Bleacher Report - Articles by Casey Drottar

Watching The Ultimate Fighter, Is Rampage's UFC Exit All That Shocking?

Casey Drottar — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:39:22 -0400

During last weekend's airing of Lyoto Machida vs. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, a preview was shown for UFC 107 in Memphis.

While the main event, a lightweight title fight between BJ Penn and Diego Sanchez, is incredibly intriguing, one can't help but recall the original plan for this fight.

Just a few months ago, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson was set to take on Rashad Evans in Memphis in order to settle a score fueled by a season together as opposing coaches on the most recent edition of "The Ultimate Fighter." After watching just one promo, fans were salivating at the idea of this heated rivalry climaxing in what could've been the most brutal fight of the year.

Instead, Jackson decided to take the role of B.A. Baracus in the upcoming film "The A-Team." At first, this was merely a delay for the fight with Evans. Instead, after Dana White sounded off on Jackson's decision, Rampage decided to retire from the UFC, officially ending the possibility of a blockbuster bout against Evans and somewhat ruining this season of "TUF."

However, for one who has paid attention to this year's "TUF," is Rampage's retirement really that blindsiding?

Think about it. The knock on Rampage Jackson has always been about how he lacks the passion and dedication to be an elite UFC fighter. People constantly noted how Jackson hated the concept of training for fights. Even in his retirement statement, Jackson seemed to have a complaint about almost every fight he's had in the organization (too short notice, not the ideal opponent, fans against him for fighting Chuck Liddell, etc.).

Instead, Jackson always seemed to be focused more on being remembered for his personality and stage presence. Thus, when White called him out for taking on a movie role rather than going through with a fight he demanded, Jackson took offense and called it quits.

Like many, I too was surprised to hear that Rampage would toss away his fight with Evans and retire. Their interactions on "TUF" are so heated, they left many to imagine just how intense their fight would be. Tickets for UFC 107 were sure to sell by the thousands with each episode.

But it wasn't until I watched a few episodes from this season of that I realized just how uncommitted Jackson is to anything else beyond himself.

As of right now, Team Rampage is down 0-6 to Team Evans. Only two of the fights have actually gone the distance of two rounds. The others ending in weak TKOs (Roy Nelson vs. Kimbo Slice) or quick submissions (Wes Sims vs. Justin Wren). At this point, one has to wonder if many of these results can be blamed on the coaching.

Watching Rashad Evans coach, you can see the dedication and intelligence which has made him the fighter he is today.

He and his staff strategically broke down each contestant when deciding their team picks. He takes time with each of his fighters to help them improve any flaws they may have and spends as much time as he can giving out final advice before fights. You get the sense that Evans cares about his team and is driven to help them succeed.

To get the exact opposite feeling, look no further than Team Rampage.

Did Jackson pick Kimbo Slice because he believed he could turn him into a fighter, or because he's a big name and wanted to make sure he didn't end up on Team Evans? (Rampage picked Slice well before any preliminary workouts.) Did he pick Abe Wagner to fight Jon Madsen because he felt Wagner's striking could overshadow Madsen's superior wrestling, or because Wagner was simply taller and bigger than Madsen? (Madsen eventually pummeled Wagner.)

Lately, Jackson is skipping out on pre-fight warm-ups to get food while also refusing to console his fighters after a loss. After one fight, Jackson complained to his coaches about how "green" his fighters were. Aren't these the fighters Jackson himself determined would be leading his team to victory?

Let's not forget the most recent episode, where Evans was prepping Darrill Schoonover with fight strategy while Jackson was psyching up Zak Jensen by constantly insulting Schoonover and referring to him by his less-than-flattering nickname.

In the end, it all adds to the presumption that Rampage's world doesn't extend very far beyond himself. When his team loses, he's less concerned over his fighters losing self-esteem and more concerned with looking bad for putting these men in the octagon and losing to an enemy.

Let's face it: Rampage Jackson is an enigma, as confusing as they come.

Why would someone spend one day screaming "I want my belt back" and talking about knocking out Rashad Evans, only to follow it up by choosing a movie role over said fight?

Why would a coach claim to be focused on his team winning, but instead puts more effort into playing practical jokes on the opposing squad while said group continues to obliterate everyone on Team Rampage?

It all comes back to the original point — when it comes to his career in the UFC, Rampage Jackson was more focused on making himself look good than he was in becoming a top-notch fighter. It was noticeable early on and is more than evident in watching "Ultimate Fighter Heavyweights," which could very well be the last UFC event Jackson takes place in.

Will Rampage ever find his way back into the UFC octagon?

Perhaps.

But if his attitude remains the same and he still needs a separate locker room for his ego, expect him to exit even quicker this time around.

This Year or Next, Re-signing With Cleveland Is Best Option for LeBron James

Casey Drottar — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 21:57:35 -0400

The Cleveland Cavaliers have officially begun talks with reigning NBA MVP LeBron James in regards to a contract extension.

Now, with the words "LeBron" and "contract" being bandied about in the sports world, the media circus which has been picking up steam for years is barreling into its final act.

Will James stay home and continue his quest to bring Cleveland its first title since 1964? Or will the bright lights of New York finally lure the king away from this championship-starved city, sending an already sorrowful sports town into incomparable depression?

Needless to say, it'll only get crazier from here. That is, unless, LeBron decides to pull a fast one on ESPN and every sports media hub in the state of New York and sign an extension this offseason.

Let's get one thing out of the way right now: I fully believe James will reject any contract offers this offseason. He's spent the past three seasons keeping the Cavaliers organization on their toes, so what's one more year?

However, I still hold firm belief that the much-hyped "Summer of 2010," where the most decorated class of NBA free agents becomes available, will be pretty underwhelming in LeBron's camp. Well, underwhelming for Knicks fans at least.

At the beginning of the 2008-09 season, I was about 60 percent sure James would resign in Cleveland. The massive hype displayed by ESPN, which included billions of "sources" telling analysts about how LeBron is telling everyone he knows about his upcoming move to Manhattan, was just too much to ignore.

Now? My confidence may not be quite 100 percent, but its certainly up in the high 90's.

So, why am I so confident that James, arguably the best player in the NBA, will stay in Cleveland, easily the complete opposite of New York in terms of big-name cities?

Honestly, the question for me is less "why stay?" and more "why not?" When looking at the options in front of LeBron, it just makes too much sense to stay in Cleveland.

Let's start with the obvious factor of the situation—money.

For some odd reason, everyone seems to believe James stands to make more money if he becomes a Knick.

Why? No team can offer more money than the Cavaliers can, no matter how many bad contracts New York attempts to dump. In all respects, the Cavs own the biggest piece to this puzzle.

If not through salary, perhaps people are inferring to the endorsement money James will receive if he moves to the Big Apple. But consider this: As of now, LeBron is making more money through endorsements than Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez combined. And they're on one of the most popular teams in the country, which happens to be located in New York.

As for marketability, can a move to New York really make James a bigger phenomenon than he is right now?

Regardless of playing in a city suffering from economic issues, LeBron is already a global celebrity. Fans at the Olympics in China were so insane that James could barely ever leave his room beyond heading to the arena. Plus, Cavs owner Dan Gilbert sold a portion of the rights to the team to a group of Chinese investors, which will no doubt help the cause in spreading the reign of LeBron.

To me, people may be overstating just how popular a Knicks jersey would make him.

Next, let's look at the current state of both franchises.

The Knicks spent most of 2008 underperforming and trading away talent for short contracts in order to put themselves in the best financial position for 2010. Even in the humdrum lower tier of the East—A.K.A everyone beyond Cleveland, Boston, and Orlando—New York's season was convincingly over well before playoff time came around.

The Cavs, still without a legitimate Robin to LeBron's Batman, lead the league with 66 wins, which included an impressive 39-2 home record. Even though Cleveland was upended by Orlando in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Cavaliers are still considered one of the best squads in the league.

This statement is especially true after a quietly productive offseason.

Cleveland started the summer by trading for Shaquille O'Neal, who at 37 is still one of the most imposing centers in the NBA. This move slid Zydrunas Ilgauskas to the bench, where he and new additions Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon give the Cavs much more depth than they've ever had in the LeBron era.

As of now, if James was basing his decision on playing with a contender, Cleveland is the obvious choice.

However, the big claim is how New York's salary dumping will give them the funds to recruit James and another superstar.

This may have been true before last season, but as everyone knows by now, the salary cap is taking a big drop next year. This means the coveted cap space New York fought so hard to get isn't quite as big as they thought it'd be.

So, would LeBron rather stay home on a team which is on an upswing, or move to glamorous New York, host to a franchise which won't have the money to provide another superstar without shedding legit talent, won't have a lottery pick in the 2010 draft (Utah owns it), doesn't have an All-Star on the roster, and doesn't have a low-post threat to take away pressure?

Would this be jumping from one contender to another, or hitting the restart button?

As convincing as these reasons may seem, I believe there's a bigger factor in what will lead James to stay.

The fact is, believe it or not, LeBron loves living in Cleveland.

This is his home, and he's very proud of his roots. Much of his friends and family live here. He's known to visit his high school in Akron on a frequent basis, even holding his MVP ceremony in the school gym.

He plays in a city which has embraced him not as a player on a team, but as one of their own. The people of Cleveland see James as the one man who can end a 45-year drought.

In a city so desperate for a winner, LeBron is the light at the end of the tunnel.

I struggle to believe James isn't factoring this when it comes to making his final contract decision. Yes, we love him like no other right now. However, if he were to bail on Cleveland, jumping ship for the bright lights of the big city, these same passionate fans would turn on him in an instant.

To give an example of what happens when Cleveland feels its been screwed over, just look at Art Modell.

After moving the Browns to Baltimore, Modell couldn't step foot in the state of Ohio without being berated by angry fans. In fact, when Modell's close friend, Browns Hall of Famer Lou Groza, passed away in 2000, he didn't attend the funeral out of fear of the reaction he would receive.

James, however, wouldn't have such a choice.

Being in the same conference with the Cavs, LeBron would have to come to the Quicken Loans Arena at least once a year. It's safe to say those same fans who currently adore the king would be sure to voice their displeasure whenever he came back to town on a visit from a more favorable city.

Call me crazy, but I just don't believe LeBron wants to become an enemy in his hometown. I can't see him enjoying the idea of coming into an arena he once called his own and being treated like an outcast, and I know he would be less than pleased with the idea of limiting his visits back home for fear of mistreatment from angry fans.

So, when looking at some of the important factors in the inevitable decision James will have to make in regards to where he will spend the next few years, it certainly looks like staying in Cleveland is the better choice.

However, don't take my word for it. As NBA great Reggie Miller put it best, "New York has seen plenty of championship parades. Imagine having one in Cleveland."

Did the Cleveland Cavaliers Waste a Draft Pick on Christian Eyenga?

Casey Drottar — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:48:21 -0400

For the Cleveland Cavaliers, draft day 2009 started out with a bang.

Minutes after midnight on Wednesday, the team officially brought Shaquille O'Neal to the Q by trading Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic to the Phoenix Suns (essentially getting a finely-aged bottle of wine for two half-empty cans of Natural Light).

Yes, by bringing in The Big Cuyahoga, it looked like the Cavs were beginning a strong offseason.

Then came the draft.

Rumors were swirling about how Cleveland intended to trade up in the draft, or maybe even buy a pick from a team in financial troubles.

However, the Cavs kept their 30th overall pick, and then made one of the most underwhelming choices of the entire night.

They drafted Christian Eyenga.

Seriously, did anyone outside of Eyenga's family and friends even know who this guy was?

ESPN correspondents immediately made the pick sound worse by saying Eyenga would most likely spend the next couple years playing in Europe, as he wasn't even close to being NBA-ready yet. In fact, Eyenga claimed he attended the draft with doubts he'd even be selected at all.

So, why would a team in dire need of immediate help for a last minute title run waste a first-round pick on a player who's so raw he didn't even expect to get to the NBA at all?

At first, I was actually able to legitimize this maneuver.

Since Eyenga was a long-shot to make the team this season, the Cavs didn't have to shell out a contract just yet. With Cleveland already financially strapped for the upcoming free agency season, this seemed like an underwhelming, yet seemingly smart move. The money they saved with Eyenga could be used to aid in luring big-name free agents.

Nevertheless, the next couple weeks were sure to disprove this theory.

The Cavaliers were linked to top targets like Ron Artest, Trevor Ariza, and Charlie Villanueva. And, as if based on some odd pattern, these names attached to Cleveland were taken off the list by other teams.

Artest and Ariza quickly turned into Channing Frye, Anthony Parker, and (ugh) bringing back Wally Szczerbiak. While the efficient Parker was eventually signed to Cleveland, the target names started to get even worse.

This week, the Cavs apparently worked out former Charlotte Bobcat Sean May, who's known for being as portly as he is made of glass.

To top this, the team is apparently targeting Golden State free agent Rob Kurz.

Rob Kurz? Never mind the fact that Cavs fans have never heard of this guy, but do the Warriors even know he's on their roster?

Needless to say, the names Cleveland is hunting for have hit a severe drop off point.

Back to Eyenga. The kid from Congo has already played in three summer league games, and the early diagnosis is not great.

Despite having a decent game against Washington recently, his first two games were rough, and the tagging of Eyenga as "raw" was certainly proven to be correct. Not only is he struggling with NBA-style play, he's also tripping over basketball terminology in English (he has a translator in huddles).

So, was Christian Eyenga a wasted pick?

Sure he saves the team money, but this was back when the money was aimed at Artest and Ariza.

Yes, he wasn't meant to be brought on to the roster this year, but again, this was to protect a spot on the depth chart for a big-name addition.

I refrained from making complaints about the Cavs not drafting immediate help like Pittsburgh's Sam Young. Now, though, with Cleveland not getting help from anywhere else, this seems like a beef which will certainly resurface.

I'm certainly not making an argument towards Eyenga's talent, nor am I doubting he'll eventually have a place with the team, as it's too early to tell right now. However, beyond the Shaq trade, the Cavaliers offseason has hardly lived up to its potential.

And if Eyenga was drafted merely to save money and roster space for a big signing or two, then his selection is slowly losing its credibility.

With the Pieces in Place, the Pressure Is on for LeBron and the Cavs

Casey Drottar — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 21:52:59 -0400

It took the Cleveland Cavaliers an entire week, but they finally made some free agent noise.

While big names like Ron Artest, Trevor Ariza, and Charlie Villanueva surfaced in the local rumor mill only to be signed by the competition, the Cavs were quietly having talks with one of their core players in Anderson Varejao.

After officially re-signing AV, then adding former Toronto wingman Anthony Parker, the team has pretty much put the final touches together for their 2009-10 roster.

Now, its time to put these Cavs on notice: The clock is ticking, and the pressure is officially on.

This year's season may be one of the most important in the history of the Cavaliers franchise.

On one hand, you have a squad who was expected to coast its way into the 2009 NBA Finals, but instead got bounced in ugly fashion one round too early. Let's face it, the Cavs were one miracle shot away from being swept by Orlando.

The team's slogan was "one goal," and they came up short. Now, the Cavs expect to right the wrongs and finally bring a title home.

On the other hand, you have LeBron James' contract situation.

This will be Cleveland's last chance to convince James he should stay home. They'll be facing the skepticism of ESPN and every New York media outlet from the minute the season begins.

Anytime the team makes one tiny little slip, it'll be overblown to unreal proportions, followed by further endorsing of the magical world that is Madison Square Garden.

Yes, this year the Cavs are facing tremendous pressure from both ends of the spectrum. By the end of the 2010 season, the team has to prove they can contend for the championship and get James to put pen to paper.

Needless to say, it won't be easy.

First of all, the Cavs obviously came up short in the free agent department.

Tell me you weren't salivating at the idea of having LeBron, Shaquille O'Neal, and Ron Artest all on one starting lineup. Had this deal, or any of the other big rumors actually gone through, Cleveland would've been host to a potential colossus.

Instead, the big news is resigning Varejao and adding depth with Parker.

Granted this isn't overwhelming, but it does have its fair share of benefits.

First of all, the starting lineup of James-O'Neal-Varejao-Mo Williams-Delonte West is notably more imposing than last year's original lineup (James-Williams-West-Zydrunas Ilgauskas-Ben Wallace).

For the first time in the LeBron James era, opposing teams are now going to have to focus defensive pressure on more than one Cavalier.

With O'Neal garnering attention in the post and James remaining a threat anywhere on the court, Williams and West are going to see more open looks than ever before.

Varejao, who's an expert at moving without the ball, is sure to get excellent opportunities with Shaq receiving double teams.

Also, the team's bench has certainly taken a few steps forward from when we last saw them.

During the 2009 playoffs, the Cavs had to depend on Wallace, Wally Szczerbiak, Sasha Pavlovic, and Daniel Gibson to contribute meaningful minutes without giving up the lead the starters had provided. Needless to say, it rarely panned out.

Now, the addition of O'Neal slides Ilgauskas to the bench alongside Parker, who's a proven scoring threat.

Therefore, the Cavs have essentially swapped out Pavlovic and Wallace, a duo who couldn't produce a combined double digit effort if they played for a month straight, for Ilgauskas and Parker, both of whom average more than 10 points per game.

Add to this a J.J. Hickson with a year of experience under his belt and a Boobie Gibson who maybe, just maybe, began showing signs of the player he used to be at the end of last season, and the Cavs bench issues may have taken a turn for the better.

The team is also expected to add another small piece with the money leftover from their mid-level exception.

Word is former Trail Blazer Channing Frye is the leading man for the job. Again, not overwhelming, but Frye could be a reliable role player.

Yet while these moves and upgrades may not have made Cleveland the team to beat in the NBA, it certainly kept them in the top tier of the Eastern Conference.

Truth be told, I'm not quite sure the Celtics are back to their dominant ways after adding Rasheed Wallace. Yes, there's more talent, but there are also more age issues.

Boston has to hope Wallace and the big three still have enough fuel left in them to return to the championship team of 2007.

As for Orlando, it looks like they've taken a slip backwards.

Vince Carter still has plenty of ability, but looking at the big picture, the Magic lost a whole lot this off-season. Rafer Alston and Courtney Lee both played pivotal roles in Orlando's playoff run, and Hedo Turkoglu could've easily been seen as one of the team's best players.

