Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis unlikely to be franchised, but team will try to re-sign him

By Mary Kay Cabot, The Plain Dealer

BEREA, Ohio -- Browns running back Peyton Hillis, who had a tumultuous 2011 season, is unlikely to be franchised by the Browns.

But they'll still try to re-sign him before he hits the open market March 13 at 4 p.m.

Now that the Browns have signed linebacker D'Qwell Jackson to a five-year, $42.5 million deal, they can use the franchise tag on someone else. It's doubtful the Browns will use it at all, but if they do, they'd be more likely to use it on kicker Phil Dawson than Hillis.

The franchise salary for Dawson in 2011 will be about $3.8 million, and for Hillis, it would be about $7.7 million to $8 million.

Teams must franchise players by March 5. If the Browns don't use their tag, they can continue to negotiate with all their free agents before they hit the market on March 13.

The Browns are interested in re-signing Hillis after he finished the 2011 strong.  But the two sides were far apart when talks broke off midseason. 

The Browns will also try to re-sign Dawson, as well as many of their other free agents, including Marcus Benard, Mike Adams and Dimitri Patterson.

Dawson said at the end of last season that he wasn't sure he'd be back in Cleveland for a 14th season, but that he intended to continue playing.

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2012/02/cleveland_browns_running_back_22.html

Cleveland Browns: Peyton Hillis, Trent Richardson and Options at Running Back

By Mike Hoag Jr. (Correspondent) on February 25, 2012

The Cleveland Browns front office is split between re-signing Peyton Hillis and drafting Trent Richardson, according to CBS Sports NFL Insider Mike Freeman.

Questions that immediately springs to mind are who are Freeman’s sources and what are their motivations? 

Let’s take a look at the Browns running back position, without secret sources and speculation.

First, the ongoing Hillis saga is something worth considering when delving into uncertainty of the future of the Cleveland Browns backfield. After a breakout 2010 season, Hillis spent most of 2011 on the injury report. His season was shrouded in one controversy after another.

An alleged holdout and a lingering hamstring injury plagued the fourth-year player out of Arkansas.

Unfortunately for Hillis, 2011 was the end of his current contract. Showing the Browns and the league he was not a “one-hit wonder” should have been paramount to him.

Hillis, though, was victim of a media imposed “Madden Curse.” That “curse” is a phenomenon you should take with a grain of salt. The speculation, rumors and drawn-out media frenzy surrounding Hillis’s contract situation exacerbated what should have been written off as just another football injury.

With all of those things in mind, forget them. Peyton Hillis has been one of the bright spots in an otherwise bleak string of losing football seasons in Cleveland. Forget what you’ve been fed from a majority of the media and look at some of the tangible factors heading into the 2012 season.

A very pertinent realization you must come to is the simple fact that the Browns employ the West Coast Offense. Now, what, if any, questions are there about Hillis and his compatibility within that scheme?

If you have any doubts about Hillis fitting, you should promptly leave them at the door.

Hillis’s rare size, strength and ability to extend plays are exactly what are needed from a running back in the Browns’ version of the WCO. Single-back formations require a back with the ability to block, catch and make plays to sustain drives.

Hillis, Hillis and Hillis.

As I said before, any perceived notions that Hillis is not a fit for Shurmur’s offense should be dropped immediately.

On another hand, the Cleveland Browns have a multitude of other needs that are higher up in the echelon of the Mike Holmgren style of football. Defensive end, cornerback and offensive tackle are all glaring holes on the Browns roster.

General Manager Tom Heckert has expressed his interest in those positions with the Browns' top picks. He cited the difficulty in finding elite players at those positions and the need to find them early on as opposed to running back, wide receiver and even quarterback.

Haven’t the Browns already agreed to a contract with Hillis?

As of right now, there are no official reports confirming any form of contract has been signed between the two parties. However, rumors are circulating that an agreement has been reached but the details are still being hammered out.

What if the Hillis signing rumors and common sense both fail? Does losing Hillis guarantee Trent Richardson will be the Browns' pick with the No. 4 overall selection?

Are there any options other than both Hillis and Richardson?

The mid-rounds of the upcoming NFL draft include several intriguing options for the Browns. Oregon running back LaMichael James is a projected third-round selection and could be a very effective complement to the power running style of Hillis and other current backs on the Browns roster.

Another high-impact running back that could be obtained towards the end of the first round and beginning of the second round is Miami University standout Lamar Miller. Miller's elusive ability and speed would also complement Hillis and add a dynamic feature to the Browns' offense.

If they choose to upgrade the position, free agency is also another viable avenue for the Browns.  There is a vast sea of available rushers in this year’s free-agency pool. If the Browns are so inclined, they could definitely make a play for Matt Forte, Michael Bush, Ryan Grant, Marshawn Lynch or Cedric Benson. In my opinion, any of those, and perhaps some other free agents available, would be able to come into Cleveland and make an impact in the rushing game.

Again, that is only if the Browns front office sees a need to make a move at the position.

Existing players within the Browns organization may be capable of performing with an improved offense around them. Second-year running back Armond Smith, a practice squad player in 2011, could be ready to emerge as the shifty, change-of-pace back that the Browns have been looking for.

Montario Hardesty has not shown he has the ability to be an every down player in the NFL. His shaky hands and low yards per attempt in 2011 were very disheartening to those expecting explosiveness out of the former second round pick. If Hardesty can improve on fundamentals and fully rehabilitate his injured knees, there may be a continued role for him in the Browns backfield.

Chris Oggbonaya was signed from the Houston Texans practice squad (he played behind Ben Tate, Arian Foster and Derrick Ward on the Houston Texans depth chart). He came into a decimated backfield and performed consistently in relief of the injured Hillis and Montario Hardesty.

There is also former Green Bay Packers running back Brandon Jackson. Jackson, if you remember, was signed during the 2011 offseason and suffered a season-ending injury in preseason. He showed the necessary skills it takes to be effective in the West Coast Offense during his tenure in a similar system in Green Bay. His rush vision, blocking and catching are all ideal of the skill-set of a WCO running back.

The Browns' running game has been in various stages of disrepair since the expansion Browns took the field in 1999. The implementation of the WCO, Tom Heckert’s stated draft preferences, rumors of Hillis and the Browns coming to an agreement and the Browns’ ability to acquire a talented player such as James later in the draft suggest Richardson will not be the No. 4 overall pick in April's NFL draft.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1068560-cleveland-browns-peyton-hillis-trent-richardson-and-options-at-running-back

Report: Browns will make a move for Matt Flynn

Despite the fact that the Browns are looking into the possibly of trading up in this years draft for Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III, they’re also interested in Packers back up quarterback Matt Flynn, according to Steve Doerschuk of the Canton Republic.

The Browns will have a budget in place that they’ll stick to when it comes to going after Flynn.

