Former Cleveland cornerback Frank Minnifield says 1987 work stoppage divided Browns

The most recent time there was a work stoppage in the NFL was the players' strike in 1987. They walked out to force owners to give them free agency after their contracts ran out.

Ultimately, the players got what they wanted. But to get there, they had to endure the immensely divisive strike, which was broken by the owners' use of replacement "scab" players; four years of partial free agency and other management-friendly rules imposed by owners; decertification of the players union; and finally a huge win in federal court.

By the time a new collective bargaining agreement was reached in 1993, featuring unrestricted free agency for players and a salary cap for owners, many of the players who walked picket lines in 1987 were too old to take advantage of the new system.

Browns cornerback Frank Minnifield was one of them. Minnifield joined the Browns in 1984 and retired after his last season with them in 1992. A successful businessman in his hometown of Lexington, Ky., Minnifield views the current work stoppage with interest. His son, Chase, a starting cornerback at the University of Virginia, will be a draftable player in 2012.

"It's a shame," Frank Minnifield said of the labor dispute. "It happens probably to every generation. I guess it's just part of the evil that's associated with the NFL. You know, money is the root of all evil."

This time, the owners have precipitated the stoppage. They've locked out players and want a deal that is less favorable to the players.

"The owners have such a huge advantage on the players," Minnifield said. "I'm sure we're all amazed [the players] have been able to negotiate to the position where the owners feel they're at a disadvantage. But I don't believe the owners are going to lose that much money."

Minnifield, naturally, sides with the players in this newest scuffle. He said they deserve all the money they can make in their short careers.

"There's just too many kids who get hurt to the point where their life is affected the rest of their lives," he said. "I saw a statistic . . . it was mind-blowing, about how many kids in college are maimed because of football. Then you're talking about a person in the owner's box, just taking a financial risk. That's a different risk than a physical risk."

Minnifield is 51. He played two years in the United States Football League and came to the Browns after surgery to fix a busted a knee. The rest of his injuries in his nine-year NFL career, including a lacerated kidney, were treated without surgery.

"I think anybody that was on the football field trying to win has a [health] problem," he said. "I'm not in no hospital, but I know I played 11 years of pro football. I like playing golf. There are many times I have to say, 'I can't play today,' with something hurting. There's many of those days. That goes on with all of us.

"Some of these guys get through it unscathed, without paying a real heavy toll with their health. But I would say the majority, over 50 percent, when they get to my age will be experiencing some problems they don't even realize. And they're going to need all the money they have to make it to 70. It takes a lot of money to make it to 70."

When Minnifield thinks back to the 1987 strike, the memories are not pleasant. The players walked out after the second game. The third game of the season was canceled. By the fourth week, owners had rounded up whole new teams of "replacement players" -- former college or pro players who had gone on to their life's work as truck drivers, teachers and the like.

Stressed for money, the regulars slinked back late in the week after the second "scab" game -- only to be turned away until the replacements were given a third game. Divide and conquer was a successful strategy for the owners.

The strike tore apart the Browns, Minnifield said.

"It got real ugly," he said. "I think those days are still kind of a little messy for all of us because of how we were all divided. I really believe that it really messed up the chemistry of our team from that point on."

Surprisingly, Minnifield did not begrudge the replacement players from taking his job temporarily. Much stronger emotions were spent on the regular players who broke ranks and crossed picket lines. Eight Browns did that for the third replacement game, including team leaders such as Gary Danielson and Ozzie Newsome.

"It was kind of hard dealing with the fact some guys went back, some didn't, and some guys were financially better off because they went back [versus] the guys who stayed together," Minnifield said. "I think that was tough. We didn't talk about it because everybody would get mad. But I think it affected us for the rest of our careers together.

"We didn't want anybody to go back. We wanted to stay together and whatever consequences there were we wanted to face them as a team. If we were going to have to fight harder because we were behind and lost those three games, then so be it. I don't think anybody was going to accept any reason for crossing the line.

"We had a special relationship. Our whole team was special. We'd go over each other's house. We actually liked each other. There aren't too many [teams] that hung out like we did. It was common to go over somebody's house each week and just eat together. Thanksgiving was unbelievable. After that strike, we didn't do it again. Most of that stuff just stopped. There was a whole lot of guys who were upset that didn't talk about it. We went on with our business. But our relationship was never the same."

The Browns were hurt more than most teams by the disruption. Coming off the AFC Championship Game loss to John Elway and "The Drive," 1987 was to be their year. The strike wiped out Game 3 of the '87 schedule. It happened to be Elway's regular-season return to Cleveland.

Had the game been played and the Browns won, they would have finished with a better record than Denver and earned home-field advantage in the '87 season AFC Championship. Instead, they had to play in Denver. Elway again prevailed in the loss remembered by "The Fumble."

"We would have beat Denver in Cleveland because we were a better team," Minnifield said. "They wouldn't have beat us two years in a row. That was our best team. We were all young kids. We were probably as good as football players in '87 as we were in our whole career." 

Reported by Tony Grossi, The Plain Dealer

Browns WR Rod Windsor heads to Arena Football League

James Walker of ESPN reports that a Browns WR from the practice squad will ink with the AFL team in Arizona.

Due to the lockout, a Cleveland Browns receiver has bolted to the Arena Football League. Rod Windsor, who spent time on Cleveland’s practice squad in 2010, signed this week with the Arizona Rattlers.
Windsor remains under contract with the Browns, but with no collective bargaining agreement in place players are free to sign with other leagues. Other more high-profile players in the AFC North such as Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco and Baltimore Ravens safety Tom Zbikowski have opted for soccer and boxing, respectively.

