22 replies to this topic

[Kennedy]

Being a browns fan is a lot like that Bill Murray movie Groundhogs day. No matter how hard they try things never change. They just keep living the same ongoing nightmare year after year after year.

So here we are, a year into the Ray Farmer edition of the perennial door mat franchise that is the Cleveland Browns. The questions remain the same. A quarterback in rehab, all-pro receiver serving another substance related suspension, and the impending departure of Jordan Cameron via free agency mean once again the browns will have absolutely no weapons on the offensive side of the ball. The lack of talent runs so deep that not even a perfect draft will fill all the holes.


A lot of people have Devin Smith going to Cleveland near the bottom of the 1st round. Don't get me wrong I would love to see a Buckeye play for the Browns but for his own sake I hope he doesn't end up there. We don't have a quarterback that can throw to him. Hoyer couldn't hit Miles Austin in stride, what do you think he would look like throwing to Smith? Hell, Cardale Jones can't even get him in stride. If the Browns take him it will be a waste of a good player. Could you imagine what he could with a guy like Flacco or Big Ben?

In all honesty im at a loss with this team. There's so many holes to fill it's impossible to justify taking one player over another.

[lepiota]

I read today that if Mariota slips to the Redskins at 5, the Browns will trade their first two picks for him

[gamekeeper]

i hope they don't like Kennedy said we have so many holes to waste to picks on a guy most scouts think will need a year or two to sit and adjust to a system to play. Just what they don't need to do, draft another QB, to throw into the game way before he is ready and get him beat up and kill his confidence before they have established a running game, and get some play makers. manziel is the QB and getting one this season just to take one seems counter productive. The Buckeys could have two QB's to pick from next year, and with the Browns schedule they have they will probably have a pretty high draft choice.

[Kennedy]

How awful would that be? Seriously. Another "system" QB that put up huge numbers in college but the transparency of his game is a complete mystery to NFL scouts. I don't like it.


How do you feel they should handle free agency? Personally I think retaining Buster Skrine should be priority #1. Let Cameron walk unless you can get him to agree to a performance incentive laden contract. Sheard a very good player but he just doesn't fit the scheme here anymore. He'll want starter type money so I think it's safe to say he's gone. Craig Robertson is restricted, but I gotta believe they will make an effort to keep him around before he hits the market. I thought he came on very strong in Dansby's absence last year.

And then there;s hoyer. They at least have to make an attempt to bring him back, but it will be clear very early where each side stands. If there too far apart you have to let him walk.



As far as landing some of the big fish free agents, I don't think we have a chance. We aren't going to get a marquee name to come here unless we grossly overpay someone. The focus has to be on the draft first.

Edited by Kennedy, 12 February 2015 - 01:05 PM.

[gamekeeper]

Rumor has it that the Browns are going to put a logo on the side of the helmets for next year. I for one hope it isn't the elf. Not sure who came up with that, but they must have an elf fear, because it is a strange looking thing.

Second another rumor is Browns are looking at Josh McCowen, as a possible veteran to bring in and compete with Johnny I wrecking the league Manziel.

[gamekeeper]

New logo is supposed to be unveiled today, this should be interesting.

[Kennedy]

I'm thoroughly confused right now. $53million in cap space and the best that ray farmer can come up with is Brian Hartline? Correct m if I'm wrong but isn't there a minimum amount of money a team has to spend in the offseason? I understand the building through the draft philosophy, but the browns do not have the clout to ignore free agency all together. I could live with letting Skrine walk, but they haven't even shown interest in anyone who could replace him. They must have some kind of confidence in Justin Gilbert.

The 2 guys the browns reportedly had interest in clearly had no intentions of coming to Cleveland. Trent Cole came out and said he wanted to play for a contender. Did anyone really think that a year after getting a ring in New England Revis was considering coming to Cleveland? Come on! This is laughable.

Edited by Kennedy, 11 March 2015 - 08:38 AM.

[gamekeeper]

Well they signed Thad Lewis! the QB race is really heating up now. Resigned Moore, because he was the best Punt returner off a terrible punt returning squad. I was a little up set they let Sheard go, just because they could have paid him what New England paid him. It wasn't a big contract he signed for.