Ultimately, its asking too much to depend on Carter to replace all of these players.

In the end, while the Cavaliers didn't overwhelm the league with huge moves in free agency, they certainly did enough to make them legitimate title contenders.

So, barring a few final tweaks, the core of the Cavs roster is ready to go.

At least, we better hope they are. Because this year, the Cavaliers are going to be facing the biggest burden the franchise has ever seen: win a title and retain the best player in the NBA.

The bar couldn't be set any higher. For the next year, the Cavs players, front office, and even the fans are going to be feeling the pressure like never before.

Game on.

A Look Ahead: Predicting the Future for the Cleveland Browns' Rookies

Casey Drottar — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:03:11 -0400

With training camp just a few weeks away, questions continue to swirl around the Cleveland Browns.

Who does coach Eric Mangini intend to start at quarterback this year? How will the team's offense fare under first-time coordinator Brian Daboll? Could the Browns possibly get any worse than they were last year?

While these inquisitions are important, there's another question which has me very intrigued:

With a brand new crop of rookies in Cleveland, and an overall lack of standout talent to compete with them, just where exactly will these newcomers stand on Mangini's depth chart this season?

It's no secret as to how Mangini treats rookies. Unlike some coaches, who give their trainees a season on the sideline in order to give them time to learn, Mangini has been known to give some rookies a starting position right off the bat.

In his first season with the Jets, Mangini started quite a few of his draft picks, including linemen Nick Mangold and D'Brickashaw Ferguson.

So, back to the original question, what are Mangini's intentions with his first batch of Browns newbies?

Nobody will know for sure until the final depth chart is released, however I thought I'd try and make some predictions regarding the Browns' 2009 rookie class and just how much action they can expect to see this year.

Alex Mack (Center, University of California)

As of now, most Browns fans know Alex Mack as the underwhelming first-round pick the team made after spending about two hours trading down.

Mack certainly wasn't as heralded as some of the other players available at the time, however this may have had more to do with the fact that centers aren't exactly as marquee as linebackers or receivers. While his selection had many people scratching their heads at the time, it wasn't long before there was a collective change of heart.

By drafting Mack, Mangini took his first steps in creating the run-first offense he planned for Cleveland. In order to build an offense which focuses on the running attack, Mangini recognized the need to add youth and bulk to an offensive line which took a step backwards in 2008.

Since joining the Browns, Mack has impressed quite a few people both with his display of strength and power on the field and his willingness to learn the offensive schemes as quickly as possible.

Even during his opening press conference with the team, Mack told reporters he intended to begin studying the Browns playbook immediately following his meeting with the local press.

As for predicting his spot on the 2009 depth chart, I firmly believe Mack will be a starter.

While it has been noted how Mack could play both center and right guard, my guess is he will be replacing Hank Fraley as the team's starting center. Fraley helped to solidify this prediction when he told the local media about how he believed it was his job to help Mack become an effective starter, regardless of whether or not it cost him his starting position.

This statement is both admirable and slightly relieving. The AFC North boasts plenty of defensive all-stars, especially nose tackles Haloti Ngata (Baltimore) and Casey Hampton (Pittsburgh).

Fraley certainly had his fair share of troubles against opposing defenses last season, and while he was very reliable when it came to helping fans forget the failed LeCharles Bentley project, his time may be running out as a starter.

It's in the team's best interest to see how well Mack fares against the vaunted AFC North defenses as quickly as possible. He'll be sure to see plenty of difficult tests this season, but it certainly looks as though he boasts the size and skills needed to succeed.

Final Prediction: Starting Center

Brian Robiskie (Wide Receiver, Ohio State University)

While not as impressive as wideouts like Michael Crabtree and Jeremy Maclin, Brian Robiskie is certainly a player to keep an eye on.

Apparently, several players within the division feel the same way.

Recently, ESPN.com writer James Walker conducted a survey with 32 anonymous players in the AFC North. Each participant was asked who he believed would be the division's breakout player in 2009 (players were not allowed to vote for themselves or fellow team members). Robiskie finished fourth on the list, the highest of any rookie.

So, while he remains untested, Robiskie already has a few defenders keeping an eye on him.

His performances in minicamp certainly didn't do much to change this.

Multiple members of the Cleveland press were very impressed with Robiskie's practice sessions. He was praised for his effective route-running and great catching ability, as he had a few great end zone receptions during the team's two minute drills. Cleveland Plain Dealer writer Terry Pluto assured fans that,

"Robiskie has come as advertised. He's smart, runs routes quickly, creates space to get open and shows excellent hands, especially in the end zone."

Many analysts thought Robiskie would end up as Cleveland's No. 2 receiver in '09, and this is becoming more and more likely by the day. It comes from a combination of excellent practice sessions and no real threat to compete against. He may not be the fastest receiver on the team, but surely he's a bigger threat than David Patten.

I believe Robiskie will end up as the team's No.2 wideout, as his route-running ability could be used with medium range patterns across the field while Braylon Edwards is running deep routes.

If both have solid years, it could turn out to be a 1-2 punch nobody saw coming.

Final Prediction: Starting No. 2 receiver

Mohamed Massaquoi (Wide Receiver, University of Georgia)

This one isn't quite as easy to predict as Mack and Robiskie.

On one hand, Massaquoi has plenty of upside. He has the weapons to eventually become a legit down-field threat, as shown during his final year at Georgia. Many scouts are quick to praise him for his tenacious blocking ability and, while he had his fair share of issues with dropping passes in college, he's become more reliable in recent years.

The Browns seem to be impressed with Massaquoi's ability to get open downfield. They are also enjoying his strength and ability to fight off cornerbacks.

On the other hand, there isn't a whole lot being said about Massaquoi this offseason, other than the above mentioned comments. There are several analysts who believe Massaquoi is going to be a project for now, as the coaching staff works to make him a more reliable target for the future.

Massaquoi's status with the Browns in '09 will depend on how much work the coaching staff can accomplish with him this offseason.

If they can fix enough of his kinks during training camp, he could see a decent amount of playing time as a slot receiver. If not, he may still see the field, just not a significant amount, as the team may already have a reliable possession receiver in Mike Furrey.

The optimist in me thinks Massaquoi can iron out enough of his quirks before the season starts and become a solid slot wide out. It'll be interesting though, as I feel he's a player who's preseason stats will eventually determine his place on the depth chart this year.

Final Prediction: Second slot receiver, behind Mike Furrey

David Veikune (DE/LB, University of Hawaii)

David Veikune is a name I will be following very closely this season.

Many fans weren't sure what to think when the Browns selected Veikune with their final second-round pick. Playing in Hawaii certainly didn't do much to help gain any credibility. In fact, when the Browns made the selection, ESPN didn't even have any footage to show and quickly went on to analyze another team's pick.

However, in doing some research, I've found there's a lot to like about Veikune.

He displays impressive speed and aggression on defense, and while he lacks the size to be a dominant linebacker, he's doing everything he can to make up for this with the skills he does have.

The result has been a display of strength and tenacity which has caught the eyes of the Browns coaching staff. Veikune has seen action at both outside and inside linebacker, where he's been using his speed to get around offensive tackles and also clog the middle of the offensive line.

Again, this information on Veikune has certainly done enough to keep me intrigued.

The Browns have been dying to get another outside threat to relieve the pressure on Kamerion Wimbley. Now they have two prospects in Veikune and second-year linebacker Alex Hall. Odds are stong one of these two could get the job done.

While the obvious prediction would be claiming Veikune will be used as a special teams player early on, the reviews coming from camp seem to suggest the coaching staff have other plans.

Final Prediction: Won't start but will see action on the field while rotating with David Bowens, Eric Barton, and Alex Hall

Kaluka Maiava (linebacker, University of Southern California)

Essentially seen as "the other guy" at USC next to Clay Matthews III, Brian Cushing, and Rey Maualuga, Kaluka Maiava was relatively unheralded during this year's draft season.

However, there's reason to believe he could be to the defense what Massaquoi will be to the offense.

To elaborate, I believe Maiava may very well be a project at this time. There hasn't been much coming out of the Browns training facility regarding the former Trojan, which isn't neccessarily a bad thing. However, it also means the coaching staff and media haven't seen enough from him to garner the type of talk Robiskie and Veikune are getting.

However, I also believe he can relate to Massaquoi, with the fact that he certainly displays notable upside.

Even when playing alongside USC's big name linebackers, it was Maiava who was named the Rose Bowl's most valuable defensive player. He may lack the ideal size for an inside linebacker at the NFL level, but he gives nothing less than 100 percent on the field.

That being said, he could turn into a gem of a draft pick. However, barring any injuries to the front line, I doubt he'll get a great chance to make an impact this season.

Look for Maiava to do his time on special teams for now, but be sure to keep tabs on him, as he may very well make his way farther up the depth chart in the years to come.

Final Prediction: Special teams

Don Carey (Cornerback, Norfolk State), Coye Francies (Cornerback, San Jose State)

The reason I chose to cover both rookie cornerbacks in one section is simply because I believe both have the same destiny for now.

Both Carey and Francies have had pretty decent practice sessions so far. Each cornerback intercepted Brady Quinn during one day of mini-camp, and several scouts had a good amount of compliments for both rookies, especially Francies.

The problem they face has less to do with talent, however, and more to do with the Browns having quite a few veteran cornerbacks above them on the depth chart.

As of today, Eric Wright, Brandon McDonald, Roderick Hood, Corey Ivy, and Hank Poteat are all looking to see playing time this year. Wright, McDonald, and Hood will no doubt compete for the two starting positions, with the loser joining Ivy and Poteat as nickel and dime backs.

Due to this, Carey and Francies have quite an uphill battle to go through when it comes to finding a respectable spot on the depth chart. Their situations may be the same of Maiava's, where special teams may be the destination for now, along with any sort of prevent coverage.

However, if Mangini and crew are having trouble determining the final roster, don't be surprised if either Carey or Francies end up on the practice squad.

In the end, I believe they'll both make the final roster, but won't see too much time.

Final Prediction: Prevent/Special teams situations

James Davis (Half back, Clemson)

This was the draft pick which caught the attention of more than a few Browns fans.

Through three years at Clemson, James Davis had quite an impressive resume. By the end of his junior year, he had rushed for over 3,000 yards. Many scouts believed Davis would be a first round pick in 2008, but he elected to stay in Clemson for his senior year.

The resulting season was a step down for Davis, as he was hampered by a combination of a sub-par offensive line and sharing carries with CJ Spiller.

While scouts were keen to keep this in mind when evaluating Davis, it was no doubt the main source for his draft-day slide.

The belief, though, is Davis could still be a very effective back in the NFL, and his situation in Cleveland will certainly help him in this mission.

As of now, he'll be the third-string half back behind Jamal Lewis and Jerome Harrison. Essentially, Lewis and Davis are the same kind of back—big, but still fast enough to warrant defensive attention.

With his youth, Davis may no doubt be faster than Lewis, thus giving the Browns three different looks at running back. Lewis will provide the ground-and-pound attack, with Harrison adding a burst of speed and Davis being a mix of the two.

The local press has liked what they've seen in Davis, believing he could prove to be a steal very quickly.

As of now, though, he seems to be pretty set in his position as third-string back. However, look for him to get a respectable amount of carries more often than not as the team is essentially grooming an incumbent for Lewis.

Final Prediction: Third-string half back but could see decent amount of playing time

Parker Douglass (Kicker, South Dakota State)

This is where things get really interesting.

The Browns signed Douglass as an undrafted rookie, which at first seemed to be a move to find a backup for current kicker Phil Dawson.

However, things have certainly taken a hard left in regards to the kicker situation.

Dawson is currently in a contract standoff with the team, leading many to wonder if he'll eventually holdout at the upcoming training camp. Some sources are even saying it wouldn't be too shocking if Dawson was lining up field goals for another team this season.

His leverage seems to be slipping, as word out of Berea is Douglass has been making some noise in practice.

The South Dakota native is apparently quite a beast when it comes to kicking from long range, and while he's shown some struggles at times, his kicking ability will certainly affect the Dawson situation.

As a rookie, Douglass will garner much less money than Dawson, who feels he's earned top dollar for another stellar season in Cleveland.

Plus, if Douglass continues to impress at camp, the Browns won't exactly feel hard-pressed to please Dawson.

This situation is hard to predict at the time.

However, looking at how the new regime has handled other contract situations (pushing them aside), the end result will be based on Dawson's actions from here on out.

I predict Douglass will find a roster spot, as whispers in the wind are claiming the Dawson holdout won't end well.

As unfortunate as this would be, the truth is that if Douglass is as good as advertised, he'd be able to help fans move on from Dawson while also saving the team money.

Final Prediction: Eventual starting kicker, as team looks for best financial solution to Dawson situation.

With Cavs on The Rise, Cleveland Is Slowly Losing The Browns Town Image

Casey Drottar — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:33:48 -0400

A couple years ago, ESPN.com's Page 2 posted an article regarding sports cities in America.

The subject was both simple and intriguing, as the piece simply looked at various cities and asked which team each town would hate to lose. Basically, the article established which teams represented the lifeblood of each metropolis.

Most of the results weren't terribly shocking. The Red Sox and Yankees topped Boston and New York, respectively. The Red Wings were listed as the pride of Detroit, while the Lakers were obviously the biggest draw in Los Angeles.

When it came to Cleveland, Page 2 claimed the Browns were the kings of the town. The reasons were obvious, as it was noted how no city has lost a team only to fight so hard to bring the franchise back home, with all of its history in tact.

However, one quote in this piece really caught my eye. After discussing why the Browns were the most popular team in the city, noting the passion and attachment fans have with the team, the article stated, "If the Cavaliers were ever taken away from Cleveland, two janitors might look up."

At the time, this statement may have been pretty true.

NBA phenomenon LeBron James was a huge draw, but the Cavs weren't really considered a legitimate threat in the league. Back then, it was LeBron and friends—nothing more, nothing less.

Now, however, citizens of Cleveland might be witnessing a changing of the guard.

Last week, the Cavs traded for Shaquille O'Neal, one of the biggest names in the NBA. At 37-years-old, Shaq may not be as dominant as he used to be. However, he's still one of the top centers in the league, and is a sure thing to bring more sellout crowds to Quicken Loans Arena.

This offseason, the Cavaliers are stating their goal loud and clear—they want a championship, and they want it now.

While the Cavs' recent dominance is great news for any Cleveland fan waiting for the 45-year championship drought to end, it should be noted how the team's recent upswing is affecting the Browns.

For multiple decades, the Browns were indeed the pulse of this city.

Through good times and bad, football season always had the biggest effects on the citizens. If the Browns won, Monday's were practically holidays, whereas a loss can lead to the biggest collection of irritable and bad-tempered natives you'll ever see.

Bottom line—for the longest time, the Browns were Cleveland.

But things are changing now. On the south end of town, LeBron James is leading a revolution.

The Cavaliers have made the playoffs four straight years, never to be defeated in the first round. Though the team was swept in the 2007 NBA Finals, it was the first time a local franchise advanced to a league championship since the '97 Indians.

Each time the Cavs run into shortcomings, the organization's front office spends the offseason upgrading the squad, as seen with the recent Shaq deal.

With LeBron and Shaq playing together, the Cavaliers are now the first Cleveland team in what seems like forever to actually have two big-name superstars on the roster.

So, how does this affect the Browns?

For one, the Browns organization can no longer assume their team is the biggest draw in town.

This assumption was safe in the past.

It took the Cavaliers forever to become a legitimate franchise. Home crowds were a joke, as the Cavs were ridiculed in the NBA for years. The team does have its heroes, but in the end, Mark Price and Brad Daugherty just weren't as popular as Jim Brown or Bernie Kosar.

The same can be said about the Indians, as well. Sure they had a record of consecutive sellout games from '95-'01, but it should be noted that the majority of this streak occurred while the Browns were removed from the city.

Even when looking at the city's endless list of heartbreaks, those related to the Browns just seem to sting the most. Replay Michael Jordan and "The Shot" or Jose Mesa's blown save all you want, it's just not as heart-wrenching as having a team uprooted from your town.

These days, however, it would be wise for GM George Kokinis and head coach Eric Mangini to take note that they may not be the big dogs in town anymore (no pun intended).

However, this isn't meant to be seen as a high school popularity contest. No, the Browns front office should see this as pressure to become competitive, and soon.

Let's face it. When given the choice between which team you'd rather see, would you choose a franchise being labeled by multiple sports analysts as "championship caliber," or one which never seems to leave the rebuilding years?

The economy certainly isn't making matters any better.

Now more than ever, fans in Cleveland are going to be keeping tighter budgets. If the Browns continue to put on weekly displays of ineptitude and losing, you can bet people will second-guess the idea of spending money on tickets.

Think this is a problem the Cavs will be running into anytime soon?

Consider this; the economy took it's first dive last October, the same month in which the NBA season begins. However, while the stock market plummeted, LeBron and company drew sellout crowds at nearly every home game. Fans certainly weren't discouraged when the team went 39-2 at the Q.

At the same time, during the last game at Cleveland Browns Stadium in 2008, the crowd was dismal. The team was starting Ken Dorsey at quarterback and going for their fifth win in the sixteenth week of the season.

Again, who are you going to pay to see—a team who only lost at home twice, or one which only won at home once?

Its up to Mangini and Kokinis to make the Browns relevant again, because they're finally facing some tough competition from another local franchise. This organization hasn't played second fiddle to a fellow Cleveland team in quite some time, but they certainly can't sit back and watch the Cavs take over the city.

Instead, they have to do their best to convince fans in Cleveland that the Browns are worth spending money on. This will be no easy task, especially with a lack of credible talent and still no starting quarterback.

If they fail to do so, those same fans know they can find some quality sports entertainment by taking a ten minute walk down East 9th Street.

With Contract Year Looming, What Can We Expect From Braylon Edwards?

Casey Drottar — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:23:10 -0400

The Cleveland Browns have quite a decorated history of wide receivers. Dub Jones, Dante Lavelli, Marion Motley, Gary Collins, Paul Warfield, Dave Logan and Webster Slaughter are among some of the greatest to ever play in Cleveland.

However, the Browns have also had their fair share of problematic wideouts as well. Who can forget Quincy Morgan, Kevin Johnson, Andre Rison, Dennis Northcutt and even Donte Stallworth? Well, if you haven't forgotten them, you've certainly spent the past few years trying your hardest.