Before joining the Browns, Windsor played with the Rio Grande Valley Dorados (af2) in 2009. Windsor hauled in 184 balls for 2,364 yards and 59 touchdowns with the Dorados. Windsor was awarded Offensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year. In 2010, Windsor joined the Arizona Rattlers (AFL) and hauled in 193 balls for 2,372 yards and 47 touchdowns. His 2010 performance earned him AFL Rookie of the Year honors.

Are the Browns Totally Committed to McCoy as the 2011 Starting QB?

As NFL.com points out, seems like the Browns are looking at some of the top QB’s on this years NFL Draft, meaning that the team may not be as committed to Colt McCoy as some think they are. Here’s what NFL.com has to say about the team shifting their focus at the QB position elsewhere.
The Browns represent one of the most intriguing teams in the top 10 of the draft due to the thinking they could go in several directions with the No. 6 overall pick. Team president Mike Holmgren isn’t tipping their hand, either, telling reporters Monday the team hasn’t ruled out taking a quarterback with their first pick and is “looking hard” at Auburn QB Cam Newton. So while Holmgren refers to Colt McCoy as having “huge upside,” he also leaves us with gems like this when asked about having to perform due diligence with other quarterbacks: ”It’s kind of interesting, isn’t it? We’ll see. I would say, don’t discount anything. …” Which all leads to one big question: Are the Browns committed to McCoy as the quarterback of the future?
“I don’t know how they can ultimately be sold on McCoy,” says resident GM and analyst Michael Lombardi. “His injuries down the stretch, his body is not the biggest or strongest, and can he endure 16 games? These are all questions that have to be answered by the new staff (who) have to be comfortable with the answers and see if they can move forward before they do anything else — draft or trade.”

History

Players union devising plan to prevent top college players from attending draft in New York

The failure to come to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement has caused the players union to de-certify and the NFL teams to lock out the players.

That might be just the beginning of a dispute between competing sides that makes rivalries like Packers-Bears, Patriots-Jets and, uhh, Browns-Steelers look like touch football games at a family picnic.

The draft is the NFL's marquee off-season event and, in fact, is the highlight of the football year for many fans of perennially bad teams.

Now, according to a report by ESPN.com's Adam Schefter, the Players Association is looking to dampen draft-day fun, at least as much as it can.

And, should the players' plan work, it would diminish the ESPN network's signature event.

Schefter writes, in part:  

The NFL Players Association is putting into place a plan that would prevent each top college prospect from attending next month's draft in New York, according to multiple league sources. The NFLPA already has contacted 17 top prospects that ordinarily would have received an invitation to attend the draft and informed them not to go.

Thus, when NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announces the name of the first player selected, the player will not walk on to the stage at Radio City Music Hall as has been the custom. And the player will not be there to do interviews with ESPN or NFL Network. The draft will go on, but not in the manner in which it has been conducted before.

"As of right now, this is 100 percent happening," said one source familiar with the Players Association's thinking. "This is going down."

Browns to do refunds if no games

BEREA, Ohio (AP)—The Cleveland Browns will make full refunds with interest on any tickets sold for games not played in the 2011 season.

Browns president Mike Holmgren said Monday the policy applies to “any ticket that is sold in the stadium, from regular seats through suites and so on.” He added he is “hopeful and optimistic” the season will be played in full.

NFL owners locked out the players on Saturday, hours after the players’ union dissolved and 10 players filed a request for an injunction in U.S. District Court that would stop the lockout.

“It is weird,” Holmgren said of the current labor situation.

He emphasized there won’t be any pay cuts for the coaching staff or any layoffs for team personnel during the work stoppage.

“When we talked about our philosophy and how to handle this, we are going ahead without any of that stuff,” Holmgren said. “If the time comes where all of a sudden, financially, we are getting struck down it probably starts with me. I’ve got to contribute to the pot, although, I will go on record that I am not working for one dollar a year.”

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and lead negotiator Jeff Pash have lowered their salaries to that amount during the lockout.

“Our philosophy is that we are going to keep people working,” Holmgren added. “When I said business as usual … I was really referring to that. We have a lot of good people here working very, very hard doing their jobs and we will continue to do that.”

Lockout will affect McCoy

Colt McCoy’s job as the Browns starting quarterback got tougher Friday when the NFL Players Association decertified, a move team owners responded to by locking out players for the first time since 1971.

Until the lockout ends, McCoy and his teammates won’t be able to practice the West Coast offense new coach Pat Shurmur plans to run. They and their brethren won’t be able to do anything football-related with representatives of their teams. Players are forbidden from entering their training facilities.

Fortunately for McCoy and the Browns, McCoy used a West Coast style offense at Texas. It is one of the reasons Browns president Mike Holmgren drafted McCoy last April.

Holmgren wanted former coach Eric Mangini to win, but Holmgren also wanted a quarterback who could transition to the offense he prefers if he were going to make a coaching change — which he did when he fired Mangini and hired Shurmur.

Jake Delhomme, Seneca Wallace and McCoy all had West Coast roots before last season. Delhomme was signed in free agency, Wallace was acquired in a trade and McCoy was drafted.

Of course, the Browns saw this lockout coming. McCoy has the playbook Shurmur will use, so he at least can study during the lockout, but that obviously isn’t the same as perfecting it on the practice field in minicamps, OTAs and training camp if the work stoppage extends to July.

“I’m already on the hot seat,” McCoy said on the Monday after the Browns lost to Pittsburgh in the final game of the 2010 season.

