Browns place C Hallen on exempt-left team list, trade for C Tucker (1 Viewer)

[MKB4®]

Browns place C Hallen on exempt-left team list, trade for C Tucker

Zac Jackson

8/8/2006

The Browns are without a center - at least temporarily - and have added another to their training camp roster.

The Browns placed Bob Hallen on the exempt-left team list Tuesday evening. Browns coach Romeo Crennel said Hallen was dealing with "medical and personal issues" and wasn't with the team.

Placing him on the exempt-left team list opened a roster spot, and the Browns filled that by trading a conditional 2007 draft pick to New England to acquire Ross Tucker, a veteran of five NFL seasons and four teams.

Tucker (6-foot-4, 310) played in one game for the Patriots last year. He started 12 of 16 games at guard and center for Buffalo in 2004 after starting 12 and playing in five in 2003.

He's started 24 games and played 42 since entering the league as an undrafted free agent out of Princeton in 2001. He played with Washington in 2001 and the start of 2002. After being waived by the Redskins, he went on to start the final seven games of 2002 at left guard for the Cowboys.

What's known is that Hallen practiced Monday morning, didn't practice Monday afternoon, and didn't report to Berea Tuesday. He spoke to Crennel and explained his situation.

"He gave me good enough reason to have some concern on my part," Crennel said.

Hallen, 31, signed with the Browns in March. He moved into the starting lineup when LeCharles Bentley suffered a season-ending knee injury July 27.

http://www.clevelandbrowns.com

 

[SDJohnny]

Browns place C Hallen on exempt-left team list, trade for C Tucker

Zac Jackson

8/8/2006

The Browns are without a center - at least temporarily - and have added another to their training camp roster.

The Browns placed Bob Hallen on the exempt-left team list Tuesday evening. Browns coach Romeo Crennel said Hallen was dealing with "medical and personal issues" and wasn't with the team.

Placing him on the exempt-left team list opened a roster spot, and the Browns filled that by trading a conditional 2007 draft pick to New England to acquire Ross Tucker, a veteran of five NFL seasons and four teams.

Tucker (6-foot-4, 310) played in one game for the Patriots last year. He started 12 of 16 games at guard and center for Buffalo in 2004 after starting 12 and playing in five in 2003.

He's started 24 games and played 42 since entering the league as an undrafted free agent out of Princeton in 2001. He played with Washington in 2001 and the start of 2002. After being waived by the Redskins, he went on to start the final seven games of 2002 at left guard for the Cowboys.

What's known is that Hallen practiced Monday morning, didn't practice Monday afternoon, and didn't report to Berea Tuesday. He spoke to Crennel and explained his situation.

"He gave me good enough reason to have some concern on my part," Crennel said.

Hallen, 31, signed with the Browns in March. He moved into the starting lineup when LeCharles Bentley suffered a season-ending knee injury July 27.

http://www.clevelandbrowns.com

Here's another linkhttp://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-b...p&type=lgns

Does anyone know if Tucker is an upgrade over Hallen?

 

[Z-Dog]

Yowzers - having to start a 3rd-string center is bad news.

 

[SteelerMurf]

Wow, impressive replacement of a bad replacement for Bentley to begin with. Charlie Frye may get killed this week with a brand new center who will barely know his teammates let alone a playbook. I mean who is gonna be the center this week in their game?

 

[Frenchy Fuqua]

This will be the worst offense is the NFL.

 

[wannabee]

Browns | Hallen could decide to retire

Published Tue Aug 8 11:32:00 p.m. ET 2006

(KFFL) Patrick McManamon, of the Akron Beacon Journal, reports Cleveland Browns OC Bob Hallen could decide retirement is the best option for him. As noted earlier, head coach Romeo Crennel said Hallen has personal and physical issues. The physical issues are Hallen's back, which will be examined in San Diego by the same doctor who treated him last season when his back acted up. The personal issues apparently deal with the back pain, and whether he wants to keep playing. The issues apparently are wrapped together, and Hallen has much to sort out, including retirement. "I think he wants to be a starter," Crennel said of Hallen. "That's what I thought. That he accepted the challenge and tried to do the best he could." Crennel said he would be open-minded if Hallen wanted to return, but it did not sound like that was certain. "If he's better than what you have on the team, you have to consider that," he said.

