Cleveland Browns (2007 & prior)

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

4/30/06

Browns deal for ‘D’

Sunday, April 30, 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 - Saturday’s road to Milepost 12 swerved around mysterious bends.
When the NFL Draft braked for Cleveland, the Browns had vanished. In their place, oddly, were the Baltimore Ravens.
The Browns then reappeared with Florida State defensive end Kamerion Wimbley, who will be groomed for every-down duty at outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme. General Manager Phil Savage called him “a slippery-when-wet rusher.”
That the Browns traded the No. 12 overall pick to division rival Baltimore gave some fans whiplash. The Ravens moved up from No. 13 to No. 12 to snare Oregon defensive tackle Haloti Ngata. The Browns tapped Wimbley at No. 13.
“We liked Ngata a lot,” Savage said. “We liked Wimbley better.”
Savage pulled off another trade in Round 2 to move up for Maryland inside linebacker D’Qwell Jackson.
Jackson is a run-stuffer at a “need” position, but Wimbley can breathe fire on quarterbacks.
“We were OK in the red zone last year, but we bled to death from the 20 to the 20,” Savage said. “If we can get teams to third down and get a pass rush ...
“An edge rusher is what we needed more than anything else on this team.”
Savage extracted a mere sixth-round pick for trading places with a division rival. That’s an incredible reversal from the 2004 draft, when Butch Davis gave Detroit a second-round pick to trade places from No. 7 to No. 6 and get Kellen Winslow Jr.
Savage, though, thought he had a simple choice. He could take Wimbley at No. 12 and get nothing extra, with the Ravens landing Ngata anyway. Or, he could make Baltimore think Ngata might be the pick, and extract whatever the Ravens would offer.
When the Browns were on the clock with the No. 12 pick, Savage was on the phone with Ravens General Manager Ozzie Newsome. Those two were a team in Baltimore from 1996-2004.
“I said, ‘Oz, you know me ... you know how I like defensive linemen,’ ” Savage said.
Newsome bit, then Savage sank his teeth into what he saw as incredible fortune.
The Browns moved up to No. 35 overall to get Jackson. New Orleans gave up the No. 35 spot and received center Jeff Faine and the Browns’ No. 43 selection.
Jackson was worth it, in part, because “he can go toe-to-toe with Pittsburgh,” Savage said.
Savage chuckled at the trade that brought the Steelers Ohio State wideout Santonio Holmes in Round 1.
“We’d better rush the passer,” he said.
That’s Wimbley’s job.
He wasn’t a stats machine at Florida State, with 12 sacks and 23 1/2 tackles for loss in 49 career games, including just 12 starts. Savage saw a breakthrough in 2005 and kept finding new things he liked.
Wimbley projects as a good run stopper and pass coverage man, and ...
“On third down, he’ll go back to doing what he did best at Florida State ... put his hand down and fly around the corner,” Savage said.
Within two months, Savage has acquired two elite talents at outside linebacker in Wimbley and free agent Willie McGinest.
Head Coach Romeo Crennel said the two have “comparable ability.” McGinest, 34, was a No. 4 overall draft pick of the Patriots in 1994. Savage said having McGinest as a mentor is “the perfect situation” for Wimbley.
“He’s got broad shoulders, long arms and a big bubble,” Savage said. “He looks like an outside linebacker should look.”
Wimbley celebrated being a No. 13 overall pick with friends and family in Wichita, Kan.
In a phone interview, he said changing positions is “a fun challenge.”
He convinced the Browns that a late-season knee injury was minor. He did that by January, when he was one of the top performers at the Senior Bowl.
“To come back from an injury like that, I think, impressed a lot of coaches,” he said.
Wimbley was picked to help the Browns win now. “I think I can contribute,” he said. “Really, what I need to do is give it the best I’ve got. If I do that, I’ll be fine.” Reach Repository sports writer Steve Doerschuk at (330) 580-8347 or e-mail [email protected].


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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

4/30/06

In Wimbley, Browns get good player, person

Sunday, April 30, 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]


BEREA - From Alaska to Wichita to Tallahassee and now Cleveland. Kamerion Wimbley has been around the block. But the newest Cleveland Brown was never knocked off it, even when life took its best shots.
Saturday afternoon, Wimbley watched the draft from Wichita, Kan., with about 200 family and friends.
It’s easy to see why so many people want to be around him. When Browns General Manager Phil Savage (who, by the way, looked like the cat that ate the canary after bilking a sixth-round pick from the Ravens), called Wimbley to ask him how he felt about being a Brown, Wimbley just had to pause.
The Florida State defensive end and future NFL outside linebacker collected his 6-foot-3, 245-pound body. A million thoughts, choices and outcomes to his life must’ve passed before him. When you get to know Wimbley, the one that transpired Saturday seemed like the longest shot.
Oh, there were several opportunities for Wimbley to take the hit so many NFL hopefuls do. But Saturday afternoon was one of those defining moments in life. Wimbley made it through it all and is now in the NFL.
You think playing football on Sunday afternoons for millions of dollars will phase this kid? He lost his mother after she was arrested for drug possession when he was a third-grader, spent a few weeks separated from his brother and sister when he was shuttled into a foster home, was adopted by his grandmother after he moved from Alaska to Kansas and went to a dozen college camps before his senior season of high school football because no one offered him a scholarship.
When Wimbley came home that summer, he had a dozen offers from Notre Dame, Nebraska and others.
“He is a special individual,” said Mark Cotton, an assistant principal at Northwest High School in Wichita. He was the defensive coordinator and counselor when Wimbley came through.
“He’s had a lot of things to go through throughout his life,” Cotton said. “People don’t get better than him. He is not only a world class athlete, you guys are getting a heckuva man. No matter the situation he is in, he makes it better.”
But the Browns didn’t draft Wimbley because he’s grounded or a nice guy.
They drafted him because, until a cheap-shot injury in the middle of last season at Florida State, he was one of the best pass rushers in college football.
It didn’t hurt, however, that he has no character issues.
“That’s an added bonus,” Savage said after Cleveland swapped first-round spots with Baltimore and still got the guy they targeted in Wimbley. “We had him rated up there on his athletic and football ability. That’s a cherry on top because he’s such a good person.
“When you guys go digging through his background, you won’t find anything.”
But think of how many guys with athleticism come from similar backgrounds as Wimbley. Think how many of them never end up on a college campus, but a prison yard. Think how some of them don’t make it through college. Think how many of them feel sorry for themselves because of their “situation.”
Not Wimbley.
The Browns filled a need on the field, and drafted a top-notch person off it. Wimbley is a social work major.
“I like to learn about people’s behavior,” he said. “I have a heart for people, especially kids. I like to help out kids in situations where they haven’t had as many opportunities as most people had.”
Like himself.
After his grandmother adopted him and his two siblings, a court ordered his mother, Yolanda, not to have any contact with the kids. Eventually, Wimbley said, his mother got “her act cleaned up.”
His mom lived nearby in Wichita and he saw her regularly. His father, stationed in the Air Force in Alaska, relocated to Kansas when Wimbley was an eighth-grader. Eventually, Wimbley and his two siblings lived with his father, a new step-mother and her children.
It was football that kept Wimbley on the straight and narrow. He took it up in the third grade after his mother was arrested.
“There were a lot of people who were influential in getting me to the point where I am today,” Wimbley said. “I wasn’t able to do it on my own. ... I would like to show my appreciation by giving back to the youth who are underappreciated or oppressed in a similar situation to myself when I was growing up.
“Not everyone who goes through situations like that are fortunate enough to have key people in their lives to point them in the right direction.”
Saturday afternoon that direction pointed to Cleveland. The Browns are better for it. On and off the field. That still counts for something. Reach Repository sports writer Todd Porter at (330) 580-8340 or e-mail: [email protected].