No matter what happens this offseason, it looks like the Browns are determined to replace Colt McCoy as their starter.

http://profootballzone.com/nfl/report-browns-will-make-a-move-for-matt-flynn/

Cleveland Browns coach Pat Shurmur says it's premature to say team will opt for RG3 over Colt McCoy

By Mary Kay Cabot, The Plain Dealer

BEREA, Ohio -- On the eve of the NFL Combine, Browns coach Pat Shurmur said draft experts are jumping the gun in assuming the Browns will trade up to pick Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III and cast aside Colt McCoy.

"I think what happens is, there's a lot that gets said and written at this time and it's very interesting to everyone," said Shurmur at the Browns' training facility. "Folks are making predictions while we're still gathering information. That's the important part. That's the exciting thing about the combine."

Shurmur acknowledged that the chance to spend time with RG3 is one of the things he's most anticipating in Indianapolis, where more than 300 college prospects will be evaluated by all 32 NFL teams. Teams can conduct private interviews with up to 60 players.

"First of all, I've never met [Griffin]," said Shurmur. "That's why this combine is going to be so important for me. He's obviously very accomplished as a college quarterback and as we go through it all, we'll determine whether he's what everybody says he is."

If RG3 is all that, the Browns might have to trade up to No. 2 with the Rams to get him. If they determine he's not their guy, they might try to draft Texas A&M's Ryan Tannehill later in the round.

But for now, they're convinced that McCoy will be better in 2012 and that he can win for them. Last season, he finished 27th in the NFL with a 74.6 rating.

"I'm expecting that he will be [dramatically better], absolutely," said Shurmur. "And the thing that's encouraging to me is that he's a guy you know is going to work at it."

Shurmur, who spent seven seasons as a quarterbacks coach in Philadelphia, thinks the ceiling is high for McCoy once he's well-versed in the West Coast system.

"Heck, I think he can be very good," said Shurmur. "If he plays at a high level like I think he can, when he makes these improvements, that means he can help us win football games and I think that's what you're looking for at the end of the day -- put the ball in the end zone and win games."

The key for McCoy is he'll have his first off-season to work with the coaching staff, including new offensive coordinator Brad Childress.

"I think it will make a big difference in my mind for me in his [second year] with me being here," Shurmur said. "I'm expecting him to attack this off-season and get as good as he can get within our system. He'll do that. He really works at things and I think that's going to help him."

He said McCoy is fully recovered from his concussion and has been taking some time off to hunt and fish.

"He's going through the off-season basically healthy, getting his body and mind right," said Shurmur, who added that the things McCoy needs to improve on are quantifiable.

"Whether it's footwork, a better feel for the progressions, a better feel for the targets he's throwing to -- all of that gets refined when you have an off-season," he said. "A lot of things I saw that he needs to improve on can be done by just working on it, everything from decision-making to the timing of his throws, accuracy to general footwork and fundamentals. He'll have now an off-season where if we ran a play 20 times during the year, he can look at a cutup of that play with the pace slowed down and really critique himself."

Shurmur disagrees with analysts who say McCoy doesn't have the arm strength to throw the deeper passes.

"I think he can throw the deep ball," said Shurmur. "Most quarterbacks have to throw the deep ball in rhythm and that comes down to fundamentals. I've seen him throw some very good deep balls. I don't think that's an issue."

Although Eagles coach Andy Reid, Shurmur's mentor, said Shurmur and Childress both understand that it takes four years to fully develop a quarterback, Shurmur said they "want to speed up the process. As long as the players are here, we're not giving up on them. We believe that the guys we have are going to help us win games and we're going to develop them."

Shurmur indicated the Browns would be willing to adapt their West Coast offense if they draft RG3, who has a big arm and world-class speed to take off and run with the ball. He's been in a spread offense throwing out of the shotgun, but will have to learn to operate under center.

"I think what happens is the offenses tweak a little bit," he said. "Pro offenses are somewhat multiple. You're under center, you're in the gun, you're in empty, you motion to empty, you play with three tight ends. We all have that as part of our package. What you try to do, though, is get the very best players you can and then within your system and how you teach you do a little bit more of this and less of that. I think that's what you try to do, then you maximize their strengths."

The Browns will know a lot more by the end of the week just how much they might have to tweak their scheme.

Shurmur addressed a number of other topics during his interview. Afterward, offensive coordinator Brad Childress also addressed the media:

• Shurmur said he'll call the plays, but collaborate with Childress, who will be upstairs.

• He said the Browns are willing to use the franchise tag one of several players. A source told The Plain Dealer they'll franchise D'Qwell Jackson if they can't sign him to a multi-year deal. "He's a guy we want back,'' said Shurmur. If they do sign him, they have the option of using the tag on another player, such as kicker Phil Dawson or running back Peyton Hillis. Deadline for franchising a player is March 5.

• Shurmur sounded very positive about Hillis. "I really liked what I saw when he was in there playing healthy.''

• He was noncommittal about a role in 2012 for guard Eric Steinbach, who's recovering from back surgery and is due $6 million in 2012. He said Steinbach is working out, but didn't know his specific timetable. He said he still sees Jason Pinkston as a guard even if Steinbach is ready for full-time duty.

• Shurmur spoke highly of cornerback Dimitri Patterson and safety Mike Adams, which indicates the team is trying to re-sign both. He said Patterson can be a starter, not just a nickelback.

• Shurmur sounded as though the Browns are leaning toward signing a veteran wide receiver in free agency. "It's important if you add leadership'' in every one of your position groups, he said. The key, he said, is that the veteran can still play.

• Childress said he "saw some great finishes by'' RG3 last year. He acknowledged that teams should play to a player's strengths.

• Childress said the fact that Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill played 30 games at wide receiver "speaks to his athleticism'' and hand-eye coordination. He said Tannehill would be more well-versed in the West Coast offense from working under Aggies coach Mike Sherman.

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2012/02/cleveland_browns_coach_pat_shu_15.html

NFL Free Agency: The Browns and the cost of franchising

February 20, 2012 By Craig Lyndall

Last year the Browns tagged kicker Phil Dawson a year ago with their franchise tag and paid the veteran kicker $3.25 million.  While Dawson may have wanted a longer term deal from the team, a 36-year-old kicker can’t really ask for much better time to be tagged and guaranteed a bigger lump sum, albeit for a single year.  This year, it will be interesting to see if the Browns choose to use the tag and if so, on whom.

The period for franchising players starts today and runs through March 5th.  This is the first year that the new rules from the latest collective bargaining agreement are in place as well.  They are the product of a very complicated formula, but ultimately it reduces the cost somewhat.

