Cleveland Browns (2007 & prior)

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

3/7/06

Browns report

Browns aren't blind in making next move

Savage working on deal with left tackle Shelton

By Patrick McManamon

Beacon Journal sportswriter

<!-- begin body-content -->BEREA - The signing of Reuben Droughns leaves one key move for the Browns before the start of free agency at midnight tonight: The re-signing of left tackle L.J. Shelton.
``We're still working on it,'' General Manager Phil Savage said Saturday.
The two sides have been talking, and Shelton's agent indicated recently that things might be close. Savage is not the kind to say anything is close or moving well until a deal is complete.
``It's a difficult thing to try to fill every hole that you have,'' he said. ``We're going to do the best that we can with it, but there could be a position where we might have to fake it for another year. Say use a combination of players for a year.
``That could easily happen.''
Left tackle, though, is a tough position to ``fake.''
``Especially if you're the quarterback,'' Savage said.
Thus the emphasis and work on re-signing Shelton.
``I'm gonna give him a call,'' said Droughns, who signed a three-year contract extension Friday afternoon. ``I just got his number last night, and I'm going to call him to see where his thought process is. Hopefully, I'll convince him to come back here.''
Savage also said:
• He expects the free-agent signing period could be delayed again if the league and union agree to extend the CBA. Presently it's set to start at midnight tonight.
``If an agreement is reached, I think it'll be put off a few more days,'' Savage said. ``We're ready to go. We've been sitting around waiting for four days. Seems like four months.''
Though he was not critical, Savage said the ongoing discussions about extending the CBA ``bring attention to the league.''
``I think ultimately there's a good chance they can get something done,'' he said. ``It's not something they started talking about last week. We'll see. We are one of 32 teams that plan to play by the rules and make it work once we get the green flag.''
• The Browns would not change their plans drastically if no agreement is reached and many big-name players are released. ``I think, by and large, we're going to stay with the plans we have and adjust depending on who those players might be,'' he said.
• An agreement would allow other teams to lock up their players because it would increase the 2006 salary cap from $94.5 million to about $105 million.
``It might reduce the market a bit,'' he said. ``But the more you have, the better off you are. So it would put us in a pretty advantageous position as long as there are players out there we like.''
• The signing of Droughns might not affect the status of William Green and Lee Suggs.
Savage said Green ``absolutely'' has a spot on the team as Droughns' early-down backup, and Suggs could be the change-of-pace back the team wants -- if he can avoid injury.
``There's a role for him on this team if he can prove to stay healthy,'' Savage said.
Brownies . . .
The three-year contract given Droughns cost the team a small amount on the 2006 salary cap, but not a significant amount.... Said Droughns on staying in Cleveland: ``The city has shown me so much support. The year before last when I was with the Broncos, I kind of got the job by default. This past year, they gave me an opportunity to win the job. That right there shows you what kind of confidence they have in you as a player.''
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

3/7/06

Browns still can have Arrington

Tuesday, March 7, 2006


<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>[FONT=Verdana, Times New Roman, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]By STEVE DOERSCHUK[/FONT]


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ARRINGTON​

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In a conversation with The Repository before the 2000 draft, agent Kevin Poston said he “guaranteed” his client LaVar Arrington would become a better pro than Courtney Brown.

Cleveland subsequently picked Arrington’s Penn State teammate, Brown, at No. 1 overall. Washington spent the No. 2 pick on Arrington.

In retrospect, Poston was right. Five years later, the Browns again must decide if a big payday for Arrington is the right move.

Washington, facing a severe salary cap squeeze, reached a settlement with Arrington late Sunday that puts him on the free-agent market. He has spent his NFL career playing in a 4-3 scheme and would have to adjust to a 3-4 if he landed in Cleveland.

Browns General Manager Phil Savage said finding a linebacker to fit alongside captain Andra Davis is a top priority.

In terms of spending for impact free agents, Savage said, “I think we’re in pretty good shape.”

