Cleveland Browns (2008 Season)

[osugrad21]

Canton

Anderson establishing himself at QB
Friday, May 30, 2008
By Steve Doerschuk
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

BEREA By August, the Browns intend to paint the finishing touches on a state-of-the-art offense.

As spring practice winds toward June, the brush is leaving splatters.

"C'mon, back in the huddle! Let's go!" Offensive Coordinator Rob Chudzinski barked after quarterback Derek Anderson dropped a snap from center Hank Fraley.

Anderson seemed choppy in this week's practice that was open to the media. He is running the first-string offense, such as it is with key players missing.



Cont...

 

[LitlBuck]

Cleveland.com

ABOUT THE BROWNS . . .

This is only summer, but optimism reigns for the Cleveland Browns, says The Plain Dealer's Terry Pluto
Sunday, June 01, 2008

Sean Jones was on the field for 100 percent of the Browns' defensive plays last season. He had some problems in the first half of the season in pass coverage, especially on tight ends. But after the Browns made adjustments, Jones' coverage skills were not as much of an issue in the second half. This is a big season for the safety, who will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. The Browns are looking to see how he'll mature as the leader of the secondary. General Manager Phil Savage on Jones: "He's big at 225 pounds, and is a guy who can tackle someone and actually drive them back. He also is very durable, a solid guy."

The Browns plan to play a lot of the standard cover 2 defense with the safeties (Brodney Pool and Jones) back, helping cornerbacks Brandon McDonald and Eric Wright. But the key is the front seven stopping the run. If they don't, then the Browns have to bring a safety up near the line - and that puts more pressure on the two young cornerbacks. Another factor will be the ability of the front seven to pressure the QB. The Browns ranked 30th against the run and 26th in sacks in 2007 - a terrible combination in terms of helping out the secondary.

Continued...

Article talks about the fact that the Browns feel good because they have added so much depth to their defensive line and the fact that Smith had two play so much last year.

They also reviews like AJ Davis who was on the Lions practice squad last season. He was a fourth-round draft choice by the Lions in 2007.

 

[osugrad21]

DDN

Browns improve secondary by adding Perry

​

By Carlos "Big C" Holmes
Staff Writer

Sunday, June 01, 2008

The Cleveland Browns questionable secondary suffered a couple of stinging blows in the month of May. The first blow came when the team kicked DB Kenny Wright to the curb after being arrested in April on marijuana possession charges in Texas. The knock out punch came a week later when veteran CB Daven Holly, who was competing for the starting job, went down with a season-ending knee injury during OTA's.
To address the depleted secondary, the Browns signed DB Jereme Perry and CB Terry Cousin to provide some depth to an anemic defensive backfield. These were two solid signings by the club, but Perry could be the key pick up here.
Cont...

 

[LitlBuck]

Law to Cleveland rumors won't go away

Although the Browns did some patch work to the secondary in recent weeks the team's search for an experienced starting caliber cornerback continues.

Rumors around the league are that there hasn't been a whole lot of interest out there for 14-year veteran CB Ty Law. Reason being is that the All-Pro's asking price may be a little on the high end and NFL teams are reluctant to fork over big money to a player who is one step away from Shady Acres Retirement Village.

With potential buyers drying up like the Sahara, there is some talk that Law may be willing to accept less cash to reunite with head coach Romeo Crennel for his last hoorah in the league. Law's agent Kevin Poston could not be reached for comments on the status of his client.

I would think that if you would be willing to come down in his price he would be a nice veteran addition to the defensive backfield for this season. The Eagles want a draft pick Sheppard and we are too low on draft picks to give another one away.

 

[tsteele316]

I would think that if you would be willing to come down in his price he would be a nice veteran addition to the defensive backfield for this season. The Eagles want a draft pick Sheppard and we are too low on draft picks to give another one away.

two primary issues:

1. he's going to want a multi-year deal.
2. he's got one of the poston's as his agent.

any team that gives him more than 2 years or any sort of guaranteed money is foolish.

if he wants to take a modest salary with a lot of built in incentive clauses related to playing time, then maybe.

 

[LitlBuck]

two primary issues:

1. he's going to want a multi-year deal.
2. he's got one of the poston's as his agent.

any team that gives him more than 2 years or any sort of guaranteed money is foolish.

if he wants to take a modest salary with a lot of built in incentive clauses related to playing time, then maybe.

Yes. I realize who he has as an agent and please notice that I said "come down in his price" and "this season". I would just like the Browns to have a veteran presence in the defensive backfield. He might not even have to play that much but just be a leader.

 

[tsteele316]

Yes. I realize who he has as an agent and please notice that I said "come down in his price" and "this season". I would just like the Browns to have a veteran presence in the defensive backfield. He might not even have to play that much but just be a leader.

you don't pay out anything close to what Law is asking for just for "leadership". cleveland needs someone that can legitimately play, not the willie mcginest of DB's.