Quarterback: $14.4 million (down from $16.1 million in 2011, $16.4 million in 2010)
Running back: $7.7 million (down from $9.6 million in 2011, $8.2 million in 2010)
Wide receiver: $9.4 million (down from 11.4 million in 2011, $9.5 million in 2010)
Tight end: $5.4 million (down from $7.3 million in 2011, $5.9 million in 2010)
Offensive line: $9.4 million (down from $10.1 million in 2011, $10.7 million in 2010)
Defensive end: $10.6 million (down from $13 million in 2011, $12.4 million in 2010)
Defensive tackle: $7.9 million (down from $12.5 million in 2011; it was $7 million in 2010)
Linebacker: $8.8 million (down from $10.1 million in 2011, $9.7 million in 2010)
Cornerback: $10.6 million (down from $13.5 million in 2011; tag was $9.6 million in 2010)
Safety: $6.2 million (down from $8.8 million in 2011, $6.5 million in 2010)

Obviously the easy target for the Browns is a guy they’ve stated all along they want to keep in a Browns uniform with D’Qwell Jackson.  Jackson made a strong bid for comeback player of the year and if the Browns are unable to get him on a long-term deal it would cost them $8.8 million to keep him for one season on the franchise tag.  Jackson was a rock for the Browns and was second in the NFL in tackles with 158.  That doesn’t begin to say that Jackson is worth $8.8 million, necessarily.

As much as we all like Jackson and his effort, we also know the illusion of gaudy tackle numbers.  It isn’t a negative stat, but it also isn’t necessarily as positive as everyone thinks it is.  Andra Davis made tons of tackles for the Browns too, but let’s just say they weren’t behind the line of scrimmage all that frequently.

Also, as you know, the Browns can only tag one player.  So tagging D’Qwell Jackson is an opportunity cost of tagging someone else.  There really is only one other potential target for the tag outside of D’Qwell Jackson and that is Peyton Hillis.

It seems unlikely that the Browns would use the tag on Hillis as they’ve seemed lukewarm on his return for quite some time.  Still, a lot can change as a team starts to plan their off-season.  And consider that the Baltimore Ravens face an off-season where Ray Rice wants Adrian Peterson type cash in the neighborhood of 7-years and $100 million with $36 million guaranteed.

A franchise tag gives a team some leverage to get a guy signed up for a longer term deal.  It was reported that the Browns scoffed at the prospect of giving Hillis a guaranteed $10 million in earlier contract talks.  You’d have to assume if they franchised him for $7.7 million that they’d be looking to put him on a longer term deal with more than that $7.7 million guaranteed.  So, again, I don’t see it as being all that likely, but I think it should be something the Browns consider.

But they can’t consider it if they don’t get D’Qwell Jackson signed to a long-term deal first.  If they’re forced to use the tag on someone like Jackson, who I think is a higher priority than Hillis, then they won’t even have the option with Hillis, let alone anyone else.

And we haven’t even gotten into unrestricted free agent corner/safety Mike Adams.

http://www.waitingfornextyear.com/2012/02/nfl-free-agency-the-browns-and-the-cost-of-franchising/

Little Bird Chirping About Peyton Hillis Has Verbal Agreement with Cleveland Browns

Found 20 hours ago on Cleveland Sports 360

Peyton Hillis and Cleveland Browns reach Verbal agreement? The weather in Cleveland this winter in Cleveland has been exceptional so far, so good that the little birds are already starting to chirp. One of those little birds is chirping Peyton Hillis and the Cleveland Browns have a verbal agreement in place which has Hillis returning to the Cleveland Browns this coming season. The same little bird also informs me a major announcement is forthcoming from the Hillis camp and the Cleveland Browns.

Lets hope this winter weather hasn’t affected this  little birds brain and the information is correct. There have been reports of the Browns reaching out to Hillis the past few weeks. As to whether they were able to get a deal done other than this little bird there have been no reports officially yet. The fans in Cleveland would like nothing better than the return of their hand picked Madden poster boy. Lets hope the Browns didn’t place the farm on Peyton Hillis if the little bird report is true.

If I were on the Browns negotiating staff, I would have had a one year incentive based deal for Hillis that would give Hillis the chance to prove himself in this upcoming season. We shall soon hear and see if the little bird has his information right.

http://clevelandsports360.com/wordpress/little-bird-chirping-about-peyton-hillis-has-verbal-agreement-with-cleveland-browns/

Cleveland Browns will franchise LB D'Qwell Jackson if they can't sign him to multi-year deal, source says

By Mary Kay Cabot, The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND --  The Browns will franchise linebacker D'Qwell Jackson if they can't sign him to a multi-year deal, a league source told the Plain Dealer Friday.

The 2012 franchise salary for linebackers is expected to be about $8.8 million, and teams can designate franchise players Monday through March 5. The free agent signing period begins March 13 at 4 p.m.

"We're looking for a long-term deal and that's what both parties would like to accomplish before free agency starts," said Jackson's agent, Brian Mackler.

Fresh off a sensational comeback season, Jackson is seeking a five-year deal that would keep him in Cleveland for the remainder of his career, a source said.

"Both sides are working very hard to get something done," said Mackler, who characterized the talks as going "OK."

A team can use the franchise tag on only one player. If the Browns are able to reach a deal on a long-term contract with Jackson by March 5, they can use the franchise tag on another player, such as kicker Phil Dawson, who's also set to become a free agent. Dawson was given the franchise tag last season and earned $3.175 million. If he's franchised again, he'd earn a 20 percent raise over his 2011 salary, or about $3.8 million.

Jackson tore pectoral muscles in 2009 and 2010 and missed 26 games. He signed an incentive-laden one-year deal before the 2010 season worth up to $4.6 million. He responded with a Pro Bowl-caliber season in defensive coordinator Dick Jauron's new 4-3 scheme, leading the team with 158 tackles and tying for fourth with a career-high 3.5 sacks.

He also finished first in the NFL with 116 solo tackles and second only to Washington's London Fletcher (166) in combined tackles. The performance enabled Jackson to hit all of his incentives and earn the full $4.6 million. Toward the end of the season, he re-iterated what he's been saying for years: that he wants to finish his career as a Cleveland Brown.

"Do I want to be back? This is where I started," Jackson said. "That's not even an afterthought to me. Yes, I want to be with the Browns, no question about it. I'm here in this locker room and I like the guys I'm playing with right now. That's all that matters."

Jackson said then he feels a sense of loyalty to the Browns for bringing him back after his two injury-shortened seasons.

"They indicated they wanted me back when they gave me an opportunity to come back after an injury; that was enough for me," Jackson said. "That told me that they wanted me back. I was out for 26 games and they could've easily gone in a different direction, but they didn't. I owe it to them in a sense."

