Browns FA Rumor Thread - Post Settlement Edition

[Govbarney]

Johnson Re-signed with Carolina, $72 mil, 6 yrs, $30 mil guaranteed. My guess is that will be a good barometer for what Edwards will be asking for.

That seems like a lot for Edwards to me, no? I've no doubt that the market will pay him that, but for a guy who lined up opposite Jared Allen and those big space-cloggers on the d-line in Minny, I think you have to take his #'s with a grain of salt.

I'm not going to sit here and tell you I pulled an Askew and watched a full season of Minny defensive football or anything, but I can't imagine the guy faced very many doubleteams.

I agree it's to much, and everything I have read on him has stated he hasn't sniffed a double team since graduating from Purdue. But to play devils advocate, if the rook Taylor arrives as advertised (i.e. A line clogging double team machine) Then Edwards may very well continue the production he displayed in Minny. That being said 8.5 sacks a year, doesn't seem worth anything north of $60 mil.

[AK-ROWDY]

I would LOVE Eric Weddle, I just assumed that SD would never let him go. Then again they just threw some money around already at some guys that are lesser priorities. So he might just be in play after all.

As for Edwards, I hate the guy. Classic big splash, little production. That's why I want Ford so much, I think he's the perfect up-and-comer type player.

Nevermind on Weddle

SI_PeterKing:
RT @sdutChargers: Eric Weddle has agreed to terms. He's back with Chargers ... Another FA bites the hometown dust. [via Twitter]

[noles1]

Yeah, bummer...

Teams throwing some money around right now. Damn.

Browns laying in the weeds and might be looking to get effective bargains and quantity over one or two critical pieces.

[mattvan1]

Delhomme to get the axe, per Fox Sports tweet

http://twitter.com/#!/alexmarvez/statuses/96276333264515072

[jta1975]

Browns are in negotiations with free agents according to Pat Shurmur....

He also said "Hopefully you guys will never know the guys we don't get"

The Browns are really being slick about negotiations....Friday at 6pm when they can sign I expect action we haven't heard about.

Thursday when they can officially make cuts they should also release the UDFA list....Heckert said the list is more like 25 guys because they signed some off the street free agents also....

What is your guys line look like to extend current players...

Mine looks like this..Joe Thomas,Peyton Hillis,Rubin, Benard,

[Govbarney]

With Jason Babin signing with the Eagles. It looks like a two horse race for Ray Edwards between Cleveland and Atlanta.

I still am not crazy about overpaying for this guy, and now that he is the only decent DE is stock just went up.

[Bayou Tribe]

Looks like you guys are fixing to close the deal with former Saint (and Kent State) safety Usama Young.

[noles1]

Hearing that Browns have Edwards, Whitner and Young in the books and will be announced tomorrow by 6 pm. Also in final stages of negotiations with a RT, do not have a name at this point.

[Triple-S]

Hearing that Browns have Edwards, Whitner and Young in the books and will be announced tomorrow by 6 pm. Also in final stages of negotiations with a RT, do not have a name at this point.

Two safeties?

is that purely for depth?

Also, YES! A. RIGHT. FUCKING. TACKLE!

[noles1]

Well Elam is soon to be gone and it's not like Ward has the style of play to be a picture of health.

[Govbarney]

Hearing that Browns have Edwards, Whitner and Young in the books and will be announced tomorrow by 6 pm. Also in final stages of negotiations with a RT, do not have a name at this point.

I have always been a fan of Whitner since his days at OSU, but if you look at his scouting report it says he is a hard hitting safety who has coverage issues, but stands out against the run.... don't we already have that in TJ Ward? I was hopping the Browns would grab a coverage specialist safety.

[peeker643]

Hearing that Browns have Edwards, Whitner and Young in the books and will be announced tomorrow by 6 pm. Also in final stages of negotiations with a RT, do not have a name at this point.

I have always been a fan of Whitner since his days at OSU, but if you look at his scouting report it says he is a hard hitting safety who has coverage issues, but stands out against the run.... don't we already have that in TJ Ward? I was hopping the Browns would grab a coverage specialist safety.

Those guys (and you're right in the characterization) typically don't last a full season and maye they just think they need two.

Maybe.

