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Cleveland Browns (2007 & prior)

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ernie sims didnt body-slam his girlfriend.......i think ernie fits in 4-3 defense a lot better, but dude has skills.....just as fast as aj hawk, prob not quite the tackler and a little bit smaller, but ernie is gonna be a hell of an NFL baller
 
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tsteele316 said:
i read an OBR report link a few days ago that said cleveland was there at fsu's pro day to see bunkley, simms, and cromartie. i guess the rumblings were that cleveland was going to take bunkley at #12, but they were actually concerned that he would be off the board by their pick.

mind you, this is rumor that was overheard by folks who were listening to folks talking to scouts, so the above is definately in the FWIW category.

Also, the browns cutting Amon Gordon makes the need for at least some depth at the DE spot even more crucial.<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->
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1. Houston------- Reggie Bush RB USC

2. New Orleans--- D'brickshaw Ferguson OT Virginia(might trade pick though...)

3. Tennessee----- Matt Leinhart QB USC(reunited with Norm Chow)

4. New York Jets-- Jay Cutler QB Vanderbuilt

5. Green Bay------ Mario Williams DE NC State or A.J Hawk LB OSU

6. San Francisco-- A.J Hawk LB OSU or Mario Williams DE NC State

7. Oakland-------- Vernon Davis TE Maryland

8. Buffalo--------- Haloti Ngata DT Oregon or Broderick Bunkley DT FSU

9. Detroit--------- Michael Huff DB Texas or Winston Justice OT USC

10.Arizona-------- Vince Young QB Texas

11.St.Louis------- Not going to lie... have no clue. Maybe Manny Lawson DE NC St., Jimmy Williams CB/S Va Tech

12.Cleveland------ Broderick Bunkley DT Florida St. or Haloti Ngata DT Oregon

Now thats just a 12 pick mock draft that I came up with in 2 minutes, I have no clue if those picks would hold up, or if a trade with either the Texans or Saints would completely throw it off.

5 teams in the top 12 need a DT(Buffalo, Oakland, Arizona, St. Louis, and Cleveland.) I doubt that Arizona passes on Young at #10. I also doubt that Al Davis passes up a 6'4" 250 lb. TE that runs a 4.38... Rumors are that Buffalo didnt resign Sam Adams because he didnt fit well into their defensive philosophy, and Ngata is kind of similar in size, so they might take a shot at Bunkley. St. Louis recently lost Pickett to the Packers, but i think they will take someone to help their back seven(they also just lost Adam Archulleta(spl?) their S.)

I would be very suprised if both Ngata and Bunkley were off of the board at #12.
 
