Cleveland Browns (2008 Season)

[osugrad21]

Canton

Browns' Joe Thomas is drawing raves from experts
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
BY Steve Doerschuk
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

The Browns are expecting a big year from Joe Thomas. To that, Anthony Mu?oz says, why shouldn't they?

Mu?oz, a Hall of Fame left tackle who was in Canton over the weekend, says Thomas was "fun to watch" as a rookie left tackle for the 2007 Browns.

"He's 6-foot-6 or so," Mu?oz said, "but he's not one of those guys who carries 350 pounds but doesn't have any flexibility and just drops guys.

"He's lean, and he has great balance and flexibility. Watch him bend his knees. He moves out in space very well."

Mu?oz said he enjoyed getting to know Thomas after they arranged to spend a day together. Like Mu?oz in 1980 (Bengals), Thomas was a No. 3 overall draft pick by an Ohio team.

"Not only is he an excellent player," Mu?oz said, "but he's a pretty good young man. He's the type of guy I enjoy watching."

When Thomas toured the Hall of Fame with Browns rookies last June, he came right out and said his aim is joining Mu?oz on enshrinees row.

"So far, he's gone to a Pro Bowl, and he earned it," Mu?oz said. "I think he's gonna have a long career."
Cont...

 

[Buckeneye]

I was watching some film on Thomas that Espn had, great kid... even better athlete. I wouldn't want him anywhere else but in a Brown's uniform.

 

[LitlBuck]

Cleveland.com

Terry Pluto

It was great to see Winslow in a good mood with his knee coming back strong from surgery. While they have not made any commitments to a deal, Winslow's agent Drew Rosenhaus and the Browns do have a very good relationship. Meanwhile, Winslow just catches everything from his toes to the tips of his fingers as he flies through the air.

Shaun Rogers is a big man at 360 pounds, and he is amazingly quick. Because these are not practices in full pads, the accent is on speed -- yet Rogers stood out. That's a real compliment. It also means if it takes two blockers to stop Rogers, defensive end Corey Williams (14 sacks the last two years) and outside linebacker Kamerion Wimbley can bring real heat on the QB.

Meanwhile, rookie Beau Bell looked just OK because he's learning the scheme, and speed is not his thing. He is a gritty tackler, and that won't show until veterans camp. D'Qwell Jackson has improved as an inside linebacker. Andra Davis is second best at that spot. Leon Williams seems a bit stalled in his development, and needs to improve by veterans camp or he will be limited mostly to special teams -- especially if Bell can mature quickly into a pro.

 

[Buckeneye]

Please tell me its not true that the Steelers are shopping Bentley right now...

 

[NFBuck]

I was watching some film on Thomas that Espn had, great kid... even better athlete. I wouldn't want him anywhere else but in a Brown's uniform.

He's gonna be a special one. I was psyched when the Browns drafted him and he played even better as a rookie than I'd hoped. He'll be a regular in Hawaii in February for a long time.

 

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Wide receiver gives up spot, rehabs knee for final shot Veteran already has Super Bowl ring, but wants to win one for his hometown team
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sportswriter

Published on Wednesday, Jun 18, 2008
BEREA: It would have been easy for Joe Jurevicius to call it a career.
Since January, the Browns' 10-year veteran has had three knee surgeries, two to clean up a staph infection after his first procedure. He knows his 33-year-old body is breaking down, the main reason that he asked General Manager Phil Savage to find
a No. 2 receiver in the offseason because he couldn't handle the workload.


And Jurevicius has just about done it all, going
to three Super Bowls with the New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks, winning one with the Bucs in 2002.
But that's precisely why Jurevicius, a Cleveland native and Penn State product, wants to play one more year. The Browns went 10-6 last season, one victory shy of the playoffs. He sees the same special camaraderie building that fueled his former teams that reached the NFL's ultimate stage.
The ultimate prize
Cont...

 

[LitlBuck]

Cleveland.com

Cleveland Browns add a lineman; release three players
Posted by Plain Dealer staff reports June 18, 2008 10:34AM

The Browns added more depth to their offensive line today with the signing of rookie free agent Derrick Morse.

Morse (6-4, 320) was in rookie mini-camp in May on a tryout basis. He played college ball at Miami (Fla.) and started every game his last two years.

The Browns also announced that they have waived WR Nate Hughes, LB Xavier Mitchell and DB Darnell Terrell.

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Hall of Fame enthralls rookies


Thursday, June 19, 2008Chris Herring
Plain Dealer Reporter
Canton- Though Browns players have frequent interaction with legendary running back Jim Brown at practices and meetings, the team's rookies saw him in a completely different light Wednesday.
While all 20 of the Browns' rookies - draft picks and free agents - took their annual tour of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, most couldn't help but notice the fact that Brown, one of the league's most decorated figures and one of the most famous players in the team's history, was shown on almost every wall and in several of the hall's displays.
"Jim Brown talks to us quite often at the practice facility, but I think this talk was different," said wide receiver Paul Hubbard, who spent a considerable amount of time looking at one of Brown's many display cases at the Hall of Fame. "Listening to him talk in this setting meant a little bit more."

