Category: Cleveland Browns (Page 106 of 114)

Should we care if Ross Verba holds out? He’s certainly the most experienced left tackle on the roster, but he clearly has an inflated view of his worth as a player. He a solid tackle, but he’s not a Pro Bowl caliber player. Patrick McManamon is now reporting that the Browns have been happy with the development of Kirk Chambers, a pure left tackle who started for four years at Stanford. Frankly, this is an opportunity for Savage and Crennell to continue to change the character of the team. I’d like to see them take a hard line with Verba.

So much for being tough with Kellen Winslow. ESPN is reporting that the Browns will only require Winslow to repay $2 to $3 million of bonus money the team has already given last year’s first-round pick. Winslow also is due a $2 million bonus on July 15, but he’s not seeing a dime of that.

Add it up, and that’s $4 or $5 million, which qualifies as a slap on the wrist for Winslow considering his high-speed hobby could’ve cost him about $10 million in bonuses.

The Kellen Winslow debacle now becomes a big test for Randy Lerner. Mr. Lerner has won some respect lately with the fans for finally bringing in professionals like Phil Savage and Romeo Crennell to run the football operations, but the fans still remember Lerner’s boneheaded decision to let Butch Davis quit on the team and still pocket the remaining $12 million on his contract. Then, Lerner goes and raises ticket prices in the offseason following six years of pathetic performances on the field.

With this backdrop, Lerner needs to make some tough decisions on Winslow. Fans demanding his release are not thinking straight, but that sentiment demonstrates the intense frustration felt by Cleveland fans. There needs to be consequences for Winslow’s irresponsible behavior. The fans will settle for nothing less. Further, if the Browns want to give Winslow the opportunity to earn back some of the bonus money, it has to be tied to a commitment by Winslow to extend his contract if he comes back healthy. Lerner needs to be tough but fair. If he handles this well, he’ll build temendous good will in the community. If he blows it by letting Winslow off the hook like he did with Butch Davis, he risks losing the respect of the fans for years to come.

It’s official: Kellen Winslow will miss the entire 2005 season with a torn ACL in his right knee. Winslow and the Browns learned the results of a recent MRI Wednesday.

According to Tony Grossi from the PD, the Browns could require the tight end to pay them anywhere between $5.7 million and $10.7 million for being in breach of his contract. While I certainly believe they’ll get some of that money back, I doubt the Browns will force Winslow to cough up the entire amount because they won’t want to strain their relationship with a player the team no doubt feels is still a big part of their future plans.

The worst part about all of this is the damper Winslow’s injury puts on this year’s draft. Part of the reason the Braylon Edwards pick looked so good was the thought of pairing Edwards and Winslow in the passing game. Losing Winslow (again) now puts more pressure on Trent Dilfer and the running game.

Hopefully another lost season will serve as a kick in the ass for Winslow. All the talent in the world doesn’t mean squat if you’re an immature kid who makes poor decisions.

Running back Reuben Droughns has returned to Cleveland and is working out with the team, the PD’s Mary Kay Cabot is reporting. Droughns, acquired via trade from the Denver Broncos, had been threatening to hold out if the Browns didn’t restructure his contract. “Right now, I’m not worrying about the business side of it,” he said Monday night. “All I’m concerned about is learning the system and getting in shape for the season.”

Smart decision. With Lee Suggs the apparent starter and William Green continuing to impress the coaching staff with his improved work ethic, Droughns had no leverage whatsoever for a holdout. The Browns weren’t going to blink on this one.