Cleveland Browns (2007 & prior)

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

4/25/06

GM's yardstick: Playing Steelers

Savage wants players who measure up in rivalry

By Patrick McManamon

Beacon Journal sportswriter

<!-- begin body-content -->Browns coach Romeo Crennel sat at breakfast at the NFL meetings in March and brought up the embarrassment of last season's Christmas Eve loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The question he was discussing at the time had little to do with the Steelers.
That game really sticks in your craw, doesn't it, Crennel was asked.
``Sure it does,'' Crennel said in his typical matter-of-fact style. ``They beat us 41-0. I just mentioned it, didn't I?''
Flash forward to last week, when General Manager Phil Savage summed up the Browns' approach to Saturday's NFL Draft this way:
``Can the guy help us beat Pittsburgh?'' Savage said. ``That's the question that has been imposed on every player we have evaluated thus far.''
It's about time.
One of the great disappointments of last season was listening to Browns players talk about the Steelers game as if it were a scrimmage against Copley High.
The same players who walked around the locker room touting the importance of their college rivalries saw no difference between playing the Steelers or the San Diego Chargers.
The attitude revealed itself on the field in the 41-0 humiliation, when the Steelers outmuscled, outhustled and outplayed the Browns.
``They blew our doors off,'' Savage said.
That loss was one for the ages. Established NFL teams rarely lose games in such a one-sided fashion.
It should be remembered much more than the season-ending win over the Baltimore Ravens.
In a real sense, that loss might become the benchmark for the Crennel-Savage era -- because the future will show how far the Browns have come.
The Browns have lost 11 of their past 12 games against the Steelers, and most times they have been beaten physically.
Former coach Butch Davis tried to draft athletes who could be football players, but Savage and Crennel have recognized the need to bring in people who can compete with the Steelers. The team that is the best in the league and -- no matter what the players say -- the Browns' main rival.
Savage and Crennel, at least, recognize that reality, and they are trying to address it.
Their first move came in free agency, when center/guard LeCharles Bentley was signed. The genesis of that move came as the team watched Steelers nose tackle Casey Hampton control the middle of the line.
Hampton is a classic Pittsburgh draft pick.
He wasn't an exciting or sexy pick, but he's a Pro Bowler, one of the best nose tackles in the game.
Pittsburgh makes a habit of drafting or signing players like that, guys such as Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca or center Jeff Hartings. They let receivers such as Plaxico Burress and Antwaan Randle El go in free agency, but they usually keep their linemen.
``In our division, it all comes down to controlling the line of scrimmage,'' Steelers coach Bill Cowher said.
The Browns tried to address that area the past two years. Savage signed two starting guards, a center and a left tackle.
Now he turns to the draft, where he and his staff have assessed players in regard to Pittsburgh this way: ``Are they fast? Are they physical? Do they have the right kind of demeanor?''
And most important, what is the player's mental makeup? This could be the most underrated element of the pro game. When the Steelers come to Cleveland, they come with a swagger.
They play hard, they hit, and when they boast (a la Joey Porter), it's usually with good reason. Savage seems to be looking for that kind of player.
``What is this player's reaction going to be when he goes to Heinz Field as a Cleveland Brown?'' Savage said. ``How is he going to respond? Is he going to shrink up or stand tall and go toe to toe with a Joey Porter or Ben Roethlisberger?
``I think it's an important question for us to ask.''
The danger in pointing to Pittsburgh the way that Savage did is not recognizing the other teams in the division.
Crennel pointed out that the Cincinnati Bengals lost quarterback Carson Palmer in the playoff game against Pittsburgh, and Savage has a way of stating things without insulting another person or team.
To Savage, the Steelers were the team that shellacked the Browns, and when they played Baltimore and Cincinnati, the games were a little more competitive.
``We've tried to put the most emphasis on Pittsburgh because they were the team that beat us the worst last year,'' he said. ``We don't want to see that happen again.
``The division could change. The Ravens could emerge next year, but who knows? Going into this 2006 offseason, (Pittsburgh's) going to be more of our focus.''
Which should be symphonic to the ears of Browns fans.With the Browns, competing with the Steelers should -- and will -- always be a little more important.
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

4/25/06

Tony Grossi scouts the NFL Draft: Offensive lineman


Monday, April 24, 2006


The offensive line class is deep at tackle and guard, but there is only one sure thing at the top. The lone franchise tackle will have to be taken in the top five picks. The other tackles have talent and a lot of question marks. As usual, there is only one center that stands out, and he may last until the second round.

BROWNS NEEDS

The signings of LeCharles Bentley, Kevin Shaffer and Bob Hallen reduced the urgency to draft a lineman early. But the team should always be on the hunt to groom a tackle. Nat Dorsey and Kirk Chambers are the incumbent backups. Dorsey will be under the microscope in his first Browns training camp.

BEST FIT FOR THE BROWNS

They have visited with Charles Spencer, a 6-5, 352-pound guard from Pittsburgh who started at left tackle as a senior. He is a fourth-round consideration.

1. D'BRICKASHAW FERGUSON LT Virginia 6-6 312 5.08
A franchise tackle with four years' experience on the left side. Always struggled to add weight. Packed on 15 pounds since the Senior Bowl and still looks lean. Exceptional character, work ethic and intelligence. A guy you can justify giving millions.

2. WINSTON JUSTICE RT USC 6-61/8 319 5.16
Best player on Trojans' outstanding line. Played right tackle to protect left-handed quarterback. Missed 2004 season after off-field pellet gun incident — his second law skirmish in two years. Would have benefited from another college season.

3. MARCUS McNEILL RT Auburn 6-75/8 336 5.07
Massive drive blocker who had the nimble feet to pass protect ably at demanding left tackle spot. Probably destined for right tackle. Has stenosis — narrowing of the spine. Weight problem affects his stance and stamina.

4. DAVIN JOSEPH G Oklahoma 6-3 311 5.09
Has played left tackle and both guard spots rather well. Found a home at Senior Bowl at left guard and then impressed teams in face-to-face interviews at NFL combine. Probably will be the first guard drafted.

