January

Jan. 1, 2009   

Browns' GM, coaching searches appear on fast track

Updated at 9:25 a.m. EST Monday, Jan. 5

The Browns have moved quickly in their search to replace head coach Romeo Crennel and general manager Phil Savage. Here’s what we know:

Ex-Jets head coach Eric Mangini reportedly had a great interview with the Browns last week, according to multiple media outlets. After appearing to be a long-shot candidate at the beginning of the process, Mangini’s stock appears to be on the rise. Mangini, who was fired on Dec. 29, was 23-25 in three seasons in New York. He began his NFL career as a Browns ballboy in 1994.

However, the great unanswered question about Mangini is whether he would be able to work with  Scott Pioli, the Patriots’ vice president of player personnel and Browns’ apparent top choice to replace Savage at presstime. The enmity between the Jets and Patriots, especially after the “Spygate” controversy of 2007, is considerable.

Pioli, 43, has earned a sterling reputation for his ability to identify talent, and the Patriots have won three Super Bowl titles in his nine seasons on the job. Pioli began his NFL career as a pro personnel assistant with the Browns, who later moved to Baltimore. Pioli, who interviewed with Cleveland on New Year’s Eve, is also regarded as a top candidate for the Chiefs’ GM vacancy, and he was expected to interview with K.C. this week.

Were Mangini to be hired, Ravens director of pro personnel George Kokinis — who, like Pioli and Mangini, worked with the Browns in the 1990s, would be the favorite to become the Browns’ general manager, ESPN.com reported late last week.

Another name linked to the Browns’ GM search is Falcons president Rich McKay. McKay, 49, was Atlanta’s GM and president from 2004-07 before losing his personnel decision-making powers last offseason. He had not interviewed as of presstime.

The Browns also had interviewed player personnel director T.J. McCreight for the GM vacancy.

In addition to Mangini, the Browns have interviewed Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo for their head-coaching vacancy. They have interviewed one in-house candidate: defensive coordinator Mel Tucker.

December

Dec. 25, 2008   

DL Smith's future with Browns in question after reported altercation with Quinn

With reports surfacing that Browns DE Shaun Smith punched QB Brady Quinn in a recent weight-room altercation, it’s reasonable to wonder if Smith will be back with Cleveland next season, the way we hear it. Head coach Romeo Crennel wouldn’t say whether Smith and Quinn fought, saying, “If it happened, it stays in-house.” The 6-2, 325-pound Smith, who’s known as one of the Browns’ more talkative players, has been hindered by a calf injury this season. As is the case with other Browns players, Smith’s future is tough to get a great read on because of the prospect of widespread organizational changes in the offseason. Smith’s ability to play both end in a 3-4 front and tackle in a 4-3 front could help his case to stay on the roster next season. Also, Smith’s salary-cap number is a manageable $1.1 million next season, and he is signed for two more seasons.

Dec. 19, 2008   

Browns OLT Thomas' second season filled with some tough moments — but highlights, too

Updated at 10:05 a.m. EST Monday, Dec. 22

Opinions have been mixed, but still generally positive, about Browns OLT Joe Thomas’ second NFL season. Thomas, slated to make his second straight Pro Bowl appearance and voted into the lineup for the first time in his career on Dec. 16, has struggled with a couple of the NFL’s best pass rushers in recent weeks. Thomas was beaten by Colts DE Dwight Freeney in the pivotal play of Cleveland’s 10-6 Week 13 loss to Indianapolis; Freeney stripped QB Derek Anderson of the ball, and Robert Mathis returned it for the game’s only touchdown. Also, Thomas had problems with Eagles DE Trent Cole in Week 15. One scout recently opined that Thomas was undergoing “a bit of a sophomore slump,” but two other evaluators raved to PFW about Thomas’ play, and the feeling is that he has a bright future. Thomas had allowed only 3½ sacks in the first 14 games of ’08, according to STATS LLC.

Dec. 5, 2008   

Browns CB McDonald responds well after Denver debacle

After enduring likely the worst game of his professional career in Week 10 vs. Denver, Browns CB Brandon McDonald has bounced back impressively. McDonald didn’t start in Week 11 at Buffalo, his only non-start of the season, but he did intercept a pass, and he followed that with solid play in games vs. Houston and Indianapolis. The Browns have had high hopes for McDonald, who came on at the end of his rookie season and made the Browns’ decision to trade CB Leigh Bodden to Detroit for NT Shaun Rogers all the easier. McDonald’s resiliency should give the Browns hope that his problems vs. Denver, which included Eddie Royal beating him for a 93-yard TD, can be a learning experience, not one that leaves him defeated. “He’s working harder in practice, and he’s applying his technique and his leverage and all of those things that you have to do to be a good player,” Browns head coach Romeo Crennel observed of McDonald.

November

Nov. 27, 2008   

In Cleveland, focus turns to a potential offseason of changes

Updated at 8:35 a.m. EST Monday, Dec. 1

Browns head coach Romeo Crennel and GM Phil Savage

With the Browns’ playoff hopes all but dashed, will owner Randy Lerner make sweeping changes in the offseason?

There is little doubt Browns coach Romeo Crennel is under pressure to save his job after the club’s slide from preseason darling to one of the greatest disappointments of the ’08 season. General manager Phil Savage has come under scrutiny, too; the majority of this roster has been built on his watch, and the Browns have been among the league’s worst on both offense and defense this season. Savage also brought unwanted attention upon himself by sending an e-mail containing a profanity to a fan after the Week 11 win at Buffalo. Savage has since apologized.  