Yet, through this mixed bag of gems and busts, no receiver has been as enigmatic and complicated as the Browns' current No. 1 target. Yes, when it comes to an overall inexplicable and thought provoking career path, it gets no better than Braylon Edwards.

If you've been following Cleveland football for the past few years, I don't have to tell you what it is about "B-Easy" that makes him so perplexing.

You probably saw his rookie season in 2005, where he showed quite a bit of potential before being sidelined due to injury. In the years following, you watched Edwards blossom from a pretty good receiver on a terrible team to a breath taking, record breaking, highlight making touchdown machine.

Yes, after the breakthrough 2007 season, which ended at the Pro Bowl, hopes were high for Edwards coming into 2008.

And then, it happened.

On the first ball thrown to him, Edwards broke open for a long fade route against Dallas in the season opener. It would've been a sure touchdown, a catch which could've changed the tune of the game.

Instead, it slipped through Edwards' hands.

This sight, met with groans so loud you could hear them in Canada, became the broken record of the Browns '08 season. By the end of the year, Edwards was a marked man in Cleveland.

Fans turned on him. They let him hear it anytime he dropped a ball he undoubtedly would've hung onto in years previous. By the end of the season, No. 17 jerseys were becoming an endangered species at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

He threw more gas on the fire when he claimed fans were only hard on him because he played at the University of Michigan. As 2008 came to an end, Edwards had put together one of his worst seasons as a pro, both on the field and off.

Now, Edwards is embarking on what could be the most important season of his professional career. In the final year of his current contract with Cleveland, 2009 will be the utter definition of "make or break."

Every player in any sport knows the importance of a contract season. Edwards' will have one final year to prove to the Browns and the rest of the NFL that he is indeed a player who deserves top dollar. A year full of impact plays and incredible stats will result in huge contract offers from around the league. A poor season will lead to salary cuts, as the world will see how, more often than not, Edwards just doesn't merit a blockbuster deal.

So, with this in mind, which Braylon Edwards will Browns fans be seeing this year? Will he be breaking touchdown records again? Or will he be trying to see just how many times a receiver can lead the league in drops and still retain his position as No. 1 wideout?

Its no secret how Browns fans feel about Edwards. They've grown tired of his antics and wish he'd just shut up and catch the ball. When trade rumors began to surface regarding a deal sending Edwards to New York, many people in Cleveland were ready to say good riddance.

Coming into this season, Edwards will no doubt still receive skepticism throughout Browns Town. However, he could change this tune by simply showing off the skills fans came to love two years ago.

There are a few reasons to believe Edwards may break out of his current funk this year.

Let's face it, nobody understands the importance of this season quite like Edwards. He knows everyone in the NFL will be keeping tabs on his stats, deciding whether or not he'll deserve big money as a free agent in 2010.

Due to this fact, Edwards will undoubtedly try his hardest to show his critics how his stats in 2007 were not a mirage. Knowing how no team will give millions of dollars to a wideout with a severe case of the "dropsies," he may spend much of this offseason working on his hands so as to become a more reliable target.

If this is indeed the case, it seems as though he has a good coaching staff to dig him out of the hole he's put himself in.

During the team's OTAs and voluntary mini-camps, head coach Eric Mangini worked with his staff in attempting to solve another Browns mystery--linebacker Kamerion Wimbley. In attempts to make him more effective, Mangini and defensive coordinator Rob Ryan moved Wimbley around on the field, testing his ability in different positions. Where the previous regime seemed intent on waiting for Wimbley to figure out his own problems, the new personnel is seeing what they can do to unlock the talent hidden in a once-threatening linebacker.

I struggle to believe this staff won't try the same thing with Edwards.

Say what you want about how awful last year was, but the idea of Edwards being a great receiver still isn't terribly inconceivable. I know this, and so does the Browns front office.

With this in mind, I think the coaches will do what they can to get their big-name receiver back to his productive ways.

The new bosses already seem to be effecting Edwards. In his post-practice interviews, he just sounds like a different player. His quotes aren't laced with the "me first" attitude contained in each press conference from last year. Heck, even after being forced to practice in the rain, Edwards came up with reasons as to how it could benefit the team as a whole.

Mangini's discipline will most likely yield results for Edwards on the field, and it may also give him a different perspective mentally. He won't feel the need to run around barefoot at practice, and he'll be spending a lot of time studying the new routes and plays being implemented by offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, as the excuse of having a new coach certainly won't earn him a pass for a terrible season.

However, while Edwards will certainly try his hardest to earn a big paycheck this year, there are more than a few factors playing against him.

The biggest enemy Edwards will face this year will be pressure. Pressure to perform to the best of his capabilities, and pressure to do this on a weekly basis.

This will be quite a task, as I believe it was the same burden which became too heavy for him last year.

During the 2008 campaign, the Browns were expected to bust out of the AFC cellar, which lead to them being scheduled for five primetime games. Of all the players on the roster, Edwards was the one who was supposed to anchor fantasy teams throughout the country.

Unfortunately, the spotlight became too bright for the Browns wideout. He talked multiple times throughout the year about how he was putting too much weight on his own shoulders when it came to playing his best. His stats continued to do anything but disprove this.

While the Browns won't be gracing Monday Night Football as much as last year, his upcoming contract expiration may be even more of a task than performing for a huge TV audience.

He'll also spend 2009 facing more defensive pressure than ever before.

Regardless of his off-year last season, most defensive coordinators around the league aren't going to sleep on Edwards. They've seen what he can do when he's on his game, and they won't risk letting him find a rhythm on the field.

However, the biggest reason for the tough coverage he'll receive has nothing to do with his ability to be an impact player. Instead, it'll be because there are no other legitimate receiving threats in Cleveland.

Rookies Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi are untested, David Patten is on the wrong side of 30, and while tight end Steve Heiden can be reliable, he won't give defensive coordinators nightmares.

This being said, Edwards will be a prime target for coverage regardless of how many drops he accumulates. Try as he may, he'll never be able to convice opposing teams to yell, "TRIPLE COVERAGE ON MIKE FURREY!"

So, will Braylon Edwards put his best foot forward this year? I'd like to believe so.

But, will his task of becoming an impact player be more difficult than ever before? Definitely.

Its his last chance to prove he's not an overrated prima donna, and if he comes through on top, nobody benefits more than the Browns.

Why the Cleveland Browns' Quarterback Competition May Have Ended Before It Began

Casey Drottar — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:00:24 -0400

There are more than a few quarterback competitions raging throughout the NFL, but none is gaining more attention than Brady Quinn vs. Derek Anderson in Cleveland.

Plenty of writers here at the Bleacher Report have given their opinions on why they feel the Golden Boy from Notre Dame or the Moose from Scappoose should be the man in charge of the Cleveland Browns offense.

Some feel it's fate that Quinn leads the team he grew up rooting for, while others believe Anderson's long ball and Pro Bowl resume is more than enough reason to make him the starter.

Regardless of who's supporting who, coach Eric Mangini has already stated he is waiting until deep into the preseason to make an official decision on his starting quarterback.

However, while Mangini is notorious for holding his cards close to his chest, there are plenty of signs and indications leaving me to question whether there ever really was a quarterback competition to begin with.

As of now, Mangini claims the race between his two quarterbacks is dead even (yes, I said two quarterbacks, Brett Ratliff will not start for Cleveland).

Honestly, though, I believe he's known the identity of his starter for quite some time now—Brady Quinn.

First off, let me state this will not be an article filled with Quinn praising and Anderson bashing. There will be no "Quinn should start because he's awesome and DA is dumb" arguments.

Instead, I'm basing my stance on the fact that there are just too many factors with the Browns which do nothing but complement Quinn's style, while also highlighting Anderson's weaknesses.

The first thing to look at is what Mangini and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll are saying about their plans for the Browns offense.

Throughout the offseason, the coaching staff has claimed they are building a short-yardage, game-managing and run-first offense. The addition of bulk to the offensive line, along with Mangini's praise of backup running backs Jerome Harrison and James Davis, further solidifies this.

So, with the offensive coaches placing the running attack as top priority, it would seem as though Derek Anderson's flame-throwing ability will go underused if he's the starter.

Furthermore, Anderson has shown his struggles with short throws in the past. Many times in the last couple seasons, he's managed to be accurate with throws downfield, but oddly unreliable throwing screens or quick slant routes.

In order to be an effective quarterback in a short-yardage game plan, these passes must be completed.

With Quinn, however, these routes are among his specialties. During his three games last year, he proved to be precise in hitting receivers and halfbacks running these patterns, even when he was flushed out of the pocket.

Another factor which leads me to believe Quinn may have already won the job is the criteria Mangini and crew are using to evaluate the signal-callers.

Mangini talked in a recent press conference about how he's looking for someone with huddle presence and command. He also wants a quarterback who can effectively run the two-minute drill and can keep his cool during these and other high pressure situations.

Again, the past has shown how Quinn comes out as the favorite in this category.

There were more than a few instances in the past two years where Anderson's helmet radio went faulty, causing him to have trouble hearing the call. This, of course, is by no fault of his own.

The problem was the fact that, instead of improvising and coming up with his own play, he instead wasted a valuable timeout so he could run to the sideline and get the correct call.

This is the NFL. Things go wrong at the most unexpected moments, and a quarterback has to be prepared for anything. If there is confusion with the play calls, it is up to him to think quickly on his feet and come up with the best solution to get the job done.

In regards to huddle presence, it has been documented that many players were unimpressed with Derek Anderson's ability to control the huddle. Some of his teammates have even been accused of insulting or yelling at Anderson as he attempted to call out the play. A quarterback cannot allow this to happen in his own huddle.

While Anderson has some issues with huddle presence, numerous teammates claimed Quinn was very effective in running the show. Kellen Winslow raved about Quinn's calming yet convincing demeanor, claiming he was able to effectively make sure everyone stayed focused.

Winslow is no longer with the team, but many of the players from that huddle still are, and they can certainly attest to his sentiments.

This is yet another sign as to why Quinn could already be the Browns starter. When it comes to huddle presence, there aren't many secrets as to how effective Quinn and Anderson are (or aren't) at running the herd.

If Mangini were to base his decision on huddle command, only to select Anderson, someone who has proven to struggle in this department, it would seem just a little hypocritical.

One of the most important and overall telling indications of who will start for Cleveland is the team's receiving corps.

With the inevitable severance between the Browns and Donte Stallworth, coupled with the trade of Kellen Winslow, Cleveland has suddenly become pretty depleted when it comes to downfield threats.

The Browns replaced Winslow with veteran tight end Robert Royal, who is known more for his run blocking than Hail Mary routes. The team then added aged receiver David Patten and Mike Furrey, both of whom seem to be possession wideouts. Rookie receiver Brian Robiskie is not heralded for his speed, and while fellow newcomer Mohamed Mossaquoi could be a future fade route target, word is he's got a lot of room to develop.

Since he is the only legitimate receiving threat on the team, Braylon Edwards will no doubt see a good amount of double coverage, and sometimes triple coverage. Beyond him, the Browns have a who's who depth chart of untested rookies and veterans slowed by age.

What does all this mean?

Its simple. When looking at the receiving weapons available for either quarterback, the results favor Quinn.

Anderson can undoubtedly throw the ball for miles. The problem is there won't be too many Cleveland receivers waiting for him at the other end of the throw.

Case in point, this receiving corps just doesn't favor a quarterback with a gunslinger throwing style.

If you're going to start a quarterback based on your love of the long ball, you want receivers who can complement this. The Browns don't have these receivers, but what they do have is a group of wideouts who would be more useful in a short-yardage system with a dip and dunk quarterback, a la Brady Quinn.

So, if my hypothesis is true and the coaching staff has indeed decided amongst themselves to start Quinn, then why not tell the world? Why keep putting on this front of a head-to-head race to preseason?

It could be a number of things, really.

Perhaps Mangini feels Anderson has at least earned the right to compete for the position, since he has proven to be effective at times in the past.

Maybe Mangini had so much fun convincing sports analysts around the world just how "enamored" he was with former USC quarterback Mark Sanchez, even though he had no intentions of drafting him.

For all one knows, the coach may just find great joy in jerking the chain of the sports media.

In the end, I know as much about this competition as everyone else. It could be that Mangini intends to focus solely on the imperfections listed about Anderson so he could be ready to start this season.

As of now, though, all signs point to Quinn, and I'd like to think the Browns coaching staff knows this as well.

Another Contract Dispute: Should the Cleveland Browns Keep Phil Dawson?

Casey Drottar — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:45:50 -0400

In the ten years since the Cleveland Browns returned to the NFL, the team has seen hundreds of faces come and go. Four different head coaches and GMs, a handful of failed draft picks, and a laundry list of quarterbacks have come to Cleveland without making much noise.

Yet, through all the years of losing, when roster and coaching changes were as routine as a sunrise, one player has stuck around. One man has remained with the Browns through the numerous tough times, and those two good times.

That man is Phil Dawson, place kicker extraordinaire.

In his ten years with the Browns, Dawson has seen it all. He has been part of the one and only playoff game the team played in since their return. In 1999, his last second field goal in Pittsburgh with no timeouts left resulted in the rare occurrence that is a victory over the Steelers.

Dawson has been called upon to kick through sunshine and blizzards, and more times than not, he scores. He's also the man behind one of the most famous field goals in team history, when his 52-yarder off the stanchion in Baltimore was called no good, then overturned after the game was supposedly over.

Yes, it's safe to say Phil Dawson is a fan favorite in Browns Town.

Now, Dawson is amidst a contract dispute in Cleveland. He's skipped all voluntary workouts and OTAs scheduled for the team so far, leading many to believe he is considering a holdout.

Although he plans on attending this week's mandatory minicamp, it's looking like coach Eric Mangini and GM George Kokinis will have to handle another contract conflict.

The team's front office is already dealing with the demands of special teams star Joshua Cribbs, who seems to have eased up on his stance and has been showing up to voluntary workouts despite not getting what he wants.

Linebacker D'Qwell Jackson is also hoping to get an extension on his contract, albeit doing so a bit less publicly than his two teammates.

So, with a new player asking for more money, the question on everyone's mind will be, "Is Phil Dawson worth keeping around?"

The most important thing to look at when considering a player's worth is his stats. For Phil Dawson, its all good.

Currently, Phil Dawson is the 7th most accurate kicker in the NFL.

As of the end of the 2008 season, Dawson's career field goal percentage is an impressive 82.8 percent. Despite a less than average 66.7 percent in his initial season with the Browns, his percentage has never slipped below 72 percent.

In five of his ten seasons in Cleveland he's kicked at least one field goal of 50 yards or longer. Overall, he's 10-15 kicking from beyond 50 yards.

Like most kickers, Dawson has missed his fair share of chip shots and extra points. However, he also has five seasons of scoring 100 points or more from field goals. Though this stat may seem more like an insult to the offense, it is worth noting when a kicker can top the century mark while only scoring three points at a time.

While his stats certainly merit more money, another thing the front office has to consider with contract issues is whether or not the player has a personality which will help the team instead of hurting them. Kokinis and Mangini felt former tight end Kellen Winslow would be a distraction to the team, which lead to him being dealt to Tampa Bay.

Anyone who follows the Browns knows Phil Dawson is nothing but a class act.

Dawson has dealt with a ton of losing in Cleveland, yet he continues to stick around in hopes of the team going through an uprising. He's never been outspoken or carried a personality which was bigger than the team (granted, the NFL rarely sees the phenomenon that is a hot-shot place kicker).

During his time with the Browns, Phil Dawson has been asked to do a lot. He's been called on to kick game winning field goals from 50+ yards more often than not. Some of these kicks have been made in less than desirable conditions, as lake-effect winter has certainly tried to tear him down before.

Yet, there was never any question when it came to asking Dawson to do the impossible. He never complained to any coach, claiming the distance was too far or the weather was too rough. He simply trots out to the field and puts his best effort forward.

One instance of this determination occurred last season during a Monday night game in Buffalo. The Browns offense stalled late in the fourth quarter, 56 yards away from the goal posts, and a field goal would give the team the lead.

Former coach Romeo Crennel simply looked over to Dawson, who gave a quick nod, walked on the field, and blasted home the eventual game-winner.

So, if you're looking at stats and character, Phil Dawson is a keeper. Question is, do Mangini and Kokinis feel the same way?

The facts are facts; a new regime doesn't know the team as well as former coaches do. They haven't worked with these players, therefore they haven't been able to determine anyone's worth beyond what game-film shows.

Unfortunately for Dawson, a place kicker is much easier to replace than someone like Josh Cribbs. While Cribbs can be used on pretty much every side of the ball, Dawson simply has one job to do; kick the ball that way.

In fact, Kokinis has already signed a backup kicker in Parker Douglas, a rookie out of South Dakota State. Word out of training camp is that Douglas is impressing coaches, which doesn't help Phil Dawson's cause. If Douglas begins to look like a starting kicker, Dawson slowly starts running out of bargaining chips.

Personally, I believe the Browns should keep Phil Dawson.

He's one of the best kickers in the NFL and is really the only consistent face the Browns have had in the past ten years. Dawson has proved to show desire for this team, and though his position is limited, he does everything within his power to win for Cleveland.

If the front office does ultimately decide to reject Phil Dawson's bid for a new contract, the fans certainly won't be terribly devastated. Adam Vinatieri, arguably the best kicker of the past decade, really didn't destroy New England when he left the Patriots to join the Colts.

However, one thing is true about Phil Dawson: He's definitely a player whose impact may ultimately go unnoticed until he's gone.

Brady Quinn, Derek Anderson to Compete for Browns' Top QB Spot Through Preseason

Casey Drottar — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 18:23:07 -0400

A couple weeks ago, Cleveland Browns head coach Eric Mangini made some noise after claiming Brady Quinn was getting the most reps with the starters during the team's mini-camp.

He also stressed that it would be wise not to read too much into this.

So, by nature, many Cleveland fans joined the rest of the sports media world in believing this was a clear-cut statement on who would be taking the Browns' opening snap against Minnesota in the 2009 season debut.

However, Mangini has now claimed that the competition between Quinn and Derek Anderson isn't over just yet.

In fact, it seems as though Browns fans won't know who'll be running the offense this year for quite some time.

