Bleacher Report - Articles by Kendall Murray

Braylon Edwards and the Cleveland Browns: How Did It Come to This?

Kendall Murray — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 15:04:47 -0400

I want to like Braylon Edwards. I really do. And actually, I do like him most of the time.

But during the 2008 season of the Cleveland Browns, I saw a Braylon that I was not proud of. One that had a strong negative effect on his team and his relationship with Browns fans.

Because of this, I am torn.

You see, trade rumors involving Edwards have been swirling.

Eric Mangini has made it known that he has no interest in malcontents. His dealing of Kellen Winslow to Tampa made that point very clear.

Edwards seems to be the next logical choice to go, and I’m not quite sure how I feel about that.

You see, Browns fans were upset last season. The team that had shown great promise the previous year became a huge disappointment. When these things happen, coaches, players, fans...we all look for someone to blame.

Enter Braylon Edwards.

During his first two seasons in Cleveland, the much-hyped receiver showed flashes of his ability. He also showed questionable maturity.

In one memorable 2006 incident that found its way onto ESPN, Edwards was shown yelling at then-Browns’ quarterback Charlie Frye and grabbing him by the shoulder. Edwards had to be restrained by teammates and coaches.

But in 2007, he had a breakout season. He caught 80 balls for a team record 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns on his way to his first Pro Bowl. More importantly, he lit up the highlight reels with spectacular catches and endeared himself to the faithful.

One of my personal favorites was a recurring play where Edwards ran an outside curl route. Quarterback Derek Anderson would put the ball high over Edwards’ outside shoulder, with the defender sitting on his inside shoulder. Edwards was so tall and could leap so high, the cornerback didn’t stand a chance. The play was unstoppable.

Another play that captivated Browns fans came against the Baltimore Ravens. Edwards appeared to fly past three-time Pro Bowler Chris McAlister on his way to a 78-yard touchdown.

But it wasn’t just the touchdown that connected with Browns fans.

In his post-game interview, Edwards mentioned that he had noticed something about McAlister on film that he thought they could exploit. The idea of the superstar wide receiver studying film (combined with the image of the spectacular play) rang true to the hard-working blue collar fans of Cleveland.

He also talked a lot about how he had worked very hard in the offseason to get better. He wanted to be the best in the game. His play backed up those comments.

Edwards was the toast of the town. Sure, he dropped too many balls and committed the occasional “mental lapse” penalty, but he was young and he more than made up for those mistakes with all his positive plays and hard work.

Then came the 2008 preseason.

Edwards was jogging barefoot alongside new acquisition Dante Stallworth, who was wearing cleats. Stallworth accidentally stepped on and punctured Edwards’ foot and the injury sidelined him for the rest of training camp, including the last three preseason games.

In interviews, Edwards was nonchalant about the injury, saying that it was “no big deal.” After the injury had healed and he had been cleared to practice, he said, “I have a week to get in some kind of shape so it shouldn’t be too hard.”

This wasn’t characteristic of the guy who had been so eager to work on his game during the previous preseason. I have to admit, I didn’t give the comments much thought at the time. Looking back, maybe this was a clue of things to come.

Then, the season began.

There were high expectations for the Browns—the only team in the league with 10 wins in the previous season that didn’t make the playoffs.

They had a half-dozen young Pro Bowlers and a schedule that included five nationally televised night games. There were even media experts predicting that the Browns would go to the Super Bowl. This was to be the return to the national spotlight that Cleveland fans had waited a long time for.

Edwards was seen in local and national media, discussing the Browns high-profile schedule. He talked about how the Browns had earned respect last season. They were now being rewarded. He clearly relished the spotlight.

The season opener was a big one for the Browns. It was a home game and it was against the Dallas Cowboys.

It was a marquee matchup of two of last season’s best offenses and their Pro Bowl players. It was Tony Romo vs. Derek Anderson, Jason Witten vs. Kellen Winslow, and most notably Terrell Owens vs. Braylon Edwards.

The atmosphere was electric and the fans were raucous. This was, of course, the Browns’ coming out party.

Edwards’ game started innocently enough. With the Cowboys already up 7-0, Edwards caught the first ball that came his way, a quick throw at the line of scrimmage. The play didn’t really work as planned, since he was immediately tackled and gained only two yards, but that didn’t matter so much. He got his fist catch of the season.

Two plays later, Anderson threw a perfect strike to a leaping Edwards 23 yards down the left sideline. The defender had his back turned and Edwards was in perfect position to catch the ball.

It bounced off his hands.

Browns fans were accustomed to a few drops from Edwards. We also knew that he would get the next one and help bring home a victory. That’s how it went with this young and talented receiver.

But three plays later, Edwards dropped another one.

On this play, he got out ahead of his man deep in the middle of the field. Anderson again threw a perfect strike, but Edwards short-armed the ball and it tipped off his fingers. Aside from the drop, it was a perfectly executed play that would have resulted in a touchdown.

Browns fans let out a collective sigh. The general sentiment was still positive toward the star receiver, as most fans just felt bad for him. We just wanted him to focus, get back out there, and get the next one.

Three plays later, Anderson and offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski showed confidence in Edwards. They went right back at him and he made the catch for 12 yards, one yard shy of a first down.

Later in the same drive, Edwards drew a pass interference call on Adam “Pacman” Jones that helped put the Browns in position to score a game-tying touchdown. Edwards had beat Jones on the play and the cornerback had no choice but to grab him in order to prevent a touchdown. Surely, Edwards was fine.

On the Cowboys next drive, Romo threw a 35-yard pass to Owens for another Cowboy touchdown. The play looked almost identical to the one in which Edwards dropped his second pass of the game.

Owens celebrated with an elaborate touchdown display that paid tribute to the Olympic Games. The celebration drew an unsportsman-like conduct penalty. Owens didn’t care, of course, and continued to taunt the Cleveland fans by mocking LeBron James’ pre-game talcum powder ritual from the sideline.

Edwards could not have been happy knowing that he had dropped his chance to beat Owens to the punch. He had his own connection to the Olympics. He and eight-time gold medal-winning swimmer Michael Phelps had made a well-publicized bet in which Edwards claimed he would score twice as many touchdowns on the season as Phelps’ gold medal total.

Here was Edwards’ opportunity to show what he was made of. He had made some early mistakes and he and his fans had been shown up by Owens.

On his next opportunity, a third down inside slant pattern, Edwards dropped another pass. This time, the throw wasn’t perfect—a bit too high, but in the words of FOX analyst and Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman, “Still, one that Braylon Edwards could have caught.”

