Cleveland Browns Preview: What To Watch During Training Camp

There are several teams in the NFL that have many questions surrounding the team, and one of those teams has got to be the Cleveland Browns.

After the last game of the 2008 season, owner Randy Lerner pretty much fired everyone on the coaching staff and his general manger.

Rebuilding for the fourth time since their return 10 years ago, the Browns have many question marks heading into training camp.

The Cavs Have LeBron and Now Shaq, Can Brady Quinn Be the Face of the Browns?

Now that the news has broke that the Cleveland Cavaliers have agreed to a deal with the Phoenix Suns that will bring future Hall of Fame center Shaquille O’Neal to the Cavs, the Cavs now have two big name faces of the franchise: LeBron James and now Shaq.

The Cleveland Indians have had center fielder Grady Sizemore as the face of their franchise for several years now, but what about that other professional team in Cleveland that makes fans crazier than any other Cleveland sport?

The Cleveland Browns.

Who is the Browns’ face of their franchise?

Since the Browns rose from the ashes like a Phoenix, there really hasn’t been a true face of the franchise.

Tim Couch was supposed to be, but that turned bad really fast.

Then Charlie Frye was supposed to be the guy, bad that went bad really fast, too.

Since Brady Quinn was drafted, he has kind of been the face of the franchise, but he has been a backup quarterback and that does not consist of truly being the face of a franchise.

So now Eric Mangini is having another quarterback competition to name the starter, but during Mangini’s press conferences he has already given hints as to which quarterback he wants to be his starter.

Offensive coordinator Brain Daboll also gave away a little too much information, regarding the quarterback competition by stating within the context of his own words that Quinn is his favorite to win the job, too.

It’s pretty obvious that the new offensive scheme is appearing to suit Quinn’s talents more so than Derek Anderson’s, but Mangini and Daboll might already have their mind made up and are just going through the proper steps to not disrespect Anderson.

Nevertheless, the Browns are in dire need of a face to define their team, and they haven’t had a true face since Bernie Kosar back in the 80s and early 90s.

Quinn is more than capable of carrying the franchise on his shoulders. He has the look, the personality, the charisma, and the attitude to do it.

Now he just needs to perform at the high level that all of Cleveland fans expect him to and help turn this team into a winner once again.

Or at the very least for beginners, beat the Steelers this year to end the excruciating losing streak.

Josh Cribbs Might Be The Opening Day Starter at Wide Receiver For The Browns

Reports out of the Cleveland Browns training facility in Berea, OH say that return specialist Joshua Cribbs has been working exclusively at wide receiver throughout the camps he has been in attendance for.

What this means is that the Browns are moving on without Stallworth, and are giving Cribbs as much time at wide receiver to get him comfortable with the position.

Cribbs is known around the NFL as one of, if not the best, all around special teams player in the league. He not only returns punts and kicks, but Cribbs serves as the gunner on the coverage teams and lead the Browns in special teams tackles in 2008.

Going into the offseason workouts, Cribbs asked for a new contract and missed some improtant training time during voluntary workouts, but then he had a change of heart and decided to put his differences aside to get back with his old and new teammates to prepare for the 2009 season.

New coach Eric Mangini has said several times that he intends to maximize Cribbs’ talents, unlike the last regime, and to use him on special teams, offense and defense.

Until now, fans of Cribbs and the Browns were hoping that he would get a chance to play some safety, but if mandatory camp two weeks ago were a clue, then fans may see Cribbs more at the receiver spot.

It is looking like the Browns are grooming Cribbs to possibly compete for the starter position opposite Braylon Edwards.

In mandatory camp, Cribbs and Mangini both confirmed that Cribbs has only seen time on special teams (of course) and exclusively at wide receiver.

Ohio State Buckeye, and fan favorite, Brian Robiskie has been seen as the front runner for the starter spot opposite Edwards, but Cribbs has the talent, speed, strength and smarts to be a quality No. 2 receiver in the NFL.

He just hasn’t been given a chance to do it.

Now he is getting his chance, and having a game breaker like Cribbs playing some receiver, is definitely a good thing.

Even if Robiskie is as good as advertised, and it looks that way, having a receiver combo of Edwards, Cribbs and Robiskie looks very promising for the 2009 season.

