Browns weigh who'll run ball
Droughns is due bonus; Peterson looms in draft
Akron Beacon Journal (Ohio)
March 1, 2007
Free agency starts at midnight tonight, but one of the Browns' more interesting offseason decisions takes place in 15 days.
That's when a roster bonus due to running back Reuben Droughns is either paid or isn't.
If Droughns is paid the bonus, he stays with the Browns.
If Droughns is not paid the bonus, he becomes a free agent.
The rub with the money: It's $1.75 million, not a small amount. (The Browns would not confirm the figure).
That's a sum high enough that it will at least prompt discussion in Berea.
If Droughns is let go, it would probably signal the Browns' strong interest in drafting running back Adrian Peterson with their No. 3 pick. The Browns very well could decide that paying Peterson is better than paying Droughns.
Then again, not paying the bonus brings many questions.
Such as what is plan B if Peterson goes with the draft's first or second pick?
The running backs on the roster other than Droughns are Jason Wright and Jerome Harrison. Neither has proven himself a full-time NFL back.
The Browns do not want to discuss the bonus issue, and Droughns could not be reached for comment.
General Manager Phil Savage and coach Romeo Crennel have assessed Droughns' season in the past weeks. Crennel said the team was concerned that Droughns did ``regress'' in 2006, when he gained 758 yards and his per-carry average was 3.4 yards (compared with 4.5 and 4.0 in the previous two seasons).
``But I think that he has shown us that he does have the ability, that he can be a productive runner for us,'' Crennel said. ``I expect him to get back to that form that he had. That 1,200-yard form.
``That's what I'm looking for, and that's what I'm going to hope for.''
Savage said he thinks Droughns can bounce back.
``If we went into next year as it stands right now, if Reuben is one of our ball carriers, I think we'll be better in some other areas'' of the team, Savage said. ``So I'm not going to just throw my arms up, throw my hands up, and say he can't play. I won't do that with any of our players.
``We're not going to fix every single thing (this offseason), so there are areas where we have to get the most out of what we do have.''
Droughns signed a new four-year, $13.1 million contract a year ago. The contract followed consecutive 1,200-yard seasons (one with the Denver Broncos and one with the Browns).
The deal included a $2.5 million signing bonus, roster bonuses of $1.25 million in 2006 and $1.75 million this year, and salaries of $1.2 million, $1.25 million, $1.75 million and $2.75 million.
Droughns' first roster bonus gave him $3.7 million in guaranteed money last year. The Browns were not going to pass on paying the roster bonus after having paid the signing bonus.
The contract was written so that the bonus this year would either reward Droughns for a good 2006 or allow the Browns to decide whether the remainder of his contract is too hefty for their liking.
The keep-Droughns argument states that he was hampered early in the season by a shoulder injury that affected his running style. Droughns took a serious shot from Cincinnati Bengals defensive end David Pollack in the second game and ran with pain for some time afterward.
Late in the season, a sprained foot hampered Droughns, and when he returned after missing the 24-20 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, he shared time with Wright.
Too, the Browns' offensive line struggled mightily in 2006, and it's hard to envision any back gaining a lot of yards.
The Browns obviously envisioned Droughns as their lead back when they gave him the contract a year ago. Is it fair to him to abandon that plan after the entire team -- not just Droughns -- had a miserable season?
The argument to let Droughns go is that his production did drop, and, at times, he did not seem to run as well or as hard. Droughns never will be a speed back, so many of his yards come from hard work. If he's off his game a bit, it can affect his total.
The other argument is that Peterson really is the next great back in the league. He wowed scouts by running a 4.38-second 40-yard dash last week at the NFL Scouting Combine.
If the Browns think Peterson is their man -- and Savage clearly likes University of Oklahoma players -- the $1.75 million that's due to Droughns could be better spent upgrading the line in front of Peterson.
That being said... if Droughns is let go and another team swings a trade with the Oakland Raiders or the Detroit Lions for one of the two top picks and takes Peterson, the Browns would be left without a top back -- unless Wright or Harrison grew into the role.
One thing that won't affect the team's thinking is the salary cap. Savage said the Browns will start free agency about $30 million under the $109 million salary cap.
The decision on Droughns will come down to football and value. As in: Is Droughns a good enough player to receive the money he is due?
I guess I don't know for sure where everyone will play. I thought I'd read that Steinbach would play LT, but I must be remembering wrong.But like you said, they've spent big $ on the line already. And Savage normally doesn't take linemen very high.
(Also, I don't believe that they are doing it to please the fans)
