Colt McCoy Talks About First Day Of Training Camp

Colt McCoy on the Browns 2011 Training Camp

Browns sign defensive end Jayme Mitchell to two-year deal

The Browns signed defensive end Jayme Mitchell to a two-year deal, a source confirmed for The Plain Dealer today.

Mitchell, an unrestricted free agent, first told Pro Football Weekly's Mike Wilkening of the signing. He cited "the direction of the program'' and the Browns' interest in him.

Mitchell (6-6, 285)  will play left end in the Browns' new 4-3 scheme. He was acquired in a trade with the Vikings last October, but didn't play in a game. For some reason, he was overlooked by Eric Mangini and his staff.

Mitchell has five career sacks in his five NFL seasons. He was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Vikings out of Mississippi in 2006.

In other Browns news, the club has signed all of its draft picks except No. 1 pick Phil Taylor. It includes tight end Jordan Cameron, fullback Owen Marecic, Buster Skrine, Jason Pinkston and Eric Hagg.

The Browns were working hard to get Taylor signed in time to be on the field Saturday.

Wright leaves Cleveland for Detroit

Eric Wright is now a former Brown.
The cornerback will sign with the Lions, FOXSportsOhio.com learned late Thursday. Details of the deal are still unknown.
Wright said on his active and popular Twitter account @ithinkurwright earlier this week that he was signing off Twitter until he reached an agreement with a team. Though he didn't initially discuss it, he reappeared on Twitter early Friday morning wearing a Lions cap.
It's unclear how hard the Browns tried to re-sign Wright, who turned 26 last weekend and achieved unrestricted free agency as a four-year veteran through the new collective bargaining agreement. Wright struggled last season, especially against Anquan Boldin in an early loss at Baltimore, and was removed from the starting lineup late in the year following the emergence of rookie Joe Haden.
General manager Tom Heckert said after the season he didn't know why Wright struggled in his second year in Eric Mangini's defense. But he clearly wasn't the same player who had 7 interceptions in the previous two seasons combined and looked to be emerging as a top corner in a division that can't have enough of them.
The cornerback-needy Lions are hoping Wright can get back on track and make more plays like the 94-yard touchdown interception return that punctuated the Browns' Monday night upset of the then-defending Super Bowl champion Giants in 2008. His departure officially makes the Browns cornerback-needy as well. Besides Haden, they'll enter camp with 32-year old Sheldon Brown, fifth-round rookie Buster Skrine and a bunch of journeymen at the position.
The Browns did add Usama Young, formerly of the Saints, on Thursday. Young probably fits best at free safety in Cleveland, though both Young and returning safety Mike Adams have both corner and safety experience. Two-year starting safety Abe Elam will also go elsewhere via free agency.
Wright came to the Browns as part of what was, at the time, the most exciting draft day in the history of the "new" franchise in 2007. Joe Thomas was selected at No. 3 overall, and then-GM Phil Savage traded back into the first round to select Brady Quinn then traded up again in the second to get Wright.
He became an immediate starter and started 55 games in four years with the Browns, recording 9 interceptions.

Original story:

http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/wright_leaves_cleveland_for_detroit/5799103

Browns release Jake Delhomme, but GM Tom Heckert downplays free-agent speculation

BEREA, Ohio -- No matter what happens in Browns training camp, the team will field its 10th starting quarterback in 13 seasons for a season opener on Sept. 11.

Jake Delhomme, who became the ninth different opening-game starter a year ago, was told Wednesday he is being released, a league source confirmed. General Manager Tom Heckert said the club will not confirm any player transactions until after 4 p.m. on Thursday.

The move on Delhomme, which was expected, adds about $2.3 million in salary cap space. Delhomme signed last year for $12.4 million over two years. One-half his signing bonus of $6.14 million would count on this year's cap. But that is more than offset by erasing his scheduled base salary of $5.4 million.

The net savings of plus-$2.3 million pushes the Browns to over $35 million in available room under the $120.3 million team cap. Nevertheless, Heckert remained adamant on not spending it on unrestricted free agents.

"If there's a good player, we're going to go after him. But we're not going to just sign a bunch of guys because they're available," Heckert said.

"There's always exceptions to the rule. Last year, were we active? That's probably the most active we're ever going to be."

Last year, the Browns signed six free agents that stuck with the team. They also traded for four others.

"We've talked with a zillion guys the last couple days. We don't expect to be signing a bunch of guys," Heckert added. "Cap room's not an issue. We'd much rather spend it on our young players we like right now, that we have right now. We'll spend it. There's not a question of us spending the money."

Heckert does have to save cap dollars for eight drafted rookies, 25 undrafted free agents whose names the club won't officially announce till Friday, and also the team's potential free agents he desires to keep.

The last group includes kicker Phil Dawson, who was given the franchise tag by the Browns in February but has not signed it. Heckert said he had a good conversation Wednesday with Dawson and expects him to report to camp with all players on Friday. Dawson can either play for the one-year franchise tender of $3.1 million or agree to a new multi-year contract.

Heckert also reiterated that he does not consider signing a wide receiver in free agency a priority.

"We've stated before -- we do like our players, as much as some people might not," he said. "If there's a guy we think can help us, we'll do it. I think there's free agency and guys that will be released. We'll have to wait and see. Would we like to upgrade? Yeah, we would, but I don't know if that's going to happen."

Delhomme's exodus was foretold when the Browns re-signed Seneca Wallace for three years a week before the owners lockout in March. Delhomme, 36, was never seen as a long-term answer, but his Browns career was more short-lived than anyone envisioned when he suffered a high ankle sprain late in the first half of the 2010 season opener against Tampa Bay.

Delhomme missed the next three games, then was rushed in against Atlanta in Game 5 when Wallace also suffered a high ankle sprain. Delhomme was clearly not ready to play, but the former coaching staff did not want to put rookie Colt McCoy in that spot.

McCoy started the next five games as Delhomme transitioned full-time into the role of mentor. McCoy and Delhomme frequently drove to work together as McCoy was forced to jump-start his career a year before the Browns planned. But McCoy also suffered a high ankle sprain in his fifth start, and that gave the job back to Delhomme, who started four games overall. His 2-2 record was the best of any of the three QBs last year.

Delhomme finished with a 63.4 passer rating. He completed 93 of 149 passes for 872 yards, two touchdowns and seven interceptions.

McCoy is earmarked this season to be the club's 10th opening-game starting QB in the 13 years of its expansion era. Of the nine previous QBs, six did not make it through a second consecutive season as the starter. Those one-time opening-game starters were Ty Detmer (1999), Kelly Holcomb (2003), Jeff Garcia (2004), Trent Dilfer (2005), Derek Anderson (2008), Brady Quinn (2009) and Delhomme.

