Cleveland Browns (2007 & prior)

[exhawg]

The rumor is that Baltimore will take a QB if Cutler or Young drop that far. Minnesota(pick 19 I believe) also wants to take a QB because Brad Johnson is old, so they might be willing to trade up with the Browns so the Ravens dont get the last QB.

Yeah the Browns will get some power if 2 of the top 3 QB's are gone by their pick, knowing the Ravens will probably take one if given the chance. Someone would have to be willing to trade up for Young or Cutler.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

4/21/06

Browns fans who have fantasized about the team moving up from the 12 th pick in the NFL draft in order to select Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk probably can forget about that. The Browns like Hawk, but he figures to be a top-five pick (or close to it), and team officials don’t want to spend the money to draft that high. Last year, the Browns ran into trouble negotiating with receiver Braylon Edwards, who was taken No. 3 overall. Unless Hawk somehow falls several spots, the Browns are unlikely to go after him.
With a deep class of tailbacks this year, the Browns are quietly optimistic that they can land a quality third-down back in the middle rounds. They are in the market for a change-of-pace runner to complement Reuben Droughns, and players such as Brian Calhoun of Wisconsin, Maurice Drew of UCLA and Andre Hall of South Florida could be potential steals.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

4/21/06

Catching on with Browns

Friday, April 21, 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]


NFL DRAFT
April 29-30
TV ESPN
BROWNS Pick 12th overall

BEREA - The tendency is to oversimplify Cleveland’s draft plan into “defense, defense, defense.”
The reality is closer to “defense, defense, offense.”
“Since September, we’ve tried to emphasize a few things (regarding personnel needs),” Browns General Manager Phil Savage said. “One is pass rush. Two is run defense. Three is scoring more points.”
Forget defense for a moment. Instead, focus on receivers the Browns might draft in Rounds 2 through 5 next weekend.
The handful of viable candidates could get sucked away by the sheer volume of a 32-team draft. But keep an eye on Oklahoma’s Travis Wilson, a 6-foot-2 speedster who “is gonna be a good value for someone,” Savage said.
Seen as a solid first-round candidate coming off an 11-touchdown 2004 season, Wilson averaged fewer than three catches per game in 2005, as he battled a high ankle sprain and adjusted to a new quarterback.
Remember, Savage went with Sooners twice in 2005, picking safety Brodney Pool in Round 2 and cornerback Antonio Perkins in Round 4.
Then there is Western Michigan’s Greg Jennings as early as Round 3.
“He’s another of these MAC players who seemed to come out of nowhere,” Savage said. “He’s very solid.”
The 5-11 Jennings caught 10 passes, two for touchdowns, in the 2003 season opener against Michigan State. In a 2005 season opener against Virginia, he had 16 catches.
Savage also has kept tabs on Jason Avant, who started opposite Braylon Edwards at Michigan in 2004.
“He’s more of a possession-style receiver, but he’s a physical threat on the outside and a good special teams player,” Savage said.
The expansion-era Browns have drafted wideouts in a second round four times, but not since 2002. They spent last year’s No. 3 overall pick on Edwards.
It would be a stone-cold stunner if they spent No. 12 overall on a wide receiver.
In Wednesday’s first-round mock draft involving 32 beat writers who cover the NFL for The Sporting News, only two wideouts were picked:
n Chad Jackson (Florida), No. 14, Eagles.
n Santonio Holmes (Ohio State), No. 16, Dolphins.
That doesn’t mean first-round candidate Sinorice Moss (Miami, Fla.) will slip to the Browns at No. 43 in the second round, but you never know.
“He’s a real speed merchant,” Savage said. “He had a real good Senior Bowl week.”
Moss is short at 5-8. It doesn’t help he caught just 37 passes in 2005. It doesn’t hurt that his brother, Santana, had a 1,483-yard 2005 for the Redskins.
Adding a quality receiver will pay dividends if Dennis Northcutt doesn’t recover from a lackluster 2005 or doesn’t play for the Browns beyond 2006. After Northcutt is gone, the Browns also might need a wideout to return punts.
Another candidate for the No. 43 overall spot is 6-2 Demetrius Williams of Oregon. He averaged 19 yards on 50 catches in 2005. All five of his grabs against Southern Cal produced first downs.
Savage mentioned Oregon State’s Mike Hass, a later-round bargain who drops because his 40 times are in the 4.6 range.
“He’s been a prolific pass catcher,” Savage said. “He knows how to get open.”
Hass was dismissed by college powerhouses despite catching 1,739 yards worth of passes as a high school senior. He walked on at Oregon State, and had 1,379 receiving yards in 2004.
Hass had a highlight-reel game against Louisville in 2005, making one-handed catches and diving grabs and responding toughly to cheap shots that drew flags. He had nine catches for first downs.
Some see the 6-1 Hass as a shorter version of Joe Jurevicius.
Judging from Savage’s comments, Florida State’s Willie Reid is on the Browns’ second-day radar. He spent 2003 as a tailback, had 50 catches as a wideout in 2005 and finished his career second to Deion Sanders in Florida State punt return yards.
Naturally, Savage is keeping some secrets. It is not known how highly he values 6-4 Miami (Ohio) wideout Martin Nance.
Nance had a monster 2003 season as Ben Roethlisberger’s favorite target and could be reunited with the QB in Pittsburgh. Savage vaguely said Akron speedster Domenik Hixon, Charlie Frye’s favorite target in 2004, interests the Browns as “an athlete.” Reach Repository sports writer Steve Doerschuk at (330) 580-8347 or e-mail: [email protected]


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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

4/22/06

Drew mystery of Browns’ draft

Saturday, April 22, 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]


