Blue you have already drafted in two lewagues ? kinda early me thinks for that .
here i and a few others were giving Cleve hell for having us draft Aug 8 ..which is still to early
i like to get through most of the preseason before drafting in football ..to much injurie risk
Good luck to your Rams ..i told that to a buddy of mine earlier today . he has been with them since the late sixties
BEREA—All of the Browns rookies and a few veterans, including quarterbacks Colt McCoy, Seneca Wallace and Thaddeus Lewis took the field Wednesday to start training camp.
They joined the headliners of the 2012 draft class in Trent Richardson, Brandon Weeden, Josh Gordon, Travis Benjamin and Mitchell Schwartz as players who are expected to make an immediate impact on the Browns offense.
“The rookies really benefit from getting out here and getting started,” Pat Shurmur said. “They look like they’re in great shape.
“We can see the benefit of the off-season program,” he said. “There’s a lot of good, young talent out here.”
Starting with Richardson and Weeden, Shurmur said he expects to name the starting quarterback ‘sooner than later’.
He said that in minicamp, but sounded as though he will name the starter before the start of the first preseason game on Fri. Aug. 10 against the Lions.
“I expected that (question),” Shurmur said. “Sooner is better than later. All of the (quarterbacks) are out here working. I feel good about what I saw from Brandon, Colt (McCoy) and Seneca (Wallace).”
Shurmur sounded like he might make an announcement pretty soon.
“It will be sooner than later,” he said. “It makes sense to name (the starter) well before the start of games.”
Weeden said it doesn’t matter to him when the decision is made.
“It makes no difference,” he said. “I have not much control over that. When the coaches are comfortable (with the decision), they’ll do it.” Weeden says he’s much more comfortable with the Browns system since his arrival.
“I’ve grown a ton since day one to the last OTA when I felt in control,” he said. Shurmur said Richardson looks good to him.
“He’s in better shape,” Shurmur said. “He got caught in the whirlwind, like all of the top picks after the draft and he was a little out of shape.” Richardson is very happy he didn’t hold out.
“It’s a blessing to be here,” Richardson said. “I think Brandon and me learning together and both of us working hard to learn and be ready.”
Notebook
Big Guy: Rookie WR Josh Gordon looked the part in his first on the field practice witnessed by the media. The 6-3, 225 second-round pick in the recent supplemental draft was being taught after nearly every drill by the coaches after having no off-season with the team. It appeared the coaches are trying to get the rookie up to speed as quickly as possible.
“We did a lot of work with him privately,” Shurmur said. “We got to know him very well to pick him in the supplemental draft. He’s big and strong and we’re going to bring him along.”
Shurmur said his first impressions are that ‘He can be a great player’.
Weeden said he’s looking forward to pairing Gordon up with Greg Little.
“To have two guys that physically gifted on the field together,” he said. “They will only make each other better.”
Four a Crowd?: The Browns currently have four quarterbacks in the meeting room with Colt McCoy, Seneca Wallace, Brandon Weeden and Thaddeus Lewis, but Weeden said he’s learning a lot from the veterans.
“We really have a good meeting room,” Weeden said. “I’m looking forward to competing with those guys.”
Windsor Practices: WR Rod Windsor, who was on the practice squad last year was taking part in the practices. Windsor is a one-year player from Western New Mexico.
Off Thursday: The veterans are expected to report on Thursday and after no practices open to the media on Thursday, the Browns veterans will practice with the rookies on Friday from 2 pm to 4 pm. The first practice open to the public will be on Saturday from 8:45 to 11:15.
No Holdouts: With none of the rookies holding out, it is expected the entire roster will be on hand for when practices for the full roster begin Friday. Barring an unforeseen circumstance, all players are expected to be ready for camp.
BEREA, Ohio — Josh Gordon was the subject of constant attention Wednesday at his first Cleveland Browns practice. After every play, a coach wanted to tell Gordon something.
“Just making sure I do everything the right way,” Gordon said.
That could be his mantra since being selected in the second round of the NFL Supplemental Draft a couple of weeks ago.Because Gordon has to prove a lot to a lot of people. Not just about his football ability but about his personal life. Two failed drug tests for marijuana use led to his dismissal from Baylor, one after he and a friend fell asleep in a car at a Taco Bell drive-thru line.