In a rare meeting with reporters last week, Lerner said he would evaluate Crennel’s and Savage’s performances at season’s end. Crennel is signed through the 2011 season, and Savage’s contract runs through 2012, but Lerner indicated contract length would not affect his decision-making about the future of the organization.

There has been much speculation about ex-Steelers head coach Bill Cowher potentially replacing Crennel, but Lerner said last week he had not reached out to Cowher, and Cowher recently told USA Today that he was “really very, very heavily leaning into not going back to coaching.” However, it is widely believed that the Browns would have interest in Cowher were they to change coaches — a prospect that could grow more likely if the Browns continue their fade in the final month of the season.

While Lerner indicated last week that he understands the importance of organizational continuity, firing either Crennel and/or Savage could set into motion of series of events that could alter the Browns’ power structure. If Crennel’s successor wanted, and received, significant personnel power, that likely would call into question Savage’s role — and perhaps future — with the club. Similarly, were Savage to be replaced, his successor might want to hire a new head coach.

No matter what happens, we hear it’s clear Lerner understands how unhappy his fan base is. One veteran Browns observer told PFW that Browns fans haven’t been this angry since Bill Belichick cut Bernie Kosar in 1993. It’s another factor to consider as the offseason approaches.

Nov. 21, 2008   

Quinn's promising start augurs well for Browns

The transition from Derek Anderson to Brady Quinn has been seamless, the way we hear it, with Quinn showing a veteran's command of the offense from the get-go. The Browns scored 59 points in Quinn's first two starts and could have scored even more; half of their trips inside the opponent's 20-yard line ended in field goals. In the week leading up to the Week 12 game vs. Houston, Quinn said he believed he had "left a lot of plays out there" in his first two starts. Nonetheless, the Browns committed only one turnover in that span, and the offense looked crisp. Quinn suffered a small fracture in the tip of his right index finger in the Week 11 win at Buffalo, but the injury is not expected to keep him out of the lineup, and the injury did not bother him sufficiently to be X-rayed until two days after he suffered it.

Nov. 14, 2008   

Crennel refutes talk of Browns quitting, but speculation about his future remains

It could very well be that we ultimately remember the 2008 Browns more for a series of controversies than anything the team did on the field. The latest disturbance: RB Jamal Lewis suggesting that some of his teammates quit vs. the Broncos in Week 10, with RS-WR Joshua Crubbs adding that the team needed to “weed out” the quitters. All of this talk of the Browns’ effort did not sit well with head coach Romeo Crennel, who said that the word “quit” had “taken on a life of its own.” Said Crennel: “Now the Cleveland Browns are quitters, the coach has lost control of the team and there is division in the locker room, and that is not the case.” The way we hear it, Crennel hasn’t lost his players, and much of the talk of quitting was largely driven by Lewis’ word choice. Yet, how the Browns finish the season will likely go a long way in determining whether Crennel is back for a fifth season. 

Nov. 7, 2008   

Quinn's strong debut essentially ends Browns' QB controversy

Say this for the sliding Browns: They won’t have to endure any talk of a QB controversy for the time being.  

Brady Quinn was impressive in his first career start on Nov. 6, completing 23-of-35 passes for 239 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in a 34-30 loss to Denver. Quinn was not sacked, and he was more effective evading pressure than predecessor Derek Anderson. Short of an injury or significant and sustained regression from Quinn, we hear Anderson’s days as Cleveland’s starter are over for this season, and likely for the long term as well. Anderson, who is signed for two more seasons, now faces an uncertain future with the club.

Anderson’s supporters will claim the offense’s problems were hardly all on him, and their point was rather well-illustrated in Week 10, even in Quinn’s relatively smooth starting debut. For example, TE Kellen Winslow caught 10 passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns, but he also made three big mistakes in the fourth quarter: an offensive pass-interference penalty that zapped one Cleveland drive, a fumble that led to a Denver touchdown and a drop on Cleveland’s final offensive play.

The timing of the switch from Anderson to Quinn caught some by surprise. The Browns announced the move one day after the Week Nine loss to Baltimore, a game in which Anderson’s play fell off considerably after Edwards dropped a deep ball early in the fourth quarter. However, at his weekly Monday press conference, Romeo Crennel did not indicate he was going to change quarterbacks. The move was announced later in the day, giving rise to speculation the decision was not Crennel’s, as he later claimed it was. However, a source close to the club notes it shouldn’t be all that surprising Crennel would make a change at quarterback. He benched Charlie Frye in favor of Anderson in Week One of the 2007 season, and he indicated he had considered pulling Anderson during Week Four at Cincinnati before Anderson rebounded to lead a comeback win.

No matter how the Anderson-Quinn swap went down, the ramifications on this season — and the Browns’ future — are clear. Quinn will get the rest of the regular season to learn on the job, a job that is unquestionably his in 2009. That looks to be one of the few certainties in Cleveland as the Browns fade from contention earlier than could have been expected after such a promising ’07 campaign.

October

Oct. 30, 2008   

Browns NT Rogers filling up stat sheet, lifting up defense

Updated at 9:23 a.m. CST Monday, Nov. 3

Of late, few, if any, defensive players have had the impact NT Shaun Rogers has had on the Browns. In the last three weeks, Rogers has notched 25 tackles and three sacks. The way we hear it, several factors have helped the massive and athletic Rogers, 29, play to his potential. This is his first season at nose tackle, and clearly he has taken to this new position. What’s more, he has appeared to relish playing in Cleveland after an uneven seven years in Detroit. Rogers may have never played better than he did Oct. 26 at Jacksonville, when he made nine tackles and a sack and blocked a field goal in a 23-17 win. “He was a force on the defense, he was a force in the game, and he played quite a few plays, and he played hard all the time,” Browns head coach Romeo Crennel observed. “I think maybe, hopefully, he’s happy to be here and will continue to perform that way.”