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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

Sooner says he’s best WR in draft

Sunday, April 30, 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 - Welcome back to the Wide World of Wideouts.
In this episode, the Browns get “the best receiver in the draft.” That’s what Oklahoma’s Travis Wilson said he is after getting picked in Round 3 (No. 78 overall) late Saturday.
“I promise the Browns I’m the best receiver in the draft, and I’ll take care of business and handle everything,” Wilson said in a phone interview shortly after he was picked.
“There’s not a receiver who’s too much faster ... faster in the 40 maybe, but not game speed. I can always make big plays.”
Browns General Manager Phil Savage will be rejoicing if Wilson backs up his strong words. It will mean Cleveland trumped Pittsburgh’s first-round selection of Santonio Holmes.
Before the draft, Savage made it clear he liked the 6-foot-1 Wilson.
“He put up big numbers as a junior,” Savage said. “He may slide a bit. He’s going to be a good value for someone.”
On Saturday night, Savage said he told Wilson, “I thought you’d be a steal, but I didn’t think we’d get to be the guys doing the stealing.”
The Browns spent second-round picks on wide receivers in four straight drafts and picked another one at No. 3 overall last year.
There is some logic in adding Wilson, beyond the possibility he’s as good as he says.
Projected No. 1 receiver Braylon Edwards is coming off knee surgery. Top backup Dennis Northcutt might be in his last year with the team.
Also, past Round 2 picks Kevin Johnson, Quincy Morgan and André Davis haven’t been with the Browns for a while.
The War Room scouts of The Sporting News rate Wilson as the sixth-best wideout in the draft, one spot behind Edwards’ former Michigan running mate, Jason Avant.
Savage preferred Wilson, with Avant still available.
Wilson’s stats fell in 2005, causing his stock to drop in some eyes.
He caught 50 passes and scored 11 touchdowns in 2004, when Heisman Trophy winner Jason White was the quarterback, and White made hay finding soft spots in zones. White graduated, the offense suffered, and Wilson caught only 25 passes in an injury-shortened 2005.
Wilson indicated he is over a foot injury and good to go with his new team.
“My injury obviously had an effect,” he said. “I know where I stood before this year. I know what I’m capable of.”
Reach Repository sports writer Steve Doerschuk at (330) 580-8347 or e-mail: [email protected]


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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

4/30/06

Savage compares second-round pick to Lewis

Sunday, April 30, 2006


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


BEREA - The last gaping hole on the Browns defense was filled Saturday.
With Ray Lewis.
OK, General Manager Phil Savage didn’t wave a wand and dupe Baltimore into another trade, but Savage didn’t exactly hold back on his praise of second-round linebacker D’Qwell Jackson. In fact, Savage compared the Maryland prospect to one of the NFL’s elite linebackers in Lewis.
That probably goes beyond the “Mad dog in a meat market,” description the Browns used to describe first-round pick Mike Junkin in 1987.
“I’m not saying he is Ray Lewis, but he has the same type of demeanor,” said Savage, a key player in Baltimore’s war room when the Ravens drafted Lewis in 1996. “(Jackson) will bring a presence. He’s a guy who will go toe-to-toe in Pittsburgh.”
Savage and Head Coach Romeo Crennel said before the draft they would only select players they believed would not be intimidated by the defending Super Bowl champs, who embarrassed the Browns in Cleveland on Christmas Eve.
“I pride myself in being physical, which is something that entails being a linebacker,” Jackson said. “I didn’t see the Pittsburgh game. I know what it means to play tough and aggressive. That’s what my game is.
“People can say what they want to. I know what type of player I am. The Cleveland Browns selected me and I’m going to go in and do what D’Qwell Jackson knows how to do.”
Jackson likely will be the team’s starting linebacker when the season starts Sept. 10. Cleveland doesn’t have a bonafide right inside linebacker, unless Matt Stewart has a career training camp or Chaun Thompson is converted from outside to inside.
Savage saw Jackson play against Georgia Tech, and he had six tackles in the first seven snaps.
But the Browns drafted an undersized linebacker who lost some draft stock because of his sluggish testing.
“Some guys are fall guys and some are spring guys,” Savage said. “We want fall guys. He’s 6-1 if you love him, he’s 6-foot if you like him and some people might have him at 5-11.”
A quick check of three predraft analysis had Jackson rated as the draft’s best inside linebacker.
Cleveland traded Jeff Faine to the Saints to swap second-round selections. The Browns moved up nine spots in the trade to take Jackson.
Jackson started playing football when he was 7. The first pass his uncle threw to him went through his hands and hit him in the face.
“I think that’s when he wanted to be a linebacker,” Savage said. “He plays with a tough edge to him.” Reach Repository sports writer Todd Porter at (330) 580-8340 or e-mail: [email protected]


