Steinbach a Brown per ESPN John Clayton

[yogi]

woo-hoo

That's 1 down and hopefully a few more to go!

[jfiling]

The one guy all along I've felt the Browns had to get, and they got him.

I'd suggest they hold him out of the first play in training camp, though.

[wmurphyhh]

Anyone seen a link to confirm this one ? No offense, yogi...just hard to believe they actually delivered again this year.

[wmurphyhh]

Just saw it on the ticker for ESPN News.
7 year deal.

[yogi]

http://browns.scout.com/2/623084.html

[furls]

wow, 7mill a year... that is a lot for a guard. I am not saying it is too much, I know that elite guards are getting paid well, but man that is pricey.

Nice to see them spend the "CAY$H" where it is needed most.

Now we just need 1 guard and 1 tackle and some depth.

[jb]

wow, 7mill a year... that is a lot for a guard. I am not saying it is too much, I know that elite guards are getting paid well, but man that is pricey.

Nice to see them spend the "CAY$H" where it is needed most.

Now we just need 1 guard and 1 tackle and some depth.

Heavy coin to be sure. But yah know, they almost have to do it. The versitility is a huge bonus as well.

Agree we need a couple more vet OLmen, young DLmen, and have to nail down that vet CB.

A good job by Savage, tho. Well done. He nailed a big FA fish 2 years running.

Hope Steinbach plays more than 1 TC play.....

[Dozen]

Solid, Imagine if they do draft Joe Thomas

FROM ADAM SCHEINS BLOG.


Our friends at scout.com are reporting there's a good chance free agent G Kris Dielman doesn't leave Seattle without signing a contract.


If he leaves without signing one, the Cleveland Browns would be very in the mix.

It's another reason why the club should've franchised Steve Hutchinson last year.

[consigliere]

If the Browns sign Steinbach AND Dielman, does this change the idea of going after Thomas witht he 1st pick? Does A Pete become more the target? If you ask me, if they do get two top FA o-lineman, I think a QB could very well enter the mix with that 1st pick.

I think it comes down to A Pete vs whoever is there between Quinn/Russell.

[Dozen]

I dont know but I am glad they didnt sign Clements for what SF gave him (even though he'll get cut in 3 yrs)

[BadBecks]

hey, to get the best OL, you gotta overspend to get him to play for a 4-12 team with a lame duck coach. well done Phil.

[furls]

hey, to get the best OL, you gotta overspend to get him to play for a 4-12 team with a lame duck coach. well done Phil.

Not complaining at all, actually, I am quite happy. I am just in a bit of sticker shock. I knew signing this guy was going to cost at least this much, but it still stings when you see it.

[swerb]

Bottom line, they had to keep him from getting on a bird to Tampa. It would have been all over had he.

Kudos to Phil for being able to sell this team on FA's. Steinbach could have gotten that jack anywhere.

Love the versatility with Steinbach.

[wmurphyhh]

Plus he is going to be the left tackle. Steinbach's comments of "We haven't discussed guard or tackle yet" are media quotes. Just like LCB last year, the Browns are holding out until they tell Shaffer & Tucker they are moving spots.

How about Seth McKinney at LG ?

[swerb]

Plus he is going to be the left tackle. Steinbach's comments of "We haven't discussed guard or tackle yet" are media quotes. Just like LCB last year, the Browns are holding out until they tell Shaffer & Tucker they are moving spots.

How about Seth McKinney at LG ?

I tend to agree Murph. The guy arrived at Hopkins at 9 AM, the signing was announced at 6:30 PM. I'm pretty sure the topic of what position he'd be playing may have came up in that time frame.

There's no doubt in my mind that Savage had to not only back up the Brinks Truck for Steinbach, but also promise him LT. And I'm fine with that. I've long been of the opinion that Shaffer is much more suited for RT.

You move Steinbach to LT, and that secures the tackle position. You move Shaffer to RT, and have the winner of a Nat Dorsey/Kelly Butler battle (both kids still with upside) for depth. And there's always the possibility of Mother Tucker coming back still as well.

This allows Phil to take Joe Thomas out of the equation at #3. And he can attack the guard spots in rounds 2-7. Man, if you can get Grubbs at the top of round two ... a Datish/Max Ramirez type in round four, all of the sudden you're looking at:

LT - Eric Steinbach
LG - Joe Andruzzi
C - Hank Fraley
RG - Ben Grubbs
RT - Kevin Shaffer

Kelly Butler
Doug Datish/Max Ramirez
Nat Dorsey
Isaac Sowells
Mother Tucker?

Youth, upside, depth ... you're allowed to have that on the OL?

[jfiling]

I might be missing something here, but why would Steinbach really care which position he plays? He's getting big $, and I'm sure he'd happily play center if asked. I'm not sure I understand the reasoning for why he'd prefer to play tackle over guard.