Savage and his staff have today and tomorrow to get their ducks in a row. Previously, San Francisco’s Julian Peterson had been the most attractive linebacker in free agency.

Labor negotiations have pushed the scheduled start of free-agent signing to 12:01 a.m. Thursday. Savage has made it clear the Browns are of a mind to strike quickly with players they want.

Arrington went to three straight Pro Bowls from 2001-03 but did not mix well with Washington Head Coach Joe Gibbs.

Arrington’s market value is a mystery, in that he played only four games in an injury-plagued 2004, and did not have a sack while sparring with Gibbs and Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams in 2005.

The 6-foot-3, 255-pounder had 11 of his 22.5 career sacks in 2002. He will turn 28 in June.

Savage has indicated he will be disappointed if he can’t parlay the Browns’ healthy salary-cap situation into signing a couple of difference-making free agents.

Likely targets include center/guard LeCharles Bentley and wide receiver Joe Jurevicius, a pair of former Cleveland-area high school stars.

The Ravens have made it clear they like 350-pound nose tackle Maake Kemoeatu, but they don’t have the room to outbid Cleveland if the Browns make a serious offer.

Pass rushers who could address what Savage called a priority need include Peterson, Andre Carter and Darren Howard.

Now, Arrington looms as another player squarely on the Browns’ radar.
Reach Repository sports writer Steve Doerschuk at (330) 580-8347 or e-mail: [email protected]
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

scout.com (free)

3/7/06

Preview of the Browns and their possible FA targets.

 

[osugrad21]

Canton Rep

3/8

[FONT=Verdana,Times New Roman,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Iowa's Greenway may be the way to go at No. 12[/FONT]
Wednesday, March 8, 2006 [FONT=Verdana,Times New Roman,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]By Steve Doerschuk Repository sports writer [/FONT]
The Browns are plotting to close the country-mile gap between themselves and the Steelers.
The divide traces to getting plowed. Pittsburgh permitted 86.0 rushing yards per game in 2005. Cleveland’s ground index was 137.6.
Help could come from drafting a salt-of-the-earth linebacker at No. 12 overall. Signs point to Chad Greenway, a strapping farm lad who blossomed at the University of Iowa.
Greenway revealed suspicion of a future in Ohio during a recent interview when he said, “I think the Browns need linebackers ...”
Fairly recently, no one thought Greenway would be rated so highly in a draft. Nfldraftscout.com has him as the 11th-best player, Sporting News pegs him at No. 12, Mel Kiper 20th.
Greenway grew up in Mount Vernon, S.D., 1,000 miles from Cleveland, in open spaces that dictated nine-man high school football. His team was put together from two schools.
He was a big man in the little school, a quarterback who grew up pretending he was Joe Montana. As a senior on a state championship team, he rushed for 1,320 yards and passed for 1,147. He made 132 tackles and four interceptions as a safety.
Also a track star, he won four events in the South Dakota state meet, including the 110-meter high hurdles.
He dreamed of playing big-time college football.
“I sent a lot of tape out trying to get somebody to bite,” he said.
Only Iowa offered Greenway an NCAA Division I full ride, and that didn’t get him far at first.
He redshirted as a freshman in 2001, blew out a knee in 2002 spring drills and finally emerged as a second-team All-Big Ten weakside linebacker in 2003.
He moved up to first-team All-Big Ten in 2004 but decided not to jump into the draft. Coming off a 156-tackle 2005 season, he thinks it was the right move.
“I improved greatly (in 2005),” he said. “My weaknesses are less, and I have more strengths.”
Greenway, 23, has good size (6-foot-2 1/2, 242 pounds) and excellent athleticism. His show of strength at the Combine embarrassed him, though. He was credited with 16 reps of 225 pounds. Putting that in perspective, 5-foot-9 running back DeAngelo Williams had 25 reps.
This might haunt Greenway, unless he puts on a better show at Iowa’s pro day. Last year, questions about linebacker Derrick Johnson’s strength dropped him to No. 15 overall (Chiefs). Some see Greenway as a Johnson type.
“I like to think I play similarly to Brian Urlacher,” Greenway said, referring to the Bears’ NFL Defensive Most Valuable Player. “I’m obviously not to his level at this point.”
To be an elite pro, Greenway must answer questions about fighting off big blockers. It is agreed he should be a fine run chaser and pass coverage man.
If the consensus is that he is more athlete than playmaker, he could drop to the second half of the first round.
Iowa Head Coach Kirk Ferentz’s friendship with Cleveland General Manager Phil Savage dates to their days together with the early 1990s Browns. Savage can be sure he’s getting an honest analysis from Ferentz.
Savage said at the Combine that improving the pass rush is a top priority. Greenway sees himself up to the task as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme.
“We were not a real blitz team at Iowa,” Greenway said. “I think I have that ability. When I did get that opportunity, I was pretty successful.”
Run defense. Pass defense. Both Savage and Head Coach Romeo Crennel have harped on juicing up these areas.
There’s little doubt those two have asked themselves if Greenway might give them a double shot in one glass.