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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

4/30/06

Trade sends Faine away, opens center for Bentley

Sunday, April 30, 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 - The Browns traded away center Jeff Faine on Saturday, but he’ll be right back.
Faine was swapped to the Saints so the Browns could move up in the second round. New Orleans will be at Cleveland for a season opener on Sept. 10.
Savage went into Saturday hoping to trade Faine for a third-round pick.
“I wasn’t convinced we were gonna get one,” he said.
Instead, Savage moved from No. 43 to No. 35 by giving the Saints Faine, who will replace LeCharles Bentley, who jumped to the Browns in free agency.
“This clears the way for LeCharles to play center,” Savage said.
Bentley could have played guard, but now incumbents Cosey Coleman and Joe Andruzzi figure to stay on as the starting guards.
Savage didn’t seem upset about giving up a former first-round pick, because it enabled him to grab Maryland inside linebacker D’Qwell Jackson.
“I’m a little bit in shock, to be honest, that we have both Kamerion Wimbley and D’Qwell Jackson,” Savage said.
The first-round pick was Wimbley, a body-bending pass rusher Savage likened to “Gumby.” He, too, was picked after a trade, in that case a flop with the Ravens from No. 12 to No. 13.
The trade fetched only a sixth-round pick.
The Browns have gotten zilch out their sixth-round picks in the expansion era, Kendall Ogle, James Dearth, Spergon Wynn, Brad Bedell, Michael Jameson, Antonio Garay and Andrew Hoffman. But then, the Patriots picked Tom Brady in the sixth round shortly after Cleveland took Wynn, so you never know.
The draft concludes today. The Browns have two fourth-round picks, two-fifth-round picks, two sixth-rounds picks and one seventh-rounder.
The Browns milked the clock after trading down in Round 1, but Savage said he wasn’t entertaining another trade offer.
“Frankly,” he said, “we wanted (ESPN) to talk about the Browns a little bit,” he said. “We wanted Wimbley to get some exposure and let his family see that pick go in.
“I feel like a TV producer.”
Eyebrows were raised when Savage got only a sixth-round pick from Baltimore for changing places in Round 1.
“When I was on the phone with Ozzie,” Savage said, “I asked him for a ‘four,’ but I settled for a ‘six’ so we could play golf his summer and laugh about it.”
Reach Repository sports writer Steve Doerschuk at (330) 580-8347 or e-mail: [email protected]


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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

4/30/06

Meet the new browns

Sunday, April 30, 2006



Kamerion Wimbley
Florida State, DE/OLB, 6-foot-4, 248 pounds
vital numbers Ran a 4.61 40 time and benched 225 pounds 24 times at the Combine; had a 38½ inch vertical leap.
Why he might help He is an edge-rushing threat that the Browns don’t have. He has speed, strength and athleticism to get around tackles and get to the QB.
Why he may not help Just one problem: Wimbley has never played OLB. He has the body to convert, though, and will play his best football next season with his hand down. He lacks bulk.
Mel Kiper says “I was as impressed with Wimbley’s attitude as I was with his on-field talents. ... In the early to middle part of the 2005 season, Wimbley was as good as any pass rusher in the nation.”
“War room” scout says Shows an explosive first step and outstanding speed off the edge. Anticipates snap counts better than most prospects. Has the initial burst to beat offensive tackles without contact. Combines good quickness and agility with fluid hips and smooth change-of-direction skills.
Savage says “Pass rush was one of our big concerns. Adding Kamerion Wimbley to one side of our defense and already having Willie McGinest here, this is the perfect situation for Kamerion to walk into.
Crennel says “We were fortunate Wimbley was available when we had the opportunity to pick. To be able to get an extra pick as well as a guy you liked is a plus for us. It allows us to do something else later in the draft if we need to.”
Wimbley says “I think it will be something that will be a fun challenge (converting to OLB). I played DE the whole time in college. I don’t have too much experience dropping back, but people were impressed with the way I moved.”
Bottom line Provides immediate help in an immediate need. Plays three downs and Baltimore gave up a sixth rounder. Boon for the Browns.


D’Qwell Jackson
Maryland, ILB, 6-0, 230 pounds
vital numbers Ran a 4.74 40 time and benched 225 pounds 19 times at the Combine.
Why he might help Jackson is coming into a team in need of a RILB and he, right now, is it. Sure tackler who understands the game. Heady after the ball is snapped and has great instincts. Was a leader on the field in 2005
Why he may not help He doesn’t have great speed or size.
Mel Kiper says “An outstanding athlete. Jackson has the speed and physical presence to move outside in the right defensive scheme. If not, he has the talent to play inside.”
“War room” scout says “He is undersized and must strengthen his lower body, but he is enough of a physical playmaker to start in the NFL. He might fit best as a weakside linebacker on a team that runs the ‘Tampa 2’ scheme, which emphasizes athleticism over size.”
Savage says “He’ll bring a presence. He’s a guy who will go toe-to-toe in Pittsburgh. ... This kid is a football player. I’m not saying the kid is Ray Lewis, but he has the same type demeanor.”
Jackson says “Whichever role the Cleveland Browns want me to take, I’m up for it. If it calls for me to get the starting role, I’ll take it. If it calls for me to be on special teams, I do that. I’m a guy who just wants to win and do whatever I can to achieve that.”
Bottom line The Browns say they were stunned to be able to get Jackson in the second round combined with Wimbley in the first. Cleveland needs Jackson to be a starter this year and fill a hole. Potentially, the Browns could have two rookies starting at the right LB positions.


