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Cleveland Browns (2007 & prior)

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These FA signings are great news. I know they may be a short term fix, but I am concerned about the age of them.
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Bentley and Shaffer are both only 26 years old. They have their whole careers ahead of them. The other signings are a bit old, but atleast we have our line in place for years to come.
 
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Man the Bowns are cooking up a storm in Free Agency this year.

Truly a contrast with years past.

Not convinced that they will be good enough to get into the running with the Bengals and Steelers this year - but it surely is a huge improvement over those years when you knew the choices made were simply asinine.
 
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scarletngrey77 said:
I thought that most teams were looking at him as an OLB.
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Sorry I thought you said OLB. I'm more worried about the other OLB than ILB. They already have 2 guys not named Taylor who I think can do a decent job there next to Davis. As of now the defense is pretty well plugged except for 1 DE, 1 OLB, and maybe a lock down CB. Get a DE in the first or second round, and Kudla in the third and I'm feeling good about the D. I would still love to see them trade down and get Carp in the 1st since he could play ILB or OLB. I would love to see Denver fall in love with someone and trade their 2 first round picks for the Browns #12. Not to get ahead of myself, but that would allow the Browns to draft a good DB (cough cough AY or Whitner) and Carp. Oh damn, now I have to go clean out my pants.
 
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Hell, Schlegel should be around on day two of the draft. He'd be an upgrade over Taylor. Schlegel's not the fastest guy in the world, but at least he can tackle.

I'm interested in seeing where the Browns go with their first pick now. Yes, Savages said that just because he signed a free agent it doesn't mean they won't draft the same position, but that was before they signed a ton of free agents. The Browns needed to upgrade their run stopping and pass rushing. They have. They needed to upgrade their offensive line. They have.

I still think that they should take Ngata if he's availabe, but he won't be. After the McGinest signing, I think they should now pick the best player available.
 
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I don't think the Washington or McGinest signings change the Browns draft strategy one bit. True, the first round should bring you an instant impact player, but it's also important to keep in mind that McGinest and Washington are on the back end of their respective careers. Actually, I like the idea of a first rounder being brought in as an apprentice for players like those two, who each have multiple Super Bowl rings and Pro Bowl appearances.
 
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yahoo.com

3/16/06


<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=yspsctnhdln>McGinest signs with Browns, reunites with Crennel</TD></TR><TR><TD height=7><SPACER type="block" width="1" height="1"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>By JOE MILICIA, Associated Press Writer

March 15, 2006


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<SMALL>AP - Mar 15, 6:37 pm EST</SMALL>
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BEREA, Ohio (AP) -- After 12 years in New England, it took Willie McGinest one trip to Cleveland to find his new home.

Being reunited with Browns coach Romeo Crennel made his decision easy.

McGinest signed a three-year, $12 million contract with the Browns on Wednesday. The deal includes $6 million in guarantees and bonuses.

The 34-year-old linebacker spent seven seasons with Crennel in New England, including four with Crennel as defensive coordinator.

"He's a big reason why I came," McGinest said. "He's like a father. He makes you feel comfortable and gives you that family atmosphere."
McGinest was a member of three Super Bowl winners and had been with the Patriots since being drafted in the first round in 1994. He was cut by New England last week in a salary-cap move, visited Cleveland on Tuesday and reached the deal Wednesday without visiting any other teams.

The two-time Pro Bowl selection would have carried a salary cap figure of more than $7 million next season in New England.


McGinest looked a bit out of place holding a No. 55 Browns jersey and said it seemed odd. He said he held no animosity toward New England for releasing him and looked forward to helping build the Browns into a winner.

"I didn't want to go to a team to sign a contract and get some money," said McGinest, wearing a Browns cap. "I wanted to be a part of a family. They made me feel like family. They made me feel needed, like I could come in and help them."

Besides Crennel, recently signed nose tackle Ted Washington encouraged his former teammate to come to Cleveland. The two played on the Patriots' 2003 championship team.

Linebacker Andra Davis, who will line up inside next to McGinest in the Browns' 3-4 defense, also wooed him to Cleveland. Davis sat in on the news conference, looking pleased.

"We're going to be aggressive and go at people and hit people," McGinest said of the role he and Davis will play.

The Browns, with nearly $25 million to spend on free agents, have been one of the most active teams this offseason, signing center LeCharles Bentley, wide receiver Joe Jurevicius, offensive lineman Kevin Shaffer, punter Dave Zastudil and Washington.

But they hadn't addressed their pass rushing, an area general manager Phil Savage listed as a priority after the Browns ranked last in sacks last season.

The deal for McGinest developed quickly after pass rusher Kalimba Edwards, who was in talks with the Browns, re-signed with Detroit.

McGinest has 78 career sacks, including six last season, and is the NFL's postseason sacks leader with 16.