Original article:

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2011/07/cleveland_browns_release_jake.html

Holmgren: No Excuses Heading into 2011

Despite the rest of the world casting lights of ill fortune on the team with a completely new coaching staff and a slew of young players on the roster, Browns team president Mike Holmgren is not making any excuses heading into the 2011 season. With the NFL offseason now in semi-full swing, Holmgren and the Browns appear to be hitting the ground in stride with the continually growing list of undrafted free agents being added to the Orange and Brown stable. Roughly 16 hours prior to the free agent floodgates creaking open, Holmgren joined award-winning NFL writer Vic Carucci on a local sportstalk network to discuss the upcoming days - a stretch of time expected to fall somewhere between utter chaos and pandemonium with a special cameo by Jim Ross and the Spanish announcers table. "I think there are challenges that other veteran teams might not encounter early, but were not making any excuses," Holmgren said. "I told the coaching staff and Pat [Shurmur] before we left on vacation, "it is what it is." We’re coaches. We’re teachers. We have some young people that really want to learn and get better and let’s just roll up our sleeves and do the best we can." Holmgren reiterated how much he appreciated his players getting together for voluntary workouts including the much-discussed camps held by second-year quarterback Colt McCoy. In the interview, Holmgren referred to McCoy as a "natural leader" with the "want to" to be successful within the NFL. Per the team's president, the only thing missing is experience, something he's primed to get an awufl lot of in the coming months. Something else McCoy could potentially use is additional help on the offensive line as well as a potential big-play wide receiver that he could target in the pass-happy West Coast Offense. The Browns are one of a handful of teams with considerable cap space (while teams like the Baltimore Ravens have been forced to release players like Derrick Mason and Todd Heap), so Holmgren and his staff will have the chance to put all of their downtime research to good use. "The league year begins August 4,, so there is a lot of stuff they still have to do and different things, but Tom Heckert, Matt Thomas and all the guys, they are all primed and ready to go," said Holmgren. "We have been talking about the plan and the players we want to go after for a long, long time. Now, the good thing is it’s here and we’re going to get this done."

Original story:

http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/holmgren_no_excuses_heading_into_2011/5734486

A Berea sign that the Browns training camp is near

BEREA -- The city is sprucing up its streets for the annual Cleveland Browns training camp. 

Orange and brown paint will appear on streets near its Lou Groza Boulevard facility.

Browns WR Josh Cribbs found guilty in Cleveland Heights parking ticket battle

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio - Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Cribbs lost his battle in fighting a $15 parking ticket in Cleveland Heights.

According to Cleveland Heights Municipal Court, Magistrate Schmidt found Cribbs guilty on Thursday. He’ll now have to pay the $15 fine and $50 in court costs.

Cribbs was issued the ticket in June and claimed it was written before the time ran out on his parking meter. He then posted a photo of the ticket on Twitter, along with a picture of the meter that showed he had eight minutes remaining.

Police said that the ticket was issued when the meter was expired, but then someone on the street added more money.

Following the guilty verdict, Cribbs posted this message to his followers on Twitter ( @JoshCribbs16 ):

“I fought hard vs a worthy opponent & lost the battle but the war is far from over (master splinter Voice).... Thanks for all the support Cleveland the Meter Cops will be sure from here on out before writing tickets..... I kept getting objected upon lol I was like Uh ok lol....”

Original story:

http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/cleveland_metro/browns-wr-josh-cribbs-found-guilty-in-cleveland-heights-parking-ticket-battle

Cleveland’s Other Football Team: Gladiators lose to Utah Blaze, but find some positives as they gear up for playoffs

CLEVELAND, Ohio — As a playoff tuneup, there have been better.

The Gladiators would have liked a win in their regular-season finale, but lost, 76-69, to the Utah Blaze at The Q. And it would have been particularly nice if they hadn't watched the Blaze score the game-winning touchdown with four seconds remaining.

"We wanted to win that game, especially when the competitive juices get flowing," Cleveland coach Steve Thonn said.

But there have definitely been worse ways to head into the playoffs. The Gladiators know they will host either Georgia or Orlando on July 31, depending on the outcome of today's games. So in their tuneup Friday, the Gladiators accomplished much of what they set out to while falling to 10-8 in only their second loss at home.

For starters, quarterback Kurt Rocco rested -- at least for one half.

The Gladiators found that they can manage just fine without leading touchdown scorer Troy Bergeron, the receiver who did not play because he is likely to return to the Dallas Cowboys as the NFL lockout is close to being lifted.

The Gladiators rotated pieces into a patchwork offensive line that is expected to lose Cliff Louis to the Arizona Cardinals.

And they even found a way to anger and inspire what has been a solid defense all season, one that typically allows 279.1 yards per game, as Utah stormed its way to 404 yards of total offense, including 351 passing yards. Euclid and Heidelberg product Michael Preston had 97 of those yards for the Blaze on 10 catches.

"I don't want to put too much into it right now because I know they're going to bounce back," Thonn said. "They're already in [the locker room] talking about it."

Instead, Thonn and the Gladiators focused on the positives -- such as Rocco's steady performance in the first half that helped the teams to a 34-34 halftime tie. The rookie was sharp in connecting on 10 of 15 passes for 118 yards and four touchdowns. He found receiver Robert Redd twice in the first half, Dominick Goodman once and Thyron Lewis for another.

He remained, in essence, the same player who won AFL Offensive Player of the Week honors after the Gladiators' victory last week, the same poised leader he has developed into over the course of the season.

"The biggest thing is he's so much more confident," Thonn said. "He has a good feeling with his receivers."

Lewis, who returned to the lineup after sitting four games with an injury, proved he can be a capable target for Rocco. He had two catches for 16 yards and one touchdown. Not exactly on par with Bergeron's 30 touchdowns for the Gladiators this season, but it's a start.

Redd proved he might be enough to make up for the loss of Bergeron. The veteran arena player scored three touchdowns, including a 47-yard scamper to start the fourth quarter that included a slick spin move around Blaze defensive back Alfred Phillips that even had Thonn gushing.

"That was unbelievable," he said. "It was fun to see."

"'"It helped that Redd knew there is added pressure on him to perform with Bergeron gone.

"We've got to pick up the slack," he said. "Troy's a great player, and he has a great opportunity in Dallas. We want to bring him a championship."

Article source:

http://www.cleveland.com/gladiators/index.ssf/2011/07/cleveland_gladiators_lose_to_u.html

92.3 FM Switching to Sports in Cleveland?

With the failed Digital Sports Network (DSN) so recently in our memories, there is a rumor floating around that 92.3 FM in Cleveland could have its format flipped by CBS radio into a sports talk channel.  There was one thing that DSN taught us for sure and that is that there is demand for choices in Cleveland sports talk.  It seems that there might be one on the horizon according to RadioInsight.com.  According to their site, a web domain has been registered anonymously since march at 923TheFan.com.  Additionally, Radio Insight is sniffing around CBSCleveland.com and Cleveland.CBSLocal.com where there is a locked down WordPress software installation.  But is there any truth to it all?

We did some digging on this just to see what CBS has done in the past.  CBS has started up FM sports stations in markets like Boston, Dallas, Detroit, Washington D.C., Chicago and Pittsburgh.  In Boston CBS is the flagship station for the New England Patriots.  In Dallas CBS is the flagship station for the Dallas Cowboys.  In Detroit they have the Lions.  In Chicago they have the White Sox and in Pittsburgh and D.C. it appears they don’t have any affiliations.  According to sources we talked to, team affiliations are one of the keys to the business plan, particularly with NFL teams.  So, when, exactly are the Browns up for radio contract renewal?

The answer is that I am not sure.  The last news that I read about the contract that Clear Channel has with the Browns covered a period through 2008 with an option year in 2009.  If you assume (just a wild guess) that the new contract that Clear Channel signed with the Browns was also a three-year deal with a fourth option year, that could mean that the Browns contract could be up after the 2013 NFL season, potentially.  Again, I couldn’t find any information on this and I haven’t gotten confirmation as to how long the current deal runs as of yet.

Of course, even if having team affiliations is the desired business plan, that doesn’t mean it still couldn’t happen.  By all accounts 92.3 FM makes money for CBS because of its ultra-low overheads.  They pay music rights and some electric bills at this point and you’d have to think that is about it.