Travis Wilson
Oklahoma, WR, 6-2½, 215 pounds
VITAL NUMBERS Ran a 4.52 40-yard time, but didn’t lift. Has a 38½ inch vertical jump.
Why he might help Dennis Northcutt is a free agent after the 2006 season and WR Braylon Edwards isn’t expected to be 100 percent when the season starts. Wilson can return punts. He has nice size and decent speed, but is a burner off the line. Wilson isn’t shy about blocking in the running game.
Why he may not help His production as a senior was nil. Some of that had to do with a freshman QB and some of it had to do with a foot injury that sidelined him in the latter half of the season. He caught 25 passes for 310 yards last year, but 50 for 660 as a junior.
Mel Kiper says “Wilson has the package of skills you look for and has a chance to be a very capable No. 2 receiver for a pro team. ... He runs excellent routes.”
“War room” scout says “Goes for the ball in traffic and over the middle. Shows the athleticism to adjust to bad passes. Is a tough runner after the catch. ... Catches the ball too close to his body.”
Savage says “I told him when we talked during his visit he’d be one of the steals of the draft. I didn’t think we’d be the ones stealing him in the third round.”
Crennel says “He will go and get the ball and fight for it.”
Wilson says “As far as I’m concerned ... I know I’m the best receiver in the draft. ... I will take care of business and handle everything.”
Bottom line He won’t play much this year, unless injuries open the door. Northcutt is in a contract year, Joe Jurevicius is a veteran and Edwards is the team’s star. He provides depth.
COMPILED BY TODD PORTER

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

5/1

BROWNS INSIDER



Browns' efforts to move up for OSU's Hawk came up empty



Monday, May 01, 2006 Mary Kay Cabot

Plain Dealer Reporter
For Browns fans who wanted General Manager Phil Savage to trade up for Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk, you can rest assured he at least gave it the ol' college try.
Savage said the Browns talked about it a lot in the week leading up the draft. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, he made calls to Green Bay at No. 5 and San Francisco at No. 6 to talk about trading up.
"But they were pretty content to stay there and pick," said Savage. "Both teams seemed very reluctant to move out."
Savage wouldn't say what he offered to move up from No. 12, but indicated it was only a half-hearted attempt.
"It just depends," said Savage. "You always throw something out there the first phone call and they weren't going to take that, so it never got much further than that. It wasn't a major, strong offer."
Hawk went No. 5 to the Packers.
Suggs next?
Running back Lee Suggs could be the next former Butch Davis draft pick to be shown the door. Suggs is probably expendable now that the Browns have fifth-round pick Jerome Harrison, the running back from Washington State who rushed for 1,900 yards last season.
"We think he can be a real strong challenger as that change-up back for Reuben [Droughns]," said Savage.
Asked how Harrison will impact Suggs, Savage said he's talented but "he's just been hurt and hasn't been able to get out there and show what he can do, at least with this particular group, meaning [coach] Romeo [Crennel] and myself.
"It gets harder as your team improves because you're going to have to cut the cord with the guys that have helped you for a year or two. . . . Jerome Harrison is a good prospect."
Savage said the phone rang every once in a while about Suggs or William Green, but said he wants to keep that private.
Trade result:
Savage was happy with the way the trade with Baltimore worked out. The Browns got their man in Kamerion Wimbley and landed Stanford nose guard Baba Oshinowo with the sixth-round pick from Baltimore. Savage said the Browns had Oshinowo highly rated at nose tackle.
"We were very surprised to see him fall in the draft," said Savage. "A combination of him and Kamerion Wimbley vs. [Haloti] Ngata, I feel pretty good that trade worked out in the end. This is not just some take-a-flier-on in the last round. He's an established player who fits the defense as a true nose guard."
Extra points:
Savage said linebackers Chaun Thompson and Matt Stewart are candidates to move inside. . . . He said giving up center Jeff Faine to move up in the second round amounted to giving up a third-round pick and that the Browns were happy to receive what amounted to a third for Faine, their first-rounder in 2003. The Browns only got a fourth-rounder for 2001 first-rounder Gerard Warren. . . . Rookie camp is Friday and Saturday. Savage said the team will add 10-20 undrafted free agents.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

5/1/06

Browns expect picks to pan out

Playing time available on team with many needs

By Patrick McManamon

<!-- begin body-content -->BEREA - Conventional wisdom on the NFL Draft is that it takes three years to grade a class.
The Browns might have an earlier assessment.
That's because several of the 10 players taken the past two days might see significant playing time in the 2006 season.
Yes, coach Romeo Crennel will make his rookies earn their spots.
But the team's two top picks can be penciled in as starters immediately, third-round pick Travis Wilson might play due to the knee injury that will sideline wide receiver Braylon Edwards into October and two later-round picks might see some significant time at running back and nose tackle.
That's half a large rookie class on the field, which is both an indictment of the previous year's talent level and a testament to the draft class, which on Day 2 included:
• Linebacker Leon Williams of the University of Miami in the fourth round.
Williams is a bigger linebacker -- 6-foot-2 and 238 pounds -- who played in a rotation his senior season and stood out in a postseason All-Star Game.
• Guard Isaac Sowells of Indiana in the fourth round.
Sowells is a 325-pounder who will move inside to guard after spending three years at left tackle in college. He is a project the team hopes can challenge to start in 2007.
• Running back Jerome Harrison of Washington State in the fifth round.
This might be the steal of the draft. Harrison set single-season records for yards rushing (1,900) and rushing touchdowns (16), and averaged 6.2 yards per carry as a senior.
``He's a terrific talent, and he was one of the players we did have a strong consensus on throughout the process,'' Savage said. ``We thought of him as a third- or fourth-round guy based off his production.''
• Cornerback DeMario Minter of Georgia in the fifth round, who will fit in the special teams/cornerback depth mix.
• Fullback Lawrence Vickers of Colorado, rated the best at this position in the draft.
• Defensive tackle Babatunde Oshinowo of Stanford, another potential late-round find.
Before the draft, Player Personnel Director Bill Rees said Oshinowo was the third-best nose tackle in the draft.
``He's an established player who fits the defense as a true nose guard,'' Savage said.
• Safety Justin Hamilton of Virginia Tech, who will compete to be a backup.
Savage and Crennel gushed over filling so many needs in the draft and free agency, but when you fill a lot of needs, you have a lot of needs.
Such is life with a 6-10 team.
In the draft, the greatest need was the defensive front seven, and the Browns added four players there.
First-round pick Kamerion Wimbley will be penciled in as the starter at right outside linebacker, opposite free-agent signee Willie McGinest.
Wimbley will compete with Chaun Thompson, but the Browns didn't add a pass rusher to a team bereft of them so he can sit.
There was no inside linebacker on the roster to go with Andra Davis until D'Qwell Jackson was taken in the second round.
Savage described Oshinowo as a legitimate nose tackle to go with free-agent signee Ted Washington. In essence, the Browns moved down one spot in the first round and got Wimbley and Oshinowo so the Baltimore Ravens could get Haloti Ngata.
Offensively, the realization that Edwards might not be ready until October or maybe November threw some cold water on things, but Savage said the Browns would have taken Wilson anyway.
The selection of Harrison might prove to be a late-round coup.
His lowest single-game output was 113 yards, when he only played part of a blowout win over Grambling. As a senior, Harrison had seven 100-yard games and four 200-yarders. He is slated to be the change-of-pace back to Reuben Droughns.
Crennel and Savage touted this draft as one that filled needs, unlike a year ago when Crennel said the brain trust ``didn't know the players and what we were capable of.''
``I think we're a little better, just because we addressed the pass-rush area, we addressed the defensive line area, we addressed the linebacker area,'' Crennel said.
``But, you've got to take it from paper and put it on the field.''
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