McCoy was 2-6 as a starter last year. He still has a lot to prove. He should be better in the West Coast, because that offense places such high value on accuracy and being able to hit receivers on short and intermediate passes in stride.

Last season McCoy completed 60.2 percent of his passes, and that includes completing just 50 percent exactly — 35 of 70 combined passes — against the Ravens and Steelers in the final two games.

Browns to Workout TCU QB Andy Dalton

The Browns are still on the lookout for a QB, and one guy who is starting to get a lot of attention is that of TCU thrower Andy Dalton. The Star-Tribune reports that the Browns will be one of 7 teams to workout Dalton. The Vikings are expected to conduct private workouts with a number of quarterbacks before the draft. Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton already has been mentioned as one quarterback the team will put through a private workout. FOXsports.com’s Adam Caplan reported Friday that the Vikings are expected to bring in TCU’s Andy Dalton for a visit at some point too. Caplan reports that Dalton has private workouts scheduled with the Bears, Chiefs, Browns and Patriots, and that the Bengals, Vikings and Titans also are expected to bring in him for visits. Dalton is expected to be a second-round pick.

What the Browns Needs Are in the Upcoming NFL Draft

ESPN’s James Walker is out with his Draft Needs for the AFC North, and here’s his thoughts on what the Browns could use in the upcoming NFL Draft.

The Browns’ two biggest needs are wide receiver and defensive line, and they could really be 1A and 1B. Cleveland could have a chance to improve both positions with the No. 6 overall pick.

Cleveland’s passing game needs help. Rookie quarterback Colt McCoy had no one to throw the ball to last season. That really showed in the final two games, when the stiff defenses of the Ravens and Steelers put a hurting on McCoy. A legitimate No. 1 threat like A.J. Green could be just what they need in rookie head coach Pat Shurmur’s new West Coast offense.

Defensively, Cleveland is very thin on the defensive line. There are very good prospects this year at defensive end and defensive tackle in the top 10, and the Browns could have their choice of several. Cleveland is switching to a 4-3 defense, where the linemen in the trenches are very important. If the Browns don’t patch up their defensive line, they could get run over this season in this physical division.

Fans Want Cleveland Browns To Take A Look at Plaxico Burress

Plaxico Burress will be released from federal prison this June after shooting himself in the leg outside a New York City nightclub nearly two years ago. Many would think that the Cleveland Browns should stay away from a player who has been in prison and has been out of the game for a long period of time but according to a fan poll on Bleacher Report.com, Browns fans are willing to forgive if Burress can help the team win.

2,389 Browns fans voted on whether or not they feel Cleveland should pursue Burress once he is released from Prison.

According to the poll, 65.6 % of the audience sampled (about 1,587 votes) wants Cleveland to take a closer look at the former Super Bowl Champion even though his conduct record has not been perfect.

Burress’ former teammate, Tiki Barber, is also looking to come out of retirement this summer but Cleveland has not shown interest in his services.

Original Story: http://www.brownscentral.com/2011/03/...

Analyst Mel Kiper Jr.: Receiver A.J. Green could be Browns' pick if QBs are selected early

The Browns are not looking for a quarterback in the first round of the draft, but three teams picking before them and needing quarterbacks could produce a ripple effect on what General Manager Tom Heckert decides, draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said.

Carolina has the first pick in the draft April 28, followed by Denver, Buffalo, Cincinnati and Arizona. In his mock draft released on ESPN.com Wednesday, Kiper has Carolina taking Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert first and the Bengals taking Auburn quarterback Cam Newton fourth.

Kiper has the Browns picking wide receiver A.J. Green from Georgia with the sixth pick. In between Gabbert and Newton, he has the Broncos taking defensive tackle Nick Fairley from Auburn second and the Bills taking defensive tackle Marcell Dareus from Alabama third. The Bills could also use a quarterback.

The way Kiper projects the draft, someone from the group of Fairley, Dareus, defensive end Da'Quan Bowers of Clemson, Green and LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson will be available to the Browns — if the quarterbacks go before the Browns draft.

Kiper in his mock draft describes Green as "a perfect fit. It's hard to imagine the Browns passing on him (especially if they ask Colt McCoy for an opinion)."

History

What a difference a year makes: Browns much better off

A year ago today, the Browns released quarterback Derek Anderson, a move that was expected as the team acquired Seneca Wallace from Seattle earlier in that same week. Days later, the team shipped away former first-round draft picks Brady Quinn and Kamerion Wimbley. They picked up Peyton Hillis and a sixth-round draft pick for the former Notre Dame quarterback and a third-round pick in exchange for Wimbley, one they later used to select Texas quarterback Colt McCoy.

Out with the old, in with the new.

That was a crazy week for Browns fans as some were still holding out hope that Quinn could figure it out. We wanted so badly for it to work, but aside from a show he put on against Detroit (and they are, after all, Detroit) there was very little that suggested he could excel at this level. While the sample size with McCoy is small, he’s given Browns fans more reason to be optimistic than Quinn ever did between the lines.

Hillis was terrific in 2010-11 and instantly became a fan favorite for his rugged style. I do worry, because this is Cleveland and one-year phenoms like Anderson have got us excited only to bring us back down to earth before. Hillis’ style, the same one that we love, makes you wonder how long he can hold up. He sure does take a pounding. But this site is for positive thoughts, so let’s just hope he can repeat his performance again in 2011-12. Plus, we should have Montario Hardesty back in the fold, and if he can get his knee close to where it was, he should be a nice supplement to the running game.