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ABJ

3/19/06

McManamon on the Browns

Major moves always look good early on

Browns look better on paper after free-agent signings

By Patrick McManamon

<!-- begin body-content -->Euphoria always reigns during NFL free agency.
Players are added, no games have been lost, no injuries have sidelined anyone (barring the impossible act of a player crashing a motorcycle).
The San Francisco 49ers, for instance, are probably gushing over the signing of wide receiver Antonio Bryant.
So it goes regarding the Browns, who spent more than $100 million in bringing in a bounty of free agents.
And the Browns feel as if they have added smarter players that will make them a better team.
Bryant had 1,000 receiving yards last season, but he also dropped 14 passes.
The Browns wanted L.J. Shelton back because he's an NFL left tackle, but they also know that last season he was flagged (by unofficial count) for 13 penalties (not all were accepted).
That averages out to almost one negative play per player per game.
And those are the kinds of plays that kill drives, stop momentum and make winning more difficult.
It doesn't mean that the players who left can't play.
It does mean that the Browns took a look at their negative plays and decided the team would be better served with players who didn't make those mistakes (14 drops for a receiver is near ridiculous).
General Manager Phil Savage believes he has done that with wide receiver Joe Jurevicius and left tackle Kevin Shaffer.
Whether it works will be answered on the field, and to Savage's credit, he realizes that.
``You don't win anything in March,'' he said. ``This obviously has created quite a buzz, but it won't mean a thing if we aren't winning in October.''
Gas in the tank?
The Browns did not get younger with their moves -- especially on defense.
Nose tackle Ted Washington will be 38 next month, and linebacker Willie McGinest is 34.
Both insist age is a state of mind.
``I still have some years left in me,'' Washington said. ``Give me some good guys to back me up and I'll give you three or four more years. My goal was to play 15 years, and I've crossed that. I'm still running, and I can put in a few more years.''
The Browns insisted when they watched Washington on film that he was doing everything he was supposed to do.
McGinest's numbers last season with the New England Patriots do not indicate he was aging. He ranked second on the team with six sacks and led the team with 49 pressures and 19 knockdowns of quarterbacks.
``I have a lot (left),'' McGinest said. ``I don't measure by years. I take it day by day.''
This clearly is a new era in Browns football, one in which a coach values veterans and a general manager is not afraid to sign them.
Said Savage: ``We tried to look at the guys as football players first and foremost, and then make an assessment from there.''
The kicker
The Browns have not had a standout punter since former coach Butch Davis jettisoned Chris Gardocki. Davis thought that Gardocki was done -- and Gardocki helped the Pittsburgh Steelers win Super Bowl XL last season.
When Gardocki was let go, the Browns brought in Derrick Frost, and he had a 7-yard punt against the Baltimore Ravens that led to a loss.
The punter who pinned the Browns deep in their territory that day, forcing poor Frost (who was kicking with a bum leg) to sweat through his jersey as he stood in the back of the end zone in Baltimore?
Dave Zastudil, now lured to the Browns by Savage.
Up the middle
The arrival of center LeCharles Bentley almost certainly means the departure of Jeff Faine.
The Browns could keep Faine as a sixth offensive lineman in case guards Joe Andruzzi or Cosey Coleman are slowed by injury again.
Faine's salary this season is ``only'' $550,000, and his salary cap number is just under $1 million.
It sure seems that the signing of Bob Hallen -- a backup guard and center from Kent State -- means that Faine will be sent elsewhere.
The very fact that he's still playing on his rookie contract, which goes through 2009, makes him a valuable acquisition for a team that wants a center.
It would make sense that the Browns trade Faine for a draft choice before this year's draft.
Brownies . . .
• Optimism reigns about the Browns with all the signings. Don't forget, the Browns also extended the contracts of cornerback Leigh Bodden, linebacker Andra Davis and running back Reuben Droughns prior to free agency, and re-signed defensive tackle Orpheus Roye. That's 10 significant signings.
• It was nice of McGinest to say the Browns organization impressed him, but if Romeo Crennel isn't coach of the Browns, McGinest's plane doesn't fly over Cleveland, much less stop for a visit.
• Linebacker LaVar Arrington has talked extensively with the Cincinnati Bengals.
• Renaldo Hill signed with the Miami Dolphins. Folks thought the former Oakland Raiders safety was coming to the Browns.
• The major need right now? An inside linebacker to pair with Davis.
• McGinest on the difference between a team that struggles and one that wins: ``I think you have to be in a good system and have good coaches. You have to have players that understand what you are doing and buy into the program. I think you have to play good, situational football and understand everything that is going on. If a situation arises, you need to know how to attack it and react. I think you have to have a collective group of guys who want to go out and demolish anything in a different color uniform.''
• The trade of Chris Crocker to the Atlanta Falcons depends on him passing a physical Monday. He had shoulder surgery in January, and the Falcons want to make sure his rehab is progressing.
• No word from the Browns, but reports from Baltimore say the Browns have signed former Ravens backup tight end Darnell Dinkins.
And finally . . .
Talking to folks around the league, the one constant that is mentioned about the Browns is that though they've improved, they have yet to pass the Cincinnati Bengals (assuming Carson Palmer is healthy) and the Steelers.
The concern: Quarterback.
While Browns fans are excited over Charlie Frye, he is still viewed around the league as an unproven third-round draft choice.
With all the additions to the team, the pressure on Frye -- and veteran Trent Dilfer -- has increased. How the quarterback position resolves itself could determine the fate of the 2006 Browns.
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CPD

3/19/06

NFL INSIDER
Browns' attitude on draft is defensive


Sunday, March 19, 2006

Tony Grossi
Plain Dealer Reporter

The day the Browns introduced linebacker Willie McGinest - their "most critical" player in free agency - coach Romeo Crennel was traveling to a scouting mission at Florida State.

He was joined a few hours later by General Manager Phil Savage.

The top two Browns football authorities wanted a firsthand look at a trio of Florida State defensive players holding their workouts - linebacker Ernie Sims, projected linebacker Kamerion Wimbley and nose tackle Brodrick Bunkley.

The day before, the Browns had coaches and scouts on hand to see Alabama linebacker DeMarco Ryans, but Crennel and Savage missed the workout to finalize the McGinest signing. Ryans is a player Savage has tracked for years.

Any of these four players figure to get serious consideration by the Browns on April 29 with their first-round draft pick at No. 12.