5/1/06

Browns notebook

Missed quarterback sack

Savage inquires about Harrington, Tuiasosopo, but no deal materializes

By Patrick McManamon

Beacon Journal sportswriter

<!-- begin body-content -->BEREA - The Browns made calls during the second day of the NFL Draft to try to boost their depth at quarterback.
The team was not successful, but inquired about the Detroit Lions' Joey Harrington and the Oakland Raiders' Marques Tuiasosopo.
``We made a lot of calls,'' General Manager Phil Savage said with a shrug Sunday.
Savage said the Browns were trying to bolster the position and said adding another quarterback would ``absolutely not'' have led to the release of Trent Dilfer.
``Sometimes you just make exploratory calls just to find out what's going on for your own information,'' Savage said when word of the Harrington deal broke on ESPN.com.
However, the Browns have been made aware that other teams might be interested in acquiring Dilfer, so if they had another young quarterback, then they might be more able to trade Dilfer and acquire a draft pick in return.
Dilfer had knee surgery in February to repair a partially torn patella tendon. He is still rehabbing his knee, coach Romeo Crennel said.
Asked if the talks to acquire Harrington were a reflection on Charlie Frye, Savage said: ``Absolutely not.'' He added Harrington would have been acquired as a backup.
``Detroit was out there trying to sell Joey Harrington,'' Savage said. ``A call was made to see what is it they're looking for. He's a former No. 1 pick, and we've seen them cycle through the league, and the second time they're better wherever they land. We said we'll make the call and see what it is.''
Crennel tried to call Harrington, too, but said he and Harrington only exchanged phone messages.
What did they say?
``That's between me and Joey,'' Crennel said.
Harrington apparently balked because he already had been given permission to find a new team and had committed to the Miami Dolphins, pending the Dolphins working out a trade with the Lions for a 2007 draft choice. The Lions were hoping to get a pick in this year's draft but were not successful.
As Savage said: ``Harrington is going to the Dolphins. It's a dead issue.''
Dilfer declined to comment.
The Raiders evidently said no to trading Tuiasosopo, who has played five years and has 75 career passes. There were rumors that the Browns liked him last year and tried to acquire him, but they instead turned to Dilfer.
The Browns touted Dilfer as the perfect backup quarterback and mentor to Frye, and Crennel has refused to name Frye the starter.
Savage has said part of Crennel's reluctance was to show proper respect to a veteran quarterback. Dilfer completed 60 percent of his throws last season with 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
David Dunn, the agent for Harrington and Tuiasosopo, did not return a phone message.
Edwards' status
Savage again said the Browns do not know when they will be able to count on receiver Braylon Edwards, who is coming back from knee surgery.
``It's something in question,'' Savage said. ``The conservative way to look at it would be the opening of the season, but it may very well be later than that. It could be earlier than that. His rehab is going well.
If Edwards does not come back, the Browns would lack the big-play receiver that their offense needs, which would cause defenses to stack the line of scrimmage to stop running back Reuben Droughns. It also would put more emphasis on the return of tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. from knee surgery.
Savage indicated that the most likely timetable for Edwards' return is October, and nobody knows if he will be full speed when he does come back.
``It's a nine- or 10-month injury,'' Savage said of Edwards' return from a torn knee ligament. ``He had surgery at the beginning of January and got hurt in December.
``Nine plus one is 10, so you guys can do the math.''
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

5/1/06

Savage miffed by story on Lions

Monday, May 1, 2006


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



BEREA - An internet report Sunday may have upset the Browns’ quarterback apple cart. And General Manager Phil Savage didn’t enjoy picking up the apples.
An ESPN.com report left the Browns GM fuming that a conversation with the Lions about quarterback Joey Harrington made it into the public domain. According to the report, the Lions mulled trading Harrington to Cleveland for a second-day pick.
Harrington seems headed to Miami, but the Dolphins are offering just a sixth-round pick next year for him.
“We sat here and didn’t say a word about (first-round pick) Kamerion Wimbley for two and a half months, and you have one two-minute conversation with somebody and it’s all over the newspapers,” a miffed Savage said between picks Sunday.
Apparently, the Lions leaked the Harrington talks to try and spark interest in a Sunday trade, or up the offer from Miami.
Savage didn’t appear to enjoy being used.
“Sometimes you make exploratory calls for your own information, and unfortunately some people can’t stay quiet,” Savage said.
Cleveland has two quarterbacks and Head Coach Romeo Crennel has said both Charlie Frye and veteran Trent Dilfer will be given the opportunity to compete in training camp to be the starting quarterback. Frye was suspect at best in the Christmas Eve debacle against the Steelers, but rebounded and won the season’s final game.
Crennel and Savage both had talks with Detroit throughout the weekend about Harrington. Crennel left him a message and Harrington returned the call.
“We left messages for each other,” Crennel said.
However, the communication with the Lions about Harrington may have made Dilfer uncomfortable. Asked if Dilfer was unhappy, Savage said, “I can’t answer that.”
“We thought we’d check in with (the Lions) and see what they were looking for and the potential for him to be a fallback option here as a quarterback,” Savage said.
He later clarified that fallback option would be as a backup.
In predraft conversations, Savage has hinted that Frye may have a leg up on Dilfer. One of the reasons the Browns didn’t pursue a quarterback in the draft is “we have chosen to go down that road” with Frye. Savage said his feelings haven’t changed about the quarterbacks.
Crennel said again Sunday both QBs will compete for the starting position.
“You guys (media) keep throwing that ball in the air, and I keep missing it,” Crennel said.
Reach Repository sports writer Todd Porter at (330) 580-8340 or e-mail: [email protected].