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

Canton

Browns rookies have various reactions to Hall of Fame tour
Thursday, June 19, 2008
BY Steve Doerschuk
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

CANTON A scout would have a field day at the Pro Football Hall of Fame rookie experience.

Browns rookies came through Wednesday, right after the newest Giants.

They displayed 90 shades of behavior, some of which might get them in trouble with scouts, had they not already been signed.

At one stop, where real live Hall of Famer Mike Haynes was welcoming the young into the enshrinement gallery, one of the Browns rookies ? no names, please ? fiddled with his Blackberry. Another stood by himself, looking out a window. Maybe 10 of the 18 seemed fully tuned in.

A smart agent would have told these guys, "At least pretend you're listening."

Scouting report on some: Short attention span.

Others would have received higher marks. Linebacker Beau Bell, this year's top draft pick, seemed plugged in.

Any scout would have loved undrafted tight end Kolomona Kapanui's unbridled exuberance.

Kapanui enjoyed his trip to Canton the way a Cantonian would enjoy a trip to Kapanui's home, Hawaii.
Cont...

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Link

Expectations rising for Jackson

Jeff Walcoff, Staff Writer
06.16.2008

It's easy to understand why the Browns have such high hopes for linebacker D'Qwell Jackson in 2008.
He's been a first-teamer since he was a rookie in '06. He has started 26 of his 27 career games in his first two years as a Brown. He was a second-round pick and was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year at Maryland following his senior season.
He marked 115 tackles as a rookie and then led the team in the stat with114 in '07.

Continued......

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Link

Browns hope Harrison can be 'special'

Steve King, Staff Writer
06.12.2008

Romeo Crennel says Browns running back Jerome Harrison is, in effect, a special kind of player.
"He's got a neat set of skills -- a unique set of skills," the head coach, speaking Thursday morning as the team wrapped up its three-day full-squad minicamp, said of Harrison's ability to use his quickness and ability to change directions on a dime to be a threat both as a runner and pass receiver.
But how "special" Harrison really is will determine just how much playing time he'll get in 2008.

Continued......

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Link

Vickers combines punch, agility

Steve King, Staff Writer
06.12.2008

Some plays say volumes, no matter when they occur.
Such was the case Wednesday morning during the Browns' full-squad mini camp practice.
Fullback Lawrence Vickers broke free in the short middle of the defense, turned to catch the ball and then let it slip right through his hands.
It was only June 11. The start of training camp was still exactly six weeks away.
And the beginning of the regular season? That wouldn't be for nearly two months.

Continued......

 

[Buckeneye]

I remember him dropping a few easy passes coming out of the backfield last year... one especially in Cleveland against the Bungles ( I was at that game)

Simple, if he can't catch the rock... don't throw it his way.

 

[LitlBuck]

I think I remember the ball that he "dropped" last year. Last season was really his first time as the starting fullback so he probably had a case of the jitters. He was an excellent running back in college and I think he will be fine this year even if he has to catch a few balls:)

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

John Kuntz/The Plain DealerBrandon McDonald (22) and fellow Browns starting cornerback Eric Wright will likely need some backup help this season ... and General Manager Phil Savage will have some pieces with which to make a deal before September.

About the Browns ...

The Browns will spend the summer shopping for a cornerback and they will probably have to make a trade to get one. It would be dangerous for the team to open the season with only Brandon McDonald and Eric Wright and their combined 15 NFL starts. They like veteran Terry Cousin, but they know he can't cover speedy receivers. He must be kept in the slot position. After that, it's Jereme Perry, A.J. Davis (they do like him a bit) and others who are not experienced and/or talented enough to help.

The best way to find a cornerback may be to find a team looking for a tight end or a fullback. Think about all the tight ends: Kellen Winslow, Steve Heiden, Martin Rucker and Darnell Dinkins. The Browns believe Dinkins has made a lot of progress, based on how he played in the organized team activities and minicamp. They also like how Rucker, the rookie from Missouri, caught the ball. It was exciting to see how Winslow has recovered from his latest knee surgery and played well in minicamp. Heiden was ahead of schedule from back surgery. They have a tight end to spare. That's probably Dinkins, who has been in the league for six years.

Another possible player for trade is Charles Ali, although the Browns love the way their 270-pound fullback blocks. Ali is behind Lawrence Vickers, whom the Browns believe will develop into a consistent Pro Bowl fullback. He is above average in blocking, running and even catching passes from the fullback spot. Ali could be attractive to a team needing a fullback with a cornerback to spare. Or they could package a tight end like Dinkins and Ali.

If the Browns trade a fullback, they think Dinkins or Heiden could sometimes go to the backfield as a blocking H-back. Rookie free agent Kolo Kapanui from little West Texas A&M (Chaun Thompson's school) is 6-3, 270 pounds. He can play some tight end. He is raw, but they like his sheer athleticism, and think he can mature into a fullback.

Continued.....