Reach Repository sports writer Steve Doerschuk at (330) 580-8347 or e-mail: [email protected]




The Browns need players to bolster their four-linebacker scheme.
Some LB candidates played end in college and are not listed here. The projected top college linbacker candidates in the draft (with Combine measurements):

Round 1 A.J. Hawk (6-1 1/8, 248), Ohio State; Chad Greenway (6-2 1/2, 242), Iowa; Bobby Carpenter (6-2 1/2, 256), Ohio State; DeMeco Ryans (6-1 1/2, 236), Alabama.

Rounds 1-2 Ernie Sims (5-11 3/4, 231), Florida State; Thomas Howard (6-3, 234), UTEP; Abdul Hodge (5-11 3/4, 233), Iowa; D’Qwell Jackson (6-0 1/2, 230), Maryland; Rocky McIntosh (6-2, 235), Miami (Fla.).

RoundS 2-3 A.J. Nicholson (6-0 3/8, 241), Florida State; Jon Alston (6-0 1/2, 223 - ran a 4.50 40 at the Combine), Stanford; Kai Parham (6-3, 248), Virginia; Gerris Wilkinson (6-2 3/4, 234), Georgia Tech.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

3/8/06

Browns report

Defensive lineman Pryce could be right for Browns

Four-time Pro Bowl player was released by Broncos

By Patrick McManamon

Beacon Journal sportswriter

<!-- begin body-content -->BEREA - The Browns aren't waiting on the start of free agency to look to improve their defense.
Former Denver Broncos defensive lineman Trevor Pryce is set to be in Cleveland today for a visit, a league source said. (The Browns' policy this offseason is not to confirm visits, unlike past years when the team announced who was in the building.)
Pryce spent the past nine seasons as a starter in Denver, and was a leader of the team.
He was released March 2 in a salary cap move and can be signed at any time.
A former first-round draft pick (1997), Pryce has 64 career sacks, which ranks in the top 10 in Broncos history.
A lower back injury forced him to play only two games in 2004, but he came back to start all 16 games in 2005.
Pryce has been to four Pro Bowls (1999-2002), played both end and tackle, and had 58 sacks from 1998-2003, the fifth-highest total in the NFL in that time.
The regular free-agent signing period is set to begin at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, but because Pryce was released any team can sign him.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

3/8/06

Free-agent DL Pryce pays visit to Browns


Wednesday, March 08, 2006

Tony Grossi
Plain Dealer Reporter

Released Denver defensive lineman Trevor Pryce became the first confirmed free agent to visit the Browns on Tuesday.

"This is his first visit. He's excited to meet with coach [Romeo] Crennel," Pryce's agent, Peter Schaffer, said from Denver.