He transferred to Utah, where he was given another chance, but he could not play in games for one year because of NCAA rules.
Wednesday, he admitted a third failed test while at Utah.
“There was a failed test, but (it’s) definitely something I want to get past,” he said. “I’m coming out here, I have a new experience, a new foundation. . . . And I don’t really plan on looking back in the past anymore. I can only look toward my future.”
Gordon admitted he had to convince the Browns he was worthy of being drafted.
“I had to explain my story to everybody multiple times,” he said. “Convince them. Try to instill as much trust in them as I could, with myself and my character and the way I want them to see me as a changed individual. No thoughts of ever trying to backtrack.”
The Browns took what many in the NFL believe is a giant risk, giving up their second-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft to take him in the supplemental draft. With predictions about the Browns filled with gloom and doom, that pick could be in the top 40. Gordon understands the risk.
“Seeing as I’m already a guy with a spotty background, it would make no sense for me to try to get back to doing the stuff that I was doing,” he said. “I have no thoughts of ever trying to be that person, or be the bad guy that everybody knows and (expects).
“I don’t want to be that person.”
If answering a question directly and looking people in the eye while answering means anything, Gordon impressed.
Coach Pat Shurmur was clear when he said the Browns “don’t expect that to happen again.”
“When we go through the process of deciding we’re going to draft this player, we have to come to the conclusion that we feel like this is behind him,” Shurmur said. “Now, I will say this, and it may apply to you, me, anybody . . . people have things that happen in their background, some adversity. And I think it’s fair to say if they can overcome that it makes them stronger in some ways.
“So we anticipate this will not be an issue. We’re going to watch it closely. And I think he understands how important it is to be a good teammate and a good pro. So that being said I hope we don’t have to discuss it anymore.”
Gordon impressed on the field, but the first workout seemed more designed to work guys back in. It was more three-quarter speed than full speed.
Shurmur said Gordon caught the ball extremely well but admitted they would have to bring him along in light of a quadriceps strain he suffered the day of his workout before the supplemental draft.
“He’s got a chance to be pretty good,” Shurmur said. “We’ll see how quickly he does it.”
Gordon has size — 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds — and speed. But he goes from not playing in two years to suddenly joining an NFL team that will go full speed in pads in camp, starting Sunday He said he is trying to pick things up as fast as he can but admitted how big a step he is taking.
“At Utah I was just doing scout-team stuff,” he said. “At Baylor we ran the spread — five-wide, four-wide, empty in the backfield. We didn’t really have an extensive playbook so it really couldn’t compare to what an NFL offense was like.”
It will be a challenge, but Gordon left no doubt he appreciates the chance to meet the challenge.
“The fact that there were this many people at such a prestigious organization like this holding their jobs and necks out on the line for a guy like me says a lot about them, about their character,” he said. “I just want to meet them halfway on that agreement.”
Pat McManamon appears courtesy of Fox Sports Ohio
That league guys from Pittsburg, Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, Kansas City and Phoenix have been playing for years. Bragging rights league so to speak, non keeper. Kinda like your Browns league everyone keeps track who wooped on who as the years go on. Won it once, finished 2nd a couple of times, hard core fantasy wire hoppers in this league. Guy goes on the waiver wire and is eligible to come off at 3:01am, someone is there to take him.
Some guys tie up the computer lines just to make sure. Its cool, drafting is critical but dropping a guy that might get hot is a mistake you will be punished for.
By the way Browns fans, congrats on Richardson and Weeden getting signed and in camp. I look for better times from the Browns and Rams this season and anything close to 6 or 7 wins will make me very happy. Not greedy just hopefull
.
. i am in four here on cBS But i just play because of friends are in it . i really dont take those to serious . cBS has a outdated format for there free leagues . no flex option for starters . very easy to keep up with .As the Browns prepare to embark upon their second season under Pat Shurmur there are many questions that remain. With training camp opening this coming week, we’ve taken a position-by-position analysis of the current roster as the team heads to camp.
This is the last part as we take a look at the specialists.
Candidates: Phil Dawson, Reggie Hodges, Christian Yount, Jeff Wolfert and Spencer Lanning.