[Govbarney]

FS Usama Young scouting report:
"Young has provided New Orleans good depth and the occasional start. He is a good-sized safety with excellent straight-line speed but looks a bit stiff in the hips and legs when trying to break down or change directions for tight coverage. He still needs work on his route recognition skills and will bite on too many fakes. He will show good ball skills but can be inconsistent when tracking the ball deep."

Perhaps the Browns feel as if they are got a chance of landing land Nnamdi Asomugha so they don't have to worry about Safeties covering anymore...
Bright side: between switching to the 4-3, and having Ward and Whitner (assuming we land him), the Browns should really improve on stopping the run.

[JCoz]

Well Young is a done deal per MKC....

[Ziner]

AdamSchefter twitter

Former Packers RB Brandon Jackson reaches agreement with the Browns on a 2-year, $4.5 million deal.

Meh and Blah. But whatever.

[Triple-S]

like the Jackson signing

allows us depth at the RB position, something that was making me uneasy with Hardesty's injury history, and with the way Hillis felt worn down at the end of the season.

Not flashy, but a good solid signing.

[GodHatesClevelandSport]

Jackson : Browns :: Fukudome : Indians

Although Jackson did catch more passes last season than any Browns WR.

[Triple-S]

Sleazy-E is in Detroit now.

good riddance.

[JCoz]

Surprised at the meh reaction to jackson.... That was a nice little signing and was sorely needed for depth. Paid pennies and now we dont need to count on Hardstey to stay healthy. And as a bonus he is already versed in WCO.

I guess its just me remembering how terrible it was to have anyone but Peyton carrying the ball last season. Hard to believe our reserves even had a professional job as a RB.

[MikeCheckGW]

Surprised at the meh reaction to jackson.... That was a nice little signing and was sorely needed for depth. Paid pennies and now we dont need to count on Hardstey to stay healthy. And as a bonus he is already versed in WCO.

I agree. A solid signing for depth. A quality 3rd down back who can make catches out of the backfield. Not a flashy signing but it didnt cost much.

[noles1]

Another viewpoint as to why I like it is because Jackson is a specific type of RB and the management obviously feels like Hardesty can be that #2 back and is confident in his rehab.

Almost an indirect boost of confidence in the kids comeback.

[JCoz]

From Scout:

Jackson’s departure leaves a huge void on the offense. Simply put, he was taken for granted by outside observers, who only saw a second-round pick unable to become a 1,000-yard rusher or a real dynamic open-field threat. While he was a disappointment as a runner, he built himself into arguably one of the best third-down backs in the league. He didn't allow a sack in either of the last two seasons.

[Ziner]

I am not against the move JCoz, I understand why they did it, just not going to get excited about it. He will fill his role and roster spot and hopefully perform admirably.

Now this would get me excited.

incarceratedbob twitter

**UPDATED NFL NEWS**Source: Giants have officially started shopping Osi - Ravens / Falcons / Browns / Denver all have called the Giants

[JCoz]

Not bad...I dont think you could give more than a 3rd in our position...and that might even be a bit rich. He will be 30 this year.

[Gradysmanldy]

The reason everyone is "meh" on Jackson is that he's just not much of a runner. Great third down/passing downs back because of his hands, and great in protection.....but thoroughly meh running the ball. (Maybe a step back from Mike Bell, at worst about the same) I don't mind him as a third down/depth back, but if Hardesty and Hillis get whacked, our running game is DIW.

[JCoz]

I can't see him being worse than Bell

[noles1]

Hearing Edwards has pulled off the Browns and went back to Atlanta with the offer. Wants a chance to win right away apparently.

Hopefully that means we turn our attention to Jacob Ford from Tennessee.

[Ziner]

Not getting Edwards is going to make spending our cap space interesting...

[JCoz]

CB's would be nice....the lack of rumors and news on the browns side is definitely a bit frustrating.

[JCoz]

30 mil for 5 years with 11 guaranteed. Thats a good deal for them.

[Triple-S]

I hate to do the whiny "IT'S CLEVELAND NO ONE WANTS TO SIGN HERE!!!!!WAHHH!" take, but unfortunately that's what it is at the moment.

And it's not mean't as a slam on the city, I believe it has next to nothing to do with that and moreso to do with the sad shape the Cleveland Browns organization is.

Of course this could change and probably will if the Browns show a sign of improvement or make some sort of playoff run (no matter how small), they'll come. They'll want to play here, they'll take pay cuts to play here.

