Category: Cleveland Browns (Page 104 of 114)

Veteran cornerback Ray Mickens signed a one-year contract with the Browns, who are suddenly thin at the cornerback position after Michael Leehan came up with a pulled hamstring. Daylon McCutchen has yet to practice during training camp due to headaches and dizziness, so Savage and Crennel felt the need to make this move.

As for the defense as a whole, I think everyone is jumping the gun with all the concern over the performance in the first preseason game. Relax. It’s early. Give Crennel time to teach his system to the players.

As the Browns start training camp, Terry Pluto is reporting that Ross Verba has just receive an offer in the range of $1 million for one season. Verba, you’ll recall, is the idiot who stormed out of Berea claiming that he would insist on a contract in the range of $34 million.

I bring up Verba because his situtation speaks volumes about the new regime. They don’t take crap from their players, and they don’t have inflated views of their own players’ talents. Verba is addition by subtraction. The line this year will be better, and that alone will make this team better. If Dilfer can stay healthy, he has plenty of tools around him and the offense should be fine.

Many are worried about the defense, but Crennel’s dynamic 3-4 schemes should make them respectable. If the youngsters come through this could be a good unit.

With so many changes, this team might struggle, but frankly I don’t care. Anything is better than listening to Butch Davis’s bullshit. The guy belongs in politics because he is incapable of telling the truth. With Savage and Crennel the fans and the players will get some straight talk. Over time, they should be able to deliver a team that challenges for the playoffs and hopefully the Super Bowl. I’m willing to be patient.

ESPN’s Len Pasquarelli is reporting that the Browns and Seahawks have had casual trade conversations about Cleveland receiver Andre Davis. Davis, entering the final year of his rookie contract, is likely slotted as the team’s fourth receiver, behind rookie Braylon Edwards, Antonio Bryant and Dennis Northcutt. The Seahawks need a home run threat after releasing Koren Robinson, so the deal would make sense for both teams on some levels. Still, listening to the words of Trent Dilfer makes you wonder if trading Davis would really be a good idea for the Browns:

“(Davis) can play. Apparently, a lot of people felt like he was just a track-type guy who wasn’t a legitimate (football) player. I’m telling you, he can be a big-time receiver.”

In the same column, Pasquarelli updates Tim Couch’s situation, saying the former #1 pick is still rehabbing from shoulder and elbow surgery in February and that Couch may fit into some team’s plans as a veteran backup. I know I’m in the minority here but I’d like to see Couch get another shot. He’ll never be a star but, as Pasquarelli points out, he’s still only 27, which gives him enough time to turn his career around.

The official Browns web site has a great article remember two great former Browns – Donnie Rogers and Eric Turner. Both men were great safeties for the Browns, and both tragically died before their time. Bill Rees remembers both players that he recruited and coached while at UCLA.

There have been rumors that Crennell hasn’t been overwelmed with Charlie Frye in workouts so far. Frye apparantly has been improving as he gets more comfortable, but his performance and lack of experience convinced the Browns that they needed an experienced backup. So they went out and signed Doug Johnson who has experience with the Falcons and Titans. I don’t know much this guy, but it seems like a prudent move. Savage has come out and said that Frye has never been a great practice player so they are not concerned, yet they naturally felt some insurance was needed, particularly in light of Dilfer’s history of injuries.