Not only will McGinest improve the Browns' pass rush, Savage said he will help bring other players to Cleveland.

"He brings a tremendous amount of credibility to our team," Savage said. The Browns also signed offensive lineman Bob Hallen to a two-year contract Wednesday. Hallen is expected to give Cleveland depth at center and guard. He has played in 86 games, including 47 starts, in eight years with San Diego and Atlanta.


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More on the McGinest signing......huge addition by the Browns. :biggrin:

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ABJ

3/16/06
Free-agent McGinest in fold

By Patrick McManamon

Beacon Journal sportswriter

<!-- begin body-content -->BEREA - Andra Davis walked into the Cleveland Browns facility late Tuesday afternoon.

What do you think, Davis was asked? ``Great move,'' he said. ``Our team just got a lot better.''

That move would be the signing of Willie McGinest. A team that needed a pass rusher added the pass rusher with the most sacks on the free-agent market.

``Two-time Pro Bowler,'' General Manager Phil Savage said in describing what the Browns had acquired. ``Three-time Super Bowl winner.

Leadership. Presence. Professionalism... He brings a tremendous amount of credibility to our team.''

McGinest steps into the outside linebacker-pass rush role that the Browns desperately needed. He has 78 career sacks in his 12 seasons, and has forced 15 fumbles. His 16 playoff sacks have come in 18 games and are an NFL high -- and include a four-sack game against Jacksonville in last season's playoffs.

His six sacks last season in New England were more than any player on the Browns.

McGinest scheduled Cleveland as his first visit -- and said he brought no extra clothes for future ones. After spending dinner with Davis and others in downtown Cleveland on Tuesday night, McGinest said he was convinced.

He signed a deal that ESPN.com reported was worth $12 million for three years.

The main reason he came to Cleveland first was coach Romeo Crennel, who was in New England when McGinest was the fourth overall pick in the 1994 draft and was with McGinest when the Patriots won Super Bowls.

``(Crennel's presence) was big because I know the things that Romeo represented and the organization represented, otherwise they wouldn't have him as a head coach,'' McGinest said.

It didn't take the Browns long to give McGinest No. 55, the number worn by Matt Stewart a year ago.

``I'm not coming here to try to make a mark or make history,'' McGinest said. ``I'm just a piece of the puzzle.''

Savage concluded a spin-your-head first five days of free agency by heading to a college workout. Before doing so, he said he had addressed the offensive line (with LeCharles Bentley and Kevin Shaffer), the run defense (with Ted Washington), the punter (with Dave Zastudil) and the pass rush (with McGinest).

``This puts the final piece in place as far as the big-ticket items,'' Savage said.

But never count him out -- and do not discard the possibility Savage could find a way to add more players.

He even said the Browns were willing to consider McGinest and Kalimba Edwards before Edwards re-signed with Detroit.

``We definitely already were looking into it,'' Savage said.

How big was the McGinest signing? Savage compared it to the Browns missing Reggie White in 1993. Savage said signing White would have sent a message to the rest of the league that the Browns were a serious team to contend with.

McGinest sends that message, Savage said.

``He's maybe the most critical Brown we've added the last five, six days,'' he said.

Yet McGinest emphasized team, saying he's just a piece.

``I don't expect to come in and change the world,'' he said. ``I'm putting it out there that I'm a part of it.''

That might be true -- but he's a pretty big part.

That McGinest was even on the market is one of the vagaries of modern-day football. He had been a Patriot for 12 seasons, and had been an integral part of three Super Bowl winners.

But New England released him rather than pay him $7 million in salary and bonuses this season. The Patriots said they hoped to bring him back, but McGinest chose to test the market.

The Browns have added much in the way of veteran presence this offseason, but also have added age. Washington is 38, Jurveicius 31 and McGinest 34.

``Age, as Ted Washington said the other day, is just a number,'' Savage said.

``We tried to look at the guys as football players first and foremost.''

He also said that in the past when he was with the Ravens, he noticed that the Browns were so young, when things went wrong, they spiraled.

``There was no one to turn it around,'' Savage said.

``I think we've made inroads that way.''

Brownies . . .

Savage also announced the signing of lineman Bob Hallen to a two-year contract. Hallen is an eight-year veteran from Mentor and Kent State. He will be a backup at both guard and center.... About the only need Savage has not addressed in free agency is inside linebacker. He said he will do so ``at a certain point.... There's a lot of time to figure out what we're going to do,'' he said.
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Brownies . . .

Savage also announced the signing of lineman Bob Hallen to a two-year contract. Hallen is an eight-year veteran from Mentor and Kent State. He will be a backup at both guard and center.... About the only need Savage has not addressed in free agency is inside linebacker. He said he will do so ``at a certain point.... There's a lot of time to figure out what we're going to do,'' he said.
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And the Browns bring back another Cleveland product. I love these moves. Now just draft OSU players. :p
 
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