BEREA - Run through this year’s AFC playoff teams.
Notice the common thread among the feature backs. There’s another guy who has their backs.
That’s why the Browns are thinking hard about spending a second-round pick on a right-hand man — maybe UCLA’s Maurice Drew — for Reuben Droughns.
It appears Plan A is to spend a first-day pick on a back, if a good one falls into the right slot. Plan B is hoping Lee Suggs stays healthy, which hasn’t happened for three years.
The AFC North champion Bengals rode Rudi Johnson for 1,458 rushing yards, but they also got 607 rushing-receiving yards from Chris Perry.
Pittsburgh leap-frogged the Bengals to a Super Bowl with a running rotation that included Willie Parker (1,202 rushing yards), Jerome Bettis (368 yards, nine TDs) and Verron Haynes (387 combined yards).
AFC West king Denver got 239 carries from Mike Anderson, 173 from Tatum Bell and 53 from Ron Dayne.
It wasn’t that way with the Browns as Droughns carried 309 times. Suggs, William Green and Jason Wright totaled just 39 carries for 120 yards and 14 receptions for 71 yards.
All over drew
General Manager Phil Savage and Head Coach Romeo Crennel are in the market for a guy like Drew, an uncommonly short back who bears an uncanny resemblance to an old Crennel favorite, Joe Morris.
Bill Rees, Savage’s right-hand man, flew to Los Angeles to take Drew to lunch. The Browns met with Drew twice at the NFL Combine and later attended his Pro Day.
“He’s only 5-foot-6, but he’s an excellent returner and receiver, and a very competitive runner,” Reese said of Drew. “And he plays bigger.”
The Drew camp sees Cleveland grabbing him if he’s available at No. 43 in the second round. However, the Patriots, Colts and Steelers, late in the first round, also seem interested.
If Drew is still on the board after Round 1, the Jets and Raiders — both ahead of Cleveland — might take the plunge.
There are other options.
“This draft might be devoid of some of the true bell-cow backs, the big physical runners,” Rees said, “but there are a number of change-of-pace backs.”
BUSH, then the others
In a first-round mock draft among the 32 NFL correspondents for The Sporting News, four running backs were picked:
n No 1 overall, Texans, Reggie Bush, USC.
n No. 27 overall, Panthers, Laurence Maroney, Minnesota.
n No. 30 overall, Colts, DeAngelo Williams, Memphis.
n No. 32 overall, Steelers, LenDale White, USC.
If that holds, the top backs available to the Browns at No. 43 look to be Drew, LSU’s Joseph Addai, Wisconsin’s Brian Calhoun and South Florida’s Andre Hall.
Coincidentally, nfldraftscout.com ranks Addai as the 43rd-best player in the draft. The 5-foot-11, 214-pounder was impressive at the Combine, running a 4.4 40 and posting a 38 1/2-inch vertical jump.
“He can catch real well,” Rees said. “He has a slashing style. He does a great job picking up the blitz. He’s a very good all-around back.”
some options for later
Hall confirmed his reputation as a fast back at the Combine, where he was measured at 5-foot-8 1/2, 208 pounds. He has made three stops — Georgia Military Academy, Garden City College and South Florida — since 2002.
He gained good exposure against a Big East schedule, breaking out against Syracuse with 222 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Against a strong North Carolina State defense in a bowl game, he had 167 rushing-receiving yards.
“He has good hands, he has good vision and he’s very competitive,” Rees said.
The 5-foot-9, 201-pound Calhoun rushed for 810 yards at Colorado in 2003 before transferring to Wisconsin and sitting out a year. He stayed busy helping the Badgers’ track team win a Big Ten track championship in the 400-meter relay.
He had a monster year in 2005, with 1,636 rushing yards and 571 receiving yards. He crushed Auburn for 213 yards and was MVP of the Capital One Bowl.
“He was extremely productive at Wisconsin,” Rees said. “He’s a very good receiver.”
You have to be a very good mind reader to know the Browns’ true intentions. It appears Drew is the best of what they want at the price they’re willing to pay. But keep an eye on Calhoun. Reach Repository sports writer Steve Doerschuk at (330) 580-8347 or e-mail: [email protected]


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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

4/22/06

NFL DRAFT
Well positioned

Early prep work, signings let Browns zero in on needs

Friday, April 21, 2006

Tony Grossi
Plain Dealer Reporter

Browns General Manager Phil Savage said he started plotting the 2006 draft shortly after Thanksgiving, 21 weeks ago.
In round-the-clock scouting meetings, he and his staff projected where the top players might be taken. They did so to evaluate what might be available to them in the draft’s first three rounds, ostensibly to pinpoint what needs they should first address in free agency.
After spending more than $100 million in future contracts on eight free agents, Savage is ready to spring into Part 2 of his plan to upgrade the Browns.
“I think as we start to put some putty into the holes, the holes start becoming less and less prevalent,” Savage said.
Here’s a capsule analysis of the team’s positions as the April 29-30 draft approaches.

Linebacker


Level of need: High.

The addition of Willie McGinest firmed up the left side of the unit. He and Andra Davis should be a stout pair. But a young outside pass rusher and a complement to Davis at right inside are still missing.

Defensive line


Level of need: High.
Level of need: High.

A protege for nose tackle Ted Washington and a defensive end capable of challenging for a starting spot would address deficiencies at pass rush and run defense. Preview coming Saturday.

Running back
Level of need: High.

Savage and coach Romeo Crennel each have expressed a desire for a change-of-pace back to spell Reuben Droughns on third down. Frustration with Lee Suggs’ annual injuries could hasten his exit. His replacement would come from the draft. Preview coming Sunday.

Offensive line


Level of need: Moderate.

The signings of center LeCharles Bentley, offensive tackle Kevin Shaffer and guard-center Bob Hallen solidified the unit. The quest for a young, promising tackle continues. Preview coming Monday.

Receiver


Level of need: Zero.
Quarterback


Level of need: Low.

Browns starting quarterbacks on opening day the past four years: Tim Couch (2002), Kelly Holcomb (2003), Jeff Garcia (2004), Trent Dilfer (2005). Will Dilfer break the skein and hold the job a second year in a row? Or will the Charlie Frye era begin? All Savage and Crennel will say is the team doesn’t need another quarterback. Preview coming Wednesday.
Secondary


Level of need: Moderate.

The questions here focus mostly on safety. Which of the successive No. 2 picks, Brodney Pool and Sean Jones, will emerge to take the starting strong safety spot? And if both turn into players, could one unseat Brian Russell at free safety? Backups at cornerback and safety are annual needs. Preview coming Thursday.

Scouting the linebackers

Phil Savage calls projecting an outside linebacker in the 3-4 defense “the meat and potatoes of scouting.” Savage’s list of outside ’backers includes some college defensive ends whose speed warrants a look. Several linebackers listed as outside types in the 4-3 are projected by Savage to play inside in the 3-4. Overall, it’s a good year to be looking for linebackers.