McCoy does little things, and I think we all felt much better about our chances when No. 12 was in the ballgame. Fans want a quarterback like Bernie Kosar so badly in this town that we’re lovedrunk with a rookie that threw six touchdowns and nine interceptions.

But there’s light at the end of the tunnel now. We saw things last year that were encouraging, and those trades a year ago really stamped that a new regime was in town. They then went out and traded for Sheldon Brown and Chris Gocong and drafted young playmakers like Joe Haden and T.J. Ward. Mid-round selections like Hardesty and McCoy, and even guard Shaun Lauvao, gave us an upgrade at positions that badly needed them.

The Browns might have finished last season with the same 5-11 record that we had in 2009-10, but we saw glimpses. The Browns have some players now that look like professionals. Undoubtedly we need more, and hopefully they can get this collective bargaining straightened out so we can fiddle with the roster, but we’re certainly going to have a draft and we can pick up some more pieces there.

The point is, I feel much better on March 9, 2011, than I did on March 9, 2010. That was a tough week for Browns fans as we cut a Pro Bowl quarterback and two first-round picks, but hopefully it was a ‘one step back to go two steps forward’ kind of deal.

And hopefully we keep going forward from here.

Colt McCoy Is Perfect For Shurmur’s West Coast System

The Cleveland Browns have undergone plenty of changes so far this off-season but Colt McCoy seems as if he will remain a constant at the quarterback position.

The Browns have gone through 16 different quarterbacks since 1999 but the team has never run any sort of West Coast offense, and especially not the kind that Pat Shurmur is bringing in.

Colt McCoy has been knocked ever since his days at Texas about his arm strength. People have said that he doesn’t have what it takes to become an elite quarterback in this league and that after a certain distance his throws become easy to pick off.

What Shurmur will do next season is focus on what McCoy is good at and utilize him in a way that Brian Daboll and Eric Mangini did not. The West Coast offense that Cleveland will run consists of many short routes run by receivers and many “fake” routes that are meant to pull defenders into certain area’s of the field.

This will fall right into McCoy’s strengths for two reasons. The first of which is his accuracy. McCoy showed last season that he can put the ball into incredibly tight windows and can pinpoint routes very well. He also showed (with the exception of the final game) that he can make good decisions about when to force the ball or tuck it and run.

The second thing that will help McCoy is the complexity of the new offense. McCoy is a student of the game. Every week in 2010 he prepared like he was going to be the starting quarterback even if he was listed at the third spot in the depth chart. It is that type of education and desire to be great that can help him learn the in’s and out’s.

McCoy’s numbers from last season were mediocre but he did something for the Cleveland Browns franchise that went beyond the football field.

The fans and the organization as a whole are believers that he can take this team to the top and maybe the West Coast offense is exactly the system to help him do it.

First reported by Browns Central

Hillis Says The Browns Will be Winners in 2011

Running back Peyton Hillis envisions a winning season and perhaps even a playoff run in the ultra-competitive AFC North. Perhaps Hillis was playing to the fans in attendance at a recent radio appearance, but he also feels strongly about his football team. “We’re bringing winners to the table,” said Hilllis, per the Canton Repository. “We feel like we’re gonna win it all.” Hillis was apparently prompted by radio host Tony Rizzo to give the Browns fans something to feel encouraged about. “Well then I’ll say it,” Hillis said. “We’re gonna win. There’s no doubt about it.” Hillis said he definitely isn’t getting cocky after last year’s breakthrough season as the Browns’ featured running back. “I don’t believe in getting a big head,” Hillis said. “I try to stay as humble as I can be. That’s what the good Lord wants.”

Cleveland Browns Have No Interest In Tiki Barber

Tiki Barber has officially turned in his required papers to come out of retirement for the upcoming NFL season.

The Cleveland Browns have been involved in almost every feasable rumor during this off season but it seems as if the thought of Barber is one that will not be heard by the team’s front office.

Message boards and articles all over the internet immediately eliminate any thought of Barber coming to the Browns and it is for good reason.

Cleveland is currently in good position with their runners as Peyton Hillis had a career year last season and Mike Bell filled in nicely after Jerome Harrison was shipped to Philadelphia. Monterio Hardesty is also a forgotten factor in the running game after he went down with injury early in the pre-season. Hardesty had over 1,100 yards rushing during his senior year at Tennesse but never quite got the chance to show his ability at the pro level.

Barber may very well have some interested teams whenever it comes time for him to return to the field but it doesn’t look like he will be wearing the orange and brown anytime soon.

Can The Browns Really Afford To Pass On A.J. Green?

The Cleveland Browns have been projected to take nearly 10 different players with the sixth pick in the 2011 NFL Draft but one name has stuck in the minds of more Browns fans than any other; A.J. Green.

Green is a very physical receiver that has shown amazing promise at the University of Georgia. He has also said publicly that he models himself after his former teammate, Mohammed Massaqoui, who is currently with the Browns.

A.J. Green had an amazing season at Georgia in 2010 as he caught 57 passes for 848 yards and nine touchdowns all while missing the first four games due to suspension.

The Browns have not had a wide receiver even come close to that amount of production since Braylon Edwards caught 16 touchdown passes in 2007.

The Browns obviously need help at wide receiver, but is that the biggest team need?

Nick Fairley is still on the board as far as many mock drafts indicate and Fairley was one of the most dominant forces in the entire NCAA last season. Fairley also won a National Championship with Auburn.

The Browns also do not have anyone to be a quality option at the defensive end position as Matt Roth is now a free agent and the team was previously built to run a 3-4 under Rob Ryan.