5. MAX JEAN-GILLES G Georgia 6-33/4 355 5.48
Gargantuan physical mauler who does at least one thing exceptionally well — clearing running lanes. He just overpowers opponents. Conditioning and weight training could always be a problem.

OTHERS OF NOTE
Ohio State's Nick Mangold is the draft's best center, but he's no LeCharles Bentley. Miami's Eric Winston, a converted tight end, is the No. 3 tackle. An experienced group comprises the next wave, including Jeremy Trueblood of Boston College, Andrew Whitworth of LSU and Jonathan Scott of Texas. A pair of USC guards, Taitusi Lutui and Fred Matua, could go on the first day.

DID YOU KNOW
Ohio State guard Rob Sims of Macedonia, the son of late-1970s Browns defensive tackle Mickey Sims, could be taken in the third round. Pros see him as a potential starting guard and swing tackle.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

4/25/06

<H1 class=red>Tony Grossi scouts the NFL Draft: Running backs

</H1>

Sunday, April 23, 2006



Running back is one of the draft's deep positions, but there is no undisputed franchise back at the top. The depth is filled out by a number of smaller backs who may be typecast as change-of-pace specialists.

BROWNS NEEDS

After Reuben Droughns topped the 1,000-yard mark in his 12th game, he averaged 50 yards and 2.9 per rush over his last four games. The Browns want to add a change-of-pace back to spell Droughns and make some plays on third downs. Lee Suggs would be perfect for the role, but his inability to say healthy could lead to a newcomer via the draft.

BEST FIT FOR THE BROWNS

The team has met with Drew, who is a shade over 5-6, but probably would not be willing to take him in the second round. If they earmark the fourth round, Hall could be there for them.

1. Reggie Bush USC 5-10 201 4.37
The top playmaker of the draft and one of the most exciting players in a long time. But size, durability and workload are concerns with the Heisman Trophy winner. Phil Savage, for one, believes he should be limited to 15 rushes a game to avoid wear.

2. Laurence Maroney Minnesota 5-11 217 4.48
First Gopher and only third back in Big Ten to rush for more than 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons. Cutback runner with great vision and patience who might lack initial quickness but can go the distance. Will benefit from NFL strength program.

3. Lendale White USC 6-0 238 4.51
Concerns about his weight and a recently diagnosed hamstring muscle tear have caused a late slide. He hasn't been able to run a 40 since the Rose Bowl. When healthy, he is a powerful inside runner who can carry an offense.

4. Deangelo Williams Memphis 5-9 214 4.45
Averaged 1,780 yards over his last three years. Surpassed record shared by Archie Griffin with 34 100-yard rushing performances in 44 career games. Some se him as a glorified third-down back because of his size and durability concerns.

5. Joseph Addai LSU 5-11 214 4.40
An all-purpose back whose stock improved at the NFL combine. Has not been a durable No. 1 back and might be destined to the change-of-pace role in NFL. Is more powerful than elusive and might be the most polished blocker of the group.

OTHERS OF NOTE
The next wave is sprinkled with more smaller backs who can be productive in the NFL initially as third-down specialists. These include Wisconsin's Brian Calhoun, FSU's Leon Washington, UCLA's Maurice Drew and South Florida's Andre Hall.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

4/25/06

Tony Grossi scouts the NFL Draft: Defensive linemen


Saturday, April 22, 2006


The Browns divide this position into space-eating nose tackles, 300-pound ends and quick, designated pass rushers to fi t their 3-4. There are plenty of ends to choose from, but few natural nose tackles. Underclassmen greatly helped this position's depth.

BROWNS NEEDS

Is Ethan Kelley the team's nose tackle of the future or must a better one be found to groom behind Ted Washington? That question must be answered because the Browns might be in position to choose between Ngata and Bunkley. Another end also must be found to press Alvin McKinley and pace Orpheus Roye.

BEST FIT FOR BROWNS

Bunkley could start his career as an end and grow into the nose tackle role over time. If linebacker consumes the team's first two picks, Cofield could be a choice in Round 3.

1. MARIO WILLIAMS DE N.C. State 6-7 295 4.70
Some believe he is the best player in the draft, offense or defense. A true franchise defensive end whose wingspan and athletic ability draw comparisons to Julius Peppers - but also Courtney Brown. Whose NFL path will he follow?

2. HALOTI NGATA NT Oregon 6-41/8 338 5.13
His combination of size, speed and quickness makes him a perfect nose tackle. Not just a space-eater, he broke school record with six blocked kicks and knocked down seven passes.

3. BRODRICK BUNKLEY DE Florida State 6-23/4 306 5.01
A player on the rise. Has the strength and power to defeat double teams and disrupt a blocking scheme. Overcame two major injuries to left knee, including ACL surgery in high school. Browns see him as an end who can also play the nose.

4. MATHIAS KIWANUKA DE Boston College 6-53/4 266 4.70
Premier 4-3 edge rusher who shattered school record with 37 1/2 sacks in four years. Uses very long arms to block passing lanes and has the long strides to make up ground in pursuit. Not great at the point of attack or against the run.

5. TAMBA HALI DE Penn State 6-3 275 4.87
Came into his own after shifting from tackle to end his junior season. Doesn't have elite size or speed, but makes good use of his quickness. Most teams see him as a 4- 3 end. Browns view him as a designated rusher who could convert to outside LB.

OTHERS OF NOTE
The next wave of nose tackles includes Gabe Watson of Michigan and Baba Oshinowo of Stanford. Players suited for end in a 3-4 include Claude Wroten of Louisiana State, John McCargo of North Carolina State and Rodrique Wright of Texas. The Browns see Cleveland native Barry Cofield, of Northwestern, as an end.

DID YOU KNOW?
Kiwanuka's grandfather, Benedicto Kiwanuka, was Uganda's first elected prime minister and was assassinated in 1972 by dictator Idi Amin. Hali fled civil war-raged Liberia as a 10-year-old to join his father, and longs to be reunited with his mother, whom he hasn't seen in 12 years.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

4/25/06

Tony Grossi scouts the NFL Draft: Linebackers


Friday, April 21, 2006

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.