BROWNS NEEDS

The signing of Willie McGinest increases — not lessens — the urgency for another rush linebacker. A young edge rusher on the weak side would benefit from McGinest’s knowledge of Romeo Crennel’s 3-4 defense. An inside linebacker to play next to Andra Davis is still a major need. He is more likely to come in Round 2 or 3.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

4/22/06

A trade for Hawk? Why not?

By Terry Pluto

<!-- begin body-content -->Here's what I hear about the Browns' draft, and here's what I think...
• I hear General Manager Phil Savage saying that the Browns need linebackers. Inside, outside, all over the line. They have Andra Davis, they added Willie McGinest and then they have a bunch of guys.
• I hear Savage saying Ohio State's A.J. Hawk will be a tremendous player, adding he's the ``safest pick in the draft.'' Savage thinks Hawk can start right away, and I think he's right.
• I think Savage is sincere. If he says he thinks Hawk will be a terrific player and a safe pick, then I think that's what he believes.
• I hear Savage then saying he won't trade his No. 12 pick and next year's first-rounder to move up to get Hawk.
• I think, ``Why not explore this a little more? Suppose you can trade your top picks this year and next year, but perhaps get a future second-rounder or a couple of middle-round picks in return -- along with Hawk? Why not seriously consider that?''
• I think the Browns need Hawk not because he's from Ohio State, but because he's the best linebacker in the draft. Being from OSU should be an asset because so many of their players have turned out to be good pros.
• I think Ohio State's Mike Kudla is going to make some team very happy, especially if he drops into the middle rounds, as projected. I hope that team is the Browns.
• I hear the Browns are bringing in University of Texas quarterback Vince Young, yet I hear Savage saying he really doesn't want to pick another quarterback. I hear him talk about being ``down the road with Charlie Frye.''
• I think the Browns realize Young might drop to them. I think they know he's the best athlete in the draft. I think they realize the guy played great against OSU -- which should count for a lot, because it was on the road. He played great against USC, supposedly one of the best college teams ever. He plays great in big games.
• I hear Player Personnel Director Bill Rees of the Browns talk about attending Young's workout, and how Rees was impressed with Young's size (6-foot-5, 229 pounds) and how he thinks the Browns would only have to change 30 to 40 percent of the offense to accommodate Young.
• I hear Rees and Savage talk about Young's athleticism, how he's quick enough and strong enough to scramble out of his own mistakes and away from defenders.
• I hear Savage then say if Young falls to No. 12, he'd probably be fielding phone calls to make a trade.
• I think the Browns are torn about the Texas quarterback. I think part of them believes at No. 12 that Young could be the steal of the draft.
• I think the Browns also worry Young could be a bust, that he spent his college career playing out of the shotgun, and that he could have trouble with an offense that has him taking snaps under center. I think they fear that if they're wrong, they would have trashed the No. 12 pick -- and this team needs so much.
• I think the Browns believe they can get a very good defensive lineman at No. 12. Rees said there was a decent chance either Oregon's Haloti Ngata or Florida State's Brodrick Bunkley will be there. The Browns like them both and would be content to grab one.
• I think that's the start of a good draft, but I keep thinking about Young and Hawk. I keep thinking they both could make the biggest impact on the team. I think I'm like the Browns on Young. I love him, and I'm afraid of him -- afraid I could be wrong.
• I think Savage is trying harder to get Hawk than he intends to let on. I think if Hawk is indeed the best linebacker and the safest pick in the draft, as Savage said, then the Browns should creatively pursue him. If it means trading first-rounders this year and one in the future, I'd think about it if I could get some reasonable future picks in return.
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

4/22/06

Responsibilities weigh on huge lineman

Oregon's Ngata could fill middle for Browns, but family comes first

By Marla Ridenour

Beacon Journal sportswriter

<!-- begin body-content -->Haloti Ngata stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 338 pounds. His size 16EEEEE shoes are so huge they come shipped one to a box. His thighs measure between 32 and 34 inches, the size of many people's waists.
His shoulders, though, cannot be broad enough.
In the past four years, the All-American defensive tackle from the University of Oregon has been dealing with the deaths of his father, Solomone, 45, and his mother, Olga, 44.
Solomone, a truck driver, was killed in December 2002 when his rig slipped off an icy freeway ramp in Salt Lake City and rolled over several times.
His mother, who worked for Southwest Airlines, died in January when she suffered an apparent heart attack while undergoing kidney dialysis at a Phoenix hospital. Her poor health had prompted Haloti to forgo his final year of eligibility at Oregon just weeks before and to declare for this year's NFL Draft, which will be Saturday and Sunday.
``It has been tough,'' Ngata said in a February interview at the NFL scouting combine, addressing the loss of his mother. ``I'm happy she's finally somewhere she's happy and comfortable with no more body problems.
``My dad and my mom are finally going to see me play together.''
Ngata, 22, finds himself charged with providing for his four siblings. The Tongan-born Ngatas have three more boys and a girl, ranging in age from 26 to 18. The oldest son lives in Las Vegas, where Ngata said he might live. The rest are in their native Los Angeles.
``He has a huge extended family of cousins and relatives all depending on him,'' Oregon coach Mike Bellotti said.
``I went to his dad's funeral, and one (family member) stood up and said, `We're all counting on you to take care of the family.' I remember thinking, `He's 18 years old. What a difficult thing to put on somebody's shoulders. I hope he doesn't get hurt.' ''
Bellotti said that when Olga Ngata died, he suspected Haloti initially wanted to stay in his comfort zone at Oregon. His teammates and the Ducks' staff helped him cope when his father died after his freshman season. He lives in a house with six other massive football-playing Polynesians.
``But then he thought, `I've got to take over. My brothers and sisters don't have a parent,' '' Bellotti said.
Bellotti said Ngata has a large support system that includes his uncle Haloti, his mother's younger brother, and Larry Wilson, his football coach at Highland High in Salt Lake City. Wilson, now a teacher and rugby assistant at Highland, has been training Ngata as he prepares for the draft.
Wilson said that Ngata was devastated by his mother's death, but that his religious beliefs were comforting.
``He has deep faith and believes his mom is with his dad, and if he lives a worthwhile life, he will be reunited with them,'' Wilson said.
``Both deaths were a shock, but he's handled it better than the majority of people could. His head is in the right place. Life may have forced him to grow up a little sooner than he wanted to.''
Ngata is expected to be among the top 15 picks in the draft. The Browns would consider him if he's still available at No. 12. The million-dollar signing bonus that he would receive for being chosen in the upper half of the first round should take some of the pressure off Ngata (pronounced Na-ta).
``One of his real motivating factors is the opportunity to provide for his brothers and sisters,'' Wilson said. ``But he also doesn't want to make their life easy, just easier. He's not going to give his siblings money for a house or a car. That's not in their best interest. He might make a down payment for a house so they'll have a comfortable payment.''
If he felt the strain of such upcoming decisions at the combine, Ngata didn't show it. Although soft-spoken, he commanded respect.
``He has a presence about him,'' Wilson said. ``His demeanor is much louder than his voice.''
Said Bellotti: ``He's bigger than life. If you look at his face, you'd think he's a scholarly student or a music person. He's got a gentle manner about him. But when he gets riled up, watch out. He can take over the world.''
Bellotti saw that during a four-game stretch last season when, he said, Ngata was unstoppable.
``They practically couldn't block him,'' Bellotti said. ``They'd run a screen or a sweep and he'd make the tackle on the sideline. There were flashes I'd think, `Wow, that's pretty awesome.' ''
Wilson marveled over Ngata's talents in high school, where he excelled as a second-row rugby player. He also wrestled his first two years and finished second in the state. He then was forced to quit the sport because of a 275-pound weight restriction. At that time, he was 6-3 ½, 305 pounds.
``He was an elite high school rugby player,'' Wilson said. ``Watching him perform was just incredible. It's very, very rare to see someone of that size have that grace, agility, body control and quickness afoot. Sometimes I take it for granted.''
Wilson said he knew after Ngata's ninth grade football season that he had a future, so he sat him down with his parents to talk about academics. Wilson said Ngata accepted the criticism, realizing that he needed to learn how to study.
At Oregon, the biggest knock on Ngata has been a tendency for taking plays off. Bellotti said, ``Haloti would be the first to say he has to work on his consistency.''
Wilson and Bellotti have no doubt that Ngata will dedicate himself in the NFL, especially when his success will mean so much to his family.
``He's got the weight of the world on his shoulders,'' Bellotti said. ``But he's always made good decisions.''
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

