are going to have to make a tough cut or two. If we were that bad the cuts would be pretty easy and obvious.

Just this posters take....Gabriel is going to blow up this year. I think the kid can be a star in this league.

Preach it Peen lol I dont think most understand how strong and how fast the little guy is. He was one of our best blockers last year in the run game and the guy runs a sub 4.3 lol He is a nightmare for corners to defend.

Even if we carry 6 someone with talent is gonna get the axe unless Pryor fills that receiving TE role which is becoming a real possibility. I understand that our AZ acquisition has not shown much of anything.

Agree.

I'm not 100% both Bowe and Heartline make this team. As much as I like his play, I think Heartline needs to make a very strong showing. If he doesn't win a starting role, I'm not sure they keep him. Bowe stands a good chance because Pryor is his only competition. As you mentioned, I think it'll be very difficult keeping Gabriel off the field.

It is interesting reading comments from this board and media how lacking in talent at the receiver corp. Granted they don't have a Calvin Johnson, A J Green, or Dez Bryant, but as far as overall height, speed, and hands this group is more than capable. I'm curious who makes the team and where they rank at years end.

Gotta love the thought process during August.

Nope, watched Hawkins and Gabriel last year thought they did very well expecting bigger this year. I also saw Seattle's receivers. Nothing fantastic made it work without a super star.

If I'm being cynical I'd argue its tough to make cuts because there isn't a whole lot of difference between practice squad players and the guys we have on our active roster.

Based on what has been written and reported, I don't see any way that we cut Bowe, Hartline, Gabriel, Benjamin, or Pryor.

Which means we'd have to keep either Hawkins, Mayle, or one other surprise player from the list.

Based on his ability to play in the slot, his experience, and the fact that Mayle hasn't seemed to play all that well, you'd assume Hawkins would be safe too.

Benji will be the one that doesnt make it. gunshy on punts and is always injured.

I think Hawk is safe. The name that has started to pop up the last couple of days as a surprise cut is Hartline. I don't see it, but I've read it like 4 or 5 times.

A week ago I would have agreed; however, reports have said that he looks great as a WR right now (I realize "reports" must be taken with a grain of salt).

And Rish ... did I read/recall correctly when I say that Hartline had a "great" day of practice yesterday and/or Monday?

Yeah, I read the same, but I guess he's been pretty non descrip the rest of camp.

I get the impression they believe he's a solid pro, but solid might not be enough to keep him over someone else.

If it comes down to him and Mayle, which it could, I see them maybe going with Mayle. I think that would be a mistake, but I could see it. I don't think they feel they can stash Mayle on the PS.

Btw, read Mayle dropped a ton of passes in practice yesterday.

I think Hartline stays. If anything, They stash Maylee on the practice squad, If anyone tries to steal him off they can offer him more $$ to stay with them, I think.

The "emergence" of Pryor has clouded the picture significantly...

I'm attending camp tomorrow so I'm anxious to seeing Mayle in person, but I've read the same (and agree w/you that keeping him over a proven WR would be a mistake).

There may be a slight chance we could sneak him onto the PS, especially given his inability to knock off the rust of an injury and because he still can't catch consistently

I wouldn't be to hard on the kid. His injury is significant. I bet he feels a sharp pain every time he catches. It will take time to overcome. Thumbs and big toes are nagging injuries that take time to heal.

I'm optimistic that our WR group will be a lot better than people expect. I think we'll be just fine with Hartline, Bowe, Hawkins and Gabriel as our top four guys. As far as Pryor goes, fluff article after fluff article on the guy right now. I need to see him play against another team outside of a controlled practice environment first. I think the last two WR spots will be between Benjamin, Mayle and Pryor. If that Wynn kid we picked up from Atlanta can win a job returning kicks/punts he'll be in the mix for one of those last WR spots too.

I hope we hit it big with Pryor, I'm just not convinced that he can be a starting quality player yet.

I think Farmer prepped us the other day as well for possibly keeping 7 WRs. Said he's not going to get caught up in a numbers game and that he's going to keep the best football players. He wasn't specific on a position group, but I think he was dropping hint that there could be some surprise numbers that are a bit unconventional for a position group or two.

I would be very upset if Hawkins was cut under any circumstance. He's one of our best players and a great locker room guy.

Given the injuries we're seeing at RB right now, I see us keeping 4 or 5 RB's instead of 7 WR's...

How did it pop into your brain that Hawkins could be cut?

I see a next to zero percent chance that happens.

D4Life several posts up pondered Hawkins as a surprise cut.

The way Joker was talking up Pryor, speaks volumes about where he is now positioned. Right now, I would say he is the 5th. The Tight hammy could change things.

That 6th will go to the best special teamer, whether its Wynn, Beji, Marlon Moore or Lenz but we may end up carrying an extra back with all these injuries and that could eliminate any possibility of a 6th. I think we would be comfortable with West/Crow and a practice squad guy if need be but if West isnt in there then it gets tricky.