Pryce is able to visit and negotiate with teams ahead of the official opening of free agency because he was released rather than have his contract expire naturally. Pryce was cut by the Broncos last week after he refused to take a pay cut a second year in a row.

The Browns' policy this year is to not confirm player visits.

Pryce, who will be 31 in August, has played his entire career in Denver since being drafted in the first round in 1997.

The 6-5, 286-pound Pryce has played end and tackle - sometimes moving from one to the other on successive downs last year in Denver's scheme.

He is projected as an end in Crennel's 3-4 system.

Pryce had surgery on a bulging disk in his back after the 2004 season.

Ironically, the Broncos stocked up on defensive linemen - acquiring four from the Browns in two trades and free agency - because of Pryce's uncertain health and big contract. He was entering the fifth year of a seven-year, $60 million contract.

The Broncos tried to trade Pryce before last season - the Browns weren't interested in him then - until he agreed to a pay cut.

Pryce answered questions about his health early in the season and joined the team's rotation at defensive line in a limited role to which he was unaccustomed.

Late in the year, coach Mike Shanahan told reporters, "As a guy gets older and he has a back injury, you're never sure if he's going to be able to make it through the season."

His words were prophetic. Pryce had four sacks and 33 tackles, but only 15 tackles and 2½ sacks in Denver's last nine games through its loss to Pittsburgh in the AFC Championship Game.

The Broncos chose to let Pryce go after learning ex-Brown Courtney Brown was agreeable to a pay cut. The team also is trying to retain tackle Gerard Warren, another ex-Brown.

Schaffer said a lot of teams are interested in Pryce.

Asked whether a 3-4 defensive system appeals to Pryce, Schaffer said,

"Winning football games appeals to him."

Kicker added:

The Browns signed veteran place-kicker Jeff Chandler to a one-year contract. Chandler was a fourth-round draft choice of San Francisco in 2002. He also kicked for Carolina and Washington in 2004. Chandler did not play in a game in 2005 after being waived by Washington and Miami.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

[email protected], 216-999-4670

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

scout.com (free)

3/8/06

Personnel Needs on Defense.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

3/9/06

BROWNS: Ravens tackle may be target

Thursday, March 9, 2006


<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>[FONT=Verdana, Times New Roman, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]By Steve Doerschuk Repository sports writer[/FONT]


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KEMOEATU​

<HR align=left width="80%">Related Stories
Doerschuk, football section honored

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The million-dollar question — who will be the Browns’ No. 1 nose tackle in 2006? — might get a 350-pound answer soon enough.
The opening of the free agency signing period Friday or Saturday could lead to Baltimore’s Maake Kemoeatu jumping to Cleveland.
Kemoeatu had a strong year as a starting tackle in Baltimore’s 4-3 scheme in 2005. Baltimore personnel chief Ozzie Newsome made it clear he wants to keep Kemoeatu, but Newsome didn’t have an offer to dissuade Kemoeatu from testing the free-agent market, where he is seen as the best young candidate to plug into a 3-4 scheme.
Browns General Manager Phil Savage was asked about Kemoeatu at the Combine, but Savage answered vaguely, in keeping with tampering rules.
The Ravens, who have a reputation for complaining about the slightest pretense of tampering, had exclusive negotiating rights until free agency opened officially.
Kemoeatu’s agent, Ken Vierra, said Wednesday, “There has been absolutely no contact between me and the Cleveland Browns with regard to any contractual relationship.”
Meanwhile, Vierra seemed eager to huddle with Browns General Manager Phil Savage the minute he was allowed to open negotiations regarding Kemoeatu.
Nose tackle is the pivotal job in Head Coach Romeo Crennel’s 3-4 scheme. The 6-foot-5, 330-pound Kemoeatu is young enough, 27, to be the answer for four or five years.
“Any rational human being would say that’s a possibility,” Vierra said, “and not just in a theoretical sense. (The Browns) have the right scheme, and they’re a division rival.”
Kemoeatu is expected to interest several teams, but the Browns have the bankroll to pounce quickly. Cleveland could go from having a thin defensive line to a deep one by signing both Kemoeatu and defensive end Trevor Pryce.
Rules allowed Pryce to negotiate with the Browns, since he was released last week by Denver.
What if the Browns can’t land Kemoeatu?
They would likely spend the No. 12 overall pick in the draft on Oregon defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, if he is not picked earlier.
There also is a chance they would pursue high-mileage defensive tackles Ted Washington and Sam Adams. Reach Repository sports writer Steve Doerschuk at (330) 580-8347 or e-mail [email protected].
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