This is all very exciting unless you are a fan of alternative rock music and still rely on FM radio to deliver the Red Hot Chili Peppers hits in between commercial breaks.  I know that sounds a little bit harsh, but I think it is becoming plainly obvious to pretty much everyone that terrestrial radio is an outdated medium for delivering music. Between mobile phones, iPods, satellite radio and services like Spotify, Pandora, Slacker, you just don’t need it much anymore.  This isn’t even to mention the new cloud services that Google, Apple and Amazon have out now.

Why not drop out of the futile music competition and jump in the much smaller pool of sports talk in Cleveland?  WKNR and KNR2 are both run by Good Karma Broadcasting and WTAM is the flagship for the teams when they aren’t running news and political talk.  WMMS covers the Browns games themselves on the FM side, but not much else in the way of sports talk specifically.  So, basically starting a new FM sports talk station means that you are looking to compete with 1.5 sports stations in KNR and KNR2.  Plus, you are competing with a higher fidelity FM signal.

This part of it could all be just a waste of breath if our sources are correct and CBS is looking to make a splash by getting rights to broadcast teams.  Once a station buys the rights to the teams the rest of the station’s cracks are easily filled.  We’ll keep you informed as this story unfolds and as we dig up info about the radio contracts of the various teams.

Article source:

http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/923_fm_switching_to_sports_in_cleveland/5667265

Berea prepares for Cleveland Browns training camp, lockout or not

BEREA -- The four-month NFL lockout did not shut down the city’s need to prepare for the Cleveland Browns training camp.

“We know what we need to do and have already done some of those things,” said R. James Brown, the city’s service director.

Negotiation talks continued this week with team owners and the NFL Players Association. This week a U.S. magistrate judge entered the talks. The lockout began March 12. The Browns first game is set for Sept. 11 in Cleveland against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Training Camp historically begins at the end of July. Last year the camp started July 31.

According to a Cleveland Browns spokesperson, the organization will not release training camp dates until they are firm, and that is “dependent” upon the “resolution of the labor situation.”

Brown said he is “confident” the lockout will end this week.

“We will probably get a call as soon as possible from the Browns. We are ready for them and the camp,” Brown said. “I am a huge fan of the training camp. We are the only city in Ohio that hosts a training camp. Cincinnati goes to Kentucky.”

The city owns the Browns facility in Berea. Brown said the city paints the striping in the facility’s parking lots and refresh the crosswalk on Lou Groza Blvd. as well.

“We are in the process of doing that right now,” he said Monday. “Most of it is already completed.”

The Browns provide banners that the service department hang on Bagley Road, Beech Street and other localized areas.

The Front Street overpass, which opened in November, has poles to hold the banners, if needed.

“We’ve had conversation about that,” Brown said. “This year is the first time we are able to use Front Street in quite a while. It will be neat to see traffic coming over and entering the city for the camp.”

A major change this year is the reconstruction of Beech Street between Bagley Road and East Fifth Avenue. Camp visitors often use Beech Street north of Bagley to park in the Baldwin-Wallace College’s Kleist parking lot as well as walk down its short length to the camp’s gate. That stretch of Beech Street is expected to be completed Aug. 17.

Brown said the contracting company must provide some type of access for pedestrians should the camp occur while that portion of Beech Street is closed to traffic.

“Whether is a gravel walkway or allow them to go on the grass, they will have something to make it safe to walk,” Brown said.

Karen Husak, B-W’s director of parking services, said the college gladly permits training camp visitors to use its lots.

“We allow use of our lots as long as camp runs and school is not in session,” she said.

Husak also said Kleist parking lot will be available for parking but traffic must enter through its Bagley Road access, not the one on Beech Street, which is under construction.

‘We are preparing for training camp as well,” she said. “We gladly allow use of our parking lots as long as training camp runs, provided school is not in session.”

B-W’s first day of fall classes is Aug. 29. Husak said the lots are available for training camp until Aug. 24.

The city will post signs on streets around the training camp entrance, such as Third, Fifth and Beech, saying parking is for residents only. Those who live in these area receive stickers from the Browns organization to place on their windshield showing permission to park on the street.

Brown said he enjoys the thrill of training camp.

“We stand alone in Ohio in providing a summer training camp for a professional sports team,” he said. “I think it’s a big deal. And we want others to know how important and thrilling this is to our city.”

Article source:

http://blog.cleveland.com/newssun/2011/07/berea_prepares_for_cleveland_b.html

Browns hire former TE Aaron Shea for front office post

Former Browns tight end Aaron Shea has been hired by the club to be its new director of player engagement, according to the team.

Shea replaces Jerry Butler, who was let go following last season after 12 years with the Browns.

In his new job, Shea will help players transition into and out of their careers and help prepare them for life after football.

Shea was drafted out of Michigan by the Browns in the fourth round of the 2000 draft and caught 97 passes for 851 yards and seven touchdowns in six seasons. He spent his final NFL season on the injured list with the San Diego Chargers.

Cleveland’s Other Football Team: Russ Monk and the Gladiators Get Ready for the Blaze and the Playoffs.

Cleveland - This offseason Russell Monk stayed with his sister while doing landscaping in Minnesota. Now Monk's tough running has helped change the Cleveland Gladiators' landscape and has them looking forward to the Arena Football playoffs.

The fullback out of St. Ambrose University is second on the team in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. Also Monk plays a little defense, he has 13 and a half tackles and two fumble recoveries.

The Gladiators won a division title Friday night -- and kicked Pittsburgh to the curb in the process.

The Gladiators scored 20 consecutive points to open the fourth quarter and defeated the Power, 67-55, at The Q.

Rookie quarterback Kurt Rocco went 25-of-35 for 297 yards and eight touchdowns as the Gladiators (10-7) clinched the American East and eliminated the Power (8-9) from the postseason. One game remains in the regular season.

Cleveland secured the No. 2 seed in the American Conference and a first-round home game in the Arena Football League playoffs.

Peyton Hillis’ Rank in the NFL Doesn’t Matter

Written by: Craig Lyndall

 

If you ranked all the running backs in the NFL, where would you put Peyton Hillis?  Obviously the cover of video games isn't indicative of the truth.  The real answer here is that nobody really knows for sure.  The stats are incomplete and he really has only played meaningful snaps in two seasons.  One of those was with a Broncos team coached by Mike Shanahan.  The ghost of Reuben Droughns tells us to take those results with a grain of salt.  For some reason Cleveland fans and media want to talk about it.  Rizzo, Hammer and Fedor were discussing it last week on WKNR and the conversation leaked onto Twitter where we discussed it there.  Here are the questions. How good is Peyton Hillis amongst all NFL running backs? Where does he rank in the AFC North between Rashard Mendenhall, Ray Rice and Cedric Benson? Where does he rank in the NFL? Does he fumble too much? Is he durable enough? Is he a one-year wonder? When there are no actual football issues to discuss, these are the issues that take up our time.  Here's my take.  It is a simple one.  Based on what I saw last year, Peyton Hillis is good enough. That's it.  Peyton Hillis isn't without his faults.  He runs in a manner that could easily lead to injury and fumbles, both of which he experienced last season.  He also runs with enough violence and purpose that he can take over games, pump up his team and score touchdowns.  He has the ability to get into space and catch the ball when asked to do so. Would I take Mendenhall or Rice or Arian Foster over Peyton Hillis?  Who cares?  Peyton Hillis is here. He was brought here for next to nothing.  He outperformed anybody that the Browns gave up by a long-shot.  He has out-performed pretty much every single offensive player since the Browns have been back in 1999. If you must go to the stats to determine where he ranks, do what you need to, but I'll skip it.  You just can't control for all those important variables.  Peyton Hillis ran behind the Browns line.  He didn't have a consistent QB handing him the ball all year long.  He played for a team that failed to develop another offensive weapon beyond Ben Watson in the passing game.  He played through injuries without any other running backs to spell him on the roster.  He played for a run-heavy team that looked to play more ball control offense.  Oh, and Brian Daboll. If you want to make the argument that Peyton Hillis is the 3rd or 4th best running back in the AFC North, be my guest.  I think it is senseless because all those guys were asked to do different kinds of things in different kinds of schemes with different kinds of teammates.  Who is to say if Peyton Hillis wouldn't be better than Ray Rice or Mendenhall if he played for those teams?  Who is to say that he isn't the worst out of them all? At the end of it all, Hillis doesn't need anyone to make excuses or arguments for him.  He performed quite impressively more times than not a season ago.  He earned the right to say he is #1 on the Browns depth chart going into this season.  He was good enough that running back wasn't a huge priority on draft day this season for Tom Heckert and Mike Holmgren, despite the drafting of Owen Marecic.  Hillis is very very far from being an embarrassment to the Browns no matter who plays the same position around the league. What we should really be concerned about is figuring out who could emerge as a 1a type of running back for the Browns to take some of the load off.