[Kennedy]

This just keeps getting better. It looks like the browns will end up paying more for Jordan Camerons replacement than the $15million miami paid to get him. Classic browns. At this point they should just stay put with the 2 tight ends already on the roster. Dray and Barnidge played fine last year, and they're better blockers than Cameron.

And for the love of god don't sign Dwayne Bowe. Stevie Johnson sure, but Bowe is incredibly overrated. Lets not forget he's also a pot head. We know how pot heads fair in Cleveland.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, not only have they not signed anyone, they've now lost 4 starters to free agency. I can't wait to see how Farmer produces 4 more starters on a team that's already spread so thin for talent.

[gamekeeper]

If they sign Bowe though he would provide them with the possession receiver that the Tight end Cameron type would fill, and then just use the two tight ends that they have like you said who are FAR better blockers than Cameron, and use them for the RUN game going. Bowe doesn't have to be a #1 WR on Cleveland you have Hartline for that, but as a #3 I think he would be okay. He can catch, and is a big body guy for that middle of the field catches.

[gamekeeper]

What about Cecil Shorts? He wants to be a Brown, and I think they can get him cheaper than Bowe and he is younger so would have more left in the tank and drive to play well.

[lepiota]

gamekeeper, on 16 March 2015 - 01:06 PM, said:

What about Cecil Shorts? He wants to be a Brown, and I think they can get him cheaper than Bowe and he is younger so would have more left in the tank and drive to play well.

The texans signed Shorts today

[Kennedy]

Bowe is the exact opposite of what Cleveland needs. He's small, prone to drops, has drug issues, and is past his prime. I've said it before, give me Stevie Johnson over him all day long. He's bigger, younger, and has put up similar numbers in his career. Most importantly, he comes with ZERO baggage.

Cleveland won't get a #1 receiver anywhere but the draft. Even then there's no guarantee. This whole discussion makes the Josh Gordon situation that much worse. He is a Hall of Fame talent and a walk of shame brain.

Teams that have a true #1 don't let them leave.(Dallas, Denver) Hartline may end up being a #1 in Cleveland, but he is not a #1 receiver. That's why Miami let him walk. I'm glad we got him, the dude is clutch on 3rd downs, but he's not our long term answer.

[Kennedy]

Buster Skrine, a 25 year old that's spent his entire 4 seasons in Cleveland, who the staff loved because of his effort and tenacity and who was 2nd in the league in passes defensed in each of the last 2 seasons. Too expensive for the browns to keep around. He goes to New York for 4 years, $25mil. Just over $6mil a year.

Tramon Williams, a 32 year old career Packer is signed by the Browns to be his replacement. 3 years, just north of $21mil. $7mil a year.




So in the end you pay more money (in the short term) to replace the guy that in the beginning of all this was too expensive to keep around.

Only in Cleveland.

[NWbballfan]

T. Williams is 2nd in the league since 2010 in passes defended at (82) only behind JOE HADEN at (87). He is also 2nd in the league in INTS since 2011 only behind Richard Sherman. IMO this was a great signing. Skrine was a liability at times bc of his size and all the penalties. Granted I loved the way he played the game, but Williams is an obvious upgrade opposite Haden.

[Kennedy]

Since 2012, when Buster became a full time starter(he was drafted in 2011), the numbers are like this. He has 49 breakups to Williams 41. He does have 3 less interceptions over that span. I can't argue that, but I wouldn't call it an obvious upgrade. His experience and leadership we be an asset for sure but he's clearly past his prime.

[gamekeeper]

Well at least new uniforms look good, so the Browns have that going for them this season. Cleveland on the chest is a nice touch

[lepiota]

I 've been waiting forty years for new uniforms....literally

Edited by lepiota, 15 April 2015 - 12:59 PM.

[gamekeeper]

DT there are two or three DT's that can help the BRowns do something that they haven't done well since they have came back into the league, and that is stop the RUN. It is the AFC north, and teams have ran all over the Browns every season since returning to the league. Mariota is not a good fit for Cleveland. I think he is going to be a good QB in the NFL, but The browns are a horrible fit for a Guy growing up in Hawaii. I don't care how much you pay him to play football, he isn't going to like the cold weather ever. Plus if doesn't pan out then once again the Browns wasted another set of first round picks. Besides we have JOHNNY! he is going to wreck the league remember!.