Cleveland has many team needs when it comes to the draft and this draft is more important than others as free agency is greatly effected by the current CBA.

As the mock drafts continue, one would have to wonder if the Browns could really pass on a talent such as A.J. Green.

Eric Wright Says He Got Death Threats From Fans

Browns cornerback Eric Wright, who received a second-round tender from the Browns on Thursday, is determined to rebound from his poor 2010 season and the sting of death threats from fans according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Plain Dealer. “I went from people expecting me to be a top cornerback in the league to receiving death threats,” Wright said. “It was a lot to deal with.” Wright never reported the death threats to the Browns or police, attributing them to the extreme passion of Browns fans. “I wasn’t fearing for my life,” he said. “As serious as a death threat may be, I wasn’t going to let a few bad apples ruin the whole tree.”

Browns will employ 4-3 defense this season

"The Browns revealed Friday they are changing their defensive scheme, but their commitment to quarterback Colt McCoy is unwavering.
Browns coach Pat Shurmur and General Manager Tom Heckert met with a group of local reporters at a hotel near Lucas Oil Stadium, the site of the NFL Scouting Combine. They confirmed the team will switch from a 3-4 defense to a 4-3 system and expressed faith in McCoy's ability to lead the Browns' West Coast offense for the foreseeable future.
Those two topics merely scratched the surface of the hourlong, question-and-answer session. Here are some of the others that were addressed:

Quarterback situation
Neither Shurmur nor Heckert ruled out the possibility of using the sixth overall pick in this year's draft toa quarterback, but they also acknowledged it's not likely. They said they're comfortable with McCoy as the starter, and elite prospects who play other positions will be available.
''I'm extremely excited about working with Colt and him being our guy,'' Shurmur said. . . . ''I think what we do do, though, and I learned this from [Philadelphia Eagles] coach [Andy] Reid, who obviously learned it from [Browns President Mike] Holmgren, you're always looking at the quarterback position in every draft. If you can find a guy that you think has the skill and ability to be a great one, then you obviously want to pursue it.''
In radio interviews leading up to the Super Bowl, McCoy said his throwing shoulder never fully healed after he injured it in the 2010 BCS National Championship Game. The Browns, though, aren't concerned.
''I think he meant that he was a little banged up during the season, but he's fine,'' Heckert said. ''Maybe during the season he was a little sore, but he's completely fine now.''
On Thursday, NFL Network analyst Mike Lombardi said McCoy needs to improve his strength. Shurmur, who served as the St. Louis Rams' offensive coordinator for the past two seasons, defended McCoy.
''I thoroughly evaluated Colt last year when [the Rams] went through the [draft] process with Sam [Bradford], and I'm excited about working with him,'' Shurmur said. . . . ''I don't have any questions about Colt's arm.''

NFL warns Cleveland Browns not to 'meet' with players before lockout: NFL Insider

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Browns were one of several teams reminded this week by the NFL that players are not supposed to "meet" with coaches or be given playbooks during this period of the off-season.

The issue came up, according to sources, after a story in The Plain Dealer reporting that quarterback Colt McCoy had been meeting with new coach Pat Shurmur since the Super Bowl. It was also reported that the Browns intended to give McCoy a portion of Shurmur's offensive playbook before the possible owners lockout on March 4 so that McCoy would have something to study during the work stoppage.

In comments not used in the original story, Browns President Mike Holmgren said on Wednesday, "It's an interesting time. Organizations have to be very careful on how you do things. You can't do anything you haven't done in the past. The fact Pat Shurmur is new ... Colt and some players have come in. We can give him a playbook, have him study it, but you can't have meetings. You have all this stuff going on, so at the very least you've got to be able to give him [a playbook]."

Apparently, not so.

At a meeting with coaches and GMs at the NFL Scouting Combine, the league pointed out that existing rules forbid meetings with coaches and the dispensing of playbooks until the official start of off-season conditioning programs on March 15. The league is saying the off-season rules were a concession to the wishes of the players union, which did not want coaches pressuring players to meet with coaches until the off-season programs kicked off.

Shurmur and Browns GM Tom Heckert declined to expound on the meeting with league officials.

Heckert said, "I'm not going to get into what we can and can't do. There are rules on everything. We're just going about it as whatever they say, we are going to obey them."

Shurmur denied that he and McCoy have held "meetings" to discuss the team's new offense. He said some of the Browns players working out in the team's headquarters have simply stopped in to meet their new head coach.

"There's a new head coach in the building and they're just curious about coming in and meeting him," Shurmur said. "I haven't told any of them to come in. I think it's just normal protocol. We're just getting to know one another."

It is ridiculous, of course, for the league not to allow players to get a jumpstart on their new offense or defense voluntarily. But these are not ordinary times and the league apparently is going to play hardball with the players union every chance it gets.

It figures: The Browns are one of a handful of teams that have changed coaches and are implementing completely new systems on both offense and defense. Therefore, they would appear to suffer more hardships in an owners lockout and complete league shutdown.

Shurmur, however, will have none of that.

"Whatever happens, 32 teams will be in the same situation. I'm not worried about it," he said. "I feel as though we've hired some great teachers and the systems we're going to teach and employ are proven. I trust and am confident that we'll get it done."

More hardball: NFL coaches will feel the effects of a lockout in their paychecks. According to Larry Kennan, executive director of the NFL Coaches Association, as many as 20 percent of coaches in the NFL will see paycuts approximating 30 percent if there is a lockout beyond 30 days.