 

[LitlBuck]

you don't pay out anything close to what Law is asking for just for "leadership". cleveland needs someone that can legitimately play, not the willie mcginest of DB's.

If it is okay with you, I will let Phil Savage makes that decision:!

 

[tsteele316]

If it is okay with you, I will let Phil Savage makes that decision:!

that's fine. he and the other NFL general managers don't exactly have on speed dial.

and, since you missed the point, i clearly disagreed with the idea of simply bringing Law in to be "veteran leadership". If they think he can actually play and be productive, fine. Judging by the interest he's received, that question is still unanswered.

 

[JCOSU86]

Daven Holly injures knee

And don't forget the inevitable staph infection coming...

 

[LitlBuck]

Cleveland.com
Browns' Savage: No rush for Winslow deal
Posted by Mary Kay Cabot [email protected] June 03, 2008 22:21PM
Categories: Browns

Ronen Zilberman/Associated Press

Kellen Winslow is expected to attend minicamp with the Browns next week, according to his agent, Drew Rosenhaus.The Browns are in no hurry to sign tight end Kellen Winslow to the big new contract that he's seeking.

"We don't have a lot of wiggle room right now at this particular time," said Browns General Manager Phil Savage Tuesday night at a civic event at the Ohio Theatre. "Only time will tell if it goes one direction or the other, but I think we've let it be known kind of where we are."

Savage said he expects Winslow to show up for minicamp next Tuesday through Thursday. "Of course, it's a mandatory camp, so the expectation is he'll be here," said Savage.

Continued...

Article linked above also says that the decision on Bentley by the Browns team physician will be made this coming Monday.

 

[LitlBuck]

Cleveland.com

Cleveland Browns get Winslow back, wait on Bentley
by Tony Grossi Plain Dealer Reporter
Monday June 09, 2008, 3:35 PM

Kellen Winslow reported to Browns headquarters today and will attend the team's mandatory minicamp beginning Tuesday.

The tight end had been absent from all of the team's 12 voluntary offseason practices. Winslow, who has asked for a new contract, has been rehabilitating in San Diego from surgery on his right knee in February.
Meanwhile, center LeCharles Bentley was scheduled to have his much-anticipated team physical on Monday. The Browns have postponed any comment on Bentley until Tuesday morning.

Bentley is trying again to come back from a torn patella tendon in the 2006 training camp and complications resulting from a staph infection. In order for Bentley to finally rejoin his teammates after nearly two years of rehabilitation, he must first clear the team's medical examination.

Bentley did not pass the team's physical at last year's training camp and spent the season on an injury list, during which his contract was shortened to one year.

Continued

 

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Winslow plans to be at Browns minicamp No word yet on Bentley's physical
Published on Tuesday, Jun 10, 2008
From staff and wire reports

Kellen Winslow will attend the Browns' mandatory three-day minicamp that begins today in Berea. His offseason demand for a new contract led some to speculate that Winslow would hold out, especially given the history of his new agent, Drew Rosenhaus.
But Winslow's level of participation is uncertain after he underwent a procedure to clean out his right knee after the Pro Bowl. Winslow originally hurt the knee in a motorcycle accident in the spring of 2005.
The Browns will hold two practices today and Wednesday and one Thursday that will cap a month of offseason training activities. Then the team will break until training camp begins, tentatively July 23.
There might be no word until this morning on the scheduled physical Monday for center LeCharles Bentley. The former Ohio State star has been out the past two years after tearing his patellar tendon in July 2006 and contracting a staph infection that required three more surgeries.
Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

With tight end Kellen Winslow in town for minicamp, Cleveland Browns turn attention to center LeCharles Bentley

Tight end's minicamp status still uncertain; team turns its attention to Bentley's injury

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 Tony Grossi

Plain Dealer Reporter
Tight end Kellen Winslow arrived Monday at Browns headquarters in Berea and huddled with coaches in advance of attending the team's mandatory minicamp that starts this morning.
Whether Winslow participates in the five minicamp practices over three days remains to be seen, but his attendance alone was viewed as a positive.
Winslow skipped all of the team's 12 voluntary off-season practices while rehabilitating in San Diego from February knee surgery. His absence was viewed partly as a reaction to the team's unwillingness to redo his contract, which has three years remaining.

Cont...

 

[jlb1705]

WOOHOO!!!

Welcome back, LeCharles!!!

Cleveland Browns | Bentley cleared, in uniform

Bentley cleared, in uniform

Zac Jackson, Staff Writer 06.10.2008

It took all of about two minutes for news to come out of the start of Browns minicamp Tuesday morning.
LeCharles Bentley was in uniform, and Browns General Manager Phil Savage said Bentley was medically cleared by the team on Monday night, then passed the running test that all players must pass before they participate in on-field practice work.