Pocketing passers

Heading into this weekend’s draft, the Browns have needs aplenty: safety, wide receiver, and outside linebacker, for starters. But how exactly will the new regime staff the sport’s most important position? Fortunately, Cleveland now has two quarterbacks capable of starting. But this is no luxury. In today’s NFL, successful teams absolutely need a backup who […]

Sandwich Browns

At the risk of treating a player like “a piece of meat,” I bring you this list of “sandwich” Browns, those who have taken two tours in Cleveland, interrupted by a stint with at least one other team. Quality standards require sandwichers to have played in at least one regular season game at each stop, […]

New regime churn rate

The sole remaining Brown acquired in the PHD era (2001-04) was one of his most ridiculed choices, long snapper Ryan Pontbriand. The last pre-Butch player is kicker Phil Dawson. It’s natural that a roster turns over as players age and as new regimes gain control of player selection. But how much churn is too much? […]

King’s treat

Steve King, now writing for the OBR, types a tremendous piece, Deja Bill, among the best Browns articles I’ve ever read. Useful connections attach two generations and set the stage for Eric Mangini’s turn as the Browns’ head coach. Apt conclusion too: “And considering how similar Eric Mangini is to Bill Belichick, then and now, […]

The fifth pick: Junkin territory

I’ve made my pick in the updated version of the Interblog Mock Draft, featuring bloggers representing each team. Unlike last time, when I drafted Curry and Clay with the Browns’ first two picks, I have my misgivings. Plus, I made my pick before the latest shenanigans, including Kevin Shaffer’s release, so maybe I’d better brush […]

You say Poteat, oh?

Browns teams of recent years have featured certain repeated stock characters. These include the Illusory Rookie Rushing Phenom (Hill, Prentice, Gay, Green, Barclay, Thomas), the Receiver Who Used To Be A Quarterback (KJ, Frisman, Alston, Cribbs), the Special Teams “Demon” Who Lacked At Linebacker (Lenoy Jones, Brant Boyer, Mason Unck, Kris Griffin) and the Thirty-Something […]

Dealing Wheelie

The first bombshell of the Mangini/Kokinis era has fallen, and Wheelie will be soldiering south. It’s sad in a way, because he’s a premiere talent, the best skill position player the Browns have had since, say, Eric Metcalf. (The Detroit Diva is close but has one more year in Cleveland — maybe — to prove […]

Curry and Clay, if I had my way

A Seattle-based blog is running with a good idea: a mock draft chosen by bloggers from each team. Though some of the choices so far are pretty wild, I am pleased to be able to represent the Browns and select linebackers Aaron Curry and Clay Matthews III in the first two rounds. If only it […]