BROWNS THREAD 2009 4 GAME WIN STREAK! (1 Viewer)

[amnesiac]

would Heckert have input as to who the coach is going to be?

at least they're expanding the search a little bit.

 

[Frenchy Fuqua]

So the Browns are rumored to be interested in pairing a head coach with New England ties and a GM from Baltimore. Where have we seen this before?

 

[Reaper]

For me this offseason, it was Cowher, Schottenheimer, or bust. Its looking more and more like its bust yet again for the brownies. Now, how big of a bust are we going to get? I absolutely love Mangini(sp?). I may be so excited because Bellicheck and Mangini hate each other, and I can't stand Bellicheck, but I think of the busts, Mangini would be my favorite of the bust candidates. He will create discipline, which this team needs, and is a Browns fan.

What's to love? I think Mangini did a good job helping to draft decent players who were known to be good role models... I'm not sure he's a disciplinarian though.He's the most relaxed person ever. Not sure he's had to deal with a true malcontent just yet.If I'm a Brown's fan I'd hope for something more.... I'd rather take Spags and the Ravens guy for GM.

 

[Die]

I heard Mangini bought a house in Strongsville

 

[Bracie Smathers]

Not tons of information but some info on Mangini that Dorsheck (sp?) got in a sit-down a few years back when he was with the Pats as the DB coach under Crennell:

http://blogs.cantonrep.com/2009/01/browns/...o-know-mangini/

... Getting to know Mangini

Jan 7th, 2009 @ 7:40 pm by Steve Doerschuk

I sat down with Eric Mangini for a while at Romeo Crennel’s last Super Bowl, when RAC was on the verge of landing the Cleveland job...

Go to link for the rest.Sounds like he's a taskmaster.

 

[chris1969]

Not tons of information but some info on Mangini that Dorsheck (sp?) got in a sit-down a few years back when he was with the Pats as the DB coach under Crennell:

http://blogs.cantonrep.com/2009/01/browns/...o-know-mangini/

... Getting to know Mangini

Jan 7th, 2009 @ 7:40 pm by Steve Doerschuk

I sat down with Eric Mangini for a while at Romeo Crennel’s last Super Bowl, when RAC was on the verge of landing the Cleveland job...

Go to link for the rest.Sounds like he's a taskmaster.

I did not pick that up from the article, but I definitely heard that from other sources.

 

[amnesiac]

Analysis: There's little time to wait as Mangini ponders off-season moves for Browns

by Tony Grossi/Plain Dealer Reporter

Tuesday January 13, 2009, 6:50 PM

John ####z/The Plain Dealer

Filling out a coaching staff is only the tip of the iceberg of tasks facing new Browns head coach Eric Mangini.

More Browns

Tony Grossi ranks the players

Pioli headed to Chiefs.

CLEVELAND -- One of the reasons Browns owner Randy Lerner acted swiftly on naming Eric Mangini head coach was to give Mangini a jump start on the tasks at hand. And there are many.

The NFL calendar is not put on hold while the league conducts its postseason tournament.

This is another example of how the league is rigged to help losing teams catch up to winning teams. While the organizations still involved in the playoffs are immersed in their next games, the also-rans are ramping up efforts to improve themselves.

A just-hired coach like Mangini also has to round up a coaching staff or else be stuck with leftovers.

So that's Mangini's first order on a crowded list of "things to do" over the next three months.

Complete his coaching staff: The main cogs appear to be in place -- offensive coordinator Brian Daboll (formerly Jets quarterbacks coach), defensive coordinator Rob Ryan (Raiders) and special teams coordinator Brad Seely (Patriots).

Daboll and Ryan probably would bring in suggestions for Mangini to fill out some of the position coaches.

As for retaining some coaches from the Romeo Crennel staff, Mangini didn't sound too positive about it at his introductory press conference. Some already have been notified they won't be retained.

Hire a general manager: In his interview with Lerner, Mangini strongly recommended George Kokinis, Baltimore pro personnel director, for the job. Lerner interviewed Kokinis on Sunday and a mutual positive feeling emerged.

A source confirmed that Kokinis will receive a second interview after some time next week after Baltimore plays Pittsburgh in the AFC Championship Game. That interview could be tantamount to a contract being negotiated.

If Kokinis accepts, it's possible the Ravens would give him permission to leave the team before the Super Bowl. Kokinis' scouting work for Baltimore on the two NFC finalists -- Philadelphia and Arizona -- essentially would be completed by then. It's also possible that Kokinis may opt to enjoy the Super Bowl experience with the Ravens, should they advance past Pittsburgh.

If Kokinis does not accept the job, Lerner has dropped the names of a few potential alternative candidates. But none has been formally interviewed.

Mangini also must make a decision on whether to keep Browns director of player personnel T.J. McCreight, who has interviewed for the GM job and is supervising the scouting staff during this transition period.

McCreight also could be a candidate for a personnel position with another team.

John ####z/The Plain Dealer

With Shaun Rogers (92) the lone real standout on the Browns defense in the 2008 season, Mangini and his staff will need to determine what positions are in the greatest need of personnel change during the off-season.Evaluate the roster: This is a high priority that can't wait for Mangini to complete his entire staff. This must be done in order for Mangini and the Browns to proceed on their off-season scouting projects.

Mangini is somewhat familiar with the Browns' personnel because the Jets and Browns played three times (once in preseason) over the past three years. But he needs to get a better handle on what he's inheriting and he already has begun poring over video in his first full week on the job.

Ideally, the GM would participate in a full staff evaluation of the Browns' roster. In Kokinis' case, his job with Baltimore requires him to know every team's personnel, particularly within the division, so he conceivably knows more about the Browns than Mangini.

Devise an off-season strategy: Once Mangini (and the GM) knows the Browns' roster, they can prioritize the positions of greatest need. Then they can plan how to attempt to fill them in free agency, trade and the draft.

Under former GM Phil Savage, the Browns were aggressive in each of their four off-seasons. Savage made more trades than any other GM in that time and the Browns were not shy in spending big on free agents.

The Jets were aggressive in free agency only last season with Mangini, when the owner tried to buy the team into the playoffs.

John ####z/The Plain Dealer

Is Brady Quinn the QB for 2009? Mangini may not face as urgent a decision between Quinn and Derek Anderson as some may have believed.

KEY DATES

Jan. 11-17: East-West Shrine Game in Houston.

Jan. 18-24: Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala.

Feb. 18-24: NFL combine in Indianapolis.

Feb. 19: Deadline for clubs to designate franchise and transition players.

Feb. 26: Deadline for submission of qualifying offers to restricted free agents (RFAs) whose contracts have expired and to whom clubs desire to retain right of first refusal/compensation. Also, it's the deadline to submit offers of minimum salary to retain exclusive rights to players with fewer than three years and whose contracts expired.

Feb. 27: Veteran free agency begins and trading period begins.

March 22-25: NFL annual meetings, Dana Point, Calif.

April 17: Signing period ends for RFAs.

April 24: Deadline for old club to exercise right of first refusal to RFAs.

April 25-26: NFL draft.

-- Tony GrossiRecoup extra draft picks: Savage's trades left the Browns without choices in the third round (for Martin Rucker), fifth (for Paul Hubbard) and seventh (for Travis Daniels).

If Mangini follows the example led by mentor Bill Belichick, he will seek to fortify his draft -- not only this season but in succeeding years.

In three years under Mangini, the Jets made trades acquiring 11 draft picks and losing 15 for a net loss of four. They gained one as compensation for losing a free agent and another for releasing former coach Herm Edwards to Kansas City.

Commit to a quarterback: This has been the franchise's greatest failing in the expansion era. Savage contributed by acquiring four starting quarterbacks in four seasons.

Crennel said Brady Quinn would be his quarterback in 2009, but the former coach won't have a voice in it. In his only comments about the position, Mangini indicated he is in no rush to decide on Quinn or Derek Anderson.

Mangini said of choosing his starting quarterback, "You have to be able to assess what they can do physically, you have to get to know what their huddle presence is like, how they are mentally, the decision-making process. And that's not something that you just do right away, not something that necessarily happens quickly. You go through a process and you make a decision when you feel it's right. You just know."

It has been commonly believed that the Browns have to make a decision on Anderson in March, when he is a due a $5 million roster bonus. But the terms of Anderson's 2008 contract extension make that payment guaranteed in the event Anderson were released prior to that date.

In other words, the Browns have to pay Anderson the $5 million if they release him or keep him. The only "out" is if they trade him before the due date. The new team would inherit that contract guarantee.

A possible compromise for a trade could be the Browns agreeing to share a portion of the roster bonus.

Whatever option they choose on Anderson, it's more probable now that it won't happen until April at the earliest.

 

[amnesiac]

How they rank: Tony Grossi rates the 2008 Browns from 1 to 49

by Tony Grossi/Plain Dealer Reporter

Tuesday January 13, 2009, 11:41 PM

Chuck Crow/The Plain Dealer

Josh Cribbs' contributions once again make him one of the Browns' most vital players. But is it time for the team to consider him in a new role?These rankings are unscientific and reflect my opinion of the players who had the best season in 2008. They are not based on potential, athletic ability or draft status, but on actual production versus opportunity and role, with some consideration given to past performance and to intangibles. (Note: Players who were active for two or fewer games are not ranked.)

1. NT Shaun Rogers: Better than advertised. Shame his outstanding effort didn't have a domino effect.

2. KR-WR Josh Cribbs: He might have more impact as a third-down back or safety.

3. PK Phil Dawson: Had overall finest kicking year in Browns history.

4. LS Ryan Pontbriand: One of the top five snappers in the NFL.

5. LT Joe Thomas: Tougher opponents resulted in more sacks allowed.

6. RB Jamal Lewis: A bad year for him is 1,002 yards, 3.6 average and 4 TDs.

7. ILB D'Qwell Jackson: 191 tackles, 3 interceptions, 2 sacks and 5 pass breakups.

8. LG Eric Steinbach: A heady, reliable blocker when healthy; missed two games with injuries.

Chuck Crow/The Plain Dealer

Jerome Harrison's long sprint in Buffalo was the last offensive TD of the season for the Browns, and once again hinted at Harrison's potential.9. RB Jerome Harrison: Averaged 8 yards every time he touched the ball.

10. P Dave Zastudil: Top 10 in NFL in gross and net average.

11. CB Brandon McDonald: Stayed even keel during roller-coaster season.

12. OLB Kamerion Wimbley: An enigma who doesn't seem to have the best football instincts.

13. OLB Willie McGinest: Tried his hardest to save Romeo Crennel's job.

14. S Sean Jones: Lots of missed tackles after early knee injury.

15. WR Braylon Edwards: Needs a check-up from the neck up.

16. S Brodney Pool: Not a consistent tackler. Might be best in a specific role.

17. LB Andra Davis: A solid professional who gave everything he had.

18. TE Kellen Winslow: Not to be confused with Kellen Winslow Sr.

19. TE Steve Heiden: One of the most selfless players on the team.

20. (tie) QB Derek Anderson: Will always be hot and cold and struggle with accuracy.

QB Brady Quinn: Should've received playing time as early as third game.

