Just wanting the Browns to kick the ever loving snot out of the Bengals this season after everyone's slobber fest over their draft. Believe you me, I get tired of hearing how wonderful the Bengals' draft was. 

they had a good draft . the whole division had a good draft . i just want to win a couple division games this season . the Browns have had sand kicked in there face . i am tired of having sand kicked in my face & not being able to punch back  . i think we can at least get a couple body shots in after our draft . the Browns should be more physical  this season .

I am hoping for a couple upsets this year . please may it be the Rats i want to beat them first & foremost . the Bengals are second for me because of the area i live in . you only hear from them after they win a couple games then they come out of the closet

do the Bungels have fans ? the last time i looked on there board i saw tumble weeds blowing around .

the Browns / Steelers & Ravens all engage in friendly conversation and football talk .

who or when was the last Bengal backer any of you chatted with ?

If one puts much stock in NFL Draft Scout — The Cleveland Plain Dealer burned two full draft-week pages on the service’s projections — the Browns’ third- and fourth-round picks are utterly shocking.

Wide receiver Travis Benjamin, picked by Cleveland at No. 100 overall, was Draft Scout’s 523rd-ranked player. That was Round 4.

The player the Browns plucked in Round 3, at No. 87, was even nearer the bottom of the 750-player list.

Draft Scout pegged defensive lineman John Hughes at No. 534.

Pro Football Weekly wasn’t as dismissive of Hughes, but close. Draft Scout pegged Hughes as the 38th-best defensive tackle available. For PFW, Hughes was No. 33.

PFW’s Nolan Nawrocki erased Hughes as a potential steal with this blunt summary:

“Plodding, clogging, two-down nose tackle with limited upside. Could compete for a reserve job, but is the type you look to replace.”

Even evaluators with a rooting interest didn’t dream that Hughes was Round 3 material.

“Bearcats Nation,” which caters to Cincinnati football fans, said:

“One of the primary differences between John Hughes and Derek Wolfe isn’t in size or mentality but the fact that regardless of the situation, Wolfe never stopped playing.”

Wolfe, who played alongside Hughes in Cincinnati’s trenches, was drafted by the Broncos at No. 36 overall, one spot before the Browns pounced on offensive tackle Mitchell Schwartz.

Going on about Hughes, Bearcats Nation said:

“The biggest knock was that he sometimes didn’t run plays out or displayed a different — and sometimes worse — technique play to play.”

And then a little sunshine:

“The good thing is that Hughes is physically ready to perform at the next level, and NFL coaches don’t tend to shy away from a player who doesn’t exert effort 100 percent of the time. It gives them an excuse to chew someone out in practice.”

Bearcats Nation concluded that Hughes would be drafted in Round 6 or Round 7, possibly by Pittsburgh. The Browns concluded — in Round 3 — that Hughes was the next big project for veteran defensive line coach Dwaine “Pee Wee” Board.

Even Cincinnati head coach Butch Jones projected Hughes as draft-shaky.

“After about Game 4,” Jones said in mid-April, “John really came on. He’s worked his way into position to possibly be drafted.”

Someone was terribly wrong about Hughes. Naturally, general manager Tom Heckert is convinced it is not him.

“John is a big, powerful, tough guy,” Heckert said. “I think he’s really good.

There are plenty of good reasons for optimism about the Browns draft, especially with the choice of Trent Richardson with the third overall pick. Brandon Weeden provides excitement, but it’s tempered a bit because there is a bit of a show-me element to his taking over at quarterback.

GM Tom Heckert makes a lot of smart picks, and generally he deserves a lot of credit for taking guys like Jabaal Sheard, Phil Taylor and Richardson.

But one thought that came to mind: Heckert and President Mike Holmgren were part of the effort to take quarterback Colt McCoy in the third round, and to take running back Montario Hardesty in the second round a year later.

Those picks now don’t look so good.

A few years back, some folks got on Butch Davis for taking William Green at running back a year after he took James Jackson, and for taking Jeff Faine at center after he had taken Melvin Fowler.