Sims is the longest shot of the four. He is fast - he ran 4.55 and 4.48 at his workout - but his smallish size, 5-11 and 231, projects him mostly as a weakside linebacker in a 4-3 system. He had a domestic incident in July that resulted in a no-contest plea to a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct. Sims still is regarded as a mid-first-round player.

Ryans or Wimbley would fit better at outside linebacker in Crennel's defense.

Ryans, 6-1 and 236, ran 4.66 and 4.67 at his pro day after timing 4.65 at the NFL combine. Pro coaches may want him to add about 10 pounds, which wouldn't be a problem. A four-year player who made one start as a true freshman, Ryans had some exposure to the 3-4 defense at Alabama.

He would play weakside linebacker in a 3-4, where Chaun Thompson played last year for the Browns.

Ryans also has a spotless character record. He earned conference All-Academic honors three times and graduated in December after only seven semesters.

At the combine, Ryans said he takes pride in his academic achievements because "I know football isn't going to last forever. . . . You have to have a degree to fall back on just in case things don't go like they're planned."

Wimbley and Bunkley are both rising on draft boards.

Wimbley, 6-4 and 248, could be a fast right end in a 4-3 or a rush linebacker in a 3-4. Most scouting reports say he could easily add 20 pounds without a loss of speed. He clocked 4.61 at the combine. A knee injury sidelined him for three games his senior year, but there are no concerns with it.

Like Ryans, he played four years, starting 12 times in 49 career games, and also has a high grade for character.

Bunkley, 6-3 and 306, has made up ground on No. 1-ranked tackle Haloti Ngata of Oregon. His 44 bench-press reps of 225 pounds at the combine supported the belief that he would do well at controlling two-gaps and still be disruptive as a nose tackle. He also could play defensive end in the 3-4.

Bunkley tore an ACL in his left knee in high school and then another ligament in the same knee his freshman year. He had a severe ankle injury as a junior that required surgery. He was second in the nation last year with 25 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, allaying concerns about the injuries.

Although fans want Savage to ramp up his raid on local talent and do anything to secure Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk, a trade up is highly unlikely. The Browns would have to give up their No. 1 pick in 2007 to consider moving from No. 12 to get Hawk.

A trade down is fun to speculate, but also is unlikely, though an offer conceivably could come out of nowhere with the Browns on the clock.

More likely is Savage sitting at No. 12 and choosing the best player available. Based on what they've done in free agency, a defensive player - possibly among the four discussed here - would be a logical choice.
Fancy meeting you:

True story during Super Bowl week in Detroit:

McGinest and a few acquaintances are squeezed in a crowded elevator in the headquarters hotel. Door opens and Desmond Howard walks in.

From the rear of the elevator, McGinest says, "There he is, the man who beat us." (Howard's 99-yard kickoff-return touchdown sealed Green Bay's 35-21 win over New England in Super Bowl XXXI.)

Grinning from ear to ear, Howard replies, "All it did was start you guys on your roll."

Yes, McGinest eventually experienced three Super Bowl wins with the Patriots. But it was obvious the one loss still burns in his mind.

Remembering Otto (not Graham):

New Browns offensive lineman LeCharles Bentley wore a Browns jersey with No. 00 on it at his introductory news conference for a reason.

He plans to petition the NFL to allow him to wear double zeroes this season in honor of Jim Otto, the great Oakland Raiders center of the 1960s who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980. Otto wore No. 00 because of his palindromic name.

"LeCharles loves what Jim Otto represented," said agent Neil Schwartz. "He was hard-nosed, one of the great old-school centers. LeCharles wants to be considered the same way."

The NFL's uniform code restricts offensive linemen to jersey numbers 50 to 79. Exceptions to the code have been made in the past. Bentley must put his request in writing to Commissioner Paul Tagliabue. (With Tagliabue rumored to be leaning toward retirement, perhaps this ruling could be his last act.)

For the record, no Cleveland Browns player ever has worn No. 00.
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That guy has no clue what hes talking about...

If he thinks we even come close to drafting Ryans in the first he is on some serious crack, same could be said with Sims.

1.Ngata
2.Bunkley
3.Wimbley or Carpenter

Those are the top-4 players that we would consider with the #12 pick.

At least all that Greenway bullshit has disappeared...
 
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That guy has no clue what hes talking about...

If he thinks we even come close to drafting Ryans in the first he is on some serious crack, same could be said with Sims.

1.Ngata
2.Bunkley
3.Wimbley or Carpenter

Those are the top-4 players that we would consider with the #12 pick.
Click to expand...

yes, grossi was way off on that. ryans needs about 3 inches and 30 lbs to be the size of thompson. OLB in a 3-4 is the last place he would play. weakside in a 4-3 perhaps, but not in a 3-4.
 
