Cleveland Browns (2009 Season)

[LitlBuck]

How to win friends or make people happy is certainly by not taking them on a 20 hour round-trip bus ride to benefit the people of New York:(

Cleveland.com

Sources: Browns rookies and agents upset about 10-hour bus trip to work at Mangini camp
by By Mary Kay Cabot
Friday May 29, 2009, 11:14 AM

Browns rookies and their agents are upset at head coach Eric Mangini, according to multiple league sources.

Multiple league sources said Friday the Browns rookies and their agents ranged from baffled to upset that Browns coach Eric Mangini took the rookies on a 10-hour bus trip to Hartford, Conn., Friday to work his football camp today and then will bus them back home tonight.

"It's a sophisticated form of hazing," said one league source. "I've never heard of anything like it."

Mangini's eighth annual football camp, for under-resourced children in grades 8-12, is voluntary for the rookies -- but all felt compelled to attend, a source said. It runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. today.

"It's voluntary, but it's not really voluntary," said one source. "These players are fighting for starting jobs and playing time. What are they supposed to do, say 'No, I'm not going?' "

Browns spokesman Neal Gulkis issued the following response in an e-mail:
"This was not mandatory. Eric had reservations about doing it at first, and then people told him they thought it would be a good opportunity for them to be exposed to this type of event, and having the chance to work with the kids.

Continued

 

[buckiprof]

How to win friends or make people happy is certainly by not taking them on a 20 hour round-trip bus ride to benefit the people of New York:(

Winning friends or making people happy is not in the job description of an NFL head coach. Romeo did a great job of winning friends with his players and making people (again his players) happy and look how that turned out. We had a damn country club mentality!

No, I would much rather have the head coach of an NFL franchise not give a rat's ass if he is making friends or making people happy. I would rather his focus be on winning. Amazingly, when the head coach puts a winner on the field, people (players and fans) tend to be happy.

 

[LitlBuck]

Winning friends or making people happy is not in the job description of an NFL head coach. Romeo did a great job of winning friends with his players and making people (again his players) happy and look how that turned out. We had a damn country club mentality!

No, I would much rather have the head coach of an NFL franchise not give a rat's ass if he is making friends or making people happy. I would rather his focus be on winning. Amazingly, when the head coach puts a winner on the field, people (players and fans) tend to be happy.

I knew that type of response was coming from someone but this does not really have to do with football. I am not sure if you have ever been on a 20 hour bus ride but you would be damn tired after it and would not be able to perform at your peak performance which they were supposed to do on their return to mini camp.

 

[Blackburn]

I knew that type of response was coming from someone but this does not really have to do with football. I am not sure if you have ever been on a 20 hour bus ride but you would be damn tired after it and would not be able to perform at your peak performance which they were supposed to do on their return to mini camp.

I agree. I'm sure there are programs and camps right here in Ohio that the players could have gone to, without driving all the way to Hartford, CT.

There have been (in)voluntary OTAs for years, but they usually involve extra practice / conditioning. Being obligated to participate in the coaches signature event is a bit over the line IMO.

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

to the poor mistreated rookies....

 

[LitlBuck]

to the poor mistreated rookies....

and to your's:)

 

[LitlBuck]

I have said this before but with the signing I have to believe that something is up with Steinbach. I just do not believe that he is the power player that fits into the new system. He is not that good of a run blocker. We shall see.

Cleveland.com
Cleveland Browns sign veteran tackle Foster

by Mary Kay Cabot/Plain Dealer Reporter Friday June 05, 2009, 7:46 PM

The Browns signed former first-round offensive tackle George Foster, a seventh-year pro who spent the past two seasons in Detroit.

They also waived rookie safety Jason Venson.

Foster (6-5, 338) was originally the 20th overall pick out of Georgia by the Broncos in 2003. He started all 16 games for the Broncos at right tackle in 2004 and 2005, helping the team set the franchise record with only 15 sacks surrendered in 2004 and helping it advance to the AFC Championship Game in 2005 with its second-ranked rush offense.

Foster was traded to the Lions in March of 2007 along with running back Tatum Bell and a fifth-round pick in exchange for two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Dre Bly. In Detroit, he started 12 of 19 games and was released on June 1 after inconsistent play.

Foster joins offseason pickups Floyd Womack and John St. Clair in the competition at tackle along with Ryan Tucker. He might also work as a backup to Joe Thomas on the left side.

 

[jlb1705]

Nice pickup, though I don't think he'll lead the league in HR or RBI again. :tongue2:

 

[NFBuck]

How to win friends or make people happy is certainly by not taking them on a 20 hour round-trip bus ride to benefit the people of New York:(

After the kiddie camp Romeo ran for 4 years, I'm pretty okay with a coach that's not worried about making friends. It's a little fucked up to make them take that long ass bus ride, but at least he's not worried about winning any popularity contests.

Winning friends or making people happy is not in the job description of an NFL head coach. Romeo did a great job of winning friends with his players and making people (again his players) happy and look how that turned out. We had a damn country club mentality!

No, I would much rather have the head coach of an NFL franchise not give a rat's ass if he is making friends or making people happy. I would rather his focus be on winning. Amazingly, when the head coach puts a winner on the field, people (players and fans) tend to be happy.

Yep.

As for the defense this year, A lot is going to depend on the DL. If Rogers sulks, we're in trouble. Corey Williams needs to bounce back and show he was worth that trade. The OLB spot is a concern, but they have potential. Wimbley needs to develop another move and people were very high on Hall's potential last year. Whether he realizes it or if he's another Chaun Thompson remains to be seen. I like the CB pickup, if nothing else, it could allow either McDonald or Wright to play Nickle which is a start.