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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

5/1/06

Draft’s success yet to be determined

Monday, May 1, 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]


BEREA - Many, many moons ago, when Phil Savage didn’t have the tired look he did Sunday after pulling an all-nighter, he panicked. Savage drove all the way to Western Kentucky to take his GRE for graduate school. The GRE is like SAT on steroids.
A bit exhausted from the drive and studying, Savage checked his pencil-filled ovals before turning in the test. He discovered his oval answers were off by one question. He fixed most of them in time.
The NFL Draft is the SAT test for Savage. It’s the reason he logs more miles than a concert tour bus every fall.
“I just hope we have all our ovals lined up during the draft,” Savage said, a slight shot of self-deprecating humor.
The ovals were lined up.
The Browns, at the very least, had a logical draft this weekend. No head scratchers. No long snappers or holders. Nobody standing trial for shooting at marijuana dealers, as was the case with 2001 fifth-rounder Jeremiah Pharms.
Savage prides himself on being a singles hitter, making solid contact on draft day. But his first-round pick, Kamerion Wimbley, “was right down the middle of the plate.” Before swinging he stole a pick from Baltimore, and then used that pick (181st) to take a nose tackle. Almost thumbing his nose at the Ravens, who flopped first-round picks to take nose tackle Haloti Ngata at 12th overall.
First-rounder Wimbley will be a starter at right linebacker. Second-rounder D’Qwell Jackson could start next to Wimbley, but may take more time to play.
“I don’t know if we hit home runs, but we definitely got the bat on the ball,” Savage said.
He and Head Coach Romeo Crennel worked hand-in-hand. They said there was little, almost no, disagreement over picks. Soon, maybe, they’ll start to finish each other’s sentences.
What they did this week was put on a clinic on how to rebuild a roster. Cleveland created competition at just about every position. No one can skate through training camp, or sluff off a Sunday afternoon.
“I would like for the team to become so competitive that no one’s job is safe because of the guy behind them,” Savage said.
Cleveland did a nice job of stockpiling picks this year. Savage had 10 selections and after the first day, he knocked off logical picks according to the team’s value board. The last time the Browns had this many picks was in 2000, when they had 13.
That dirty baker’s dozen of picks may go down in NFL annals as the worst draft ever for one team.
The Browns hit on Dennis Northcutt and Aaron Shea. They made contact with injury-plagued first-rounder Courtney Brown.
That’s it, and Shea could be debated.
Out of 13 picks, three were serviceable NFL players.
The others?
They read like a who’s who list of Minutemen employees now: Travis Prentice, JaJuan Dawson, Lewis Sanders, Anthony Malbrough, Lamar Chapman, Spergon Wynn, Brad Bedell, Manny Savea, Eric Chandler and Rashidi Barnes.
Painful.
They might as well have thrown darts at a board that year.
Under Savage, the process is organized. For six months he and team scouts travel the country and rate players every week.
“The preparation that goes into the draft beforehand makes it so much easier on draft day,” Crennel said.
Savage said it isn’t like a fantasy draft. Essentially, the Browns have players rated; as teams draft, those players are crossed off the list. When Cleveland’s turn comes up, there is little discussion on which player to take.
“We’re not sitting around a room with our feet on the desk saying ‘Let’s take this guy, or that guy,’ ” Savage said.
No team in the NFL feels bad about its draft. It’s just the way it is.
The Browns made logical picks and increased competition throughout the roster.
That has Crennel licking his chops.
“Competition makes us all better,” he said.
Savage looks at the draft in terms of baseball. Make solid contact, don’t try to hit a home run. In the past, it seemed, the Browns swung for the fence and struck out.
Solid contact puts the ball in play.
It’s a good theory.
Don’t overthink the draft.
Cleveland overworks the draft. Savage looked like an exhausted man Sunday.
“I’ve already gone into decompression mode,” he said. “Quite frankly, I’m glad it’s over.”
His work is done. Now the 10 players selected over the last two days will prove that work to bear fruit, or otherwise. Reach Repository sports writer Todd Porter at (330) 580-8340 or e-m0ail: [email protected].
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

5/1/06

Diamonds in the rough for Browns?

Monday, May 1, 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 - Browns General Manager Phil Savage got his job partly because of his draft finds.
Edwin Mulitalo, Ed Hartwell and Chester Taylor were second-day nobodies who became Baltimore somebodies.
Which bodies from Savage’s Sunday with the Browns might become best buddies with the denizens of the Dawg Pound?
Among Cleveland’s seven second-day picks, fourth-rounder Leon Williams, an inside linebacker from Miami (Fla.), and fifth-rounder Jerome Harrison, a running back from Washington State, stand out as possible steals.
Williams was a monster high school prospect out of New York City. By 2005, he was a Butkus Award semifinalist on paper but wasn’t even a starter amid changes in Miami’s defensive coaching staff.
“I think he got caught in a political situation,” Savage said. “When we watched him, we couldn’t figure out why he didn’t play.
“In the all-star game in Las Vegas, he was terrific. He had a strong showing at the Combine.
“He’s one of the guys who really fit our profile. Our coaching staff had real strong sentiments about getting him.”
Williams might work his way into an inside linebacker rotation whose pecking order would be veteran Andra Davis, Saturday’s second-round pick, D’Qwell Jackson, and him. Inside linebacker was the worst trouble spot going into the draft. Now?
“I feel I’m a first-round pick,” said Williams.
The 5-foot-9 1/4, 199-pound Harrison might become the guy who reduces No. 1 running back Reuben Droughns’ load. Lee Suggs, William Green and Harrison are the candidates for that spot.
“We were real fortunate to get him,” Savage said. “He’s a terrific scatback type of player. We had a strong consensus on him.”
Harrison averaged 172.7 rushing yards, had 14 yards of at least 20 yards, and caught 24 passes for Washington State in 2005. That was a moon shot from 2001, when he was academically ineligible to play at Eastern Michigan.
Another confident type, Harrison said, “If it’s just me and the safety, I’m pretty confident it’s gonna be a touchdown.”
Savage wants fourth-rounder Isaac Sowells, an offensive lineman from Indiana, ready to fight for a starting guard job in 2007. Current right guard Cosey Coleman can be a free agent after this season.
Cornerback Demario Minter, a fifth-round pick, and several of his Georgia classmates were involved in an arrest involving marijuana possession when he was a freshman.
“It was just a bunch of guys doing stupid things,” said Minter, who convinced the Browns he learned from the incident.
Incumbent fullback Terrelle Smith, 28, has played six years at a position that wears out its occupants. Lawrence Vickers, the first of two Browns picks in the sixth round, could push backup Corey McIntyre off the roster, partly because of his upside as a receiver. Vickers, a Colorado product, was a young boy when he took up the drill of catching golf balls and tennis balls.
“If you catch something that small,” he said, “it seems easier to catch a football.”
Babatunde Oshinowo of Stanford, taken with the sixth-round pick acquired from the Ravens in Saturday’s trade, measured 6-foot-1 3/8 and weighed 301 pounds at the Combine. That’s roughly the size at which another former Stanford player, Jason Fisk, played the nose for the 2005 Browns.
Fisk was judged to be too old and too small to keep the job.
“I don’t really consider myself undersized,” Oshinowo said. “I’ve played at 320 pounds. I’ve played at all kinds of weights.”
Seventh-round pick Justin Hamilton was a Virginia Tech safety before becoming a safety in 2005. The Browns like his combination of size (6-3, 217) and athleticism.
“There’s an obvious hole at safety for a backup,” Savage said.
Sowells was thrilled about getting picked in Round 4. During a phone interview, a dog was barking and Sowells was deliriously happy. “I’m a little excited,” he said from his home in Louisville, Ky. “When I heard my name, I broke down crying.” Reach Repository sports writer Steve Doerschuk at (330) 580-8347 or e-mail [email protected].