Jackson was named AFC Defensive Player of the Month in September and was a first alternate to the Pro Bowl behind Baltimore's Ray Lewis and Kansas City's Derrick Johnson. He also earned the club's Ed Block Courage award by a vote of his teammates and finished second to Detroit's Matt Stafford for NFL Comeback Player of the Year.

"I've gained a strong appreciation for what he is as a player, as a man, as a professional," coach Pat Shurmur said during the season. "He's the full package, in my opinion. His production's been great. What he means to the team behind the scenes is outstanding. He could be the recipient of a lot of awards in my mind. I think the world of him."

Shurmur also said during the year that he "absolutely" wanted Jackson wrapped for multiple years. "Tremendous player. We'd love to have him here," Shurmur said.

In December, Browns General Manager Tom Heckert said of Jackson, "You can pretty much say he's going to be here."

If Jackson receives the "non-exclusive" franchise tag, a team would have to give the Browns two first-round picks to sign him.

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2012/02/cleveland_browns_will_franchis.html

NFL Network's Mike Mayock thinks the Browns should jump at chance to trade up and take RG3 at No. 2

By Mary Kay Cabot, The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- NFL Network draft expert Mike Mayock said Wednesday he "loves everything about'' Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III and that the Browns should do everything they can to land him in the draft, including trading up.

"As much as I like Colt McCoy, I still think they have to look to upgrade that position and I think they have to do whatever it takes to get there,'' said Mayock of grabbing Griffin. "If it's me, yeah, I'm looking at that real hard. I want to go get RG3.''

Mayock said he'd consider a free agent such as Green Bay's Matt Flynn, too, but that he'd focus on moving up to No. 2 and giving the Rams the Browns' No. 4 and No. 22 overall picks to take Griffin.

"If you're talking purely draft, I'm looking to move up to No. 2 as opposed to No. 3, because if I move to three what if the Redskins come up to two? Obviously I'd like to give less -- I'd rather not give up No. 22 also -- but I think that's shortsighted when you're talking about trying to secure your future at the most important position in all of sports.''

Mayock stressed that if the Browns draft Griffin, they'll need to adapt their offense to suit his strong arm and world-class speed instead of molding him to their West Coast offense.

"I thought the coaches around the NFL last year did a better job than with rookie quarterbacks than they’ve ever done,'' said Mayock. "They adapted some of their offense to suit what the rookie quarterback does best. Look at Cam Newton. Look at (Andy) Dalton. Look at (Christian) Ponder. They gave those kids chances to make plays in comfortable situations.

“If Cleveland moves up to get this kid, they have to make this kid comfortable. He’s too explosive and too much of a playmaker to have him just sit there and read the triangle the West Coast offense is. In other words, (new offensive coordinator) Brad Childress and that group of coaches in Cleveland is going to have to change some things to make this kid the playmaker he is.''

Mayock described Griffin as "one of the most gifted kids in the last several years in this draft.

"Is there some downside to Robert Griffin? Yes, there is. However, you probably have the opportunity to move up and get him if you want him, and to me that's a pretty exciting proposition to build your young franchise around maybe the most exciting player in this year's draft.''

He said Flynn would provide "a more conventional NFL-style attack, versus with Griffin, grab a hold of the seat of your pants and we're going for a ride. It might be really special, and on the other hand, it might not. I think it's intriguing.''

 

RG3

Mayock said that although he loves "everything about the kid,'' he does have one question, and that's where the shred of doubt comes in. "He doesn't throw with anticipation, mostly because he doesn't have to,'' said Mayock. "In that offense, there's minimal footwork and they spread it out so wide. He's got some talented, gifted receivers, and he's got great touch and accuracy in medium and deep (throws). He's got arm strength, he's got athletic ability, he takes hits, but he doesn't anticipate throws.

"He waits until they develop and then throws them. My only question is, will he develop it? You won't find it at the combine. Where I think you'll find it is when teams meet with this kid and they sit down and put the tape on and they break it down with him and talk football and ask him what he sees or doesn't see.''

Despite that, Mayock thinks the Heisman Trophy winner is well worth the two No. 1s.

"I think it will be a hell of a ride,'' he said. "The more tape I put on of this kid, the more fun I have watching him. I was pleasantly surprised by his pocket awareness, his eyes down the field, and his physical toughness is outstanding. He takes a lot of hits and it doesn't bother him. All of those things mean a lot to me. And again, the one "however'' piece of it is just that he's going to have to learn to anticipate and get the ball out of his hands more quickly so he doesn't continue to take those kind of hits.''

Mayock said Griffin brings the one element the Browns really need.

"The bottom line for me is that he's a playmaker,'' said Mayock. "Bottom line, he's a playmaker and that's what this league's all about, especially at that position.''

Mayock said the comparisons between Griffin and 2011 rookie sensation Cam Newton make no sense.

"I think RG3 is a more natural thrower of the football, even though Cam was also,'' said Mayock. "I think RG3 looks down the field and throws more routes, and I don't think we had any of the off-the-field issues that we had with Cam. From my perspective, you're looking at a clean kid and now you're just trying to evaluate the football piece of it. To me it's a completely different animal.''

He said Griffin's height -- he's listed as 6-2 but some might think he'll be closer to 6-1 at the combine -- won't be an issue.

"This kid I think is such a great athlete that he can find lanes differently and still keep his eyes down the field and still make plays,'' said Mayock. "He's not just a runner. I think people are getting hung up on that. I think he's a gifted thrower also.''

He said the Browns would have to be looking at Oklahoma State receiver Justin Blackmon and Alabama running back Trent Richardson if they don't draft Griffin.

"Blackmon and Richardson are two very logical people if you stay there at four,'' he said.

”The last (running back) you banged the table this hard for was Adrian Peterson when he came out of Oklahoma,'' said Mayock. "I think his height, weight speed toughness all adds up to a pretty solid pick. I would surmise absolutely (he's a good pick for the Browns).''

Villa meets Browns: The Browns confirmed that the manager of Randy Lerner's Aston Villa soccer team was here for a few days this week visiting with coach Pat Shurmur and other members of the organization.

Manager Alex McLeish was here to pick up coaching tips from Shurmur in the midst of his team on the verge of relegation from the English Premier League, according to the Associated Press.

Villa chief executive Paul Faulkner told the AP that MeLeish "is always looking for any advantage he can get and he felt this was an ideal opportunity to exchange ideas with his American counterparts at the Browns.”

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2012/02/nfl_networks_mike_mayock_think.html

2012 NFL Draft: Trading Up With Fourth Overall Pick Not an Option for Cleveland Browns

Feb 16th by Steve DiMatteo

A great deal of mock drafts for the 2012 NFL Draft have the Cleveland Browns trading up from the fourth overall pick to secure the right to select quarterback Robert Griffin III.

But it’s not just the mock drafts that have people talking. Scouts and draft analysts alike have been speculating about the possibility of the Browns trading up for Griffin III, citing the team’s supposedly glaring need for a quarterback.

