Five Questions for Browns Fans to Ponder

There has been a rumor floating around that kicker Phil Dawson is demanding a new contract and threatening a holdout if he doesn't get one by the time training camp starts.

While I'm sure Phil and his agent feel justified, I don't think they've really paid attention to what the front office has done to the other two players who have made demands since the end of the season.

Specifically, I'm talking about Shaun Rogers and Joshua Cribbs.

Rogers demanded to be traded after head coach Eric Mangini reportedly ignored him at a banquet. Rogers now has reportedly "moved on" from that incident and attended all offseason mini-camps.

Cribbs barked a bit and missed a few practices but ultimately began participating after (in his words) Mangini made it clear the team was prepared to "move on without him."

Now, if Mangini is prepared to move on without Cribbs, I don't know what Dawson is thinking by threatening a holdout.

Mangini already auditioned a new kicker.

I value Dawson and appreciate his talent, but he's a kicker, and kickers are easily replaced.

Just ask Indianapolis and New England.

With Donte' Stallworth most likely never suiting up for Cleveland again, the receiver corps looks to have one of the most extreme makeovers going into the new season.

Cleveland drafted two wide receivers in the second round this year and added several new faces through offseason moves.

Braylon Edwards still could be on the trading block due to his contract expiring after this season.

Although with 2009 being a contract year for Edwards, he will be playing for a big paycheck, which might motivate him to catch more balls this year.

How large of a role rookies Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi will play is yet unknown, as are Cribbs and Syndric Steptoe's roles.

Due to the amount of competition, dropped passes will be an easy way to determine who makes the team and who doesn't, so pay attention to pass plays during preseason.

Too many drops during the preseason will probably mean the end of the road for at least one receiver.

Former head coach Romeo Crennel promised a 3-4 defense in Cleveland and proceeded to field a 1-0 defense, featuring Shaun Rogers and a bunch of overmatched linebackers and corners.

Mangini and defensive coordinator Rob Ryan have promised to continue the 3-4 scheme.

The question remains, though, can the Browns actually field a competent 3-4 defense that will earn some respect around the league in 2009?

I hope so.

The alternative hasn't been very fun to watch.

Mangini let slip in a press conference last month that the one thing he really hated as a defensive coordinator was not knowing who the opposing team's quarterback was going to be.

Once he said that, I realized the quarterback controversy was nothing more than one giant mind game on the rest of the league to keep them guessing on who to prepare for this year.

Brady Quinn is Mangini's kind of quarterback. He's smart, athletic, and likes to control the ball.

By announcing a quarterback competition, all Mangini did was keep people guessing and (hopefully) increase Derek Anderson's trade value.

This is Quinn's job to lose at this point as far as I'm concerned.

Will Browns fans finally get a team they can be proud of in 2009?

That's the big question Mangini will be answering this year.

Even if the Browns don't make the playoffs, if Mangini can field a team that doesn't look lost or overmatched, he'll have won a great moral victory if nothing else.

Crennel's teams were known for their sloppy play and inability to take advantage of other teams' mistakes.

A Cleveland team that looks professional and doesn't get out-coached week after week will go a long way to boosting the fanbase and creating hope for the future.

Only a few more weeks to training camp.

Hang in there fans—the wait is almost over.