22. C Hank Fraley: A heady player often physically overmatched.

John ####z/The Plain Dealer

Eric Wright has made big plays during his two seasons with the Browns, but inconsistent tackling remains a big question mark on his performance.23. CB Eric Wright: Call him "the stripper." Emulates Deion Sanders as a tackler.

24. LB Alex Hall: Flashed some rush potential. Should grow stronger in the off-season program.

25. FB Lawrence Vickers: Can be awesome as a lead blocker.

26. DE Corey Williams: Never took to the 3-4 and played with one wounded shoulder.

27. S Mike Adams: Scrappy nickel back and special teamer.

28. RB Jason Wright: Useful in a variety of roles.

29. OG Rex Hadnot: Not the road grader as advertised.

30. S Nick Sorensen: Solid special teamer who got too much time at safety.

31. OT Kevin Shaffer: Guess you can say he answers the bell all the time.

32. TE Darnell Dinkins: Always a place on a team for him.

33. OG Seth McKinney: Versatile backup interior offensive lineman.

34. CB Terry Cousin: Great interview, but his tires are bald.

35. DE Louis Leonard: Doesn't embarrass himself in a backup role.

36. LB Leon Williams: Doesn't seem to have the passion or instincts for the game.

37. FB Charles Ali: Old-fashioned run blocker who shouldn't be asked to do too much.

38. OG Isaac Sowells: Deserves more of look at right tackle.

39. WR Syndric Steptoe: Five starts, 16 games: 19 catches.

40: DE Santonio Thomas: Bring him to camp and let's see more.

41. LB Kris Griffin: Injuries cost this special teamer six games and a look on defense.

42. NT Ahtyba Rubin: Needs to get stronger at the point of attack.

43. DE Shaun Smith: May have a future as a crossover MMA star.

44. TE Martin Rucker: Deserved more playing time the last six games.

45. QB Ken Dorsey: Should follow Rob Chudzinski as a QB coach.

46. WR Donte Stallworth: Biggest impact was in stepping on Braylon's foot in camp.

47. LB Shantee Orr: Doesn't look particularly fast, instinctive or strong.

48. CB Gerard Lawson: Active as a gunner on special teams.

49. CB Travis Daniels: Can always claim he started one game (and played one play) for the Browns.

Players who finished the season on injured reserve:

LB Beau Bell: One forced fumble on a kickoff was his lone highlight.

LB Antwan Peek: Seems a long time ago he was considered a key player.

DE Robaire Smith: The most valuable player lost to injury.

OL Ryan Tucker: Offense clicked on all cylinders in his only game.

 

[amnesiac]

sounds like they are keeping the 3-4.

they need LBs desperately. especially if McGinest retires/ moves on.

 

[dancingbones]

Would love to see Gruden come to town.

 

[Bobcat10]

Would love to see Gruden come to town.

Seems to fit the mold Lerner was looking for. Could have brought in McKay with him possibly.So with Shanny and Chucky on the market and some vet GMs, we have Manginikinis.I'm not jumping to conclusions on Mangini or saying Lerner working so quickly was stupid, but this is just typical Browns stuff.As much as I despise Pitt, I was really glad to see the Ravens get bounced yesterday. We're all used the the #### Pitt fans throw around, no need to expand that to Baltimore. Now if 'Zona takes care of business I'll be doing cartwheels.

 

[wadegarrett]

RIP Dante.

Browns legend Dante Lavelli, 85, passes away

by Bob Dolgan/Special to the Cleveland Plain Dealer

January 20, 2009

Dante Lavelli, who died Tuesday at age 85, was one of the greatest receivers the Browns ever had.

A member of the original Browns in 1946, Lavelli was a vital figure on the Cleveland club that formed a dynasty in the first 10 years of its existence, winning three NFL championships in the 1950s and four All-American Football Conference crowns in the 1940s.

Lavelli, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1975, teamed up with quarterback Otto Graham, receiver Mac Speedie, fullback Marion Motley and kicker Lou Groza in an attack that revolutionized football offenses.

Lavelli died at Fairview Hospital after a long illness. He had been hospitalized recently with congestive heart failure and had been treated for a bladder and kidney infection.

Lavelli is survived by his wife Joy, a son, two daughters and four grandchildren.

Lavelli's death leaves only three survivors of the original 1946 Browns. They are Gene Fekete, who started the first-ever Browns game at fullback, center Mike (Mo) Scarry and linebacker Lou Saban.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

Lavelli was the Browns' starting right end for 11 years, from 1946 until his retirement following the 1956 season. He caught 386 passes for 6,488 yards in the AAFC and the NFL, ranking second in club history in both departments to Ozzie Newsome. Lavelli's 62 touchdown catches place him second to Gary Collins.

Paul Brown, his longtime coach, often praised his competitiveness and catching ability.

"Lavelli has the strongest hands I've ever seen," the late Brown said in a 1949 Sport Magazine interview. "When he goes up for a pass with a defender, you can be sure he will have the ball when they come down. Nobody can take the ball away from him once he gets his hands on it."

In his autobiography, Brown said Lavelli's hands had an almost liquid softness.

Bob Neal, the Browns' radio voice in the 1940s, nicknamed Lavelli "Gluefingers" after watching him make a series of outstanding catches.

Graham's favorite

Graham said he would pick Lavelli over any receiver if he needed a first down.

"Dante would scratch, claw and kick to get the ball," said Graham. He was always coming into the huddle and telling me he was open and that I should throw to him. He wasn't saying that to be a big shot. He just loved to play. If he was open by a few inches, he'd be yelling, 'Otto, Otto.' Many a time when I was stuck and heard that voice I would throw it in his direction and darned if he didn't come down with it. He had fantastic hands."

Lavelli, who was born in Hudson on Feb. 23, 1923, was involved in all of the memorable games that made the early Browns such a legendary outfit.

He said his biggest thrill came when he caught the winning touchdown pass when the Browns defeated the New York Yankees, 14-9, to win the AAFC title in 1946.

Lavelli was knocked out by an opponent when the Browns defeated the Yankees, 34-21, on Nov. 21, 1948, on the way to becoming the only team in football history to win three games in a week.

"Jack Russell hit me with his fist," Lavelli recalled. "That was before face masks. They always tried to KO me and Speedie. My eye hurt so much when we got on the plane I was lying on the floor during the flight to Los Angeles. "When we got to the Hotel Green, I sat by the pool and the sun took away the swelling. But I had the discoloration for five months."

Dante rebounds

Lavelli caught a TD pass as the Browns beat the tough Los Angeles Dons, 31-14, on Thanksgiving Day, four days after winning in New York. Then they played the tough San Francisco 49ers the following Sunday, with only a two-day rest after the Dons game.

"We didn't practice at all," recalled Lavelli. "We just sat around and healed our bumps and bruises and walked through some plays. We didn't really need much practice. All but a couple of the 33 guys on the team were with us the previous year."

On the first play, Graham hurled a 41-yard TD pass to Lavelli as the Browns won, 31-28.

He had broken his leg in an exhibition game that same season. In his first game back, he caught two touchdown passes.

He enjoyed reminiscing about the Browns' first game in the NFL, when they played the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles in 1950.

"We'd been waiting for this game for four years," Lavelli recalled. Nobody said a word on the team bus. We were ready. Paul Brown didn't have to say anything. All he said was, 'Lets go.' "

The Browns destroyed the Eagles, 35-10, in a night game as Lavelli caught a 26-yard TD pass.

"There were a lot of Clevelanders at the game and they were celebrating," said Lavelli. "It was so crowded around the bus a lot of players walked two miles back to the hotel. The Philadelphia restaurants closed at midnight, but there were so many parties going on at the hotel we got plenty to eat."

Championship performance

When the Browns won the NFL title by beating the Los Angeles Rams, 30-28, in their first year, Lavelli caught 11 passes for 128 yards. His 34-yard TD grab gave the Browns a 20-14 lead. Later, he caught five straight as the Browns cut the Ram lead to 28-27.

Lavelli snagged a 50-yard TD pass when the Browns clobbered the Rams, 38-14, to take the 1955 title in Graham's last game.

In seven of Lavelli's 11 seasons, the Browns won a league championship. In three others they won a conference title and lost the championship game.

Lavelli was an extremely physical player when he had to be. A celebrated photo showed him leaping onto the shoulders of an opposing player while blocking for Graham, who was running downfield.

"That was his Italian block," Graham joked. "You could never tell what Dante was going to do."

Lavelli was proud of a 1954 play in which he seized the goal posts, which were then on the goal line, and reversed his direction to take a TD pass from Graham for the winning score against Philadelphia.

The receiver, who was always in top condition, might have played longer if Graham had not retired. He stuck it out for one year without Graham, then hung 'em up for good.

"We didn't have any quarterbacks like Otto," he said.

Buckeye beginning

Lavelli was a freshman at Ohio State University when Brown was coaching there in 1941. He played only a few games before being injured, but made such an impression that Brown signed him for the Browns when they entered the AAFC.

He went into the U.S. Army and fought in the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium during World War II, when the Germans threw all their strength at the Americans in a last desperate attempt at victory. In later years, he said he was lucky to survive the brutal fighting.

The handsome Lavelli was chosen as Ohio State campus king when he returned from service in 1945. The queen was Jean Peters, later a Hollywood movie star. Lavelli continued to attend classes in the off-season and received his degree from OSU in 1949.

Lavelli, who always interacted well with other players, helped unionize NFL athletes when he met with Cleveland lawyer Creighton Miller in 1956, his last year as a player. The first meeting was held in the recreation room of Lavelli's house in Rocky River.

The union's goals at that time were modest. It asked for meal money on trips, minimum pay and a pension plan. That led to the current NFL Players Association.

After football

After he retired as a player, Lavelli was part of a group that promoted a six-day bicycle race at the old Arena. It was not a profitable venture.

"We tried to give away tickets and nobody wanted them," he said.

For many years he owned and operated a furniture and appliance store in Rocky River.

Lavelli enjoyed attending NFL reunions. He was a fount of information on the whereabouts of NFL alumni. He knew where everyone was living, what they were doing, who was in good health, who was ill, and who had died.

An ardent golfer, he consistently shot in the 70s, often breaking his age, one of the most difficult feats in sports.

Loyal to the AAFC

Lavelli's mission in his last years was to get the NFL to recognize AAFC records and statistics. After the AAFC folded, the NFL behaved as though it never existed, although it absorbed three of the league's teams. In contrast, the NFL counts the stats of the old American Football League, which also became part of the NFL.

"I feel there's a double standard," Lavelli said at every opportunity.

"Dante is upset and rightfully so," said Joe Horrigan, public relations chief of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Paul Zimmerman, veteran football writer for Sports Illustrated, was another ally. The NFL had no problem bringing in AFL records and stats, he said. In my opinion, the AAFC was a better league than the AFL.

Lavelli was annoyed that some of the Browns' greatest AAFC accomplishments, such as their 29-game unbeaten streak and coach Brown's 52-4-3 record, are ignored by the NFL.

"We were the best team in football when we were in the AAFC," he said. "We proved it when we went into the NFL and won the title in our first year."

 

[Fallerjw]

sounds like they are keeping the 3-4.they need LBs desperately. especially if McGinest retires/ moves on.