I also see it as this, Heckert isn't a big fan of overpaying for talent at this point in time that would have little to no impact on the team. Dude still wants to (and will stubbornly so) build through the draft.

And Edwards may have been a great addition to this team, no doubt. But at the same time, he unfortunately barely helps us advance in win total (per a piece done by ESPN with and without him, the difference would have been between 6 wins and 6.1 wins), and we'd probably have had to overpay to get him, leaving us in bad shape cap wise. Look, they're building this thing, and to quote my dad "Do it RIGHT, not fast", there's no quick fix yet to put us over the top, only trying to get over that big brick wall that's been placed in front of us since 1999.

[Govbarney]

Not Browns related but Clayton just reported that "With the release of A. Odom, trade of Chad O. and retirement of Carson Palmer, Bengals now have $49 M of cap room." via twitter. Hence they have actually gained $10M of cap space since the lockout ended.

Out of curiosity , does anyone know what the punishment is for not meeting the new salary floor?

[JCoz]

@MaryKayCabot
Mary Kay Cabot Ray Edwards' agent Doug Hendrickson: "Cleveland never reached out to us on Ray or ever returned our calls.'' (Edwards signed with Falcons).

[Cerebral_DownTime]

This team is really awful, but I do like the Jackson signing.

[peeker643]

I don't mind him as a third down/depth back, but if Hardesty and Hillis get whacked, our running game is DIW.

I agree he's a 3rd down back.

But if I ask you to name me all of the teams who could lose their top two RBs and not have their running game be in trouble how many would there be?

It'd be a really, really short list.

[mistero]

Like to see us re-sign some of own...Roth, Vickers.Robaire Smith.

Another insane idea would be to bring Braylon back. I know...insane..but wouldn't he be a very ,very good fit for what we want to do. Braylon, Little, Mitchell...those would be some big bodies in the WCO.

[jta1975]

Come on Tom, I give you a ten on drafting but you are getting a 1 so far in Free agency...Safety depth and a 3rd string RB? Is that all you got?

I am waiting......!!!!

P.S. I see you got your man Mitchell....can't wait to see what the fuss was about.

[jta1975]

Usama Young = Nick Sorensen upside Mike Adams

[JCoz]

Yah I dont really get it, not making a splash I took as not signing the top guys, Edwards came cheap, there are a ton of solid corners that would represent upgrades to Wright....the LB market was crazy so I get not touching that, but money is burning a hole in our pockets.

[Prosecutor]

The Bungles are a mess. Palmer retired, their best young corner just signed with the Texans for $49 million, and Ocho left. TO is gone, too. They have tons of cap space now but all the impact players have been signed. Like the Browns, they're all dressed up with nowhere to go.

They do have A.J. Green, though.

[JCoz]

And with just one tweet, every bit of unrealistic optimism was squeezed out of me.

@MaryKayCabot Mary Kay Cabot
With Mo Massaquoi in a left ankle cast, two #Browns starters today were Robiskie and Cribbs.

Every. Bit.

[JCoz]

Offer a 3rd for Osi, and sign James Jones and Carlos Rogers.

Too much to ask for?

[Prosecutor]

And with just one tweet, every bit of unrealistic optimism was squeezed out of me.

@MaryKayCabot Mary Kay Cabot
With Mo Massaquoi in a left ankle cast, two #Browns starters today were Robiskie and Cribbs.

Every. Bit.

Come on, Coz. If it were Joe Thomas whose foot was in a cast, it would be a problem. Mo Mass? Not a problem.

The fact that the Browns are being extremely secretive about it, won't say what the injury is or how it happened, or even when they expect him back, makes me suspect it's pretty significant. OTOH, it was described as a "walking cast", which I assume is the same thing as a walking boot, which is what they give you for a stress fracture or an injury that does not require surgery, just rest.

Plus, he was catching passes from the Jugs machine, which suggests he'll be back soon.

Now if you want to see a player with his leg in a cast, just give Hardesty a few days.

[peeker643]

Agree with Pros.

The benefit to having to a shitty receiving corps is that they're all expendable because you can get similar production from about anywhere.

Obviously that's a bit cavalier and a bit tongue in cheek.

But this is barely a blip for me.

System receivers now too. Plug and play.

YMMV.

[JCoz]

And with just one tweet, every bit of unrealistic optimism was squeezed out of me.