Regardless of what you think about Colt McCoy, trading up for, say, the second overall pick simply isn’t in the cards for the Browns.

Think of it this way: teams know when others are desperate for a certain player, so they hold those interested teams over a barrel until they get a deal that works in their favor. And that means extra draft picks.

It’s impossible to tell what the Browns would have to give up to move into the second overall pick, but you’d have to assume that their second pick in the first round (No. 22 overall), any of their picks in the second to fourth rounds, and some potential 2013 draft picks might be involved.

For the Cleveland Browns, that’ s simply something they can’t swing. For a roster that is depleted and in desperate need of playmakers on both sides of the ball, the Browns need as many draft picks as they can get. If anything, fans shouldn’t be surprised to see the Browns trade down once again.

More important, though, is the implication of what could happen to this franchise should it trade up to draft Robert Griffin III and it doesn’t work out. Obviously, the NFL Draft is a risk for every team, but it’s a particularly precarious situation for the Browns, who can’t afford to not only trade up, but certainly can’t afford to pick a “franchise quarterback” who only amounts to being a bust.

For the Browns, there are many healthy options for them at No. 4, and Griffin III could even be one of them. However, if another team trades up to select him before that point, so be it. The Browns can then choose to stockpile talent around Colt McCoy.

It may not be the sexiest way to conduct this draft, but it sure is the smartest.

http://dawgpounddaily.com/2012/02/16/2012-nfl-draft-trading-up-with-fourth-overall-pick-not-an-option-for-cleveland-browns/

2012 NFL Draft: Cleveland Browns Would Make Mistake Drafting Robert Griffin III

It seems that Robert Griffin III, barring some serious skeletons in the closet, is a lock to go the Cleveland Browns at No. 4 in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Both experts on CBS Sports have RG3 going there, as does Rotoworld. ESPN Scouts Inc. has Griffin III as the fourth-best player in the draft as well.

Almost since the team's return to the NFL in 1999, it has yet to find a real franchise quarterback. Beginning with Tim Couch in '99, then following with names like Jeff Garcia, Brady Quinn, Derek Anderson and Colt McCoy, the Browns have never maintained consistency at the position.

So drafting Griffin III would have to make the most sense, right? Not quite.

There is no doubting the team has issues at the position. Seneca Wallace is not a long-term option, and the initial long-term option, McCoy, is surrounded by question marks.

But it would be premature to completely rule out McCoy could be a dependable quarterback in the future.

For all the talk among football fans that a great quarterback is necessary to win a Super Bowl, one must only look at the fact that Trent Dilfer and Brad Johnson have won as many titles as Peyton Manning and Steve Young.

Although McCoy's arm strength has always been a huge question mark, Chad Pennington showed that you don't have to have a bullet arm to be a solid quarterback.

In order to win a Super Bowl, the team must be built solidly at every position on the field. The Browns had the 24th-ranked passing attack, 28th-ranked rushing offense and 30th-ranked rushing defense in the NFL last year.

Robert Griffin III is not going to improve all of those areas. Any comparison between RG3 and Donovan McNabb could become more apt because like McNabb, Griffin III would not be able to single-handedly lead his team to the promised land.

The Browns would be smart to trade the No. 4 pick for multiple picks later in the draft. As the Cincinnati Bengals showed last year by drafting Andy Dalton, there is value in quarterbacks selected in the second round.

If Cleveland did trade the pick, they could look to Ryan Tannehill or Brandon Weeden as an option later in the first round or second round.

Also, with Peyton Hillis' issues last year, you have to wonder if he burned too many bridges in Cleveland. However, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that the Browns would like to have him back.

Should the team trade the No. 4 pick, it could select Trent Richardson as either a replacement for Hillis right now or to complement him with the idea of supplanting Hillis in the future.

There are multiple options the Browns could pursue in the 2012 draft, but drafting Robert Griffin III should not be one of them.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1064176-cleveland-browns-would-make-a-mistake-by-drafting-robert-griffin-iii

The Cleveland Browns Need A Wide Receiver & Braylon Edwards Is Available Thoughts?

Posted by LG on February 12, 2012 at 1:53 pm.

One thing the Cleveland Browns could use is a wide receiver that has some play making ability. Braylon Edwards who was released by the San Fransisco 49ers could fit into that category.  Braylon has played for the Browns before, he was let go and he went to the New York Jets. Braylon Edwards made some great catches while he was in New York and then Edwards ended up in San Fransisco. The 49ers released Edwards after he couldn’t rehab his knee quick enough for the team.

Edwards vowed to work hard throughout the off season and be ready come training camps. Which training camp Edwards attends remains to be seen. I think the Cleveland Browns should consider taking a look at Edwards.  Really, why not? What do the Browns have to lose looking at Edwards? Braylon could come into Cleveland on a contract filled with incentives. For instance if the quarterback hits Braylon in the hand with the ball and he actually makes the catch they pay him for it.  Seriously, the Cleveland Browns have nothing to lose looking at Edwards and everything to gain.

http://clevelandsports360.com/wordpress/the-cleveland-browns-need-a-wide-receiver-braylon-edwards-is-available-thoughts/

Should The Cleveland Browns Start Colt McCoy At Quarterback

Posted by LG on February 10, 2012 at 6:46 am.

The Cleveland Browns have to get play makers in the up-coming NFL draft. There is lots of talk about getting a quarterback in Cleveland, where would that leave Colt McCoy? McCoy had a rough season there is no doubting that. The problem is if the Browns get a guy like RG3, who is going to make plays. We saw all season long the Browns receivers dropping the football time after time. Sure Greg Little was playing a new position and he did show signs of brilliance at times.

Little has got to get more consistent to help whoever is playing quarterback for the Browns there is no question about that. The other problem is Mohamed Massaquoi isn’t playing well either. The Browns have some good tight ends in Evan Moore and Ben Watson. Shurmur hardly got those two involved last season. The Cleveland Browns have to get some offensive weapons in the draft. To get some position players to help who ever is the Browns quarterback should be the Browns number one priority.

To do this, the Browns may have to give Colt McCoy another shot at starting. I for one am not against that idea. Put some play makers around this kid and lets see what he can do.

http://clevelandsports360.com/wordpress/should-the-cleveland-browns-start-colt-mccoy-at-quarterback/

Browns Joe Haden’s Full-Forearm Tattoo

Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden recently revealed a pic of his otherwise covered tattoo on Tuesday evening.