I don't think McGinest coming back would change the need. He's more of a spot player or backup at this point in his career (IMO).I'd really like to see them address the front 7 in the draft / FA.

 

[amnesiac]

sounds like they are keeping the 3-4.they need LBs desperately. especially if McGinest retires/ moves on.

I don't think McGinest coming back would change the need. He's more of a spot player or backup at this point in his career (IMO).I'd really like to see them address the front 7 in the draft / FA.

sadly enough, there were plenty of games where McGinest outplayed the rest of the LBs imo.

 

[Fallerjw]

sounds like they are keeping the 3-4.they need LBs desperately. especially if McGinest retires/ moves on.

I don't think McGinest coming back would change the need. He's more of a spot player or backup at this point in his career (IMO).I'd really like to see them address the front 7 in the draft / FA.

sadly enough, there were plenty of games where McGinest outplayed the rest of the LBs imo.

Yeah, but that entire squad needs upgraded. Davis is a veteran presence, but doesn't make many plays.DQ makes a lot of tackles, but mostly because somebody has to make a tackle.Wimbley has 1 move and it's not even that good.

 

[MAC_32]

sounds like they are keeping the 3-4.they need LBs desperately. especially if McGinest retires/ moves on.

I don't think McGinest coming back would change the need. He's more of a spot player or backup at this point in his career (IMO).I'd really like to see them address the front 7 in the draft / FA.

sadly enough, there were plenty of games where McGinest outplayed the rest of the LBs imo.

Yeah, but that entire squad needs upgraded. Davis is a veteran presence, but doesn't make many plays.DQ makes a lot of tackles, but mostly because somebody has to make a tackle.Wimbley has 1 move and it's not even that good.

I'd be shocked if Andra is not cut.Whole heartedly agree with your takes on the other two.I'm cautiously optimisitic about Alex Hall, but am prepared to fully write off Leon Williams.The LB corps needs a lot of work. And that's an under statement.

 

[chris1969]

sounds like they are keeping the 3-4.they need LBs desperately. especially if McGinest retires/ moves on.

I don't think McGinest coming back would change the need. He's more of a spot player or backup at this point in his career (IMO).I'd really like to see them address the front 7 in the draft / FA.

sadly enough, there were plenty of games where McGinest outplayed the rest of the LBs imo.

Yeah, but that entire squad needs upgraded. Davis is a veteran presence, but doesn't make many plays.DQ makes a lot of tackles, but mostly because somebody has to make a tackle.Wimbley has 1 move and it's not even that good.

I'd be shocked if Andra is not cut.Whole heartedly agree with your takes on the other two.I'm cautiously optimisitic about Alex Hall, but am prepared to fully write off Leon Williams.The LB corps needs a lot of work. And that's an under statement.

Andra is a FA

 

[wadegarrett]

Have to assume the Browns are looking at some of these guys pretty hard...would LOVE to get Suggs but not sure how our cap situation looks going forward...also love seeing 3 Ravens on the list...

2009 NFL Free Agent Linebackers

Ray Lewis, UFA, Baltimore Ravens

With over 1,600 tackles, 33.5 sacks, and 28 interceptions during his 13 seasons, Lewis isn’t just a Pro Bowl player and Super Bowl winner, but also a future Hall of Fame inductee. Since entering the league, Lewis has been a force and helped the Ravens to be one of the league’s best defensive units year in and year out. He’s been in Baltimore his entire career so it’s hard to imagine him with another franchise; he’s the face of the franchise. The Ravens will make him an offer that should lock him up until almost the end of his career and rumor has it that he is close to signing an extension.

Terrell Suggs, UFA, Baltimore Ravens

Being a linebacker that also works at defensive end has helped Suggs become an end that can track the ball above average. In his first six NFL seasons, Suggs has made 368 total tackles and earned 53 sacks. Suggs may not be as rewarded as Peppers or Haynesworth will be in free agency, but he will certainly be pursued by a number of teams who want to save a little money and still come away with a quality defensive end. Baltimore is constantly pumping out quality defensive players, so they may not be willing to match a big offer if one comes along, but they will miss Suggs if they lose him.

Karlos Dansby, UFA, Arizona Cardinals

Dansby is becoming a consistent linebacker in the NFL. In his last four full seasons, he has tackle totals of 89, 82, 99, and 119 this season. He has also tallied at least three sacks in each of his five seasons as a pro. His three interceptions last season tied a career high and he added two more this season. In ’08, he was an important part of a defense that helped the Cardinals advance in the playoffs. He isn’t in the same class as some of the linebackers on this list, but he may eventually be pretty close. Dansby will appeal to several teams because of his age, size, and potential.

Eric Barton, UFA, New York Jets

While Barton’s ’07 production was down, he was playing for a defense that didn’t get much help from the offensive unit. Brett Favre’s arrival improved the offense somewhat, which helped alleviate pressure on the defense. Barton made 100 tackles and 4.5 sacks in ’06, probably his best season since he left Oakland, and he had a similar effort with 119 tackles and 1.5 sacks this season. There are a fair amount of teams that could look to acquire Barton and save some money.

Mike Peterson, UFA, Jacksonville Jaguars

Peterson had played in just 15 games over the course of the last two seasons, but he played in all but one game this season. When healthy, he is one of the better middle linebackers around. He has six seasons in triple-digit tackles and the four seasons he failed to reach that mark were seasons in which he was unable to play in all sixteen games. In ’05, his most recent full season, he had six sacks and three interceptions. His health concerns will scare some teams away, but Peterson may still have some quality seasons left in him. He had a single sack this season, along with 84 tackles, and is on the downturn of his career.

Bart Scott, UFA, Baltimore Ravens

Even though Scott was originally an undrafted free agent, he has managed to become a quality linebacker. While he has benefited from playing alongside Pro Bowlers like Ray Lewis, he has also helped them benefit from his own contributions. He had just one sack last season as the Ravens defense struggled more than usual, and only 1.5 this season, but he showed in ’06 that he is capable of over 100 tackles and 9.5 sacks when he puts it all together. The Ravens will probably pay Scott enough to keep him around, but they may let him go if they are unimpressed with his play this year and are content pursuing Lewis and Suggs.

Jonathan Vilma, UFA, New Orleans Saints

Vilma returned from a serious injury and made a good impression with the Saints in New Orleans. He tallied 132 tackles, had an interception, a sack, and forced two fumbles. Prior to his shortened ’07 season, Vilma had registered 108 tackles or more in three straight seasons, including 173 in ’05; he also now has seven interceptions in his five seasons of work. Vilma is quick to the ball and consistently makes the right play. At 26 years of age, he will be a point of interest for several teams when he hits the market.

Michael Boley, RFA, Atlanta Falcons

Boley became a starter as a rookie because of injury and has held onto the role ever since. He was held without a sack this season, but had totaled three in each of the previous two seasons and has a five combined interceptions during his last three seasons. In ’07, he was credited with 110 total tackles, three sacks, three forced fumbles, and two picks, making for a very strong showing. Boley isn’t known as a star player, but he is a hard worker and a solid presence at the strong side position. At just twenty-six years of age, Boley has room to develop and could make a splash with a new team come next season.

Others:

Jordan Beck, UFA, Denver Broncos

Monty Beisel, UFA, Arizona Cardinals

Angelo Crowell, UFA, Buffalo Bills

Channing Crowder, UFA, Miami Dolphins

James Farrior, UFA, Pittsburgh Steelers

Tyjuan Hagler, UFA, Indianapolis Colts

Leroy Hill, UFA, Seattle Sehawks

Willie McGinest, UFA, Cleveland Browns

Carlos Polk, UFA, San Diego Chargers

Sam Williams, UFA, Oakland Raiders

From here.

 

[wadegarrett]

My guess is that Sean Jones will not be back...IMO he'll probably want a fresh start somewhere else.

The DBs...

2009 NFL Free Agent Defensive Backs

Nnamdi Asomugha, UFA, Oakland Raiders

Asomugha’s numbers don’t overwhelm other than his eight interceptions in ’06, but the big reason that he has only 257 career tackles and 10 interceptions in his six seasons is because opponents attack the side of the field that Asomugha isn’t on. He has 49 passes defended over his last four seasons and he’s one of the NFL’s best in coverage. He’s held some of the game’s best receivers in check in single coverage and if he becomes a free agent, he may command the most attention of the lot. He also missed only four games in his career. With the release of DeAngelo Hall earlier this season, Oakland may now look to pay Asomugha, considering how talented he is.

Mike Brown, UFA, Chicago Bears

When healthy, Brown has proven to be a valuable part of the Bears defense. Brown’s best season was in 2001, when he had five interceptions and three sacks, but he has always been a steady contributor when he has been in the lineup. In four seasons, from ’04 through ’07, he played in just 21 games. In ’08, he played in 15 games, making 74 tackles and two interceptions. Teams will still be concerned about his health history, so Chicago appears to be the right fit for him. However, there are teams willing to take a risk in the NFL, and Brown has been healthy so far this season.

Brian Dawkins, UFA, Philadelphia Eagles

Dawkins has been one of the best safeties in the league for some time now. He’s in his mid-thirties, but he will still be of interest to several teams because of his track record. He has had at least one interception in each of his thirteen seasons. As recently as two seasons ago, he had five forced fumbles, four picks, and 98 tackles. While he may not be quite the same player he once was, he’s still one of the games best. He’s played in Philadelphia his entire career and chances are it’ll stay that way.

Dawan Landry, RFA, Baltimore Ravens

It is difficult to imagine that the Ravens would let Landry get away considering he is young and showed major potential during his first two seasons in the NFL. Landry, a safety, made a significant impact in his first year when he made 69 tackles and had five interceptions as well as three sacks. While his sacks and interceptions dropped in year two, he tallied 83 tackles, still making plays on the ball but just not coming up with turnovers. He was placed on injured reserve for this season after playing in just two games this year. Landry is athletic and finds the ball well. It’s a safe bet that Baltimore wants to keep him around through his prime.

Dunta Robinson, UFA, Houston Texans

Robinson missed nearly half the season last year, but before he was injured he was being mentioned alongside the top corners in the league, even though he played for a struggling Texans team. He also missed the first five games of this season, but played in the final eleven, making 38 tackles and two picks. He made a name for himself in his rookie season when he had six interceptions, three sacks, and 88 tackles. Any team would like to have his services in their defensive backfield if he can stay healthy, and if Houston doesn’t start winning, Robinson could look for a change of scenery with a more successful franchise.

Jermaine Phillips, UFA, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Phillips has been around for seven seasons now and has made a name for himself as a capable safety. He has eleven career interceptions, including four in ’07 and three this season. The safety made a career-high 109 total tackles in ’06 and has the ability to create turnovers from time to time with seven forced fumbles in the past three seasons. Phillips will provide a team with a quality run-support type safety that can provide adequate help in coverage. He missed five games due to injury this year, which could hurt his contract offers. Tampa Bay will likely make a reasonable offer to try to keep Phillips with the team.

