Cleveland Browns: What to Do with Excess Baggage?

Browns fans and media have enjoyed this past week's mini-camp. It is always fun whenever you have a new coach. You want to see what the new guy brings to the table and how things will be different.

In this case, Eric Mangini and George Kokinis have been very secretive and they've made some intriguing moves.

Many of the pair's plans seem to have been revealed a bit in mini-camp. Big-name players who don't seem to fit into the plans include Derek Anderson and Donte Stallworth. It is apparent that both guys would be better off elsewhere.

In spite of all the talk of a quarterback competition, Brady Quinn was the starter in mini-camp. Anderson did get an equal number of reps, but so did the backups at all other positions from what I understand.

From the signals he is sending, Mangini seems to like Quinn as the starter and Brett Ratliff as the backup. He also wants to bring in Graham Harrell as a guy he can develop. That leaves Anderson as the odd man out.

Stallworth also seems to have no place in the grand scheme of things. Contrary to all the trade rumors, Braylon Edwards is going nowhere. They really seem to like recently drafted receivers Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi. With the additional free agent signings of David Patten and Mike Furrey, Stallworth has no future in Cleveland.

So why don't Mangini and Kokinis trade these guys?

Well, if it were only that easy I am sure they would. The reality in Anderson's case is that most teams around the league see him as a career backup. That is a valuable part of a team, but at the moment he is being paid like a starter. If I a GM of another team, I would want to pay a newly acquired backup like a backup.

That really puts the Browns in a bad position. From what I understand, they take a salary cap hit if they cut Anderson. For now they are stuck with him and unable to sign Graham Harrell.

Stallworth has his problems away from football. With his pending DUI case in Miami, football is probably the last thing on his mind. The problem is that he still has a contract with the Browns that counts against the cap. I don't think there is a team that would have any interest in acquiring him until his legal matters are resolved.

I am to a point where I think they should just give these guys away. Broadcast it nationally that anybody who wants either of these guys can have them. The Browns don't even need anything in return.

This would free up cap space and enable them to sign Harrell and other players. A couple of big names out there are Derrick Brooks and Marvin Harrison.

For Anderson and Stallworth, it would be a chance to start fresh with a new team. They both deserve second chances. However, it is better for the Browns and the players in question if those chances come somewhere other than Cleveland.