3/9/06

With Arrington, Browns call, but money will talk first


Thursday, March 09, 2006

Tony Grossi
Plain Dealer Reporter

The Browns have expressed interest in former Washington linebacker LaVar Arrington, according to his agent.

The question now is whether Arrington has interest in them.

"Yes, they have called to ask if he's going to be available, and the kind of interest he'd have in Cleveland," agent Carl Poston said Wednesday. "I told them he wants to wait for the collective bargaining agreement to be done."

Arrington was released by the Redskins on Sunday after agreeing to forfeit $4.4 million in deferred signing bonus payments. The agreement ended a six-year relationship with the Redskins that grew tumultuous the past two seasons.

Arrington, 27, is free to find a new team immediately, but Poston said they want to first wait for teams to know how much money they have available to spend in free agency.

Owners on Wednesday approved a six-year extension of the collective bargaining agreement, meaning each team will have an additional $7.5 million in salary cap room. Free agency will begin Saturday.

Poston said Arrington will not visit a team unless it proves it is serious first.

"He may want to look at money [offered] before he visits," Poston said.
Arrington signed an eight-year, $68 million contract in December 2003. That deal included a $16 million signing bonus that was to be paid in stages.
The linebacker will command a double-digit signing bonus this time around also.


When the Browns hired Romeo Crennel as coach last year, they were hoping Crennel's stellar reputation would attract star players in free agency, such as Arrington. This will be the first test of Crennel's own star power.

Poston said that a team's coach, its defensive system, its city and money "all come into play" in attracting Arrington.

Arrington was the player the Browns bypassed when it chose defensive end Courtney Brown with the first pick of the 2000 draft. Arrington, Brown's teammate at Penn State, was taken second by Washington.

Arrington never played in a 3-4 system in his six years in Washington, despite playing for four head coaches and four defensive coordinators.

"Doesn't matter," Poston said. "He could play rugby, if he had to."

The Browns' new policy is to not comment on players in free agency.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

[email protected], 216-999-4670

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

3/10/06

<H1 class=red>Givens is up for Browns' taking

</H1>

Friday, March 10, 2006

Tony Grossi

Plain Dealer Reporter

When NFL free agency officially kicks off at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, Browns General Manager Phil Savage will receive a phone call from the agent of receiver David Givens.

"There's about 12 teams [interested] and he can't visit them all," agent Brad Blank said. "I think if I'm successful in that first hour after [free agency] begins, I'll have it narrowed down to a few that kind of step up to the plate financially, and he'll go visit them."

Blank said he received calls from some teams, but not the Browns. He assumes the Browns will be interested in Givens, 25, who averaged 40 catches the past four seasons with the New England Patriots.

The Browns have stated their desire to replace free agent Antonio Bryant with a veteran receiver to add "professionalism" and experience to the position.

"We've talked about Cleveland," Blank said. "He likes [coach] Romeo [Crennel]. He worries a little bit about how quick that team can get good, but I said, at least from what I could see, they're on the upswing. He's never been to Cleveland, so he's got to check the place out."

Blank said the Browns have more salary-cap room than any of the other teams he believed had interest in Givens. The Browns are about $26 million under the salary cap, which was raised to $102 million as a result of the new collective bargaining agreement.

"They still have more cap room, but other teams that couldn't compete will be able to compete now."