Best fit for Browns

Given their druthers, they would probably take the pass rusher in Round 1 and come back in Round 2 with the inside 'backer. A Wimbley-Hodge combination would make an instant impact on Crennel's defense.

Ranking the top five

Player College Height Weight Time in 40

1. A.J. Hawk Ohio State 6-1 248 4.59
Has every quality of a potential superstar -- high-level intensity, relentless motor, football instincts and intelligence, work ethic, all-America character -- except preferred height. Browns see him as an inside linebacker.

2. Kamerion Wimbley Florida State 6-3 248 4.61
He's the prototypical college end to convert to outside linebacker. His status is built more from his athletic numbers than production. Made only 12 starts in 49 games and finished with 12 sacks. Has spotless character record.

3. Ernie Sims Florida State 5-11 231 4.50
Outstanding producer whose below-average size poses a dilemma. Is he the next Derrick Brooks? Or a run-and-hit linebacker who will play with reckless abandon and suffer injuries? His speed and toughness may overcome his size.

4. Manny Lawson North Carolina State 6-5 3/8 241 4.43
A former long and triple jumper with a 39 1/2-inch vertical jump. Much like Wimbley, his athleticism casts him perfectly at rush linebacker. Evokes memories of former Akron star Jason Taylor, a third-rounder who matured into a star pass rusher.

5. Chad Greenway Iowa 6-2 1/2 242 4.76
Recruited off a hog farm and became one of Hawkeyes greatest defensive players. Scores high in football instincts and intelligence, but doesn't appear physical enough. Not the greatest tackler. Browns project him inside.

Others of note
A slew of projected inside 'backers includes Ohio State's Bobby Carpenter, Alabama's DeMeco Ryans, Miami's Roger McIntosh, Iowa's Abdul Hodge and Maryland's D'Qwell Jackson. Projected outside 'backers by the Browns include Penn State's Tamba Hali (an end on most boards), Tennessee's Parys Haralson and Purdue's Rob Ninkovich.

Did you know?
Combine bench press champion Mike Kudla of Ohio State should attract 3-4 teams as a rush linebacker in the middle rounds. Ohio State inside 'backer Anthony Schlegel should be called late. Mid-American Conference hopefuls include Terna Nande and John Busing of Miami (Ohio), Justin Parrish of Kent State and Jay Rohr of Akron.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

4/26/06

Browns may build using a Carpenter
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>[FONT=Verdana, Times New Roman, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]By Steve Doerschuk REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER [/FONT]
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Penn State running back Tony Hunt, left, pushes away from Ohio State linebacker Bobby Carpenter, right, during the first quarter Saturday, Oct. 8, 2005 in State College, Pa.(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)​

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Longtime Cleveland sports fans are skeptical about “Mini-Hawks.”

Indians outfielder John Lowenstein acquired the nickname because he looked like slugger Ken “The Hawk” Harrelson. Lowenstein’s lasting legacy is hitting .242 three times within four years, sneaking in a .205 season.

Maybe a “Mini-Hawk” would be a bigger hit with the Browns.

If they don’t want to pay what it would cost to trade up for A.J. Hawk in the NFL Draft on Saturday, what about getting paid to trade down for Ohio State’s second-best linebacker, Bobby Carpenter?

It could happen. General Manager Phil Savage says the Browns would use Carpenter as an inside linebacker, the team’s position of greatest need.
“Mini-Hawk” might be a gross misnomer.

Carpenter measured 6-foot-2 1/2, 256 pounds at the NFL Combine. Hawk measured 6-1, 248.

One Browns source said that the team loves Hawk, but sees a chance Carpenter will be as good an NFL player within a few years.

Some Ohio State insiders think Carpenter’s value was almost identical to Hawk’s in 2005. They view Carpenter as big and fast, with the football IQ one would expect of a former NFL player’s son, and with the kind of nastiness coaches like Bill Belichick love.

In a recent Sirius radio interview, Ohio State Head Coach Jim Tressel said Belichick’s Patriots seem interested in Carpenter, and Carpenter would be a good fit in their scheme.

But forget Belichick, who has the No. 21 overall pick in Saturday’s draft.

Focus on Crennel, who won three Super Bowls as Belichick’s defensive coordinator. Crennel indicated in Canton last week that Carpenter is on the Browns’ radar at No. 12 overall.

Crennel has as good a feel for Carpenter as anyone preparing for the draft.

For starters, Carpenter’s father, Rob, was traded to the Giants in 1981, Crennel’s first season as a Giants assistant coach. They were together with the Giants for six seasons, including 1984, when Carpenter used a smash-mouth style to rush 795 yards on a playoff team.

Bobby Carpenter is bigger and faster than his dad, who played at about 6-1, 225 pounds during a 10-year NFL career.

Crennel has a pipeline into the younger Carpenter’s world through Mel Tucker, the Browns’ defensive backs coach. Tucker watched Carpenter closely as an Ohio State defensive assistant before jumping to the Browns in 2005.

Tuesday’s Boston Globe suggested Carpenter might be New England’s pick. The thinking is that a broken fibula that knocked Carpenter out of a bowl game likewise will drop him in the draft.

If the Browns are convinced Carpenter will be completely healed in time for spring practice, though, they could pounce.

Crennel said trading down for Carpenter is possible, but ...

“That depends on who else may be there at No. 12,” he said. “I mean, there might be a good athlete there at 12 ... I mean, that might be Carpenter.

“I’m not saying it’s not Carpenter, all right? But a good athlete might be available there at 12.”

Carpenter said on the last day of the NFL Combine that he had healed enough to play even then.

Carpenter also said, “I can play inside. I enjoy it. But I enjoy playing on the edge a lot more now.”

Savage said Carpenter could play inside or outside, but would be used inside for the Browns because that’s where they have an opening.

Presumably, Carpenter could rely on his deep football background to make any adjustment. His father still is around the game as head coach at Lancaster High School.