4/22/06

Cleveland's great draft drought

Sunday, April 23, 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]


Browns. Cavs.
Prodigal brothers together in the sun today. Between landmark Saturdays.
The NFL team got a buzz going with free-agent signings that have fans fired up for the draft. The NBA team ended a 2,913-day drought between playoff games.
For seven seasons from 1998-99 through 2004-05, the Cavs were 207-335, a losing percentage of .667.
For seven years from 1999-2005, the Browns went 36-76, a losing percentage of .679.
You want those kind of numbers the way a golfer wants a 9 on a par 3.
The Browns have a better excuse. They were an expansion team. Both, though, were down for the same basic reason: Shanking high draft picks.
Dud drafts, dead drafts, doomed drafts. Drafts that didn’t generate enough wind to blow a cotton puff off a table.
Browns. Cavs. Guilty as charged.
One of them got an incredible reward for its multitude of draft sins — LeBron James.
But without whiffs on first-round picks from 1999 through 2002, there is no way the Cavaliers could have gotten to April 2003 with the 17-65 record that bought them enough ping-pong balls to win the lottery for James.
one no-brainer, one true find
General Manager Jim Paxson received and deserved no credit for spending the No. 1 overall pick on James. He’d have been tarred and feathered for taking anyone else.
Cavs owner Dan Gilbert fired Paxson last April, ending a run that began in 1998 when Paxson was hired as Wayne Embry’s protégé.
By the fall of 2004, Paxson was paying for a series of first-round mistakes. His one stroke of genius — taking Carlos Boozer in the second round in 2002 — turned sour when Boozer bolted after just two years with the team.
In re-making the team after Boozer’s exit, Paxson said, “My job is to provide Paul Silas as many resources as possible to win games.”
Yet, he had stuck the old head coach with the likes of DeSegana Diop, a No. 8 pick in 2001 who didn’t become a decent backup center until he left.
Silas didn’t last the 2004-05 season. Paxson did, but that was all.
Everyone knows of the Browns’ tortured draft history since they came back as an expansion team.
It can be argued that Paxson’s first-round drafting, excluding James, was worse than the football team’s.
Savage, Ferry know their roles
Both franchises aim to change their fortunes with young general managers.
The Browns’ Phil Savage, who turned 41 on April 7, will conduct his second draft next weekend.
The Cavs’ Danny Ferry, who turns 40 on Oct. 17, was hired a day before last June’s NBA draft.
The jury is out on Savage until his 2005 class starring Braylon Edwards, Brodney Pool and Charlie Frye makes its run through 2006.
The honeymoon is on for Ferry, whose free agency moves helped deliver a 50-win season but who didn’t have a draft pick last year.
Ferry didn’t return calls seeking input for this story. A liaison said, “He’s probably not going to get into what happened before he got here.”
Savage has been discrete about criticizing past drafts but did say, “This was a team that was devoid of a lot of young talent when we got here.”
He said the April 29-30 draft is important for three reasons.
“Obviously,” he said, “it’s the next step in the process of trying to rebuild. You do that from the inside out in the draft. Players grow inside our own building.
“Secondly, it’s an opportunity to continue to fill our holes, to play off of what we did in free agency.
“Thirdly, this is our second year together as a staff, from a coaching and scouting standpoint. We are trying to blend the two sides together. We can be more specific about what our needs are and how certain players are going to fit on our roster and within our scheme.”
No lebron to be found in NFL draft
Since basketball teams have five starters and football teams have 22, it is far easier for one superstar to change the world with the round ball.
James did.
The Browns, on the other hand, needed multiple draft hits to make that happen. They needed their two No. 1 overall picks, two No. 3 overall picks and a No. 6 overall pick to be cluster stars.
Tim Couch, Courtney Brown, Gerard Warren, Kellen Winslow Jr. and Braylon Edwards, however, have added up to one throbbing pain.
Bad luck plus bad judgment equal one large crater for Savage and Head Coach Romeo Crennel. It didn’t help that Savage’s first pick, Edwards, blew out a knee in December.
As Savage put it last week before going into seclusion for the draft, “This was a team that was devoid of a lot of young talent when we got here.”
More hurt than help is associated with all seven of the Browns’ first-round picks since 1999. This adds pressure to the management of Saturday’s first-round pick.
“We feel pretty good about our position, about what we’ve done with free agents,” Crennel said. “We’re gonna be better on paper.”
With that, Crennel looked at the paper he was holding and laughed. The paper will look different after Saturday, especially on the off chance Texas quarterback Vince Young falls to No. 12. Drafting Young would trigger a tidal wave of opinion, along the lines of Ferry when the Cavs acquired him in a blockbuster 1990 deal.
Ferry was going to be the next Larry Bird. He was more like the next Barry Clemens.
Will Young be a better version of Michael Vick, or get scrambled by NFL schemes? It’s Savage’s job to guess right.
“You don’t want to get caught with your pants down, not having done as much research as you could, particularly on first-round players,” Savage said. “In the seventh round, people aren’t going to care that much. People are watching the No. 12 pick pretty intently.”
playing ‘what if?’ with cavs
Because of the salary cap and free agency, no NBA team keeps years of draft classes together. It is amusing, though, to consider a Cavs’ dream team, made up of players who were passed over within the last 10 drafts.
Point guard: Steve Nash. He was available in 1996 when the Cavs picked Vitaly Potapenko at No. 12. The next five picks were Kobe Bryant, Predag Stojakovic, Nash, Tony Delk and Jermaine O’Neal.
Shooting guard: Bryant (see above) would work. But since Nash is the point guard, Michael Redd. The Ohio State scorer slipped to the second round in 2000. The Cavs spent the No. 7 pick on underwhelming center Chris Mihm.
Forward: Richard Jefferson. The Cavs could have had the mid-sized scorer in 2001 at No. 8, but preferred Diop, who totaled 40 points last season, when Jefferson averaged 22.2.
Forward: Ron Artest. The Cavs picked Trajan Langdon at No. 11 in 1999. The Bulls grabbed Artest five picks later.
Forward: Amare Stoudemire. The Suns got him after Cleveland took guard DaJaun Wagner at No. 6 in 2002.
Nash was league MVP last year. Redd averaged 25.1 points this year. Jefferson helped the Nets win a division title. Artest was NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2004. Stoudemire averaged 26 points and nine rebounds last season to help the Suns finish 62-20.
At least the Cavs got an effective center in Zydrunas Ilgauskas with the 20th pick of the 1996 draft — eight spots after Potapenko.
For now, the gloom has passed. A wave of optimism has washed over the wayward basketball and football teams. There’s even a growing synergy between them.
“I love LeBron,” Browns linebacker Andra Davis said. “He’s the next Michael Jordan.”
Whether it is or isn’t a good thing, it’s a fact: The Cavs got bad enough to qualify for James, and now they’re in the playoffs.
The Browns? Perhaps they can make a move if knee surgeries work for Edwards and Winslow, and Dr. Phil does well in the operating room next weekend. Reach Repository sports writer Steve Doerschuk at (330) 580-8347 or e-mail: [email protected]