Located on what appears to be the inside of his right arm, Haden placed a star with his jersey number 23 directly above the phrase “Dreams Come True” written in a cursive-like font. Sandwiched between the phrase and the date on which he was drafted (April 22, 2010) is a fairly large NFL logo. The entire image is surrounded by tribal-esque flames. Haden, who plays with arm sleeves, rarely has this arm art on display.

http://www.waitingfornextyear.com/2012/02/pic-browns-joe-haden-reveals-new-tattoo/

Cleveland City Council OKs $5.8 million for stadium repairs

By Thomas Ott, The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The city has agreed to give the Cleveland Browns a $5.8 million lump sum for stadium repairs, but public officials worry about the source of such payments after a countywide tax for maintaining the building runs out in 2015.

City Council voted 16-2 Monday to let the team take the money from a city-administered tax on alcohol and tobacco sales. Cleveland, which leases the stadium to the football team, is required to provide only $850,000 a year for major improvements.

Browns general counsel Fred Nance, who represented the city when the lease was negotiated, said $850,000 was a compromise at the time the agreement was drawn up. He said the amount, equal to less than 1 percent of the building's $300 million construction cost, is not nearly enough to cover what he termed routine work.

The Browns want to use the nearly $6 million to refurbish seats and replace,  repair and waterproof concrete inside and outside the 12-year-old building. Osborn Engineering's Jack Krebs, hired by the team, blamed Northeast Ohio's often severe winters for the damage.

"It's the climate we're in," he told the council during an afternoon hearing. "What I see here is not uncommon."

The Browns, sensitive to criticism of the team's deal with the city, came to the hearing armed with a breakdown of money it has invested in the stadium and the community.

Included were $74 million contributed to the construction, another $50 million paid for features such as escalators, a restaurant and team shop and more than $30 million spent on cleaning and other everyday maintenance. The team also detailed more than $2.9 million donated to community programs and sports facilities.

Ken Silliman, chief of staff to Mayor Frank Jackson, said the city reviewed the repair plans and confirmed the need. The agreement approved Monday is supposed to free the city from its repair obligations for seven years, but Silliman would not rule out tapping sin-tax money again during that time if necessary.

"We own Cleveland Browns Stadium," he told the council. "When you own a building and a few years go by, it starts to develop needs. It's just like when you own a home."

The so-called sin tax took effect in 1990. Voters initially approved the tax to finance Progressive Field and The Q, then extended it for 10 years, starting in 2005, to build and repair Cleveland Browns Stadium.

The ballot issue required that the first $87 million from the extension pay a portion of the stadium construction costs.

After the cap is reached this year, the next $29 million must be applied to repairs previously paid for out of the city's general fund. Silliman estimates that the sin tax will raise about $31 million through 2014.

Cleveland's obligations for stadium repairs will spike from $850,000 to $5.9 million a year in 2021. The amount will continue to rise annually, reaching $7.1 million before the lease runs out in 2025.

City Council members called for working with Cuyahoga County leaders to renew the sin tax for a second time. The discussion may be complicated because there's been talk of renewing the tax for fixing The Q and Progressive Field, which opened in 1994.

"We have to go back to voters for a conversation to extend that sin tax." Councilman Zack Reed said. "There's no other way around it,"

Silliman said Jackson is determined not to use more money from the city's general fund for stadium repairs. The chief of staff would not commit to a specific source of revenue to fund the work but said the sin tax is among the options.

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2012/02/cleveland_city_council_oks_58.html

Betty White picks the Browns for Super Bowl XLVII

Betty White Picks The Browns

WKYC: Chances of Cleveland-hosted Super Bowl Improving

Whether the argument against the city of Cleveland hosting a Super Bowl are rooted in weather or amenities, WKYC’s Eric Mansfield writes that the outlook for Cleveland Browns Stadium hosting the NFL’s annual big event may not be as bad as some say.

High marks for Indianapolis as the host of Super Bowl XLVI — a first for that city — may set the stage for other cities to have a shot at the NFL’s biggest prize. [...]

The league’s decision to host the 2014 game in New Jersey — a first with an outdoor stadium in a cold-weather town — could mean cities like Cleveland will eventually get stronger consideration.

Mansfield adds that the city’s accoutrements have increased handedly and will continue to do so with the construction and opening of the riverfront casino. Factor in attractions such as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and the recently opened aquarium, and those within the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission feel that Cleveland could be a legitimate hosting city.

The 2016 Super Bowl (L) is widely speculated to be destined for one of the NFL’s founding cities — a list that includes Cleveland, OH.

http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/wkyc_chances_for_cleveland_hosted_super_bowl_improving/9791887

NFL Draft 2012: Robert Griffin III Says He’s ‘Best Quarterback’ In The Draft

Baylor quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III is in Indianpolis this weekend and doing a media tour as he prepares for the 2012 NFL Draft. As you’re all aware, many mock draft experts have your Cleveland Browns taking RGIII with the fourth overall pick in April’s draft. He sat down with Sports Illustrated’s Don Banks for an extensive interview, and made his case as the best quarterback in the upcoming draft, and why he should go No. 1 overall.

“I hate to talk about myself like that, but if I had to straight up tell a head coach or an owner why they should take me, it’s because I’m the best in everything I’ve done,” Griffin said. “I’m the most accurate. I have the strongest arm. I may not be the tallest. I may not be the heaviest. But I’m the best quarterback in the nation, and if they pass on me, then I understand. But I’m going to go out and be the best quarterback for somebody else.

“It’s about consistency. And I was able to go out and make the nation a believer. I was able to make my own teammates believers, too. And that means even more to me, that they regarded me as the best quarterback in the nation.”

Griffin also seems motivated to continue to use the highly-touted Andrew Luck as a measuring stick, and motivation.

“Perception is reality, and at the beginning of the year I wasn’t on many radars,” Griffin said. “I did have a lot more ground to cover than he did. He was the de facto Heisman winner and the de facto No. 1 pick. We already took one of those from him and we plan to continue to go out there and do that. Whether it’s with the first pick in the draft, a playoff win, or who goes to the first Super Bowl.

“I will use that as a driving force, whether I go first, second, third or fourth in the draft. The fact I wasn’t out there with people believing in me is going to be the key to drive me to be a better player. So it’ll always be a competition between me and Andrew, just because we’re in the same class and the media is going to paint it that way.”

http://www.waitingfornextyear.com/2012/02/nfl-draft-2012-robert-griffin-iii-says-hes-best-quarterback-in-the-draft/

Super Bowl XLVI - 46 trivial facts about the Patriots-Giants matchup, the game's entertainment, wagers and more

By Marc Bona, The Plain Dealer

You've probably heard there is a big game Sunday.

You know the AFC's New England Patriots (15-3) play the NFC's New York Giants (12-7) at 6:30 p.m. in Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium in Super Bowl XLVI. Translation: Really Big Game 46. So here are 46 trivial tidbits, culled from a variety of sources. We provide this as a service: something to read during the ridiculously long pregame coverage:

Tuning in: Last year's game averaged more than 111 million viewers -- the largest audience in TV history. With two major markets represented and marquee quarterbacks competing (the Patriots' Tom Brady and the Giants' Eli Manning), the game is expected to top that figure.