Other Defensive Backs:

Oshiomogho Atogwe, UFA, St Louis Rams

Tyron Brackenridge, UFA, Kansas City Chiefs

Mike Brown, UFA, Chicago Bears

Phillip Buchanon, UFA, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Jabari Greer, UFA, Buffalo Bills

Rodney Harrison, UFA, New England Patriots

Kelvin Hayden, UFA, Indianapolis Colts

Renaldo Hill, UFA, Miami Dolphins

Daven Holly, UFA, Cleveland Browns

Sean Jones, UFA, Cleveland Browns

Bryant McFadden, UFA, Pittsburgh Steelers

R.W. McQuarters, UFA, New York Giants

Justin Miller, UFA, New York Jets

Lawyer Milloy, UFA, Atlanta Falcons

Deltha O'Neal, UFA, Cincinnati Bengals

Jarrad Page, UFA, Kansas City Chiefs

Jermaine Phillips, UFA, Tampa Bay Bucs

Allen Rossum, UFA, San Francisco 49ers

Darren Sharper, UFA, Darren Sharper

 

[wadegarrett]

The DL...

2009 NFL Free Agent Defensive Linemen

Julius Peppers, UFA, Carolina Panthers

A freakish athlete, Peppers struggled in ’07, but has come back strong in ’08. Teams will be lining up to try and lure him away from Carolina with a huge contract offer. The 6’7” end had 14.5 sacks and five forced fumbles on the season, helping the Panthers earn a first-round bye in the playoffs. He could be the top free agent player as teams look to add an end that has had double-digit sack totals five times in seven seasons, including 13 in ’06 and his career-high total this year. He also has four career interceptions and has been making quarterback’s lives miserable since he entered the league. Peppers probably shouldn’t be able to do some of the things that he can considering his size, and many teams would prefer to have those things happening for them rather than against them.

Albert Haynesworth, UFA, Tennessee Titans

Haynesworth has had his share of controversy surrounding him in the past, but he’s turned things around and has focused on simply playing the game. This year, he improved upon his ’07 season by totaling 8.5 sacks, making 51 total tackles, and forcing three fumbles. The Titans look like a different team on defense depending on whether or not Haynesworth is on the field; with him on the field they are one of the best defenses in the league because of the pressure he takes off of others. Expect Tennessee to work hard to keep him in hopes that he continues to bolster their defensive play as a whole.

Bertrand Berry, UFA, Arizona Cardinals

Berry finished the regular season with five sacks and a pair of forced fumbles for the Cardinals in fourteen games of action. He may not be the most coveted potential free agent at his position, but he’s definitely effective when he’s healthy and playing his best. He’ll be looked at as a role player on the market and there’s a decent chance that the Cardinals will move on.

Jovan Haye, RFA, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Haye now has three seasons of experience in the league, but he had a down season this year after a strong ’07 campaign. He made 33 tackles and had no sacks, as he battled injuries at times this season and never showed the same rhythm that he did when he made 68 tackles and had six sacks last season. Haye will still be of interest to a good deal of teams based on the fact that he has shown in the past that he can regularly apply pressure on opposing quarterbacks. His age (26) and down season will make it more likely that the Buccaneers re-sign the defensive tackle.

Rocky Bernard, UFA, Seattle Seahawks

Bernard had an off the field incident prior to the ’08 season, but returned from a one-game suspension to have another quality season while playing for a struggling team Seattle team. He has had as many as eight and a half sacks in a season and closed this season with four sacks. He also had a career high of 55 tackles this year and forced a fumble. All in all, Bernard may not be at the top of a lot of free agent wish lists, but if the Seahawks don’t keep him around, some team will be getting a reliable defensive tackle.

Other Defensive Linemen

Jonathan Babineaux, UFA, Atlanta Falcons

Rocky Bernard, Seattle Seahawks

Kevin Carter, UFA, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Chris Canty, UFA, Dallas Cowboys

Shaun Cody, UFA, Detroit Lions

Jovan Haye, UFA, Tampa Bay Bucs

Tank Johnson, UFA, Dallas Cowboys

John Thornton, UFA, Cincinnati Bengals

Marcus Tubbs, UFA, Seattle Seahawks

 

[wadegarrett]

Assume they'll ride Lewis hard for one more year spelling him w/ Harrison quite a bit. Not sure they'll bring in any of these guys but who knows...

2009 NFL Free Agent Running Backs

Brandon Jacobs, UFA, New York Giants

Jacobs is a tough runner, and that type of running kept him from being on the field in parts of the two seasons prior to 2008. This season, Jacobs missed time again, seeing action in thirteen games. When on the field, he helped lead the Giants to the league’s second best record. While carries were limited at times, he rushed for 1,089 yards and scored 15 touchdowns. He averaged five yards a carry during the Giants Super Bowl season, gaining over 1,000 yards in just 11 games and averaged five yards a carry again this season. He is a quality goal line back, but has become more than that. Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw contributed to New York’s backfield as well, so while the team likely wants Jacobs to stick around, Jacobs could have other plans and may bolt for a team willing to give him more of the carries. There will be some tough decisions concerning the Giants backfield and who will play what role in the future.

Darren Sproles, UFA, San Diego Chargers

Sproles is a spark plug of a runner, who doesn’t shy away from contact and has excellent speed. During the regular season, he did most of his work on special teams but did average more than five yards a carry when he was handed the ball. His recent playoff effort against Indianapolis during the first round was one of the best in playoff history, as he showed that he just might have the stuff to become a number one back. His 105 rushing yards, 45 receiving yards, and pair of scores had to impress teams out there looking for backfield help. San Diego will likely have to cut ties if they are moving forward with Tomlinson and don’t want to spend too much money in keeping a second quality back.

Derrick Ward, RFA, New York Giants

A huge rushing effort by Ward in week sixteen set him up to reach the 1,000 yard mark in the final game of the season, impressively giving the Giants two running backs to reach that mark this season. Ward made a statement in against Carolina in that week sixteen game, rushing for an astounding 215 yards on only 15 carries. He only reached triple digits in rushing twice, but he wound up averaging well over five yards per carry on the season while also playing a role as a receiving back with 41 receptions for nearly 400 more yards. Ward is twenty-eight years of age, and considering the thought that running backs lose steam after thirty, this could be his last significant contract. He may look for a team willing to expand his role or he could easily stay in New York, where he has become a quality back alongside Brandon Jacobs. With Jacobs also being a free agent, though, it will be an interesting offseason for the G-Men.

Dominic Rhodes, UFA, Indianapolis Colts

Rhodes will turn thirty in a couple of weeks and it appears he will remain a backup for the remainder of his career. He was an integral part of the Colts’ success during their Super Bowl run a few seasons ago, but he left for Oakland, only to return a season later. He has received limited carries during most of his time in the league, but he has filled in admirably when called upon. With Joseph Addai missing time this season, he carried the ball 152 times and turned it into 538 yards and six touchdowns. He also caught 45 passes for more than 300 yards and three touchdowns. Rhodes will provide a decent third-down back and a veteran backup for any team looking to add depth on the free agent market.

Maurice Morris, UFA, Seattle Seahawks

Morris has always been a back under the radar—mainly because he was backing up Shaun Alexander for a period—but he has good vision and speed. He cracked the 100-yard mark in week twelve for the first time since week ten of the ’06 season and rushed for a season-high 116 yards against the Jets in week sixteen. He received limited carries, averaging 4.3 yards per rush, and he may be a useful backup come next season. Seattle has a lot of questions to answer and Morris may not be in the plans for the future.

Ricky Williams, UFA, Miami Dolphins

Williams showed flashes of the back that he was in his early days, but he was never quite as consistent as would be expected from a former fifth overall selection. His time away from the game and off the field issues certainly didn’t help him get back into the swing off things. Williams is over thirty and not likely to be a true starter with any team, but he gets a mention because of his controversial past and the fact that he gave Miami an extra option on the way to a playoff berth. There is a team out there that will take a chance on him if the Dolphins are unwilling to retain his services. Look for Williams to try and land somewhere as a backup.

Other Running Backs

J.J. Arrington, UFA, Arizona Cardinals

Correll Buckhalter, UFA, Philadelphia Eagles

Jesse Chatman, UFA, New York Jets

Heath Evans, UFA, New England Patriots

Rudi Johnson, UFA, Detroit Lions

LaMont Jordan, UFA, New England Patriots

Ryan Moats, UFA, Philadelphia Eagles

Dominic Rhodes, UFA, Indianapolis Colts

Aaron Stecker, UFA, New Orleans Saints

 

[Godsbrother]

Have to assume the Browns are looking at some of these guys pretty hard...would LOVE to get Suggs but not sure how our cap situation looks going forward...also love seeing 3 Ravens on the list...

2009 NFL Free Agent Linebackers

Ray Lewis, UFA, Baltimore Ravens

With over 1,600 tackles, 33.5 sacks, and 28 interceptions during his 13 seasons, Lewis isn’t just a Pro Bowl player and Super Bowl winner, but also a future Hall of Fame inductee. Since entering the league, Lewis has been a force and helped the Ravens to be one of the league’s best defensive units year in and year out. He’s been in Baltimore his entire career so it’s hard to imagine him with another franchise; he’s the face of the franchise. The Ravens will make him an offer that should lock him up until almost the end of his career and rumor has it that he is close to signing an extension.

Terrell Suggs, UFA, Baltimore Ravens

Being a linebacker that also works at defensive end has helped Suggs become an end that can track the ball above average. In his first six NFL seasons, Suggs has made 368 total tackles and earned 53 sacks. Suggs may not be as rewarded as Peppers or Haynesworth will be in free agency, but he will certainly be pursued by a number of teams who want to save a little money and still come away with a quality defensive end. Baltimore is constantly pumping out quality defensive players, so they may not be willing to match a big offer if one comes along, but they will miss Suggs if they lose him.

Karlos Dansby, UFA, Arizona Cardinals

Dansby is becoming a consistent linebacker in the NFL. In his last four full seasons, he has tackle totals of 89, 82, 99, and 119 this season. He has also tallied at least three sacks in each of his five seasons as a pro. His three interceptions last season tied a career high and he added two more this season. In ’08, he was an important part of a defense that helped the Cardinals advance in the playoffs. He isn’t in the same class as some of the linebackers on this list, but he may eventually be pretty close. Dansby will appeal to several teams because of his age, size, and potential.

Eric Barton, UFA, New York Jets

While Barton’s ’07 production was down, he was playing for a defense that didn’t get much help from the offensive unit. Brett Favre’s arrival improved the offense somewhat, which helped alleviate pressure on the defense. Barton made 100 tackles and 4.5 sacks in ’06, probably his best season since he left Oakland, and he had a similar effort with 119 tackles and 1.5 sacks this season. There are a fair amount of teams that could look to acquire Barton and save some money.

Mike Peterson, UFA, Jacksonville Jaguars

Peterson had played in just 15 games over the course of the last two seasons, but he played in all but one game this season. When healthy, he is one of the better middle linebackers around. He has six seasons in triple-digit tackles and the four seasons he failed to reach that mark were seasons in which he was unable to play in all sixteen games. In ’05, his most recent full season, he had six sacks and three interceptions. His health concerns will scare some teams away, but Peterson may still have some quality seasons left in him. He had a single sack this season, along with 84 tackles, and is on the downturn of his career.