Game Changing Players in the NFL: The 32 Team Edition

Every NFL team is loaded with all sorts of talented players, but only a select few players are real game changers with that special talent to change the entire momentum of the game with one single play (or even multiple plays).

The following is a list of every single NFL team and their game changing player on the roster.

Kosar Suggested Lerner Hire Belichick to Coach the Browns in 1998

In lieu of the current news regarding former Cleveland Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar filing bankruptcy, there is another little piece of information abound throughout the grapevine that is very interesting and intriguing.

That little piece of news is that Kosar approached the new Browns front office, before their re-introduction back into the NFL in 1999, and recommended that Bill Belichick be hired as head coach of the new Browns in 1998.

Wow!

First of all, this comes as a shock, because Kosar was recommending the guy who not only benched him, but also cut him back in 1993, when Belichick was the head coach of the Browns.

Obviously, Kosar had deep respect for Belichick despite being benched and cut by him, otherwise you just don’t go and endorse a guy who pretty much fired you from the team.

Kosar explained, “I went to Mr. (Al) Lerner and Carmen Policy in 1998 and told them when they were talking about who should be the head coach of the new franchise, that they should hire Belichick. They laughed at me. They ridiculed me.”

The reason Lerner and Policy ridiculed Kosar is probably because they saw what Belichick did in Cleveland in the early 90s, why would he do any better a second time around?

Lerner and Policy should have listened to Kosar instead of laughing at him because Belichick has now become one of the greatest coaching minds the NFL has ever seen, and he is destined to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the future.

Belichick’s second stint as a head coach in the NFL has proved to be much more successful than his first.

Hired on as the head coach of the New England Patroits in 2000, he has gone on to win three Super Bowl Championships, which is something the current Cleveland Browns haven’t even gotten anywhere close to.

What if Lerner would have listened to Kosar and went ahead to hire Belichick to lead the new Cleveland Browns of 1999?

One thing is for sure, he would probably still be the Browns head coach, whereas now the Browns are on head coach number four since 1999.

 

Browns Decision To Cut Donte’ Stallworth Impeded By Big Salary Cap Hit

NFL Commission Roger Goodell has made the first right move in deciding the NFL eligibility of Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth by suspending him indefinitely from the NFL without pay.

What does this mean?

This means that Goodell will be analyzing the smallest detail in this player misconduct matter to make the appropriate decision regarding Stallworth’s future in the NFL.

What does that mean?

Hopefully it means that Goodell will suspend Stallworth for the entire 2009 NFL season and maybe longer.

What happened the last time a NFL player was suspended indefinitely in the NFL?

The last time a player was suspended indefinitely was Adam “Pac Man” Jones, but he eventually received a six game suspension, but Jones did not kill another human being.

So what are the Cleveland Browns going to do with Stallworth?

That is the big question…and the answer may not present itself to the Browns front office until Goodell finalizes his decision on how long to suspend Stallworth.

Why can’t the Browns front office make a decision?

As of right now, with Stallworth being suspended indefinitely, the Browns will recover his 2009 salary immediately which is $745,000.

Now if the Browns choose to cut him immediately, then a $7.6 million will hit their salary cap, which equals approximately six percent on the teams cap space in 2009.

Another option is to keep Stallworth on the payroll until 2010, when there will supposedly be no team salary caps, unless a new Collective Bargaining Agreement is agreed upon, and therefore the $7.6 million will not affect a salary cap.

If Goodell does suspend Stallworth for the entire 2009 season, he will be doing the Browns a favor because then the Browns can retain Stallworth on their reserve list and then release him in 2010 with no hit to the cap unless the new CBA can be reached beforehand.

Stallworth’s current and future suspensions will not affect the roster bonus’ that he received on March 13, the day before his crash, and that he will receive in January 2010 due to language written into his contract.

It is very unfortunate that the Browns are caught in this stalemate with releasing Stallworth due to his contract, and he may be safe from getting cut as of right now.

The salary cap hit might not matter to the Browns management and they may just cut their ties with Stallworth out of principle very soon.

The resulting outcome will be very interesting.

After a Year of Silence, Chad Ochocinco’s Mouth Is Running Once Again

Th Cincinnati Bengals’ wide receiver formerly known as Chad Johnson had a very quiet 2008 campaign.