During the next drive, Edwards (and his positive fan sentiment) unraveled. He incurred two penalties for an illegal shift. On the play in which the second penalty occurred, Anderson hit him right in the numbers on a slant route, but Edwards bobbled and then dropped the ball.

The boo birds started to come out. In less than one half of play, Edwards had dropped four passes (one that didn’t count because of a penalty...on Edwards) and committed two penalties for moving while the Browns had another player in motion.

In less than 30 minutes of game time, he had managed to turn an adoring fanbase into an angry mob of Anti-Braylon sentiment. Aikman, who was sometimes accused of talking about the Cowboys too much during broadcasts, jumped on the story of the moment—Edwards’ inability to catch the football.

The Browns finished the half trailing the Cowboys 21-7, and boos rained down from the filled seats of Cleveland Browns Stadium. Most of those were directed at Edwards.

In the second half, despite trailing badly and needing to score touchdowns to get back in the game, the Browns only threw in Edwards' direction one more time. On that play, Anderson overthrew him.

His only contribution to the remainder of the game was a false start penalty, which of course drew jeers from the home crowd.

By game’s end, Edwards had two catches for 14 yards and committed three penalties for a loss of 15.

In the local and national media, the Browns’ defense received quite a bit of criticism for their play in the 28-10 loss. But the angry words were reserved for Edwards, who was now seen as someone who ran his mouth instead of producing on the field.

His every move went under the microscope.

In his next game at home against the Steelers, Edwards dropped three more balls. Not one of them would have been an easy catch. The first was thrown a bit behind him, and on the other two plays, he was hit immediately by defenders.

These facts fell on the deaf ears of Browns fans, as he had lost the benefit of the doubt. The boos came out again.

Over the course of the remainder of the season, Edwards began to return to form. He began to produce highlight-worthy catches, and the support of many, but not all, of his fans returned.

His drops diminished considerably, but not completely. It seemed as if every drop came during a nationally televised game, or against a key division rival, or on a crucial late-game third down play. Many of them occurred in front of the home crowd.

Fan sentiment on the star wideout was split. Many fans supported him and wore his No. 17 jerseys proudly. Others scrutinized him on every play and booed loudly with every mistake.

For his part, Edwards said all the right things early on. He clearly felt bad about the drops and penalties and vowed to improve. As the season progressed, his media sessions became shorter and more contentious as the Browns slowly fell out of playoff contention.

Late in the season, long after the Browns were out of the hunt in the AFC and the local media started to point fingers at where they thought the problems were, Edwards revealed his displeasure.

“I’ve learned being here, I’m very unappreciated. Not in the organization, just in the eyes of the fans, the city. Since day one, I’ve been a marked man, coming from Michigan. It’s just gone that way. Even when things are good, there’s heckles.”

He clearly sounded like a guy who didn’t want to be in Cleveland.

During the last game of the season, he clearly sulked on the sideline between each offensive series as the team worked to get running back Jamal Lewis to 1,000 yards for the season. Lewis had entered the game 92 yards shy of the mark, while Edwards was 132 yards shy of 1,000 yards receiving.

Lewis finished the game with 94 yards and pats on the back from his teammates and coaches. Edwards caught one ball for five yards, as fourth-string quarterback Bruce Gradkowski struggled to amass only 18 yards passing on the afternoon.

The Browns finished the season at 4-12, and head coach Romeo Crennel, to whom Edwards had often referred as a “father figure,” was fired.

Since Eric Mangini took over as head coach, he has been cleaning house. He has already traded one disgruntled pass catcher in Kellen Winslow and added 10 free agents, all of whom are seen as team-first guys.

Trade discussions were bound to surround Edwards, and some rumors involving the Giants and Eagles have already emerged.

So, as a Browns fan, how should I feel about this?

On the one hand, he is a top-tier talent at wide receiver. He is big and strong and runs crisp routes. He has the ability to get open and outleap most defensive backs. Despite an alarming number of drops, he also has the ability to make spectacular one-handed grabs and catch balls that seem uncatchable.

He’s also young and still developing and has yet to reach his prime. He’ll likely learn from his mistakes and come out stronger.

In the community, he has been everything he should be and more. He began the Braylon Edwards Foundation, through which, among other things, he pledged $1 million in scholarship money to kids in Cleveland schools. He has been active with various charities, both in Northeast Ohio and his home state of Michigan.

He clearly wants to be great and do great things, both on and off the field.

On the other hand, when things got tough during a trying season, he failed to step up in the big spot. He has a tendency toward the “stupid” penalty, such as unsportsman-like conduct or taunting. He also wasn’t a consistent leader, a fact he showed in the last few games of 2008.

He’s made comments that suggest he is unhappy in Cleveland, a fact that is all the more important considering that he can become a free agent after the 2009 season. If he doesn’t want to stay, then the Browns will get nothing for him in return when he leaves.

If he is to be traded, now seems like the best time to do it.

He also doesn’t seem to be the type of player that Mangini has been trying to bring in. Edwards can come off as being selfish, as he did during the last game of the season. If Mangini is trying to “change the culture” of the locker room by purging malcontents, wouldn’t Edwards’ departure help?

As I weigh the positives and negatives of keeping vs. trading this player, I am torn. I go back and forth.

The trade rumors suggest that Edwards is available, but only for a high price.

If the rumors are to be believed, the Browns have turned down a second and a fifth-round pick plus either Mario Manningham or Domenik Hixon from the Giants. Other reports suggest that they have turned down a first and a third-round pick.

I don’t believe in the idea that he must go. I believe that he can be successful in Cleveland as long as the team can find a way to win. Winning can cure a lot of ills in professional sports.

I also believe that the fans will embrace him if he can manage to reduce his drops and penalties and stop dwelling on the Michigan thing. Former Wolverine center Steve Everitt was one of the most popular Browns of the early '90s.

I, for one, am a Browns and Buckeyes fan who actually hoped that the Browns would draft Edwards. The fact that he played for “that school up North” has had no bearing on my opinion of him.

I also don’t believe that he absolutely cannot be traded. If some team is willing to let go of two high picks and a starting-caliber receiver, Mangini absolutely should consider it—especially considering that Edwards could walk after next season.

I think a big part of the decision will come down to Edwards’ mind set. He has shown in the past that he sometimes speaks or acts with poor judgement in the heat of the moment, only to soften his stance upon further reflection.

Mangini had said at one point that he planned to meet with each of his players during the voluntary workouts, which Edwards has attended. Presumably, the two men have met and the coach has a sense of what his receiver is thinking about the upcoming season.