Which is pretty much what happened with this draft.  A back and a quarterback were taken to cover up previous mistakes.

Now … this does not meean Heckert cannot pick players. He can. He’s very good at it, in fact. And he’s building a team methodically and, if Weeden works out, wisely. Heckert remains the Browns best hope.

But it does show how perception colors the draft. The Browns were a bad team without a back and they took one high. Time to celebrate. The Browns had a quarterback issue and took one. Time to celebrate the potential. They got a right tackle who (presumably) will start.

But two of those picks were needed because previous second- and third-round picks did not work out.

It’s all, as they say, part of the record.

do the Bungels have fans ? the last time i looked on there board i saw tumble weeds blowing around .

I haven't seen a Bengals fan off the Bengals board in months. If you ask me their team is overrated - They were 0-8 against teams with winning records, 9-0 against teams with losing records. I don't buy that Andy Dalton is gonna be as special as how the media is making him seem - he's already being christened as the franchise QB after a good rookie season against a soft schedule. I'm not a person to get excited immediately over just anyone, though, so it may just be me.

This is what I think of the Bengals' draft:

Dre Kirkpatrick has off field issues. Is he talented? Yes, but he's not the most fluid cover corner in this class, being outclassed my Claiborne and Jenkins by a tremendous margin and by Gilmore, in probably addition to a handful of later round picks. He wasn't the surest pick the Bengals could have made at #17.

I'm firmly of the opinion that the pickup of Kevin Zeitler was a panic move after we picked up DeCastro. It was an okay move, but I would have expected Cordy Glenn here.

Devon Still has a huge injury history. I expect it to follow him to the NFL and for him to have little impact.

I actually really like Mohamed Sanu as a good complement to AJ Green.

Brandon Thompson will end up better than Devon Still. Another Domata Peko.

Orson Charles is a bad pick. He's terribly immature, but is a typical Bengals pick.

Shaun Prater won't be much of a factor at all.

I really like Marvin Jones. If anything, the Bengals strengthened their receiving corps in this draft.

George Iloka was terrific value where he was taken.

Dan Herron was an awful pick at a position of need. There were better RBs on the board and Herron is another checkered prospect.

So my favorite picks were Thompson, Sanu, and Jones. Kirkpatrick will get burned by Mike Wallace and Torrey Smith, Still may go on IR before the 2012 season, and Charles was a waste of a pick. It was a mix of bad and good - nowhere near the "amazing, stellar, and downright stu-u-u-u-uPENDOUS!" draft the media is claiming it to be.

I don't know...Now that I'm looking at all the names again. Sorry ihave to say  I love the Bengals draft.  Orson Charles was a steal where they got him IMO...We'll see how it all pans out.  But just looking at it on paper,  that's gotta be one of the best drafts...

we'll know in about 2 or 3 years who had the best draft...All the AFC North teams look like they improved....And they improved in areas of need. 

If Weeden can be a real "franchise" NFL QB,  you may have to give Cleveland the nod....What could be more impactful to a football team than a big upgrade at quarterback?   With Trent Richardson back there easing the load, this is a possibility.  

President Mike Holmgren took the occasion of a radio appearance to open up a race for the Browns' starting quarterback role. [Holmgren]stressed Tuesday that although the team expects rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden to start this season, he'll still have to beat out Colt McCoy and Seneca Wallace for the job. "We drafted a young quarterback that we think can come in and play right away,but we're not just going to hand him the football," the Browns president said. .... "I still love Colt McCoy [but] we had a chance to get a mature quarterback who has a chance to come in and contribute right away. Whether that happens or not we have to let it play out."

I love the normalcy of Cleveland. There's regular people there.
Drew Carey

Oh, you hate your job? Why didn't you say so? There's a support group for that. It's called everybody, and they meet at the bar.

The Bengals notoriously have the lowest scouting department budget in the NFL and it shows...

They get high draft grades because it looks like they stopped by 7/11 for Slurpies and a NFL draft guide on the way to their war room. They seem to always take the 'next guy on the media draft guide' list.