Oct. 24, 2008   

Browns, Winslow may be reaching end of line

Updated at 9:45 a.m. EDT Monday Oct. 27

Kellen Winslow is expected to return to the Browns’ lineup for the club’s Week Nine game vs. Baltimore. Whether Winslow will be with the Browns in 2009 is another issue altogether after a bizarre series of events last week that ended with the Browns rescinding a one-game suspension issued to their star tight end after he made remarks critical of the club.

After Winslow disclosed that he had contracted a staph infection — and said the Browns asked not to disclose that information — the Browns reacted sharply, suspending him for the Oct. 26 game at Jacksonville. However, the day before the game, the team agreed to rescind the suspension and fine Winslow a smaller amount than his game check of $235,294. According to multiple reports, the Browns agreed to overturn the suspension after it was learned a Browns employee had sent text messages to Winslow telling him not to disclose his staph infection. Because Winslow did not practice leading up to the Jacksonville game, he was inactive in Week Eight.

“We have worked through our differences and look forward to having Kellen return,” the Browns said in a statement. Likewise, Winslow, in a written statement to media outlets, said he looked forward “to getting back to playing football and being a productive member of this team.”

However, in the long term, the question is whether the events leading up to Week Eight have damaged the relationship between Winslow and the Browns. This is the second time Winslow has contracted a staph infection as a member of the Browns, and the club’s reaction to this latest infection did not go over well with him. The way we hear it, it would not be a surprise if his name is mentioned in trade talks in the offseason. And Winslow, who will only be 26 at the beginning of next season and who already has two seasons with more than 80 catches to his credit, could draw significant interest on the market.

Another issue at play: Winslow, who is signed through 2010, would like a new contract, but the Browns aren’t in a rush to grant him that. Were Winslow to be traded, he probably would get a new deal, considering that the acquiring team likely wouldn’t want Winslow to test free agency after the 2010 season.

Oct. 17, 2008   

Browns' secondary growing up fast

Updated at 9:59 a.m. EDT Monday. Oct. 20

No matter what happens the rest of the season, we can always point to Cleveland’s 35-14 win vs. the Giants in Week Six as an example of what the Browns were capable of doing. For one game, the Browns looked like they had leaped off the pages of the preseason magazines that installed them as the favorites in the AFC North.

“This felt like the Browns of last year,” RB Jamal Lewis said after the Giants’ game, referring to that much-celebrated ’07 Cleveland team, a group that won 10 games but missed the playoffs.

But that Browns club usually didn’t get the type of inspired play from its secondary like it did vs. the Giants. Both starting cornerbacks, Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald, had interceptions, as did FS Brodney Pool. Wright and McDonald are only in their second seasons, and consistency has not been their strong suit. But they are improving, especially Wright, who was starting to really pick up his play even before the Giants game and could develop into the top cornerback the Browns have had since the club returned to Cleveland in 1999.

“Everybody thinks that our corners and safeties are young, inexperienced and don’t know what they are doing, so they try them,” head coach Romeo Crennel said recently. “When we play with good leverage and technique, we put ourselves in position to make plays. When we do what we are supposed to do, we are pretty competitive. When we don’t do what we are supposed to do, then they throw the ball over our head and it ends up as a big play for the opponent.”

Limiting those big plays will be challenging during a brutal schedule that includes games against the potent offenses of Jacksonville (Oct. 26), Denver (Nov. 6), Houston (Nov. 23), Indianapolis (Nov. 30) and Philadelphia (Dec. 15). The secondary did hold up relatively well in Week Seven, limiting the Redskins to 158 net yards passing, but it did allow WRs Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El to work free for catches of more than 20 yards apiece.

Another factor that can only aid the secondary: the pass rush has been more robust of late. Defensive coordinator Mel Tucker has not hesitated to blitz to bring extra pressure, an approach that has paid dividends at times.

Oct. 9, 2008   

Browns getting healthy as defining stretch looms

At 1-3, and with a brutal schedule upcoming, the Browns realize its now or never if they are to get back into the AFC North race. The good news is that entering the Week Six game vs. the Giants, the Browns had been as healthy as they had been all season, with the return of WR Donté Stallworth especially expected to provide a lift to an offense that was unable to consistently stretch the field in the first quarter of the ’08 campaign. And that could be a major boost to QB Derek Anderson’s fortunes. Anderson’s struggles in September led to speculation he could lose his job, but he was able to bounce back and lead Cleveland to its first win of the season in Week Four by playing as well as he had at any other point in the season. Anderson rewarded head coach Romeo Crennel’s patience on that occasion, but the way we hear it, the burning question in Cleveland is whether Crennel will be able to be that patient again if Anderson plays poorly for an extended stretch.  

Oct. 2, 2008   

Browns look like they've found a steal in Hall

Entering the season, the feeling was that any of the Browns' draft picks was going to struggle to get much playing time on a club coming off a 10-win season and with their depth chart pretty much set entering the summer. But injuries to OLBs Willie McGinest and Antwan Peek allowed rookie Alex Hall to crack the starting lineup, and he's making the most of the opportunity. Hall, a seventh-round pick, has had a sack in both of his first two starts. "I think Alex has made a name for himself thus far in the early portion of the season,"  Browns general manager Phil Savage told reporters during the Browns' bye week. "… We have very high hopes for him." The 6-5, 250-pound Hall starred at St. Augustine's College, a Division II school in Raleigh, N.C., but he was not an especially highly regarded prospect. Now he looks like the long-term replacement for McGinest and a pass-rushing complement to Kamerion Wimbley.