It’s difficult to speculate about that conversation, but if Mangini thinks his mind is in the right place and he can contribute to the team with more than just talent, then Edwards stands a greater chance of being on the roster on opening day.

But if Mangini thinks that Edwards doesn’t want to be there or comes off as selfish, I think a deal will be much more likely.

Unfortunately, if a deal is made, Edwards will likely blast the city of Cleveland and its fans, turning the relationship from contentious to nasty. He would then become the player that Browns fans love to hate.

I, for one, hope that his meeting with Mangini goes well and he remains with the Cleveland Browns for a long time.

Like I said at the outset, I want to like Braylon Edwards.

Cleveland Browns' Position Analysis: Offensive Line

Kendall Murray — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 05:09:41 -0400

In an effort to learn about many of the new faces on the Cleveland Browns roster for this upcoming season, I decided to watch a little film. NFL.com has put all of last season's games on-line (for a fee), so I decided to purchase the package.

I decided to start with the offensive linemen, because this was the area about which I felt the least knowledgeable. I also knew that to write a truly informed article, I would have to watch a good deal of film.

I also wanted to start here because the Browns seem more set with this area of the team than with any other. Some positions will need to be looked at after the draft, but the offensive line is probably the closest thing the Browns have to a team strength.

The first thing I realized was just how little I really watched offensive linemen on game day. Sure, I know their reputations and what major sports news outlets have to say about them, but how much do I really know from watching with my own eyes?

Some of what I saw simply reinforced what I believed I knew. Sometimes, I was surprised at how well or how poorly one of the linemen performed.

One thing is for sure: Watching an old game and focusing on the offensive line is an eye-opening experience. It has allowed me to see the game differently and appreciate what the guys in the trenches really do. I recommend it highly.

Whenever possible, I watched a minimum of two games' worth of film on each player, spread out against six opponents on average. I tried to balance weak vs. strong opponents, early vs. late season, and first vs. second halves of games.

For example: With Joe Thomas, I watched the first 20 minutes (approximately) of Weeks One and 17 against Dallas and Pittsburgh, respectively; the middle 20 minutes of Weeks Four and 11 against Cincinnati and Buffalo; and the last 20 minutes of Weeks Eight and 14 against Denver and Tennessee.

I really wanted to know details about how each guy played.

I'll start with a look at each player individually, and then address the line as a whole.

Joe Thomas—16 starts at left tackle for Cleveland last season

Thomas proved to be every bit as good as advertised. He wasn't perfect, but he proved to be the most consistently impressive offensive lineman on the Browns roster.

He has extremely quick feet, which enable him to stay in front of fast edge rushers. He also uses his hands well to keep would-be tacklers away from ball carriers. He is also very effective in open space, getting out in front of screens.

The only area where he is merely above average is in short yardage runs. He gets a decent push, but not as much I thought he might.

Nonetheless, Thomas is by far the best lineman on the Browns roster. After watching him at work, the fact that he's played in two Pro Bowls in two seasons makes a whole lot of sense.

Eric Steinbach—14 starts at left guard for Cleveland last season

Steinbach is a very good pass blocker who rarely gets pushed back in that phase of the game. During the early season, when he was battling some injuries, he was a bit inconsistent.

However, late in the season, Steinbach showed why he was considered a top free agent in 2006.

He always seems to square up well on defenders and uses his hands well. He is very effective as a pulling blocker, having great speed for an offensive lineman. If I have one criticism, it is that he can sometimes get pushed back by larger defensive tackles.

When the Browns originally signed Steinbach, they talked about his versatility with his ability to play tackle. Mangini may consider using him on the right side if his other guys don't work out or injuries hit the line.

However, he and Thomas will likely anchor down the left side of the line for years to come.

Hank Fraley—16 starts at center for Cleveland last season

Fraley surprised me. Conventional wisdom in Cleveland is that Fraley doesn't have it anymore and he's too old to be effective. In the games I watched, Fraley was consistently effective at center.

Late in the season, he lost a bit against Tennessee and Philadelphia, but by no means was he poor. He gets pushed back a bit by bigger defenders, but it is rare when a defender gets by him cleanly.

Many offensive linemen do just enough work to get the runner free or the pass away, but not Fraley. He always stays with the play, running downfield in case the play turns back in his direction. I saw a number of plays where his extra effort helped a ball carrier gain a few extra yards.

Fraley continues to play good football for the Browns. While age will catch up to him eventually, he remains a viable option at center.

Rex Hadnot—15 starts at right guard for Cleveland last season

Hadnot was probably the most inconsistent of all the players I watched in preparing for this article. He combined long stretches of Pro Bowl-worthy play with lapses where his man would get by him with no more than a chip block.

At his best, Hadnot was effective against both run and pass, squaring up on his man and getting good leverage. In fact, he may have even been the Browns' best lineman in short yardage situations. He also uses his feet well to get into good position.

If Hadnot can become more consistent and avoid mental lapses, I believe he can have a long and productive career. He's still young enough to make it happen.

John St. Clair—16 starts at left tackle for Chicago last season

On paper, St. Clair is the logical choice to win the starting right tackle job for the Browns in 2009. He started all last season on the left side for the Bears. He was one of the guys I couldn't wait to see when I started watching film.

He was a huge disappointment.

He has slow feet and edge rushers blow past him on a regular basis. It was such a huge problem that the Bears started keeping running backs in on pass plays to help him out. He reminds me a lot of the guy the Browns got rid of—Kevin Shaffer. Shaffer had similar problems with edge rushers.

On screen plays, St. Clair would simply miss the man he was attempting to block. I quickly began to understand why the Bears had so many problems in their passing game—their quarterbacks had to get rid of the ball almost immediately.

It is somewhat comforting to know that the Browns three-year deal with St. Clair includes only $600,000 in guaranteed money. I would be surprised if he lasted all three years in Cleveland. I see St. Clair as merely injury protection and experienced competition.

I hope the Browns see him the same way.

Floyd Womack—eight starts at right guard and six starts at left guard for Seattle last season

While St. Clair started all 16 games at one position last year, Womack opened the season on the bench and found himself playing both guard positions on an injury-depleted Seahawk line.

I thought maybe Womack would make a nice backup, perhaps as an upgrade over Seth McKinney.

What I saw on the video was a nice surprise. Womack was remarkably consistent, despite being moved around. He is an excellent drive blocker that gets a good burst on running plays. He should be an asset to the Browns running game.

He is equally adept in pass protection. In all the film I watched, I never saw him get beat. He also gets great position on his defenders and is remarkably agile for such a big man.