 

[MLBrandow]

This will be the worst offense is the NFL.

49ers die in a horrible plane crash?

 

[Frenchy Fuqua]

This will be the worst offense is the NFL.

49ers die in a horrible plane crash?

The Browns scored the fewest points in the NFL last year and gave the Niners their top QB and WR.

 

[MLBrandow]

This will be the worst offense is the NFL.

49ers die in a horrible plane crash?

The Browns scored the fewest points in the NFL last year and gave the Niners their top QB and WR.

damn I just got You really think they are that bad this year? Frye in his 2nd year, Edwards/KW2 back? +Jurevicius?

 

[thecardiackid]

Yowzers - having to start a 3rd-string center is bad news.

We just can't buy a break... maybe someone decent will become available as teams cut down in the coming weeks. Tough to be a Browns fan these days.

 

[MLBrandow]

Yowzers - having to start a 3rd-string center is bad news.

We just can't buy a break... maybe someone decent will become available as teams cut down in the coming weeks. Tough to be a Browns fan these days.

Bentley up?

 

[schaef2k]

Has anyone seen Tucker play? I've never heard of the guy so I'm just trying to something more than what nfl.com tells me (pretty much nothing).

 

[GroveDiesel]

My GB is a Browns fan and said that the talk in the area is Lee Suggs or William Green to the Eagles for Hank Fraley. It would actually make sense. Fraley probably is going to end up being the backup in Philly and they could obviously use a RB right now. Although I can't imagine them being interested in Suggs, even if he would fit right in with the rest of their injured RBs.

 

[lebowski]

So much for Droughns this year.

 

[Bri]

I never cared much for Tucker. I don't believe Romeo and Phil are done though.

They'll find another somewhere. IIRC The Bengals have a few quality Centers. Once they come to the realization that the Browns aren't a threat to them winning the Supe this year, they can ask way too much for one and enjoy taking that from a division rival

 

[Bri]

Maybe some Iggle fans remember better(JP? JW?) but I think Hallen was a former G. I can't remember where the article is but when bentley went down they were targetting Guards because the available Cs weren't mobile enough for them. Anyhow, might want to think about what Gs are out there and if they've ever snapped the ball.

 

[BGP]

Whoever is the center is essentially replacing Faine, not Bentley. Faine was really not getting the job done last year. Replacing him with a marginal talent isn't really a dropoff.

However, the offense will add:

+ A legit left tackle. They had garbage at that spot a year ago.

+ K2

+ Edwards and Frye entering their second year.

So yah, if you can strike a bet with someone who thinks this offense will be ranked 32nd in scoring this year, I say do it.

The real downside is something no-one is talking about, but anyone who really follows the club probably should know. OC Maurice Carthon didn't impress last year. The club was too predictable on offense, and that may have been a big contributor to their woes as much as anything. He needs to step it up.

 

[BGP]

If you google maurice carthon and read the blogger on him, you'll find that it discusses how several players were upset with him, and keeping him as OC was possibly up in the air heading into 06.

 

[amnesiac]

can we spend some first day picks on OL next year please?

tia.

 

[MLBrandow]

Whoever is the center is essentially replacing Faine, not Bentley. Faine was really not getting the job done last year. Replacing him with a marginal talent isn't really a dropoff.However, the offense will add:+ A legit left tackle. They had garbage at that spot a year ago.+ K2+ Edwards and Frye entering their second year.So yah, if you can strike a bet with someone who thinks this offense will be ranked 32nd in scoring this year, I say do it.The real downside is something no-one is talking about, but anyone who really follows the club probably should know. OC Maurice Carthon didn't impress last year. The club was too predictable on offense, and that may have been a big contributor to their woes as much as anything. He needs to step it up.