Original story:

http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/peyton_hillis_rank_in_the_nfl_doesnt_matter/5592802

Amish chair with Joe 'Turkey' Jones signature seeks bids at Berea's Recreation Center

BEREA -- Ready for some football? 

How about watching the games in an Amish oak rocking chair with former Cleveland Browns' player Joe "Turkey" Jones at your side?

Jones has placed his own personal rocking chair, which contains his signature on the left arm, up for auction.  All proceeds go toward SCAN Hunger Food Pantry, which services the six communities of Southwest Community Access Network.

Former Cleveland Browns' Joe "Turkey" Jones signature reminds football fans of the hit he gave Steelers' quarterback Terry Bradshaw. He suffered a concussion from the hit.

Jones, who calls Berea his "second" home, said he offers the chairs for charitable fundraising because that was the way he was raised.  This, however, was his own chair that he decided to leave at Berea City Hall when he underwent knee replacement recently in Cleveland.  He has since returned to his Texas home.

"I was raised understanding that helping others was the right thing to do," he said. "This is a way of giving back to the community and an organization (Cleveland Browns) that offered me so much in my life."

The Berea Recreation Center is accepting bids for about three weeks. A photograph of the chair and the bidding sheet is at the center's entrance counter. The center is located at 451 Front St., Berea.

The winner also will have the opportunity to meet Jones when he returns to the area in August.  Jones said he has an additional surprise for the winning bidder, which he will announce after the auction. 

Original story:

http://blog.cleveland.com/newssun/2011/07/amish_chair_with_joe_turkey.html

Is Colt McCoy Poised To Become Cleveland Icon?

As the Cleveland Browns are entering their first full season with Colt McCoy as the starting quarterback, buzz around the city of Cleveland is beginning to become very apparent.

McCoy has been labeled the quarterback of the future despite going on 2-6 in his first NFL season and playing less than stellar in the Browns’ final four games of the season. However, Colt was very impressive in his two victories against the New Orleans Saints and the New England Patriots.

Away from the football field, McCoy has become the leader that Mike Holmgren hoped he would be. McCoy has organized multiple team workouts during the off season and has been learning the compact version of the West Coast offense since the hiring of Pat Shurmur.

With all of the football activities aside, McCoy is becoming very popular in a city that needs an iconic face. McCoy and runningback Peyton Hillis seem to be everywhere around the city as football is beginning to come back into the minds of the fans. McCoy has the chance to become one of Cleveland’s legends if he can only find a way to be successful in the Browns’ new offense. That is easier said than done as plenty of QB’s have failed along the shores of Lake Erie over the last 12 seasons.

Cleveland needs to be patient with McCoy as he will likely struggle learning a new offense in a limited amount of time. However, the Browns are making the right decision by playing their quarterback of the future and working towards becoming a better football team.

Original story:

http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/is_colt_mccoy_poised_to_become_cleveland_icon/5575591

Book about Kardiac Kids may debut next month

A book by former Cleveland Browns kicker Don Cockroft, a Hills and Dales resident, about the 1980 Kardiac Kids team should be available in mid August.
Cockroft said the book — “The 1980 Kardiac Kids — Our Untold Story” — was going to press this week.
The book looks at the 1980 Cleveland Browns who earned the nickname Kardiac Kids with an 11-5 record that featured multiple last-second victories. The season ended with a playoff loss to the Oakland Raiders on a play known as Red Right 88. On the pass play, Raiders defensive back Mike Davis intercepted a Brian Sipe pass that sealed the loss for the Browns.
Cockroft has spent four years working on the book, which includes comments and stories about each player on the team. “I don’t think anyone has written a book as comprehensive,” he said.
More information about the book can be found at Cockroft’s website: thekardiackids.com

Article source:

http://www.cantonrep.com/browns/x920793360/Book-about-Kardiac-Kids-may-debut-next-month

Writer of Harrison Article Calls Colt McCoy an Idiot

The writer of the now-popular James Harrison article, Paul Solotaroff, is soaking in his 15 minutes of fame as much as he can. Solotaroff claims that Harrison's comments about the Steelers' players, such as Ben Roethlisberger, were not out of context, and that he has more material that went unused.

According to Pro Football Talk, in an interview with ESPN Radio, Solotaroff then briefly mentioned Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy (although he did not reference him by name):

Regarding what may have been the most violent of Harrison’s hits last season, the brutal blow to Browns receiver Mohamed Massaquoi, Solotaroff said that if you’re looking for someone to blame, blame Browns quarterback Colt McCoy.

“Massaquoi is coming across the middle and only an idiot kid quarterback is going to lead his receiver — lead his receiver! — into a zone knowing that James Harrison is lurking back there,” Solotaroff said.

Is this guy trying to be Harrison's new agent representative or something? It's almost like this is a heel manager in the WWE promoting how much of a beast his client is. The article mentions that Solotaroff is a big fan of Harrison's, and perhaps even a Steelers fan, so it's no surprise to see him throw a jab in at the Browns.

Article source:

http://www.dawgsbynature.com/2011/7/14/2276565/writer-of-harrison-article-calls-colt-mccoy-an-idiot

Josh Cribbs pleased by teammates' 'rapport' with new offense

AUSTIN, Texas -- Josh Cribbs has watched the Browns' new offense start to come together during the four players-only lockout camps.

"It was almost mandatory that we do this with the new West Coast offense," the receiver said before leaving the Travaasa Resort, where Camp Colt IV took place. "I feel like we've been able to develop a nice rapport between our receiving group and Colt McCoy."

Cribbs said the offense has already gone through the introductory phase that would've occurred during organized team activities and minicamps and they'll be well-prepared when camp opens.

"We won't have to start from scratch," he said. "We already have some of the terminology and timing down. We're heavily into the playbook and we think the coaches will be surprised."

Cribbs said it helped that most of the key players on offense have attended all or some of the camps.

"We've had all of the key receivers and tight ends here and Peyton Hillis has attended," he said. "Our new [rookie] fullback Owen Marecic attended this camp and the other rookies have been coming."

Cribbs praised rookies such as Jordan Cameron for attending most of the camps and receiver Greg Little for attending the last two.

"Just the fact that they're here shows a lot about their character," said Cribbs. "Jordan Cameron has a lot of athletic ability and we're all excited to see what he can do with the pads on. Greg Little adds great size to our receiving corps and we're going to be able to beat up the smaller defensive backs this season."

Cribbs said his weight ballooned to about 240 at the beginning of the lockout, but that he did two-a-days with Ben Watson and quickly shed 25 pounds. He's down to his playing weight of about 215-220.