If the Browns are serious about every job being open to competition, I'd be surprised if Womack didn't get a starting job somewhere along the line.

Seth McKinney—two starts at left guard and one start at right guard for Cleveland last season

McKinney appears to better against the run than he is in the passing game. On several occasions, I saw McKinney get pushed back, collapsing the pocket. Nonetheless, he rarely lets his man get by him as he squares up well.

Against the run, he is more consistent, and occasionally shows excellent power off the line. Like Fraley, he frequently plays hard through the whistle, helping with downfield blocking.

McKinney is a solid player who can help in a reserve or spot-starting role.

Ryan Tucker—one start at right tackle for Cleveland last season

Tucker has had several situations that have kept him off the field in recent years. The new regime asked him to take a pay cut for this season, and he accepted.

His only appearance last season was a start against the Giants, a game that was probably the team's best in a disappointing year. Tucker may have played a role in that success.

While Kevin Shaffer, who started the other 15 games for the Browns at right tackle, was constantly beaten by faster edge rushers; Tucker held his own against a tough Giant defensive line.

He has quick feet and has a knack for getting himself into great position, whether he's playing the run or the pass. He's extremely physical in the run game, often blowing his man well off the line.

If he can stay healthy, and that's a big if, he can be a huge help to a line in need of a right tackle. His teammates have often raved about his play. I can see why.

Isaac Sowells—no starts for Cleveland last season

Despite not starting, Sowells saw significant action at right tackle in week four against the Bengals.

Sowells was awful. He has a remarkable inability to square up on his man. On the few occasions that he manages this task, he gets pushed back into the pocket.

He also has a habit of being slow off the line, not engaging his man, and then diving at him, which only serves to take him out of the play in the first two seconds.

I can now see why Sowells has never made it into the starting lineup: He isn't very good at playing football.

Overview of the 2008 offensive line

The Browns finished eighth in the NFL in fewest sacks allowed last season, with 24. Many of those can be attributed to the weakest player on the line, Kevin Shaffer, who was released.

Much of the blame for the poor performance of the running game last season went to the offensive line. To some degree, that has to be true.

However, after watching film, as much as I like Jamal Lewis and hate to admit it, Lewis was not the same player he had been the previous season.

Lewis spent a lot of time tiptoeing a few feet behind the line, instead of aggressively hitting the line as the holes opened. By the time he saw what he was looking for, he was too far away, too slow, and too late to do anything about it.

In the past, I've been of the opinion that a running game's effectiveness begins with the offensive line. I still believe that, but Lewis showed that a good back is needed to finish the job. He is no longer viable as full-time starter.

Overall, the offensive line was one of the few (perhaps the only) above average units on the team last year in a disappointing season.

Previewing the 2009 offensive line

Thomas should be entrenched as the starting left tackle for years to come. I don't see any reason why he won't continue to participate in Pro Bowl activities as well.

Steinbach will most likely start at left guard, where he and Thomas make up one of the best left sides in the game.

It is possible that he could be used at right tackle, considering that Mangini likes to mix things up, he has quick enough feet to pull it off, and the Bengals used him as a tackle before as well.

Fraley figures to have the inside track to remain the Browns' center. If it is determined that age has caught up with him, Hadnot or McKinney could challenge him for playing time. I'd expect to see either or both of those two guys playing some center in the preseason.

Based on what I saw on film, I like Womack's chances to win the starting spot at right guard. That being said, I wouldn't rule out Hadnot, who could provide one of the best position battles in training camp.

If Ryan Tucker can stay healthy, I would imagine he'd win the right tackle job by default. I have trouble believing that the Browns are serious about plugging St. Clair in, and Sowells shouldn't make the roster. Womack could also see action here.

All in all, I would expect the Browns offensive line to be one of the team's strengths going into the upcoming season.

Beginning To Believe in Eric Mangini: A "Fascinating" Story

Kendall Murray — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:02:53 -0400

When Romeo Crennel and Phil Savage were fired at the end of the 2008 season, I had my hopes set high. I saw a wide-open sea of potential new head coaches and general managers that could help right this ship.

My first choice for head coach was Bill Cowher. Surely, this former Browns player could make his triumphant return to Cleveland and bring this city back to its pre-Super Bowl-era glory days. But Cowher wasn't interested.

How about Scott Pioli for GM? He had helped Bill Belichick bring three championships to New England in four years. This time, owner Randy Lerner balked, as Pioli's control demands were deemed unreasonable. Of course, that didn't stop Kansas City from hiring him.

Okay, shake it off, I thought.

But before I could say Marty Schottenheimer, reports began to surface that Lerner was "fascinated" with Eric Mangini. Next thing I knew, Mangini was hired as the head coach—before the hiring of a GM.

I hated this move. Isn't the GM supposed to hire the coach? Are any good GM candidates going to want to go where the new coach had already been hired?

Then the Browns hired George Kokinis, a relative unknown considering the GM candidates whose names had been suggested for the job. Mangini had hand-picked his own guy. Lerner said he hadn't even considered Kokinis before his initial meeting with Mangini.

Again, I asked, isn't the GM supposed to hire the coach, not the other way around?

Neither Mangini's nor Kokinis' press conferences were inspiring. In fact, they both came off as being uncomfortable, awkward, and even a little goofy. These guys were anything but "fascinating" to me. They seemed destined to lower expectations for a franchise that couldn't possibly have lower expectations.

Then free agency opened and...well, nothing happened. At least nothing that didn't subtract talent from the team.

After quietly releasing some veteran backups, the Browns made perhaps their biggest move of the offseason so far: They traded exceptional but loud-mouthed tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. to the Bucs for a second-round draft pick and a fifth in 2010.

I wasn't pleased at all. I thought if we were going to make a statement by trading a veteran receiver, Braylon Edwards made more sense. During the last game of the year, when the Browns' season had long since been lost, Edwards looked annoyed to be there and disinterested at best.

After clearly miscommunicating on a third down pass play, rent-a-QB Bruce Gradkowski went to Edwards to talk it over. Edwards just turned his back to Gradkowski. He had clearly given up on the season—a season that saw him drop more passes than seemed humanly possible.

Kellen Winslow was a lot of things, but I never saw him quit. Never.

Next came the signing of Robert Royal more than a week into the opening of free agency. The low-profile blocking tight end seemed a feeble answer to the loss of one of my favorite players. Would this guy even be able to beat out Steve Heiden?

By this point, difference-makers like Albert Haynesworth, Bart Scott, and T.J. Houshmandzadeh had been signing everywhere but Cleveland. The Browns didn't show any interest in re-signing safety Sean Jones, the most experienced and arguably the best player among a young and promising secondary.