Bart Scott, UFA, Baltimore Ravens

Even though Scott was originally an undrafted free agent, he has managed to become a quality linebacker. While he has benefited from playing alongside Pro Bowlers like Ray Lewis, he has also helped them benefit from his own contributions. He had just one sack last season as the Ravens defense struggled more than usual, and only 1.5 this season, but he showed in ’06 that he is capable of over 100 tackles and 9.5 sacks when he puts it all together. The Ravens will probably pay Scott enough to keep him around, but they may let him go if they are unimpressed with his play this year and are content pursuing Lewis and Suggs.

Jonathan Vilma, UFA, New Orleans Saints

Vilma returned from a serious injury and made a good impression with the Saints in New Orleans. He tallied 132 tackles, had an interception, a sack, and forced two fumbles. Prior to his shortened ’07 season, Vilma had registered 108 tackles or more in three straight seasons, including 173 in ’05; he also now has seven interceptions in his five seasons of work. Vilma is quick to the ball and consistently makes the right play. At 26 years of age, he will be a point of interest for several teams when he hits the market.

Michael Boley, RFA, Atlanta Falcons

Boley became a starter as a rookie because of injury and has held onto the role ever since. He was held without a sack this season, but had totaled three in each of the previous two seasons and has a five combined interceptions during his last three seasons. In ’07, he was credited with 110 total tackles, three sacks, three forced fumbles, and two picks, making for a very strong showing. Boley isn’t known as a star player, but he is a hard worker and a solid presence at the strong side position. At just twenty-six years of age, Boley has room to develop and could make a splash with a new team come next season.

Others:

Jordan Beck, UFA, Denver Broncos

Monty Beisel, UFA, Arizona Cardinals

Angelo Crowell, UFA, Buffalo Bills

Channing Crowder, UFA, Miami Dolphins

James Farrior, UFA, Pittsburgh Steelers

Tyjuan Hagler, UFA, Indianapolis Colts

Leroy Hill, UFA, Seattle Sehawks

Willie McGinest, UFA, Cleveland Browns

Carlos Polk, UFA, San Diego Chargers

Sam Williams, UFA, Oakland Raiders

From here.

Not sure about the rest of the list but James Farrior signed a long term contract with the Steelers in August. He is no longer a FA.

 

[wadegarrett]

Might as well post the QBs and WRs...

2009 NFL Free Agent QBs

Kurt Warner, UFA, Arizona Cardinals

The former MVP and Super Bowl winner has had a resurgent season in Arizona and has his team past the first round of the playoffs. He racked up 4,583 passing yards, his second highest career total for a season, and threw for 30 touchdowns and only 14 interceptions. Also, his passer rating of 96.9 was his best since the '01 season. Warner has not wanted his contract status to be a distraction, but he will be looking for an extension from the team once the season comes to an end. Warner could find another team willing to name him the starter if the Cardinals want to let Matt Leinart take over.

Kerry Collins, UFA, Tennessee Titans

Collins may have recently turned thirty-six, but he helped lead the Titans to the best record in the NFL at 13-3 when the Vince Young situation threatened to put a damper on the entire season. Instead, Collins stepped in and managed the offense well. He may not have looked like the quarterback he was when he led the New York Giants to a Super Bowl appearance early on this decade, but he did prove that he was capable of winning games and protecting the ball enough to allow his offense to run fairly smoothly. He may not have a lot left after this season and a potential Super Bowl run, but he may still be of interest to some teams looking for a steady game manager or an experienced backup for insurance purposes. The Titans may be looking to move forward with Vince Young, but Collins knows the system and could be offered a new contract to keep his services around.

Matt Cassel, UFA, New England Patriots

Rumor has it that Cassel will be franchised, thus ending his chance to hit the market.

Jeff Garcia, UFA, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Garcia could retire given that he is nearing forty years of age, but many probably expected that he would have hung up his cleats before the just completed season. The veteran just keeps going and going and has kept the Buccaneers competitive. Last season the veteran passer threw for over 2,400 yards and 13 touchdowns in 13 games. This season, in twelve games, he passed for over 2,700 yards and had 12 touchdowns tosses to just six interceptions. He can still manage a game and make things happen often enough to keep defenses honest. He may be asked to stick around somewhere in the league for another season.

Rex Grossman, UFA, Chicago Bears

With all of the criticism that Grossman has had to face, he did lead a Bears team that reached a Super Bowl in ’06. During that season he threw for over 3,100 yards and 23 touchdowns; however, he also turned the ball over 25 times. Grossman lost his starting role to Kyle Orton this season and threw just 62 passes, completing only 32 and having a pair of touchdowns and picks. Grossman may wind up being a career backup.

Kyle Boller, UFA, Baltimore Ravens

Boller has never lived up to the hype that came with him and he was placed on the injured reserve this season. In five seasons of earning sporadic playing time, Boller has thrown more touchdowns than picks just twice. The presence and early success of Joe Flacco guarantee that Boller will be gone after the season, and it is hard to imagine that he’ll be given a shot at starting anywhere. Like Grossman, he seems destined to be a career backup.

Other Quarterbacks

Charlie Batch, UFA, Pittsburgh Steelers

J.P. Losman, UFA, Buffalo Bills

Patrick Ramsey, UFA, Denver Broncos

2009 NFL Free Agent Receivers

T.J. Houshmandzadeh, UFA, Cincinnati Bengals

A Pro Bowl player, Houshmandzadeh is one of the league’s top receivers and arguably the best number two receiver in the entire league. A seventh round selection, Houshmandzadeh now has more than 5,700 career receiving yards. Heading into the ‘08, he had increased his reception and touchdowns totals in each of his six seasons and was coming off of a league-leading 112 receptions with 12 touchdowns. He had a down season by his standards in ’08, however, yet still managed to gain over 900 receiving yards on 92 catches in fifteen games. He posted those numbers while being thrown to by backup Ryan Fitzpatrick much of the season, making it considerably more impressive. Losing Houshmandzadeh would be a major setback for Cincinnati. Look for the Bengals to make every effort to retain and possibly promote him.

Bobby Engram, UFA, Seattle Seahawks

Engram likely won’t be the most desired receiver on the market this offseason, but he will provide a veteran option for team’s looking to add experience with their youth and others. Engram has an injury history that has caused him to miss a fair amount of time, but he’s been a solid receiver when healthy. His 2007 campaign was the best of his career. His 94 receptions helped him rack up 1,147 yards and six touchdowns without a strong running game supporting the offense. Playing for a struggling Seattle team this season, he played in thirteen games and caught 50 passes for nearly 500 yards, but failed to reach the endzone. With his history of injury and a struggling offensive unit not helping his numbers, he’ll likely wind up back in Seattle with his career closer to the end than the beginning.

Devery Henderson, UFA, New Orleans Saints

Henderson’s career high in receptions may be 32, but he’s a deep threat and can make big plays down the field when things are clicking for the offensive unit. He’s had at least three scores in each season of his four-year career and set a new career-high in yards with 793, averaging almost 25 yards per catch. If the Saints let Henderson go, someone may give him a shot at a bigger role.

Shaun McDonald, UFA, Detroit Lions

McDonald has had to play behind the likes of Torry Holt, Roy Williams, and Calvin Johnson during his six seasons. He hasn’t been spectacular, but he has shown that he can be a quality receiver. He had a career-high with 79 receptions in ’07 with the Lions and converted six of those into touchdowns. His numbers dropped this season as the entire team struggled and he played in just twelve games, but considering his situation, 35 catches for 332 yards isn’t a terrible showing. Assuming he returns from injury without a problem, McDonald has the ability to be a solid number two, and chances are he’ll look to play for a more competitive team.

Other Wide Receivers

Hank Baskett, RFA, Philadelphia Eagles

Jabar Gaffney, UFA, New England Patriots

Dante' Hall, UFA, St. Louis Rams

Sam Hurd, UFA, Dallas Cowboys

Brandon Jones, UFA, Tennessee Titans

Ashley Lelie, UFA, San Francisco 49ers

Koren Robinson, UFA, Green Bay Packers

Amani Toomer, UFA, New York Giants

Roydell Williams, UFA, Tennessee Titans

Cedrick Wilson, UFA, Pittsburgh Steelers

Other Tight Ends

Owen Daniels, UFA, Houston Texans

Will Heller, UFA, Seattle Seahawks

Eric Johnson, UFA, New Orleans Saints

Jeff King, RFA, Carolina Panthers

Jim Kleinsasser, UFA, Minnesota Vikings

Leonard Pope, UFA, Arizona Cardinals

Daniel Wilcox, UFA, Baltimore Ravens

L.J. Smith, UFA, Philadelphia

Bo Scaife, UFA, Tennessee

 

[wadegarrett]

Not sure about the rest of the list but James Farrior signed a long term contract with the Steelers in August. He is no longer a FA.

yeah...figured some of these guys are off the market...not sure how old those lists are

 

[Tecumseh]

My guess is that Sean Jones will not be back...IMO he'll probably want a fresh start somewhere else.

The DBs...

2009 NFL Free Agent Defensive Backs

Nnamdi Asomugha, UFA, Oakland Raiders

Asomugha’s numbers don’t overwhelm other than his eight interceptions in ’06, but the big reason that he has only 257 career tackles and 10 interceptions in his six seasons is because opponents attack the side of the field that Asomugha isn’t on. He has 49 passes defended over his last four seasons and he’s one of the NFL’s best in coverage. He’s held some of the game’s best receivers in check in single coverage and if he becomes a free agent, he may command the most attention of the lot. He also missed only four games in his career. With the release of DeAngelo Hall earlier this season, Oakland may now look to pay Asomugha, considering how talented he is.

Mike Brown, UFA, Chicago Bears

When healthy, Brown has proven to be a valuable part of the Bears defense. Brown’s best season was in 2001, when he had five interceptions and three sacks, but he has always been a steady contributor when he has been in the lineup. In four seasons, from ’04 through ’07, he played in just 21 games. In ’08, he played in 15 games, making 74 tackles and two interceptions. Teams will still be concerned about his health history, so Chicago appears to be the right fit for him. However, there are teams willing to take a risk in the NFL, and Brown has been healthy so far this season.

Brian Dawkins, UFA, Philadelphia Eagles

Dawkins has been one of the best safeties in the league for some time now. He’s in his mid-thirties, but he will still be of interest to several teams because of his track record. He has had at least one interception in each of his thirteen seasons. As recently as two seasons ago, he had five forced fumbles, four picks, and 98 tackles. While he may not be quite the same player he once was, he’s still one of the games best. He’s played in Philadelphia his entire career and chances are it’ll stay that way.

Dawan Landry, RFA, Baltimore Ravens

It is difficult to imagine that the Ravens would let Landry get away considering he is young and showed major potential during his first two seasons in the NFL. Landry, a safety, made a significant impact in his first year when he made 69 tackles and had five interceptions as well as three sacks. While his sacks and interceptions dropped in year two, he tallied 83 tackles, still making plays on the ball but just not coming up with turnovers. He was placed on injured reserve for this season after playing in just two games this year. Landry is athletic and finds the ball well. It’s a safe bet that Baltimore wants to keep him around through his prime.