It wasn’t too long ago that the strongest part of the Browns was their special teams. With Phil Dawson kicking, Dave Zastudil or Reggie Hodges doing the punting and Ryan Pontbriand handling the long-snapping.
However, last year under first year special teams coach Chris Tabor, the Browns special teams took a step back in several areas. Hodges tore his Achilles in training camp. Pontbriand—who had made the Pro Bowl as a long-snapper—seemingly lost his touch with bad snaps in 2011 costing the Browns a couple of games. He was quickly released.
Dawson had another stellar season and was franchised for the second-straight season, indicating the 14-year kicker is one of the most valuable players on the Browns. Dawson is on pace to eclipse many Browns franchise records if he plays a couple more seasons in Cleveland.
In addition to the specialists, Josh Cribbs was hampered by injuries and had a sub-par season in returning kickoffs and punt returns.
Phil Dawson (5-11, 200, 14th year, Texas) – Dawson is the second-leading scorer in team history with 1,155 points behind only Lou Groza. Dawson despite being 37-years old has not slowed down. In 2011, Dawson kicked seven field goals for 50 or more yards, which tied an NFL record. His career field goal accuracy is 83.1 percent, highest in Browns history and 10th best in NFL history. In 2011, Dawson hit 24-of-29 attempts and 20-of-20 PATs for a total of 92 points.
Jeff Wolfert (6-2, 185, 1st year, Missouri) – Wolfert was in camp last season and is back to give Dawson a break from some of the kicking in training camp.
Reggie Hodges (6-0, 220, 6th year, Ball State) – Hodges returns after rupturing his Achilles tendon in training camp last season and sidelining him for the entire season. Richmond McGee started the season but also was injured and veteran Brad Maynard steadied the ship for the bulk of the season. The Browns are hoping Hodges returns the form he showed in 2010 when he was ranked 9th in the NFL in punting with a 43.9 average. Maynard was last in yards per punt 40.5 in 2011. In addition, Hodges is a good holder for Dawson.
Spencer Lanning (5-11, 1st year, South Carolina) – Since Hodges is coming off of a major injury, Lanning is in camp as insurance that Hodges is able to perform.
Christian Yount (6-1, 256, 2nd year, UCLA) – Yount joined the Browns after Ryan Pontbriand imploded after 11 games and played the final five games as the team’s long snapper. He handled the long snapping duties for Tampa Bay for the first seven games of the season after signing as an undrafted rookie free agent. Yount handled the final five games flawlessly. Bad snaps cost the Browns two games in 2011 and Pontbriand was recently cut by the 49ers and former Browns special teams coach Brad Seely.
Better than 2011?: Dawson has been as steady a player as the Browns have had and the return of Hodges should improve the field position game. The Browns also lost two games in 2011 due to bad snaps and Young came in and was nearly flawless once he took over.
Josh Cribbs should be able to return to what he does best and that is covering kickoffs and returning kicks. Trying to get Cribbs back to an elite level is a top priority.
Josh Cribbs should be able to return to what he does best and that is covering kickoffs and returning kicks. Trying to get Cribbs back to an elite level is a top priority.
he completley screwed everything up last year . Get your head out of your ass Puppet
DP&L Prepares For Today's Severe Weather DAYTON
The Cleveland Browns first training camp practice open to fans is Saturday, July 28. Finally, after months of rehashing another losing season and debating possible free agency signees and draft picks, the attention turns to the 2012 season.
As evident by the discussion on theOBR forums, there are plenty of areas to discuss about a young Browns team full of potential. The staff at theOBR zeroed in on five questions relevant to this year’s squad:
1. Are you happy with the job Tom Heckert has done since becoming GM in January 2010? Read the guys’ takes here.
2. Which area of this team do you think is the most improved since the end of the 2011 season, and which area needs the most work entering 2012? Read the guys’ takes here.
3. What will you be looking for in the first few weeks of camp leading into the Browns’ preseason opener Friday, Aug. 10 at Detroit? Read the guys’ takes here.
4. Last season, the Browns defense allowed an NFL fifth-best 19.2 points per game. Yet they were third-worst against the run allowing 147.4 yards per game. Well, are you glass-half full with this defense or is it just more of the same? Read the guys’ takes here.
