Cleveland Browns (2008 Season)

[Mike80]

I've liked just about every offseason move so far except for the big contract they threw at Shaun Rogers. I'm not buying that he's going to be able to get it fully together to be worth that much. He's certainly an upgrade, but he's not a sure thing, so why toss around that much money like there's no salary cap?

It's not a cap-killer and he is an upgrade. It helps Rogers that the Browns have essentially no other option so his price was helped by that.

That cap is likely to increase in the next couple years so has his deal matures and the guaranteed money is paid out, it won't hurt quite as badly.

 

[LitlBuck]

Rogers and Romeo go back away so I wouldn't worry about Rogers having a relapse. He is a significant upgrade to a position that we significantly needed.

I would not worry about the salary can because after doing some reading yesterday it will probably jump $10 mil next year and give Jerry Jones has his way in a few years there might not be any salary cap at all.

 

[MD Buckeye]

Browns make big strides; friends remember Favre's career

Browns make big strides; friends remember Favre's career

.......
Browns on the offensive

Last year, the Patriots went out and built their own version of the Colts' three wide receiver, one tight end, one running back offense. In one week, the Browns have their own version of the Colts offense assembled and it should be very effective.

First, they locked up quarterback Derek Anderson for at least one year and three if all goes well in 2008. They also re-signed RB Jamal Lewis. Then they jumped into free agency and acquired WR Donte' Stallworth, one of the Patriots' offensive pieces in 2007 to complement what they already have in place. Consider their left tackle, Joe Thomas, made the Pro Bowl in his rookie season and this Browns offense has a chance to be great.

Take a look at how all three teams stack up heading into 2008:

Contd...

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Link

Progress, improvement continue

Steve King, Staff Writer
03.07.2008

With free agency and the salary cap, all NFL teams are re-made to some extent each offseason.
Players come and go.
It just happens. It's part of the league now -- as much as Monday Night Football, TV timeouts and new stadiums.
But the makeover the Browns have experienced since general manager Phil Savage and head coach Romeo Crennel took over in 2005 is more -- much more -- than the norm. It has been dramatic, to say the least.

Continued.....

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Link

Focused on winning, not building

Pat Yasinskas, ESPN.com
03.07.2008

The following story was originally published on ESPN.com.
It's early March, and Romeo Crennel is ticking off his haul from April's NFL draft.
"Brady Quinn is my first-round pick,'' the coach of the Cleveland Browns said Thursday. "Brady's going to be a good quarterback for the Browns for a long time to come. My second-round pick is Corey Williams. He played four years up in Green Bay, and he played very well. My third-round pick is Shaun Rogers. He's a tremendous talent, and he's very excited about being in Cleveland.''

Continued......

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

Savage helps cause team's key turnover

by Terry Pluto, Plain Dealer Columnist Sunday March 09, 2008, 7:45 AM

In three full seasons, General Manager Phil Savage has turned over the Browns. Only seven players remain from the team he inherited after the 2004 season: Kellen Winslow, Sean Jones, Phil Dawson, Steve Heiden, Ryan Tucker, Andra Davis and Ryan Pontbriand. Consider that the only pre-Savage draft choices remaining are Winslow (first round, 2004), Jones (second round, 2004), Pontbriand (fifth round, 2003) and Davis (fifth round, 2002).
If you look at the Browns' first- and second-round draft picks before Savage, the following are out of football: First round: QB Tim Couch (1999), DE Courtney Brown (2000), RB William Green (2002). Second round: WR Kevin Johnson (1999), LB Rahim Abdullah (1999), WR Quincy Morgan (2001).

Continued...........

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

NFL INSIDER
Newsome extols Savage's savvy


Sunday, March 09, 2008 Tony Grossi
Plain Dealer Reporter
The man who was Phil Savage's boss and now is his competitor praised him for wheelin' and dealin' the Browns into legitimate contention for the AFC North title.
"You just have to take what he's done to this point and say he's done a great job," said Ozzie Newsome, Baltimore Ravens general manager.
Everybody knew Savage could draft, based on his resume in Baltimore as head of scouting in the Ravens' personnel department. But how would Savage fare in the other areas of building a team, such as free agency and trades?