Dunta Robinson, UFA, Houston Texans

Robinson missed nearly half the season last year, but before he was injured he was being mentioned alongside the top corners in the league, even though he played for a struggling Texans team. He also missed the first five games of this season, but played in the final eleven, making 38 tackles and two picks. He made a name for himself in his rookie season when he had six interceptions, three sacks, and 88 tackles. Any team would like to have his services in their defensive backfield if he can stay healthy, and if Houston doesn’t start winning, Robinson could look for a change of scenery with a more successful franchise.

Jermaine Phillips, UFA, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Phillips has been around for seven seasons now and has made a name for himself as a capable safety. He has eleven career interceptions, including four in ’07 and three this season. The safety made a career-high 109 total tackles in ’06 and has the ability to create turnovers from time to time with seven forced fumbles in the past three seasons. Phillips will provide a team with a quality run-support type safety that can provide adequate help in coverage. He missed five games due to injury this year, which could hurt his contract offers. Tampa Bay will likely make a reasonable offer to try to keep Phillips with the team.

Other Defensive Backs:

Oshiomogho Atogwe, UFA, St Louis Rams

Tyron Brackenridge, UFA, Kansas City Chiefs

Mike Brown, UFA, Chicago Bears

Phillip Buchanon, UFA, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Jabari Greer, UFA, Buffalo Bills

Rodney Harrison, UFA, New England Patriots

Kelvin Hayden, UFA, Indianapolis Colts

Renaldo Hill, UFA, Miami Dolphins

Daven Holly, UFA, Cleveland Browns

Sean Jones, UFA, Cleveland Browns

Bryant McFadden, UFA, Pittsburgh Steelers

R.W. McQuarters, UFA, New York Giants

Justin Miller, UFA, New York Jets

Lawyer Milloy, UFA, Atlanta Falcons

Deltha O'Neal, UFA, Cincinnati Bengals

Jarrad Page, UFA, Kansas City Chiefs

Jermaine Phillips, UFA, Tampa Bay Bucs

Allen Rossum, UFA, San Francisco 49ers

Darren Sharper, UFA, Darren Sharper

Heard Asomugha on NFL Radio the other day breaking down the games. Sharp as hell, and mentioned that he loved playing for Ryan. If the Browns could snag him, I may just give them one more year of attention.

 

[Bobcat10]

Heard Asomugha on NFL Radio the other day breaking down the games. Sharp as hell, and mentioned that he loved playing for Ryan. If the Browns could snag him, I may just give them one more year of attention.

Future Steelers fan?

 

[Tecumseh]

Heard Asomugha on NFL Radio the other day breaking down the games. Sharp as hell, and mentioned that he loved playing for Ryan. If the Browns could snag him, I may just give them one more year of attention.

Future Steelers fan?

Couldn't if I wanted to. I tried pulling for them in the AFC championship, and ended up just rooting for both team to beat the bejesus out of the the other to help the Cards out.Probably just end up a Falcons fan.

 

[Tecumseh]

Finally! Browns name Kokinis GM

by Tony Grossi

Sunday January 25, 2009, 6:35 PM

George Kokinis

The Browns acknowledged one of the worst-kept secrets in the NFL -- George Kokinis is their new general manager.

The Baltimore Ravens pro personnel director was named to the position Sunday, almost a month after he emerged as a surprise front-runner for the position.

Kokinis was recommended for the position by Eric Mangini in the eventual coach's first interview with owner Randy Lerner on Dec. 30. Until Mangini brought forth the name of his longtime friend, Kokinis was not on the same radar screen with higher-profile executives Scott Pioli, Rich McKay and Tom Heckert as candidates for the job.

Kokinis, 41, was well-known in NFL circles as a diligent worker, a tireless viewer of game video to evaluate players already on team rosters. He was a finalist for the Atlanta Falcons general manager job a year ago, but his name didn't surface publicly because the team chose Thomas Dimitroff before interviewing Kokinis.

Like Mangini, Kokinis' roots were planted in the Browns organization in the 1990s under the auspices of former coach Bill Belichick. Mangini started as a Browns ball boy and public relations intern.

Kokinis was actually hired in 1991 by Ernie Accorsi, then the team's executive director of football operations. Kokinis' first job was as an intern in the club's operations department, but he quickly gravitated to the scouting department being built by Belichick.

By 1994, the group of young, entry-level staffers included Kokinis, Mangini, Pioli, Mike Tennenbaum, Jim Schwartz and Phil Savage -- the man whom Kokinis eventually replaced as Browns general manager.

Kokinis followed Art Modell's team to Baltimore in 1996 and worked as a college scout for four years. He specialized in testing college players with "the box" -- a scouting tool for measuring quickness and athleticism -- and keeping meticulous records to which future prospects could be compared.

In 2000, the Ravens promoted Kokinis to assistant director of pro personnel -- a position switch that drew him closer to the coaching staff. Kokinis prepared scouting reports on upcoming opponents and prospective NFL free agents.

Kokinis was named director of pro personnel in 2003, giving him full supervision of all aspects of the department. Soon there after he began negotiating contracts of draft picks and veteran free agent acquisitions.

When Savage left the Ravens for the Browns GM job in 2005, the Ravens did not replace him. At that point, Kokinis reported directly to General Manager Ozzie Newsome.

Kokinis inherits a team with obvious weaknesses at linebacker, cornerback, receiver and offensive line, and deficient of a full complement of draft choices. Past trades by Savage left the Browns with only four selections in the April 25-26 draft -- first, second, fourth and sixth rounds.

He also must address the contract situations of at least three players who last season asked for new deals -- tight end Kellen Winslow, specialist Josh Cribbs and kicker Phil Dawson.

Together, Kokinis and Mangini must decide what to do with quarterback Derek Anderson, who has a guaranteed $5 million roster bonus due in March and lost his starting job last year to Brady Quinn.

While Kokinis was fingered as the front-runner for the job in the first interview Lerner conducted with Mangini, Lerner also interviewed others for the position. Those included Pioli, who chose the Kansas City general manager job; T.J. McCreight, Browns player personnel director who was fired last week; James Harris, formerly Jacksonville vice president of player personnel; and David Gettleman, New York Giants director of pro personnel.

McKay and Heckert pulled themselves out of the running after Mangini was hired as coach.

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/...kokinis_gm.htmlETA: Yippee.

 

[wadegarrett]

Pluto right on the money as usual...

Eight things I think about the hiring of George Kokinis

by Terry Pluto

Sunday January 25, 2009, 10:15 PM

1. George Kokinis must establish the fact that while he is friends with new Browns coach Eric Mangini, Kokinis is indeed the general manager. Kokinis has to demonstrate that just because Mangini was hired first, it doesn't mean Kokinis will just sign off on everything the coach wants. He doesn't need to be dictator.

Communication between the coach and GM in forming the roster is critical -- but in the end, when there is a strong disagreement, someone needs the final say. That someone should be Kokinis.

2. I know some people who have worked with Kokinis in Baltimore. They stressed his communication skills and his ability to build a consensus between the coaches and the player personnel department when assembling the Ravens roster. But they also told me Kokinis would never leave Baltimore just to be an assistant to Mangini, that he'd insist on being a true GM.

I hope this is true, because it's hard for a coach to run the entire organization.

3. I imagine the structure for the Browns being closer to that of Pittsburgh or Arizona, two teams where the coaches are the front men with media and public -- but work with a GM to build the team.

4. While Kokinis was hired in Cleveland during the Bill Belichick regime, he has spent most of his career in Baltimore -- where GM Ozzie Newsome and Vice President Kevin Byrne believe in communication with the fans through the media.

Kokinis needs to understand that his hiring has been covered by public silence from the team and wild rumors from everywhere. The fans are waiting for a reason to believe he and Mangini can turn the team around. They want to have an idea of how the GM / coach structure will work.

5. Kokinis and Mangini need to realize many Browns fans are like members of an abused family. The moment anything goes wrong, fans expect the worst. Why not? The team moved. The team has had more seasons of at least 12 losses (5) than it has had winning seasons (2) since returning in 1999.

While Kokinis and Mangini had nothing to do with the past, they inherit the scars of the recent dismal history. It can't just be ignored.

6. While Mangini and Kokinis both got their starts under Belichick and both have tremendous respect for the man who has become a Hall of Fame-caliber coach in New England, Belichick remains a polarizing figure here. The arrogance and disdain that he showed in news conferences (watched by the fans) was insulting to many of the customers who pay the salaries of the coaches and players. Romeo Crennel was wise in how he remained respectful and genuine, even when it was obvious he planned to say nothing of consequence. Even the fans who didn't like Crennel as a coach considered him a decent man who didn't talk down to the customers.

7. Owner Randy Lerner could help himself in the eyes of the fans by standing in front of everyone at the news conference and giving clear reasons why he has hired Mangini and Kokinis. Lerner did do more homework than most fans realize, and he did have a plan beginning with finding an experience coach with some degree of success. But he needs to explain that to his customers. The Mangini news conference lacked a voice of anyone from the team stating why the former Jets coach was hired.

8. Kokinis is not Pete Garcia, the player personnel man to Butch Davis who had no real pro experience. Kokinis is a career NFL guy who has scouted college players and the pros for years. He helped Newsome put together some very good teams in Baltimore. Teams such as Kansas City and Atlanta have been interested in interviewing him in the past few years. You never know what a guy can do until he is finally the head coach or GM, but Kokinis has solid credentials.

 

[MAC_32]

My guess is that Sean Jones will not be back...IMO he'll probably want a fresh start somewhere else.

The DBs...

2009 NFL Free Agent Defensive Backs

Nnamdi Asomugha, UFA, Oakland Raiders

Asomugha’s numbers don’t overwhelm other than his eight interceptions in ’06, but the big reason that he has only 257 career tackles and 10 interceptions in his six seasons is because opponents attack the side of the field that Asomugha isn’t on. He has 49 passes defended over his last four seasons and he’s one of the NFL’s best in coverage. He’s held some of the game’s best receivers in check in single coverage and if he becomes a free agent, he may command the most attention of the lot. He also missed only four games in his career. With the release of DeAngelo Hall earlier this season, Oakland may now look to pay Asomugha, considering how talented he is.

Mike Brown, UFA, Chicago Bears

When healthy, Brown has proven to be a valuable part of the Bears defense. Brown’s best season was in 2001, when he had five interceptions and three sacks, but he has always been a steady contributor when he has been in the lineup. In four seasons, from ’04 through ’07, he played in just 21 games. In ’08, he played in 15 games, making 74 tackles and two interceptions. Teams will still be concerned about his health history, so Chicago appears to be the right fit for him. However, there are teams willing to take a risk in the NFL, and Brown has been healthy so far this season.

Brian Dawkins, UFA, Philadelphia Eagles

Dawkins has been one of the best safeties in the league for some time now. He’s in his mid-thirties, but he will still be of interest to several teams because of his track record. He has had at least one interception in each of his thirteen seasons. As recently as two seasons ago, he had five forced fumbles, four picks, and 98 tackles. While he may not be quite the same player he once was, he’s still one of the games best. He’s played in Philadelphia his entire career and chances are it’ll stay that way.

Dawan Landry, RFA, Baltimore Ravens

It is difficult to imagine that the Ravens would let Landry get away considering he is young and showed major potential during his first two seasons in the NFL. Landry, a safety, made a significant impact in his first year when he made 69 tackles and had five interceptions as well as three sacks. While his sacks and interceptions dropped in year two, he tallied 83 tackles, still making plays on the ball but just not coming up with turnovers. He was placed on injured reserve for this season after playing in just two games this year. Landry is athletic and finds the ball well. It’s a safe bet that Baltimore wants to keep him around through his prime.