Talking with the Cleveland media, Mangini said he fully intends to have Quinn and Anderson compete all the way through the preseason schedule this August.

"Definitely," the coach said as Thursday's OTAs began, "I want to go through the whole process, evaluate each phase, see it against other opponents."

For those of us Cleveland fans who've waited since January to find out just which quarterback Mangini wanted to run his offense, this is slightly upsetting.

Since the Browns returned to the NFL in 1999, the quarterback position has been a revolving door of draft picks, aged veterans, and all-out nobodies.

Tim Couch and Kelly Holcomb battled it out back and forth during the early years, while vets like Jeff Garcia and Trent Dilfer came and went without producing more than eight wins combined.

Akron standout Charlie Frye was deemed "the future of the team," but several multiple-interception games lead to him being jettisoned to Seattle.

So when Mangini told both Anderson and Quinn how he intended to have an offseason competition between them, most fans just sighed, shook their heads, and quietly muttered, "Here we go again."

It's easy to be angry about something like this.

The quarterback is the face of the franchise, yet Browns fans have seen so many faces in the past ten years it feels like we're speed dating. All Cleveland wants to have is a winning QB they can rally behind, a la Bernie Kosar (who, sadly, was the last consistent quarterback the Browns have had).

However, it's also easy to see why Mangini is having these two quarterbacks throw down for the right to start this season.

It's his first year with the Browns, and he's dealing with two QBs who don't exactly have stat sheets full of "starter" material. Anderson spent 2007 beating up on weak teams and 2008 getting beaten down by juggernauts. Quinn has three starts to his name, and while he went 1-2, in only one of these starts was he completely healthy.

As you can see, this QB depth chart isn't exactly one you can solve with a coin toss (insert Romeo Crennel joke here).

Mangini knows he doesn't have five or six years to turn Cleveland into a winner. The fans are restless and economic issues are certainly going to factor in to how many people pay to see the Browns this year.

However, Mangini's evaluation criteria certainly implies there is some method to his madness.

"The big (criteria) for me is huddle presence and the ability to run the offense, so who can most effectively run the offense, who can look at the defense, understand what the coverage is and throw to the right place, who can see a blitz look and put us in the right play, who can do the check-with-me's where you have two plays called and understand this is the better of the two selections," Mangini said.

"Those things are huge because there's always going to be some right answer and the ability for us offensively to get to the right answer in a short amount of time under pressure," he said. "That's what's going to drive us."

As unfortunate as it is to have another offseason QB battle in Cleveland, the fact is what coach Mangini is doing does make some sense.

Practice sessions can tell you a lot about a quarterback. They show you how well he understands the offense, whether or not he knows which routes the receivers are running, and how good he is at thinking on his feet.

What it doesn't tell you, though, is how a QB will react to an opposing team's defense.

While Quinn and Anderson don't read defensive coordinator Rob Ryan's playbook, they'll certainly be less surprised by what the practice defense brings as days go by in camp. By late July, there's a good chance both quarterbacks will know the basic patterns of the defenses they're going up against in practice, thus making it tougher to evaluate how they'll handle in-game issues.

This is why letting the competition last until the team is deep into the preseason is actually a smart idea.

As he said, Mangini is basing the majority of his decision on huddle presence, along with effectively running the offense and reading the defense. He also knows the best place to make such evaluations is during preseason, when Quinn and Anderson see three or four different defenses and work in an environment which isn't controlled by the coaches. Only here will Mangini get the best idea of who can run his team before he has to make the choice.

Taking as much of an unbiased look at this competition as I can, Mangini's evaluation criteria certainly suggests this job is Quinn's to lose.

Yes, Anderson has a much stronger arm than Quinn, and coaches can't help but get drunk off watching a flame-throwing quarterback. But the fact is, Anderson has had more than a few issues running a huddle and leading an offense.

Several times last season, Anderson struggled during two-minute offense and wasted countless timeouts when he couldn't quite hear the play calls in his helmet headset. There were also several issues regarding his ability to run a huddle, as there are more than a few reports of players yelling at him while trying to call a play.

Quinn, however, has received praise for his ability to express command in the huddle, as Kellen Winslow stated last year how Quinn was able to calm his teammates down in pressure situations. Quinn is also known for being able to effectively improvise on the field, using both mobility and general football intelligence.

Yet these facts certainly don't make Quinn the official starter. Anderson does have talent, and Mangini will no doubt try and fix his game-managing issues in order to use his long-ball for good.

With this in mind, you can see why this competition is only in its initial stages. Mangini knows the preseason will be his best chance to make a fair and true evaluation of Quinn and Anderson. He also knows he's going to have to make his choice based on who will yield the best results.

So while patience isn't a characteristic best known with Cleveland fans, the truth is Mangini has every right to take his time in evaluating just who exactly he wants to run his team.

Still Doubting Eric Mangini? A Look at Browns Mini-Camp May Sway Hesitation

Casey Drottar — Tue, 26 May 2009 19:59:59 -0400

Let's face it, when Randy Lerner hired Eric Mangini as the new coach of the Browns, people in Cleveland weren't exactly celebrating with parades down Euclid Avenue.

This comes as no surprise. Mangini had been fired by the New York Jets less than a week before he met with Lerner to discuss the Browns coaching vacancy.

His Jets started the 2008 season 8-3, but went 1-4 to close out the year and missed the playoffs. Many NFL analysts felt Mangini was better served as a defensive coordinator, at least for the next couple years.

Lerner felt otherwise, but after he brought Mangini to Cleveland, the skepticism began to surge throughout the Browns fanbase.

Mangini didn't help matters in his first few months with the team. He alienated Shaun Rogers, stirred up trade rumors involving some of Cleveland's big-name players, and said about five or six words a month to the media regarding these or any other Browns issues.

However, with the draft over with and voluntary mini-camps in full swing, the mood seems to be shifting. A noticeable change is in the air at Browns headquarters.

As of now, its a change for the better.

Under former coach Romeo Crennel, Browns players usually enjoyed their summers the same way fourth graders do, leisurely running around outside with all their friends.

This routine has come to an abrupt halt. Word out of mini-camp is Eric Mangini has this team tightly organized, as players are no longer standing around wastefully.

If a player doesn't know where they're supposed to be, he's sure to get an earful. It seems there certainly won't be much of a casual atmosphere this time around.

This sentiment was further solidified when Joe Thomas was forced to run a lap for going offsides while running a play.

Thomas getting handed a practice punishment is significant for two reasons. First, it means nobody is getting treated like a king under Mangini's watch.

Consider this: Newcomer Brian Robiskie was forced to run a lap during rookie mini-camp for dropping a pass. While its one thing to make a rookie pay for mistakes, its another to make your Pro Bowl left tackle hit the bricks for jumping early.

With these moves, Mangini is sending a message to his team: I don't care what you've done or how good you are, if you make a mistake, you're going to pay for it.

Secondly, singling out Joe Thomas for going offsides shows Mangini is trying to attack one of Cleveland's biggest issues—pre-snap penalties.

The Browns have been near the top of the league for many years now when it comes to pre-snap penalties. Countless Cleveland drives have been stalled, extended, or all out killed thanks to somebody jumping the gun and turning a 3rd-and-10 into a 3rd-and-15.

While we won't know how these new practice techniques will translate on the field just yet, the fact is Mangini wants to make his team smarter, and this is one way to reach that goal.

Another positive sign from the "Mangenius" is his willingness to move outside linebacker Kamerion Wimbley around in attempts to make him more effective.

Wimbley's ineffectiveness is no secret to any Browns fan. Part of the reason for this was the former Cleveland regime being a bit too stubborn with him, refusing to move the former rookie standout in hopes he'd develop pass rushing moves.

Last week in mini-camp, Mangini and defensive coordinator Rob Ryan gave Wimbley a couple plays on the left side of the line (he normally lines up on the right side), and also gave indications that this may happen again.

This is a creative approach in the Kamerion Wimbley saga, as it seems this coaching staff will be attempting to help him find his potential instead of waiting for it to show up.

In addition to this, Mangini is also starting to look pretty smart in drafting Ohio State wideout Brian Robiskie.

Several Cleveland media sources are claiming Robiskie is as polished as advertised and has looked very impressive in camp. He caught two redzone touchdowns from Brady Quinn in one day, one of which was a diving catch in the corner of the endzone.

This has lead some to believe Robiskie has a good chance at filling the hole at No. 2 receiver.

One of the most intriguing aspects of the Mangini era is how the players are reacting to this new coaching style.

Here's a couple quotes from last week regarding some players' opinions on the new coach:

Wideout Braylon Edwards was asked how he felt about some of the offseason moves Mangini has made, to which he responded, "Coach Mangini is the head guy. He's made decisions based on what he thinks is going to get us back on the right track and moving forward in the 2009 season. I'll stick by him right now. That's my coach and that's who I'm going to play for and who I support."

When the media attempted to get a juicy answer from Brady Quinn regarding the upcoming quarterback competition, he simply said, "I just take my directions from coach Mangini. Whatever he says, goes."

Despite players attempting to defend Romeo Crennel before his inevitable firing, rarely did anyone on the Browns imply such authority with their former coach.

Crennel was obviously viewed as their leader, but there weren't too many quotes which painted him as "the man in charge."

The point is Mangini was given a team full of players who couldn't find the definition of discipline if they were paid extra for it. Now, even Braylon Edwards, a player who was actually able to find an I in team last year, is referring to Mangini as the man with the power.

Will these improvements result in more wins in 2009? Probably not. As I mentioned in my 2009 expectations article, an 8-8 record is realistically the best this year's team could do.

However, working to make the Browns a smart, well-disciplined team was the main goal on Eric Mangini's to-do list.

A week into voluntary mini-camp, it looks like he's already making some positive strides.

Peacemaker? With Shaun Rogers Happy, Eric Mangini Turns to Josh Cribbs Conflict

Casey Drottar — Thu, 21 May 2009 16:33:45 -0400

Coming into Cleveland, one must assume Eric Mangini felt his toughest task would be making the Browns less laughable and more competitive.

Five months in, it turns out Cleveland's on-field performance is the least of his concerns.

Mandatory training camps haven't even begun yet, but Mangini has already had to deal with a couple of angry players, most recently kick return specialist Josh Cribbs.

Cribbs, who signed a six-year, $6.7 million extension in 2006, feels he's earned much more than his contract is paying him and intends to boycott voluntary practices until "meaningful dialogue" begins between the Browns and his agent.

This isn't the first fire the new Browns coach has had to put out since he joined the team in January.

Merely one month into his Cleveland tenure, Eric Mangini had to deal with angry nose tackle Shaun Rogers. Rogers, one of the few Browns players last season who was actually worth watching, became disgruntled with Mangini when his new coach snubbed him at a local awards banquet, and again at the team's practice facility.

The final straw was apparently pulled when the new regime gave Rogers a notice claiming he had to arrive to training camp at a prescribed weight.

Upon hearing this, Rogers almost immediately put the word out that he wanted the Browns to release him. The early reports indicated there wasn't a thing Cleveland's front office could do to change his mind, leaving many fans fearing that the Browns already anemic defense was about to lose its most talented player.

Enter Eric Mangini.

While Shaun Rogers huffed and puffed through his "sources," Mangini handled the situation in his own way—behind closed doors. Many thought the train had derailed when Rogers was reported as a no-show at the team's voluntary workout program in March.

Then, out of nowhere, raw video was released showing Rogers at the Browns training complex in Berea, OH, hugging teammates and looking uncharacteristically happy. Nobody knew what happened, how it happened, or when it happened, but somewhere between Rogers' angry outbursts and his arrival to the workout program, Mangini calmed the big man down.

In fact, Shaun Rogers recently claimed all was well between him and his coach.

At an Akron awards banquet, Rogers stated he and Mangini spoke about the issue in person and handled it appropriately. The potentially ugly situation is apparently history at this point, and Rogers claims he's ready to go to work.

So, with the Shaun Rogers dispute handled, Mangini's role as peacemaker will be required once again with Josh Cribbs. His work is definitely cut out for him, as the Cribbs commotion is certainly a bit more complicated.

As it was with Rogers, Cribbs is certainly a player the Browns cannot afford to lose. Also like Rogers, Cribbs seems very adamant about getting what he wants, as he too is threatening to leave if demands aren't met.

The big difference with Cribbs' situation is that there's a contract involved.

While personal issues and miscommunications can be handled simply by meeting one-on-one with the disgruntled player, the solutions for a contract dispute are much more black and white. The player will get the money he wants, or the team ends up losing one of its core members. Either way, someone has to break.

Word came out of Browns camp stating Mangini met with Josh Cribbs today at a full squad meeting. Mangini would not disclose what was said between him and Cribbs, but it's nice to hear he spoke with his disgruntled special teams star, as his fence-mending skills will have to be pushed to the limit in this case.

Cribbs knows Mangini intends to use him in a wide array of positions, including nickel and dime defenses. Mangini has also told local media how excited he was to have a player like Cribbs on his team. Because of this, Cribbs has an edge on the front office, as he knows how important he is to the Browns, especially since they've told him this.

Also, Cribbs won't be backing down in this debate, since he's taking it personally. He claims Browns owner Randy Lerner promised him a contract renegotiation this offseason, while the team released a statement saying nobody, including Lerner, has made any promises to anyone on the Browns. Cribbs has taken offense to the team basically calling him a liar, and will no doubt use this as motivation to keep fighting for what he feels he deserves.

So while Mangini will undoubtedly attempt to calm this storm the way he did with Rogers, he should know this conflict won't end as easily. He and GM George Kokinis will most likely have to do some sort of renegotiation with Cribbs' contract, regardless of trying to avoid salary cap trouble.

Even though doing this will result in the front office giving in a bit, the fact of the matter is Josh Cribbs is a great player to have on your team. He may not be putting himself in the best light through this holdout, but Cleveland fans know he'll do what's asked of him on Sundays.

At this point, its Eric Mangini's job to play mediator again, as he is now responsible for making sure both sides end up happy. He's done it before, so here's hoping he can do it again.

Man Coverage: One-on-One with Cleveland Browns Rookie Wideout Brian Robiskie

Casey Drottar — Tue, 19 May 2009 21:28:51 -0400

While most Browns fans are coming up with questions to ask Brady Quinn about his upcoming quarterback competition, or Josh Cribbs and his recent contract controversy, I've chosen a different route. I thought it might be important to get some input from one of Cleveland's recent draft day additions.

At this point, Cleveland's rookies have been on the field more than anyone else this offseason. As of now, they not only have the best idea of what practices are like under new coach Eric Mangini, but they're also getting an early preview of what kind of plays Mangini and his coordinators are coming up with.

With this in mind, I came up with a few questions to ask rookie wide receiver Brian Robiskie.

As someone who used to be a ball boy in Cleveland while his father coached the Browns, I figure he might have some interesting input on what its like to play for the team he grew up with.

To start the interview, I thought I'd ask some typical opening questions in order to find out how Robiskie's experience with the Browns is going so far.

1. You've been a member of the Cleveland Browns for just about a month now. How has life in the NFL treated you so far?

2. Much like your new coach Eric Mangini, you started your Browns career as a ball boy. Your father, Terry, was the interim head coach in 2004 after Butch Davis was fired. How did it feel being drafted by a team you already have some notable history with?

After this, I would be curious to hear Robiskie's opinion on his new coach.

Overall reviews on Eric Mangini throughout the NFL seem to split down the line. Some people are fans of his work ethic and attitude about the game of football, while others seem to think he's a bit too tough on his players. It'll be interesting to see how Robiskie will handle the transition from his former coach Jim Tressel to Eric Mangini.

I am also curious to see if Mangini has started implementing any of the plays he and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll are coming up with during practices.

3. Many NFL experts have painted coach Eric Mangini as a disciplinarian who runs a very strict locker room. Now that you've spent the past few weeks under his watch at rookie mini-camp, do you feel this is an accurate description of your new coach?

4. A lot of fans are curious as to what kind of plays Mangini and Brian Daboll will be running this year. Is there any input you can give on just what type of offense the coaches seem to be working with as of now?

5. You gained a little media attention in Cleveland for having to run laps after a dropped ball in practice. How did it feel knowing nobody on this team will be given any special treatment when it comes to making mistakes?

Robiskie having to pay for practice slip-ups officially brought an end to the country club atmosphere mini-camps used to have under former coach Romeo Crennel. While he never worked under Crennel, Brian Robiskie was the first example of the discipline Eric Mangini will be bringing to the practice field and it will be interesting to see just how he handled it.

From here, I thought I would ask about the scouting analysis Robiskie received coming into this year's NFL Draft. The next few questions would be to see how the young wideout reacted to what scouts had to say regarding the pros and cons of drafting him.

6. When you were drafted, many analysts pointed out the academic success you had through college. While exceptional grades certainly don't make their way into the stat books, how do you feel your academic prowess benefits you on the field?

7. Along with this, many experts claimed you were a sure-handed, polished receiver, but you lacked the overall speed needed to be a top wideout in the NFL. How do these comments affect you and are you doing any work to improve your speed in practice?

The next few questions are meant to test Robiskie's character and mental strength. Analysts claimed he was the most "NFL-ready" receiver in the draft, but it will be interesting to see if he feels the same way.

I also want to know if he feels he's ready for the transition he'll be going under coming to the Browns after spending four years playing in the national spotlight at Ohio State.

8. While the Browns have certainly stockpiled receivers this offseason, most of the new additions aren't quite dependable enough to be considered starters. How does it feel knowing the team may very well thrust you into a starting role in your very first season?

9. We know what draft analysts said when it came to how ready you were for life in the NFL, but what I want to know is do you feel like you're ready to be an NFL starter?

10. You played at The Ohio State University, a consistently winning program. You've spent the past few winters preparing for various BCS Bowl games. Now, you come to Cleveland, where the Browns have had two winning seasons in ten years. How are you going to handle the transition from a national powerhouse to a team in the middle of a rebuilding year?

11. Furthermore, what do you feel your experience and winning background can bring to this team?

To finish off the interview, I thought I would bring up Cleveland's history of draft busts. With just over three months before the season begins, its a bit too early to tell who'll shine and who will become irrelevant this year.

However, I'm curious to see if Robiskie believes he can handle the pressures placed on being a rookie in the NFL and succeed as a Cleveland Brown.