Then the Browns re-signed backup safety Mike Adams, who had filled in for Jones when he was injured. Like the timing of the Royal signing, it seemed as though Mangini was sending a message: The Browns were moving on.

On paper, the roster now looked like we'd added Robert Royal and Mike Adams in exchange for losing Kellen Winslow and Sean Jones.

Oh, and did I mention that Pro Bowl defensive tackle Shaun Rogers had asked to be traded? According to Rogers, Mangini failed to come over to introduce himself on separate occasions. Surely, Rogers was acting like a three-year old who didn't get a toy at the grocery store, but how hard would it have been to avoid that problem? You didn't see him? 400-lb. Shaun Rogers?

Suddenly, the Browns started signing players on a daily basis:

Defensive lineman C.J. Mosley, a former Jet under Mangini.

Defensive back Hank Poteat, also a former Jet.

Linebacker David Bowens, a former...yep, he was a Jet, too.

Linebacker Eric Barton, a—you guessed it—former Jet.

The Browns even signed former Jet safety Abram Elam to a restricted free agent offer sheet...one that the Jets later matched.

Not only were these guys all former Jets, they were mostly backups or versatile fill-in starters at various positions. Mosley could play end or tackle. Poteat was mostly used as a nickel back. Bowens could play inside or outside linebacker. All were special teams contributors.

To Browns fans like myself, this smelled a lot like the Butch Davis era. Davis had a penchant for signing guys who had played for him at the University of Miami. His Browns coaching career ended when he practically fled in the night from rabid Browns fans after a 3-8 start and an out-of-control quarterback controversy between former overall No. 1 pick Tim Couch and (temporary) fan favorite Kelly Holcomb.

Speaking of quarterback controversies, word had come out of Berea (the Cleveland suburb that is home to the Browns complex) that Mangini had no intention of naming his starting quarterback just yet.

Browns fans had thought that the issue was finally put to rest last season when first round pick and Ohio-grown kid Brady Quinn took over for a struggling Derek Anderson. Quinn was subsequently lost for the season with a hand injury, but he showed promise in his limited action.

To add insult to injury, the Browns released wideout Joe Jurevicious, who had grown up a Browns fan in northeast Ohio and had returned home to his "dream job" to help bring the glory days back to the city he loved.

It was as if each move was designed to be a public relations mess. Meanwhile, I wondered how many backup players one team can have.

At that point, I had been broken. Mangini did it. He tore me down like a young Marine in basic training. My will had been mashed to a pulp.

So I started to look deeper at what he was trying to do.

At that point, I received a clue from an unlikely source: The hated Denver Broncos. It's been 20 years since the days of "The Drive" and "The Fumble" and the dashing of Super Bowl hopes. Some wounds heal slowly.

In Denver, news of a clash between new head coach Josh McDaniels and quarterback Jay Cutler had become a national headline. McDaniels had apparently been involved in trade discussions that would have sent Culter packing in favor of Matt Cassel. Cassel, of course, had filled in nicely for Tom Brady under the tutelage of then-New England offensive coordinator McDaniels.

When that deal went sour and Cassel went to Kansas City, the fireworks began in Denver. Cutler was as upset as Shaun Rogers at the West Side Market. When Cutler and McDaniels finally sat down face to face, the ego-bruised QB attempted to solicit a no-trade guarantee from his new coach.

It was in McDaniels' response that I began to see the light. McDaniels told Cutler that while he wants the guy on his team, he has a responsibility to listen to any and all offers and consider them on a case-by-case basis. In the end, with each trade proposal, he and GM Brian Xanders would do whatever they felt was in the best interest of the team.

That makes sense, I thought. It was a bold thing to say to your whining star quarterback, but in the end he's absolutely right.

It was with that comment that I began looking more closely at the Belichick model.

Both Mangini and McDaniels had spent a great deal of time under New England coach Bill Belichick's wing. Former Browns coach Romeo Crennel was also part of this line, but Crennel was a seasoned veteran coach. Belichick's influence was perhaps less apparent with Crennel.

In the previous Browns front office, GM Phil Savage seemed to be the one with all the decision-making power. But in New England, Scott Pioli's role as vice president of player personnel was the closest thing the Patriots had to a GM. Belichick had all the power.

Shortly after McDaniels was hired in Denver, existing GM Jim Goodman was fired. Brian Xanders was quickly promoted and the team's power structure had been reshaped. It is yet to be seen where the power lies in Denver, but this certainly was an unusual move, considering that Goodman had assisted in the selection of McDaniels.

Considering the influx of former Jets to the Browns roster, it has become clear where the decision-making power is coming from in Cleveland. Mangini hired his own guy and Kokinis' role is quickly looking like that of Scott Pioli in New England.

In all three of these places, the front offices have been tight-lipped with the media—that is, except for the Cutler situation, which has taken on a life of its own. In Cleveland, longtime Browns beat writer and reporter Tony Grossi has been quite vocal about his displeasure with his lack of access.

I began reading old articles about the building of the Patriots dynasty. Many of the articles focused on Belichick's (with Pioli's help) ability to create depth on the roster. They've focused on picking up guys who can play multiple positions (think Adalius Thomas, Richard Seymour, Mike Vrabel, and Troy Brown) and who are team-first guys.

When a player, any player, started making noise about making top dollar, that signaled their end in New England. I started to look at this approach in terms of how it applied to the new-look Browns.

As I was investigating the characteristics of the Belichick approach, Mangini and the Browns remained busy.

Along the offensive line, they renegotiated OG/OT Ryan Tucker's contract down to the league minimum and released overpaid RT Kevin Shaffer. They signed former Seahawk OG/OT Floyd "Pork Chop" Womack and former Bear OG/OT John St. Clair. Both of the new guys can move around on the line; Tucker and St. Clair even played center in college.

In more recent days, the Browns have signed backup running back Noah Herron (no appearances with Tampa last year), veteran defensive back and former Raven Corey Ivy, and journeyman wide receiver David Patten, who was a key player during the Patriots' Super Bowl run.

While I know very little about Herron, Ivy is a high-energy guy who can bring vocal leadership to the Browns defense. David Patten flourished under Belichick and then- offensive coordinator Charlie Weis.

What is beginning to emerge here is a plan. The Browns know what type of player they want. They want team-first guys who are versatile. They don't want crybabies or guys who expect to be the highest paid at their positions.

They also have a sole leader. One guy that has a plan to put the franchise back on track.