 

[tsteele316]

I have said this before but with the signing I have to believe that something is up with Steinbach. I just do not believe that he is the power player that fits into the new system. He is not that good of a run blocker. We shall see.

Cleveland.com
Cleveland Browns sign veteran tackle Foster

by Mary Kay Cabot/Plain Dealer ReporterFriday June 05, 2009, 7:46 PM

what does signing a backup tackle have to do with steinbach playing guard?

 

[LitlBuck]

what does signing a backup tackle have to do with steinbach playing guard?

This off-season, as you well know, they have signed more than one "backup" offensive tackle and there had been rumors floating around that Mangini is not pleased with Steinbach's weight or lack thereof. It is also somewhat mystifying that Steinbach has been practicing almost exclusively indoors during OTA's.

They could easily slide one of these "backup" tackles in to the LG position and some of these "backup" tackles have been seeing considerable playing time in recent seasons. Tucker would be a very nice LG if one of these guys pan out but I think you know that.

 

[tsteele316]

This off-season, as you well know, they have signed more than one "backup" offensive tackle and there had been rumors floating around that Mangini is not pleased with Steinbach's weight or lack thereof. It is also somewhat mystifying that Steinbach has been practicing almost exclusively indoors during OTA's.

They could easily slide one of these "backup" tackles in to the LG position and some of these "backup" tackles have been seeing considerable playing time in recent seasons. Tucker would be a very nice LG if one of these guys pan out but I think you know that.

neither george foster nor john st. clair have played a down of guard in their professional careers. the browns backup tackle before any signings was isaac sowells. ryan tucker is old and injury prone.

i fail to see how this signing has anything to do with steinbach. by the by, braylon edwards has been practicing indoors most of the OTA's as well. According to OBR premium, Steinbach is at 295, and Mangini told him to get to 300. hardly a weight issue. your comment seems like worrying for the sake of worrying.

 

[LitlBuck]

After the kiddie camp Romeo ran for 4 years, I'm pretty okay with a coach that's not worried about making friends. It's a little [censored]ed up to make them take that long ass bus ride, but at least he's not worried about winning any popularity contests.
.

I am not asking Mangini to be friends with all of his players but I guess I am asking him to respect his players and I don't think that a 20 hour bus trip to Hartford CT shows much respect. I know that you don't have that much respect for Grossi's opinion but from Cleveland.com/Browns here is what he had to say in response to a reader's question. A plane ride would have made a little more sense or if you were in Cleveland even more than they would have not of had to take a bus:)

Everyone in the NFL I've talked to about this infamous bus trip says it's beyond the call of duty for those rookies to have to commit their weekend off to 20 hours on a bus. It would be different if the clinic were held closer to Cleveland. But Hartford, Conn.? C'mon, isn't it possible that Mangini was in the wrong on this issue?

neither george foster nor john st. clair have played a down of guard in their professional careers. the browns backup tackle before any signings was isaac sowells. ryan tucker is old and injury prone.

i fail to see how this signing has anything to do with steinbach. by the by, braylon edwards has been practicing indoors most of the OTA's as well. According to OBR premium, Steinbach is at 295, and Mangini told him to get to 300. hardly a weight issue. your comment seems like worrying for the sake of worrying.

I have not looked up whether Womack has played any guard during his NFL career and I know that Tucker is getting old when he does have at least one more season left in him and I know that you and I, along with most of the other people on this thread, or the same things but Tucker is a nasty player and if you could stay healthy for an entire season it would be a good addition and one of the other guys can play RT.

I have heard that Edwards is also inside and I wonder what's up with that also but Steinbach is the only offensive lineman who was inside. I know Edwards is the only WR inside also

I had heard the knock on Steinbach not being a very good run blocker and compares into his pass blocking when we got him from the Bengals. We shall see what happens when training camp begins. I might be totally off base but I don't understand why the Browns are signings so many backup offensive tackles this off-season.

 

[tsteele316]

I am not asking Mangini to be friends with all of his players but I guess I am asking him to respect his players and I don't think that a 20 hour bus trip to Hartford CT shows much respect. I know that you don't have that much respect for Grossi's opinion but from Cleveland.com/Browns here is what he had to say in response to a reader's question. A plane ride would have made a little more sense or if you were in Cleveland even more than they would have not of had to take a bus:)



I have not looked up whether Womack has played any guard during his NFL career and I know that Tucker is getting old when he does have at least one more season left in him and I know that you and I, along with most of the other people on this thread, or the same things but Tucker is a nasty player and if you could stay healthy for an entire season it would be a good addition and one of the other guys can play RT.

I have heard that Edwards is also inside and I wonder what's up with that also but Steinbach is the only offensive lineman who was inside. I know Edwards is the only WR inside also

I had heard the knock on Steinbach not being a very good run blocker and compares into his pass blocking when we got him from the Bengals. We shall see what happens when training camp begins. I might be totally off base but I don't understand why the Browns are signings so many backup offensive tackles this off-season.

they signed womack to play RG. They lost Schaffer. Tucker is taking that spot, but cannot remain healthy, hence Cleveland signing St. Clair. The only other backup tackle they have is Sowells, who sucks, so they sign Foster after he was cut. It has nothing to do with Steinbach in any way.

 

[itownbuckeye]

I might be totally off base but I don't understand why the Browns are signings so many backup offensive tackles this off-season.

I think they're signing so many backup offensive tackles because they don't have a true starting RT. Tucker obviously has questions. St. Clair has never been considered an above average player. When those are your only options why not take a chance on low-risk high reward guy like Foster? He should be in the prime years of his career, was once thought highly enough of to be a 1st round pick and signed a one year deal for what I assume was not a huge amount. Having three guys competing for the spot increases the odds that you get a decent starter at the position and also builds depth. Before St. Clair and Foster were signed there weren't really any backup tackles worthy of mention.