For example, they were applauded for taking Rey Maualuga after he was passed up by every other team...he hasn't really panned out as the top 15 pick the media made him out to be..
The Kevin Zeitler pick was actually out of character for them as far as taking a player higher than he was ranked. Unless you look a little closer at the NFL.com draft list...According to them, Zeitler was the next best "OG" in the draft after David DeCastro...Cordy Glenn is listed as a tackle...So taking this into account, the Bengals felt they needed a guard worse than a tackle and took the next one in line from that media draft guide.


Look, I know they do more work than picking up a magazine, but looking at their drafts of the past it is hard to argue that point.

They get high draft grades because it looks like they stopped by 7/11 for Slurpies and a NFL draft guide on the way to their war room.

lol! that's funny... maybe thats why it looks so good on paper.  That's why I said we'll all know in a few years.....Right now, it's anybody's guess...

Isn't John Cooper a Bengals scout?   Maybe he's the guy they send to the 7/11 when nobody is looking....

I haven't seen a Bengals fan off the Bengals board in months. If you ask me their team is overrated - They were 0-8 against teams with winning records, 9-0 against teams with losing records

You don't see many fans at Paul Brown stadium either.  But if Happ and Heck don't get it right in Cleveland, could be similar at Browns Stadium before too long...

The decision to use the third overall pick on a running back at a time when many teams are using three running backs likely means that the team that used the third overall pick on a running back plans to focus the running game on that guy.

Browns G.M. Tom Heckert told PFT Live on Wednesday that, indeed, the Browns plan to make Trent Richardson the workhorse.

“I think it’s pretty safe to say we draft a guy third overall, he’s going to be the guy,” Heckert said.  “But we do think we’re going to need extra backs.  You know, last year going into the season we thought we’re in really good shape at running back with Peyton Hillis, Brandon Jackson, and Montario Hardesty and it turns out all three of them got nicked up.  So, you know, we do think it’s a position where you better have a couple guys and, you know, we have obviously Brandon Jackson and Hardesty coming back both, so we think it’s going to be, from last year where it was probably a weak spot for us, we think it’s going to be a very, very big positive for us this year.”

Still, Heckert realizes that Richardson could be the next running back to get “nicked up.”

“I do think that’s probably one of the reason they don’t go up that high, but we thought he was such a special player, we thought it outweighed any, you know, hesitations about whether the running backs, how long they last, and all that stuff,” Heckert said.  “You know, he scores a lot of touchdowns, we think he’s going to score a lot of touchdowns for us.”

If he stays healthy, he likely will.  But he will be playing the one position that is the equivalent of being a large magnet in an anvil factory.  And he may indeed get injured, which would make the Browns look bad for using the third overall pick.

But the Browns know it, they accept it, and they understand that, if he stays healthy, he could help the team become relevant again.

http://youtu.be/8tJLs5Crf74

That gets me fired up Bluez!

WOOF!!!!

Browns signed seventh-round TE/FB Brad Smelley to a four-year contract.

Smelley measured 6-foot-2, 237 at his Pro Day, and ran a forty-yard dash in 4.76 and 4.77. His broad jump lacked explosion at 9-foot-4. Smelley is an H-back type with minimal strength and athleticism. We've heard him talked up in draftnik circles, but he's going to be hard pressed to make an NFL impact.

---

Browns signed fourth-round LB James-Michael Johnson to a four-year contract.

Johnson was Nevada's starting middle linebacker last season, but Wolfpack coaches always believed his best position was WILL or SAM. With a big training camp, Johnson could push for a starting job. D'Qwell Jackson and Chris Gocong are locked in as starters, but the weak side is wide open in Cleveland.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns have wrapped up two of their draft picks on the eve of rookie camp and are close with most or all of the others.

They agreed to terms on a four-year deal with linebacker James-Michael Johnson, the fourth-rounder from Nevada, and signed tight end fullback Brad Smelley, the seventh-rounder from Alabama, to a four-year contract. Running back Trent Richardson, Smelley's former Alabama teammate, also told 92.3 The Fan Wednesday that he's close to signing his deal and hopes to have it done by Thursday.