5. Is it too simplistic to say that the only way to win in today’s NFL is to have a top-tier quarterback? Will Brandon Weeden be that guy or is it more likely he’ll join the long list of never-have-beens?
Join the fellas by providing your take in the comments below.
Finally, question No. 5.
Is it too simplistic to say that the only way to win in today’s NFL is to have a top-tier quarterback? Will Brandon Weeden be that guy or is it more likely he’ll join the long list of never-have-beens?
BARRY McBRIDE
I suspect that the answer is in the middle, where Weeden's limited time in the NFL will reveal a Grade B quarterback. That's just a guess (see "not smart", above), since we need to see him in action against professional competition, of course. But I have long-standing worries about the level of defensive backfield competition he faced in college, as well as his ability to withstand the fierce rush that will be generated by our AFC North opponents. I stand ready to be pleasantly surprised, but am not expecting Weeden to emerge as one of the league's top 10, or even top 15 quarterbacks.
LANE ADKINS
The NFL is a QB driven league, especially due to the rules established against the passer and receivers. Teams that display the ability to move the ball through the air and score generally win the battle on the scoreboard.
In Cleveland the realization was acknowledged the team did not have the tools in place to effectively move the ball, execute and control the time of possession. While the Browns have added numerous pieces to stretch the field and execute, the additional of a RT and RB will help the offense immensely.
These pieces added (RB, WR, RT) will provide rookie QB Brandon Weeden the opportunity to be successful early and often. The Browns love his make-up and big-arm potential, all missing in past years in Cleveland.
Until Weeden gets and proves he can deliver the goods, only speculation can suffice about his potential. Weeden certainly has the arm strength and mentality you like to see in a QB, he reportedly has the leadership qualities a team would desire.
Training camp will be interesting to say the least. Will head coach Pat Shurmur display confidence in the rookie QB to change the culture of the Browns offense? Can Brandon Weeden step in from the college ranks and lead a Cleveland team desperate to win?
I suppose all we can do is watch the festivities.
Now, get the young man on the field and see what he can do.
FRED GREETHAM
There's no question a top flight quarterback is very important, but teams have shown with a great defense and an efficient offense they can be effective, as in the 2011 49ers.
Weeden will have a learning curve and I think he will show he has the arm and temperament to hande the job, but it will all come down to how he picks up the offense and is able to handle the quick decisions he has to make with NFL defenses. He will benefit from having weapons that Colt McCoy did not have, starting with a running game led by Trent Richardson.
DAVE KOLONICH
It’s obvious that today’s NFL is designed to reward passing teams. From Ty Law-era changes in cornerback contact to last year’s crackdown on James Harrison-over the middle blowups, the NFL’s best teams are those who exploit the league’s current landscape. There’s a reason why slot receivers like Victor Cruz and Wes Welker now put up video game stats – and why defenses have to play three cornerbacks on 70 percent of downs.
So in answering the question – then yes, having a top-tier quarterback certainly helps teams to win. However, also having a progressive head coach, competent offensive line, strong pass rush and secondary depth also factor into winning.
As for Weeden, anyone who answers the top-tier question in mid-July hasn’t been paying attention to the Browns over the past decade. With the slight exception of Derek Anderson in 2007, the expansion Browns have not provided an adequate structure for a quarterback to exceed. It is impossible to predict success before Weeden has even signed his rookie contract – let alone before he takes a regular season snap.
DON DELCO
The NFL has become glorified flag football and the lynchpin to any good flag football and professional tackle football team is the quarterback.
Before the Browns can get excited about anything else, the quarterback question must be resolved.
Weeden, for the first time since 1999, embodies everything this team needs in a quarterback. Strong arm. Accurate. Winner. He had all those in college. It doesn’t necessarily translate into the NFL, but I’ll take those traits over quarterbacks who grew up Browns fans (Quinn, Frye), one who is wildly inaccurate but can throw it a country mile (Anderson), a first-overall pick with questionable arm strength (Couch) or a crafty veteran free agent who is past his prime (Dilfer, Delhomme).
thought for a minute the DPL (Dawg Pound Lounge) was about to take severe action...