Contrary to published reports, Blank said Givens is not committed to finding a team that would anoint him its No. 1 receiver.

"Every team we've looked at has a No. 1," Blank said. "Braylon Edwards is the Cleveland Browns' No. 1, if he's healthy. David's not looking to catch 100 balls a year. He's looking at doing what he did at New England, which was play an important role."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

[email protected], 216-999-4670

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

3/10/06

Browns report

Agreement could hurt Browns

New labor deal to give others more cap room

By Patrick McManamon

Beacon Journal sportswriter

<!-- begin body-content -->The new Collective Bargaining Agreement helps the NFL maintain labor peace, but might hurt the Browns in the short run.
That's because every other team in the league has an additional $7.5 million in salary cap room to re-sign their own players.
Already, the Baltimore Ravens have talked about stepping up efforts to retain nose tackle Maake Kemoeatu, who is believed to be a prime target of the Browns.
The extra cap room also gives the Ravens the space to try to re-sign linebacker Bart Scott, another player rumored to be on the Browns' radar screen.
So while the Browns will gain additional space under the cap, they won't necessarily find the market as attractive as it could have been had there been no extension. Prior to the extension, the Browns were going to be one of the few teams with a lot of salary-cap room shopping for free agents.
Now, every team has room -- and until midnight Saturday to re-sign their own players.
One player released Thursday was New England Patriots defensive end Willie McGinest. There would seem to be obvious connections between McGinest and the Browns, given Romeo Crennel was McGinest's defensive coordinator in New England prior to becoming coach of the Browns.
Have the Browns contacted McGinest?
The team is not commenting on or confirming free-agent calls or visits, and a public relations person for McGinest's agent -- an interesting concept in itself -- said the McGinest camp would not comment.
Meanwhile, the Browns could be interested in linebacker Lavar Arrington, who bought his freedom from the Washington Redskins this week.
Arrington was the player not taken when the Browns took defensive end Courtney Brown with the first overall pick in the 2000 draft.
No visit has been scheduled, but Arrington has been gathering information on the Browns from people around the league.
If it happens, his pursuit could be interesting.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

3/10/06

Got our eye on you

Friday, March 10, 2006


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Likely free agent targets for the Cleveland Browns:

LB LaVar Arrington (Redskins). He hasn’t looked like a superstar since 2002, but at age 27, he might be ready to grow out of his overblown ego and let his natural passion and ability go to work.

LB Julian Peterson (49ers). A rare athlete with premium rush skills. Is he physical enough to suit Crennel?

DE Trevor Pryce (Broncos). A good fit for a 3-4 scheme at 6-foot-5, 290 pounds. Pryce, 30, could form a strong end rotation with Orpheus Roye, 33, and Alvin McKinley, 27.

LB Andre Carter (49ers). The former No. 7 overall pick is a hybrid end/linebacker who would have to adjust to the 3-4. He’s a polished edge rusher, who, at 26, might put Crennel in mind of a young Willie McGinest. McGinest belongs on this list somewhere, having been released by the Patriots on Thursday, but his age (34) is an issue.

OL LeCharles Bentley (Saints). He was a tackle for Cleveland St. Ignatius and played all three line positions at Ohio State. Having blossomed as an NFL center, would he be willing to come home and play guard alongside Jeff Faine?

LB Will Weatherspoon (Panthers). He’s a smart, intense, consistent player who produces game-changing moments. He has everything Crennel likes except bulk (6-1, 231).

NT Maake Kemoeatu (Ravens). The underrated, 350-pound Kemoeatu is a late bloomer along the lines of Orpheus Roye.

WR Isaac Bruce (Rams). Savage wants more maturity in the wideouts’ meeting room. Bruce, 33, is a consummate technician 14 months removed from a 1,292-yard season.

WR David Givens (Patriots). Crennel must be careful about over-valuing New England players, but this former Round 7 pick has become a very good all-around player. The 25-year-old Youngstown native might be an ideal sidekick to Braylon Edwards.