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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

4/24/06

Savage probably won’t be needing that brake job

Monday, April 24, 2006


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



I think the Browns’ starting quarterback for 2006 will come from the draft.
Last year’s draft, not Saturday’s.
Unless Charlie Frye bombs in the preseason, I think he’s the guy.
I think almost everybody thinks that, including Phil Savage, Romeo Crennel, and you.
Not that dried ink has eyes and mind-reading properties, but ...
I think you — or a lot of you — will change your minds if Vince Young drops into the Browns’ lap at No. 12 overall.
The mystery as to whether NFL defenses will be too mind-blowing for Young is why there’s speculation the Texas QB might be there.
The theory he will be new-age superstar in the NFL, as he was in college, is why he won’t be there. It only takes one general manager to buy it. And there are more than that who do ... I think.
What if Jay Cutler falls to No. 12 instead?
Savage rambled on about the Vanderbilt QB, who has a better arm than Frye, and a certain grit and defiance.
“We’ve spent a lot of time with Jay,” Savage said. “Several of us met him on campus during the fall and then interviewed him at the Combine.
“We feel pretty comfortable with him. The difference, too, is that Jay is a senior and he has been playing a lot of football at Vanderbilt. That’s what happens with a lot of these juniors.
“On one hand it may help them because we can’t look into them as much in a three- or four-month period as you can over the course of the year. On the other hand, it may hurt them because we don’t know enough about them sometimes and it is a guess.
“The cornerback group in particular, you talk about a group that is shrouded in mystery. Some of those guys are going to go really high and it’s basically going to be all on exposures. That’s tough to do when you pick a player and a name is attached to it.”
So what did Savage say?
Basically, he confided that Cutler was a senior. Thanks for that.
The worry is that Cutler could become Cleveland’s Kyle Boller. I don’t see how Savage could avoid factoring in that thought.
Playing at Vanderbilt enabled Cutler to ride an underdog’s mentality. As a No. 12 overall pick, he’d be stuck with a front-runner role.
If the Browns didn’t have Frye, they’d have to take a chance on Cutler at No. 12. They do have Frye, and I think that eliminates the Vandy man.
I see Cutler as nothing but trade bait if he falls to No. 12.
Savage was talking about picking Young, not Cutler, when he said:
“We have started going down the path with Charlie. At this junction, to put on the brakes, back out of that road and try to head down another one may not make as much sense as it should.”
I suspect the Browns will emerge from the draft with a new third-down back, and the same quarterback they played in 2005.
But which part of 2005?
Trent Dilfer is a competitive guy with loads of experience, some talent, and a big thirst for a last hurrah. I suspect he’ll have a good training camp.
I suspect Mo Carthon will have a better grip on play-calling after months of offseason meetings and meshing with the same group of assistants. I suspect Romeo Crennel has been very involved in tweaking the offense.
I suspect Kellen Winslow Jr. and Joe Jurevicius will make a difference. I’d be shocked if LeCharles Bentley doesn’t equate to a better comfort level in the pocket, and setting up passes with runs.
Give Dilfer all of that, and I suspect he’ll look noticeably better.
Something Tony Dungy said about Dilfer reminded me not to discount him. Dungy was Dilfer’s head coach a while ago in Tampa but has followed him, partly for scouting reasons as head coach of the Colts.
“Even though Trent went to the Pro Bowl (after the 1997 season), he was a better quarterback by the end of his time there (1999),” Dungy said. “He’s a very, very tough guy. He’s going to implement the game plan exactly the way coaches want it.
“He’ll make the right decisions and get you in the right situations. He’ll be a good leader.
“That’s what quarterbacking is all about.”
That’s what it will be about in Cleveland in September if Frye falters.
But why should Frye falter in the 2006 preseason? He was pretty good in the 2005 preseason, and he’s the type who will work hard to get better.
As Savage suggested, the Browns would rather not put on the brakes with Frye. That applies to braking for Dilfer almost as much as it does to braking for Vince Young. Reach Repository sports writer Steve Doerschuk at (330) 580-8347 or e-mail [email protected].