The folks at ESPN 850 in Cleveland are mongering a “giant” rumor that the Browns are in the process of being sold. Tony Rizzo of ESPN 850 isn’t reporting (yet) that there’s a deal in place, but he says there is “smoke and fire” and that no one from the Browns has gotten back to him about the situation.
It’s not the first time this year the Browns have been linked to talk of a transfer of title.
Last month, after Joe Banner resigned as president of the Eagles and declared an intent to get involved in an ownership group elsewhere, Howard Eskin of NBC 10 in Philly said that Banner could try to buy the Browns, Bills, or Rams.
“The Browns are not for sale,” spokesman Neal Gulkis said on June 7. (Of course, that technically would be true, if the Browns already are/were in the process of being sold.)
We’ve sent Neal an email requesting a fresh statement in the wake of the ESPN 850 report/rumor.
The franchise has been owned by Randy Lerner since the passing of his father, Al. But the younger Lerner never has seemed to embrace the role. Thus, it won’t be a surprise if the team is sold, at some point.
Unless it already has been.
While it’s not easy to keep transactions like this under wraps until it’s official, it’s not unprecedented. Last year, the sale of the Jaguars to Shahid Khan came out of nowhere, and it quickly was a done deal.
And so it’s possible to keep these matters under wraps. Especially if everyone involved in the process is committed to denying that the team is for sale.
UPDATE 10:02 a.m. ET: Lerner has issued a statement on the subject. Yep, there’s something to it.
Moments after pressing “publish” on the item regarding the rumor that the Browns have been sold, a statement from owner Randy Lerner popped into our emailbox.
“In connection with current rumors and press inquiries, I can report that I’ve been approached by Mr. Jimmy Haslam, who is interested in making an investment in the Cleveland Browns,” Lerner says. “We are currently in negotiations and both sides have agreed to keep that dialogue and its details private. Given that any transaction would require League approval, care has been taken so that this process will not be disruptive to the organization, in particular the football team, as it prepares for the upcoming season. We will share further details or make an announcement if it becomes necessary.”
We’re not quite sure what that means. By using only the term “investment,” Lerner’s statement doesn’t reveal whether he’s considering selling a minority share, a majority share, or all of the team.
Haslam is president and chief executive officer of Pilot Flying J, one of the largest privately-held companies in the U.S. The company is headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee.
The good news is that, if the University of Tennessee alum purchases the Browns, he won’t have to alter his game-day wardrobe.
UPDATE 10:03 a.m. ET: The folks at ESPN 850, who got the ball rolling an hour ago on this story, are treating it as a given that Haslam will be buying the team from Lerner. The Browns, through spokesman Neal Gulkis, have declined to elaborate on Lerner’s statement.
In the luxury-suite equivalent of a player leaving one team and signing with a division rival, Jimmy Haslam is in the process of flip-flopping from the Steelers to the Browns.
Haslam became a minority owner of the Steelers in 2008, as part of a protracted, gambling-driven Rooney family restructuring that left Dan and Art II owning 30 percent of the franchise and others owning the rest.
In December 2008, Haslam, the Paul family, and film executive Thomas Tull (who was responsible for The Dark Knight Rises being partially filmed in Pittsburgh and at Heinz Field) were approved to purchase part of the 50 percent that was sold as part of the buyout of various Rooney siblings.
Several months later, others joined the ownership group, including John Stallworth.
The Steelers have not yet addressed whether and to what extent Haslam is in the process of selling his minority interest in the Steelers. If he buys the Browns, he’ll undoubtedly have to give up his interest in the Steelers.
In a 2010 investor profile on the Steelers website, Haslam says he was originally a Cowboys fan and later a Colts fan. But business developments caused him to have a change of heart.
“I am 1,000 percent a Steelers fan!” Haslam declared.
That’s exactly what Browns fans are going to want to hear.
UPDATE 10:31 a.m. ET: Per a league source, the Steelers privately are acknowledging that Haslam is in negotiations with the Browns. Haslam remains for now a minority owner of the Steelers.
Coincidentally, 25 percent of the Browns’ 2012 schedule will be played against Haslam’s current and former favorite teams.