Rookie minicamp is Friday through Sunday.

Johnson's deal is worth $2.52 million, a source told The Plain Dealer, and Smelley's deal is worth a maximum of $2.14 million, including a signing bonus of $45,890, according to Scout.com.

Johnson started 50 of 54 games at Nevada, 23 at strongside linebacker and 27 in the middle. He ranks sixth in school history with 299 tackles, including 170 solos. He could play a significant role for the Browns if linebacker Scott Fujita serves his full three-game suspension for his involvement in the Saints' bounty system. Fujita has steadfastly denied any wrongdoing and is appealing the suspension.

"I'm an athletic linebacker," said Johnson on draft day. "I an instinctive linebacker. I come downhill. I can guard man-to-man out of the backfield. I can guard the tight end man-to-man. I'm a competitor. I just love the game of football and I love to play hard. I love making a big play and sparking my defense."

Smelley, 6-2, 230, started 10 games for the Crimson Tide last season. His most notable game was in the BCS Championship victory over LSU when he caught seven passes.

"I was used in a variety of different ways," Smelley said on draft day. "They split me out, put me on the line like a traditional tight end, put me in the backfield and moved me around. [They] did a lot of different things with us."

Heckert on Weeden: GM Tom Heckert told Pro Football Talk Live Wednesday that the idea is for Brandon Weeden to start right away, re-iterating what he and coach Pat Shurmur said on draft day.

"Yeah, that's the overall view," Heckert told Pro Football Talk Live. "That's what we think he's gonna be. We took him there, so we expect him to be the guy. Now if it doesn't work out that way right away, we're not gonna throw him out there just because we took him at 22. We're not in this thing to look good in our draft picks and all that stuff. But obviously when we took him at 22, we expect him to be the guy."

He said the Browns weren't just blowing smoke when they said they were prepared to go with Colt McCoy this season.

"In free agency, we did not talk to anybody, we did not bring anybody in, Colt was our guy," he said. "Then it just so happened that there was a couple guys in this draft that we really liked and if we got them, which we did, then it would be a competition. But we do like Colt McCoy and we do think he's got a chance to be a player in this league."

He added that he believed the Browns can compete with the other teams in the division now that they've upgraded their offense and have another year in the scheme.

Jackson finalist: Browns linebacker D'Qwell Jackson is one of four finalists for the Pro Football Writers of America's Hala Award, for the player or coach who has performed with abandon despite injury or personal problems off the field. The others are Patriots owner Robert Kraft, 49ers quarterback Alex Smith, and Lions quarterback Matt Stafford.

Browns story links

General manager Tom Heckert says the Browns won't hand the starting quarterback job to Brandon Weeden, but they expect him to win it. (By Nate Ulrich, Akron Beacon Journal)

An early look at the Browns' new depth chart on offense. (By Steve Doerschuk, Canton Repository)

Arizona cornerback Trevin Wade, a seventh-round Browns draft pick, has a knack of exceeding others' expectations. (By Stephanie Storm, Akron Beacon Journal)

Did the Browns reach in drafting University of Cincinnati defensive lineman John Hughes in the third round? (By Steve Doerschuk, Canton Repository)

Mini-camp can bring out the best in some of the lesser known players. (By Bernie Kosar, clevelandbrowns.com)

Making Brandon Weeden compete for the starting QB job is the best thing for him. (By Andrea Hangst, Bleacher Report)

That gets me fired up Bluez!

WOOF!!!!

 

I don't see how that's possible, TD.  I didn't see one single negative comment by a troll in that whole video. 

I don't see how that's possible, TD.  I didn't see one single negative comment by a troll in that whole video. 

The Browns reportedly reached contract agreements with two draft picks -- linebacker James-Michael Johnson, a fourth-round pick, and H-back Brad Smelley, a seventh-round pick.