September

Sept. 26, 2008   

Browns QB Quinn making a run at Anderson's job

Updated at 8:45 a.m. EDT Monday, Sept. 29

Browns QB Brady Quinn

Already off the pace in the AFC North, a division they were projected to win by so many experts, the Browns now have a QB controversy on their hands — a year later than expected, you might say.

With starter Derek Anderson struggling, second-year QB Brady Quinn got more work with the first team in the week leading up to the Week Four game at Cincinnati, an effort to hurriedly get the former Notre Dame star ready to take over the position if Anderson faltered further.

However, if a QB change occurs in Cleveland, that might not be the end of the controversy, with a source close to the club suggesting the team could very well go back to Anderson if Quinn doesn’t play well. Anderson would be no ordinary backup, of course, coming off a 3,787-yard, 29-touchdown campaign in 2007 that earned him a three-year, $24 million contract in the offseason.

Quinn was expected to push for the starting job in ’07, but his decision to hold out at the start of training camp eliminated him from the running and opened the door for Anderson to overtake the now-departed Charlie Frye.

But this season, Anderson rarely has looked like the player he was in ’07, when his strong arm and confident demeanor helped make the Browns’ offense the most explosive it had been in recent memory.

So why has Anderson started so slowly? One of the theories is that Anderson hasn’t quite been the same player since suffering a concussion in the Browns’ second preseason game. Anderson missed the Browns' final two preseason games but returned for the regular-season opener.

“(His) decisions aren’t glaringly bad,” said one personnel man, speaking on condition of anonymity. “The accuracy is just off.” The personnel man suggested that Anderson’s return to past form might be a matter of playing a few more games.

Anderson likely bought himself some extra time by helping the Browns to their first victory in Week Four, a 20-12 win at Cincinnati. After struggling for a good portion of the game, and after head coach Romeo Crennel contemplated pulling him, Anderson settled down as the second half progressed. That will probably quiet the calls for Quinn during the Browns’ Week Five bye.

Sept. 19, 2008   

Browns' defense doesn't look like lost cause

Updated at 9:14 a.m. EDT Monday, Sept. 22

If you’re looking for silver linings in the Browns’ slow start, give a look to the defense, which picked up its play after surrendering 487 yards and 28 points to Dallas in Week One. For much of the game, the Cowboys appeared as if they could do pretty much anything they pleased. But in Week Two, the Browns buckled down, allowing only 281 yards to the Steelers’ potent offense in a 10-6 loss. Last week, the Browns held the Ravens to 273 yards in a 28-10 loss.

“The first game, we just got outplayed,” Browns ILB D’Qwell Jackson, who has a team-high 32 tackles in the first three weeks, told PFW. “Specifically on Pittsburgh, we were right there.”

The key, Jackson noted, was containing Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, who has tormented Cleveland over the years.

“He played well down the stretch,” Jackson said of Roethlisberger, who threw for 186 yards and a TD, “but it was tough. It had to be the perfect pass and the perfect catch.”

The Browns’ defense hasn’t caught many breaks this season, especially when it comes to injuries. DE Robaire Smith, a veteran 3-4 lineman, suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in Week Two.

“We’ve taken some hits since before the season,” Jackson said, citing the losses of OLB Antwan Peek (knee) and CB Daven Holly (knee). Also, SS Sean Jones is likely out a couple more weeks with a knee injury of his own. But, as Jackson pointed out, good teams overcome those injuries.

In the meantime, there’s reason to be optimistic that the defense still has room to improve. First-year defensive coordinator Mel Tucker was praised by Jackson for seeking out the input of players and asking them what they’re seeing on the field.

“Just as much as we’re learning from him, he’s learning from us,” Jackson said.

Jackson noted that the Browns’ defense unveiled some different looks vs. Pittsburgh than it did vs. Dallas.

“We want to make offenses adjust to us,” Jackson said, noting that he believed the Steelers had to react to what Cleveland was doing defensively. That wasn’t enough to secure a victory in what has been a one-sided series of late, but it was progress.

Sept. 11, 2008   

Injury-plagued preseason wreaks havoc with Browns' rhythm on offense

Updated at 9:01 a.m. EDT Monday, Sept. 15

The general feeling in Cleveland is that a preseason marked by injuries to QB Derek Anderson, WR Braylon Edwards and TE Kellen Winslow, among others, has had an effect on the unit’s timing. For all of the offense’s talent, rhythm is an important part of offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski’s scheme, and if that’s lacking, problems will arise. Getting off to an especially slow start in Week One was Edwards, who had as many drops (two) as catches in the regular-season opener vs. Dallas. He didn’t fare much better in the Week Two loss to Pittsburgh, catching three passes for 32 yards. Edwards missed the end of the preseason with a heel injury and very much looks like a player who hasn’t played much recently.

Sept. 4, 2008   

Browns' OL, DL play worth watching as tough schedule kicks off

An early-season story line to watch in Cleveland, the way we hear it, is the Browns’ play in the trenches on both sides of the ball. The offensive line, widely regarded as one of the NFL’s best, wasn’t at its sharpest in the preseason; its strong play both in the running and passing games keyed the offense’s resurgence a season ago, and a similar effort is expected this season. Any drop-off in play could be disastrous. Another issue to keep an eye on: the Browns’ ability to generate a pass rush, an especially key issue considering the Browns’ young secondary, which needs all the help it can get as Cleveland begins a rugged schedule filled with strong passing clubs. Losing OLB Antwan Peek to a season-ending knee injury forces the Browns to give rookie Alex Hall a bigger role in the defense — and puts all the more pressure on the D-line to do what it can when it comes to getting after the passer.

