The All-Cleveland Browns Team of the Decade (2000-2009)

This decade was one of constant rebuilding for the Cleveland Browns who became an NFL once again in 1999, after the team was relocated.

Rebuilding is only one of several words that can describe this decade of football for the team and its’ fans.

The Browns were just good old fashioned drama from 2000-2009.

With only two winning seasons in 2002 when they were 9-7 and made it to the playoffs only to get eliminated by their rivals the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round and in 2007 when they were the cinderella team going 10-7 with an extremely potent and explosive offensive attack.

Their record for the decade is 54 wins, 103 loses for a 52.4-percent winning percentage.

Now that the decade is coming to a close here is the “All-Browns Team of the Decade” which was very difficult to choose.

When a team struggle for the majority of a decade the position-by-position selections were not easy at all.

(Note: All stats provided by pro-football-reference.com)

And now…..the following Cleveland Browns players are this journalists’ “All-Browns Team of the Decade.”

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Josh Cribbs at Running Back: Eric Mangini is Going to Try it!

In continuing in my quest to have Josh Cribbs of the Cleveland Browns become a running back instead of a wide receiver, I give you the next chapter which I have entitled…”Eric Mangini Buys In!”

(Click here and here for links to the other two chapters.)

That’s right, according to the Associated Press, Mangini has bought into this theory and will begin using Cribbs as a running back more.

Mangini said, “As a traditional running back, it wouldn’t be something I’d be opposed to.”

“I’ve liked the role he has now. But that’s definitely something we could continue to explore and figure out more ways. There’s some merit to getting in multiple receiver groups, being able to motion him back into the backfield and use him as a running back that way. We did a little of that with Brad Smith in New York. It’s definitely something to look at.”

Obviously Cribbs will not become the Browns’ featured running back, but with former starting running back Jamal Lewis on Injured Reserve, and ending his career this year, the Browns are strapped to find a new featured runner.

Cribbs may have the chance to become that guy in the future, but for now he will be splitting duties with the other running backs, Jerome Harrison and Chris Jennings.

Regardless, of what may happen in the backfield beyond 2009, Cribbs’ calling has been to run the ball out of the backfield seeing as how he has been doing it in high school and college as a run-first style of quarterback.

He has the vision and the instinct to be a successful runner even if he only got 12-14 carries per game, if he continued to run the ball for over a six yard per carry average, he would be a 1,000-yard runner by week 13 and he would have almost 1,300-yards at the end of the season.

Now that would be amazing, not only for the team, but for Cribbs to become one of the top runners in the NFL.

At first, this was just a hypothetical thought that I figured might help Cribbs and the team, then the Steelers game happened, and now Mangini is complying with this

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Opportunity Sessions: Cleveland Browns Are Building Talent From Within

The 2009 Cleveland Browns regular season is the first season in recent memories that has so many no-name, undrafted, late round, and/or practice squad players stepping up and making plays in games.

It appears that Eric Mangini’s “opportunity sessions” that occur after practice for younger players who need help learning plays and the system are panning out.

These same after-practice sessions are the reason that promising rookie running back Jame Davis got injured and has missed the rest of the season, but NFL officials did come to the Browns Training Facility in Berea, OH and after reviewing the tapes ruled that the late sessions were in a controlled environment and there was no wrong doing.

Mangini has said that while in New England with Bill Belichick and the Patriots, they also held these late practice sessions and Mangini also brought them with him to New York and the Jets.

Mangini is a true believer of depth and development at every position on the team and in order to create opportunities for younger players to get into games, these sessions are a key element in achieving more playing time and reps.

At this point in the 2009 season, these “opportunity sessions” are finally becoming apparent and they actually seem to be working because more unknown players are stepping into game situations and not only producing, but performing like long time NFL veterans.

In the last few weeks, since many starters have gone down with injuries and are on the Injured Reserve, players including: Evan Moore, Chris Jennings, Marcus Bernard, Jason Trusnik, Matt Roth, Ahtya Rubin, and Brian Schaefering have all stepped up their games.

This may indeed be a roster of many no-name players, but those players have three games remaining to continue to make a name for themselves and have a job in 2010 on the Browns’ roster.

 

Athya Rubin, NT

Since starting defensive lineman Shaun Rogers went down for the season, Rubin has stepped in and helped a Browns defense that was giving up an average of 155 yards per game to only giving up 91 yards rushing to the Chargers and 75 yards rushing to the Steelers.

