Cleveland Browns: Nine Questions and Answers for the Offseason, Question No. 1

This is going to be a weekly post from now until the week before the draft. I'll try my best to address what appear to be the most pertinent questions relating to the Cleveland Browns moving forward. My answers may differ from yours and I encourage feedback and input!

Without further ado, I bring you part 1 of 9:

Question No. 1:

What Should Cleveland do about its own RFA's and UFA's?

Answer:

Let me just start by saying this: Even though Josh Cribbs isn’t an RFA or UFA, I think it’s of paramount importance to resign him and keep him happy and in Cleveland. Cribbs is the single most dynamic player the Browns have seen on their roster since their re-emergence in the NFL in 1999, and possibly one of the most dynamic players in all of the NFL at this time.

Cribbs is soon to be the single greatest punt/kick returner of all-time. Trust me folks, it’s going to happen in 2010, and Cleveland wants him on their roster when that happens. He’s a big play waiting to happen, and Cleveland brass understands that and should keep him in Cleveland and involve him more in 2010 in any way possible.

Holmgren is no idiot, and all indications are that this deal is done very soon.

Moving on, Cleveland has some UFA’s and RFA’s who need to be addressed before free agency and the draft. Here’s the list:

RFA’s:

1. RB Jerome Harrison
2. LB D’Qwell Jackson
3. S Brodney Pool
4. LB Matt Roth  
5. LB Jason Trusnick  
6. S Abram Elam
7. TE Greg Estandia  
8. FB Lawrence Vickers
9. WR Mike Furrey

UFA’s

1. TE Michael Gaines
2. OL Rex Hadnot
3. CB Hank Poteat
4. OL Ryan Tucker
5. OL Bill Yates

Of all of these players, who makes the most sense to keep?

Jerome Harrison —Last season, he finished with an admirable effort in such a limited role early on, rushing for 862 yards and adding five TDs while averaging 4.4 yards per carry.

Most of those yardage totals and scores came in the final five weeks of the season, when Cleveland was playing solid ball. However, he most certainly has earned his spot as the starter and, I presume, he is a major reason Cleveland brass finally let the tippy-toed wonder, Jamal Lewis go...which should have been done after last season.

It wasn't, however, because Cleveland was unsure of what exactly they had in Jerome Harrison. Any questions have now been answered, and at 26, he's just hitting his stride and could be productive for longer than some backs because of his low usage to this point in his career.

He likely will be tendered and play under that tender offer. Honestly, I don’t see any other team stepping in and signing him away, thus giving a first and third to the Browns. That said, crazier things have happened.

He’s a critical element and piece of the puzzle moving forward and Cleveland must keep him there for the next several years. What he did late in the season was nothing short of spectacular, and I for one am excited to see what he does over the course of a full season as a starter.

Matt Roth —Matt Roth was somehow waived by the Dolphins….how the Tuna let that happen is a mystery to me. Once Cleveland was awarded his rights off waivers, he started six games, and in those games he tallied 28 tackles (4.6 per game average) four sacks, one fumble recovery, and one pass defensed.

All of those stats are stellar. If translated over the course of a full season, that puts him at roughly 74.5 tackles, 10.6 sacks, three fumble recoveries and two passes defensed. Those numbers would likely warrant consideration for the Pro Bowl, if not a spot on the roster.

He’s likely going to start for Cleveland next year at one of the LB spots next season provided no one signs him away, which is a possibility.

D’Qwell Jackson —The fourth-year Maryland Terrapin is probably one of the more underrated ILB’s in the game right now. He’s averaged 127.5 tackles and two interceptions over the last two seasons (three picks in 2008/9), and last season was on pace for a great year before being injured. He finished last season with 59 tackles.

I recently heard Pat Kirwan and Tim Ryan on the “Moving the Chains” show on NFL on XM (124, for those of you that didn’t know…) say that D’Qwell Jackson is one of the premier ILB’s on the market right now and rank him ahead of guys like Derrick Johnson and Kirk Morrison on their list of RFA’s.

That's high praise because as most know, Kirwan and Ryan LOVE Derrick Johnson.  Regardless, Kirwan is a former NFL GM and Ryan is in the know too, and when you hear that, you become a little nervous and realize how good DJ actually is.

They also stated that they believe that teams will be looking closely at him this offseason to address their needs and wouldn't be surprised by an offer from another team. So, Cleveland must get his deal done and make sure he remains in a Browns uniform for the 2010/11 season.

Lawrence Vickers —Vickers has quietly developed into one of, if not the best, fullback in the NFL. He’s a hard-nosed player that doesn’t take plays off and he’s well thought of throughout the league. 

Not to mention his blocking skills are pivotal to the success of not only any Cleveland RBs, but also whomever will be taking snaps next season because of his blitz pickup ability. He can also catch the ball out of the backfield and is much more than a typical "head banger" fullback.

Cleveland has to get his deal done as well, and make sure that he too is playing by the lake for the next couple of years!

At that point, I think Cleveland should be done. Brodney Pool is a good player, but he's damaged goods. Jason Trusnick and Abram Elam are decent players and could be retained, but I think for the money, there are others that fill the holes better and more economically. 

The only guy I'm on the fence about is Michael Gaines at TE. However, the emergence of Evan Moore has made him expendable. 

At this point, I believe that Cleveland should then let the remaining RFA’s and UFA’s walk away. There are other players that could come in and become critical parts and pieces of a winning team. I’ll detail WHO should be brought in a later installment.

In my mind though, the foursome of Harrison, Jackson, Roth, and Vickers must remain Cleveland Browns for the foreseeable future. All of them are young (none over 27) and all are coming into the prime of their careers.

They have to stay, if for no other reason, simply because of the fact that all but one of them were home-grown and have been a part of the Browns since they got into the NFL. Continuity at the NFL level is critical, and these guys need to be retained for the betterment of the Cleveland Browns franchise.

Question No. 2 will be put up next Thursday, 2/25/10, right here on BR!