August

Aug. 23, 2008   

Browns' headlining D-line acquisitions adjusting to 3-4 at different speeds

Knowing they needed major defensive fortifications if they were going to emerge as contenders in the AFC, the Browns made waves with the high-profile trade acquisitions of DL Shaun Rogers from Detroit and DL Corey Williams from Green Bay in the offseason. Thus far, only one is living up to expectations. Word we’re hearing out of Cleveland is that Rogers has made a seamless transition into the Browns’ 3-4 system, whereas Williams has experienced far more difficulty in adjusting to the two-gapping scheme. Rogers has been so impressive, in fact, that the coaches have had few reservations about giving him reps both inside at nose tackle and outside at end. Hope is hardly lost regarding Williams, who missed a week of camp with injury, but it’s clear he’ll have to hasten his development if the Browns are to get the kind of play from their D-line that they figured they would by bringing him aboard.

Aug. 14, 2008   

Browns WR Wilson knows he's in a fight for his job

Browns WR Travis Wilson knows what's at stake in this, his third NFL season. "I just feel like this year is a 'put up or shut up' year," Wilson told PFW recently. Wilson, the Browns' third-round pick in the 2006 draft, caught just two passes in his first two NFL seasons, and he now finds himself in a fight for a roster spot. After struggling to make an impact in those first two seasons, Wilson said he brought a different mindset into this season. "I just had to take a more professional approach," he said. "I had to know my playbook inside and outside." Wilson told PFW he got the sense the coaching staff was pleased with the strides he had made this summer — "I believe they are starting to believe in me a little more," he said — but he also noted that he had to take any praise in stride. Wilson could get a longer look in practice and in preseason games because of injuries to Braylon Edwards (foot) and Kevin Kasper (hamstring), and it's clear he is going to have to make the most of any playing time he receives, what with the Browns liking what they've seen of reserve WRs Steve Sanders, Syndric Steptoe and Paul Hubbard.

Aug. 2, 2008   

Slimmer, quicker Lewis impressing at Browns camp

Jamal Lewis

In the words of a club observer, RB Jamal Lewis has looked “fabulous” at Browns training camp, and he has given the distinct impression that he’s capable of exceeding the 1,304 rushing yards he racked up in 2007. Lewis, listed at 245 pounds last season, has shed some weight with an eye on improving his quickness. “I think that’s OK,” head coach Romeo Crennel told Cleveland reporters. “I think that his style is the more carries he gets, the better he becomes, and I think that still is the case, and being lighter, he might be able to break some longer runs. That’s what I’m hoping for.”  On condition of anonymity, a veteran personnel man gave PFW his take on Lewis, who turns 29 in August: “Last year was as well as Jamal has run the ball over the past few seasons. … The QB (Derek Anderson) played well, they had big-play receivers, and the TE (Kellen Winslow) was playing like the guy they drafted. Jamal is a big back with better top-end speed than shiftiness, so all he needs is an offensive line capable of holding their blocks long enough for him to burst through the crease and get into the secondary.”

July

July 26, 2008   

Browns WR Kasper's long-term role remains to be seen

One of the pleasant surprises of the summer for the Browns has been journeyman WR Kevin Kasper, who got some work with the first-team offense on the first day of training camp when WR Donté Stallworth sat out with a minor hamstring injury. Kasper has impressed with his quickness in and out of routes, the way we hear it. Kasper, 30, last played in an NFL regular-season game in 2006, and he has only 24 career catches, but his experience has helped him in a WR competition that includes Josh Cribbs, a star kick and punt returner; rookie Paul Hubbard, a sixth-round pick; and third-year WR Travis Wilson, who has only four NFL games to his credit. (Joe Jurevicius, who would be the No. 3 receiver if healthy, is on the physically-unable-to-perform list with a knee injury, and he could begin the season on that list.) That said, the issue to keep an eye on as camp progresses is whether any of the younger receivers can close the gap on Kasper, whose special-teams ability is another asset that will help his case as he tries to make the roster.

July 18, 2008   

Browns could be back in trade market

With WR Joe Jurevicius a strong candidate to begin the season on the physically-unable-to-perform list, and with the CB depth in need of bolstering, we hear the Browns are expected to be working the phones throughout training camp, looking to strike a deal. A source close to the club notes the team's preference would be to make a player-for-player trade; the Browns dealt away a pair of 2009 draft picks (Rounds Three and Five) in April. Cornerback is the more pressing position of need at the moment. The Browns would like to find a veteran who can come off the bench and cover receivers on the outside when opponents employ sets with three or more wide receivers.  

July 3, 2008   

Jurevicius' health continues to be a concern

Joe Jurevicius

The health of WR Joe Jurevicius continues to be a concern as training camp approaches. His availability for the beginning of camp July 23 is unclear after he had his right knee cleaned out on June 30. That’s the fourth surgery that Jurevicius, 33, has had on the knee in the offseason. At least two of the surgeries were to combat a staph infection that took hold in the knee after the initial operation. There have been whispers about Jurevicius’ status throughout the spring, and this latest procedure — coupled with the team announcing that “no determination has been made on (Jurevicius’) status for training camp” — figures to begin another round of speculation. Jurevicius is no longer a starter, but he is expected to get considerable playing time when the Browns employ three-WR sets. Jurevicius played all 16 games last season, catching 50 passes for 614 yards and three touchdowns. In two seasons with Cleveland, Jurevicius has earned a reputation for his professionalism and dependability, and he would be sorely missed were he forced to the sideline. In such a scenario, Joshua Cribbs might have an expanded role on offense. However, drops were a problem for Cribbs in offseason workouts, the way we hear it.

