One key area where Phil Savage and his folks have been outstanding is managing the salary cap. Thoughout his three seasons, the Browns have had ample space to sign multiple big-ticket free agents, plus several other veteran acquisitions, while also locking up their own core contributors and bringing in more than their share of first-round draft talent.
Shrewd management, the higher cap resulting from last year’s new collective bargaining agreement, and now an team on the rise. All this means that Savage will have plenty to offer free agents who could address the team’s remaining critical needs.
In this post, I outlined the Browns players whose contracts are expiring. But good cap management transcends the immediate. It is also worth examining the players scheduled to be entering their final contract year in 2008.
Why? Three reasons.
- If such a player is seen as an important part of the lineup for the long term, it makes sense to pursue a multi-year contract extension well before the ’08 season is under way.
- Non-stars who are serviceable and/or have potential deserve watching as well. If they don’t get extensions, they may be headed elsewhere in a year’s time (or less), and their positions are presumably targets for upgrading.
- High-salaried players entering their final contract year ought to clearly merit that money, because there are no adverse cap implications — quite the opposite, actually — to releasing or trading them before the season starts.
In category 1 is safety Sean Jones. He’s clearly one of the best Browns defenders and isn’t that far from being Pro Bowl quality. He improved throughout the course of the season, especially in run support. Jones tallied five interceptions for the second straight year, and the Browns did not surrender a single play from scrimmage of longer than 42 yards all season, something no other team can boast. A long-term deal would be great off-season news for Browns fans.
Category 2 players include the following:
- RB Jason Wright, who performed very competently as Jamal Lewis’ primary backup and third-down option. He’s a smart, high-character guy still in his physical prime. Though not seen as a feature back, another season of 500+ yards from scrimmage could set him up for a nice free agent deal a year forward.
- Mike Adams was the third safety on a squad that carried only three. He’s a young veteran backup/special teamer with some starting experience. Depth at this position, while not a critical concern at present, deserves some attention.
- TE Darnell Dinkins‘ season was hampered by a broken hand, relegating him almost exclusively to special teams. The Browns’ offense relies heavily on the tight end (its coordinator having played the position), and a parade of prospects have been brought in over the past year, presumably to compete with Dinkins, who turns 31 this month.
- OLB David McMillan played in a career-high 15 games but was nearly invisible. The fifth-round pick in 2005 has yet to develop into a pass rusher deserving of even rotational use on a less-than-stellar unit. He’ll need to step up soon or step aside.
In the high-rent district of Category 3, we have DE Orpheus Roye and OLB Willie McGinest.
Roye turns 35 this month and has been persistently hobbled by injuries since his last effective season in 2005. He’s been a very good player for the Browns over the years, one of my favorites, in fact. But an immediate upgrade at his position is the team’s most glaring need. And at a 2008 salary of $3 million, he’s pricey depth.
McGinest just turned 37 and is scheduled to earn $2.9 million next year. Age has taken its toll on his mobility, but he did give it a game effort this season returning from August back surgery to start 11 games. An admired team leader, he’ll probably suit up next season if there’s any way his body holds up. But if he starts more than a handful of games in ’08, it’ll be because the injury bug has swept through Berea once again.
Beyond that, Browns whose contracts expire after next season consist of a few prospects — NT Louis Leonard, C Marvin Philip, S Justin Sandy, and WR Efrem Hill — and one special case: C LeCharles Bentley.
As with Gary Baxter, Bentley’s contract was quietly reworked due to his devastating 2006 knee injury. Obviously, his future with the Browns and with football is entirely dependent on the success of his lengthy rehab. The comeback of this former Pro Bowl local hero will surely be one of the interesting subplots that play out in the coming months.