How do you feel this offense will fair?To me, since Edwards missed 6 games last year, and won't be in there until game 6-7 this year, it's about even. I also consider that he's not going to be full-steam until probably 3-4 weeks after that, so that's probably a drop-off.Good point on the bettered OL.I think 2nd year Frye = Dilfer of last year.I also think losing Bryant and replacing him with Jurevicius is about even.The real difference-maker to me is KW2.Can he open up this offense? Who knows.Would like to hear some good analysis though. Never know when one might need to throw a WW pick on Frye or Northcutt or something...

 

[amnesiac]

I also think losing Bryant and replacing him with Jurevicius is about even.

i think Bryant is under-rated. i like JJ, but he's not going to fill that #1 role.Edwards may actually start the first game of the season.

The real difference-maker to me is KW2.Can he open up this offense? Who knows.

i agree. if he's good, he could really change how this offense looks.obviously, the line isn't going to be as good as it could have been, and god forbid if we have any more injuries during the year, it's going to get much worse as it's become painfully clear that we have zero depth there.on the plus side, Frye is mobile enough to buy himself a bit of time to throw, and maybe young and stupid enough to be able to play through a few bumps and bruises. i think they will be mediocre this year, which is about they seem to want, with most of their focus on building a tough defense. i don't see a complete collapse, or see much of a ceiling for them.perhaps we'll see them get better towards the middle to the end of the year, as Winslow gets up to speed.

 

[chris1969]

First off the Browns have released their first depth chart.

www.dawgbones.com/2006depth.php

2 things to keep in mind, Players that are a little banged up like Tucker at T Cutch at CB aren't listed

Romeo always puts Rookies at the bottom of the depth chart and makes them work their way up

All of you guys that insisted that Jurevicious was brought in to replace Bryant please take note that he is listed in the #2 spot which is exactly where he should be and he will excel there.

Edwards is the number one reciever on this team and I'm betting that if he isn't back in week 1 he'll be back in week 2.

For anyone that has actually seen KWII in camp this is no suprise, but for the rest of you he is not just back, he looks superhuman!

Now from what I've seen, The Defense is not only much improved, it has the potential to be dominating THIS year.

We didn't lose our best QB last year, we lost a guy that panciked too much and was pretty innaccurate in his throws.

We didn't lose our best receiver, we lost a guy who couldn't be moved to the number 2 spot because he dropped too many balls.

And now to the offensive line.... provided that we don't have any more big injuries I'm still not sure that we are any worse off than we were last year. We'll see who we get at center. My guess is we trade away a RB for one. But even if we don't get one in a trade, replacing Faine is not an impossible task.

So to sum up, Defense will be much better, skill positions will be much better and offensive line at worst, shouldn't be much worse. Just my opinion, but I think it's a little too early to panic.

 

[lebowski]

First off the Browns have released their first depth chart. www.dawgbones.com/2006depth.php2 things to keep in mind, Players that are a little banged up like Tucker at T Cutch at CB aren't listedRomeo always puts Rookies at the bottom of the depth chart and makes them work their way upAll of you guys that insisted that Jurevicious was brought in to replace Bryant please take note that he is listed in the #2 spot which is exactly where he should be and he will excel there.Edwards is the number one reciever on this team and I'm betting that if he isn't back in week 1 he'll be back in week 2.For anyone that has actually seen KWII in camp this is no suprise, but for the rest of you he is not just back, he looks superhuman!Now from what I've seen, The Defense is not only much improved, it has the potential to be dominating THIS year.We didn't lose our best QB last year, we lost a guy that panciked too much and was pretty innaccurate in his throws.We didn't lose our best receiver, we lost a guy who couldn't be moved to the number 2 spot because he dropped too many balls.And now to the offensive line.... provided that we don't have any more big injuries I'm still not sure that we are any worse off than we were last year. We'll see who we get at center. My guess is we trade away a RB for one. But even if we don't get one in a trade, replacing Faine is not an impossible task.So to sum up, Defense will be much better, skill positions will be much better and offensive line at worst, shouldn't be much worse. Just my opinion, but I think it's a little too early to panic.

Chris,What do you see droughns doing this year with all these changes?