I'm not sure what's next. Rumors are currently flying about a specific trade involving Braylon Edwards for draft picks and a player. The Shaun Rogers fiasco remains unresolved, and both quarterbacks' names get brought up in trade rumors on a daily basis.

Some reports are now saying that any player on the Browns' roster is available, except left tackle Joe Thomas and linebacker D'Qwell Jackson. The Browns also appear to be attempting to trade down with the No. 5 pick in the draft.

A lot remains to be seen about the Mangini Era in Cleveland. I may not like all the moves he makes. Certainly, he's not concerned about how things look to the fans.

But one thing has become clear to me: Mangini has a plan for rebuilding the Browns, and I, for one, find it "fascinating."

Jay Cutler To the Browns? No Chance

Kendall Murray — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 02:32:44 -0400

The Jay Cutler to Cleveland rumors have (as rumors do) taken on a life of its own. The problem with this is that it will never happen. Any reasonable analysis of the first few months of the Mangini era in Cleveland will reveal that a deal for Cutler is nothing more than a pipe dream.

First, let's take a look at how these rumors came to be.

Once the Cutler/McDaniels feud reached a fever pitch and the trade talk began in earnest, reporters began to ask the questions they always do in these situations. High on the list of questions is, "Where might Cutler end up," which quickly leads to, "Who has the pieces to land him."

Very quickly, the Browns became part of the discussion since they have:

1.) a quarterback in Derek Anderson who, despite his difficulties last season, has put together a Pro Bowl season, and

2.) a quarterback in Brady Quinn who was a first-round draft choice who hasn't had enough game experience to show what he's capable of.

The earliest of these "trade speculations" involved Cleveland as part of various three-way deals involving teams such as Washington, Detroit, and the Jets. In all of these scenarios, the Broncos would have received either Anderson or Quinn (and more), and the third team would receive Cutler, with the Browns obtaining various picks and/or players.

Very quickly (and irrationally, I might add), people began just eliminating the third team altogether and suggesting that Cleveland was somehow interested in Cutler.

The only reason Cleveland became part of the discussion in the first place, is because of the perception that they have two potential starters and would presumably be willing to ship one. The idea that they would get Cutler back wouldn't solve this problem for them, in that the QB who didn't get moved in the deal would be a reluctant and disgruntled backup to Cutler.

Cleveland also seemed a possible destination because they are trying to recoup some of the picks that Phil Savage traded away. Even after the Winslow deal, the Browns only have five picks in this year's draft.

Now let's take a look at Mangini's approach to rebuilding the Browns.

First, he basically hired his own hand-picked GM in George Kokinis. Kokinis wasn't even on owner Randy Lerner's radar when Mangini suggested him for the GM job. It's unclear how the power-sharing works in the Cleveland front office since the new regime has been so secretive.

However, make no mistake, Mangini is the driving force behind the early personnel moves. Former Jets LBs David Bowens and Eric Barton, DB Hank Poteat and DL C.J. Mosley all signed with the Browns in recent weeks, and a fifth Jet, S Abram Elam, was signed to an offer sheet that the Jets matched.

In addition to the former Jets on the roster, other recent Browns signees include TE Robert Royal, S Mike Adams, OL Floyd Womack, OL John St. Clair, DB Corey Ivy, and RB Noah Herron.

Meanwhile, the team traded away one of its most talented, but troubling players in Kellen Winslow. They also released WR Joe Jurevicious and OT Kevin Shaffer after asking them to take a pay cut.

Mangini is trying to create competition for jobs on his new team. He's brought in guys he's worked with before and guys who are versatile. All of the new linemen and linebackers can play multiple positions, and most of these guys have excelled on special teams.

One thing you don't see here is a superstar; in fact, not one of these guys is guaranteed a starting job.

Keep in mind, Mangini comes from the Belichick tree.

He and McDaniels both share the philosophy that no one player is above the team. It's no secret that Mangini was not in favor of bringing in Favre, and that experience alone would sour him on the idea of bringing in Cutler—a player who has quickly become more well-known for his whining off the field than for the promise he has shown on it.

Wherever Cutler might end up, he is likely going to ask his new coach the same question he reportedly asked McDaniels in their recent face-to-face, "What guarantees can you give me that I won't be traded?" Mangini would tell him exactly what McDaniels did: that he has a responsibility to listen to any and all offers and he will make the decisions he feels are in the best interest of the team. That's precisely the approach that sent Cutler crying in Bus Cook's arms.

The reality of the situation is that Cutler would be as unhappy under Mangini as he has been (sort of) under McDaniels. On the flip side, Mangini has no interest in the ego-driven superstar type as his first personnel move (the trade of Winslow) proved.

I'm a life-long Browns fan and honestly, I'm not sure how I feel about the Mangini era coming to Cleveland. I'll root hard, but I can't say I'm crazy about all that I've seen so far. I sincerely hope he knows what he's doing.

Nonetheless, it's become rather clear that Mangini has a philosophy in terms of how he's going about rebuilding this team. For him to turn around and make a trade for Cutler would go against that philosophy.

The possibility still exists that Cleveland could be involved in a three-way deal that doesn't involve Cutler coming to Cleveland (I'd call it possible, but doubtful). What I'm saying here is that the likelihood of Jay Cutler wearing a Browns uniform next year is about the same as T.O. keeping his mouth shut next season.

In fact, if I were a betting man, I'd put my money on T.O.

One Man's Look at This Year's MLB Hall Of Fame Candidates

Kendall Murray — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 03:26:12 -0500

As we approach the announcement of the new inductees to Major League Baseball's Hall of Fame, I thought I'd put my two cents in as to who would be on my ballot this year (if I were fortunate enough to have a vote).

This is a topic that always stirs great debate as to the merits of a particular player relative to the era in which he played. Once that is determined, the player must then stack up against the history of all of baseball. It's an inexact science without right or wrong answers.

The voters must keep the standard high with the understanding that different eras may require different benchmark numbers, longevity vs. dominance must be weighed, and historical perspective taken into consideration.

However, before I get into the players themselves, I'd like to address the concept of the "First Ballot Hall-of-Famer." Much is made of this concept and the phrase is widely used to describe current players (i.e., "Greg Maddux is a first ballot hall-of-famer").

In general, I don't like this concept.

If a guy is a hall-of-famer, then he's a hall-of-famer, plain and simple. Yet, as I began to consider players for this article, I realized that there are circumstances under which I might be inclined to wait to give someone my vote.