“My dad never really forced me to play football,” Carpenter said. “I wasn’t allowed to play until I was 13. He coached me from then on but never really pushed. He just made sure the door was open for working out, watching film ... anything.

“I worked a lot with my brothers. We have an extremely competitive family.”

By all accounts, Ohio State’s linebackers treated each other like family.
Now, the Browns are sorting through the question of whether Hawk and Carpenter could pass for twins.

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

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

4/27/06

Sports Spotlight: Spielman: Don’t trade up for LB — even A.j. hawk

Thursday, April 27, 2006

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


You’re on the clock, Chris Spielman, with the 12th pick in this weekend’s draft. You’re the general manager of the Cleveland Browns.
What do you suppose the former Ohio State linebacker and NFL Pro Bowler would do? Trade up? Trade down? Stay put?
Or snag Buckeye linebacker A.J. Hawk, widely regarded as the best linebacker in this draft and whose name stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Spielman’s in OSU’s linebacking lore?
Spielman: Any of the above.
Except drafting Hawk.
Spielman, who was an impact player at linebacker, said the Browns should stay put, and if they trade up into the top five or six picks Saturday, it shouldn’t be to draft a linebacker.
“I wouldn’t draft a linebacker,” Spielman said. “Nothing against A.J., because he’ll be drafted high and he deserves to be.”
It was an odd conversation with Spielman. We talked during the final minute of the Legends game on Sunday. Spielman, a blue-collar player who hated playing on artificial turf, thoroughly enjoyed watching the indoor version of the game.
And here was an impact linebacker making the argument that linebacker isn’t an impact position.
“There are more vital positions,” Spielman said. “I just think if you’re trading up, you trade up to draft an impact player like Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart or D’Brickashaw Ferguson.”
Spielman sees the game with different eyes now. He sees the whole picture. Here was one of the best linebackers of his time making the case that a left tackle is more of an impact player than a linebacker.
“There are more impact positions than linebacker,” Spielman said.
Perhaps, though, Spielman knows what a lot of defensive coordinators already believe: Hawk’s 4.55 40-yard time on a 6-foot-1, 245-pound body is freakish.
But most believe Hawk is a better fit for a 4-3 defense than a 3-4 scheme.
The Browns might better themselves by trading out of 12, a few spots lower and grabbing Bobby Carpenter and getting another first-day pick. Carpenter, who missed just about all of the Michigan game and Fiesta Bowl with a broken ankle, is more suited to play in the 3-4.
But don’t get buried in the numbers. Carpenter had eight of his 14 1/2 career sacks last season thanks to scheme and Hawk’s presence.
Spielman may be right. Rookie linebackers rarely make an impact. Bush, used in situations, may be more of an impact player.
The Browns, who finished 30th against the run and last in the NFL in sacks, have bigger needs. The real general manager, Phil Savage, seems to bring this up every time he talks about the draft.
Cleveland will go with a defensive player. The Browns won’t trade up for Hawk, unless Savage has a change of heart Saturday afternoon.
There is one comment from Savage that still rings today.
“A.J. Hawk may be the safest pick in the draft,” he said.
That means fool-proof. Spielman doesn’t disagree. He just isn’t sure moving up, or more importantly the cost to do so, is prudent. Cleveland has made worse draft-day decisions. Reach Repository sports writer Todd Porter at (330) 580-8340 or e-mail: [email protected]


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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

4/27/06

NFL draft: Top Savage goal: Not striking out

Thursday, April 27, 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 - Reeling from a three-year run of 15 wins and 33 defeats, the Cleveland Browns need a hero.
The Browns, or any team drafting in the top half of a first round, can “need” until they’re blue in the face. They’ll have to let history play out.
They should weigh the lesson of recent history. It tells them to hope for an effective starter, because heroes are in short supply.
Saturday represents Phil Savage’s 11th draft since being named Baltimore’s college scouting director after the franchise left Cleveland. Greatness is arbitrary, but it seems fair to say only a handful of great players came from the first rounds of Savage’s 10 previous drafts, nine with the Ravens, one with the Browns.
One view of those great players is in the chart that accompanies this story. It should be noted Savage had a hand in picking some of those players.
Savage laughs about hitting a home run with a first-round pick. He acknowledges that first-round history is littered with strikeouts.
His emphasis Saturday will be on making reasoned selections in each round.
“We would best be served to hit some singles and doubles and maybe get a triple in there,” Savage says. “Let’s do something positive every time. I look at the draft like a par 5 in golf. Just advance the ball.
“People are looking for double eagles and birdies, but when you do that you are going to shank one into the lake.”
The ultimate Browns shank was Phipps. Owner Art Modell agreed to send the Dolphins star wideout Paul Warfield in exchange for the draft rights for the Purdue quarterback.
Warfield helped Miami win two Super Bowls. By 1974, when Phipps was supposed to have blossomed, he was the quarterback of a team heading into 7-21 run. Phipps bowed out of the NFL with a 52.6 career passer rating, which would make Kyle Boller blush.
The highly rated quarterback who seems likeliest to fall to the Browns at No. 12 Saturday is Vanderbilt’s Jay Cutler. He might be a boom-or-bust type.
Expect the Browns to avoid him.
“There are more guys on defense in this draft who can help us with our needs,” Coach Romeo Crennel said. “We’re gonna try to focus on that a little bit.”
The Browns have honed in on several defensive candidates from whom they can make what looks like a safe pick. At the moment, defensive linemen Haloti Ngata and Brodrick Bunkley, and linebackers Kamerion Wimbley, Manny Lawson, Bobby Carpenter and Ernie Sims represent legitimate promise.
But take a look at the list of past Browns first-round picks. How can anyone know what those names will represent in five years?
Reach Repository sports writer Steve Doerschuk at (330) 580-8347 or e-mail: [email protected]
three greats