12. The Cleveland Browns have had a rough history when it comes to draft busts and, more often than not, the team has drafted far more duds than impact players.

With this history in mind, I want you to take this time and tell the fans of Cleveland what you will do to make sure you don't become another Browns draft dud.

As previously mentioned, its still too early to tell if any rookies will turn out to be impact players this year for the Cleveland Browns.

However, along with center Alex Mack, Brian Robiskie is one of the few Browns draft picks who is being considered a possible starter at this point, so he may very well be thrust into the spotlight this season.

After watching Robiskie during his time at Ohio State, I personally believe he can take the steps needed to become a successful NFL receiver. But, will he become the reliable No. 2 target the Browns lacked so desperately last season?

Only time will tell.

Changing of the Guard: A Who's Who of the Cleveland Browns New Coaching Staff

Casey Drottar — Sun, 17 May 2009 00:46:52 -0400

When Romeo Crennel and Phil Savage were fired by the Cleveland Browns, the majority of their staff was sent packing as well. Afterwards, Browns owner Randy Lerner brought in Eric Mangini, who had just been released by the New York Jets, and let him decide who to hire onto his coaching staff.

Oddly enough, Mangini even had a say on who would be his superior, as his connection with George Kokinis was the main reason he was chosen as the new Browns general manager.

So, while everyone in the football world is analyzing the players being brought in by the ManKok regime, I think its about time we profile three of the biggest decision makers on the Browns revamped coaching staff.

Let's start at the top:

Eric Mangini

Coach Mangini's rise in the NFL is the very definition of "full circle."

Eric Mangini began his life in pro football at the age of 23, taking a ball boy position with the Browns under former coach Bill Belichick. Even though ball boy is a job typically reserved for a younger crowd, Mangini took whatever opportunity he could to get some experience in the NFL.

Belichick was very impressed with Mangini's attitude and work ethic, so impressed that he was able to get him promoted twice, from ball boy to public relations intern to an offensive assistant.

When the Browns moved to Baltimore, Mangini followed them, retaining his offensive assistant position for another year before rejoining Belichick in New York with the Jets. The two hung together in New York until 2000, when Belichick was named head coach of the New England Patriots.

One of Belichick's first moves in New England was assigning Mangini as his defensive backs coach.

Mangini made a name for himself in this position for the next four years, until he became New England's defensive coordinator. He turned down offers for the same position with Miami, Oakland, and Cleveland in order to stay with the Patriots and continue working with the man who helped start him his career.

This all changed in 2006 when Mangini was hired by the New York Jets as their new head coach. Nicknamed by the media as both "The Mangenius" and "The Penguin," Mangini brought good fortune to a Jets team who went 4-12 the previous year.

The team posted a 10-6 record and earned a playoff berth, where they lost to Belichick's Patriots in the Wild Card round.

In 2007, Mangini became involved in one of the biggest scandals in sports history, accusing Bill Belichick, his former mentor, of illegally videotaping New York's coaching signals during a regular season game. Belichick received several punishments and fines, thus causing a rift in his and Mangini's relationship which has since been filled.

Mangini's success with New York leveled off in his second season, as they finished with a lowly 4-12 record. The year after, the Jets brought Brett Favre out of retirement, even though Mangini was against the move.

He eventually made peace with the front office's actions and the Jets got off to an 8-3 start. Eventually, though, the season derailed as the team lost four of their last five games to finish 9-7.

The poor finish in New York lead to Mangini's firing, a move some of his former players felt was unfair. He quickly rebounded, however, after a strong interview with Randy Lerner earned him the Browns head coach opening.

Now, Mangini has been given a task many have tried to overcome, but only few have succeeded. He must now try to figure out just how to make the Cleveland Browns a competitive football team.

In order to tackle this issue, Mangini brought with him a couple former co-workers to give him help along the way.

Brian Daboll

Like Eric Mangini, Brian Daboll began his NFL tenure under Bill Belichick. After spending time working at the college level with small coaching positions at both William & Mary and Michigan State, Daboll became a defensive assistant at New England in 2000 along with Mangini.

Two years later, Daboll was promoted to wide receivers coach with the Patriots. He spent the next four seasons in this position until, in 2006, he fled to New York alongside Mangini.

Many members of the Patriots coaching staff were less than pleased with Brian Daboll leaving the team to join Mangini in New York. New England had developed a solid offense, and with Daboll's departure the team was forced to rewrite much of their offensive terminology.

With the Jets, Daboll worked as Mangini's quarterbacks coach. However, his first season proved to be quite an uphill battle.

Quarterback Chad Pennington struggled to recover from a previous rotator cuff injury, and was thus hampered to slow arm movement and an inability to throw for long distances. His replacement, Kellen Clemens was a slight improvement, but a weak offensive line couldn't keep him protected very long.

Daboll spent 2008 working with the recently unretired Brett Favre. Under Brian Daboll, Favre occasionally showed signs of his former self. By late season, though, a shoulder injury lead to a decrease in Favre's accuracy, along with a rise in his interception numbers and a rapid downturn to the Jets season.

After the Jets fired Mangini, Daboll's future remained a little uncertain. New York's offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer was one of the first candidates to interview for the head coach opening.

With question marks looming over who would replace Schottenheimer if he were to become head coach, many expected Daboll to be his heir apparent.

However, before Schottenheimer received word on the head coach vacancy, Daboll followed Eric Mangini to Cleveland, where he was assigned as the Browns offensive coordinator.

In Cleveland, Brian Daboll will be in charge of bringing new life to an offense which couldn't score for six straight weeks. As of now, Daboll still doesn't know which quarterback will be leading his offense, but hopefully his experience as a quarterbacks coach will help him regardless of who is chosen as the starter.

Rob Ryan

At the other side of the ball is new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. Ryan is one of the more experienced coaches Eric Mangini has brought with him to the Browns.

He began his career in 1987 as a coaching assistant at Western Kentucky University. A year later he joined Ohio State as an outside linebackers coach, only to move on to Tennessee State the following year, where he spent four seasons coaching the running backs, wide receivers, and the defensive line.

By 1994, Ryan felt he was ready to move up to the NFL, joining the Arizona Cardinals as a defensive backs coach under his father Buddy. However, while the Cardinals defense led the NFL in both interceptions and total takeaways in 1995, Buddy Ryan was eventually fired after two rough seasons in Arizona, leading Rob to once again move to another team.

After spending a season at Hutchinson Community College as defensive coordinator, Ryan took the same position at Oklahoma State in 1997. For the next two years, OSU's defense ranked among the best in the nation.

In fact, The Sporting News named Ryan Coordinator of the Year in 1997, as the Cowboys defense saw a 100 yard decrease in total yards allowed per game than the year before.

By 2000, Rob Ryan was ready to move back into the NFL, becoming the linebackers coach for New England. During his time with the Patriots, the team was ranked among the highest in the NFL in total defense.

In 2001, Ryan helped create one of the best scoring defenses in franchise history, while also developing Pro Bowl linebackers Willie McGinest and Tedy Bruschi.

After spending four years in New England, Ryan became the defensive coordinator for the Oakland Raiders. His numbers in Oakland were not quite as impressive as those with the Patriots, but this may have been due to a slight dropoff in overall talent.

Still, the Raiders defense remained somewhat respectable through the better part of Ryan's time in Oakland.

While Ryan was in New England, he became close friends with Eric Mangini. Therefore, when Mangini was hired in Cleveland, he invited Ryan to join the team as defensive coordinator. Ryan still had a year left in his contract with Oakland, but he was told by the team that he was free to join any franchise of his choosing.

With the Browns, Rob Ryan will most certainly have his hands full when it comes to fixing a defensive unit which was overrun on a week-to-week basis last season. The skill level in Cleveland certainly doesn't match that of the 2001 Patriots, but there is some talent to be found.

It should be interesting to see if Ryan can turn the Browns around defensively in 2009.

Now that we have a better idea of the decision makers who'll be running the Browns' sidelines this season, we can shift our focus to just what exactly they can bring to Cleveland. The possibilities are endless, and we can all hypothesize as to what results will come.

The truth, however, is that we won't know for sure until this fall.

New Dogs, New Tricks: Playbook Changes Coming for the Cleveland Browns

Casey Drottar — Thu, 14 May 2009 18:04:52 -0400

For the fourth time in ten years, a new regime has come to Cleveland in attempts to create a new look for the Browns.

After spending last year watching an offense that couldn't score coupled with a defense that could do everything except tackle, a new look is about all Browns fans can pray for this season.

However, when looking at both the staff and players new coach Eric Mangini has brought in with him this offseason, its safe to say the Browns will be seeing some significant playbook changes in 2009.

What kind of changes will they be? Well, let's take a look

Defense

The one thing people will remember about a Romeo Crennel coached defense was the inability to effectively rush the quarterback.

It may have been due to dropping way too many defenders back into coverage, or perhaps an overall lack of talent and depth in the front seven. Either way, the opposing team's quarterback always seemed to have the cleanest jersey on the field.

While Mangini is a big fan of running a relatively uncomplicated defense, new coordinator Rob Ryan is a different story.

Ryan is known for creating a very aggressive defense, which will likely lead to a few more blitzing schemes in the Browns defensive playbook. This would be a welcome change in Cleveland, since it was such a rare occurrence to see any of the Browns defenders in the opponent's backfield last year.

More pressure on the quarterback will also help the defensive backs, as they won't be required to cover receivers for 15-20 seconds each play.

Unfortunately, the issue at hand won't so much be what Rob Ryan will try to do with the defense, but whether or not he has enough talent to do it effectively.

The truth is the Browns defense is made up of Shaun Rogers, former Jets backups, and newly drafted rookies. A lack of standout talent certainly leaves a lot of question marks hanging over this side of the ball, and Ryan will definitely have his hands full as he attempts to give the Browns a little more bite to their bark.

I anticipate the Browns will spend another year attempting to solve the riddle that is outside linebacker Kamerion Wimbley.

Wimbley will be entering his fourth season in Cleveland and he has yet to produce anything close to the numbers of his rookie campaign, where he posted eleven sacks. Look for Mangini and Ryan to try two things when it comes to reigniting the former Florida State standout.

First, expect coaches to work with Kamerion Wimbley in developing more pass rushing moves.

Since starting his career in the NFL, Wimbley has relied solely on his speed to try and get into the backfield. He could be a very talented linebacker if he had a wider variety of moves when it comes to shedding tackles. Rob Ryan will no doubt create a decent amount of plays which send Wimbley on a blitz, but not before trying to give him more arsenal to work with.

Second, I believe Ryan and Mangini will concoct some plays which focus on the right side of the offensive line, in attempts to find another solid pass rusher in second year linebacker Alex Hall or rookie David Veikune.

The coaching staff likes the potential of Hall, and is very impressed with the speed and tenacity Veikune has displayed in rookie mini-camps. Rob Ryan will most likely try various plays which test the ability of these two players because, if he finds solid talent in either of them, he can force offensive coordinators to spread the protection out. This, in turn, frees up Kamerion Wimbley from the double team and gives him a better chance of pressuring the quarterback.

While Cleveland's defense certainly won't scare anyone from the get-go, Eric Mangini has done a solid job at giving the team depth, which will significantly help Ryan if he's still passionate about being aggressive on defense.

As of now, each position on the Browns' defense is at least two to three players deep. What this means is the Browns can afford to blitz more often because they'll have fresh legs to rotate on and off the field.

Look for Mangini and Ryan to keep pressuring the edges with Wimbley, Hall, and Veikune, while also trying to send inside linebackers like D'Qwell Jackson and Kaluka Maiava through the holes Shaun Rogers opens up on the offensive line.

Offense

One thing Eric Mangini and new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll have in common is their penchant for a short-range, game-managing offense. This would explain why Mangini originally wanted to keep Chad Pennington in New York instead of signing Brett Favre last year.

Regardless, in looking at the players Mangini has brought to Cleveland's offense, there's no doubt he will continue to create a dip-and-dunk personality with the Browns.

The first reason for this offensive style is the fact that the Browns really don't have enough weapons to fill their playbook with a bunch of downfield routes.

Braylon Edwards is really the only legitimate threat at receiver in Cleveland, and his status with the team is still foggy at this point. Along with Edwards, the Browns signed Mike Furrey and David Patten, two capable, yet aged veterans who won't exactly give defenses fits. Josh Cribbs can certainly play as a wideout, but with limited action in this position, his reliability isn't defined just yet.

Since rookie Brian Robiskie has been deemed one of the most "NFL-ready" receivers in this years draft class, Mangini will most likely get him ready for a decent amount of action in his first year.

Problem is, since one of Robiskie's issues is a lack of blazing speed, he can't be relied on as a Hail Mary threat either. And while fellow rookie wideout Mohamed Massaquoi caught quite a few bombs from former Georgia QB Matthew Stafford, the coaching staff seems to be focusing more on his development as of now.

So, while the Browns have a lot of receivers to work with, there simply isn't enough talent to spread the field with them.

Because of this, look for Brian Daboll to create a run-first offense.

Daboll will most likely use some variety with his running backs. Jamal Lewis will still be used the most, but Jerome Harrison should be utilized much more than last season, where his impressive runs were constantly rewarded with a decrease in playing time.

Also, many draft analysts believe rookie half back James Davis was a steal, and with a solid training camp, he could see the field more often than not.

If Brady Quinn is ultimately selected as the Browns starting quarterback, Daboll will no doubt work with his short-range passing game, but might also use his mobility as well.

In his three starts last season, Quinn showed he could effectively move around outside of the pocket. Every now and then, he would run bootlegs which were usually good for at least five yards or so.

These plays will most likely have a place in Daboll's playbook, and might very well give Quinn an edge over the relatively immobile Derek Anderson when it comes to the upcoming quarterback competition.

In the end, it's safe to say the Cleveland Browns will be seeing a significant amount of changes in their playbooks this season.

At this point, however, it's too early to tell whether these changes will work effectively, or just fall apart like those of the previous regimes.

There's Always Next Year: The Story of a Browns Fan

Casey Drottar — Mon, 11 May 2009 23:07:03 -0400

Why am I a Cleveland Browns fan?

I get this question at least five or six times each fall, and I'm never short of explanations for my support of the Browns.

Normally, I give the honest truth. I tell people the facts, that my father was raised about 20 minutes west of Cleveland and, after moving down to Cincinnati, passed his passion for Northeast Ohio's professional teams on to my brother and I.

However, this isn't really the reason people ask me why I'm a Browns backer.

The fact of the matter is the outside world just can't understand how anyone can follow a team who has struggled mightily for the majority of the past two decades.

How could you continually get excited year after year as the autumn Sundays approach, knowing full well your team doesn't stand much of a chance?

And just why exactly would you spend your hard-earned money supporting a franchise many skeptics believe is bound to fail?

If you ask me, the answer is simple.

Its because Browns football isn't just some hobby. Its not something you follow casually every Sunday to pass time, nor is it merely just rooting for the team who resides closest to you.

No, Browns football is a religion. Its a civic pastime full of thick-skinned diehards who've seen enough tragedy to break even the strongest of men.

Being a Browns fan is about living through the pain. Browns fans share stories of heartbreak like scars of war. They unite 73,000 strong on Sunday, even though they root for a team who rarely legitimizes their hope.

Cleveland supporters will stand through everything a lake-effect winter can throw at them just to see Phil Dawson kick a couple field goals for an 8-0 win.

They'll groan in defeat if the Browns lose the opening coin toss, yet still devise crazy scenarios of how the team can pull off a win even though they're down 30 with a minute left.

Through thick and thin, Browns fans always bleed orange and brown, they're just looking for someone to stop the bleeding.

And this is why I'm a Browns fan.

The Browns were the first sports team I ever recognized, as Bernie Kosar quickly became my childhood hero. I remember my mother having to pretend to be 19 on her birthday just so we could have Kosar's number on the cake.

I also remember my father trying to convince me to talk to my grandmother on the phone by telling me Bernie was on the line (I was less than pleased when I found out the truth).

I saw my first Browns game in 1995. Cleveland hosted the Jacksonville Jaguars and lost ugly. Two days later, the announcement was made that Art Modell was moving the team to Baltimore.

At just 10 years of age, I didn't understand the severity of the issue at hand. I couldn't fully comprehend the idea that a city just had its heart torn out in the most violent way possible. Still an impressionable youth, I didn't get why Browns fans were refusing to watch football anymore.

But it wasn't until the Browns returned in 1999 that I realized what it meant to be a true follower of this team.

Four years ago, Cleveland fans had been emotionally crippled, burying their memorabilia and voluntarily exiling themselves from the sport of football.

Now, they were selling out a brand new stadium to see an expansion team that had a snowball's chance in hell when it came to competing.

However, no one cared. Sundays were sacred again, and that was all that mattered. Fans could once again adorn themselves in orange and brown. For the first time in nearly half a decade, people in Cleveland were barking with a purpose.

This passion, this undying support for a product which is faulty more often than not, is what made me a Browns fan.

While a losing season can make a winter much colder than usual, I can rest assured, because an entire fanbase is enduring the same blues I am. Yet, as ugly as it may have been, you can bet all the money in the world they'll be back next year.

And so will I.

What Can We Expect from the Cleveland Browns in '09?

Casey Drottar — Thu, 07 May 2009 23:20:24 -0400

With the NFL Draft officially behind us, its finally time for the new Browns regime to try and make themselves a competitive team.

However, with the moves Eric Mangini and George Kokinis have made this offseason, is being competitive a legitimate hope, or just a shallow pipe dream?

Let's start with the obvious: The mood at the Browns training camp is in no way the same as it was coming into the 2008 season.

Last year, after surprising the world with a 10-6 season in '07, the Browns were expecting to be just as good, if not better. With five nationally televised games, Cleveland fully expected to shock the league again, clinching the playoff berth which eluded them a year before.

Instead, a season of hope turned into a disaster so heinous that watching it could've been considered torture.

So, it will hardly be considered an understatement when saying that no one is actually thinking playoffs right now for the Cleveland Browns, including coach Mangini.

That being said, what can Browns fans expect from their team this season?

To be honest, it may not be too far fetched to think the Browns could turn a couple heads this year.

Just to clear things up, I'm not saying the Browns could be playing in January. Heck, I'm not even saying they'll be above .500. What I'm saying is that, if all goes accordingly, Cleveland could make some solid improvements from the 2008 season.