Kennan said any new coach hired in the past three years -- head coaches and assistants -- have had to agree to lockout language in their contracts. Two teams have indicated immediate paycuts and possible termination if there is a lockout, Kennan said.

"The 'good' teams have said they will conduct business as usual as long as they can," Kennan said. "They also say paycuts would be recouped when the lockout ends."

Kennan said the lockout language has fueled talk of the coaches forming a union to recoup perks they lost when the economy soured in 2009. Since then, 12 teams have removed coaches from team pension plans and reduced or eliminated other benefits.

The teams that ceased pension benefits, Kennan said, are San Diego, Arizona, Atlanta, San Francisco, New Orleans, Buffalo, Jacksonville, New England, Dallas, Houston, Washington and Tampa Bay.

More reax on Shurmur: St. Louis Rams General Manager Billy Devaney believes Shurmur, the club's offensive coordinator the past two years, will be a successful head coach.

"You know, you hear the stuff about players and coaches 'getting it.' More than anything, Pat gets it," Devaney said. "He's got a great way with players, relating to them, understanding them. Knowing when to push, when to back off. He's got a really good offensive mind. But besides that, just the way he relates with players I think is fantastic."

Asked for specifics, Devaney cited Shurmur's role in developing quarterback Sam Bradford in his rookie year.

"The way he interacted with same. [Former QB coach] Dick Curl and Pat were the two guys that were around Sam all last year," Devaney said. "The way those guys just hit it off and the way they worked well together the whole season I think was really impressive." 

Original Story: http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index...

Trivia...2/26/11

CBA timing puts Browns in a position that is tough

INDIANAPOLIS: Everything about Pat Shurmur made it feel like the Browns are in very capable

hands.

Including the fact that he gets up at 4:40 in the morning during football season.

Joined by General Manager Tom Heckert for an hourlong session with Northeast Ohio media Friday at the NFL Scouting Combine, the new Browns coach seemed down-to-earth, confident, poised, intelligent and organized. He shared a good rapport with Heckert, whom he worked with for eight years with the Philadelphia Eagles.

But all of that might not matter when it comes to the team's record in 2011. Shurmur's first season could be doomed before it begins by events totally out of his control.

Heckert and Shurmur are charging ahead with changes to the Browns' offensive and defensive schemes even as the storm clouds continue to darken before Thursday night's expiration of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

And despite Shurmur's insistence that all 32 NFL teams are in the same boat, that really isn't the case. If there's a lockout, the Browns will be one of the ones that suffer the most.

Some teams didn't change coaches because of the offseason uncertainty. Not only did the Browns fire Eric Mangini, but Shurmur is installing the West Coast offense and switching to a 4-3 defense, following the model he and Heckert learned in Philadelphia. Any other year, that would be cause for celebration, especially blowing up the low-scoring, too-predictable attack of the past two seasons. But at this point, their plan on both sides of the ball seems fraught with danger.

Asked about the labor battle and what a lockout could bring, Shurmur said, ''We're proceeding like business as usual. I think it's important that we do that and whatever happens, 32 teams will be in the same situation. I'm not worried about it, just moving forward.''

But when it was pointed out that few teams are changing both schemes, even those with new coaches, Shurmur felt confident that he and his staff can get them taught when the time comes.

''I feel as though we've hired some great teachers,'' he said. ''The systems we are going to teach and employ are proven. I trust and I'm confident that we'll get it done.''

To his credit, there was not a hint of panic in Shurmur's voice.

But there could be no minicamps, no training camp, no offseason training activities. Heckert wouldn't say whether the Browns will be allowed to give their players under contract new playbooks to study during a lockout. Starting quarterback Colt McCoy might be able to stop by Berea early next week to get a head start, but with NFL execs mum this week on all things CBA, even that is unclear. And if the clock strikes midnight on Thursday without a new deal or an extension of the current one, the facility will be locked down tighter than Stalag Belichick.

The Browns are devoid of game-changing talent, their roster filled with Mangini's smart, tough and somewhat pedestrian guys who might not fit the Shurmur-Heckert mold. Their seven draft picks won't be enough to fill all the holes and make all the upgrades necessary. Free agency, if and when it happens, could be reduced to a short, frantic frenzy. Heckert also ruled out the possibility of signing quick-fix free agents with checkered pasts.

A lockout would make it all the more difficult for Shurmur to improve on the Browns' two consecutive 5-11 seasons. It would also make it tough to close the gap on the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North.

''That's the million dollar question. Hopefully it's soon,'' Heckert said of the pursuit of division relevance. ''We do have some good players. Obviously we have to get better in a lot of positions. We should be able to compete. Even last year we played well in a lot of games. I know our record was the same, but I do think we're a better football team.

''I think we're getting there and we have a lot to do, but I guess this season we'll find out.''

Even though the Browns lost seven games by seven points or fewer in 2010, Heckert didn't dispute the national perception that the cupboard is still bare.

''That's valid,'' he said. ''We have to wait and see what happens this offseason and then reassess that, but right now we acknowledge that we have to get better players.''

As surprising as that reaction seemed, it also was self-serving, trying to buy more time with the disgruntled masses who recently received season-ticket renewal packets.

Browns president Mike Holmgren wasted his first year by giving Mangini another year when he had to suspect they'd never mesh. The second year under Holmgren could be in peril as well.

Change was necessary for the Browns' long-term future. The president, general manager and coach must be on the same page.

But their pedal-to-the-metal revamping of the offense and defense with a rookie coach and a possible lockout looming could make for many sleepless nights, no matter what time Shurmur's alarm clock chirps.