Hear the national anthem: Kelly Clarkson, the first champion of "American Idol," will sing the anthem. One of her songs is "My Life Would Suck Without You." What Patriots fans will sing if Brady is injured.

Bet the national anthem: One of the proposition bets is how long it will take Clarkson to sing the song, over or under 1 minute, 34 seconds.

"America the Beautiful": Country power couple Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton will sing "America the Beautiful" before the game.

And the band played on: The Indiana University Marching Band will play during pregame festivities. It will probably do better at its performance than the university's football team did this year. The Hoosiers finished 1-11.

Halftime "concert": Halftime features Madonna, who will be joined by Nicki Minaj and others. The Material Girl will croon-dance-gyrate her way in front of a sold-out crowd and millions watching on television. Good thing she's not shy. The show is the year's most-watched musical event. Last year, millions tuned in to catch the Black Eyed Peas, Slash, Usher and others jump around the stage in Texas. And, of course, brace yourself for the crush of the fabricated crowd.

What did they pay!? All of NBC's TV-commercial airtime for the game sold out way in advance. Average cost for a 30-second spot? $3.5 million. That's $116,667 per second.

Attention grabbers: Super Bowl ads are 58 percent more memorable than the average commercial, according to Nielsen Media Research.

Along for the ride: Acura and Lexus will advertise for the first time during a Super Bowl.

Ad time: An NFL game is 60 minutes. Last year's Super Bowl had 46 minutes, 10 seconds of ads.

Bueller. . . . Bueller: Expect Matthew Broderick to appear in an advertisement as the title character he played in 1986's "Ferris Bueller's Day Off."

Head north: The site of Sunday's game is north of every Super Bowl played, with only three exceptions -- Detroit, Minneapolis and Pontiac, Mich.

Puppy Bowl: Animal Planet knows a good thing, and Puppy Bowl VIII is it. Back are the water bowl cam, kiss cam and an aerial view provided by hamster pilots aboard a blimp. New this year: Meep the bird will Tweet all the action beginning at 3 p.m.

Lingerie Bowl: Lingerie Bowl IX pits the Los Angeles Temptation against the Philadelphia Passion in Las Vegas. The Cleveland Crush finished its debut season. The Crush -- like its NFL counterparts the Browns -- will not be competing in the league's title game. The Crush finished 0-4.

Big ticket: The average resale price for a Super Bowl ticket was reported to top $4,000 more than a week ago.

Parking bucks: An RV space at the game was listed as high as $900.

Whole new ballgame: The game is a rematch of the 2008 Super Bowl, a 17-14 Giants win. It was the only time two teams with "New" in their team's names faced each other in the game. (More trivia: The only time two teams with "San" in their names met was in 1995, when the San Francisco 49ers beat the San Diego Chargers, 49-26.

'Hi, I'd like to order . . .' The National Restaurant Association estimates 48 million Americans will order takeout or delivery while watching the game.

Super chicken: More than 1.25 billion portions of chicken wings will be consumed this weekend, according to the National Chicken Council's 2012 Wing Report. Yes, there is such a thing.

Got the munchies? The No. 1 snack choice during the game for 32 percent of viewers will be dips and spreads, while chicken wings are second at 23 percent, according to the third annual Supervalu Snack Down Survey by Harris Interactive.

Speaking of snacks: A personality for brown M&Ms will be unveiled during the game.

Home sweet homes: Home stadiums for the teams are not where you think they might be. New England's is in Foxborough, Mass., while the Giants play in East Rutherford, N.J.

Close to home: According to Rand McNally, the distance from Foxborough to Indianapolis is 937 miles (15 hours, 2 minutes). From East Rutherford, it's 709 miles (11 hours, 27 minutes.) The game's official home team is New England.

His alma mater, baybee! Basketball coach-turned-commentator Dick Vitale graduated from and then coached at East Rutherford (N.J.) High School.

Who's on the sidelines? Forget the players, make sure you know your mascots. The Patriots have Pat Patriot, an American Revolutionary war figure. The Giants are among a handful of teams without a mascot.

EBay matchup: The Giants top the Patriots here with more listings, and the priciest, on the auction site eBay. The highest-priced item was an abstract, 16-by-20-inch oil painting on canvas from the artist Tommervik. It shows two players, one with an 'ny' on his helmet. An autographed 2000 Brady rookie card numbered 12 of 100 was listed at $79,999.99. More than a week before the big game, there were 70,543 items relating to the Giants; the Patriots had 58,696.

Big bonus: Play on the winning team and you get $88,000. Losers take home a mere $44,000.

Local flavor: Patriots punter Zoltan Mesko went to Twinsburg High School. He was born in Romania and was a homecoming king at the University of Michigan.

Wacky wagers I: Dozens of proposition bets exist -- who will score first, who will win the first coaches' challenge, and so on. One of the wackiest wagers might be on something that doesn't even take place on the field -- viewership. Do you think the total number of TV viewers will be over or under the projected 117 million? The favored bet, by the way, is over 117 million.

Wacky wagers II: Folks, if you're betting which color Gatorade will be dumped on the winning coach, you might have a problem. But in case you are interested, here is the line: yellow (+175), orange (+225), clear/water (+300), red (+550), green (+600) and blue (+1,000).

Gubernatorial bet: Should the Patriots win, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is offering 46 cases of New York-made Greek yogurt, 46 dozen bagels from Ess-a-Bagel in Manhattan and 46 cheesecakes from Junior's in Brooklyn. If the Giants win, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick will send 46 Centerville Pies from the Pie Ladies, Legal Sea Foods chowder and six cases of Food Should Taste Good chips. Winnings will be donated to food banks.

Mayoral bet: The traditional bet between mayors is a bit different this year: A family from the winning city will be treated to a trip to the losing city. Boston's Thomas M. Menino and New York's Michael Bloomberg said the tour will include two nights in a hotel, dinners, performances and tours of breweries. Winners will be chosen from an online drawing.

Vantage point: Oregonlive.com says according to techbargains.com, an online shopping site, 59 percent of people would rather watch the game from home than from the stands.

Other side of the coin: How important is the coin toss? The team that wins it has won the game 22 times and lost 23. Wow factor: The NFC team has won the coin toss the past 14 years.

Get the trophy case ready: The Tiffany-made Lombardi Trophy, awarded to the game's winner, traveled from New Jersey via Brinks to Indianapolis. It is 7 pounds, 22 inches high, valued at $25,000 and takes about four months to craft. Next year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of the legendary coach whose name is associated with the trophy: Vince Lombardi.