An important thing to note is that, in order for the Browns to be a competitive team in 2009, there are more than a few people who need to step up, including the recent draft day additions.

Its safe to say that a majority of the Browns draft picks will see immediate action this year. While coaching the Jets, Eric Mangini was known for giving his rookies a legitimate amount of playing time, and this trend will undoubtedly continue in Cleveland.

Lineman Alex Mack will either take over for current center Hank Fraley or move to right guard, depending on how well he performs in training camp. Mangini has a penchant for bringing rookie linemen in early, as he did in New York with Nick Mangold and DeBrickshaw Ferguson, and Mack will no doubt be another example of this.

With the receiving core going through drastic downgrades before the draft, it won't be shocking if rookie wideouts Brian Robiskie and Mohammed Massaquoi find themselves on the field more often than not. Robiskie may very well start across the field from Braylon Edwards as the team's second receiver.

Along with these rookies, linebackers David Veikune and Kaluka Maiava will most likely rotate on and off the field along with Cleveland's veteran front seven, while running back James Davis will share some carries with Jamal Lewis and Jerome Harrison.

With so many untested players on the field, it will be of the utmost importance that they shake off any rookie jitters as quickly as possible, as their contributions will have a notable effect on how the Browns perform as a whole.

Another important piece of the puzzle is having the Browns veteran players elevate their game.

If Braylon Edwards is still on the roster come September (trade rumors continue to swirl around "B-Easy"), he must overcome the rough season he endured in 2008.

While he's always had issues with dropped balls, I struggle to believe the Pro Bowl numbers Braylon Edwards put up in 2007 were merely a flash in the pan. Eric Mangini will no doubt try to get Edwards in the right state of mind, as he certainly makes a difference in what kind of team Cleveland brings to the field on Sundays.

The Browns must also get consistent play from the quarterback, whomever that may be.

While the starter is still unnamed, I have a gut feeling Brady Quinn will be leading the Browns this season. New offensive coordinator Brian Daboll is known for running more of a short yardage, dip-and-dunk style offense, which is the exact same way Quinn manages the game.

Quinn and Daboll have been working on the new schemes every day for the past few months now, while also building a solid rapport that will most likely contribute to who is finally chosen to lead the team.

If Quinn is named the starter, he must avoid the inconsistant play that plagued quarterback Derek Anderson throughout 2008.

It should be noted that, while the Browns could very well be competitive this year, there are more than a couple obstacles in their way.

One of these obstacles is the upcoming schedule. While it may not be as intimidating as the gauntlet that was 2008, it isn't exactly a cake walk either.

For instance, the AFC North is slowly becoming one of the strongest divisions in the NFL. Its no secret the defending champion Pittsburgh Steelers will be a tough draw for years to come, while the Baltimore Ravens, who seem to finally be set at quarterback, will be a daunting task as well.

And don't look now, but with the addition of safety Roy Williams, the Cincinnati Bengals are quietly having a solid offseason and could also be on the upswing.

Along with playing each of the above-mentioned teams twice, the Browns also face a talented Minnesota team, the always threatening San Diego Chargers, and a Chicago Bears squad which finally has a talented quarterback.

Another obstacle for Cleveland will be staying healthy.

In 2007, the Browns remarkably avoided any critical injuries, and this in turn had a hand in how successful the season went. However, 2008 was littered with health issues at nearly every position, which lead to four different starting quarterbacks and an overall depletion at the receiving corps.

If the Browns can stay relatively injury-free in 2009, it will certainly have an effect on how well the team can play week-to-week.

In the end, the Browns may very well improve under new coach Eric Mangini. However, it will take a lot of effort from more than a few players, from rookies to aged vets.

Do I honestly believe the Browns could pull off another surprise season, a la 2007? Not really, but I also don't believe the new regime has this on their list of goals for the upcoming year.

Mangini seems to be more focused on building a foundation for a team that hasn't seen one in the past ten years, which, unfortunately, won't produce immediately. However, it wouldn't surprise me if the Browns could consistently put forth a solid effort en route to a respectable record, perhaps in the 7-9 or 8-8 range.

Bottom line, the 2009 Cleveland Browns may not be as entertaining as the Cavaliers, but they also shouldn't be as inept and unwatchable as the Indians.

Underwhelming, but Solid Nonetheless: Evaluating the Cleveland Browns' Draft

Casey Drottar — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 21:28:39 -0400

As draft day rumors peaked heading into the weekend, Cleveland Browns fans were fearing the worst.

Would we really draft another quarterback? Would we not only keep our "diva" receiver, but add another one as well? Just exactly how "in love" was the new regime with players we really didn't need or want?

Finally, three months of rumors and smokescreens lead to the number five overall pick.

And then, they traded it.

Pick No. 17? Traded that, too.

The 19th selection? Well, you know the theme by now.

At long last, pick No. 21 came and the selection was made. And after what seemed like hours upon hours of trading down, the Browns made the unsexiest of all the unsexy picks—a center.

I must admit, I was probably one of the many Browns fans who was more than a little upset that I had to wait all day to see us draft Cal center Alex Mack. But, after looking at this selection, along with the rest of the moves made by Cleveland, I must say I'm a little impressed.

The Browns came into this weekend with only five selections and left with eleven new players. DE Kenyon Coleman, safety Abram Elam, and quarterback Brett Ratliff were the latest Jets added to Cleveland from trading down.

With their picks, Cleveland selected Mack, receivers Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi, OLBs David Veikune and Kaluka Maiava, cornerbacks Don Carey and Coye Franceis, and running back James Davis.

Neither of these new players really jump out as you as much as an Aaron Curry or Michael Crabtree would. However, one has to realize that each pick and acquisition the Browns made fills necessary and even immediate needs for the team.

First, there's Mack. Let's face it, while Hank Fraley was good at helping Cleveland recover from the LeCharles Bentley incident, he was on borrowed time.

The offensive line also took a beating last year when facing tougher opposition than that of the 2007 season. While a center wasn't the most pressing need, it was certainly one which couldn't be ignored.

Alex Mack will add an immediate impact to the line, giving it a shot of youth along with impressive bulk. While the Browns previous draft pick at center, Jeff Faine, was more of a sleek lineman, Mack is a 300 pounder who is an expert at shoving people to the ground.

Also, this addition could vastly improve the running game, goal line offense, and the overall protection of the quarterback (whomever that may be).

Next, you have Cleveland's depleated receiving core. Joe Jurevicius was released, Kellen Winslow was traded, and Donte Stallworth will most likely be playing for some sort of penal league. Thus, it was obvious the Browns needed to fill some holes here.

Although former Ohio State Buckeye Brian Robiskie was not the most heralded receiver in this year's draft class, he is regarded by many scouts as the most "polished" wideout. Experts don't fawn over his speed, but he is quoted as having the most reliable hands of this year's receivers and many believe he could be an instant starter.

Georgia's Mohamed Mossaquoi had a few problems with dropped balls early in his career (something we're full-up on here). These issues seemed to clear up last season, as Mossaquoi was a big reason why Matthew Stafford's stock was so high.

He is also known as a solid blocking receiver, which should be a welcome change from Kellen Winslow's "I'll block when I feel like it" approach.

After shoring up the offensive side of the ball, Eric Mangini and Co. picked up two relatively unheralded, but definitely talented linebackers in David Veikune and Kaluka Maiava.

Veikune didn't get a lot of recognition due to playing out in Hawaii. However, even though he was picked a little early, many experts believe he might be a find. He's a defensive end the Browns are most likely going to transition into an outside linebacker, and with his speed, agility, and strength, Veikune could become a pretty talented pass rusher.

Kaluka Maiava was surrounded by the much more hyped USC linebackers Brian Cushing, Clay Matthews III, and Rey Maualuga. It should be noted, though, that Mel Kiper Jr. was pretty outspoken about Maiava, claiming he was underrated and would be a solid pick for teams seeking linebacker help.

He may not start, but he will definitely add more depth to the shallow pool that was Cleveland's front seven.

While cornerbacks Don Carey and Coye Francies will bring some serviceable bodies to the Browns cornerback crew, someone to keep an eye on will be Clemson running back James Davis.

Davis had three outstanding years at Clemson, and would've been a 2008 first round pick had he not returned for his senior year. A slightly off year ensued, but you shouldn't discount him for it.

Davis is a big bruiser of a back, and would make the perfect student for Jamal Lewis. In fact, Davis already knows Lewis since the two went to the same high school, and Lewis has spent some time training him.

So, is this a draft class soaked with eye-popping talent from top to bottom? No, but does it bring some solid talent to positions that needed it badly? Yes.

Another point worth noting is the intelligence level of this new squad.

Almost every pick the Browns made was noted for their academic excellence. To be fair, scouts don't see exam scores on the same level as impressive 40 times. What it does say, though, is that these players are smart enough to know a good decision from a bad one.

High intelligence means these players have a better chance of avoiding stupid off-the-field mistakes and hanging out with the wrong crew. It means they knew the importance of keeping grades up and they didn't screw around through college knowing they'd be in the pros before long.

It also means the extensive playbooks and schemes seen in the NFL won't be as difficult to grasp.

Again, drafting a bunch of smart athletes may just make the team a little less dumb than it was before, but there are some notable benefits which may go unnoticed for a bit.

In the end, no expert can really predict how successful players will be until they take the field. The Browns have a long offseason left to get these newbies ready for their first year in the NFL.

Until then, we should take solace in the fact that we were expecting a season-crushing draft, and were given one that has quite a lot of potential.

Sifting Through the Browns' Smokescreens: What Will Cleveland Do on Draft Day?

Casey Drottar — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 20:36:40 -0400

The 2009 NFL Draft is just days away, and as it's been more often than not, the Browns have a top five pick.

However, this year there seems to be less news about who Cleveland intends to draft and more dealing with what they'll do to gain extra picks. In fact, the rumor mill has been teeming with Browns trade winds for the past few months.

So which trades should Browns fans expect? Are there actually going to be two quarterbacks to participate in coach Eric Mangini's offseason competition? Will some of us be taking a jersey we bought with pride a couple years ago and chucking it into the closet?

I'm here to break down some of these potential draft day trades, to see which moves make sense and should happen, or which ones will happen even if it seems like a terrible idea (it is Cleveland we're talking about).

Here are a few options the Browns may look to take this Saturday.

The Pick Itself

Let's face it, the Browns don't want to draft top five. Honestly, nobody does, but that's what a 4-12 record gets you. Because of this, management is going to try their hardest to trade down.

But is this a likely scenario? That all depends, really.

As mentioned, no one wants to draft this early, as top picks always come with a hefty price tag. You could draft a place kicker and still have to pay him seven figures or more. Unless mid-round teams are eager to draft a high-grade player, the Browns may struggle to move down from their current position.

This, I believe, is where Mark Sanchez comes in.

Until I hear Roger Goodell state that the Browns have drafted the USC quarterback with the fifth overall pick, and he's still on the roster come nightfall, then I'll buy the "Sanchez to Browns" draft rumors. As of now, I'm not sold.

Why would the Browns spoil a top five pick on one of the few positions where they actually have more than enough players? With gaping holes in so many other places, this move would define "draft blunder." Again, though, stupid drafting isn't something that would shock too many Browns fans (see: Davis, Butch).

Instead, I think the Browns are "fawning" over Mark Sanchez only because so many teams below them are obsessed with the underclassman QB. The Broncos, Jets, and Redskins have all professed their love for Sanchez. New York is even rumored to be trying to move up to take him.

It seems as though Cleveland may be trying to see which of these teams will flinch and, out of the fear of having to start Kyle Orton or Kellen Clemens, trade up with the Browns.

Unfortunately for Cleveland, Sanchez looks like the only out-pitch they have in trying to move down. They might just draft him and attempt a Manning-for-Rivers swap with another team. However, I still believe Mark Sanchez might be the only way to successfully collect some mid-round picks.

Trade Probability: 55 percent

Braylon Edwards

It's the trade rumor that just won't die. Sports analysts and "sources" everywhere have been feasting on Edwards-to-New York for the past month, and it's been heating up by the day.

The reason for this is that it's almost a sure thing now.

Several sources are claiming the Edwards deal is practically done and the two parties will make the announcement on draft day. While this trade would practically decimate our receiving core, it makes a lot of sense at the same time.

In 2010, Braylon Edwards becomes a free agent (apparently somebody else in Cleveland is a free agent that year, too). Edwards has also voiced his displeasure with Cleveland, leaving many to believe it would take a miracle for him to stay in town. So why not get rid of the bad chemistry when you can actually get something back in return?

The possibility of this trade has increased with the fact that teams are slowly realizing they don't necessarily have to shell out a new contract for Edwards upon trading for him (a la Kellen Winslow).

Of all the trade winds circling Berea, this one seems to be gusting more than others. Honestly, I would be more surprised if Edwards was still a Brown by the end of the weekend.

One has to wonder, though, if Braylon Edwards thinks Cleveland fans and media are too hard on him, does he really think New York is the best place to go to avoid that?

Trade Probability: 95 percent

Brady Quinn/Derek Anderson

Both Cleveland quarterbacks have had to deal with trade rumors even before Mangini and George Kokinis were brought in. Now, as we near draft day, you can't help but think somebody's future might be getting decided come Saturday.

A rumor came about a few weeks ago claiming the Browns were sitting on an offer for a first-round pick for Quinn, but no team was mentioned. Since then, the rumors involving the former Golden Domer seem to have calmed down a bit.

Oddly enough, team officials have reportedly been telling Brady Quinn he is in fact NOT trade bait, which has lead him to be a little displeased about the fact that rumors still circulate. Either way, a large amount of the fanbase would hate to see Quinn shipped away.

Derek Anderson, however, doesn't have quite the same amount of support in Browns Town. He knows the fans don't like him, and said fans have done enough to make sure he won't forget that. Unfortunately for them, he might be the safest of the two QBs.

This is simply because the market for Anderson is pretty weak. Coaches know he can throw the long ball, but last season's downfall didn't do much to build up his stock. Sure, some of the blame can be handed to Braylon Edwards dropping every Anderson pass as if it bit him on the hands, yet DA still deserves a little criticism.

If you were asking which Browns quarterback has the best chance of surviving the draft, it's most likely Anderson. Oddly enough, the reason Quinn is the most tradable is the same reason the Browns regime isn't psyched about him—he's untested, therefore you can't really prove whether or not he'll be a solid starter.

It should be noted that some believe Mangini might be setting up an in-house smokescreen with Quinn. By flooding the buzz lines claiming you want get rid of one of the few marketable players on the Browns, it could just be Mangini sending a message to his team, stating that nobody's safe and no one should take his status with the team for granted.

One could also point out the fact that no specific team has claimed to be after Quinn the same way the Giants have confirmed the Edwards talks. Rumor had it San Francisco was the mystery team, but they've since claimed otherwise. Whether this means anything is still unclear, but it's merely food for thought.

Trade Probability: Quinn 60 percent, Anderson 35 percent

When it comes to the draft, nothing is too predictable. Mock drafts, rumors, and the messages team sources send out can become trash in mere seconds.

All we can really say is at least there'll be more intrigue than last year's Cleveland draft.

The Cleveland Browns' 10 Most Memorable Draft Days

Casey Drottar — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 21:24:05 -0400

Draft Day 2009 is quickly approaching, which of course means analysts are creating their mock drafts and GM's and coaches everywhere are circulating some trade winds. In order to celebrate draft fever, The Bleacher Report has asked me to recall some famous draft days in the history of the Cleveland Browns. The Browns have had their fair share of memorable drafts. Some of these moments went down in history simply because of how impactful the new players turned out to be. Others were so horrible they make even the most scarred Cleveland fans still wake up in a cold sweat. Either way, they were days to remember nonetheless. Whether they drafted future legends or made legendary mistakes, here now are the ten most memorable draft days for the Cleveland Browns.

Begin Slideshow

The Dangers of Trading Brady Quinn

Casey Drottar — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 19:44:43 -0400

On the second floor of the Tower City Mall in downtown Cleveland, there lies an empty shop. The room, now all cleared out, used to be Football Town, a large store containing you-name-it-we've-got-it Cleveland sports memorabilia.

For those who never saw it, it was one heck of a place to get your Browns gear. However, according to a Tower City employee, Football Town saw such a steep decline in business during the end of last season it was forced to close.

While this statement may mean little to some, it does say this; Browns fans are showing their displeasure in more ways than one these days.

And why not? Let's take a gander at our offseason so far.

First, within a month or two of Eric Mangini and George Kokinis' hiring, all-pro tackle Shaun Rogers threw a hissy fit about weight management and being stiffed by Mangini. Then, the new regime dealt two reliable yet iffy offensive weapons in Kellen Winslow and Joe Jurevicius.

Top that with Donte' Stallworth running down the innocent in the streets of Miami and there's not too much to get excited about.

Now, with Jay Cutler doing his best impression of a 16-year-old girl, trade rumors are flowing throughout the NFL, some of which include Browns quarterback Brady Quinn. My opinion is that this is a very dangerous idea.

Let me first state the position of this article. If you have read some of my past articles, you know I'm quite the Quinn supporter. However, this is not meant to be another piece where I return to my duties as a Brady flag-carrier. No, this will be strictly from a Browns fan's perspective.

And from that perspective I repeat my previous statement: Trading Brady Quinn is not safe.

One reason is how Quinn stands among a large amount of Browns followers. To them, he's the future, a Browns fan who grew up watching the team and wants his shot to turn them around.

While he's only played three games, none of which were stunning performances, he still showed a sense of poise and leadership that was more than appreciated. They believe he hasn't gotten a fair chance to prove himself worthy of the draft picks given up to take him.

Many of those same fans are sick of Derek Anderson, some of which disgustingly cheered during his season-ending injury. There are a few supporters who still back Anderson, but the majority of Browns fans wouldn't really be willing to pay to see him lead the team in '09.

This leads me to the biggest issue for the Browns. Unless you live under a rock or have boycotted every news source known to man (both of which may have been caused by choosing to be a Browns fan in the first place,) you know the economy is tanking.

A poor economy leads to people being tight with money, only spending it on things that are worthwhile.

Now, with last season trying to rival said stock market when it comes to crashing, you can certainly count on shorter lines for season ticket renewal. Fans are putting locks on their wallets, and that, combined with last season's epic disaster, makes for a tricky situation.