The first of these is conduct detrimental to the game. Shoeless Joe Jackson. Pete Rose. Mark McGwire. Barry Bonds. Roger Clemens. These names have and will create some of the most difficult decisions for voters. Is it time for Shoeless Joe and Charlie Hustle to get in? Have they served their time? How do we consider the steroid era? And are we only penalizing those who got caught?

For me, this is a good reason to delay entry. The rules allow for a player to remain on the ballot for 15 years and beyond that, the veteran's committee can induct players. Perspective on the steroid era has not yet been achieved in my opinion. I don't see any harm in waiting to gain that perspective.

Another reason to delay entry is the assessment of modern relievers. The picture is finally beginning to emerge on the late-inning specialists and standard-bearers have been put in place.

However, borderline cases can still be difficult for voters to assess. A perfect example of this is one of this year's choices, Lee Smith.

At the time of his first appearance on the ballot, he was the all-time leader in saves—a statement which provides a pretty compelling argument all by itself. However, saves have only been calculated since 1969, only 11 years before Smith's rookie season.

Sure, historians have gone back to credit pitchers with saves based on box scores (Cy Young had 17), but it is undeniable that managers have changed the way these players are used. Currently, Smith is third in saves (behind Trevor Hoffman and Mariano Rivera) and that perspective has become useful in assessing Smith's career.

The Players (taken alphabetically)

Harold Baines is an interesting case. Over 22 seasons, Baines posted 2866 hits, 384 home runs, 1628 RBI and a .289 batting average. He also made six All-Star teams.

However, Baines was never a dominant player during his career. He only received votes in MVP balloting for four seasons, and in those four, he finished 9th, 10th, 13th, and 20th. Despite his impressive career numbers, he never hit 30 home runs in a season and only eclipsed 100 RBI three times.

To me, a Hall-of-Famer is someone you look back on with awe. Baines racked up some huge career numbers, but in my mind, he falls just short. Verdict: No

Jay Bell. 2-time All-Star. 1 Gold Glove. Less than 2000 hits. MVP votes in three seasons, highest finish - 12th. Nice player, not a Hall-of-Famer. Verdict: No

Bert Blyleven is another player whose longevity gives him strong consideration. 287 wins, 3701 strikeouts and a 3.31 career ERA. Some would argue that he was never dominant, with only one 20-win season and no Cy Youngs.

However, consider that from his rookie year of 1970 through 1985 (16 seasons), he only posted an ERA above 4.00 once, and that was in 1982 when he only pitched in 4 games due to injury.

He finished in the top 10 in ERA 10 times. He is fifth all-time in strikeouts and ninth in shutouts. He finished 3rd twice for Cy Young and 4th once. In two of those seasons, he even received votes for MVP. He finished in the top 4 in strikeouts 12 times and in the top 5 in strikeout/walk ratio 13 times. He is one of eight pitchers in the top 20 in wins, shutouts, and strikeouts since 1900; the other seven are in the Hall of Fame.

This is also a good time to point out that starting pitchers of this era have been given the short end of the stick by Hall of Fame voters in recent years. In fact, the last starter to be elected into the hall was Nolan Ryan in 1999.

No pitcher on this year's ballot is more deserving than Blyleven. He belongs in the Hall of Fame. Verdict: Yes

With only 194 career wins, David Cone would need to have been amazing dominant to get real consideration. With one Cy Young and 5 finishes in the top 6 in Cy Young voting, a case could be made that he was. However, his lack of career longevity is too much to overlook and he does not get my vote. Verdict: No

One of the best outfield arms I've ever seen belonged to Andre Dawson. He, Dave Parker, Dave Winfield, and maybe Dwight Evans had the best right-field arms of the era (I'm sure I'm leaving somebody out).

He won 10 gold gloves and was an 8-time All-Star. He received MVP votes 9 times, including one 1st place finish and two 2nds, which should dispel any thought that he was never dominant.

438 home runs, 1591 RBI, and 2774 hits are probably enough alone, but his defense puts him over the top for me. Verdict: Yes

Ron Gant had a few very nice seasons, especially 1991 and 1993, when he finished 6th and 5th (respectively) in MVP voting. However, the 2-time all-star doesn't warrant much consideration for the Hall of Fame. Verdict: No

Mark Grace was a superb hitter and fielder during his 16-year career. However, the case against him as a hitter is strong.

He only amassed 2445 hits, which is a low number for someone with little power numbers. He never led his league in hits or batting average, never finished higher than 13th on an MVP ballot.

He was an excellent first baseman; however, first base is not an elite defensive position and he only received 4 Gold Gloves—impressive, but hardly dominant. Verdict: No

The first player on my ballot would be Rickey Henderson. Henderson is the only undeniable player on the list. Ranked 1st all-time in steals and runs, 2nd in walks, holder of the single season stolen base record, most career lead-off home runs, 1990 MVP, 10-time All-Star over an 12-year period.

If this guy doesn't get in, the hall should only have about a dozen players in it. He should and will get in this year, his first on the ballot. Verdict: Yes

Tommy John is a difficult call—one of three starting pitchers that I feel deserve serious consideration. He won 288 games over 26 seasons and had a solid four-year stretch from 1977-1980 where he was as good as any pitcher in baseball.

During those four years, he racked up win totals of 20, 17, 21 and 22 to go along with ERAs of 2.78, 3.30, 2.96 and 3.43. During those four years, he finished 2nd in the Cy Young voting twice along with one 4th and one 8th place finish. He went though a stretch of 19 seasons with sub-4.00 ERAs.

This is the one I feel the least confident with, but for my money, Tommy John should be in the Hall. Verdict: Yes

Another tough choice is Don Mattingly. Donnie Baseball won nine Gold Gloves at first base, second all-time to Keith Hernandez. He was a top-notch hitter and had a few power seasons as well.

The knock on Mattingly is his career numbers—2153 hits, 222 home runs and 1099 RBI fall short of most historical benchmarks by quite a lot. Any real argument on his behalf will point to the four years of 1984-1987, when he hit between .324 and .351, between 23 and 35 homers and between 110 and 145 RBI.

He was the MVP in 1985 and finished 2nd once as well. I was surprised to find that he was only a 6-time All-Star, considering the Yankee fan base. It's a tough call, but I still feel his low career totals are too much to overlook. Verdict: No

I hope we all realize that Mark McGwire only represents the beginning of the Hall of Fame debate in regard to alleged steroid users. One question in regard to these players is this: are they all out, or are some getting in because of the idea that they'd be in anyway?