Another camp? Cribbs and linebacker Scott Fujita said the Browns are prepared to hold another lockout camp if need be. Both said Kent State would be under consideration as a possible site. Kent has said it would roll out the red carpet for the players.

"Ideally we won't need to do another one," said Fujita. "But if it keeps dragging, I'm sure we'll discuss it."

Fujita, a member of the NFL Players Executive Council, said he cautioned the players to be patient but also to stay in top physical condition. He told them not to put too much stock in reports of when the lockout might end.

"No one really knows except for the people involved in the negotiations," he said.

Little catching on: Little, who looked good catching the ball during team drills, said he's quickly adjusting to the offense.

"It's been easy for me to pick it up having played in the West Coast throughout my college career," he said. "It's also been fun getting to know the other receivers. They're a lot of fun. It reminds me of the rapport I had with my college teammates."

Little said teammates have been ribbing him about the 93 parking tickets he received at North Carolina. "They have been paid," he said. "I guess there's been speculation about who paid them, but I definitely paid my own parking tickets."

Little said he's developed some chemistry with McCoy during the two camps he's attended.

"We definitely have a relationship outside of Austin," said Little. "He's showing his tremendous leadership ability here. You can just see how easy it is for him to command the respect of the team and lead people."

Brown on track: Cornerback Sheldon Brown is on schedule in his recovery from rotator cuff surgery in February. He was able to do all of the on-field drills (non-contact in shorts and T-shirt) and hopes to be back to 100 percent soon.

"I'm on track to be back on the football field when I'm supposed to be," he said. "I go my doctor Friday for another checkup and then I'll know more."

Brown has been impressed with what he's seen from McCoy.

"Colt's done a tremendous job, not just on the field, but in organizing this whole thing," said Brown. "He's very bright, wise beyond his years. I can see him being very successful in this league for a long time."

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2011/07/cleveland_browns_in_austin_tex.htmlArticle source:

Cleveland Browns defense a quick study on the 4-3 scheme, says linebacker Scott Fujita

AUSTIN, Texas -- New Browns defensive coordinator Dick Jauron will happy to know that getting a defensive playbook into the hands of linebacker Scott Fujita on the one day the lockout was lifted was well worth it.

"Based on what we did this weekend and what we have, we could play a game next week if we had to," said Fujita on Tuesday's conclusion of Camp Colt IV. "It's not an ideal situation, but it's basic enough where we can just go play."

Fujita has been to the Browns' new 4-3 defense what Colt McCoy has been to the new West Coast offense: a player-coach. On the one day this off-season that players were permitted to receive coaching materials, Fujita called a friend in Cleveland who went to the Browns facility in Berea to pick up an abbreviated version of the defensive playbook.

"I then came into town a couple of days later for a charity event and got my hands on it," he said. "It was important to get it because it's a whole new defense for us. Some guys on this team have played in the 3-4 their entire careers, so it's definitely a transition."

Over the past several months, Fujita -- a member of the NFL Players Executive Council -- has alternated between keeping players informed on the lockout and his defensive teammates apprised of the new 4-3 scheme.

"At times, it can be a burden to have the one and only playbook, but it was important for one of us to have it," he said. "We're all just trying to make the best of a crappy situation."

During this camp, the first one that included defensive players, Fujita was able to put some of the new scheme up on the chalkboard and on the field. He also enlisted the help of cornerback Sheldon Brown and linebacker Chris Gocong, who ran the same scheme in Philadelphia.

"It's one thing to talk to guys on the phone and tell them what to expect in the transition, but to actually get in and draw it up on the board for the first time and pass out some materials, it was invaluable," he said. "With me, Sheldon and Chris, we were able to put our heads together and say 'this is how it will play out.' At one point we were going through some of our coverages and someone had a question and Chris immediately jumped up on the board and said this is how you do it, this is a possible check."

Fujita said he sent a playbook to fellow linebacker D'Qwell Jackson just a few weeks ago, who dug right in.

"He came in and he already knows it from front to back, so it just makes it so much easier," said Fujita, who predicts Jackson will shine in the new front.

"I think a system like this is tailor-made for a guy with his skill set, his body type," said Fujita. "It lets guys just play fast. I'm talking about the hybrid Eagles/Chicago Bears defense. That's the kind of system I think [Jackson] was born to play in because his range sideline-to-sideline is so good.

"He doesn't have to two-gap and take on offensive guards who outweigh him by 120 pounds sometimes. He's going to have a chance to use his athleticism, run around, avoid blocks, shoot gaps, and make way more plays than he's ever made before -- and he's already a tackling machine."

Fujita, who passed out more playbook materials here, said McCoy appreciated having the defense on hand for the first time.

"For the offensive guys to go up against more than air and to actually be able to run some plays was great," said Fujita. "When camp finally starts, we'll be ready to go."

Article source:

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2011/07/cleveland_browns_defense_a_qui.html

Earnest Byner deserves a better reputation with the Cleveland Browns

RB Earnest Byner will always be remembered in Cleveland Browns’ history for what happened in Denver back on January 17, 1988.  That was the game with the moniker of “The Fumble” as he fumbled the ball late in the game deep in Broncos’ territory to lock up another Super Bowl appearance for the Broncos.  A closer look at the stats from that AFC Championship Game shows that Byner had a really good game before the fumble.  He carried the ball 15 times for 67 yards (4.5 ypc) with 1 TD run and he also caught 7 passes for 120 yards (17.1 avg) with 1 TD grab.  But in the end, the Browns lost 38-33 to the Broncos in Denver that day.

The Fumble

Owner Art Modell never seemed to forgive him for “The Fumble” as the Browns dealt Byner to the Redskins for fellow RB Mike Oliphant.  Oliphant played in 18 games in his two years with the Browns and he carried the ball 15 times for 97 yards (6.5 ypc) with 1 TD run.  He also caught 3 passes for 22 yards (7.3 avg) and he returned 5 kickoffs for 69 yards (13.8 avg) with the Browns.  Earnest Byner played five years for the Redskins before returning to the Browns as a free agent in 1994.  Byner made it to 2 Pro Bowls and he helped the Redskins win a Super Bowl in his five years in the nation’s capital.  Byner played in 80 games in his five years with the Redskins and he carried the ball 990 times for 3,950 yards (4.0 ypc) with 25 TD runs.  He also caught 185 passes for 1,577 yards (8.5 ypc) with 4 TD grabs with the Redskins.  This was one of the worst trades in Cleveland Browns’ history.

Earnest Byner came to the Cleveland Browns in 1984 as a 10th round draft pick.  In his second year with the Browns, Byner played in 16 games (13 starts) in which he carried the ball 244 times for 1,002 yards (4.1 ypc) with 8 TD runs.  He also caught 45 passes for 460 yards (10.2 avg) with 2 TD grabs in 1985.  Kevin Mack and Earnest Byner both rushed for over 1,000 yards in 1985 for the Browns!  Byner played in 99 games in his 7 years with the Browns and he carried the ball 862 times for 3,364 yards (3.9 ypc) with 27 TD runs.  He also caught 276 passes for 2,630 yards (9.5 avg) with 10 TD grabs for the Browns.  Byner finished up his career with the Browns #7 in team history in rushing yards with 3,364.  He also finished #7 in TD runs in Browns’ history with 27 of them.  Byner is tied for 13th in Browns’ history in receptions (276) with Dennis Northcutt and he is also #21 in receiving yards with 2,630 in team history.

Byner came back to the Browns in 1994 and 1995.  He had a great game against the Cincinnati Bengals in the last home game in Browns’ history at the old Cleveland Municipal Stadium.  The Browns won the game 26-10 as Byner carried the ball 31 times for 121 yards (3.9 ypc) and he also caught 7 passes for 36 yards (5.1 avg) in that game.  Byner then did a victory lap around the stadium before heading to the locker room. 