Fussing about the first
The Browns’ first-round draft misses since expansion have been well-documented. A deeper perspective can be shaped by reviewing the Browns’ first-round history in the 30 drafts prior to the team’s departure for Maryland:
There are only a few great players, according to one view, from those 30 first rounds:
LB Clay Matthews, No. 12, 1973.
TE Ozzie Newsome, No. 23, 1973.
CB Hanford Dixon, No. 22, 1981.
solid picks
The 30 before-Baltimore drafts turned up some competent starters, the kind who could help the current Browns:
TE Milt Morin, No. 14, 1966.
LB Bob Matheson, No. 18, 1967.
CB Clarence Scott, No. 14, 1971.
CB Thom Darden, No. 18, 1972.
RB Mike Pruitt, No. 7, 1976.
RB Eric Metcalf, No. 13, 1989.
DB Eric Turner, No. 2, 1991.
C Steve Everitt, No. 14, 1993.
WR Derrick Alexander, No. 29, 1994.
lots of busts
The busts outnumber the greats 3-to-1:
QB Mike Phipps, No. 3, 1970.
WR Steve Holden, No. 16, 1973.
G Pete Adams, No. 22, 1973.
DE Mack Mitchell, No. 5, 1975.
WR Willis Adams, No. 20, 1979.
LB Mike Junkin, No. 5, 1987.
LB Clifford Charlton, No. 21, 1988.
FB Tommy Vardell, No. 9, 1992.
LB Craig Powell, No. 30, 1995.
drug busts
Then there is a netherworld of first-rounders whose careers were shaded or destroyed by drug issues:
RB Charles White, No. 27, 1980.
LB Chip Banks, No. 3, 1982.
DB Don Rogers, No. 18, 1984. compiled by steve doerschuk NOTE Lastly, the 30 first rounds included some trades and consequently no picks, and another group of the nondescript types Savage hopes to avoid Saturday. Among the latter was cornerback Antonio Langham, a No. 9 pick in 1994, the year GM Phil Savage was moved from coaching to personnel in Bill Belichick’s Cleveland organization.


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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

4/27/06

Draft just part of busy off-season for Browns

Thursday, April 27, 2006

James Walker
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

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</IMG> </TD></TR><TR><TD class=cutline width=200>Linebacker Willie McGinest (55) was a key off-season acquisition for the Browns. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


BEREA, Ohio — Cleveland Browns general manager Phil Savage has a host of phrases to describe the importance he places on the NFL draft. Savage often refers to the draft as the "lifeblood," "meat and potatoes" or "bread and butter" of the organization.

This year, however, the draft is more like dessert for a team that has already feasted. The Browns made free agency the main course, spending more than $100 million in the offseason by signing players such as center LeCharles Bentley, offensive tackle Kevin Shaffer, linebacker Willie McGinest, receiver Joe Jurevicius and punter Dave Zastudil.

But Savage nonetheless believes in the plan of building through the draft. With plenty of room under the salary cap, this off-season simply provided the Browns an opportunity to help level the playing field for a team already lagging behind, he said.

"This team was void of a lot of talent when we got here," said Savage, in his second year with the team. "And this is a team where that lifeline and that lifeblood of the draft, there hasn’t been that consistency. (We want to grow) the team from within, and this would be the second step in trying to do that.

"We want our good players to come from the draft. … I think that stabilizes our situation much more than having to go out in free agency every year."

With the previous uncertainty of the league’s collective-bargaining agreement, Cleveland entered free agency with two plans; both involved spending a lot of money.

The Browns expected to be a major player on the market no matter how the league resolved its issues. The process began last season when Savage shed the team of many high-priced contracts, including those of Gerard Warren, Courtney Brown and Jeff Garcia.

The Browns won two more games than the previous year, finishing 6-10, and now have added All-Pros such as Bentley and McGinest. In the locker room, team veterans are eager for the 2006 season.

"The moves they made in the off-season, those are key ingredients to a winning record," said Browns cornerback Gary Baxter, who was the team’s major free-agent acquisition in 2005. "I think guys are excited about the fact that we really made some strong moves and put some guys in place on offense and defense to try to help this team get in better position to win and compete."

Savage wants to get the Browns to a point where draft picks are not asked to be starters as rookies. That has not been the case in Cleveland since it re-entered the NFL in 1999; picks such as Tim Couch, Brown, Warren, Jeff Faine, and last year’s duo of Braylon Edwards and Charlie Frye were relied upon heavily as rookies.

This year’s free-agent class — all projected starters — should help change that. Having fewer holes to fill also should provide the Browns flexibility in the draft, in which they will pick 12 th in the first round.

"One thing that we don’t want to do is reach down into this group of players because that’s a need ... let’s just take the best player," Savage said.

Savage said a recent trip he made to an ice-cream parlor reminded him of the upcoming weekend. He said the store’s approach to its product was similar to the way the Browns will attack this draft.

"They had the small cup if you like it, the medium cup if you love it, and the third cup if you’ve got to have it," Savage said. "There’s certain players that we like them, there’s others player we love them, and there’s a third group of players you’ve got to have them.

"I think all the players we pick to a certain degree we’re going to like them and think they can do something for the Browns."
[email protected]

Thursday, April 27, 2006

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

4/28/06

Quote:
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=alt2 style="BORDER-RIGHT: 1px inset; BORDER-TOP: 1px inset; BORDER-LEFT: 1px inset; BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px inset">Savage still not tipping his hand