June

June 27, 2008   

Quinn progressing nicely for Browns

The good news for Brady Quinn fans: We’re hearing he looks much better than he did as a rookie, when the flashes of talent the young quarterback showed in Browns camp had many predicting he ultimately would overtake the floundering Derek Anderson and Charlie Frye for the starting job. The bad news for Quinn supporters: Anderson, who took the starting job and ran with it last season, has improved as well. So there’s no quarterback controversy in Cleveland for the time being. The way we hear it, Quinn has been the consummate professional in his short NFL career, working hard and saying all the right things, and that continues to be the case.

June 13, 2008   

Bentley's Cleveland comeback ends quickly

Browns head coach Romeo Crennel was realistic when asked if the long-awaited return of two-time Pro Bowl C LeCharles Bentley would be uplifting to the team. “It will be uplifting if he can play to the level that he used to play at — only time will tell that,” Crennel told reporters earlier this week after Bentley passed his physical. But there was to be no happy ending to Bentley's Cleveland comeback. Bentley, unwilling to be a backup in Cleveland and wanting a fresh start elsewhere, was granted his release from the Browns on Wednesday, ending his unfulfilling, disappointing stint with his hometown club. Two offseasons ago, Bentley was the centerpiece of the Browns’ offseason spending spree, a player expected to galvanize a leaky offensive line. But he suffered a serious knee injury in his first training-camp practice with the club, and he has not played a regular-season down since. The Browns moved on without him, rebuilding the line through free agency (OLG Eric Steinbach), trade (C Hank Fraley) and the draft (OLT Joe Thomas). Bentley lasted only one day at Browns camp before deciding he wanted to sever ties with the club, and the team was happy to oblige. “We want to wish him the best of luck in his future pursuits as we go forward with our preparations for the 2008 season,” general manager Phil Savage said of Bentley. Lennie Friedman, Rex Hadnot and Seth McKinney are the options at center behind Fraley.

May

May 30, 2008   

Could scenery change be just the ticket for DL Rogers?

There is no doubting DL Shaun Rogers' talent. Most evaluators would agree he's among the most gifted linemen in the game. But he hasn't always played to that ability, which goes a long way in explaining why the Browns were able to acquire him for CB Leigh Bodden and a third-round pick in March. However, the early returns on Rogers' performance from Cleveland are promising. The way we hear it, Rogers, 29, does not appear out of shape; he's listed at 340 pounds. An in-shape Rogers could do wonders for Cleveland's defensive line play, which has been a sore spot in recent years. Look for Rogers to get most of his practice work at nose tackle as he adjusts to the rigors of that key role in Cleveland's 3-4 defense. He will also work at defensive end.

May 23, 2008   

Injuries piling up for Browns

Updated at 5 p.m. EDT Friday, May 23

It is only May, but the injuries have begun to mount for the Browns. The most serious one was suffered by CB Daven Holly, who will miss the 2008 season after injuring his left knee. Holly had been competing with Brandon McDonald for a starting job across from 2007 second-round pick Eric Wright, with the loser of that competition still expected to see regular playing time on passing downs. Losing Holly leaves the Browns rather thin at a position that already wasn’t as deep as it had been a year ago, with Leigh Bodden having been traded to Detroit and Kenny Wright having been released following two arrests. “(Cornerback) was a position, if you look at our roster and our depth chart, it certainly was kind of a soft spot,” general manager Phil Savage said this week. “We feel pretty secure about most every spot on our team, but that was one we were concerned about already. To sustain an injury like this is not a good thing by any means, but at the same time it does give us time to react. If this is something that happens in the middle of August, you’re kind of hung up.” Savage did react quickly, signing 11-year veteran CB Terry Cousin to a two-year contract Friday. The former Jaguar is likely to become the top backup at corner and a presence in the nickel defense, although he could challenge McDonald for a starting job if the latter should falter. Behind Cousin, A.J. Davis and Jereme Perry are the next options off the bench. Last week, Ryan Tucker, who is expected to start at right guard, underwent surgery for a non-displaced hip fracture. Tucker will miss at least two months. The health of TE Kellen Winslow, who is recovering from another knee injury and staying away from the Browns’ OTAs, is another issue that will draw a lot of attention entering training camp.

May 16, 2008   

With McGinest to retire after season, Browns need long-term OLB solution

LOLB Willie McGinest’s decision to retire after the 2008 season puts all the more pressure on the Browns to find a long-term solution at the position. ROLB Kamerion Wimbley, a 2006 first-round pick, is entrenched at his current position and could be a star in the making, but the Browns need someone to step up on the other side. The McGinest-Antwan Peek pairing at left outside linebacker has been solid, but it would not be a surprise if the Browns looked to upgrade the talent at the position next offseason. For now, the Browns will count on McGinest and Peek to do the job. McGinest isn’t the pass-rush threat he was earlier in the career, but the 36-year-old is a valuable resource for young team dealing with higher expectations than ever, head coach Romeo Crennel said this week. “I think the fact that’s he’s experienced some of the things that we will have to experience this year — short weeks, Sunday, Monday and Thursday night (games) — he’s been through all of that,” Crennel said. “I think he’ll be able to help the guys on the team get through that because you have to adjust your schedule. It throws you off a bit. If you can adapt to it, you have a better chance to handle it. His experience will be helpful there.”

