Cleveland Browns' 10 Win 2012 Plan Step One: Which UFAs Will They Resign?

This series of articles is my plan for getting the Browns competitive in 2012. It is possible, but
unfortunately, not probable. The team is going to have to step out of their super-conservative skin and get serious about winning. It seems that the fans believe every offseason is the most critical in the team’s history. 

But this season is different. It will determine if the current administration will get its final two seasons to prove its worth. 

It will also insure that fanbase will continue to support the team.

Cleveland has two critical UFAs and several important guys they need to re-sign. Step one is always
getting your own guys resigned. The current estimate of the 2012 salary cap is 122 million dollars. 

Cleveland is now about $21 million under the cap. They had 8.9 million dollars in unused cap space last season that they can roll forward under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). 

The team cannot afford to make any more major mistakes, like signing OLB Chris Gocong to a four-year, 18.3 million dollar extension. He is way too slow to be given that long and expensive an extension.

Exclusive Rights Free Agents

WR Jordan Norwood: He developed very nicely and became the third WR by the end of the season. He is able to get open and catch the ball. He will be re-signed. 

Probable Cost: $500,000

DE Marcus Benard: Benard was supposed to be a pass-rusher, but crashed his motorcycle and never was a factor. 

He should not be re-signed under any circumstances. There is a very good chance he will never be again what he was, and that was not much. 

DT Brian Schaefering: He developed into a decent back-up defensive lineman. He is not ever going to be a top- quality starter.  But until the team is able to upgrade the D line, he is valuable and will be back. 

Probable Cost: $500,000

LB Titus Brown: Brown is one of the most interesting LBs.  He has above average speed and good instincts. He ended the season on IR, and there are questions about his durability.   

Probable Cost: $500,000

The next level of free agent is the restricted type. The Browns do not have any
restricted FAs. 

Offensive Unrestricted Free Agents

RB Peyton Hillis: There is almost no chance Hillis will be back. Even if the team wanted him back, it is unlikely he would re-sign. 

He wants eight to 10 million dollars, but is not worth half that, having had only one
solid season.

TE Alex Smith: Despite his role as back-up fullback (and part-time ball fumbler), he is not expected to be in the team's plans. 

He is a decent blocker, but has inconsistent hands.

OT Oniel Cousins: Cousins was brought in as a cut from another team to provide an experienced back-up at right tackle. He was terrible and should not be back.

OL John Greco: Greco could not beat out either newbie at guard. He should not be back.

OL Artis Hicks: Hicks did play better than the other three offensive line guys on this list.  While he may not have the feet to be a right tackle, he could be effective at guard. 

Probable Cost: $3,000,000

OL Steve Vallos: Vallos is not a keeper. He has not held a starting spot and should
not be back.

Defensive Unrestricted Free Agents

LB D'Qwell Jackson: I was worried about Jackson playing MLB in a 4-3 defense because he is not as fast as you would like. 

But he did much better than I expected and was playing near Pro-Bowl level. 

The team will do their best to get him re-signed. 

Probable Cost: $6,000,000

FS Mike Adams: Adams beat out Usama Young to start at FS. The team needs to re-sign Adams.

Probable Cost: $2,000,000

CB Dimitri Patterson: He played the nickel in 2011. The team will likely try to re-sign him. 

Probable Cost: $800,000

K Phil Dawson: Dawson has been the offensive MVP of the team for the last several years. Last year, they put the franchise tag on him. 

He is more able to adjust to the winds of Browns Stadium than anyone and
has been the single sure-thing signing. 

Probable Cost: $4,000,000

P Brad Maynard: Maynard had a very good season replacing Reggie Hodges. He was not only solid as a punter, but was an outstanding holder as well. He will not be back because Hodges is under contract.

Total Probable Cost: $12,600,000

That will leave about $16,400,000 under the cap.

Proposed Cuts to Increase Cap Room

Seneca Wallace, QB: Wallace is a cancer on the team.  He thinks he deserves to be a starter. 

While he knows the West Coast Offense, he refuses to teach it to Colt. He is a backup at best. 

Proposed Savings: $3,000,000

Scott Fujita, OLB: I have nightmares of Fujita chasing a TE and losing a yard on every stride. He is a great guy in the locker room, but is not nearly fast enough to play. He is a former ILB that was out of position at OLB in both the 3-4 and the 4-3 defense.

I would hope the team would let him begin what should be a very good coaching career by adding him to the staff. 

Proposed Savings: $4,700,000

The net salary cap space would be $24,100,000. 

That is not a great amount, but enough to do some damage if it is used effectively.

Tomorrow, I will propose the offensive UFAs the team should bring in.

That is what I think. Tell us what you think.

If you want a different look at Cleveland Sports, join me on the Internet radio version of News, Notes and Rumors M-Th at 6 PM EST on http://mooheadradio.com/2.0/. 

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Bill Smith is a former coach of several semi-pro teams, has done color on radio for college football and basketball and has scouted talent. He edits http://fryingpansports.com.  He has also published several novels on http://www.eBooks-Library.com/Contemporary/
and a non-fiction work at http://www.merriam-press.com/.