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Especially since I think Thompson is our second best linebacker, behind Andra Davis.

We need to replace Ben Taylor before anyone else in our linebacking core. Its very important that we sign or draft someone to take that second middle linebacker position. Abdul Hodge and D'Qwell Jackson are the two best MLB in the draft this year, I would love to land one of them in the second, and Hodge is the most realistic to last that long.
 
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I posted this mock on an NFL site, tell me what you think.

First Round

(1) Houston Texans: = Reggie Bush, RB, Southern California

Personally, I think they should trade down and pick up Ferguson and other draft picks, but as of right now all signs point to Mr. Bush being the #1 overall selection in the draft. Hes not an every down back, but for the carries he will get, hes as explosive and dynamic as they come.

(2) New Orleans Saints: = D’Brickashaw Ferguson, OT, Virginia

Tough call here, but the Saints already have a few good young defensive ends in Grant and Will Smith. Quite possibly could trade down.(Especially with the Jets.)

(3) Tennessee Titans: = Matt Leinart, QB, Southern California

Leinhart and Norm Chow are reunited in Tennessee, thats not good news for Titans opponents.

(4) New York Jets: = A.J. Hawk, OLB, Ohio State

Easily the best backer in the draft, and quite possibly defensive player. At 6'1 248 lbs and with freakish athletic ability. 40" vertical jump, he also had the 2nd fastest shuttle time at the whole combine. Has had opponents game plan around him the last two years, will instantly improve the Jets defense.

(5) Green Bay Packers: = Mario Williams, DE, NC St.

With Hawk off of the board, this is a no-brainer.

(6) San Francisco 49ers: = Vernon Davis, TE, Maryland

Sick athlete. 250+ lbs and running a 4.38? 49ers pick Davis to get Alex Smith an easy and explosive target.

(7) Oakland Raiders: = Vince Young, QB, Texas

Ngata is also a possibility, but I cant see Al Davis passing on a player like Vince Young. The Raiders need a starting QB with Collins released, and although Young might not be ready for the starting job, this is the pick.

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Buffalo Bills: = Haloti Ngata, DT, Oregon

Bills lost Sam Adams(not the beer) in FA, so they take the best NT on the board. Conflicting reports say that they dont view Ngata as a good player in their defensive schemes, but until that is confirmed this is the pick.

(9) Detroit Lions: = Michael Huff, DB, Texas

Watch out for another wide reciever here.
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All jokes aside, Huff can play any secondary position, and is the definition of a game changer. The Lions offense is set, so they look for Huff.

(10) Arizona Cardinals: = Jay Cutler, QB, Vanderbilt

After signing Kurt Warner to probably his last contract, the Cards take Jay Cutler for the future. Tough pick here, might also give Jimmy Williams a look at FS.

(11) St. Louis Rams: = Jimmy Williams, DB, Va Tech

Rams lost Adam A. in free agency, so they pick up the Va Tech product in Jimmy Williams. At 6'3" 219 lbs., he has ran a sub-4.4. Put that speed on the famous Rams turf, and watch out!

(12) Cleveland Browns: = Brodrick Bunkley, DT, Florida State

Browns are in love with Bunkley. He would be a great fit at DE in the 3-4. Runs a sub-5.0, and does 44 bench reps. I saw this guy running his 40 yard dash on TV, and I was ready to duck...

(13) Baltimore Ravens: = Winston Justice, OT, USC

Ogden is aging, and they also recently released Orlando Brown. Might take USC running back LenDale White here, but they signed Mike Anderson in free agency.

(14) Philadelphia Eagles: = Santonio Holmes, WR, OSU

Best wide reciever in the draft. Scouts timed him at anywhere from 4.27-4.34 at the OSU Pro Day. Despite his great speed, his route running is his greatest asset. Also levels linebackers when run blocking.

(15) Atlanta Falcons: = Tye Hill, CB, Clemson

Probably the fastest CB is this class, Hill will occupy the corner opposite of D'Angelo Hall, forming the best set of young corners in the game.

(16) Miami Dolphins: = Manny Lawson, OLB, NC St.

Jason Taylor anyone? 4.41 40 time at 250 lbs. Nick Saban loves aggressive defensive players with speed to burn. I think Lawsons size tempts the Dolphins to draf him over Sims.

(17) Minnesota Vikings: = Ko Simpson, S, South Carolina

One of the fastest safeties in the country. Will pair with Sharper to form a very scary set of safeties. Sims is also a possiblity, but its hard to tell as of right now who the pick is.