Earnest Byner was a good RB who always gave the Browns or any team he played with 100% every game.  So he made a big mistake in a big game……a lot of players in NFL history have done that.

Article Source:

http://www.brownslocker.com/2011/07/12/earnest-byner-deserves-a-better-reputation-with-the-cleveland-browns/

Defensive end Robaire Smith wants to re-sign with Cleveland

Austin, Texas -- Browns defensive end Robaire Smith, who will be an unrestricted free agent when the lockout ends, is participating fully in the full-squad lockout camp here after recovering in February from a bruised spine.

"[Browns linebacker] Scott [Fujita] reached out to me a couple of weeks ago and asked me to come down and be a part of it, which I thought was great," said Smith. "I told him most definitely I'd be there for him, especially coming from a guy like Scott. It meant a lot to me personally. There was no way I was going to turn this down, an opportunity to come here and work out with these guys."

Smith, heading into his 12th season, said he'd love to re-sign with the Browns if they're interested.

"It's something I'm shooting for and that I'd love to do," he said. "[General Manager] Tom Heckert said before the lockout that they'd be interested, but they were waiting to see my medical report. It came out right before the lockout, so there wasn't too much they could say then."

Smith said his neck and spine specialist, Dr. Robert Watkins, cleared him for full football activity in March and that he's been working out hard, even playing in a soccer league. Smith, 33, went on injured reserve in October with the back injury after playing in only five games.

When then-coach Eric Mangini said in a news conference that Smith would have some decisions to make about his future, there was speculation it could be the end of his career.

"It was amazing the way people made it out to be more than what it was," Smith said. "It kind of had me a little upset at first. My doctor never thought it was a big deal right from the start, and I went to three or four people, and they told me the same thing."

The time off, though, has been a gift.

"I feel better than I've ever felt, even coming off my Achilles injury [in 2009]," he said. "My body is just fully, fully recovered. I'm rested, and I feel like a new person. I didn't play those first couple of years in the league, so I have a lot left."

He said he would welcome a chance to play again in the 4-3, which he played for five seasons in Tennessee.

"I think I'm more of a defensive tackle, but I can also play end," he said. "The 4-3 is a little more hit the gaps. I like it."

He also likes coach Pat Shurmur, who was tight ends coach at Michigan State when Smith played there.

"He's a very good coach," said Smith, who drove 160 miles here from his home in Houston. "The players are going to like him."

Article source:

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2011/07/defensive_end_robaire_smith_wa.html

How Short is Colt McCoy’s Leash in 2011?

While Cleveland Browns management won’t necessarily come right out and say that quarterback Colt McCoy is the team’s starter in 2011, it would seem downright foolish if he isn’t when the season starts (whenever that may be).

It is obviously the hope of the team and fans everywhere that McCoy and the Browns get off to a strong start, but what if that’s not the case? What if the Browns struggle out of the gate and McCoy looks nothing more than a potential retread of the seemingly endless list of quarterbacks who have been deemed the answer at the position?

A scenario like that makes one wonder what kind of leash McCoy might be on during the 2011 season. Seneca Wallace is a capable back-up, and if McCoy completely bombs through, say, the halfway point of the season, it will put the team in a very difficult position for a number of reasons.

The obvious cause for concern would rest with what to do with McCoy the rest of the season if he fails early on a game-by-game basis. Given the Browns’ plans for rebuilding, it would seem likely that they would give the young quarterback a number of chances to try and prove himself, or to try to dig himself out of adversity with a weak receiving corps.

But there is something else that will be hanging over the heads of the Browns in 2011 and that’s the 2012 NFL Draft, specifically the #1 overall pick. At this point, it’s a foregone conclusion that Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, about as “can’t miss” a prospect as you will ever see, will be chosen first. If the Browns spiral down into oblivion, there will be an opportunity to draft Luck.

Does that mean the Browns give up on Colt McCoy after only one season? And what do you do if he plays relatively well and the opportunity to draft Luck is still there? The Browns are going to have to determine this season if McCoy is a quarterback that can lead them to a Super Bowl – it’s a decision that will affect the franchise for years to come.

The best the Browns can hope for is that McCoy performs on either extreme end of the scale – either well beyond expectations to solidify his stronghold on the position or drastically below expectations to make moving on that much easier. If McCoy is average – and it could be hard not to be in the current state of the offense – the Browns will have a wrenching decision to make.

They can’t keep chasing quarterback prospects forever. Sooner or later, the Browns will have to make a commitment to somebody. Whether it’s Colt McCoy or someone else is what remains to be seen.

Article source:

http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/how_short_is_colt_mccoys_leash_in_2011/5454808

Browns’ Hillis ready to rumble

CLEVELAND (AP)—Peyton Hillis has been dragging cars and all-terrain vehicles around the streets back home in Arkansas to stay in shape during the NFL lockout.
On Saturday, the Browns’ bulldozing back planned to pull a fire truck across a football field.
“Yeah, I’m going to give it a try,” Hillis said Friday night. “We’re going to have a good time doing it.”
Hillis is ready for some football
Before joining his Cleveland teammates in Texas for a weekend camp—dubbed “Camp Colt IV” for Browns quarterback Colt McCoy Hillis hosted his own camp Saturday for more than 300 area kids, some of whom will be on board the fire truck he will harness himself to and attempt to lug for a few yards. Based on what Hillis did last season for the Browns, the emergency vehicle doesn’t stand a chance.
Not only did he rush for 1,177 yards and 11 TDs in 2010, the handsome, soft-spoken Hillis became an overnight sports icon in a city left reeling by the departure of NBA superstar LeBron James, whose nationally televised “Decision” celebrated a one-year anniversary on Friday with zero fanfare. Hillis has helped fill the void left by James, now viewed as a villain in a town he once owned like no one before him.
Hillis is the new folk hero.
With overwhelming help from the Browns’ passionate fan base this offseason, Hillis was voted as the cover figure for Madden 12, the wildly popular video game. He beat out Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick in the final, a victory that was followed by an appearance on David Letterman and more publicity than the Conway, Ark., native could have ever imagined.
It’s been a whirlwind, but Hillis has been able to keep things in perspective. Nothing has gone to his head.
“It’s all pretty much been the same,” he said of the past few months. “It might change a little bit when I get back in Cleveland and settle down. But being in Arkansas, in the middle of nowhere, it hasn’t changed that much. That’s the way I like it, though. I’ve been very blessed. It’s surreal. I just have to keep doing what I’m doing.”
Hillis has done his best to stay clear of the NFL labor rhetoric, preferring to work out at home with his buddies, who have helped him with his regimen of pulling cars, trucks and ATVs around town.
“I feel like I’ve been doing what I need to be doing to make me better at the game,” he said of his unorthodox training methods.
On Friday night, Hillis charmed sponsors of the camp he will host at Cleveland’s St. Ignatius High School during a dinner at the Ritz-Carlton also attended by Browns safety T.J. Ward and running back Montario Hardesty, who missed last season with a knee injury but who, if healthy, could give Cleveland a 1-2 combination in the offensive backfield to rival any team.
Hillis gladly signed autographs and took photos with anyone who asked. He even obliged a request to do Arkansas’ famous war cry and belted out, “Woooooo. Pig! Sooie! Razorbacks.”
Asked what new Browns coach Pat Shurmur should do next season, Hillis had a quick response.
“Run the ball,” he said, smiling.
Hillis has stayed on top of the NFL labor talks, but hasn’t let them become distracting.
“I don’t put too much thought into it because it’s out of my control,” he said. “I’m preparing in my own head and my whole state of mind for the season— whenever that is. “
Hillis has attended two of the Browns’ workouts in Austin, Texas, where McCoy played college ball and makes his off-season home. Hillis said the get togethers, which will include defensive players for the first time this weekend, have been productive.
“They’ve been really good, especially for the young guys to get to meet the older guys and get in the groove of things,” he said.
Hillis, who wasn’t expected to be Cleveland’s primary ball carrier heading into last season, revealed he played the final three games with broken ribs, an injury he was determined not to slow him down.
“I just wanted to do everything I could for the city of Cleveland last year,” he said. “People around here have been so good to me. That’s the kind of guy I am.”
Article source:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-browns-hillis

Cleveland Browns QB Colt McCoy to host full-squad camp Sunday through Tuesday in Texas

Browns linebacker Scott Fujita is eager to get the defense together for the first time this off-season at "Camp Colt IV" Sunday through Tuesday in Austin, Texas.