All an act: Rooney Mara, who starred as Lisbeth Salander in the 2011 movie "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," is the granddaughter of the late Giants owner Wellington Mara. Patriots receiver Chad Ochocinco, no stranger to cameras on and off the field, had a stint on "Dancing With the Stars" in 2010.

Never say never: There has never been overtime or a shutout in a Super Bowl. There has never been fewer than 21 points scored in the game.

On the air, Ohio style: Play-by-play man is Al Michaels, who many remember from his dramatic call ("Do you believe in miracles?!") of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team's victory over the Soviet Union. One of his early jobs was calling games on radio for the Cincinnati Reds. Analyst Cris Collinsworth was born in Dayton and played for the Cincinnati Bengals.

How do you say "sack" in Spanish? Sirius XM Radio will broadcast the game in nine foreign languages: Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, German, Hungarian, Portuguese, Russian, Dutch and French.

Secure site? The game is always a high-security affair. In addition to worrying about everything from terrorism to pickpockets, there is a special concern: exploding manhole covers. The Associated Press reports that there have been explosions in Indianapolis Power & Light's network of utility cables. "A dozen underground explosions have occurred since 2005, sending manhole covers flying. Eight explosions have occurred since 2010. The latest, on Nov. 19, turned a manhole cover into a projectile that heavily damaged a parked car and raised concerns about the safety of Super Bowl visitors." Solution? It cost about $180,000 to buy 150 locking manhole covers.

It's official: Comedian-actor and Indianapolis native Mike Epps is the official Super Bowl ambassador. Papa John's is the official pizza sponsor.

Media/fans day: Tuesday's media day was open to fans for the first time. That is, fans who ponied up $25 each to hear players pontificate on a variety of subjects.

Streaming live: For the first time, the NFL will stream the game live -- for all those who don't have a big-screen television or a nearby watering hole.

Local fans: Cleveland-area Patriots fans will gather at the Boneyard, 5900 Mayfield Road, Mayfield Heights. Sorry, we think local Giants fans are staying in for this one.

Post-game show: The ratings-coveted post-game slot goes to "The Voice." The singing-competition show will air immediately after the game on NBC. Last year, it was "Glee" on Fox.

Countdown to 2013: Next year's game is Feb. 3 in New Orleans.

Sources: Washington Post, Associated Press, stocklemonblog.com, fox59.com, iuhoosiers.com, Plain Dealer wire services and archives, The Detroit News, USA Today, thebiglead.com, NFL.com, assorted press releases, Bloomberg, Time, sbnation.com, Fox News, Grantland, Boston Globe, nj.com, vincelombardi.com.

http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2012/02/super_bowl_xlvi_-_46_trivial_f.html

Even with Mary Kay Cabot having replaced Tony Grossi on the Hall of Fame Selection Committee, Art Modell is still only getting in over a pile of dead bodies

by Cleveland Frowns on February 1, 2012

In the wake of last week’s removal of Tony Grossi from the Plain Dealer’s Browns beat, some folks tried to scare up the boogeyman of Art Modell’s induction into the NFL Hall of Fame. Grossi had been the leading advocate on the Hall’s selection committee for the righteous cause of keeping Modell out, so the line was that the Art Modell induction ceremony that had heretofore only been the subject of our worst nightmares would soon become a reality with Grossi off the beat.

This of course ignored the fact that the selection committee has to have a member from every NFL city, that Grossi would soon be replaced with someone else from Cleveland (as he was today with the PD’s Mary Kay Cabot) and that anyone from Cleveland who isn’t a complete raging sociopath would be just as successful as Grossi was in advocating for such a purely righteous cause.

Of course, anyone who isn’t a complete raging sociopath understands that Modell’s induction would be an(other!) unthinkably brutal blow to millions of Browns fans and everyone else who cares about the basic underpinnings of civilization; Much worse than the greatest hometown basketball free agent of all time deciding to exercise his free agency to leave his championship starved hometown play somewhere else, and also worse than Modell’s decision to leave with the Browns in the first place, because it wouldn’t just represent one man’s decision to exercise his rights at the absurdly grossly disproportionate expense of so many others, but also an affirmation of that decision by a committee of people from all over the nation who were expressly chosen by civilization to perform a fundamental gatekeeping function.

Again, we might be able to start to feel differently if Modell’s supporters could even start to explain why he had no choice but to move the Browns when he did, and relatedly why he couldn’t take the issue to the polls if the politicians were really giving him such a bad deal. But nobody’s ever even started to do that.*

And again, of course life is full of really complicated decisions, especially for folks as rich and powerful as Modell; Of course it’s fine for him to be otherwise recognized as a fine human being; and of course an otherwise fine human being might at certain points have every right to make a complicated decision to rip the heart and soul out of tens of millions of people and an entire region by blowing up a public trust for nothing but his own benefit. He just doesn’t get to be in the Hall of Fame if he does.

Finally, again, however difficult it could be for Modell and his family to be shut out of the Hall, they have some $500 million to help ease the pain, and also a Super Bowl ring.

As much as it all can’t be repeated enough, there’s just no way that Mary Kay Cabot isn’t all over it just as well as Grossi was.

—————

*Even Modell’s number one advocate, Len Shapiro of the Washington Post, can’t even start to make the case.

**Also don’t forget that Modell actually said at the time of the move that: “All the national furor over this, compared to other teams moving, is something of a reflection of how I marketed the team on a national basis;” And watch this video again, and this one, and especially this one.

Original story: http://www.clevelandfrowns.com/2012/02/even-with-mary-kay-cabot-having-replaced-tony-grossi-on-the-hall-of-fame-selection-committee-art-modell-is-still-only-getting-in-over-a-pile-of-dead-bodies/

It’s No Secret The Browns Want Hillis, Only At Their Price

Sure the Cleveland Browns have interest in re-signing Peyton Hillis.  That is no secret, Heckert and Shurmur have made statements about Hillis since the season ended. The deal is the Cleveland Browns only want Peyton Hillis back if the price is right. As unfortunate as it may be, Hillis refused to take the deal Cleveland had on the table last fall and the past season could have devalued Peyton Hillis’s worth. Hillis wouldn’t sign the deal the Browns put on the table then and I am wondering if he would sign the deal the Browns want to put on the table now.

Hillis may have become the victim of a greedy agent..   It was his agent that advised him to sit out the Miami game and it was his agent that thought Hillis was worth a boat load more than Cleveland put on the table last year. Lets face it folks, running backs like Hillis don’t last long in the NFL and the Cleveland Browns know that. There isn’t any way I see the Browns making a offer like the one Hillis expected before the season started last year.  I think we see Peyton Hillis test the free agency market come March, unless he and his agent wake up and smell the coffee….

http://clevelandsports360.com/wordpress/its-no-secret-the-browns-want-hillis-only-at-their-price/