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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

4/24/06

NFL INSIDER
Don't believe the hype: Hawk won't fly Browns' way


Sunday, April 23, 2006

Tony Grossi
Plain Dealer Reporter

Just about every player projected to be taken in the top 10 spots in the draft has suffered moments of free-fall anxiety. Such is the nature of the drawn-out NFL draft process. The longer you look at a jewel, the likelier you are to imagine imperfections.

First it was Texas quarterback Vince Young who was supposed to fall out of the top 10.

Then it was USC running back Reggie Bush who suddenly was being nudged aside as the top pick in the draft.

Most recently, Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk has been the subject of "how far could he drop?" speculation.

It's tantalizing to fantasize about Hawk falling just low enough for Browns General Manager Phil Savage to do something creative and move up and snatch him. Cleveland fans would be ecstatic.

But don't hold your breath.

Savage has consistently lowered expectations of having any chance of getting Hawk in a Browns uniform.

"Forget it," one NFL team executive said. "Phil doesn't give up picks. [Hawk] would have to drop to at least No. 8 to give them any shot. And that is not going to happen."

Ordinarily, moving up from No. 12 to No. 8 would not cost more than a third-round draft pick in exchange. That would be a pittance to pay for Hawk, especially when you consider the residual benefit of adding another popular player with local ties. Butch Davis gave up a second-round pick to move up just one spot to select Kellen Winslow Jr. in 2004.

But another NFL source - not with a team but deeply involved in the draft process - said Hawk is seriously being considered by New Orleans at No. 2 and speculated he will not last beyond the Jets at No. 4.

Savage called Hawk the "safest" pick in the draft and said he expected him to be one of the first players chosen.

"Everyone knows the top seven or eight players in the draft," the team executive said. "Believe me. Those players are going to be drafted in the top seven or eight."

More speculation:

At the NFL Combine in February, Savage was so certain Oregon nose tackle Haloti Ngata would go off the board early that he flatly stated he would take him at No. 12.

It's hard to tell if Savage was playing the disinformation game and trying to steer teams to Ngata to keep them away from Florida State tackle Brodrick Bunkley, or if he was being totally honest.

In any case, Ngata has moved quietly down on some mock drafts with Bunkley edging ahead in a few. One of the sources above now thinks Ngata may be within reach for the Browns.

If Ngata gets past Buffalo at No. 8, speculation is Baltimore and Philadelphia would sprint to the phone to try and trade for the Bills' pick to take Ngata.
The Browns, said a source, confirmed their high opinion of Ngata when they visited with him on Wednesday. The question now might be whether they like Ngata enough to trade up for him.

The character issue:

It so happens Hawk, Ngata and another player the Browns like, pass rusher Kamerion Wimbley of Florida State, have impeccable character. But what if they get aced out of all three players and have to consider a quality player with character issues?

Savage said: "The character issue, for us, is like graduation rates for college. No one cares if you win a national championship until you start losing. And character doesn't mean a whole lot until you start losing and then they pile that on top of you. It's important for us to acknowledge that.

"We've done a good job these last 13-14 months of really cleaning up our locker room and getting some players out of our building that we thought weren't going to help us in the future. Most of the players you talk to now are at least respectful, they're presentable for the Browns. A couple times out jogging, I've said, 'We've got the nicest team in football. We've got to get some edge to it.'

"So there's a balance in there. But we don't want to bring people in that can't represent us well. We want the best of both worlds. Can you have it? Not necessarily, but you can always try."

Fletcher honored:

Cleveland native London Fletcher of the Buffalo Bills will be a distinguished guest at the "I Have a Dream" National 25th anniversary celebration gala Monday at the Rainbow Room in New York.

Fletcher is one of 14,000 students who have been mentored in the 25-year existence of the "I Have a Dream" Foundation. He joined the program in the sixth grade at East Madison Elementary School.

Fletcher and classmates benefited from a $250,000 pledge from Cleveland philanthropist Charlotte Kramer at the time. He believes his life was dramatically changed through the program. Kramer will attend the gala with Fletcher.

The grant helped Fletcher attend Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School and John Carroll University. He has donated $100,000 to his college alma mater.

Fletcher joined the St. Louis Rams as an undrafted free agent in 1998. He has been the defensive anchor of the Bills at middle linebacker the past four seasons.

On the shelves:

Draftniks who can't read enough about the NFL draft can sate their appetite with "The Draft: A Year Inside the NFL's Search for Talent." Author Pete Williams follows a handful of college players from the 2004 season through the 2005 draft. The behind-the-scenes look at the scouting and agent recruiting process makes for a fascinating read.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

[email protected], 216-999-4670

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

4/24/06

BROWN'S TOWN
FSU's Wimbley wins draftniks' raves


Sunday, April 23, 2006

Roger Brown
Plain Dealer Columnist

Dueling draft gu rus Mel Kiper Jr. (ESPN) and Mike Mayock (NFL Network) have found common ground predicting the Browns will take Florida State defensive end Kamerion Wimbley with their No. 12 pick next Saturday.

"He's perfect for the Browns," Kiper says of Wimbley, whom he compares to Peter Boulware, a former star outside linebacker with Baltimore. "He's a very focused young man."

Mayock, a former New York Giant who was coached by Browns head coach Romeo Crennel when Crennel led the Giants' special-teams unit, says Wimbley fits his former boss' love for high-energy players.

"[Wimbley is] the poor man's DeMarcus Ware," Mayock says, referring to the young Dallas pass- rusher.

When the University of Akron

held its recent football alumni reunion, Browns quarterback Charlie Frye showed up with current teammates Kellen Winslow Jr. and Brodney Pool.

New Browns outside

linebacker Willie McGinest has purchased a house in Strongsville for $528,000.

Browns tight end Steve Heiden,

on why he is rooting the hardest for Winslow, rehabbing injuries, to return quickly this season: "When we're both out there, I can assure you it won't be me that defenses will double-team."