@MaryKayCabot Mary Kay Cabot
With Mo Massaquoi in a left ankle cast, two #Browns starters today were Robiskie and Cribbs.

Every. Bit.

Come on, Coz. If it were Joe Thomas whose foot was in a cast, it would be a problem. Mo Mass? Not a problem.

The fact that the Browns are being extremely secretive about it, won't say what the injury is or how it happened, or even when they expect him back, makes me suspect it's pretty significant. OTOH, it was described as a "walking cast", which I assume is the same thing as a walking boot, which is what they give you for a stress fracture or an injury that does not require surgery, just rest.

Plus, he was catching passes from the Jugs machine, which suggests he'll be back soon.

Now if you want to see a player with his leg in a cast, just give Hardesty a few days.

I think what I was saying escaped you. Has nothing to do with Mo Mass getting hurt, and everything to do with a healthy dose of reality regarding the talent level at WR. Notice I said it squeezed all the UNREALISTIC optimism out of me. I'm not ledging, just had my optimism checked....you know how the offseason is for Browns fans.

[JCoz]

Agree with Pros.

The benefit to having to a shitty receiving corps is that they're all expendable because you can get similar production from about anywhere.

Obviously that's a bit cavalier and a bit tongue in cheek.

But this is barely a blip for me.

System receivers now too. Plug and play.

YMMV.

See the above, but I'll add that if what we are going for is system WR's, we've come to the shop with mostly the wrong parts. I've completely warmed to Littles potential though, and am hoping to see some excitement at WR from time to time this season.

[peeker643]

Agree with Pros.

The benefit to having to a shitty receiving corps is that they're all expendable because you can get similar production from about anywhere.

Obviously that's a bit cavalier and a bit tongue in cheek.

But this is barely a blip for me.

System receivers now too. Plug and play.

YMMV.

See the above, but I'll add that if what we are going for is system WR's, we've come to the shop with mostly the wrong parts. I've completely warmed to Littles potential though, and am hoping to see some excitement at WR from time to time this season.

Didn't read it that way. My fault.

And yes, we have mismatched skill sets there in many regards. But you can't fix it all in a day (or a draft) and I think they're better than they were last year if they get the development from Mitchell and if Little works.

I like the RBs, TEs, and the Little pick. Intereste to see how Robo and Mo Mass fit in and also interested to see how Cribbs gets touches and where in this offense (because he will- just not sure where they'll come from in terms of how he lines up).

They have a vision and a plan. Still taking inventory of raw materials.

[JCoz]

On another topic, hasn't Bunkley been a huge bust? Even just for another DL body, seems like at the current market rates, a 5th was a vast overpayment.

They probably would have cut him anyways. I think they pulled a fast one on Heckert, talking both deals simultaneously. Hard to believe Bunkley would be worth a 5th after you see them sign Jenkins. That would be fairly shady between friends if true. Just a slick deal if they didn't just finish a long stint working closely with each other.

[JCoz]

Didn't read it that way. My fault.

And yes, we have mismatched skill sets there in many regards. But you can't fix it all in a day (or a draft) and I think they're better than they were last year if they get the development from Mitchell and if Little works.

I like the RBs, TEs, and the Little pick. Intereste to see how Robo and Mo Mass fit in and also interested to see how Cribbs gets touches and where in this offense (because he will- just not sure where they'll come from in terms of how he lines up).

They have a vision and a plan. Still taking inventory of raw materials.

I think I'm in agreement with all of that, with the exception of the rest of the WR corps. I'll be extremely surprised if Robo and Mo Mass are still on the roster in 2 seasons.

[peeker643]

Didn't read it that way. My fault.

And yes, we have mismatched skill sets there in many regards. But you can't fix it all in a day (or a draft) and I think they're better than they were last year if they get the development from Mitchell and if Little works.

I like the RBs, TEs, and the Little pick. Intereste to see how Robo and Mo Mass fit in and also interested to see how Cribbs gets touches and where in this offense (because he will- just not sure where they'll come from in terms of how he lines up).

They have a vision and a plan. Still taking inventory of raw materials.

I think I'm in agreement with all of that, with the exception of the rest of the WR corps. I'll be extremely surprised if Robo and Mo Mass are still on the roster in 2 seasons.

I will too. But I won't be surprised if they are both still in the league as 3rd WR type options. Drafted for another, power-type system.