Continued.....

 

[LitlBuck]

CPD

A shot-blocker:


Despite his big size, Rogers, listed as 6-4 and 340 pounds, was known for legendary athletic feats. He played on the Lions' off-season basketball team and could do a 360-degree dunk with no problem.


That physical ability served him well on the Lions' kick-block team. Rogers was credited with 11 blocks of kicks (10 field goals, one extra point) in his seven years with the Lions. No NFL player has had more over that period.

Reminds people of Jerry Ball

 

[LitlBuck]

Cleveland.com

Cleveland Browns sign offensive lineman Hadnot
Posted by Plain Dealer staff reports March 10, 2008 18:00PM

The Browns added more depth to the offensive line today when they signed Rex Hadnot to a two-year contract.

Hadnot, 26, started 16 games at right guard for Miami last season. He was drafted by the Dolphins in the sixth round in 2004 and has started each of the last three seasons for the Dolphins at either the right guard or center positions. He has played in 63 games over four seasons with the Dolphins, including 55 starts.

"The Browns are fortunate to add another quality lineman to our existing group," Browns GM Phil Savage said in a team release. "With his versatility and experience, we feel great about having Rex on our team. He brings size, strength and has a physical style of play."

REX HADNOT BIO

Continued...

Excellent signing for 2 years. 6'2" 325 pounds can play both center and guard. Started at center for Miami for two years. Adds depth to OL.

 

[osugrad21]

DDN

Browns sign Hadnot

Staff and wire reports

Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Cleveland added depth up front by signing free-agent offensive lineman Rex Hadnot to a two-year contract on Monday. The 26-year-old Hadnot made 55 starts the past four years with the Dolphins.

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

O-line adds veteran Hadnot



Tuesday, March 11, 2008 Tony Grossi

Plain Dealer Reporter
Offensive lineman Rex Hadnot was somewhat of a surprise signing by the Browns on Monday.
The position group was thought to be fortified after last year's transactions, but Hadnot's versatility and experience were too much to pass up.
Hadnot, 26, started 16 games at right guard in 2007 for the Miami Dolphins and 16 games at center the season before.

Hadnot had hoped to sign with his hometown team in Houston, but when the Texans failed to make an offer, he agreed to a two-year deal with the Browns.




Cont...

 

[brodybuck21]

what does the hadnot signing mean for lecharles?

 

[IronBuckI]

what does the hadnot signing mean for lecharles?

Not much I would guess. This looks more like a move to rid ourselves of the Kevin Shaffer contract than anything else. Move Tucker back to RT, and have insurance at RG in case LeCharles doesn't make it back or if Fraley can't cut it at guard.

...or maybe it's just what they said it is. More depth for the O-line.

 

[brodybuck21]

good points and thanks for the response. i had forgot about shaffer.

 

[LitlBuck]

Not much I would guess. This looks more like a move to rid ourselves of the Kevin Shaffer contract than anything else. Move Tucker back to RT, and have insurance at RG in case LeCharles doesn't make it back or if Fraley can't cut it at guard.

...or maybe it's just what they said it is. More depth for the O-line.

You might be right regarding getting rid of Shaffer's contract but I want to say he is about 3-4 years younger than Tucker and Tucker might be a better RT but not by much. Tucker can also play guard and tackle which makes him more beneficial than Shaffer but age is a concern here. The only other center/guard they had on the roster last year was Lenny Friedman and they have not re-signed him as of yet. That doesn't mean they won't.

I think the signing of Hadnot is more of an indication that they do not think Bentley will be back plus all of their OL backups has yet to be re-signed to the best of my knowledge so he does provide backup insurance.