New England Patriots

star linebacker Mike Vrabel says the Browns may have struck gold by signing his former teammate, veteran nose tackle Ted Washington. But Vrabel, a former Ohio State and Walsh Jesuit High star, adds a huge "if." (That's only fitting, since Washington weighs 365 pounds.) "If he's conditioned, he's the best nose tackle in football," Vrabel says. "But he's got to be conditioned and stay healthy."

It's pretty much guaranteed

that former Ohio State stars A.J. Hawk and Donte Whitner will be top 15 picks next Saturday, while five others - Santonio Holmes, Bobby Carpenter, Ashton Youboty, Nick Man- gold and Mike Kudla (in that order) - should go in picks 25 to 50. That's pretty remarkable.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

4/24/06

BROWNS ANALYSIS

<!-- begin body-content -->Quarterback
Beacon Journal pro football writer Patrick McManamon analyzes the Browns position by position heading into Saturday's 2006 NFL Draft.
Today: Quarterback
Starter: Charlie Frye.
Backup: Trent Dilfer, Derek Anderson.
What has been done: Though coach Romeo Crennel has not named Frye the starter for 2006, General Manager Phil Savage and the rest of the NFL pretty much have. The drafting of Frye a year ago and Frye's play at the end of the year seem to have given the Browns a comfort level that he can be their guy, with Dilfer backing him up and Anderson a young guy for the future.
What's needed: If the Browns are committed to Frye, nothing is needed. The team can sit tight at this position and accept trade offers, if one of the top quarterbacks in the draft is still available at the 12th pick. At this point, it would be a surprise if the Browns took Vince Young.
GM Phil Savage: ``We have started going down the path with Charlie. At this junction, to put on the brakes, back out of that road and try to head down another one may not make as much sense as it should, especially at that position.''

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

MorningJournal

4/24/06

Browns can look inside for a hit man
Jeff Schudel, Morning Journal Writer
04/24/2006

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BEREA -- The Browns over the last seven years have never had a defensive player with a nickname as descriptive as ''Hit Man,'' which in part explains why they have always ranked near the bottom of the league in run defense.


That could change in the second round of the draft Saturday. Abdul Hodge, an inside linebacker at the University of Iowa, is not considered a first-round pick, but the Browns think enough of him that they brought him in for a private workout in the weeks prior to the draft. On most draft projections, Hodge should still be around when the Browns make the 13th pick in the second round.

Hodge, 6-1, 236 pounds, is known as ''Hit Man Hodge'' on the Iowa campus. Last season he led the Hawkeyes with 158 tackles.

''It started when I was six or seven and was playing Little League football,'' Hodge said. ''I just love to hit people. I got a reputation for that. People started calling me ÔHit Man Hodge.' They actually printed ÔHit Man' on a jersey I wore to Little League practice every day.''

The reputation followed Hodge from his home in Florida to the Iowa cornfields and to Mobile, Ala. for the Senior Bowl. Pro scouts left the workouts with this report on Hodge:

''While not imposing, Hodge is a terrific hitter and never backs down from a block. He is proving himself to be the draft's clear-cut top inside linebacker this week, though Maryland's D'Qwell Jackson has been impressive as well. Jackson isn't quite as physical or consistent as Hodge, but might be a better athlete.''

Savage has a pipeline to Iowa because he is close friends with Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz from the time they worked together with the Browns in the Bill Belichick days. Hodge said playing under Ferentz gave him a head start on his goal to play in the NFL.

''He knows what it takes to make it to the next level,'' Hodge said. ''He's very fundamentally sound. You have to do things right on and off the field to be able to play for him. You have to play at a very high level.''

If Hodge is picked before the Browns turn comes up in the second round, assuming they do not take Bobby Carpenter, A.J. Hawk or Chad Greenway in the first round, the Browns could solve their inside linebacker problems with D'Qwell Jackson of the University of Maryland. His measurables are very close to those of Hodge. He's 6-1, 230 pounds and runs a 4.73 40-yard dash.

Hodge is six pounds heavier, but Jackson has him by .03 seconds in the 40-yard dash. He had 136 tackles, but tackles are subjective and Jackson played on a young Terps defense. He was a captain as a junior and as a senior.

''I take pride in being chosen captain and getting any accolades, but I'm doing nothing different than before,'' Jackson said in the Nov. 20, 2005 St. Petersburg Times. ''I'll do the last day the same as I did the first day, and that's doing my best.

''I came from a very disciplined family and one that didn't put up with getting into trouble. I don't try to be who I'm not. I just continue to be D'Qwell.''

Hodge has played some outside linebacker. The scouting report on Jackson is he is should stay inside. The team that drafts him will not be getting a great pass rusher.

''Jackson is an instinctive reactor who has a keen understanding for blocking schemes and is quick to locate the ball,'' says NFLDraftScout.com. ''He is a better tackler inside the box than on the move, as he does lack the loose hips and sudden change of direction agility to make plays on the corner. He shows good urgency and hand placement to push the lead blocker back through the inside rush lanes. He simply will not shut down his motor until the whistle.''

Jackson had eight tackles for loss and four sacks last season. He broke up only one pass. Hodge had 12 tackles for loss and one sack on a Hawkeye team that rarely blitzed. He broke up three passes.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

4/24/06

BROWNS

12 th pick might aid defensive front seven

Monday, April 24, 2006

James Walker
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

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BEREA, Ohio — The Browns defense was in need of a major overhaul after the 2005 season, so expect Cleveland to go heavy on front-seven defenders in the NFL draft this weekend.

The Browns, who own the 12 th pick, are in the final stages of preparations and have narrowed their draft board to about 80 players.

General manager Phil Savage outlined the team’s biggest needs as improving the pass rush, stopping the run and scoring more points.

Cleveland didn’t do well in any of those categories last season. The Browns were last in sacks, 30 th against the run and last in in points scored at 13.6 per game.

"Any players that can do those three things, we’re interested in them," Savage said. "And the caveat to all of that is can the guy help us beat Pittsburgh? That’s the question that’s basically been posed in terms of every player we evaluate thus far."

The Super Bowl champion Steelers beat the Browns the worst of any opponent last season, 41-0 on Dec. 24. If the Browns could close the gap against Pittsburgh, they would be closing the gap on the rest of the NFL.

Cleveland should be able to find immediate help on defense, particularly at linebacker, which is considered a position of depth and quality in the draft.