(1
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Dallas Cowboys: = Bobby Carpenter, OLB, Ohio State

The best prospect you havent heard of, thanks to Hawk. 6'2" 254 lbs., runs a sub-4.6 when healthy. Coming off of minor injury, but isnt anything serious. Definition of a football player. If he gets hurt, he wont wait for the trainers, he runs off of the field so that the game doesnt get held up.

(19) San Diego Chargers: = Eric Winston, OT, Miami

Was a top-15 prospect if he came out last year, until he got injured. Fell out of the 1st round for a bit, but after his good combine this is where he will probably go.

(20) Kansas City Chiefs: = Antonio Cromartie, CB, FSU

Good size and speed for an NFL corner, also can stop the run. I think he barely gets the nod of Ashton Youboty.

(21) New England Patriots: = DeAngelo Williams, RB, Memphis

Shocked that Williams falls this far, they take his without hesitation. Corey Dillon is getting up there in years.

(22) Denver Broncos (from Washington Redskins): = Chad Jackson, WR, Florida

Questions about his toughness, but this is the pick here. Rod Smith is getting old, and Jackson would fit nicely into the Broncos offense. Nice size and speed.

(23) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: = Ernie Sims, LB, FSU

Well, the G-men are PISSED that he didnt drop, but what can you do? Sims could be the next Derrick Brooks, and would fit the defensive scheme well.

(24) Cincinnati Bengals: = Donte Whitner, SS, OSU

A mixture of Mike Doss and Bob Sanders. 5'11 206 lbs, runs a 4.3. Great in run support, but also can hold his own in pass coverage. Blows up plays in the back field, and is a fierce hitter.

(25) New York Giants: = Chad Greenway, LB, Iowa

Slipped alot due to a well.... pretty bad combine performance. Is a smart player, and under the right coaching and system will be a great NFL linebacker.

(26) Chicago Bears: = Leonard Pope, TE, Georgia

Desperately need a TE. Honeslty, I have no clue who the Bears pick here, but thats what their draft needs web site said.
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(27) Carolina Panthers: = Thomas Howard, LB

Raw but very athletic. TE is also a possiblity, but need to draft a LB thanks to free agency.

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Jacksonville Jaguars: = LenDale White, RB, USC

Surprised that he drops this far, they draft him for the future, and in case Fragile Fred Taylor gets hurt again.

(29) Denver Broncos: = Mathias Kiwanuka, DE, Boston College

With Trevor Pryce becoming a Raven, Kiewanuka will be asked to become the next Trevor Pryce. His stock has dropped his senior year thanks to injuries and inconsistency, but he can grow into a great DE.

(30) Indianapolis Colts: = Laurence Maroney, RB, Minnesota

No brainer here, Edge to Cards means Maroney to the Colts.

(31) Seattle Seahawks: = Taitusi Lutui, G, USC

With Hutch's status up in the air, the Hawks draft the best guard in the draft.

(32) Pittsburgh Steelers: = Nick Mangold, C, Ohio State

Called by one NFL scout the best center to come out of college in the last 15 years. Mangold is a smart, athletic center that made all of the line calls in college.

This is my first mock. Let me know if I forgot anyone or something.
 
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buckeye247 said:
the last time we drafted a defensive lineman from florida look what happened. I dont think bunkley is the answer. I would rather trade down than take bunkley.
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so because butch davis, a known poor evaluator of talent, took a UF kid 5 years ago that failed, phil savage, a known good evaluator of talent, shouldn't take a kid that plays a similar position from FSU?

tough to argue that logic. and what exact question is bunkley not the answer to?
 
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buckeye247 said:
the last time we drafted a defensive lineman from florida look what happened. I dont think bunkley is the answer. I would rather trade down than take bunkley.
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I've never seen Bunkley play, but everything I've heard says that he could be a dominate DE in the Browns 3-4. Give him a couple years to develop he might be able to move over to NT. DE is the one other position that they need to fill this off season to fix the run D. On the other hand I wouldn't mind seeing them trade down and get Carp in the first round and gain 1 or 2 more picks. If they did trade down I bet they could get a good enough DE/DT in the 2nd round to start next year.
Seeing that Faine's contract runs until 2009 I hope the Browns can at least get a 2nd round pick for him. He is a great deal for someone. If they don't trade him I expect to see him starting at center next season.
 
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Bunkley runs a 4.9 at 6'3" 306 lbs, and his agility drills were better than most of the defensive ends.

Like ive already said, ive never seen more muscular arms on a 300 lb. DT.

Ideally I want them to trade down and get Carpenter, but that doesnt look like its going to happen.
 
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