May 2, 2008   

Browns expecting little training-camp drama

By and large, expect the drama in Browns' training camp to be minimal. There will be no great QB debate this year (remember Brady Quinn vs. Derek Anderson and Charlie Frye?), and the speculation about head coach Romeo Crennel's future is no more after a successful 2007 season. Another factor the Browns believe will work in their favor, the way we hear it: their biggest offseason acquisitions were via trade (DLs Shaun Rogers and Corey Williams) and free agency (WR Donte' Stallworth). Each of those players, who are expected to play big roles this season, have had plenty of offseason time to get acclimated to their new surroundings. The starting lineup will be veteran-laden: The Browns are unlikely to start any rookies, though fourth-rounders LB Beau Bell and TE Martin Rucker figure to compete for playing time off the bat, and sixth-rounders DT Ahytba Rubin and WR Paul Hubbard look to be in good position in the battle for roster spots.

April

April 25, 2008   

Browns DL Smith could again play multiple roles

In his first season in a 3-4 front, Browns DL Shaun Smith proved he could play both nose tackle and defensive end. And he may be called upon to play both roles again this season for Cleveland's new-look defensive line. How the line will be constructed is still something of a mystery, but ex-Lions DT Shaun Rogers and ex-Packers DE Corey Williams were not acquired to play minor roles. Smith, while stressing that the group needs to develop strong chemistry reminiscent of the Patriots' defensive line, believes that the line's overall talent will make that process simpler than some might expect. "It’s a project, but not a project," Smith told PFW. "These guys are well-established guys in the league. Shaun Rogers is a Pro Bowler. He’s a big, massive body like Corey’s a big massive body." Veteran DE Robaire Smith, long a capable contributor, is also in the mix up front. In the meantime, Smith told PFW he's preparing for the season with the mindset of a starter. His offseason routine has been heavy on conditioning and film work, the latter to learn opponents' tendencies and remind himself of what he did well — and what he needs to improve upon — as he enters his second season in the Browns' defense. Once a defensive tackle in the Bengals' 4-3 scheme, Smith said the 3-4 requires a lineman to develop a different set of skills. "You can’t just shed blocks — you’ve got to be patient," Smith said. "In the 4-3, you’re attacking more. In the 3-4, everybody has to be on the same page. If you’re not in this gap, it’s going to be a long run."

April 11, 2008   

Wright's future with Browns in question after arrest

The way we hear it, the future of CB Kenny Wright with the Browns is up in the air after his April 4 arrest on charges of unlawful restraint, evading arrest and marijuana possession, all misdemeanors. The charges stemmed from an incident in Pearland, Texas, that began when Wright allegedly fled from police on foot as they were investigating a parking-lot disturbance. Wright, who turns 31 in September, played only seven games a season ago and notched only six tackles. The Browns’ depth at cornerback took a hit with the trade of Leigh Bodden to Detroit, and it will not be a surprise if the team drafts at least one player at that position. Even if Wright were to make the club, he likely would be no better than the No. 4 cornerback; the loser of the Daven Holly-Brandon McDonald battle for the CB spot opposite Eric Wright figures to be the nickel back. A source close to the club figures Wright is now no better than 50-50 to make the roster.

April 4, 2008   

Focus is Browns' defensive additions, but several holdovers may be poised for big year

Expectations will be higher for the Browns’ defense next season than at any point in head coach Romeo Crennel’s tenure with the club, and rightfully so, after the acquisitions of DLs Shaun Smith and Corey Williams. However, could several defenders previously on the roster have the biggest impact on the defense? ROLB Kamerion Wimbley is widely regarded around the league as a star in the making, even after a five-sack season in 2007. After an awful start to the ’07 campaign, SS Sean Jones played very well down the stretch and finished with 96 tackles, 10 passes defensed and his second five-interception season in a row. And don’t overlook promising third-year RILB D’Qwell Jackson, who led the team in tackles a season ago. Quick and tough, the only factor that’s held Jackson back the first two seasons is durability. He has missed time with injuries in both NFL seasons.

March

March 28, 2008   

Bentley, Baxter making comebacks

Two of the story lines to watch as the Browns’ offseason progresses are the comeback attempts of C LeCharles Bentley and S Gary Baxter. Bentley has missed the last two seasons because of a serious knee injury; Baxter has missed most of those two campaigns as he attempted to come back from two injured knees. Bentley is working out in Arizona, away from the Browns, while Baxter is with the club. Bentley’s agent, Jonathan Feinsod, told The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer in March that his client looks “phenomenal,” but the real test for Bentley would come in training camp. At the time of his injury, Bentley was regarded as one of the top centers in football. Baxter, signed to be a cornerback, has moved to safety. In March, general manager Phil Savage said that Baxter is expected to be “close to 100 percent by training camp.”

March 19, 2008   

Restricted free-agent CB Holly an important part of Browns' defense

With the trade of CB Leigh Bodden to Detroit, Brandon McDonald and Daven Holly will compete to start opposite Eric Wright at cornerback. Retaining Holly, a restricted free agent who has yet to sign his tender, is one of the last orders of business for the Browns as the free-agent market slows to a crawl. The 5-10, 185-pound Holly has proven one of the more shrewd finds by the Browns' pro personnel staff. Released by Chicago in June 2006, Holly has played in 29 games in the last two seasons, starting 18. The way we hear it, the manner in which Holly followed up a five-interception campaign in 2006 with another solid season in '07 was a factor in convincing the Browns they could part with Bodden. This much is certain: With no picks in the first three rounds of the '08 draft, the Browns need McDonald and Holly to come through. Clearly, they are confident that will happen.