Possible names of interest include defensive end/linebacker Kamerion Wimbley of Florida State, linebacker Chad Greenway of Iowa, defensive tackle Haloti Ngata of Oregon and Florida State linebacker Ernie Sims.

ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. predicts the Browns will take the 6-foot-4, 255-pound Wimbley because of his athleticism and versatility.

"I think that makes a lot of sense," Kiper said. "For the type of scheme they play, he would be perfect for what they need."

The Browns should find value with their second-round pick (No. 43), where inside linebackers Abdul Hodge of Iowa and D’Qwell Jackson of Maryland could be available. Cleveland doesn’t have a starter at inside linebacker because of the loss of Ben Taylor to free agency.

The Browns also could surprise and take a lesser-known defender who fits well with their 3-4 scheme.

"Our board may not look the same as a lot of other boards around the league," director of player personnel Bill Rees said. "We’re going to be very Brownsspecific in how they fit and how they fill holes for us throughout the future."

Cleveland could go in several directions in an effort to improve the offense.
The Browns could look for a change-of-pace running back to use on third down, a position held by the oft-injured Lee Suggs, or receiver help in case Braylon Edwards (knee) is unable to start by the first game.

One position the Browns will not look to upgrade is quarterback. The front office appears content to let veteran Trent Dilfer and second-year quarterback Charlie Frye compete for the starting job in training camp.

That leads to an interesting scenario if two of the top three quarterbacks, Vince Young of Texas or Jay Cutler of Vanderbilt, fall to No. 12. With so many teams interested in a quarterback, the Browns could be in a position to trade out of that spot and gather more picks.

"That’s a great situation," Rees said. "We’ll be ready for it. It just depends on who’s calling, how far we have to move down and who’s left on the board. That’s the key."

[email protected]

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

4/25/06

Who’s not there will be easier to predict

Tuesday, April 25, 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]


BEREA - Four days prior to the NFL Draft, the Browns know more about who they can’t have than who they can fly in.
“There’s good quality at the top of the draft,” Head Coach Romeo Crennel said. “I think we’re going to be able to get a good football player. Even down into the second round, there will be good football players.
“The question is, who’s going to be available at 12?”
It won’t be running back Reggie Bush, who might go first overall to the Texans. The Browns are more in the market for a sidekick for Reuben Droughns — Maurice Drew, in Round 2, maybe — than a back who will kick the salary cap in the ribs.
It won’t be defensive end Mario Williams, the 2006 version of former No.1 pick Courtney Brown. The Saints might take him No. 2 overall.
The Titans seem set on quarterback Matt Leinart with the No. 3 pick.
“Leinart is the least likely of the quarterbacks to fall,” said Browns Director of Player Personnel Bill Rees, “but there’s a possibility he could. If that would happen, we’d have to be ready to pull the trigger.”
It’s a stone-cold lock offensive lineman D’Brickashaw Ferguson will be gone before the Browns pick. Cleveland is set at left tackle with Kevin Shaffer, backed up by talented young Nat Dorsey.
“Sitting at No. 12, we weren’t picking high enough to get D’Brickashaw, and we had a shot at getting Kevin in free agency,” General Manager Phil Savage said.
SHOT AT HAWK?
Ferguson might go fourth overall to the Jets. That would enable to the Packers, picking fifth, to dash the Dawg Pound dream of landing Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk. Expect the Browns to make a draft-day offer to the Packers for the rights for Hawk.
“The guy’s a football player,” Savage said. “The team that gets him will be fortunate.”
The trade price is expected to be too high, but it might come down to how much the Packers want center Jeff Faine.
Two years ago, Butch Davis traded up from No. 7 to No. 6 to bring tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. to Cleveland.
Maryland tight end Vernon Davis is a likely candidate to be picked by the 49ers at No. 6 on Saturday.
“He had unbelievable numbers at the combine,” Rees said. “He’s truly a rare athlete.”
AFTER SIX, IT’S CLOSE
After those six players, it gets dicey.
Whether quarterback Vince Young is a superstar or a mirage is this year’s $50 million question.
“His (on-campus) workout solidified him as one of the elite quarterbacks,” Rees said, “but we have to be ready.”
There will be a lot of buzzing in Berea if Young falls past the Raiders, who have the No. 7 pick.
Rees made a loose guess that one of two defensive linemen, Oregon’s Haloti Ngata or Florida State’s Brodrick Bunkley — the Browns are high on both — will be available at No. 12.
Ngata seems likelier to go earlier, perhaps to the Bills at No. 8. Ngata looms as an ideal nose tackle in a 3-4 scheme.
Bunkley is a beast, but he would play a less pivotal position at end.
Michael Huff of Texas is viewed as the league’s next great young safety, on the order of Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu. Safeties only get drafted in the top 10 if they’re supermen — and that’s what Huff is supposed to be.
It is thought the Rams, picking at No. 11, would gobble up Huff if he is still on the board. If Huff slips, Rees said the Browns would consider taking him.
Since the Browns have three starting safety candidates in Brodney Pool, Brian Russell and Sean Jones, they might try Huff at cornerback. They might even consider trading cornerback Daylon McCutcheon.
By now, draftniks among Browns fans know the list of defensive front seven players on the radar for the No. 12 pick, if nothing better comes along.
These candidates, along with their projected 3-4 positions, include linebacker Ernie Sims of Florida State, end Manny Lawson of North Carolina State, end Kamerion Wimbley of Florida State, linebacker Chad Greenway of Iowa, and linebacker Bobby Carpenter of Ohio State.
Division rival Baltimore has its sights set on some of the same defenders as Cleveland. Both hope Ngata or Bunkley falls.
Eric DeCosta, who has one of Savage’s old Baltimore jobs, director of college scouting, said:
“I think Bunkley is more of a playmaker. He’s a very good pass rusher. Ngata is very tough to move off the ball. He's not quite as good of a pass-rusher right now, but probably has a higher ceiling than Bunkley.”
Browns fans will go through the roof if the team finds a way to land Hawk. More likely, the pick will be along the lines of Ngata or Bunkley.
BACKERS DRAFT BASH
The Canton Browns Backers will host a draft party from noon to 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the Winking Lizard restaurant in the Lake Cable area of Jackson Township. Browns linebacker Mason Unck will make an appearance. Admission is free for members and $10 for nonmembers. Memberships will be sold at the door. Reach Repository sports writer Steve Doerschuk at (330) 580-8347 or e-mail [email protected]




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