Friday, April 28, 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 - Phil Savage can hit you with baby-faced honesty or a sly smile.
As he spoke in a phone chat on the radio Thursday, one wondered how much “sly” he had up his sleeve.
In his last public remarks before Saturday’s draft, the Browns’ general manager made no reference to a possible trade up for A.J. Hawk or trade down for Bobby Carpenter.
The Browns could really use either Ohio State linebacker, but with the No. 12 overall pick, the team isn’t slotted where analysts think the players belong.
Savage focused on the obvious elements of the Browns’ draft plan during an interview on the team’s flagship station, WTAM.
He acknowledged the defensive players widely talked about as candidates for the No. 12 spot, Oregon’s Haloti Ngata, and Florida State’s Brodrick Bunkley and Kamerion Wimbley.
“(North Carolina State’s) Manny Lawson is a guy that’s out there,” he added.
He lumped those four in “the nest of players we’ll be looking at closely ... those players could come in and help us.”
He didn’t drop Hawk’s or Carpenter’s names. Recently, Head Coach Romeo Crennel hinted Carpenter is on his radar. It’s no lock Carpenter could be had in a trade down; at least, veteran analyst Paul Zimmerman sees Carpenter going to the Eagles at No. 14.
Savage seems to be telling fans they’ll be spending their fall with 2005 third-round pick Charlie Frye.
“Charlie is kind of the guy we’re going to lay the road map out for,” Savage said.
The Browns expect USC quarterback Matt Leinart to be gone long before they pick. They seem tempted to take Texas’ Vince Young if he falls to No. 12.
Might they pick Vanderbilt’s Jay Cutler, the best QB in the draft in some minds, if he falls?
“I don’t think so,” Savage said Thursday.
Still, that wasn’t a flat “no,” and Savage conceded the Browns have “talked about (Cutler) extensively.” Part of the discussion has been not wanting an elite quarterback to slip to division rival Baltimore, which has the No. 13 pick and hasn’t had much luck with Kyle Boller.
As to Leinart and Young, Savage said, “It would be a major upset if either of them fell out of the top 10.”
Savage hopes all three quarterbacks are gone before the Browns pick, partly because that would push a bigger cluster of defensive players to them.
“It’s very important to get that first pick right,” he said.
If the Browns don’t pick a quarterback in Round 1, it appears Frye will become the No. 1 QB if he makes a decent showing in the preseason.
Since the Browns don’t plan on drafting where elite quarterbacks normally are picked, Savage said, “It’s critical (Frye) becomes the guy.”
The Browns’ running back issues figure to apply more to the draft than the quarterback question.
Savage indicated Butch Davis-era picks Lee Suggs and William Green are contenders to become “the counter to Reuben Droughns,” but the Browns have convinced agents they’re serious about drafting a running back as high as Round 2. UCLA’s Maurice Drew seems to be the one to watch.
Meanwhile, Savage seems optimistic about what a good draft can do for the 2006 season. “We feel like our window is just starting to open,” he said. Reach Repository sports writer Steve Doerschuk at (330) 580-8347 or e-mail: [email protected]

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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

4/28/06

Quote:
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=alt2 style="BORDER-RIGHT: 1px inset; BORDER-TOP: 1px inset; BORDER-LEFT: 1px inset; BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px inset">Browns taking liking to Seminoles

Defensive standouts from FSU appeal to scheme

By Marla Ridenour

Beacon Journal sportswriter

<!-- begin body-content -->Florida State defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews remembers the spring when Seminoles coaches had to tell linebacker Ernie Sims to tone it down a notch in practice.
``We lost a running back and a tight end; he was doing some damage,'' Andrews said. ``That's when they had to take his helmet away.''
The helmet-snatching was obviously not Andrews' idea. Coach Bobby Bowden's defensive guru for 22 years, Andrews said he didn't know a player could hit too hard. When asked about telling Sims to ease up, Andrews said, ``You must be talking about offensive coaches.''
Sims stands 5-foot-11 ¾ and weighs 231 pounds. He ran the 40 at his pro workout day in 4.48 seconds and ``can be a disrupting factor,'' Andrews said.
Browns General Manager Phil Savage has talked about drafting players to beat the division rival and Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers. Sims could be the prototype.
``He's very active and aggressive, gives every ounce of energy in his body,'' Andrews said recently. ``He's very fast and hits with a lot of power. He knocked himself out in practice one day. They had to come get the other guy, too.''
If the Browns consider selecting a linebacker with the 12th overall pick in Saturday's NFL Draft, chances are he could be from Florida State.
Several mock drafts, including that of ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr., have the Browns taking FSU defensive end Kamerion Wimbley, whom Savage thinks can make the transition to outside linebacker in their 3-4 alignment. If the Browns figure they can get a pass rusher in Round 2, inside linebacker Sims could be their man to team with Andra Davis.
``He's explosive, fast and physical,'' Savage said of Sims. ``If dynamite comes in small packages, he's one of 'em. He can run like the wind. He may not be an ideal fit for the 3-4, but with a little bit of protection in front of him, he could play in either defense.''
Sims said he gets his speed from his mother, Alice, an All-American sprinter at FSU, and his father, Ernie Jr., who played running back for Bowden.
As for throwing his body around with such reckless abandon, Sims said at the NFL scouting combine in February, ``I don't think you can be taught that. It's just in me. When I get on that field, my intentions are to try to punish people. Not in a bad way, but that's how I play football.''
The Arizona Cardinals also have expressed an interest in Sims. At a pre-draft news conference Tuesday, coach Dennis Green said Sims' history of concussions would not cause them to shy away.
``He's only had two,'' Green said.
The best linebacker Andrews has coached, he said, was Derrick Brooks, a nine-time Pro Bowler with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Andrews called Sims, a junior, ``a faster Brooks.''
``Not many people have Brooks' instincts and understanding of the game and where the pieces fit,'' Andrews said. ``But Brooks will tell you he'd like to have this kid's speed. Sims' freshman year he outran (cornerback Antonio) Cromartie. He ran a 4.38, Cromartie a 4.39.''
Wimbley, on the other hand, reminds many of former Seminoles defensive end Peter Boulware, whom Savage and Baltimore Ravens General Manager Ozzie Newsome drafted fourth overall in 1997 to play linebacker. Andrews said the comparison is not a stretch.
``Both were a little over 210 when we signed them, both had to grow into defensive end and ended up 245, 250,'' Andrews said. ``Both had excellent speed, were smart, instinctive-type guys. Both are strong Christians, top-character people, respected because they respect others.
``Peter was able to make the transition (to linebacker). I don't know whether Kamerion can do it. From a mental standpoint it may take him awhile, but he's got the drive and motivation.''
A high-school quarterback, Wimbley is 6-3 ¾ and 248 pounds. He has run the 40 in 4.61 seconds. Recovered from the MCL sprain that caused him to miss three games in 2005, Wimbley is open to the position switch.
``It would be a fun challenge,'' he said. ``It would give me a chance to display some of my athleticism that you don't necessarily get to show at defensive end. I think I have the ability to make plays in the open field... my leaping ability, just the quickness, (and) change of direction.''
Wimbley, who majored in social work and hopes to help troubled juveniles, has a deep spiritual faith and character that could appeal to Savage and coach Romeo Crennel.
``I've had great coaches, great parental influence. I've always had discipline,'' Wimbley said at the combine. ``The game of football has taught me to conduct (myself) in a way to be successful on and off the field. I've had a lot of great people in my life, adults as well as peers.''
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[scarletngrey11]

Well, it appears that Wimbley will be the pick.