Rubin seems to be able to plug up the interior of the defense better than Rogers was able to and going forward in 2010, Rubin might actually play in the middle of the line while Rogers could swing out to a defensive end since he is faster and more athletic to rush the opposing quarterback more.

Rubin has quickly become a favorite of Mangini and defensive coordinator Rob Ryan since Rogers’ injury.

 

Evan Moore, TE

Moore literally came out of no where from practice squad obscurity and has become quarterback Brady Quinn’s favorite check down target. Moore looks like a seasoned tight end with good blocking ability and soft hands that seem to catch anything the even comes close to him.

 

Brian Schaefering, DE

Schaefering had two sacks against the Steelers on Thursday night and it looks like he will be rotated into the defensive lineman on pass rushing downs since he has shown a nose for the quarterback.

 

Marcus Bernard, LB

An undrafted free agent pickup who made the Browns roster on the practice squad, Bernard finally made the gameday roster with the injures fellow linebackers D’Qwell Jackson and Eric Barton.

Bernard also showed a nose for the quarterback netting two sacks against the Steelers and he looks to be another undrafted free agent gem that the Browns found.

 

Chris Jennings, RB

To add to the list of undrafted free agents performing during games, Jennings has shown a great burst of speed and power while running the ball.

He may not have the best per carry average, 3.7 yards per carry, but after watching Jamal Lewis tip-toe with the ball of the last two years, seeing Jennings’ ability is very refreshing.

Also, he has scored the only rushing touchdown by a running back since mid-November 2008.

 

Jason Trusnik, LB

Just a backup when he was with the Jets, Trusnik came over in the trade for wide receiver Braylon Edwards and got into the starting lineup after injuries to other players.

Trusnik has shown a great intelligence for Mangini and Ryan’s defensive system and has helped linebacker David Bowens take command of unit.

Trusnik, and receiver Chansi Stuckey who also came over in the trade, have proven that the Browns came out on the top of that trade.

 

Matt Roth, LB

There are not enough words to describe the amazing impact Roth has had on the defense. After the Browns picked him up off of waivers, Roth was playing in the game against the Bengals days later and was able to get seven tackles and a sack.

Roth is a former second round pick of the Miami Dolphins in 2005 and after falling out of favor in Miami, he has been more than welcome in Cleveland.

Roth has played in three games for the Browns and against the Chargers he had five tackles and a half of a sack, and against the Steelers he had five more tackles.

Roth has found himself a home in Cleveland.

 

These players are signs that Mangini’s “process” might just be working, and he does indeed have the ability to find and develop young, talented players who can step into game situations and perform at a high level.

 

(Article also posted on Dawg Scooper)

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Jets Safety Kerry Rhodes Unhappy, Next Stop the Cleveland Browns?

To Cleveland Browns fans who are salivating over the possibility of grabbing Tennessee safety Eric Berry in the 2010 NFL Draft, there may be another safety Eric Mangini would rather get, and, yes, it’s another former New York Jet—Kerry Rhodes.

According to various New York reports, Rhodes wasn’t found in the locker room after Friday’s practice due to his unhappiness with head coach Rex Ryan and the rest of the Jets’ coaching staff.

Two weeks ago Rhodes was benched for backup Eric Smith, and Rhodes has been furious ever since, including sending out a Twitter message from his account that said, “I promise alot of teams would love to have me as their PROBLEM! lol.”

Rhodes was also in a shouting match with secondary coach Dennis Thurman and it appears that  bridges have been burned between Rhodes and the team.

If this is indeed the case, and the Jets will part ways with him, Mangini will be there to scoop up Rhodes and bring him to Cleveland.

OK, it is understood that the Browns and Mangini are way too infatuated with bringing in former Jets players and most of you readers are probably thinking, “please, no more former Jets! “

But before you shut out this concept completely, take this into consideration, current safety Brodney Pool is on IR and in the last year of his contract. His reoccurring concussion issues make Pool a liability for the Browns to resign to another contract.

Enter Rhodes as Pool’s replacement.

Rhodes is a five-year vet with tremendous size (6’3″ and 215-pounds), and has shown the ability to be a top-tier safety in the NFL, but only if he is in the right defensive system, which he is obviously not in at New York.