Dunta Robinson, UFA, Houston Texans

Robinson missed nearly half the season last year, but before he was injured he was being mentioned alongside the top corners in the league, even though he played for a struggling Texans team. He also missed the first five games of this season, but played in the final eleven, making 38 tackles and two picks. He made a name for himself in his rookie season when he had six interceptions, three sacks, and 88 tackles. Any team would like to have his services in their defensive backfield if he can stay healthy, and if Houston doesn’t start winning, Robinson could look for a change of scenery with a more successful franchise.

Jermaine Phillips, UFA, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Phillips has been around for seven seasons now and has made a name for himself as a capable safety. He has eleven career interceptions, including four in ’07 and three this season. The safety made a career-high 109 total tackles in ’06 and has the ability to create turnovers from time to time with seven forced fumbles in the past three seasons. Phillips will provide a team with a quality run-support type safety that can provide adequate help in coverage. He missed five games due to injury this year, which could hurt his contract offers. Tampa Bay will likely make a reasonable offer to try to keep Phillips with the team.

Other Defensive Backs:

Oshiomogho Atogwe, UFA, St Louis Rams

Tyron Brackenridge, UFA, Kansas City Chiefs

Mike Brown, UFA, Chicago Bears

Phillip Buchanon, UFA, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Jabari Greer, UFA, Buffalo Bills

Rodney Harrison, UFA, New England Patriots

Kelvin Hayden, UFA, Indianapolis Colts

Renaldo Hill, UFA, Miami Dolphins

Daven Holly, UFA, Cleveland Browns

Sean Jones, UFA, Cleveland Browns

Bryant McFadden, UFA, Pittsburgh Steelers

R.W. McQuarters, UFA, New York Giants

Justin Miller, UFA, New York Jets

Lawyer Milloy, UFA, Atlanta Falcons

Deltha O'Neal, UFA, Cincinnati Bengals

Jarrad Page, UFA, Kansas City Chiefs

Jermaine Phillips, UFA, Tampa Bay Bucs

Allen Rossum, UFA, San Francisco 49ers

Darren Sharper, UFA, Darren Sharper

Heard Asomugha on NFL Radio the other day breaking down the games. Sharp as hell, and mentioned that he loved playing for Ryan. If the Browns could snag him, I may just give them one more year of attention.

Acquiring Aso will be a bit difficult when Oakland slaps the franchise tag on him.

 

[eric rymer]

Hey guys. Andy D has a little mock draft going on over here. It'll be for two rounds and it starts the Monday following the superbowl. I went ahead and signed up to draft for our beloved Browns and I thought I would come to you guys for some feedback on what/who you would like to see addressed in the draft. I've definitely got my own opinions, but I wanted to hear from my fellow homers as well. For those keeping score at home, we've got the 1.5 and pick 37 in round 2. So lets have some fun with this.

 

[MAC_32]

Hey guys. Andy D has a little mock draft going on over here. It'll be for two rounds and it starts the Monday following the superbowl. I went ahead and signed up to draft for our beloved Browns and I thought I would come to you guys for some feedback on what/who you would like to see addressed in the draft. I've definitely got my own opinions, but I wanted to hear from my fellow homers as well. For those keeping score at home, we've got the 1.5 and pick 37 in round 2. So lets have some fun with this.

Either a pass rusher or interior LB in round 1.Best available among the opposite of round 1 pick, CB, WR, OL, RB in round 2 - in that order.

Mock's are just so hard pre free agency, what we need now won't be the same as in late March.

 

[amnesiac]

linebackers, safties, linemen

 

[Bracie Smathers]

Hey guys. Andy D has a little mock draft going on over here. It'll be for two rounds and it starts the Monday following the superbowl. I went ahead and signed up to draft for our beloved Browns and I thought I would come to you guys for some feedback on what/who you would like to see addressed in the draft. I've definitely got my own opinions, but I wanted to hear from my fellow homers as well. For those keeping score at home, we've got the 1.5 and pick 37 in round 2. So lets have some fun with this.

Some source material to chew on.http://draftheadquarters.com/blog/?cat=2

January 25th, 2009 Shawn Posted in Zobel's Blog

- The Browns are expected to address their outside linebacker position early in this year’s draft. Aaron Curry is the obvious fit here, while Brian Orakpo and Everette Brown could be two other options.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writ...5/walkup/4.html

... Phil Savage, the former Browns' general manager who scouted all the practices at the Senior Bowl in Mobile last week, check in with his thoughts on the movers and shakers among the prospects there:

c. Brian Cushing and Rey Maualuga get the attention as USC linebackers, and they're good. But Clay Matthews Jr. weighed in three pounds heavier than Cushing and showed he can play inside or outside linebacker. He went from being a mid-round guy in the fall to late in the first or the second round. He was a 175-pound kid in high school. He's 246 and instinctive, just like his dad. (Clay Matthews Sr. played 19 NFL seasons in Cleveland and Atlanta, and his 278 games played are third-most in history.)

d. Cushing looks like a pro, an outside 'backer, kind of like a Kevin Greene.

f. Rey Maualuga is a first- and second-down run defender. Not sure if he's going to be a great third-down player.

i. The best three players I saw, maybe, were Cushing, Oher and Brandon Pettigrew, a tight end from Oklahoma State who is probably the most complete tight end in the country. Very impressed with him. He could go at the bottom of the first round.

http://fantasyfootballwhiz.com/index.php/2...ck-of-2009.html

Jason Wright's 1st Mock of 2009

Written by Jason Wright

Saturday, 24 January 2009

Our very own Jason Wright brings you his insightful thoughts on possible draft picks in the upcoming NFL Draft in his own unique style. Never one to conform to anyone else's standards, we are sure there will be a few picks here that just beg for you to say...HUH?

Take a look and be sure to let Jason know just what you think in our forums. Now on to the picks.

1. Detroit - Andre Smith, T, Alabama - I don't believe they will take Matthew Stafford. I think it comes down to A. Smith or Eugene Monroe and they rebuild their lines first.

2. St. Louis - Eugene Monroe, T, Virginia - They take whatever tackle Detroit does not take.

3. Kansas City - Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia - I think Herm Edwards would have stuck with Thigpen. It's tough to say what the new coach will do especially since they have not named a coach yet so for now, I'm going with the franchise QB.

4. Seattle - Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech - This is so much of a lock that it will probably will never happen. The other option would be if Smith or Monroe fall and they draft the eventual replacement for Walter Jones.

5. Cleveland - Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB, Texas - I think Cleveland will choose the best pass rusher to play as OLB in their 3-4 defense on the board. It could end up being Everette Brown or even Aaron Maybin. I also considered Malcolm Jenkins here but I think Brandon McDonald can be servicable and they need a pass rusher badly. I do not think Aaron Curry fits their defensive scheme.

http://www.theclevelandfan.com/boards/view...f=1&t=11572

Great insight on the Draft ...

Had Scott Wright from http://www.draftcountdown.com on The Cleveland Experience last night, and he really provided some great insight on the Draft, the Browns top two picks, and the players they are likely to consider at #5.

Link to the interview below ... it's from minutes 40-85 (roughly) of the program.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/TheClevela ... Experience

Cliff notes ...

Browns at #5 - Has them taking Jenkins right now. Feels Curry will be gone. Feels BMac is not a starting CB and that Jenkins would give them a rock solid pair of corners in Jenkins and Wright.

Mangini - Pointed to the selections of Darrelle Revis and Gholston, Mangini's defensive background. Really felt the Browns would go LB, CB in rds 1 and 2.

Trade down possibility - Sees it as unlikely, but never say never, and Crabtree is the guy people would most likely want to deal up for. Also mentioned the fact many feel Seattle will take him at #4, which would hurt the Browns ability to do anything before they are on the clock.

Browns 2nd rd pick - Said he expects them to go LB or CB, depending on what they do at #5. Mentioned LBs from Cincinnati, UConn, and some kid from No Ill (?) who had a great week in Mobile. At CV, mentioned a kid named Smith from Utah, some kid from Oregon who is big but not lightning quick.

Browns contingent in Mobile - Said the Browns are always one of the most represented and active teams there, and this year was no different. Said Cleveland and Baltimore were the two most heavily represented teams.

Aaron Curry - Said he is the best OLB prospect to enter the draft in a few years and sees him going 2, 3, or 4. And if he;s there at #5, the Browns will likely take him.

Rey Maaluaga - Influx of underclassmen pushed him down to the middle of the 1st rd. Immature, will not run very fast 40 time, but says he is made to be a 3-4 ILB. Said Maaluaga was immature, but not a thug. Did not wow people in Mobile. If the Browns could trade down and still get him, that would be ideal, because he fills a huge need, would be a good fit ... but taking him at #5 would be a real stretch.

Brian Orakpo - Off the charts strength and speed. Said he will be tested extensively at OLB at the Indy combine. Fighting with Aaron Maybin and Everette Brown to be the top college DE to be taken off the board.

Aaron Maybin and Everette Brown - Said to expect to see both these names tied to the Browns at #5. He was not high on Maybin, who he said is light in the pants, should have stayed in school, and that he sees him as more of a late 1st rounder.

Malcolm Jenkins - Said he was easily the best CB in the draft, would not be surprised to see him run sub 4.5 after working with a speed coach, but regardless of what he runs, he doesn't play that fast. Said that Nate Clements was surrounded by the same lack of lightning speed concerns, but that he is one of the NFL's top CBs and the comp for Jenkins.

Beanie Wells - Expects him to work out very well, and to be the real sleeper for the Browns at #5.

Brady Quinn - Wright was very high on him going into the '07 Draft, and had him as the #2 player on his overall board. Said in 15 years of doing this, he's only had 3 QBs grade out higher coming out of college ... and all three have already won Super Bowls.

Derek Anderson - Said Browns gaffed badly by not selling high on him. In a best case scenario, he said the Browns could probably get a 4th or 5th rounder for him.

_________________

 

[Bracie Smathers]

One more.

Go to link for full story.

http://news-herald.com/articles/2009/01/11...4b020994034.txt

NFL notes: Mangini should start with the linebackers

— the Browns’ pass rush was horrible in 2008.

... The Browns recorded 17 sacks in 2008. Only the Chiefs and Bengals were worse. Combined, those three teams were 10-37-1. They have three of the first six picks in the draft in April.

The NFL playoffs this season reinforce the importance of having a defense that can sack and intimidate. The league average for sacks in 2008 was 32.4. Nine of the 12 teams that made the playoffs finished above the average. The exceptions are the Cardinals with 31, the Colts with 30 and the Chargers with 28.

The Steelers had 51 sacks, the Eagles had 48, the Vikings 45, the Titans 44, the Giants 42 and the Dolphins had 40.

Mangini’s Jets had 41 sacks in 2008. It wasn’t defense that let them down. They would have been in the playoffs and Mangini would still be their coach if Brett Favre hadn’t thrown two touchdown passes and nine interceptions in the last five games.