 

[Frenchy Fuqua]

We didn't lose our best receiver, we lost a guy who couldn't be moved to the number 2 spot because he dropped too many balls.

Hmmm....

Bryant headlines `playmakers'

HELP ON OFFENSE EXCITES NOLAN

By Daniel Brown

Mercury News

Link

If all goes well for wide receiver Antonio Bryant in his 49ers debut Friday at Monster Park, he should be yelling a lot.

That's the scouting report from Trent Dilfer, the backup quarterback, who spent last season with Bryant and the Cleveland Browns. Dilfer said Bryant had free reign to bark at Dilfer whenever he was open -- which was apparently all the time.

``There were games when the other team couldn't cover him at all. He would beat his man every time,'' Dilfer said Tuesday. ``Unfortunately, we didn't have a system that could isolate him and make use of his talents.''

Bryant still managed 69 catches.

``It should have been 90,'' Dilfer said. ``I would make up plays just to try to accentuate his ability.''

and

SF Chronicle

When Scot (McCloughan) called me, I said, 'You are crazy if you don't sign him. I will stake my entire reputation on this guy,' " Dilfer said.

Dilfer, who was traded to the 49ers six weeks after Bryant signed, has established a flawless reputation in his 12 NFL seasons.

He said playing with Bryant last season was a pleasure.

"We were literally unstoppable in practice," Dilfer said. "Our first five weeks of the season, defenses didn't know how to stop him. Unfortunately as an offense, we didn't know how to capitalize on that."

Dilfer had one simple suggestion for keeping Bryant content: "Just give him the ball."

 

[chris1969]

We didn't lose our best receiver, we lost a guy who couldn't be moved to the number 2 spot because he dropped too many balls.

Hmmm....

Bryant headlines `playmakers'

HELP ON OFFENSE EXCITES NOLAN

By Daniel Brown

Mercury News

Link

If all goes well for wide receiver Antonio Bryant in his 49ers debut Friday at Monster Park, he should be yelling a lot.

That's the scouting report from Trent Dilfer, the backup quarterback, who spent last season with Bryant and the Cleveland Browns. Dilfer said Bryant had free reign to bark at Dilfer whenever he was open -- which was apparently all the time.

``There were games when the other team couldn't cover him at all. He would beat his man every time,'' Dilfer said Tuesday. ``Unfortunately, we didn't have a system that could isolate him and make use of his talents.''

Bryant still managed 69 catches.

``It should have been 90,'' Dilfer said. ``I would make up plays just to try to accentuate his ability.''

and

SF Chronicle

When Scot (McCloughan) called me, I said, 'You are crazy if you don't sign him. I will stake my entire reputation on this guy,' " Dilfer said.

Dilfer, who was traded to the 49ers six weeks after Bryant signed, has established a flawless reputation in his 12 NFL seasons.

He said playing with Bryant last season was a pleasure.

"We were literally unstoppable in practice," Dilfer said. "Our first five weeks of the season, defenses didn't know how to stop him. Unfortunately as an offense, we didn't know how to capitalize on that."

Dilfer had one simple suggestion for keeping Bryant content: "Just give him the ball."

What does this post have to do with Bryant hanging on to the football and Dilfer not throwing the ball backwards over his head as he's running away? And what's Dilfer gonna say about his teamate? That he sucks?I'm not saying that Bryant wasn't a good reciever, I'm just sayings Edwards was clearly #1 and Bryant couldn't play the #2 spot because he gets nervous when he hears footsteps.

 

[Frenchy Fuqua]

This is getting good.

Hallen leaves Savage fuming

Browns say center never said he was hurt

Saturday, August 12, 2006

Mary Kay Cabot

Plain Dealer Reporter

Browns General Manager Phil Savage admitted Friday that he's upset with center Bob Hallen for leaving the team so abruptly and said Hallen never showed signs of being injured - even on the day he left.

"I have to admit, I'm upset that he walked out on us two days before the first [preseason] game without any warning, especially in light of us losing LeCharles Bentley," said Savage. "It was totally unexpected. It really put us in a vise."