If the Browns can get Rhodes, they would free up their first-round pick to focus on a pass rusher, or an offensive tackle for the right side of the line.

Rhodes would be a welcome addition as Pool’s replacement in 2010, and don’t be surprised if he is yet another former Jets dressing up in the orange and brown.

 

(Article also posted on Dawg Scooper)

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Josh Cribbs Gets Endorsed By Browns Teammate: “He Would Be a Great Running Back”

If you didn’t have a chance to read this journalists’ article (that was published before the Pittsburgh game) saying that Josh Cribbs of the Cleveland Browns should become a running back rather than a wide receiver, then you should read it here .

Prehaps a little bit of fortune telling? Maybe.

Now that’s out of the way, to continue the “Cribbs needs to become a running back” topic, another Browns teammate has endorsed Cribbs as a running back in offensive tackle Joe Thomas.

Thomas said, “…there’s no doubt in my mind, especially after seeing the things that he did [Thursday night] that he’d be an extremely successful running back in the NFL.”

“He must have some unbelievable vision because he could see all way back to his right, there was a lane the whole way back, like some of the greatest running backs in the NFL could. He hit a seam and took it for about 20-some yards. He kind of takes the approach it’s a punt return. But the vision he’s got is amazing.”

When told what his teammate said, Cribbs responded by saying, “Being a jack of all trades, I feel like that’s one of my abilities. My position is running back. I was a running back back in the day. The wildcat is me at running back. It’s a straight handoff. It’s not like we’re trying to fool you with the quarterback being in the mix. I’m getting the ball and I’m running it; try to stop me.”

Has head coach Eric Mangini taken notice?

Apparently so, especially after Cribbs’ 200-plus all-purpose yard performance against the Steelers, but he has also said that the organization is looking at Cribbs’ contract and it’s “…something we’re working on and want to move forward with. Yeah, I imagine it’s something we’ll get done.”

This is terrific news for Cribbs and his representation because they have both been open regarding their intent on getting a new deal done.

Things are looking up for the Browns with their victory over their rival the Steelers and now that news has broken that they are finally looking to pay Cribbs more money (which he deserves) than what his 2006 contract is currently paying him.

In the words of Deion Sanders, “PAY THE MAN!”

It looks like the Browns are finally taking notice and are going to take care of the player who is the heart and soul of the Cleveland Browns.

 

(Article also posted on Dawg Scooper)

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Wildcat: Cleveland Browns Need to Move Josh Cribbs From Receiver to Running Back

Going into their game versus the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Cleveland Browns need to make a change with their special teams ace, Josh Cribbs, who is by far one of the most electrifying returners in the history of the NFL.

He has impressed ever since he was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Kent State University in 2005. Since coming to Cleveland, the Browns have tried to convert the former college quarterback into a wide receiver.

The “Cribbs Experiment” has been in the making for four years now and in those four years Cribbs’ stats as a receiver are 34 receptions for 276 yards and two touchdowns.

Let’s be clear. Those numbers are not for a single season, but for his entire NFL career thus far.

First, Romeo Crennel tried to make Cribbs a legitimate receiving option, but failed. Now Eric Mangini is trying to do the same, but is failing as well.

What went wrong?

In this journalist’s opinion, the flaw was not in trying to incorporate Cribbs into the offense, but instead of making him a receiver, he should be made into a running back.

When Cribbs returns kicks and punts he looks like a running back with the ball.

He runs upright and strong, and instead of trying to use flashy juke moves, Cribbs runs straight through arm tackles and powers his way through multiple defenders.

Sounds like a running back doesn’t it?

Cribbs has good size to be a running back in the NFL, standing 6’1″ and 215 pounds. But he may not be able to be a feature back.

Regardless of whether he can be a feature back or not, he is indeed more of a running back than a wide receiver and the Browns should be focusing on moving forward with Cribbs in the backfield.

Whenever Cribbs is running the ball, either from the Wildcat formation or from reverse plays, he always seems to get at least four to six yards each time.

Over his career Cribbs has rushed the ball 74 times for 457 yards and one touchdown.

That’s a per carry average of 6.3 yards each time he runs the ball.

The NFL average for yards per carry is always around 4.0, and Cribbs destroys that average.