[furls]

LT - Eric Steinbach
LG - Joe Andruzzi
C - Hank Fraley
RG - Ben Grubbs
RT - Kevin Shaffer

They have got to replace Andruzzi. He sucks.

[jb]

LT - Eric Steinbach
LG - Joe Andruzzi
C - Hank Fraley
RG - Ben Grubbs
RT - Kevin Shaffer

Kelly Butler
Doug Datish/Max Ramirez
Nat Dorsey
Isaac Sowells
Mother Tucker?

Personally, if I sign a near pro bowl quality LG still getting better, I don't move him to a position where he's mediocre.

The Browns need one more vet FA OL man to fix this thing. And as has been said, get Andruzzi the hell out a Dodge.

The cool thing is Shaffer gives you flexibility.

[consigliere]

I liken Steinbach to Victor Martinez.

As a guard (catcher), the guy is elite. At offensive tackle (1B), he is middle of the pack.

Leave Steinbach at guard.

[swerb]

My thing is this. LT is the most important position on the OL. I believe alot of the Browns overall line woes stem from the team never having a LT worth anything. I also believe that a B+ LT or higher makes the whole line better, and helps the passing game immesasurably.

So for me, it comes down to two core beliefs I have:

~Whoever plays LT the best should play LT.
~Kevin Shaffer is a RT, not a LT.

[furls]

I liken Steinbach to Victor Martinez.

As a guard (catcher), the guy is elite. At offensive tackle (1B), he is middle of the pack.

Leave Steinbach at guard.

FUCKING AMEN!

I still think we should trade down to 8-12 and get Levi Brown or hope like hell Staley is there in the second round. The overall end result is that I can now also come off my, "The Browns must draft O-Line in the first round stance." I still think they should if they trade down to Levi Brown and get an extra second in the process, but I could stomach drafting AP or Calvin Johnson now.

[pup]

Call me crazy but wouldn't our best o-line be:

LT - Joe Thomas
LG - Eric Steinbech
C- Hank Fraley
RG- Mother Tucker (love that Swerb)
RT - Kevin Shaeffer

I think Detroit is trading out of the 2 spot to someone that wants Johnson real bad and Thomas will be there. Unless they sign another linemen in free agency, Leonard Davis or Luke Petigout, they have not done enough to fix it. Draft Joe Thomas and line those 2 up next to each other for the next 7 years.

[swerb]

Call me crazy but wouldn't our best o-line be:

LT - Joe Thomas
LG - Eric Steinbech
C- Hank Fraley
RG- Mother Tucker (love that Swerb)
RT - Kevin Shaeffer

I think Detroit is trading out of the 2 spot to someone that wants Johnson real bad and Thomas will be there. Unless they sign another linemen in free agency, Leonard Davis or Luke Petigout, they have not done enough to fix it. Draft Joe Thomas and line those 2 up next to each other for the next 7 years.

I would not mind that OL at all.

[jb]

My thing is this. LT is the most important position on the OL. I believe alot of the Browns overall line woes stem from the team never having a LT worth anything. I also believe that a B+ LT or higher makes the whole line better, and helps the passing game immesasurably.

So for me, it comes down to two core beliefs I have:

~Whoever plays LT the best should play LT.
~Kevin Shaffer is a RT, not a LT.

Then as has been said, draft a real LT. Why weaken 2 positions?

But guys - what makes you think a ) Ryan Tucker can play RG in his declining years as his performance keeps slipiing (I keep seeing this repeated like it is gospel despite the fact he's never played there) and b ) will ever play again? Dude quit on the team twice cause he's NUTS. They should cut him and move on before he snaps and beats someone else nearly to death.

I'm sick on Joe Andruzzi-like retreads. Get me young and strong at ORG .

Gotta go out & get another solid OLman and still need to draft a guard reasonably high.

[pup]

If they can draft Joe Thomas and Ben Grubbs with their first two picks, then go ahead. Thomas, Eric, Hank, Ben and Shaefer would be fine with me. I just think there is no way Phil goes OL with the first 2, so we need to find someone from within to play RG for a year.

Tucker would fit well at RG, because he has a nasty streak and while he has lost a step, that would not be as big of a deal inside. He CANNOT be worse that Colemen/Andruzzi. If he comes to camp and competes for the spot and wins it, I will have no problem with him being the RG. If he gets beat out, then he is depth that can play either right side position.

[furls]

I think the Browns can put two rookies in the starting O-line (ala the jets of last year with mangold and D'Brick) and not totally give up their draft for the O-line.

I really think that there are some terrific guards in this year's draft and it would be a mistake to not take one in the 2nd or 3rd round. Blalock, Sears, Grubbs, and Ramirez could all come in and make an immediate impact. They all have impressive size and strength and they all move very well.