In times like these, the Browns organization needs to convince paying fans that there's hope for the future, or else seats are going to be empty and the dog pound will be all too quiet this season.

If the new regime were to trade Brady Quinn, getting rid of one of the few fan favorites left on the team, you could all but guarantee a severe fan backlash.

Trading him for draft picks or a Bronco quarterback prone to temper tantrums could splinter the fanbase into people who hate the team without Quinn, people who are glad Anderson gets his shot back, and people who've spent years saying "if they get rid of (fill in blank here,) I'm rooting for a new team" finally fulfilling that promise.

It may seem trivial to some GM's and coaches, but it's time for Mangini and Kokinis to keep the fans in mind. Sure they're trying to recreate the team's identity, but this will be all but useless if nobody's there to see it perform.

At this point, with ManKok already spreading doubt throughout Cleveland, dealing Quinn wouldn't be a wise choice if they're expecting the support to come in droves on Sundays.

While its a bit unfair to Derek Anderson, the truth of the matter is his struggles in '08 really damaged the idea of fans wanting to pay to see him as the team's starter. And if the organization is factoring in the business side of football, Brady Quinn is someone who affects whether or not people will want to buy Browns tickets this year.

So, as the draft approaches and the NFL trade market starts to heat up, ManKok needs to put serious thought in the moves they make. Right now, from the standpoint of the fans, Cleveland's new staff is treading on thin ice.

If they were to trade Quinn, it'd be more like treading with cement shoes.

Josh Cribbs: A Class Act in Cleveland

Casey Drottar — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 19:47:54 -0500

As Cleveland fans become giddy with excitement about the monstrous season the Cavaliers are having, along with the optimism surrounding the upcoming Indians season (it's an odd numbered year, after all), there's still one local team that still leaves them more than a little frustrated.

Yes, where a Clevelander can look down Ontario Street at the giant Nike Witness banner with pride, that same person sees the empty stadium on the shores of Lake Erie and probably dies a little inside.

So far, the new regime has made Shaun Rogers tear up about not being greeted, traded away the only guy on offense who could catch, and done...well, absolutely nothing in free agency.

It would seem as though there's not much to bring the fans in by the thousands for the 2009 season.

However, amid all of the issues this new regime is drudging up, every now and then you're reminded that there are still a few stand-up players on the Cleveland Browns. Case in point: kick returner/wide receiver/I'll-play-wherever-you-need-me guy, Josh Cribbs.

Recently, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that Cribbs, curious about new coach Eric Mangini and, to quote the man, "wondering who I was going to bleed for this year," left his own home to go to Berea and meet Mangini himself.

Can we pause the story for just a second? I feel the need to reiterate the above-mentioned statement.

Cribbs wanted to get to know the coach, so, by his own choice, he got up and went to Berea and introduced himself. Are you listening Rogers?

Moving on, after talking with Mangini for a good 30-40 minutes, Cribbs says he believes the coach is a winner and can get the job done in Cleveland. Furthermore, he claimed, "Guys you might say could try to run over a coach—that's not going to happen with him. He's going to weed out those guys, if they exist. There's a new sheriff in town."

More intriguing was what the "Mangenius" told Cribbs in regards to how he planned on using him in the new system.

According to Cribbs, Mangini expressed his desire to use him all over the field, which included defensive back. Say what you want about Mangini, but this seems like a solid idea.

Why not take one of the most talented players on the team, someone who has proven to be an excellent and effective tackler on special teams, and put him on defense?

Cribbs' response? He simply told the coach, "Use me as much as you can."

But with fellow teammate Rogers taking issue with the fact that Mangini won't be nearly as much of an easy-going pushover as his former coach, how will Cribbs handle the new authority?

"Coach Mangini brings a lot of discipline. If that's going to help us and bring a winning attitude here, then so be it. If I have to get used to it, I have to get used to it. I'll do anything to win.''

I'm assuming by now you can see the reasoning behind my article's headline.

With one of last season's many discouraging headlines being how undisciplined the Browns were, and how often the players became whiny prima donnas, fans were curious as to how ugly it would get when the unstoppable force of unaccountable millionaires collided with the immovable object that is a hard nosed coach.

Hearing something like this is definitely a perk. You have one of the few Browns players who can actually say he had a good season last year, yet he's still putting the team before himself, telling people he'll do whatever it takes to bring a winner to Cleveland.

No crying to sports writers about how hard it's going to be having to follow rules, no screaming about how he wants out of town now that fun Uncle Crennel is gone, just a great player willing to do whatever he can to make the fans proud.

And this alone can make Browns supporters at least a little hopeful for the future.

The Jury Is In: Quinn Impressed With Mangini, New Coaching Staff

Casey Drottar — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 16:02:43 -0500

Ever since the Browns brought in new head coach Eric Mangini, I've found myself wondering one simple thing.

How exactly would a coach who's notorious for enforcing discipline be welcomed by a team who not only has absolutely zero accountability, but also just spent four years in a regime run by a man who probably couldn't define discipline if he Googled it?

It's been almost two months now, and oddly enough, we really haven't heard anything from any player when it comes to their thoughts on the new coach. In fact, besides the sports banquet where he somehow missed the oncoming city bus that is Shaun Rogers, no one really knows if Mangini has even made eye contact with his new team.

This trend came to an end earlier this week when quarterback Brady Quinn resurfaced in the Cleveland media.

Quinn, who many (including me, and now ESPN's John Clayton) believe should be the Browns starting quarterback in 2009, recently stated that he is just about fully recovered from the season ending surgery he underwent to repair a broken index finger suffered against Buffalo. Apparently, he has been throwing balls for about a month now, and is feeling great.

More important than this bit of good news is that Quinn has met with Mangini, only to give positive reviews of the new man in charge.

According to Quinn, he left a brief meeting with Mangini saying, "You can tell he's a very very smart coach. He'll bring a lot of accountability to our team, which is good for us and something we need."

That quote right there was music to my ears.

Imagine a Browns team that accepted the blame for the mistakes they made. Picture a receiver who says, "I'm having trouble catching the ball, it's my fault, but I'm going to work to get better," instead of, "If I went to Ohio State everyone would love me." How beautiful would it be if someone punched a teammate in the face and was kicked off the team immediately, not dealt with in a simple "Boys will be boys" routine?

Quinn went on to say that, "After that brief meeting, I'm looking forward to getting after it even more because you can tell the biggest thing for him is he wants to win. That's all we want to do is bring this city a winning team."

Mangini should get credit for saying "Browns" and "winning team" in the same sentence without laughing.

However, it's comforting to know our new coach isn't beating around the bush. He's telling his players right away he wants a winner, and if you're not pulling your weight, he's going to let you know. This is key, seeing as I doubt many guys in that locker room think the Browns can win at anything besides a Murphy's Law contest.

Quinn also spoke highly of new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, saying, "I can tell coach Daboll is going to be creative and innovative and do different things to get guys open."

Now, for most offensive coordinators, this is a literal stating of the obvious. However, when your former offensive coordinator is the walking definition of a one-hit-wonder, it's nice to hear the words "creative" and "innovative" involved this time around.

Quinn claims to have built a great rapport with Daboll, and says the new coordinator intends to incorporate aspects of the Browns' offense with those of his former system in New England. This isn't too bad to hear either, seeing as the Patriots could have a leper as starting quarterback and still post a winning record (granted the levels of talent on both teams are on slightly different wavelengths).

All of this, while overall pretty minor, brings some positive light on a new regime everyone in sports media has been trying to trash. Articles claiming Mangini was already "making life miserable" in Berea surfaced literally days into his start with Cleveland. Granted much of them were vastly over-hyped (no murals were "whitewashed," just moved to another location), it still wasn't promising to hear so much negativity when we were already drowning in it thanks to last season.

In the end, though, one has to be relatively pleased to hear some positive reviews about the new coaches from those who matter the most—the players.

I, however, am still looking forward to when Braylon Edwards has his first Mangini encounter. Oh to be a fly on the wall for that meeting...

Mystery Men: The Case of The Missing Browns Front Office

Casey Drottar — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 20:51:17 -0500

With new general manager George Kokinis in place, the Cleveland Browns have the crucial front office positions filled and ready to go. Let the retooling begin.

As a fan, I find myself incredibly reassured by how vocal the new staff has been since their arrival.

I appreciate how often new head coach Eric Mangini has made himself available for questions by the media to give updates about the current status of the team. Wait, he hasn't spoken since the day he was hired? Oh...

Well I at least appreciate the uplifting comments made by new coordinators Rob Ryan, Brian Daboll, and Carl Smith. Oh, none of them have uttered a word since coming to Cleveland? Are you sure?

Well they must've kept fans and media in the loop when Kokinis was meeting with the new staff multiple days last week before he was hired, right? No?

Then I have to ask, where is everybody?

In the past month, the Cleveland Browns have cleaned house and, for the most part, brought in all of the replacements. However, beyond Mangini and Kokinis' initial press conferences, the brand new staff has been silent as the grave.

I, personally, take some issue with this. Mainly because of how unbelievably bad things went for the Browns last year. Look up Murphy's Law and you'll most likely see a picture of the practically empty Cleveland Browns Stadium which was put on display in the final home game of the 2008 season.

Browns fans are not happy, at all. We were lead to believe we had a winner on our hands, and, to put it incredibly lightly, we got anything but.

And now, with our fourth regime change in 10 years, we've heard next to nothing on the status of our team.

Kokinis and Mangini have to realize they have moved into a town that bleeds for it's football team. It's a storied franchise with arguably the most loyal fans in the NFL, but we're also waiting for our loyalty to be rewarded.

Browns fans want to be reassured that this new leadership group is the one that can take us out of the AFC cellar, preferably sooner rather than later. My suggestion: talking to us might be a start.

It's not as if there aren't any issues to be discussed with this Browns team. In fact, there are a lot to be dealt with, and some need to be handled soon.

Who's the quarterback?

We've heard a lot about how Mangini prefers an accurate, game-managing field general. Out of our two options, this is obviously Brady Quinn's style. Yet, we still don't know exactly what Mangini's opinion is, or when exactly he'll even tell us what it is.

Figuring out who will be leading the offense is a decision which needs to be made pretty soon, but there's also the contract issues.

Kellen Winslow wants a new contract, but was already rumored to be on the verge of getting shipped out. Josh Cribbs and Phil Dawson also have impending contract talks to be made. Then there's the money Derek Anderson will be owed if he's still on the roster in March.

What are Mangini's thoughts on all of this? And Kokinis'? Nobody knows.

What type of strategies are being put together for the NFL Draft? How aggressive will the team be in free agency? Carl Smith was let go by the Browns after the Butch Davis era, what made them bring him back?

These are just off the top of my head. Not all of them could be answered right away, but it'd be nice to hear somebody, anybody, from the new staff talk about an issue or two.

I'd really hate for this to be reminiscent of the problems that came with the expansion Browns, where NFL owners delayed the process of giving Al Lerner ownership of the team, thus handicapping his ability to create a semi-decent squad. Their excuse: Cleveland won't care, they're just happy to get their team back.

If this is the mindset of the new Browns regime, they might pull the last straw from a fan base already teetering on the edge.

So Mr. Mangini, or Mr. Kokinis, or just anybody, talk to us. Tell us what's going on, give us an idea of what you want to do to make this team a winner. Even if it's just an hour a week of media availability, at least we'll know you're alive.

Browns fans are a passionate bunch, and we're ready to support a winner. Just don't take us for granted. After last year, we've had just about enough abuse.

Draft Advice For Eric Mangini and The Cleveland Browns

Casey Drottar — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 15:57:51 -0500

It's another championship Sunday in the NFL. And, like almost every championship Sunday, I'm wearing a Browns jersey (this year, it's Brady Quinn) and remaining hopeful for the future. I intend to go through the same routine in a couple weeks.

Like many of you, I would rather choose death over rooting for either Baltimore or Pittsburgh, so I thought it'd be worth while to discuss the next important hurdle in fixing another Browns disaster; the 2009 NFL Draft.

I've Googled my fair share of NFL Mock Drafts, and so far there are some positives, but a notable amount of negatives. With our next coaching staff in tow, I thought I'd offer the newbies a few pieces of draft advice so they can start their Cleveland tenure on the right foot. With so much doubt already surrounding Eric Mangini, it'd be tragic if he started his Browns career with an awful draft.

Defense, Defense, and More Defense

The Cleveland Browns glaring weakness is the same as it was last year; our Swiss cheese defense couldn't strike fear into a troop of girl scouts. Shaun Rogers is a start, and corners Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald hopefully got their inexperience out of the way, but there's still a load of work to be done.

The biggest area of weakness, linebackers, should be addressed with the early picks, especially if Mangini insists on keeping the 3-4 defense. With zero depth at the most important aspect of a 3-4 defense, this suggestion is so obvious that the only thing left to do is to fear the Browns ignoring it.

The good news is this year's draft squad is pretty stacked at the linebacker position. If you ask me, the two biggest names to go after are Wake Forest's Aaron Curry or USC stalwart Rey Maualuga.

There's a lot to like about Aaron Curry. He's got both the size and speed necessary to be a dominant pass rusher, while also being a solid run stopper. And with his ability to tackle effectively, he could give more than a few lessons to the majority of our defense.

A huge upside to Curry is his durability. Curry started for three straight years and never once missed a game due to injury. So, instead of watching Courtney Brown's annual season-ending injury routine, Browns fans could actually see a defensive draft pick show up consistently on game day.

Maualuga doesn't really present much of a downside either. The USC All-American and Chuck Bednarik Award winner is being compared by many scouts to Troy Polamalu. Even though Polamalu is a Steeler, Browns fans should put their hatred aside and realize how badly our team needs a hard-nosed, aggressive player like him, and Maualuga could be just that.

Picking either of these two with our first-round selection would be the best way to go, but it can't stop there. The Browns should take as many defensive picks as they can, so as to build depth and slowly, but surely create a talented defensive squad. Perhaps even bringing in a new generation and drafting Clay Matthews III with a late round pick to see if he can pick up where his father left off might be a novel idea.

Be Wary of Drafting from Ohio State

Let me first state that I, myself, am an Ohio State fan, and I'm still healing from watching Colt McCoy do his best John Elway impression to hand the Buckeyes yet another BCS loss. Be that as it may, I'm incredibly hesitant about the idea of drafting some of the big names from OSU this April.

I saw one mock draft which had the Browns selecting running back Chris "Beanie" Wells with their first pick. This is a very bad idea.

Look, I loved watching Wells torch Michigan year after year, but he comes with more than a few areas of concern. He is very injury prone, and has stated he is still not quite 100% healed from his foot injury suffered earlier this season. Being in the Big Ten Conference also shows he wasn't going up against the toughest defenses college football had to offer.

But my biggest qualm with taking Wells first is the hesitation I get when thinking, "Would drafting Chris Wells be the best thing we could do with a top five draft pick?" The answer is no, because there are much bigger holes to deal with. Worst case scenario, Jamal Lewis shares carries with Jerome Harrison and slowly tutors him into becoming a starting back.

Other than Wells, I'm also hesitant about bringing home linebacker James Laurinaitis. He's incredibly tough and has a motor that never seems to stop, but he doesn't seem to have the size of your ideal inside linebacker. With this position being the biggest need, we can ill-afford to go awry by drafting the wrong players.

The only player from Ohio State I'd draft with the first pick would be cornerback Malcom Jenkins. Jenkins was a standout this year for the Buckeyes, and looks as if he could be a solid pro in the NFL. If Wright and McDonald have better seasons in 2009, Jenkins would add some talented depth and the Browns could ship Terry Cousin back to whatever nursing home they picked him up from.

If You're Going to Draft Offensively, Grab a Running Back

Yes, I already said not to draft Beanie Wells or any running back in the first round. However, it is an area I'd consider in later rounds.

Jamal Lewis doesn't have too much time left as a starting halfback. And while Jerome Harrison earned the 2008 All-Unappreciated Award, he still lacks the size to be an inside rusher.

Coach Mangini has been known to try and build a team through the draft, so it wouldn't be terribly surprising if he does some draft day wheeling and dealing. With tradable assets like Kellen Winslow and Derek Anderson, Mangini might already be planning draft moves.

Running backs I'd consider worthy of a draft pick trade would be Pittsburgh's LeSean McCoy or Georgia's Knowshon Moreno. Both are incredibly fast and athletic, and each could eventually be a solid NFL back.

Other possible offensive picks could be a good right tackle (Kevin Shaffer was severely abused this year) or maybe a decent receiver. This isn't a big need, but Braylon Edwards was sketchy last year, Joe Jurevicius is rebounding from about 80 knee surgeries, and Donte Stallworth is...well, nobody really knows where he is.

Overall, Draft Smart

I wasn't a terribly big fan of Phil Savage, but he handled the 2007 Draft like a pro. This was because he didn't go after the "sexy" pick, but instead made the smart picks.

Brady Quinn went from Cleveland's worst enemy to the heralded future of the team in the span of three hours that day. Nobody wanted him with the third overall pick, and Savage avoided the big name and went with the least sexy pick of all first-rounders; the offensive lineman.

However, after Savage grabbed a franchise left tackle in Joe Thomas, he realized Quinn was still available, got on the horn, then made a deal with Dallas that brought Brady home. And the peasants rejoiced.

The lesson here is to do what's best for the team. This may seem easy enough, but with all the big names floating around, it's tough to follow.

All the Mangini Crew has to do is fill the right holes with the right people so as to make the Cleveland Browns a talented team again.

Oh, and he should also avoid any player who calls himself "Big Money." We've struggled in that department.

The Mangenius? Putting a Positive Spin on the Cleveland Browns' New Head Coach

Casey Drottar — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 22:21:20 -0500

Yesterday afternoon, one of the worst-kept secrets of the NFL was finally confirmed: Eric Mangini is the new head coach of the Cleveland Browns.

When your football team moves to its fourth head coach in just 10 years, one tends to find it difficult to think positively. And based on the multitude of anti-Mangini articles and responses throughout the Browns' network, there's a good amount of that sentiment in Browns Town right now.

In attempts to bring some positive light to a team which has been allergic to it for so long, I thought I'd point out some reasons why Mangini just might work for the Browns.