I dont like the pick, but Savage knows his stuff. Hopefully he turns out to be a Peter Boulware, whom Savage drafted from FSU when he was with the Ravens.

Im still holding out hope that we pick Carpenter. Savage stated that Bobby would be an ILB for the Browns, which is a HUGE area of need. I think with Bobbys ability to get off of blockers, he would make a great ILB. He'd also bring a tough attitude to our defense.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

4/30/06

Wimbley no stranger to adversity

Browns' top draft pick remembers tough past, committed to give back

By Marla Ridenour

Beacon Journal sportswriter

<!-- begin body-content -->BEREA - After football, Kamerion Wimbley plans to work with juvenile delinquents. But it won't be a calling chosen for its nobility.
When he was young, Wimbley said his mother was jailed for possession of drugs with intent to sell. After a short time in foster care, his grandmother adopted him along with his older brother and younger sister. He hopes to take the problems that he faced and use them to help other children overcome their struggles.
Chosen 13th overall by the Browns in Saturday's NFL Draft, the Florida State defensive end who will play outside linebacker with the Browns didn't shy away from talking about his past.
``Adversity definitely helped me get to where I am today,'' Wimbley said on a conference call. ``It helped me adapt and adjust to stressful situations.''
As Wimbley explained, his father was in the Air Force and they lived in Alaska for a time. When his parents divorced, he and his siblings moved to Wichita, Kan., with his mother.
``Things got pretty tough, she was a single parent raising three kids,'' Wimbley said.
After his mother was arrested, the three children lived with their grandmother from the third to the eighth grade. Wimbley found discipline and camaraderie through football, starting in the third grade.
When he got to high school, his father moved back from Alaska and got married. The Wimbley kids moved in with their dad, his wife and her three children.
After his mother was released from jail, Wimbley said she ``cleaned up her act and hasn't been in trouble again.''
``My mom is doing great,'' he said. ``She lived in Wichita until I went to college, then after my second year she moved down and came to all my games. She's overjoyed. She was very excited about this day. I've been waiting for this moment for a long time, and it's here. She was just happy for that.''
Wimbley's past prompted him to major in social work at FSU.
``There were a lot of people who were influential in getting me to where I am today,'' he said. ``A lot of coaches, family members, grandparents, teachers, a lot of people around the community. I would like to show my appreciation by giving back to the youth who maybe are underappreciated or oppressed and in a similar situation.''
Browns General Manager Phil Savage praised Wimbley as an ``absolute A-class, first-rate person.''
``The strength coach at Florida State said this was the best kid he had worked with in 18 years,'' Savage said.
Savage said Florida State coach Bobby Bowden has been his mentor and gave him added insight into Wimbley's personality.
``He said Wimbley was a unique kid,'' Savage said. ``He said he has an amazing story to tell and he shared it with the team one time, and he has the respect of his teammates.''
Wimbley played quarterback in high school, and Savage said Bowden was so impressed with Wimbley's athleticism that he offered him a scholarship after one day at the Seminoles' camp.
``Florida State doesn't offer scholarships to bad athletes,'' Savage said. ``I have such respect for coach Bowden, I don't think he'd steer me down the wrong path.''
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

4/30/06

At least Browns have priorities set

By Terry Pluto

<!-- begin body-content -->OWINGS MILLS, MD. - If I were sitting in Phil Savage's chair, I'd have sat right on that No. 12 pick and called the name of Haloti Ngata.
I'm sick of watching teams run over the Browns, and if Ngata comes as advertised, he'll use that massive 6-foot-4, 340-pound pickup truck of a body to clog up the middle.
Browns General Manager Phil Savage had another idea, and that's because the Browns have so many holes.
What's bigger? Controlling the run or pressuring the quarterback? The Browns ranked 30th out of 32 teams when it came to stopping the run. They also were last with only 23 sacks.
Savage said coaches and scouts gave the edge to chasing the quarterback, so he shopped for linebackers.
Nothing wrong with that approach, assuming Savage found the right ones.
He swapped picks, added a sixth-rounder and allowed Baltimore to take Ngata.
I was spending this draft day in the camp of the enemy, the Ravens' draft headquarters, because I'm in the Washington, D.C., area for the Cavs' playoff games. Everyone in the Ravens' press room was convinced Baltimore would pick Ngata.
I thought that the Browns would go for him, despite lots of draft-day rumbles of the Browns being infatuated with Florida State's Kamerion Wimbley. Ngata was about dealing with the run, Wimbley about attacking the passer.
Eight of the dozen first-round picks in the Ozzie Newsome Era have eventually made a Pro Bowl.
I have a feeling Ngata might make it 9-of-13.
Newsome said many of the same things of Ngata that I heard from Savage this fall. Ngata is a huge presence. He has been accused of taking off some plays, but he was a first-team All-American, he had three sacks, nine tackles for losses, deflected five passes and blocked two kicks.
Sounds like he was pretty busy.
Back at Berea, Savage said, ``We liked Ngata a lot; we like Wimbley better.''
This is an interesting test of talent evaluation between Newsome and Savage.
Newsome was his boss in Baltimore and credited Savage with putting together many of the Ravens' superb drafts.
Newsome told me that Wimbley was ``a very good pick'' for the Browns' 3-4 defense. He said, ``Phil has been searching for a pass rusher since the fall,'' and Wimbley should be able to switch from a defensive end at Florida State to an outside linebacker in the Browns' 3-4 defense.
I have no fault with the pick of Wimbley, other than a preference for a young defensive tackle to learn from 38-year-old Ted Washington. But at least the Browns have Washington.
Savage and his staff spent this past season scouting for players to blend into coach Romeo Crennel's system. Crennel said Wimbley is the ``kind of outside linebacker I'm used to.''
It's reassuring to know the general manager and coach aren't just on the same page, but also appear to be in the same sentence. At some past Browns' draft-day gatherings, I wasn't sure if some of the guys running the team even spoke the same language.
I really like the pick of D'Qwell Jackson in the second round and don't mind that they traded center Jeff Faine to the New Orleans Saints to move up to take the inside linebacker from Maryland. Faine had lost most of his value, because he has ended the past three years on the injured list, and many teams think that he's too small.
That's why the Browns spent big bucks to sign LeCharles Bentley. The 290-pound Faine was getting mauled by the better teams and bigger nose tackles.
Jackson is impressive, because he's a consistent achiever, leading the Atlantic Coast Conference in tackles the past two seasons. He was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2005. He's supposed to be a little too small at 6-feet, 229 pounds. But Crennel had success with players like this with the New England Patriots.
Keep in mind that the ACC includes Miami, Florida State and Virginia Tech. It has become a very viable conference.
The Browns have Wimbley poised to rush the passer from the outside linebacker spot. Jackson should play inside, the position where it seemed poor Ben Taylor was overwhelmed on so many Sundays last season.
Even if you don't agree with all the Browns' moves, at least you can understand why they made them. They set priorities, drew up a plan and then followed it. For Browns fans, that should be very reassuring.
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