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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

5/1/06

Cleveland’s selections during Sunday’s second and final day of the NFL Draft

Monday, May 1, 2006


Leon Williams
Miami, ILB
Vital numbers 6-3, 243-pounder has great size and athleticism (4.55 40-yard).
Why he might help Has the numbers to play in the NFL. He is a prototypical pro LB. He is a sideline-to-sideline player and a big hitter.
Why he may not help Has never lived up to his athleticism. Isn’t a football intelligent player.
Scouts say “Looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane. ... Coach killer. ... Is slow to diagnose plays. ... Best suited to play OLB. ... Gets out well on pulls and traps in a short area.”
Savage says “When we went to the school, he was a guy they talked about but didn’t sell him. As it turned out, they had staff changes and I think he was a kid who got caught up in political situations at Miami.”
Bottom line He is a project who can contribute on special teams this year. Type of pick that makes it clear Crennel is developing competition on his roster. He needs to reach his potential at some point, though.


Isaac Sowells
Indiana, OT-OG
Vital numbers 6-3 1/2, 324 pounds; 5.15 40-yard time and 20 reps on the 225-pound bench press. Scored a 26 on the Wonderlic.
Why he might help He can play both OG and OT. He understands technique and uses leverage. He is a hard worker.
Why he may not help He needs a lot of work. Could be a practice squad player with potential to develop to an active roster guy.
Scouts say “Doesn’t knock defenders back and doesn’t play with a mean streak. ... Is quick and strong with good bulk. Tough and durable.”
Savage says “He’s a player who will probably play guard for us. We would be hopeful by the end of the next year going into 2007, he’s a candidate to take one of those left or right guard positions.”
Bottom line This is an interesting pick in the fourth round on a guy who some thought wouldn’t be drafted. Big-body type who provides depth in a needed area.


Jerome Harrison
Washington State, RB
Vital numbers 5-9, 201 pounds, ran a 4.47 40-yard time and benched 225 pounds 19 times. Has a 34 1/2 inch vertical.
Why he might help Cleveland needs a third-down back and Harrison seems to fit the bill. He is a change-of-pace back, with good speed and acceleration and someone to push Lee Suggs to stay healthy and on the field.
Why he may not help Size is a concern, but he is bulky and strong. He was the No. 1 option in college and now will be a role player, which can be a tough mentally.
Scouts say “Tries too hard to hit home runs on every play. ... Runs low and cuts to the hole quickly. Hits cutback lanes and breaks arm tackles.
Savage says “We were real fortunate to get Jerome. He rushed for 1,900 yards last year. ... We had strong consensus on him throughout the draft process.”
Bottom line His nickname in college was “Ghost.” Can return kicks and will get on the field this year to give Reuben Droughns a break on third down.


DeMario Minter
Georgia, CB
Vital numbers 5-11, 185 pounds and ran a 4.48 40-yard time. Wonderlic was an 18.
Why he might help Has perfect NFL CB size and doesn’t gamble or get beat on long passes.
Why he may not help Because he doesn’t gamble, he only had two picks at Georgia.
Scouts say “Character concerns (misdemeanor marijuana possession) could cause him to fall. ... Is good at most things, not great at anything. ... Likes to tackle and is good in man-to-man or zone.
Savage says “I don’t think he has major character issues. The situation (marijuana arrest) that arose at Georgia, there were eight other people involved and all eight were taken in. I’d say it’s very minor.”
Bottom line Provides the team with depth and competition at CB. Could be Daylon McCutcheon’s replacement at nickel over time.


Lawrence Vickers
Colorado, FB
Vital numbers 6-0, 245 pounds, ran a 4.76 40-yard time and bench pressed 225 pounds 21 times.
Why he might help Another example of the Browns planning for the future and pushing incumbent FB Terrelle Smith. Vickers is more of a runner than Smith and scored 9 TDs last year.
Why he may not help Not an overpowering blocker like a prototypical FB and needs improvement on point-of-attack blocks.
Scouts say “Run with power. ... Athletic enough to make defenders miss. ... Could last longer because most teams are phasing out the FB.”
Bottom line Developmental player who isn’t out of the same mold as Smith. Could become a multi-dimensional FB down the road.