Let me first point out that, yes, when I heard Mangini was the leading candidate because of how enamored Randy Lerner was with him, I wasn't terribly thrilled either. I was still rinsing myself of the Bill Cowher delusion, so I had yet to get a good look at the either candidates.

However, after taking a better look at our recent hire, he's not really the white version of Romeo Crennel I feared he'd be.

Firstly, what's one of the biggest complaints Browns fans were making when Crennel was showing off his inability to run a team? We needed a coach with experience, and Mangini was the only candidate who brought this to the table. Sure, it's only three years, but that's three more years than any other legitimate candidate's resume had.

Let's face it, Mike Shanahan wasn't coming here, and Marty Schottenheimer's best years are behind him. Waiting on either candidate to formally say no would've been irresponsible of Lerner, and the Mangini-haters would've been just as upset with that as they are now.

Next, as shocking as it may be when looking at him, one of Mangini's claims to fame is his discipline. This is another aspect of coaching that is severely lacking back in Berea.

Many critics claimed Mangini was actually too tough on his players in his first year with the Jets. When's the last time the word tough was used in the same sentence as the name Romeo Crennel? Well, besides, "Wow, Romeo Crennel makes it really tough for me to be a Browns fan."

Mangini also comes with quite a large chip on his shoulder.

Many analysts were very shocked upon hearing the news about Jets ownership giving Mangini the ax. This is mainly because he only had three seasons of work there, two of which ended with a winning record.

And while he went from 8-3 to 9-7 this year, much of this is on the shoulders of an un-retired quarterback Mangini didn't want in the first place.

I struggle to believe Mangini took the firing too well. This will most likely result in a little more fuel to the fire. What better way to show the Jets they made a mistake than turning a dysfunctional team into a winner? Granted this is lofty right now, but still, you can't help but think this is on his mind.

Mangini also earned the respect of his players, as several were upset upon hearing about his firing, and others went out of their way to defend him. Jets running back Leon Washington recently told ESPN media about how Mangini's "hardworking, selfless, and competitive" coaching style helped him greatly.

I'd much rather hear something like this from a player of Washington's caliber than, say, hearing Adam "Pacman" Jones claim, "Coach Mangini made me the man I am today."

By favoring Chad Pennington during the first two years of his Jets coaching career, Mangini showed how he'd much rather have an accurate and game-managing quarterback (a la Brady Quinn) than the gunslinging, "I'll throw it anywhere," attitude which came with Brett Favre.

This is promising because it's a little easier for a new coach to adapt when he has players he knows he can work with.

I also struggle to believe Mangini can see talents like Joshua Cribbs and Jerome Harrison and blatantly disregard them like Crennel and Rob Chudzinski did at a stupefying rate.

In fact, Mangini has shown a penchant for trick plays, making one assume the "Flash" package might not only see its fair share of game time, but might also be used appropriately.

In the end, yes, Eric Mangini's hiring may not be the ideal choice of a lot of fans. Some of those fans might still be clamoring for Cowher, while others will continue to scream about how we should've hired (fill in blank here) instead.

In my eyes, though, we wanted experience and discipline, and it seems Mangini has both. Our complaints certainly aren't going to reverse the decision either, so there's really no use in berating Randy Lerner with those. Most importantly, there's no way to predict just how a coach's tenure is going to play out, as these things are crapshoots.

All we can do now is sit back, watch the offseason unfold, and prepare to see a new face on the sidelines, whether we like it or not. If this still isn't enough, I offer some food for thought.

At least we didn't hire Kirk Ferentz.

The NFL's Stud/Dud Running Backs of 2008

Casey Drottar — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 07:52:27 -0500

It's time to analyze one of the most important positions of an NFL team; the running back. The 2008 season was filled with plenty of fantasy standouts, but also had it's fair share of major letdowns. There were plenty of rookies who had outstanding debuts, but not exactly the ones you expected. Along with that came the all-pros who continued to do what they do best. I'm here to break down the ten running backs who stood out from all the rest. Some brought attention by racking up yards and touchdowns week after week. Others caught our eye by severely dropping off from their usual output. Either way, they gave us plenty to talk about. While there will no doubt be snubs on either side, here, now, are my picks for the ten studs and duds of 2008.

Begin Slideshow

Memo to Randy Lerner: Cleveland Browns Are Just a Couple Smart Picks Away

Casey Drottar — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 04:25:11 -0500

Welcome to another episode of "Here We Go Again" on the shores of Lake Erie.

Once again, the Cleveland Browns felt they had the best GM-Coach tandem they could get. And once again, these "ideal leaders" were sent to unemployment.

Now, the Browns have pressed the reset button of the franchise once more, and are leaving many fans wondering if said button is jammed or set on automatic after three or four years.

If Browns owner Randy Lerner needs inspiration when it comes to hiring the right people, he needs only to watch the NFL playoffs this weekend. Three of the eight teams playing this weekend started 2008 in a much worse situation than ours.

The Baltimore Ravens (yes, it does pain me to use them as an example of "doing it right"), had a dismal season last year, which included a loss to the 0-15 Miami Dolphins, the firing of their longest tenured coach, and still a huge question mark on the quarterback situation.

They hired a relative unknown assistant, John Harbaugh, as head coach, followed that with the questionable drafting of Delaware quarterback Joe Flacco, and are now one of the hottest teams heading into the playoffs.

The Miami Dolphins were easily the worst team of 2008, with a 1-15 record and, like Baltimore, had no quarterback. After this, they brought in Bill Parcells and Cowboys assistant Tony Sparano to right the ship. From there, the combination of Jets outcast Chad Pennington and the Wildcat formation running wild lead the Dolphins to the AFC East crown.

Despite these two turnarounds, the other revival, the Atlanta Falcons, should be Randy Lerner's main source of motivation.

The Falcons went through a miserable 2008 season. Their franchise quarterback was sent to prison, their new head coach bolted for Arkansas mid-season, and the team became the joke of the NFC.

In attempts to fix this, team owner Arthur Blank hired Mike Smith, a coach nobody had heard of, went and drafted Matt Ryan, a quarterback many thought wasn't ready to lead an NFL team. With Ryan and running back Michael Turner at the helm, the Falcons shocked the world with an 11-5 record and a playoff berth.

Now, Randy Lerner must look to these teams to see that, yes, it is possible to go from bottom to top without multiple years of rebuilding. With the Cleveland Browns, enough pieces are present to believe it could happen for them next year.

In Brady Quinn, you have a quarterback to build around. Though he only played three games, he showed the poise of a veteran and the offense just seemed to work better around him than it did with Derek Anderson. The severity of his finger injury does make some wonder if the Houston game was more just struggling to play through injury than it was poor quarterbacking.

The offense as a whole has a decent amount of talent. It just needs the right mindset. They need someone who can tell Braylon Edwards to shut up and play. They also need someone to tell Donte Stallworth to actually run the right routes. Add a reliable slot receiver and we might just have a working offense.

The defense has more holes than one would want to deal with, but this at least indicates where the most offseason work should be focused on. Shaun Rogers is really the only defensive stalwart, but with improvements to the linebacking core and secondary, this side of the ball could significantly upgrade.

With Romeo Crennel, it didn't seem like the Browns had a coach, just a buddy who happened to be paid to be in charge. He lacked fire, discipline, and an overall ability to lead. When the wheels fell off, they stayed off.

Right now, the future of the Cleveland Browns hinges on Randy Lerner's decision making. He knows the fans don't want to see decades upon decades of rebuilding. And he knows the players don't want to be a flash-in-the-pan every fourth or fifth year. Therefore, he needs to make the right hires this time around.

When he hired Crennel and Phil Savage, Lerner was still new to the ownership role of the team. With three years of experience, one can't help but think he's learned about the importance of the right people in the right positions. And, after going through the Savage-Crennel regime, Lerner at least has to know what not to do when it comes to hiring.

So, Mr. Lerner, do realize that no matter how ugly this year was (and it was pretty bad), we can turn it around. But it's all up to you right now. You have to make sure you bring in the right people for the job. Your decisions will determine whether we can create our own revival or spend another half decade in the dumps.

This team lacks a true leader as much as it lacks identity, and we the fans suffered through 17 weeks of realizing this.

We're currently on the brink, and only you can bring us all back.

Cleveland Browns' 12 Days Of Christmas

Casey Drottar — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 10:32:59 -0500

If the rest of the Cleveland Browns' fans are like me, the holidays seem a bit blue this time around. You're slightly bummed because of how helpless the team looks, holiday lights just don't shine as brightly as they used to, and whatever Browns ornaments you used to decorate your Christmas tree seem to hang lower than all the rest.

In attempts to brighten the rough times, I've decided to try and cover this dismal season holiday style. We've spent the past 14 weeks venting on the Bleacher Report about how awful it's been, so I'll attempt to discuss the 4-10 term with a different route.

I figured I might as well try and inject some Christmas spirit into these gloomy days, and I do so with the Twelve Days of a Cleveland Browns Christmas

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my Brownies gave to me:

12 Seconds of Free Time

This is actually a gift we give opposing quarterbacks who spend the entire game dropping back and, whether or not we blitz three guys or 16, still end up feeling more protected than the Pentagon itself.

For those of us watching at home, we could see the snap, surf through every channel our television has to offer, and come back to see the QB going through his seventh, eighth, and ninth reads of the play. And if you zoom out, you can see Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald getting burned so badly they need skin grafts.

11 on the Field

I don't mean 11 players, I mean No. 11 Ken Dorsey. He shouldn't be there. In fact, simply saying "Ken Dorsey is starting Sunday" really describes 2008 in a nutshell for the Browns. As good as the "third stringer comes in and leads the team to glory" routine would've been, no one seriously figured on seeing that here.

No offense, Ken, but I struggle to believe you even start yourself when you're playing Madden NFL '09. So you'll have to forgive the entire NFL Fantasy Football audience for not leaping out of their seats and cutting Drew Brees so they could sign you to their teams when Derek Anderson went down.

10 Too Many Field Goals

If anyone on this year's team deserves to break records, it's Phil Dawson. Yet, you have to assume that even he was wondering, "Is it really a good thing if the only person on this team lighting up the scoreboard is the place kicker?"

He should be pretty thankful for this offense though, as they are usually nice enough to give him a generous spot to kick from. Typically it's the one-yard line.

9 Total Starts

That would be the glaring stat of Donte Stallworth, our supposed big free agent signing last offseason. Stallworth missed the majority of his games due to an injury sustained during a pregame warmup (15 weeks later, it still sounds pathetic).

However, it's not like he does much when he's actually on the field either. Often when watching games and seeing the lineups scroll across the screen, I find myself saying, "Wait, we have Stallworth? When did that happen?" Then I try to imagine just what exactly he does during his pregame routine.

I figure he walks up to the trainer, saying, "Well I'm all stretched out, now hit me seven times in the chest with this aluminum baseball bat. I'm going to show these guys how tough I really am."

8 Minutes of Offense

Anyone else wondering why exactly our first drive of the past couple games can get us all the way to the redzone and then, once Dawson puts us up 3-0, we cease participation in the game?

I guess Romeo gets all the guys together after the drive to say, "Alright, well we've scored all we can, start stalling so we can pull out a win." Only after the score shifts from 3-0 to 31-3 do we stop taking a metaphorical knee and start forcing passes into the defense's hands.

I'm still just so caught off guard about the idea of Crennel's job security being in trouble.

7 Decent Tackles

That's the combined total for the entire season. Other than that, we watch our defenders look like they're trying to create their own version of football follies. Pretty good stuff from our "improved defense."

Look, I love what Shaun Rogers is doing, but he can't be the only weapon. That's basically like trying to protect your yard by putting up one fence post. The majority of the teams will end up walking around the post, while the Lions will take multiple games to try and develop a strategy on how to outsmart it.

6 Points per Game

Remember when sports analysts fawned over our offense, claiming we could score on anybody? If anyone made such a claim these days they'd probably be fired before finishing the sentence. Said offense is apparently seeing a brick wall in front of the endzone which is only visible to them.

Making it all the more disappointing is the fact that our defense still somehow creates turnovers. I doubt they're thrilled when they march back to the sideline after picking off their third of the day, just to see Phil Dawson warming up on first and ten from our own 14-yard line.

5 Stupid Comments

"We've got our swagger back," - Derek Anderson after only beating the Bengals by eight (Good call, DA, good call).

"The Giants started last year 1-3 and won the Super Bowl, so can we" - Everyone on the team (umm...no).

"We just didn't get the job done today" - Romeo Crennel after every loss (motion to have this as our 2008 slogan instead of "The Name on the Door is Cleveland").

"Go root for Buffalo, F&*% you" - Phil Savage (just exactly how were we supposed to react to this?)

"You guys are on crack," - Derek Anderson when asked if he thinks Josh Cribbs should start at QB (I guess you'll have to consider me one of those doing blow).

4 Chudzinski Call-Outs

On Monday night, Josh Cribbs claimed he was upset with the play calling. Add that to Jamal Lewis' three "Give me the ball" speeches and it seems like the team thinks Chud doesn't have the magic anymore. Maybe he got drunk the night after the Giants game and forgot all the plays he called.

Amazingly, he came away complaint free after the game against Tennessee. This is shocking because of Lewis' impressive stat-line that day - seven carries for 3.5 feet.

3 Coaching Changes

This one won't happen until the end of the season, but I'm starting to wonder if even Romeo Crennel's friends and family are asking him if he thinks the Browns can land Bill Cowher next year. That's still unknown, but what we do know is Chris Palmer + Butch Davis + Romeo Crennel = Zero head coaching experience.

Sure do hope this trend comes to a halt this offseason, and, in attempts to help with that, I chose to send my Christmas list to Randy Lerner. Unlike most boys and girls, my list wasn't filled with gift requests, just a crumpled piece of paper with the words "Make it Stop" written in all caps.

2 Possible Targets

This would be in reference to whenever Derek Anderson was the starting quarterback. He had one good game this year, and I'm still convinced that was somebody else. Every other game, his accuracy was pretty miserable.

Whether it was a Hail Mary or a screen pass, your guess was as good as mine when it came to figuring out just who exactly he was throwing the ball too. It could've been Braylon Edwards on a fade route, or maybe Jamal Lewis on a shovel pass, or he could just be trying to hit Hank Fraley in the back of the head. Didn't matter, though, he missed.

And a Wideout on a Temper Tantrum

Happy Holidays, Braylon Edwards. From me, you'll be receiving the end of my support. Earlier this year, I wrote an article attempting to defend your blunders.

But now, you're showing off your immaturity yet again, saying things that make Phil Savage's email responses sound like they were written by Winston Churchill. So, I'm sorry, the wheels have fallen off the Braylon Backer.

I'd toss you various points as to why this had to happen, but you'd probably catch a couple, drop the rest, then claim the only reason I'm really upset is because I'm an Ohio State fan. Oh Braylon, you can read me like a book. Here's hoping that book also has some sort of self-help strategy or the offensive plays for another team in 2009.

Pushed to The Brink: '08 Browns Doing All They Can To Ruin Once Proud Fanbase

Casey Drottar — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 09:47:20 -0500

It just never seems to end.

The 2008 Cleveland Browns season has to be arguably one of the worst runs in a very long time. It's easily the worst since the return in 1999.

And while it seems illogical to assume the team mutually agreed in August to have such an awful downward spiral, the way things are going, can anything else explain it?

If one needed a definition for Murphy's Law, he or she need look no further than the past year for the Browns. In fact, the question should no longer be "what happened?" but instead "what didn't happen?"

We've had standouts from last season do nothing but under-perform this year. We had a coach receive a nod of approval, only to be sitting on a hot seat with a temperature that could only rival the sun itself. We went from supporting Derek Anderson, to backing Brady Quinn, and then were forced to admit that, yes, Ken Dorsey really is our starting quarterback. Our GM is apparently still at the age where schoolyard threats are cool, and he's also forcing out our most reliable receiver.

And now, as if someone asked to make things worse, Braylon Edwards is showing off his immaturity again, claiming fans and media don't like him simply because he went to Michigan.

All of this really begs the question: Did the Browns fans do something to deserve this?

Did our undying support week-in and week-out for a normally less than stellar squad anger somebody? Did the fans' choice to practically make the Browns the lifeblood of the city merit being raked over the coals every Sunday? Is it a sin to think that, since 2007 was such a great time, we'd maybe get to see it again?

Apparently the answer to all of these questions is yes. What else could explain the plague that has become the 2008 season?

Last year, Braylon Edwards was breaking records and proudly singing "Hang On Sloopy" on the sidelines. Now he's dropping everything and assuming we're frustrated because he can never remove Michigan from his resume.

Last year, the Dawg Pound got it's intimidation back, as the Browns were relatively unstoppable at home. Now, it's a comedy club for opposing teams.

Last year "Believeland" was a war cry. Now, it's a punchline.

So, I ask again, what did we do to deserve this?

We saw what Derek Anderson did last year and used that to cement the belief that he actually could be a good starting QB. We heard head coach Romeo Crennel receive a contract extension and thought, "Good call." And we sat at Browns training camp chanting "Super Bowl" because, according to various analysts, it didn't seem terribly insane to do.

After that frighteningly positive offseason, we're left with this. Fans who once barked proudly now compare watching a Browns game to something from a Saw movie. And now we have a player claiming we boo only because we didn't like where he went to school?

Grow up, Braylon, as well as any player who has a bone to pick with how we react every week. If anyone else has a qualm with the fans, keep it to yourself. Honestly, nobody on that team has the right to attack how we've handled this season.

How should we be to blame for assuming our woes could finally come to an end after such a solid 2007 season? In reality, it's not an understatement to say we deserve medals of honor for the fact that some of us still get decked out in jerseys and hats every game (and yes, one of my jerseys is No. 17).

Browns fans stick around through everything: lopsided rivalries, lake-effect snow, and just about anything else that could break a weaker fanbase. So you'll have to forgive me if I take offense to someone having an issue with boos. The truth is, we've seen enough this year to make one wonder if anyone actually intends on going to the season opener in 2009.

The point of it all is that Browns fans deserve better. We deserve more than one flash-in-the-pan positive season sandwiched between multiple years of ineptitude. And we certainly deserve a team with players who shut up and do their job well.

That's what we've earned. What we get is a weekly experience that rivals Iraqi prison camps.