Original story by Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports columnist

Browns are going to draft a quarterback

Mike Holmgren has faith in Colt McCoy. He’s made that very clear.

However, he also plans to draft a quarterback.

That admission shouldn’t come as a surprise, considering that both Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace are free agents. However, Holmgren also stated that he plans to meet with all of the top quarterbacks, which he indicated probably includes Blaine Gabbert and Cam Newton.

It will be interesting to see what Holmgren means when he says he will meet with all of the top quarterbacks. He said he will “bring them in, do our work and see what happens.”

Does that mean he plans to use some of his private workouts on guys like Gabbert and Newton?

If so, it’s a questionable decision and has to make you wonder how committed he is to McCoy. If they’re set to move forward with McCoy, it makes no sense to draft a quarterback in the 1st or 2nd round. So why waste a draft visit on quarterbacks that will be long gone by the time its worth considering a signal caller.

One would think it would be wise to focus on more realistic 1st-round options, and perhaps some mid-round quarterbacks such as Pat Devlin, Andy Dalton and Ricky Stanzi.

Original Story: http://draftace.com/blog/2011/02/25/b...

Scouting combine paves the way for the draft

Maybe it's the best time of the year for fans whose team went 5-11 in the last season and is 14-34 over the past three campaigns.

Like Cleveland Browns fans.

The NFL Scouting Combine is  at full-go in Indianapolis, and that only fuels speculation about the NFL draft on April 28-30.

The Browns' needs are multiple, and the combine continues their process of trying to sort things out.

One urgent area of need for the Browns is at defensive end. Chad Reuter writes for The Sports XChange/CBSSports.com that the combine features numerous competitions between players hoping to improve their draft positions.

Reuter writes that one of the most intriguing competitions is to become ranked as the ......

Top-rated defensive end:
Da'Quan Bowers (Clemson) vs. Robert Quinn (North Carolina)
Quinn's medical issue (surgery on benign spinal tumor in high school) aside, both players have top-five talent but must display the athleticism necessary to be feared pass rushers in the NFL.
Bowers needs to be fast and agile in testing to get rid of the "not explosive" label, while Quinn looks to refresh teams' memory of his prowess chasing quarterbacks after sitting out all of the 2010 season due to NCAA suspension for accepting benefits from an agent.

Sports Illustrated SI.com's mock draft apparently has Bowers topping Quinn. It has the Carolina Panthers taking Bowers with the first overall pick in the draft. 

The Browns own the sixth overall pick. SI.com has another defensive end entering the equation, Alabama's Marcell Dareus.

In fact, SI.com has the Browns picking Dareus. Don Banks writes:

The Browns could make the riskier pick, taking North Carolina defensive end Robert Quinn, who didn't play at all last season after being ruled ineligible for taking more than $5,600 worth of gifts and benefits from agents. Or they could make the safer bet and select Dareus, who's a disruptive and penetrating force who would fit nicely in either a 3-4 defense or the 4-3 scheme the Browns are switching to this season.

The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com continues its Browns coverage with Tony Grossi and Mary Kay Cabot reporting from the scouting combine in Indianapolis. 

Grossi writes "Tony's Take" and a story on Browns president Mike Holmgren's thoughts on the combine and on Colt McCoy being the Browns quarterback. Cabot reports that NFL Network analyst and former Browns personnel executive Mike Lombardi says Colt McCoy needs to become stronger.

And, Bill Livingston comments about the Browns designating place-kicler Phil Dawson as their franchise player, and that the franchise needs stability.

The Browns might watch Louisiana State offensive lineman Joseph Barksdale at the combine, writes Nate Ulrich for the Akron Beacon Journal.

James Walker writes about Browns coach Pat Shurmur for ESPN.com.

Browns cornerback Joe Haden is studying the Browns' new defensive system, by the Akron Beacon Journal's Nate Ulrich.

Some "can't-miss prospects," by Scott Kennedy for Scout.com and FoxSports.com.

ESPN.com's John Clayton on 10 things to watch at the combine.

The Browns will closely watch defensive ends at the combine, Jeff Schudel writes for the News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal.

More on what Mike Lombardi had to say about the Browns and the NFL, by Marla Ridenour of the Akron Beacon Journal.

The "top 10 scouting combine sleepers," by Doug Farrar for Yahoo! Sports.

Browns will select a quarterback in NFL draft, says Mike Holmgren

The Browns intend to select a quarterback with one of their seven picks, said team President Mike Holmgren.

No, it won't be early in the draft on a quarterback who could compete with or displace Colt McCoy as the starter.

"I believe in the young guy we have," Holmgren said to The Plain Dealer on Wednesday.

But that won't stop Holmgren from examining the quarterbacks projected high in this draft, Blaine Gabbert of Missouri and Cam Newton of Auburn. Or the next rung of Jake Locker of Washington and Ryan Mallett of Arkansas.

"Oh, I'm going to talk to them," Holmgren said. "I like to watch the quarterbacks, anyway, you know. But those fellas probably will be drafted pretty high. But I think we have to talk to them all. We'll probably bring them in, do our work and see what happens."

It's prudent for a few reasons.

First, if Gabbert or Newton, or the others, just blow away Holmgren, he reserves the right to change his mind about the team's situation. Second, if one of the top two quarterbacks or both fall to the Browns at No. 6, they will have a better gauge of their worth in a trade-down. And third, knowing where Gabbert and Newton place in the draft order helps the Browns get a better read on which players might be available to them at No. 6. 