Babatunde Oshinowo
Stanford, NT
Vital numbers 6-2, 305 pounds, benched 225 pounds 33 times and scored a 37 on the Wonderlic test.
Why he might help He is the run-plugging NT that is perfect for a 3-4 defense and he can be tutored by Ted Washington.
Why he may not help A tad undersized for the NFL NT position, but he lost weight on purpose. Plays at 320.
Scouts say “Lacks natural athleticism but is a promising NT in the 3-4. ... Has strong hands to tackle while still engaged in blocks.”
Bottom line “Baba” is the bonus pick from Baltimore for flopping one position in the first round. Cleveland drafted a NT with 181st pick, perhaps to send a message to Baltimore the Browns still got their NT. He will play and spell Washington this season. A nice pick this late in the draft and a perfect fit for Coach Romeo Crennel’s defense.


Justin Hamilton
Virginia Tech, S
Vital numbers 6-3, 220, ran a 4.52 40-yard time and benched 225 19 times. Vertical jump was 42 1/2 inches.
Why he might help Played S, WR and RB in college. Nice intangibles and great speed for his size. Called signals for the defense.
Why he may not help Not familiar enough with any position. Will take time to develop into an NFL DB.
Scouts say “Is built to run between the tackles and has good strength. ... Will get a shot in camp with his size and speed.”
Bottom line Savage called him an intriguing pick. Could be a practice squad guy, but also provide depth at S where the team lacks it.
compiled by TODD PORTER

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

5/1/06

Browns LB coach is making quick impact


Sunday, April 30, 2006

Roger Brown
Plain Dealer Columnist

While there's much ado that Kame rion Wimbley, the Browns' first-round pick Saturday, will have veteran outside linebacker Willie McGinest as a teammate to help him become a pro outside linebacker - after playing defensive end at Florida State - here's the more important name to remember: linebackers coach Mike Haluchak.
It's Haluchak, not McGinest, who has enough on his plate adjusting to a new team after 12 season with New England. He will be responsible to quickly turn Wimbley into a credible linebacker.
There's reason to be optimistic that Haluchak can do just that: Last year, his first with the team, Haluchak helped inside linebacker Andra Davis have his best season as an NFL player. He also has coached three linebackers to six Pro Bowl appearances: Jesse Armstead, Ken Harvey and Junior Seau.
Shortly before
the draft began Saturday, I ran into Browns General Manager Phil Savage. Noting that I've been a harsh critic of his performance picking players during Rounds 4 to 7 last year, Savage good-naturedly asked if I wanted to help him make picks during today's Day Two process.
No, but at least Savage no longer seems as dismissive about second-day picks as he did last year.
(Come to think of it, we do have some Day Two advice for Savage: Use a pick to select Akron wide receiver Domenik Hixon. He could realistically play three other roles besides receiver: emergency defensive back, punt returner and kickoff returner.)
There had been talk
that new Browns center LeCharles Bentley might play guard instead. Some think that's Bentley's best position. But that talk ended Saturday when the Browns traded center Jeff Faine to New Orleans. Even before trading Faine, Savage pretty much telegraphed that Bentley will play center. In defending the Browns' decision to let division rival Baltimore select the very player it wanted - nose tackle Haloti Ngata - by swapping first-round slots, Savage said he felt better doing that because Ngata will square off against Bentley when the teams play.
The Browns' 2006 draft picks are scheduled to appear next Saturday at an Alltel store in Mayfield Heights for an autograph session with fans.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

5/1/06

NFL DRAFT
Browns pick seven, dangle QB Dilfer


Monday, May 01, 2006

Tony Grossi
Plain Dealer Reporter

Trent Dilfer's future with the Browns became an issue Sunday when General Manager Phil Savage reluctantly conceded that he explored a trade for Detroit's Joey Harrington.
Savage said he viewed Harrington as a "fallback option" as a backup quarterback. He said the interest meant no reflection on the club's opinion of Charlie Frye.
The trade fell through, reported ESPN's John Clayton, because Harrington told the Browns he didn't want to come to Cleveland. Harrington is trying to sway a trade to the Miami Dolphins.
After the Harrington trade broke down, the Browns used all seven of their picks on the second day of the draft. They selected:
In Round 4, Miami inside linebacker Leon Williams and Indiana offensive lineman Isaac Sowells.
In Round 5, Washington State running back Jerome Harrison and Georgia cornerback DeMario Minter.
In Round 6, Colorado fullback Lawrence Vickers and Stanford nose tackle Baba Oshinowo.
In Round 7, Virginia Tech free safety Justin Hamilton.
The interest in acquiring Harrington coincides with rumblings that Dilfer was unhappy with possibly losing his starting job to Frye.
Dilfer was 4-7 as the starter in his first season with the Browns before he suffered a knee injury. He had surgery in February. Frye was 2-3 as the starter the rest of the way.
Coach Romeo Crennel has been hesitant to name his starting quarterback in the off-season, but Savage gave Frye a vote of confidence before the draft when he stated the team is "going down the path with Charlie."
Savage said Dilfer has not asked for a trade or to be released from his contract, which has three years left. Asked if Dilfer was unhappy, Savage said, "I can't answer that."
Mike Sullivan, Dilfer's agent, said from California that he has not talked with Dilfer recently and was not aware of anything that's going on "at the moment."
Reached on his cell phone while attending a baseball game with his family, Dilfer said it was interesting to hear of the Browns' exploratory call about Harrington. He declined to comment on his future with the Browns.
Crennel said Dilfer has been rehabbing his knee at team headquarters but is not ready to participate in the off-season conditioning program. He said he expected Dilfer to be cleared to do some physical things at the team's mandatory minicamp in June.
Savage said he didn't feel the need to pursue another veteran backup quarterback. He did mention that Harrington's agent, David Dunn, also represents Kerry Collins, who currently is without a team.
As for the rest of the draft, Savage cautioned not to write players off as busts if they don't see a lot of time as rookies. The GM has been tinged by criticism about his 2005 draft in the middle and late rounds.
"People forget that [Ravens linebacker] Ed Hartwell played no snaps his first year on defense and [Ravens-turned-Browns cornerback] Gary Baxter played one," Savage said. "Sometimes you have a year and then they become pretty good players."
Williams, 6-2½ and 238 pounds, suffered a fall in the draft because of a lack of exposures in the Miami defense, perhaps because of a falling out with coaches. Browns coaches see him as an immediate contributor on special teams as a rookie.
Sowells, 6-3½ and 324, started at left tackle his last three years at Indiana. Savage said the team would develop him at guard with the hope of Sowells challenging for a starting position in 2007.