Hallen, a Mentor native and Kent State alum, notified the Browns of his retirement Friday in a letter, citing a medical situation and the best interests of his family. Signed as a free agent in March, he's agreed to pay back his $200,000 signing bonus.

Savage said Hallen, 31, never underwent a medical exam by Browns doctors after Monday morning's practice, as was reported by the team. "We basically said he's being looked at [for back spasms], but he left the building and our people never saw him again."

Savage said the Browns were trying to help Hallen save face - and leave the door open for his return - by saying he had the exam and previous back issues.

"He passed every medical check we had and never spent any time in our medical room," said Savage. "He never even had an ice pack on his back."

Another source questioned whether Hallen went to Los Angeles for a second opinion, which his agent, Cliff Brady, said he did. Brady, who could not be reached Friday, told The Plain Dealer that Hallen had two damaged disks and stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal column.

After skipping the Monday night practice, Hallen called coach Romeo Crennel on Tuesday and told him his back hurt. Crennel asked Hallen to call trainer Marty Lauzon, which he did. But Hallen never called back to set up an exam.

Later that night, Hallen met in Cleveland with assistant head coach / offensive line coach Jeff Davidson. By Wednesday morning, he called Davidson and Crennel and told them he was retiring.

"When would he have had time to go out west for a second opinion?" said the source.

The source said the Browns think Hallen didn't feel up to the pressure of replacing two-time Pro Bowler Bentley - and in front of his hometown crowd. There are also indications he was pondering retirement as early as May.

Hallen's biography shows no games missed because of back trouble. In November 2001, he had a cortisone shot in his back, but played. One Internet site said Hallen also left Kent for a while after being named the starter there. Hallen did leave Kent, but it was for his entire freshman season. He returned, using the first year as a redshirt season, and played four years.

Savage said he made calls to 12 teams with a surplus at center. A source said the Browns would be willing to part with running backs William Green or Lee Suggs. "But teams know we're in dire straits," Savage said. "They're also one injury away from where we are."

One of their top choices is the Eagles' Hank Fraley, who started half of last season before having rotator cuff surgery. He's now slightly behind Jamaal Jackson in the battle for the starting job.

The Eagles - who need a running back - haven't returned the Browns' calls. They might be reluctant because the Browns stole Bentley away from them in free agency. The Eagles also wanted to trade for Jeff Faine, who was dealt to New Orleans in a draft-day move that let the Browns move up to draft linebacker D'Qwell Jackson of Maryland in the second round.

Savage said he would not have traded Faine if he hadn't signed Hallen, his insurance policy. "But I don't regret it and given the same information, I'd do it again," he said.

The Browns also thought they had a deal this week with Miami for backup center Seth McKinney, but he suffered a back injury Tuesday and underwent season-ending surgery on Thursday.

"At this point, a trade will be tough," said Savage. "If something happens, it will be in the next two to three weeks."

The Browns' best hope right now is Ross Tucker, whom they acquired in a trade this week with New England for a conditional 2007 pick. Savage said Tucker, who's started 24 NFL games, is on a fast track to get ready for the opener. He'll either start Friday against Detroit, or see significant action.

Alonzo Ephraim, signed as a free agent July 29, is not expected to be the answer.

Savage said Hallen's announcement even stunned the normally unflappable Crennel. "It's the first time in 1½ years that he had a certain look on his face," said Savage. "We've gone from having the best center situation in the NFL to one of the worst."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

mcabot@plaind.com, 216-999-4670

 

[redman]

This may be the wrong thread for this related rumor, but what's the latest on the supposed trade of the Eagles C Hank Fraley for William Green?

Fraley is starting caliber and would immediately turn a weakness into a strength for Cleveland.

 

[pmcdade]

Fraley and Crennell were caught on camera laughing, hugging, and talking after the pre-season game!

I don't know how they would be so friendly if trade talks weren't going on!

 

[chris1969]

A definate possibility Crennel and Fraley are friends and Fraley is not really happy about being a back-up. Philly could use another RB. It's just a matter of getting a deal done that Philly would like. I'm assuming we would have to throw in a pick to get Fraley