With the Browns hurting at running back, since Jamal Lewis announced his retirement and since he is on the IR for the rest of the season, someone in the Browns organization needs to take this suggestion and bring it to Mangini or even owner Randy Lerner himself and let them know that Cribbs is not a wide receiver, but a running back.

Please make this switch. Not only will Cribbs get more touches, but the fans will get what they want, which is as much Cribbs as possible.

 

(Article also posted on Dawg Scooper)

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Going Undercover: Charlie Weis Visited the Cleveland Browns Last Weekend

According to ProFootballTalk.com, recently terminated Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis had a secret visit and meeting with the Cleveland Browns this past weekend.

First there were reports that Weis was interested in a possible offensive coordinator position with the Chicago Bears, now it’s the Browns’ turn.

Weis has ties with current Browns head coach Eric Mangini (one of the few bridges that Mangini hasn’t burnt down) when they both worked together as coordinators for the New England Patriots under Bill Belichick.

Weis’ most notable accomplishments are the developing of quarterback Tom Brady for the Patriots and the development of quarterback Brady Quinn when he was the starter for Notre Dame.

Quinn is currently starting to find success as the Browns starting quarterback and if the Browns decide that Quinn is in their future, then Weis may actually become the Browns’ offensive coordinator in 2010.

It is still unknown what will become of current offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, who has struggled most of the year in his game-planning and play-calling, but it would have to be assumed that he might be shown the front door at the Browns training facility in Berea, OH if Weis is hired.

ProFootballTalk.com also reported that Weis meet with both Browns owner Randy Lerner and General Manager-in-training Bernie Kosar to discuss Weis’ possible future with the Browns.

Of course, no specific details of the meeting were provided and everything is only an assumption right now, but if Weis is in the Browns’ future, does that mean Lerner is happy with Mangini?

Is Mangini safe if Weis is hired? Also, according to the site, Weis will be brought on if Mangini is terminated.

So Mangini is on his way out?

What about when a new “football czar” is hired, what will he say?

This is all too confusing.

Too many questions and not enough answers, which is usually the way it goes in Cleveland nowadays.

Weis calling the plays for the Browns’ offense, with Quinn behind center, sounds too smart a move, but is it the right move for the team?

Only time and patience will tell once the season ends and this scenario plays itself out.

 

(Article also posted on Dawg Scooper)

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

After His Dominance of Texas, Ndamukong Suh is Perfect for the Cleveland Browns

After a thrilling end to Saturday night’s Texas-Nebraska game (which had BCS implications), there is only one name that the Cleveland Browns need to learn (and learn to say), and that is defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh.

The Browns are currently in a three-way tie for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft with the St. Louis Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Suh is currently being touted by Sports Illustrated as the top prospect available in the 2010 draft, and draft expert Mel Kiper, Jr. also has Suh ranked as his No. 1 overall prospect.

With many holes all over its roster, the Browns can go many different ways if they are holding the No. 1 overall pick, but after his 12-tackle and four and a half-sack performance against Texas, he might be the guy who the Browns need to beef up their line.

Suh would also be able to learn from one of the NFL’s best defensive lineman in Shaun Rogers.

Many Browns fans will argue that Tennessee safety Eric Berry should be the Browns’ first round pick, but football is won in the trenches and Suh’s speed, agility, power, and elusiveness to get to opposing quarterbacks is exactly what the Browns need on their defense.

Plus he can play a big part in stopping the run and plugging up the holes since he has a big body at six foot four inches and 305-pounds.

If the Browns decide to go another route, then they need to either get an offensive tackle to help solidify the right side of their offensive line or trade down in the first round to not only acquire more draft picks, but to also save some cash by not having to pay the big money of a top ten draft selection.

If Suh was not on the Browns’ radar before Saturday night, you better believe that he is now.

After the Texas game, Suh has 82 tackles, 12 sacks, and one interception in 2009.

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Mike Holmgren To Cleveland Browns May Not Happen, If So GM Choices Are Slimming

On Thursday, Seattle Seahawks President and General Manager, Tim Ruskell, resigned from his position, leaving an undesirable opening for a guy who many Cleveland Browns fans wanted to help their team in Mike Holmgren.

Holmgren was once favored to be the front-runner for the Browns’ “football czar” position once owner Randy Lerner announced that he was preparing to hire “one of the greatest football minds” to rebuild the team.