The first three camps, which quarterback Colt McCoy also hosted, were offensive skills sessions. An estimated 40 players are planning to attend Camp Colt IV.

"Colt has done an outstanding job with his guys on offense and their workouts have been very successful," Fujita said over the phone. "We'll be following the same basic format with the addition of some of our guys on defense."

Fujita said he has heard from a number of rookies planning to participate, including first-round pick Phil Taylor, the nose tackle from

Baylor, and second-round pick Jabaal Sheard, the defensive end from Pittsburgh. Veteran players are helping some of the younger guys pay for some or all of their travel expenses to Texas.

"We're really looking forward to working with the young guys," Fujita said. "It will be a great opportunity to get them acclimated to us and the defense."

Fujita said it's important to get the defense together because of the new 4-3 scheme defensive coordinator Dick Jauron is installing.

"Fortunately, I was able to get some materials and I'll be able to get up on the chalkboard a little bit," Fujita said.

"All the guys I've talked to are really excited to get back to the X's and O's and getting ready for this season."

This is the third camp being held in Austin, where McCoy attended college and now lives. One was held at Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea.

"Austin was equal distance for everyone because we have guys coming from all over the country," Fujita said.

While Fujita will help introduce Jauron's defense, McCoy will continue instructing the offensive players on the new West Coast offense. McCoy recently said he knows the offense really well now and feels comfortable teaching it to the others. Quarterback Seneca Wallace, who played in a West Coast offense for seven seasons, also helped instruct players during the previous camp.

In addition to on-field drills, the players will watch films and lift weights. They will also have a team dinner and do other things together to build camaraderie.

Browns coach Pat Shurmur, who is not permitted any contact with players during the lockout, recently said he's thrilled the players are getting together to get a jump on the season.

Busy guy: McCoy is putting perhaps his final days of summer vacation to good use.

Before the Browns players-organized workouts beginning Sunday, he is hosting a boys and girls football game in Austin today and Saturday.

After the conclusion of Camp Colt IV in Austin, McCoy will return to Cleveland for his inaugural Cleveland-area youth camp at Strongsville High School. That camp, for boys and girls age 7-14, is July 16-17. Information is available at ColtMcCoyCamp.com online

By then, the NFL labor dispute may be resolved and Browns training camp could be just a few weeks away.

Article source:

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2011/07/cleveland_browns_qb_colt_mccoy_6.html

Cleveland Browns will have a combination of problems once NFL lockout ends

CLEVELAND, Ohio — No team has been hurt more by the NFL owners lockout than the Browns.

Of the eight teams that changed head coaches, seven of them also changed both coordinators. Among those teams, the Browns had the worst record in 2010 and, thus, have the longest road to respectability.

(Denver's 4-12 record was one game worse, but the Broncos retained their offensive coordinator and won't change their offense drastically.)

So when the lockout is lifted, the Browns have to act in hyper-speed to try to make up for lost time.

Pat Shurmur and his coaching staff are tasked with familiarizing themselves with their new players and implementing offensive and defensive systems that are new to those players.

In a normal off-season, these would have been nearly accomplished in the practices before the start of training camp. Now they have to be done on the fly, complicating Shurmur's first camp as an NFL head coach.

The No. 1 priority of every NFL coach in training camp is to get his team ready for the season. Shurmur will have to be part-Paul Brown, part-magician to reach that goal.

General Manager Tom Heckert's tasks are no less daunting. His roster is incomplete and he has been blocked by lockout rules from doing the normal spade work necessary to facilitate contract deals.

The lockout also held up the major issue of defining free agents as unrestricted or restricted. Reports now say a new collective bargaining agreement will return the free agency distinctions to previous levels.

That means players whose contracts are up qualify for unrestricted free agency after four seasons. Players with three are restricted, giving their old teams rights of first refusal.

A new CBA would void the restricted contract tenders given to cornerback Eric Wright and tight end Evan Moore. Those players would become unrestricted free agents. They could still re-sign with the Browns, but all it takes is one team to change their minds.

When the lockout is lifted and the NFL resumes business, action will be fast and furious. Heckert and the coaching staff have had time during the lockout to formulate decisions. They would have to implement them quickly.

Here is a list of things they should do.

1. Re-sign several of their own unrestricted free agents.

Browns players, besides Wright and Moore, who would qualify as unrestricted (four years or more) are: safety Abram Elam, defensive end Jayme Mitchell, linebacker Matt Roth, receiver Chansi Stuckey, fullback Lawrence Vickers, linebacker Jason Trusnik and offensive linemen Floyd Womack and Billy Yates.

Roth wants to stay in a 3-4 defense and likely will move on. Vickers, Elam, Stuckey and Trusnik appear to be out of the Browns' plans. That leaves Wright, Moore, Mitchell, Womack and Yates as priorities.

Heckert said Mitchell was the team's best pass rusher last year even though he didn't play. Signing him would ease the urgency at defensive end. Womack and Yates are valuable linemen because of their versatility to play two positions well, their experience and their proven track records.

2. Sign a defensive end in free agency.

Even if Mitchell is re-signed and joins rookie Jabaal Sheard at the position, another defensive end is mandatory. Yes, Marcus Benard will be tried as a full-time end. But an experienced, 4-3 starting end must be added -- perhaps Jason Babin, who has played for Mike Holmgren in Seattle and Heckert in Philadelphia among his five NFL stops.

3. Sign a free safety in free agency.

T.J. Ward could be a stalwart in the secondary for a long time, but he needs a ball-hawking, center fielder beside him to cover the deep middle. Ward can't play that role. With Elam expected to depart, the Browns either add one in free agency or make Mike Adams the starting free safety.

Another possibility is converting Sheldon Brown to safety, but that would require adding another quality cornerback. Rookie draft pick Eric Hagg would be a godsend if he could step into a starting role, but that is unrealistic.

4. Sign a veteran offensive line swingman in free agency.

This move would be urgent if Womack and Yates are not retained. A swingman, capable of playing guard and tackle, is more important than adding a starting right tackle, where Tony Pashos is expected to return after a major injury.

5. Locate a third-down, change-of-pace back.

This could be done in free agency, trade or undrafted free agency. The Browns showed their desire to fill this spot by hawking Shane Vereen and DeMarco Murray before the draft. They were unable to land either.

A full off-season might have illuminated Shurmur and his staff to the possibility of converting Josh Cribbs to the backfield -- which he would welcome -- but the lockout spoiled that.

6. Make a decision on Jake Delhomme.

The re-signing of Seneca Wallace to a three-year contract before the lockout surely signaled the exodus of Delhomme. Wallace will be a better quarterback in the West Coast offense, in which he played for seven seasons in Seattle. He opens camp as the top backup to Colt McCoy and the insurance starter if McCoy stumbles.