If Gabbert and Newton fall off the board in the top-five picks, it drops a quality player to the Browns. At least three teams in the top five have the need to seriously consider taking a quarterback first -- Carolina at No. 1, Buffalo at No. 3 and Arizona at No. 5.

The trouble is, none of the quarterbacks is a no-brainer in the mold of recent high draft picks Sam Bradford (No. 1 in 2010), Matthew Stafford (No. 1 in 2009) and Matt Ryan (No. 3 in 2008).

"I think the four quarterbacks at the top of my list have got to be figured out," said NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock. "That is the key to this draft, as far as the marquee names.

"How do you figure these quarterbacks out? Who are they? What are they? Who is going to be a boom guy and who is going to be a bust guy?"

Mayock has questions about all the four quarterbacks on which he has first-round grades. Here's a snapshot of his evaluations:

•Gabbert has to show if he has the "football IQ" to transition from Missouri's spread offense to the sophistication of an NFL offense.

"It's a lot harder than people understand," Mayock said. "The footwork's completely different, the reads are completely different. So when I talk about football IQ, I talk about this kid's ability to transition from what he has been to what he needs to be, and how quickly can he get it done?"

• Newton's recent ill-advised statements about wanting to be a football "icon" underscored questions about where his head is. Newton averted an NCAA suspension after his father allegedly offered his services to schools to the highest bidder. Newton went on to claim the Heisman Trophy and lead Auburn to the BCS Championship.

Mayock said Newton's throwing mechanics are superior to "running quarterbacks" Vince Young and Tim Tebow.

"There are two questions to Cam Newton," Mayock said. "He comes out of a very simple pass offense at Auburn. Basically, one look and either the ball comes out or he comes on out. Can he process from an IQ perspective a complicated NFL pass offense? And number two, there's some baggage to the kid."

• Locker has a rocket arm, but is not very accurate or consistent.

"That's a really talented kid who has first-round potential but has struggled in the pocket," Mayock said. "A lot of people are writing him off, and I'm not. I think we have to do a bunch of homework on him."

• Mallett is in the same boat, with some added off-the-field baggage issues that may drop him in estimation.

"Ryan Mallett has unbelievable, God-given ability to throw a football," Mayock said. "And when he has a clear pocket and clear vision, there's nobody in the game better. But every time I get excited, he does something from a decision-making or an accuracy perspective that bothers me. The common denominator is when he goes bad it's because of pressure in the pocket."

Mayock's next wave of quarterbacks in this draft includes Andy Dalton of Texas Christian, Christian Ponder of Florida State, Ricky Stanzi of Lake Catholic and Iowa, and Colin Kaepernick of Nevada. Kaepernick's arm strength is on par with Newton's and Mallett's.

All of those college passers are projected to go in Rounds 2 and 3. If Holmgren is adamant in going forward with McCoy as the franchise quarterback, then taking a quarterback in Rounds 2 or 3 seems counterproductive to the Browns' many other position needs.

So if Holmgren waits for a later round to select a developmental prospect, the candidates may include Pat Devlin of Delaware, Greg McElroy of Alabama, Tyrod Taylor of Virginia Tech and T.J. Yates of North Carolina.

Of those, Devlin may be the one to watch as a possible Browns pick.

Story by Tony Grossi, The Plain Dealer 

Peyton Hillis Highlights

Did You Know?...2/24/11

The first two-point conversion scored in the NFL was scored in 1994 when Cleveland Browns Punter Tom Tupa, acting as holder on an extra point, ran the ball across the goal line.

He scored a total of three such conversions that season earning him the nickname "Two Point Tupa."

Browns franchise kicker Phil Dawson

Phil Dawson said goodbye to teammates and friends after the Browns 2010 finale, sold his house in Westlake and headed back home to Texas with his wife and kids.

But the veteran kicker's 12-year career with the Browns may not be over, as he thought walking out of Cleveland Browns Stadium on Jan. 2. The Browns on Tuesday designated Dawson as their franchise player for the 2011 season, meaning his offer will be about $3.25 million -- the average of last season's top five salaries at his position.

If the same rules apply under the next collective bargaining agreement, another team can sign Dawson, but would have to surrender two first-round picks to the Browns. The Browns can also match any offer.

The $3.25 million would more than triple Dawson's previous salary of $1 million a year. The Browns' only full-time kicker in the new era, Dawson has been seeking a new deal the past several seasons, but the team hasn't budged.

Dawson, who couldn't be reached for comment, has made an apparent statement about his contract each of the past two years by skipping some of the voluntary organized team activities. He's never gone public about being underpaid, but it's been clear he hasn't been happy.

After the 41-9 loss to Pittsburgh in the season finale, Dawson sounded resigned to being gone, but admitted that he wouldn't rule anything out, "even returning to the Browns."

He added, "For me, it's really going to be what's best for my family. I've earned the right to have that choice [of where to play] and I'm going to take advantage of it. I'll seek my wife's input. We'll get together, my boys are even getting old enough I'll see what they have to say about it. Whenever that time comes, we'll make the best decision for us."

With the current collective bargaining agreement set to expire on March 3, all league business will be shut down and teams will not be permitted to negotiate with free agents. But when a new agreement is reached, Dawson will be able to negotiate a long-term deal with any team, including the Browns.

In 2010, Dawson surpassed Hall of Fame kicker Lou Groza (234) for first place on the Browns' all-time career field goal list and now has 252. He's also first in team history with a field goal percentage of 83.2, which is ninth in NFL history. Dawson's accomplishments are all the more remarkable considering he kicks in some of the worst weather in the NFL. 

Story by Mary Kay Cabot, The Plain Dealer