March 14, 2008   

Hadnot latest signing that improves Browns' depth

For years, depth was a problem for the Browns. Now the biggest obstacle may be getting playing time for all of the talent accumulated at several positions. The Browns’ signing of ex-Dolphins OG-C Rex Hadnot is the latest example of the improvement of the roster. Hadnot, 26, has 36 career starts at guard (34 on the right side) and 19 at center. Hadnot will likely compete to start at right guard with Ryan Tucker, but Hadnot’s ability to play both center and even left guard in a pinch improves Cleveland’s talent level and roster flexibility — two issues that long were problems for the Browns. Earlier in the offseason, the trades for DLs Corey Williams and Shaun Rogers drastically improved Cleveland’s talent up front. What’s more, the addition of WR Donté Stallworth gives the Browns another speedy target — and allows veteran Joe Jurevicius to log fewer snaps but remain an important part of the offense nonetheless.

March 5, 2008   

Stallworth yet another Browns threat

A potent Browns offense got that much more dangerous with the addition of former Patriots WR Donte’ Stallworth. Stallworth, who signed a seven-year worth a reported $35 million ($10 million guaranteed) with Cleveland, caught 46 passes for 697 yards and three touchdowns in his lone season in New England. Stallworth, 27, is another potential headache for opposing secondaries faced with stopping WR Braylon Edwards and TE Kellen Winslow. In the weeks leading up to free agency, few players engendered as many strong opinions from scouts and executives as Stallworth, with those surveyed by PFW either ranking Stallworth among the better free agents available or insisting he wasn’t nearly as good as advertised. This is Stallworth’s fourth NFL team, and the knocks against him are well-known: he’s best on vertical routes, and injuries in stints in New Orleans and Philadelphia limited his production. However, the Browns are not expecting him to be a No. 1 receiver, and given the talent around him, he’s bound to get his share of favorable matchups.

February

Feb. 27, 2008   

Browns aren't losing sleep over lack of '08 first-round pick

The trade for Brady Quinn last April did wonders for the Browns' QB depth but also cost them their 2008 first-round draft pick. Now Cleveland, which is looking to add talent to the 30th-ranked defense from a season ago, will not exercise its first draft pick until late in the second round. But don't expect general manager Phil Savage to lament the loss of the first-round selection, even after Quinn played in only one game in his rookie season. "I’d rather be standing up here with two quarterbacks than one or none," Savage said at the Scouting Combine. "It’s one of the more unique circumstances any team in the league has right now, and it’s going to take some work, some manipulation and some wisdom to work through it, but time has a way of working things out, and if we’ll just be patient with it as an organization, and not let a lot of the outside influences affect how we think about certain situations, we should be fine with it."

Feb. 20, 2008   

Savage: Browns working to keep Anderson

Updated at 5:40 p.m. EST Friday, Feb. 22

At the Scouting Combine, Browns general manager Phil Savage said a three-year contract for restricted free-agent QB Derek Anderson “could work for both sides,” and he was hopeful a deal could be struck before the beginning of free agency. Savage said a three-year deal would help both the Browns, who would keep their enviable QB depth intact, as well as Anderson, who will be only 25 at the start of next season. Given the market for young, talented quarterbacks, Savage surmised that Anderson, were he to play well in the years to come, could be looking at a “$70 or $80 million” contract the next time he became a free agent. At present, Anderson would prefer a six-year contract. If a multiyear deal isn’t hammered out before the end of February, the Browns will give Anderson the highest tender offer. At that point, the Browns’ ability to strike a multiyear deal could be somewhat compromised, as the Browns are likely to use some salary-cap space in free agency, Savage noted.

Feb. 13, 2008   

Winslow wants a new deal, but Browns don't figure to be in a rush to tear up old one

In a recent interview with Sirius NFL Radio, Browns TE Kellen Winslow indicated he would like a new contract. However, our sources tell us that giving Winslow a new deal doesn't figure to be a priority in the offseason, as he is signed through 2010. Winslow, who turns 25 in July, caught 82 passes for 1,106 yards and five touchdowns in 2007. His contract was last an issue in '05, when the Browns were contemplating whether to try to recoup any of his $6 million signing bonus and $4.4 million option bonus after he was injured in a motorcycle accident. Ultimately, the Browns did not go after any of that money. During Super Bowl week, Winslow told a Cleveland radio station that he planned to have offseason knee surgery, which would be the latest in a line of surgical procedures he has undergone since the motorcycle accident.

Feb. 1, 2008   

Crennel signs extension with Browns, who have committed to stability

A little more than two years ago, Browns general manager Phil Savage nearly lost his job in a power struggle that left most observers with the impression that much was unsettled in Cleveland. At the end of last season, the feeling was that head coach Romeo Crennel had to win in 2007 or lose his job. Now, after a 10-6 record in ’07, Crennel had his contract extended through 2011. And Savage is speaking as if he were someone who expects to be making major decisions for the franchise for many years to come. “The one thing that is always at the forefront is stability and continuity,” Savage said last week. “We just feel like Romeo is the man that can lead the team to where we want to go.” The next step for the Browns: re-signing unrestricted free-agent RB Jamal Lewis and restricted free-agent QB Derek Anderson, both of whom have received contract offers from the club.