4/30/06

First-day results thrill Browns GM

By Patrick McManamon

Beacon Journal sportswriter

<!-- begin body-content -->BEREA - Phil Savage's track record remains consistent.
The general manager of the Browns was sound, logical and reasoned in his top two selections in Saturday's NFL Draft -- the same way he has been since the first day he joined the Browns.
Savage's method in this draft, though, deviated just a bit from the norm.
In the first round, Savage traded down one spot with the Baltimore Ravens to get his player. In the second round, he traded up nine spots with the New Orleans Saints -- and sent them former starting center Jeff Faine in the process.
The positions, though, that he strengthened went according to chalk.
In the first round, Savage took the front-seven guy whom he wanted: Florida State's Kamerion Wimbley, who will move from a college end to pro linebacker.
In the second round, he gave up Faine and a second-round pick to the Saints and took inside linebacker D'Qwell Jackson of Maryland.
The combination of the two picks had the normally low-key Savage almost giddy.
``If you had told me Dec. 1 that we'd get Wimbley plus a six (sixth-round pick) plus D'Qwell Jackson, I'd have said, `We won't even have to go to one meeting; I'll do that right now,' '' Savage said.
In the third round, the Browns pulled a mild surprise by taking wide receiver Travis Wilson of Oklahoma. This was not a position expected to be targeted, but in his pre-draft news conference, Savage had mentioned Wilson as a ``value pick'' on the first day.
Wimbley, observers in the Browns draft room said, was the top choice of the three players whom the Browns thought that they'd be able to select with the 12th pick.
Others included Oregon nose tackle Haloti Ngata and Florida State defensive lineman Brodrick Bunkley, but the Browns liked Wimbley better because he's a pass rusher.
Wimbley's selection came down to a meeting in April, when Savage asked the coaching staff which was the higher priority: A pass rusher or a run stopper.
By acclimation, the coaches said pass rusher.
``Last year on defense, as good as we did in the red zone, we bled to death from the 20 to the 20,'' Savage said, ``At the 20-yard-line we forced them to kick a field goal.
``A pass rusher is someone who can stop them on third down.''
Savage and coach Romeo Crennel talked about things like knee bend when describing Wimbley's pass-rush ability.
``He is a slippery-when-wet rusher,'' Savage said. ``Kind of a rubber-band man. He's kind of Gumby-like in that he can bend and stay low to the ground and get around the corner.''
Getting ``low'' is important to a pass rusher because it gives him leverage, and that's vital in rushing the passer.
What was vital as well was Wimbley's character, which is impeccable.
And which led the Browns to even help a division rival. The Baltimore Ravens badly wanted Ngata -- Vice President Ozzie Newsome said he had to have him -- and the Browns were going to take Wimbley all along.
So the Ravens gave the Browns a sixth-round pick to move up one spot -- even though Savage started asking for a fourth-round pick.
Savage dismissed the possibility that he had helped Baltimore because he thought that the Ravens were going to get Ngata no matter what.
``On our sheet of paper, it says do what's best for the Browns,'' Savage said. ``I felt like the best move for the Browns was Kamerion Wimbley, plus a later-round pick that can be used in some other way.''
Jackson is a middle linebacker who led the ACC in tackles his final two years with Terrapins -- and he played in the 3-4 defense as a junior.
Said Savage: ``This guy is a football player.''
The Browns were considering three linebackers in Round 2 -- Jackson, Alabama's DeMeco Ryans and Miami's Rocky McIntosh.
Ryans went 33rd overall to the Houston Texans, which prompted the Browns to move up to get Jackson, who will be given a chance to start at right inside linebacker next to Andra Davis.
``He has the demeanor and the presence and the mentality to come in and challenge (to start),'' Savage said. ``Whether he can come in and win the job right away, I don't know.''
Jackson's ``presence'' and physical play obviously caught Savage's eye.
``He's a guy who will go toe-to-toe in Pittsburgh,'' Savage said.
Faine was expendable because the Browns signed LeCharles Bentley in free agency. Faine goes to the team that Bentley left.
Wilson was taken though he missed five games with a foot sprain. He finished his final season with 25 catches for 310 yards and one touchdown.
As a junior, he had 50 receptions and 11 touchdowns.
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