How do we compare this to the Pete Rose situation, etc. For me, there are too many questions as to how to deal with this situation. I don't know. Therefore, I feel that caution is the better part of valor. Verdict: Not Yet

Wow, another tough one is Jack Morris. 254 wins and 2478 strikeouts are among his positives, but that 3.90 career ERA would be the worst among all Hall-of-Famers if he were to be elected. In fact, Morris never notched a season ERA below 3.00.

Yet, the guy won in impressive fashion. He never won a Cy Young, but five times he finished at least 5th. He had three 20-win seasons and eight times finished with at least 17. He pitched in 5 All-Star games, including 3 starts, demonstrating the respect he had among AL managers.

It's a difficult decision, but the high ERA is too much to overcome. Verdict: No

Dale Murphy is another guy that deserves serious consideration. 2111 hits, 398 home runs and 1266 RBI to go along with five Gold Gloves and seven All-Star selections. He also is a two-time NL MVP and a two-time NL home run champion (he finished 2nd in homers three other times).

However, he only amassed a .265 batting average in his 18 seasons, a figure that would be among the Hall's lowest. He is the definition of a borderline candidate for me—great stretch of seasons with low career numbers.

I'll have to revisit this one again, but I'm not ready to commit. Verdict: No

Among middle relievers, Jesse Orosco is about as worthy as one could be. His the all-time leader in games pitched, which is something. He also had a few nice seasons as the closer for the Mets, including one in which he finished 3rd in the Cy Young voting and even 17th for MVP.

He was named an All-Star twice and managed 144 saves even though a majority of his career was spent in middle relief.

All that being said, the Hall of Fame caliber middle reliever has yet to appear in baseball. Verdict: No

Were it not for injuries and drug problems, Dave Parker would likely already be in the Hall of Fame. His 2712 hits, 339 home runs, 1493 RBI and career .290 batting average are just shy of common Hall standards.

As mentioned earlier, he possessed one of the truly legendary right field arms in baseball history, which played a key role in his 3 NL Gold Gloves. He was the 1978 NL MVP and finished as high as 3rd in the voting four times.

However, the seasons he lost in the early eighties to various ailments likely cost him a serious shot at the hall. Verdict: No

For thoughts on Dan Plesac as a Hall of Famer, you might just refer to my article on Jesse Orosco. Then, just think of Plesac as a poor man's Orosco. If he gets one vote, it'll be a huge upset. Verdict: No

Tim Raines is a player that I've gone back and forth with since his first year on the ballot. He's a career .294 hitter with 2605 hits and 980 RBI to his credit. Where he excelled most was with stolen bases. He ranks 5th all-time with 808, won 4 NL steals titles, and finished with at least 70 steals in six seasons. He was a seven-time All-Star, yet he never finished higher than 5th for league MVP.

He actually compares quite favorably to Hall-of-Famer Lou Brock, a career .293 hitter with 3023 hits, 900 RBI and 938 stolen bases. But Brock was actually named on MVP ballots in a whopping 10 seasons, finishing as high as 2nd.

This is one that I'm unsure about, but I'm not ready to pull the trigger on. Verdict: No

Few players have spawned more Hall of Fame debate than Jim Rice. His career numbers fall a bit short by most standards: 2452 hits, 382 home runs and 1451 RBI in 16 seasons. Many have pointed toward his relatively short peak, yet he still amassed some fine seasons outside of that peak.

An 8-time All-Star, Rice finished in the top 5 in AL MVP voting in six different seasons, winning the award in 1978. He topped the 100 RBI mark in eight seasons, finishing in the league's top 5 in seven of them. He won three home run titles and finished in the top 2 in slugging percentage five times. He also finished in the top 7 in batting average in six seasons.

Additionally, other Hall of Fame players have come out to support him, including Cal Ripken and Goose Gossage, who said of Rice, "I didn't fear any hitter, but he was the closest I ever came to fearing." Who am I to argue with those two guys. Verdict: Yes

Lee Smith is one who in years past, I would have voted in without question. As mentioned before, he ranks third all-time in saves and he finished in the top two in his league in eight seasons.

He finished in the top 5 in Cy Young voting three times and was named to seven All-Star teams. Many have said that Smith wasn't an intimidating closer, yet he has more strikeouts per innings pitched than Rollie Fingers, Bruce Sutter, or Mariano Rivera: two Hall-of-Famers and one Hall lock. He has also been criticized for getting the "cheap" save—getting the stat with less than an inning of work.

That's actually only partially true.

Late in Smith's career that was definitely the case, but not during his prime. He also never recorded an ERA above 3.88 for a season until his last year, when he just didn't have it anymore. This is one I need some more perspective on, but I would still lean toward putting him in eventually. Verdict: Not Yet

Alan Trammell has received a lot of support in recent years for a Hall bid. He's a career .285 hitter with 2365 hits, 185 homers, 1003 RBI, and 236 stolen bases.

He's a four-time Gold Glove shortstop who paired with Lou Whitaker to form one of the great all-time double play combos. He once finished 2nd in MVP voting for the 1987 season, his best in the majors.

By just about any measure, Trammell's numbers come up short. He was a steady, solid (if unspectacular) pro for 20 seasons who deserves to be in the Detroit Tigers Hall of Fame—just not the MLB Hall of Fame. Verdict: No

Greg Vaughn had two big seasons where he finished 4th in league MVP voting. But a career .242 hitter with 1475 hits, 355 homers and 1072 RBI is not going to the Hall. Verdict: No

Mo Vaughn could have been a Hall-of-Famer. At his peak, he was a dominant player with six seasons of at least 33 home runs and an additional six with at least 100 RBI. He was the 1995 MVP (in a controversial vote over Albert Belle), and made three All-Star teams.

However, injuries and perhaps weight issues caused him to have a short career. Over 12 seasons, Vaughn amassed 1620 hits, 328 home runs, 1064 RBI and a .293 batting average. Not good enough for the Hall. Verdict: No

Matt Williams was a solid, professional third baseman for 17 big-league seasons. His numbers are respectable: 1878 hits, 378 home runs, and 1218 RBI. He only carries a .268 career batting average, but he won four Gold Gloves at third base.

He was a 5-time All-Star who finished in the top six in MVP voting four times, including a second-place finish in 1994. Very good player - not a Hall-of Famer. Verdict: No

All-in-all, I would casting votes for five players: Bert Blyleven, Andre Dawson, Rickey Henderson, Tommy John, and Jim Rice. I have two players I feel I need more perspective on: Mark McGwire and Lee Smith. Beyond that, there are others who I could be swayed on: Jack Morris, Dale Murphy and Tim Raines.

This is my first article for the Bleacher Report. I enjoyed putting it together and hope it was a worthy read. I'd also love some feedback.