DT Sam Adams (Bills). The 350-pounder stuffs the run, collapses the pocket and might have two good years left in his 32-year-old body.

WR Joe Jurevicius (Seahawks). The 31-year-old former Browns fan keeps making plays for Super Bowl teams. If you get past his injury record, what’s not to like?


DE Anthony Weaver (Ravens). The former Round 2 pick has experience in a 3-4, and his injury troubles in 2005 were one reason the Ravens’ playoff plans went bust.

Other free agents to watch:

DE Darren Howard (Saints). He’s on the small side as ends go, but his 44½ career sacks count for something.

LB Tommy Polley (Ravens). He’s showing signs of matching big potential to production.

WR Antwaan Randle El (Steelers). Stealing from Pittsburgh has its virtues.

DT Grady Jackson (Packers). He’s 33, but his massive body makes him a backup target.

DT Ted Washington (Raiders). Almost 38, the 365-pound nose tackle still turns double teams to mush.

LB Sam Cowart (Vikings). Run-stuffing ability would make this veteran work in a rotation.

OL Mike Williams (Bills). No. 4 overall pick for Bills in 2002.

G Toniu Fonoti (Vikings). You have to see this guy to believe how big he is.

DE Kalimba Edwards (Lions). The former Round 2 pick had seven sacks in the first half of 2005. STEVE DOERSCHUK
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[Smooth Olaf]

I keep seeing LeCharles Bentley's name mentioned in this thread. The world out of Philly is that the only reason he isn't in an Eagles uniform right now is because free agency hasn't started yet. According to the papers here, it's been a done deal for over a week.

 

[scarletngrey11]

Thats what ive been hearing and reading also.

Pretty upsetting, I mean hes from Cleveland, and he would be a HUGE addition to our offensive line. But hes gotta do whats best for himself, and if thats to sign with Philly then ill still root for him.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

3/11/06

Browns report

No Shelton deal leaves Browns looking

Team in market for left tackle, with Hopkins best available right now

By Patrick McManamon

Beacon Journal sportswriter

<!-- begin body-content -->The start of free agency at midnight Friday night added another position to the list of Browns needs.
And it's an important one.
The market opened (after three delays) with the Browns and left tackle L.J. Shelton failing to come to an agreement on a new deal, so Shelton hit the market and the Browns are left-tackle shopping.
The position is key -- and it could be why there was a report in Thursday's Baltimore Sun that the Browns were not going to pursue nose tackle Maake Kemoeatu.
Perhaps left tackle has risen on the priority list.
The best one on the market is Brad Hopkins, who is 35 but has already drawn interest from the New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Others include Jon Runyan, (last of the Philadelphia Eagles), Jason Fabini (last of the Jets), Damion McIntosh (Miami Dolphins), Kenyatta Walker (Bucs), Tom Ashworth (New England Patriots) and Kevin Shaffer (Atlanta Falcons).
Runyan has mainly played right tackle in his career.
McIntosh, Fabini, Walker and Shaffer are all young with experience, but none are Pro Bowl-caliber players.
Shelton played the free-agent waiting game successfully. He had an offer from the Browns, but he and his agent waited until the last minute to take it. The thinking: See what happens with the Collective Bargaining Agreement before doing anything.
Had talks to extend the CBA broken down for good, Shelton probably would have taken the offer on the table from Cleveland, because the market would have been more crowded and fewer teams would have had salary-cap room to sign him.
Once the league and the players association agreed on the extension, the salary cap jumped by $7.5 million per team. That's an attractive proposition for a player at a position like left tackle.
After three delays, the Browns were permitted to extend invitations to free agents as of 12:01 this morning.
Believed to be high on the team's list are receivers David Givens and Joe Jurevicius, linebacker Bart Scott, Kemoeatu and linebackers Will Witherspoon and Lavar Arrington.
Savage has said he will act aggressively, so the Browns could have players in for visits -- and might sign a player or two -- today.