Category: Cleveland Browns (Page 48 of 114)

The Browns’ center situation this training camp has been anything but steady and normal. ESPN Page 2 writer David Fleming knows as much and makes light of the whole bizarre series of events in a recent column. He rewinds and takes readers through the Browns problems at center dating all the way back to 2003 in a rather comical 1,281-word rambling sentence.

Here’s a sample of his column. Fleming picks it up from the Hallen retirement.

…a surprise to Cleveland which prompted Savage to trade another future draft pick to the Pats for the banged up but decent lineman/center and one-time Barcelona Dragon Ross Tucker while the GM promised to scour rosters across this great land looking for surplus linemen oozing with the kind of rare skill set the Browns have come to expect from their centers (in other words, a beer gut and a pulse): players like Miami center Steve McKinney (and not, by the way, former Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino who in his recent weight loss ads shows just how slim you can get when you cut pride out of your daily diet) who, sadly, underwent season-ending back surgery shortly after Savage inquired about him, thus infecting him with the Browns Super Psycho Center Saga Voodoo Curse which next claimed Smith, who suffered a nasty high-ankle sprain which left the Browns, with Ephraim’s imminent suspension, no choice but on Aug. 24 to — I’M NOT MAKING THIS UP, PEOPLE, THERE ARE, LIKE, LAWS AND STUFF — infuse the position with almost a whole entire 10 days of rock-solid stability, professionalism and serenity by cutting Mabry and acquiring Bears backup center and former second-round pick Lennie Friedman for yet another conditional 2007 pick (they apparently grow on trees in Northeast Ohio this time of year and are very tasty toasted on a cookie sheet with just a pinch of butter and salt)

The Cleveland Browns regular season starts this week and I believe the team will exceed the most common prediction of 6-10. This offense is capable of running the ball and connecting on short passes. Cleveland has improved their offense line and 1,000 yard rusher Reuben Droughns has a year of experience under his belt.

They also have two very talented possession receivers in Kellen Winslow and Braylon Edwards, both back from injury. These two factors will allow Charlie Frye to gain experience without putting himself in difficult situations.

Romeo Crennel and Phil Savage have once again put together a very strong defense that will be able to match most offensive units they face this year. So, I look forward to very competitive year.

The Browns are at it again in their attempt to find a viable center. They traded an undisclosed 2008 draft pick for Eagles’ center Hank Fraley. The six-year veteran will compete with Lennie Friedman for the starting job, one that really needs to be decided soon.

The fact that we still haven’t decided on a starting center yet is seriously concerning. The number of centers the Browns have gone through so far can now be counted on two hands. You can thank Bob Hallen for that. They are nearing Week 1 of the regular season and the Browns are still “competing” for the starting center postion, perhaps the most important on the offensive line. The Browns need continuity on the line and auditioning a different center every week isn’t helping matters. I realize the Bentley injury and Hallen going AWOL put the organization in a bind, but it would be in the best interest of the offensive line and Charlie Frye to find a center and stick to one to build chemistry. Let’s hope Fraley, whose name has been popping up in trade rumors all preseason, is the guy and the center fiasco can settle down once and for all.

Finally, the Browns formulated their 53-man roster. Perhaps the most recognizable players cut were RB Lee Suggs, WR Frisman Jackson, and C Ross Tucker. William Green was placed on the injured reserve list and will spend the rest of the season there unless the team can reach a settlement with him which will allow him to then become a free agent.

The Browns also waived NT Babatunde Oshinowo, a 2006 sixth-round pick, and their final three 2005 draft picks: Speegle, OG Andrew Hoffman and OT Jonathan Dunn.

The Browns also waived WR Kendrick Mosley, FB Corey McIntyre, OL Dave Yovanovits, LB Justin Kurpeikis, TE John Owens, CB Therrian Fontenot, DE Darrell Campbell and four undrafted rookies, C Rob Smith, CB Jereme Perry, S Andrew Pace and QB Darrell Hackney.

The Cleveland Browns showed Thursday why this organization, Phil Savage, and Romeo Crennel have a long way to go before they’re considered a factor in the NFL. The Browns were an embarrassment Thursday in their final tune up before the regular season begins. I don’t buy the “we didn’t want to play” comments by some of the coaches and players. These are professionals that make a ton of money.

The Cleveland Browns have a great history and anyone that puts on that uniform needs to realize this. I’ve been a Browns fan my whole life and struggle to understand why it’s taking so long to turn this team around. We need a leader and I’m not sure Charlie Frye fits that bill. Crennel needs to have a short leash with both Frye and Maurice Carthon, neither of which has been spectacular in the preseason.

ESPN.com has issued their power rankings going into Week 1 of the 2006 NFL season and the Cleveland Browns sit at #27, down four spots from where they were picked in their offseason rankings. The whole center fiasco undoubtedly had something to do with the fall from #23. Here’s the short blurb that was written about the Browns going into the season.

If Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow Jr. can get healthy and stay that way, the Browns will actually have some weapons on offense.

The Browns finished with six wins last season and, Bentley injury aside, could still finish this upcoming season with a .500 record, in my opinion. At least for the early part of the season, the defense will be ahead of the offense and will need to carry them until Frye and the rest of the offense can gel with one another. As long as Frye stays healthy and the Browns build on their year of experience under Crennel last season, an 8-8 season is reasonable.