Now that the Bengals have made many offseason moves, the mouth and attitude have been awakened once again during Bengals camp on Thursday.

“It’s going to be a great year; we’re going to the playoffs,” Ochocinco assured. “We’re going…We’re making progress. I mean, I see it, and I can come out on a limb and say what we’re going to do.”

He said that the team looks even stronger than it did back in 2005, when the Bengals last made the NFL playoffs.

Ochocinco has been reported to look stronger than ever in his upper body, and his speed and explosiveness are faster than ever.

Looking to put a bad year behind him, Ochocinco is more motivated than ever in camp on Thursday.

Also, he is trying to create an even stronger bond with quarterback Carson Palmer. Rumors recently surfaced that Ochocinco would be staying with him at Palmer’s home during camp.

These are some very strong words coming from a player who is coming off his worst statistical season as a pro, and whose team held the No. 6 overall pick in April’s NFL Draft.

With all the changes the Bengals have made, there is no doubt that the team will be more competitive than they where in 2008.

Can the Bengals really compete in a division that is home to two of the strongest AFC teams in the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens?

Or, will they just get blown out by the Steelers and Ravens and only really compete with the Cleveland Browns?

With training camp still a month and a half away, and the 2009 season still two and a half months away, it’s a waiting game to see if Ochocinco’s prediction will come to fruition.

Don’t think that this is the last thing that will be heard from Mr. Ochocinco.

This is only the beginning.

Latest Brandon Marshall Rumor Has Him Coming To the Browns, Not a Chance

 

The newest rumor out in the NFL grapevine is that the Cleveland Browns have contacted the Denver Broncos regarding wide receiver Brandon Marshall.

The possible deal in the works calls for the Browns to send the Broncos special teamer Joshua Cribbs and one or two draft picks.

This rumored deal would lead Browns wide receiver Braylon Edwards, once again, to trade talks with various teams that might still have interest.

First of all, this rumor is absolutely crazy. There is no possible way that Eric Mangini would want to bring on Marshall, especially with all the off-the-field issues he has.

Edwards may drop the ball too much, but he is a wonderful character player and has zero off-the-field issues.

Secondly, Cribbs may be upset that he cannot get a new contract at the moment, but he has put his financial differences aside and has been participating in the Browns’ camps over the past month.

Cribbs has publicly stated that he loves Cleveland, the Browns organization, its fans, and does not want to leave this team.

The next point to prove this Marshall trade rumor is ridiculous is the fact that the Browns would be willing to give up future draft picks for Marshall.

If Mangini is anything like his mentor who resides in the New England states, which he is, then Mangini will not give up drafts picks because he believes that to build a contender in the NFL, it must be done via the NFL Draft.

Finally, Edwards is in the final year of his contract and he will perform this upcoming season due to one reason. That reason being that he will want to get paid close to $10 million a year in a new deal and he needs to prove that he is worth it.

In conclusion, it is understood that in the NFL off season there are more rumors flying around than in any other professional sport in the world, but this rumor is just unbelievably insane.

Marshall’s likely landing spots if he gets traded will be either: the Ravens, Bears, Jets, or Vikings.

 

NFL Backfields Under the Microscope in 2009

In my continuing “Under the Microscope” series, several NFL running backs will be closely watched in 2009 because of age, injury recovery, off-field issues, competition at the position, and other factors.

This (re-released) list, in no particular order, could include almost every running back and backup in the league, but these select few will be under the microscope, more so than others, to perform this year.

Cleveland Browns Players That Might Breakout in 2009

For the last decade, the Cleveland Browns fans have created a mantra which is, “There’s always next year.”

It is now the fourth time that the Browns have gutted the coaching staff and management, but this time there seems to be that sense that Eric Mangini might know what he’s actually doing.

Since this is Mangini’s second go-around as a head coach, he has learned from his mistakes of the last three years with the Jets, and he looks like a coach that is on a mission.

Hopefully that mission is to bring the honor and tradition on Browns football back to Northeast Ohio.

The following, in no particular order, is a list of several Browns players to keep an eye on because they just might surprise a lot on people and have a breakout season in 2009.

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