Thirteen of the Jets sacks were by starting outside linebackers Calvin Pace (seven) and Bryan Thomas (six). The Browns got five sacks combined from starting outside linebackers Kamerion Wimbley and Willie McGinest.

... For the past four years, the Browns have been a 3-4 defense. That defense doesn’t work if the outside linebackers don’t pressure the quarterback.

Mangini learned under Bill Belichick and Bill Parcells. It is only natural he will use three linemen and four linebackers with the Browns. He believes it gives the defensive coordinator more flexibility. It certainly works for Steelers defensive coordinator **** LeBeau.

“You can move the defensive ends towards the nose and run whatever fronts you want,” Mangini said. “You aren’t necessarily married to the concept of always adjusting the defensive line or always adjusting the secondary.

“There’s a ton of flexibility, and it has been very effective over time. Everybody has a different way to run it.”

Rob Ryan, son of well-known defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan and twin brother of Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, was the Raiders’ defensive coordinator for the last five years. The Raiders sacked quarterbacks 32 times in 2008.

The contracts of McGinest and starting inside linebacker Andra Davis expire at the end of February. If former coach Romeo Crennel tells his friend Mangini anything, he should tell him McGinest should retire. Mangini coached McGinest in New England. Mangini should have enough Belichick in him not to be sympathetic toward the old warhorse McGinest.

So where do the Browns get these new linebackers? They aren’t on the roster, unless inside linebacker Leon Williams blossoms. Alex Hall, the 2008 seventh-round draft pick, quickly fizzled after a fast start.

New coaches almost always mean roster turnover.

Linebacker is a good place to start for Mangini.

‘D’ is more than sacks

Of course, defense is more than sacking the quarterback. The most important statistic is points allowed. The Jets had their 41 sacks, more than double what the Browns had, yet the Browns allowed 350 points and the Jets allowed 356.

A big reason the Browns allowed fewer points is they intercepted 23 passes and the Jets swiped 14.

There is no reason a team can’t have sacks and takeaways. The Ravens had 34 sacks and 26 interceptions. They allowed 244 points. They Steelers had 20 picks to go with their 51 sacks and allowed 223 points. They allowed the fewest points in the league. The only team with more sacks was Dallas with 59.

...

 

[amnesiac]

would it make sense to sign a FA OLB sack-master, and then go BPA in the draft?

 

[Bracie Smathers]

would it make sense to sign a FA OLB sack-master, and then go BPA in the draft?

Few choice FA's become available. Very few choice OLB/DE sackmasters, if any, will be available in FA and even if one were available their is no gaurantee they would sign with the Browns.So yeah, IF a choice FA OLB/DE WERE available and IF they were likely to sign with the Browns then heck yeah it would make tons of sense to target them but realistically the best chance of nailing the top priority on the team is with our top pick since it appears that we are in good shape to find one or more choice prospects at OLB/DE who can rush the passer with our top pick.

 

[eric rymer]

thanks for all the input guys. we should be starting shortly.

 

[nxmehta]

 

[eric rymer]

 

[chris1969]

I'm not sure if trades are involved, but If you trade down, I'd consider BJ Raji. He would be pretty awesome next to Rogers.

 

[eric rymer]

I'm not sure if trades are involved, but If you trade down, I'd consider BJ Raji. He would be pretty awesome next to Rogers.

I like the way you think. It actually crossed my mind as well. I think if I felt better about our LB corp I might have given it some real thought. I really wanted to see Curry fall to us. If only trades were allowed, I would be calling just about every team in the league had Crabtree fallen this far. I came close to taking him anyway in a draft and trade scenario. I think we could have taken him, traded down 4-5 spots and picked up a couple picks and still gotten an impact player for our D.

 

[eric rymer]

Well here are the results so far.

1. Detroit – travdogg -- Matt Stafford, QB - Georgia

2. St. Louis - Blackjacks -- Andre Smith, OT - Alabama

3. Kansas City - Atomic Punk -- Aaron Curry, LB - Wake Forest

4. Seattle – Enforcer -- Eugene Monroe, OT - Virginia

5. Cleveland - Eric Rymer -- Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB - Texas

6. Cincinnati – Kirby – Michael Oher, OT – Ole Miss

7. Oakland - massraider – Michael Crabtree, WR – Texas tech

8. Jacksonville – Wadsworth – Jason Smith, OT - Baylor

9. Green Bay - chicago hooligan –Knowshon Moreno, RB - Georgia

10. San Francisco – Choke – BJ Raji, DT – Boston College

11. Buffalo – awesomeness – Everette Brown, DE – Florida state

12. Denver - Buffaloes - Rey Maualuga, LB USC

13. Washington – ChrisCooleyFan - Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State

14. New Orleans – saintfool - Brian Cushing, OLB USC

15. Houston - Coolnerd - Aaron Maybin DE Penn State

16. San Diego - pgreenfan - Jeremy Maclin, WR Missouri

17. New York Jets - Rovers - Vontae Davis, CB - Illinois

18. Chicago - Deranged Hermit - Mark Sanchez QB USC

19. Tampa Bay - Wu-Banger - Chris Wells, RB Ohio State

20. Detroit (from Dallas) – travdogg - Brandon Pettigrew TE Oklahoma State

21. Philadelphia - BuddyBall 2k3 - Eben Britton OT Arizona

22. Minnesota - Andy D - Percy Harvin, WR - Florida

A couple of surprises so far. Moreno to GB really surprised me. I'm also not a big fan of Macling to SD. I'm a little surprised that only one corner is off the board at this point. Unless there is a serious run on them it might present some good value for us in the second. Any thoughts?

ETA: edited to add picks 16-21

 

[MAC_32]

Well here are the results so far. 1. Detroit – travdogg -- Matt Stafford, QB - Georgia2. St. Louis - Blackjacks -- Andre Smith, OT - Alabama3. Kansas City - Atomic Punk -- Aaron Curry, LB - Wake Forest4. Seattle – Enforcer -- Eugene Monroe, OT - Virginia5. Cleveland - Eric Rymer -- Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB - Texas6. Cincinnati – Kirby – Michael Oher, OT – Ole Miss7. Oakland - massraider – Michael Crabtree, WR – Texas tech8. Jacksonville – Wadsworth – Jason Smith, OT - Baylor9. Green Bay - chicago hooligan –Knowshon Moreno, RB - Georgia10. San Francisco – Choke – BJ Raji, DT – Boston College11. Buffalo – awesomeness – Everette Brown, DE – Florida state12. Denver - Buffaloes - Rey Maualuga, LB USC13. Washington – ChrisCooleyFan - Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State14. New Orleans – saintfool - Brian Cushing, OLB USC15. Houston - Coolnerd - Aaron Maybin DE Penn State16. San Diego - Bicycle Seat Sniffer - Jeremy Maclin, WR MissouriA couple of surprises so far. Moreno to GB really surprised me. I'm a little surprised that only one corner is off the board at this point. Unless there is a serious run on them it might present some good value for us in the second. Any thoughts?

My short list in no particular orderPercy Harvin, WR FloridaHakeem Nicks, WR North CarolinaKenny Britt, WR RutgersShonn Greene, RB IowaEben Britton, OT ArizonaDuke Robinson, OG OklahomaAlex Mack, C CalClint Sitim, LB VirginiaDJ Moore, CB VandyMacho Harris, CB Va TechPatrick Chung, S OregonPeria Jerry, DT Ole MissTyson Jackson, DE LSUEDIT: I think there are a lot of good 2nd-3rd round corners in this draft, but not many impact corners. I am not a Vontae Davis fan either.

 

[eric rymer]

Well here are the results so far.

1. Detroit – travdogg -- Matt Stafford, QB - Georgia

2. St. Louis - Blackjacks -- Andre Smith, OT - Alabama

3. Kansas City - Atomic Punk -- Aaron Curry, LB - Wake Forest

4. Seattle – Enforcer -- Eugene Monroe, OT - Virginia

5. Cleveland - Eric Rymer -- Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB - Texas

6. Cincinnati – Kirby – Michael Oher, OT – Ole Miss

7. Oakland - massraider – Michael Crabtree, WR – Texas tech

8. Jacksonville – Wadsworth – Jason Smith, OT - Baylor

9. Green Bay - chicago hooligan –Knowshon Moreno, RB - Georgia

10. San Francisco – Choke – BJ Raji, DT – Boston College

11. Buffalo – awesomeness – Everette Brown, DE – Florida state

12. Denver - Buffaloes - Rey Maualuga, LB USC

13. Washington – ChrisCooleyFan - Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State

14. New Orleans – saintfool - Brian Cushing, OLB USC

15. Houston - Coolnerd - Aaron Maybin DE Penn State

16. San Diego - Bicycle Seat Sniffer - Jeremy Maclin, WR Missouri

A couple of surprises so far. Moreno to GB really surprised me. I'm a little surprised that only one corner is off the board at this point. Unless there is a serious run on them it might present some good value for us in the second. Any thoughts?

My short list in no particular orderPercy Harvin, WR Florida

Hakeem Nicks, WR North Carolina

Kenny Britt, WR Rutgers

Shonn Greene, RB Iowa

Eben Britton, OT Arizona

Duke Robinson, OG Oklahoma

Alex Mack, C Cal

Clint Sitim, LB Virginia

DJ Moore, CB Vandy

Macho Harris, CB Va Tech

Patrick Chung, S Oregon

Peria Jerry, DT Ole Miss

Tyson Jackson, DE LSU

EDIT: I think there are a lot of good 2nd-3rd round corners in this draft, but not many impact corners. I am not a Vontae Davis fan either.

Thanks for the feedback Mac. Harvin and Britton are officially off the board. Still only one CB gone andreally a lot of quality players still on the board and we really should be able to find some good value at 1.05

 

[chris1969]

Great job so far Eric

 

[eric rymer]

Great job so far Eric

Thanks man. It certainly was alot tougher than I though. I just took DJ Moore from Vanderbilt at 2.05

 

[MAC_32]

Great job so far Eric

Thanks man. It certainly was alot tougher than I though. I just took DJ Moore from Vanderbilt at 2.05

Great pick!

 

[eric rymer]

Great job so far Eric

Thanks man. It certainly was alot tougher than I though. I just took DJ Moore from Vanderbilt at 2.05

Great pick!

Thanks. I really wish trades had been allowed. With Curry gone and Crabtree sitting on our doorsteps I am pretty sure I would have been getting some offers. Everyone has Crabtree penciled in to the Hawks and people just might be stunned if someone they pass on him. I think we could have dropped 5-6 spots and still gotten a great OLB/DE and picked up at least another 2nd or 3rd. And with Shonn Greene still hanging around, that pick might have came in handy. We do have a lot of holes and being without a 3rd and 5th hurt a little. But honestly if we come out of the draft with Orakpo and Moore I would be very happy.

 

[DawgPoundNJ]

I'll be honest, if Crabtree fell to us I wouldn't mind grabbing him and shipping off Braylon for a late first or second, or even Anquan Boldin if Arizona obliges. Come to think of it, that may make sense considering Warner mentioned his decision to return somewhat hinges on the Boldin situation. I think Edwards might be a nice replacement. Boldin gets his money, #1 receiver status, and out of AZ, and Edwards gets a change of scenery. Is this far fetched?