Now with the sudden resignation of Ruskell from the Seahawks, the Browns are no longer the job that Holmgren might have desired the most. He is still living in Seattle with his family and he has said (many times) how much he loves the West Coast.

This is were Browns fans swallow the large lump in their throat because there is now a .02 percent chance that Holmgren will come to Cleveland.

Why would he when he is already set up in Seattle and the same job is available in his own home town?

So where does that leave the Browns in terms of other available candidates for their “football czar?”

The pickings are starting to get slim, especially if Lerner wants to get a proven NFL leader to run the football operations of his team.

 

Front-runner GM candidate:

 

Floyd Reese

Currently Reese is a consultant to the New England Patriots, but he is the reason that the Tennessee Titans found success after they moved from Houston to Nashville.

 

GM Candidates that want too much power:

 

Bill Cowher

Cowher has said many times that he loves his high-paying studio job, with The NFL Today , but he has also hinting he wants to coach again in 2010. The only problem is that Cowher is not only eyeing a team that will allow him to be a Coach/GM with ultimate power, but his likely landing spot would be with the Carolina Panthers, since that is where his family has lived since 2007.

The Browns would LOVE to get Cowher, but Lerner may not want another guy who wants to power of both the coach and GM.

 

Mike Shanahan

Here is another case of a guy who would wants total control by being both the coach and the GM. Shanahan is a great offensive minded coach, but the power he also desires will not work with Lerner and the Browns.

Shanahan was wined and dined by the Buffalo Bills last week, but he left without a contract.

 

Long-shot GM candidates:

 

Marty Schottenhiemer

Schottenheimer currently works for and is a co-host with Sirius NFL Radio and he has stated on-air many times that he has no interest in coaching in the NFL, but he has not said if he has any interests in returning to the NFL as a GM.

 

Charlie Casserly

Currently the General Manager of The NFL Today , Casserly has been a GM in the past, but he has said during the show that he has not been contacted by the Brown, but he also did not say whether he did or did not have any interest in the position.

 

Bill Parcells

This is more rumor than anything else, but Parcells supposedly has a “back door exit” in his contract with the Miami Dolphins if he decides he wants to move on.

Parcells loves to take bad teams and build them into a contender, and the Browns pose one of the most difficult rebuilding projects that he has ever faced.

The challenge alone could bring him to Cleveland, but this is still a very, very long shot.

 

The Browns are going to be up against several other teams that will be looking for either a new Head Coach or a General Manager since this list of available names is the strongest it has been in years.

Hopefully, they can get the right guy as their GM, because the rotating doors of their front office has to stop if the team is ever going to find balance, consistency, and get back into contention in the NFL.

 

(Article also posted on Dawg Scooper)

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

The Cleveland Browns Need Talent and Should Look at Reggie Bush in 2010

The 2009 season has proved the ineptness and lack of talent on the offensive side of the ball for the Cleveland Browns. But recent news should spike the interest of Browns fans and especially owner Randy Lerner.

Reports online say that the New Orleans Saints will not retain Reggie Bush and his $8 million contract in 2010, regardless if it is an uncapped year.

Whether or not Bush will want another team to pay him the big bucks remains to be unseen. But if the Saints do dump him in the offseason, his asking price may go down dramatically and the Browns might be able to get him dirt-cheap for a one-year trial rental, like when they signed Jamal Lewis to a one-year deal back in 2007.

Almost any football fan can tell you the story of Bush and his abilities in college—how he was the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft but his talents have been a hard transition at the NFL level.

Obviously, the Browns do not need another kick or punt returner since they have Josh Cribbs. But adding Bush to the offense as more of a wide receiver and third-down running back would easily increase the offense’s chances of success moving the ball.

Okay, at this point in the 2009 season, anything to help the offense move the ball would be nice, but having Bush on the field either as a primary target or a decoy will dictate defensive formations by opposing teams.

Another downside of Bush is that since his NFL career began, he has been injury prone. But again, if the price is right, why not take a chance on him to play on the coast of Lake Erie?

If Eric Mangini is retained as the head coach of the Browns in 2010, this move may not be possible. But who’s to say that the “football czar” won’t jump at the chance to sign Bush for a one-year deal?

Yes, this is all hypothetical right now, and many other teams will be jumping at the chance to sign Bush if he is let go. But please, at least be in the running to sign him instead of just passing on Bush’s talent altogether.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

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