Delhomme should be released to allow him to rejoin Carolina as a much-needed veteran backup to Cam Newton. The Browns should replace Delhomme with a developmental prospect from the undrafted ranks.

7. Sort out the receiver position.

The good offenses have clearly-defined roles at the receiver position. McCoy needs to develop chemistry and timing with all his receivers, but certainly with his main three. Identify the top three among Mohamed Massaquoi, Brian Robiskie, Greg Little, Carlton Mitchell, Johnathan Haggarty, Jordan Norwood and Demetrius Williams and let them rip.

8. Be aggressive in signing undrafted free agents.

About 500 rookies not drafted are on the market, waiting to be signed to fill out camp rosters. The Browns should concentrate on the following positions when signing undrafted free agents -- cornerback, linebacker, defensive line, offensive line, running back and quarterback.

Article Source:

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2011/07/cleveland_browns_will_have_a_c.html

Josh Cribbs: Why New Kickoff Rules Won't Render Cribbs Irrelevant

There was nothing good about the new kickoff rule instituted this offseason in the NFL for the Browns or their fans, being that one of their best players, Josh Cribbs, is primarily a kick returner.

By Cribbs' own admission, the kickoff rule will negatively impact what he can contribute. But it's important to note that he conceded only that it would negatively impact what he can do on special teams, rather than what he can do for the team in general. Smart man. 

Surely some of that is self-preservation, but there's also plenty of truth in the idea that Cribbs can and will still be a major contributor to this team. It will just have to be at a different position.

Cribbs was dubbed one of the Top 100 NFL players this year in a peer vote. You don't earn that designation by doing just one thing well. There are no harsher critics than your own competition, and there is also no one who knows you better.

If these guys see Cribbs as one of the 100 best among them, then clearly Cribbs' competition considers him one of the best players in the league, not just one of the best at his position. 

It's tough for a kick returner to transition into a full-time role on offense or defense. Over and over again, we've seen players try to make that switch and it just didn't translate.

Even Chicago's Devin Hester, one of the most well-rounded football talents out there who began as a kick returner, has struggled a bit with the transition to wide receiver. 

For the doubters out there, just consider this: Cribbs has defied the odds before. Big time.

Cribbs, a QB at Kent State in college, went undrafted in 2005. When the Browns signed him initially, it almost seemed like a case of a team merely giving the local college guy a chance. 

That of course, would turn out to be a gigantic underestimation of Cribbs' skills. He quickly rose through the ranks to become one of the league's best kick returners. And it wasn't just pure skill that got him there.

Cribbs is widely known as one of the most humble, dedicated, and hard-working guys in the game. He wanted to succeed and he was willing to put the work in, and succeed he did.

So it stands to reason that if Cribbs can overcome limitations projected onto him once, he can probably do it again. 

So we can sit around crying about the kickoff rule, or we can just accept that we don't make the rules and find another position on the field for Cribbs where he can shine just as much. 

The problem is, for all Cribbs' talent and versatility, the Browns have yet to figure out how best to use him. This is a guy with the speed, athleticism, and determination to play a host of different positions, but which one will be best?

In many ways, that makes it as much a test of the Browns coaching staff as it is a test of Cribbs himself. 

Thus, the goal is to figure out where to put Cribbs in order to make sure he remains relevant and a big contributor to the team.

So far wide receiver and wildcat quarterback are the only ones the Browns have really tried him at for any significant number of plays. He's done a nice job as a wildcat quarterback, but that obviously isn't the answer, because it's such a limited and little-used role. 

Wide receiver, however, is obviously still on the table, as are running back and (surprise!) safety. So let's take a look at each of those three options in an attempt to determine which one will give the Browns the maximum return on Cribbs' skill set. 

1. Wide Receiver

This is, of course, the obvious choice. It's the position which most kick returners go to when the make the move away from special teams exclusively, and it's also the one where we've already seen Cribbs on a number of occasions. 

If we were grading Cribbs' performance at WR thus far, it would probably be "incomplete but with great promise."

Cribbs did well in his initial attempts but was then injured, so we never really got to see him involved in a significant number of plays at the position over the course of the season. 

Still, what we did see was good, and I think we can safely guess that Cribbs' probably won't dislocate four toes again. Obviously, injury will still be a concern, but that's true at any position. 

The best arguments for Cribbs as a receiver are that he can catch reasonably well, and is excellent at reading the field and evading tacklers. And of course, he definitely has the speed. 

2. Running Back

There are good arguments for using Cribbs as a running back as well. Again, he evades tacklers well.

He also has a good initial burst of speed, evident in his explosive takeoffs once he has the ball on kick and punt returns, which is important for a running back blasting out of the backfield. 

The problem with using Cribbs as a running back is less about any lack of skill for the position and more about whether he can take the beating.

Cribbs is a strong, durable guy, but he isn't exactly built like the freight train that is Peyton Hillis. Too many carries resulting in Cribbs' being battered by defenders trying to bring him down may land him on the IR. 

It leaves many of us feeling as though we'd love to see Cribbs as a third-down back, but not as a full-time RB. We love this guy. We don't want to see him turned into a pancake. 

3. Safety

Here's the dark horse in the contest for what position Cribbs might play. This isn't one that has been suggested or supported nearly as often as the other two.

The question is, is that because he doesn't belong there or just because it hasn't occurred to many folks? Probably a bit of both. 

In terms of technique and raw skill set, Cribbs probably has the chops to succeed as a safety. But is he built for it? Can we turn a player whose experience is nearly all on offense into a starting defender? Do we even want to? 

One thing is certain: The Browns could really use some help at safety. After T.J. Ward, there just isn't much on the depth chart. If Abe Elam returns and if rookie Eric Hagg steps up, Cribbs wouldn't be needed here and the Browns probably wouldn't even test it.

But if not, there could be an opening for Cribbs to step in and take over the second safety spot alongside Ward.

So then, which of these three spots is truly best for Cribbs, and will it keep him relevant to the Browns' success?

The odds are on Cribbs at wide receiver. It's the position with the highest payoff and the lowest amount of risk for the Browns.

We've seen him do well there before. It's a position where the Browns could use his help. And of the three positions, it's probably the one that's the most obvious match for Cribbs' skill set. 

There's also reason to believe that Cribbs would be a good running back, but that's a choice that isn't without risk, and that risk probably outweighs the possible payoff. I still like the idea of using Cribbs as a third-down back, but it should end there. 

The possible transition to safety is probably the least likely of the three to happen. The Browns' current brass isn't exactly the massive risk-taking type. This may be too far outside the box. And that may be with good reason.

As much as we praise innovation in sports, there's also something to be said for sticking with what you know works. This is the position where Cribbs' has the greatest chance of being a total flop. I'm not sure we want to set up one of our best players with such a great chance of failure.

So maybe the Browns already got it right last year when they started testing Cribbs out in the WR role. But the pressure is on now in a way that it wasn't in 2010.

Now it isn't a matter of wanting to see if Cribbs can do more than just return kicks, it's a matter of absolutely having to find something for Cribbs to do other than return kicks because that alone is no longer an option. 

Fortunately, there's one thing we can probably say with confidence: wherever he lands, Cribbs will make certain that he's a top contributor at that spot.

No matter where Cribbs winds up, we'll probably never hear him described as irrelevant because in any game, on any part of the team and at any position, Cribbs will never let that happen. 

Article source:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/758568-josh-cribbs-why-new-kickoff-rules-wont-render-cribbs-irrelevant