Johnson's agent Scott Smith announced his signing on his Twitter account. Smelley's signing was reported by Scout.com.

The club announced that linebacker Brian Smith was waived.

Also, the following undrafted free agents have been signed and will attend rookie minicamp this weekend:

DB Mike Allen – Four-year letterman at James Madison University (2008-11) … Began collegiate career as a wide receiver before converting to defense prior to junior season … Totaled 63 tackles, 10 passes defensed, three interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery … Attended Blessed Sacrament Huguenot High School in Powhatan, Va.

OL Jake Anderson – Four year letterman at the University of Akron (2008-11)… Did not miss a game in four years, appearing in all 48… Utilized mostly at right tackle… Attended McDowell High School in Erie Pa.

DB Johnson Bademosi – Appeared in 48 games at Stanford University (2008-11)… Totaled 122 career tackles, two forced fumbles and one interception… Was also a member of the track and field team at Stanford… Attended Gonzaga High School in in Silver Spring, Md.

OL Matt Cleveland – Three year starter at the University of Idaho (2009-11)… Miss the 2008 season due to injury, but went on to start the next 38 games at left tackle… Attended Kentwood High School in Covington, Wash.

WR Josh Cooper – Tallied 161 career receptions, 1,696 receiving yards and 11 receiving touchdowns at Oklahoma State University (2008-11)… As a senior, finished second on the team in receptions (71) and receiving yards (716), while adding three touchdown catches… Attended Mustang (Okla,) High School.

DB Emanuel Davis – Appeared in 49 career games at East Carolina University (2008-11) with 38 starts… Notched 230 career tackles, nine interceptions, four forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and 1.5 sacks… Attended Manteo (N.C.) High School.

LB L.J. Fort – Appeared in 50 games game at the University of Northern Iowa (2008-11) with 34 starts… Finished 2011 as the Division I FCS national leader in total tackles (184) and tackles per game (14.15)… Named the Missouri Valley Football Conference's Defensive Player of the Year and was selected as the FCS National Defensive Player of the Year by both College Sporting News and College Sports Madness… Finished fifth in school history with 356 career stops… Attended Waynesville (Mo.) High School.

OL Garth Gerhart – Started 35 of the 39 games in which he saw action in at Arizona State University (2008-11)… Opened 27 games at center, five at right guard and three at left guard… Brother, Toby, is a running back for the Minnesota Vikings… Attended Norco (Calif.) High School.

DB Tashaun Gipson – Four year starter at the University of Wyoming (2008-11)… Notched nine career interceptions… As a senior, recorded 95 tackles and three interceptions… Attended Kimball High School in Dallas, Texas.

DL William Green – Appeared in 53 contests with four starts at the University of Florida (2008-11)… Totaled 53 tackles and 2.5 sacks… As a senior, saw action in 13 games, notching 21 tackles and half a sack… Attended Spain Park High School in Hoover, Ala.

DB Antwuan Reed – Four year letterman at the University of Pittsburgh (2008-11)… As a senior, totaled 30 tackles, seven passes defensed and three fumble recoveries, including returning one for a touchdown… Named to the All-Big East second team after final season… Attended Greater Johnstown (Pa.) High School.

WR Bert Reed – Four year letterman at Florida State University (2008-11)… Finished career ranked fourth in school history in receptions (170) and 12th in receiving yards (2,022)… Also notched 10 career touchdown receptions, while adding 34 rushing attempts for 243 yards with three scores… As a senior, totaled 29 receptions for 403 yards with five touchdowns… Attended Bay High School in Panama City, Fla.

WR Jermaine Saffold – Four year letterman at Missouri State University (2008-11)… Set the school single-season season (913 in 2011) and career (2,221) records for receiving yardage… As a senior, recorded 45 receptions with eight touchdowns and ranked 25th nationally in receiving yards per game (83.0)… Nine career 100-yard receiving performances were also a school record… Attended Grandview (Mo.) High School.

OL J.B. Shugarts – Four year letterman at Ohio State University (2008-11)… Three year starter at right tackle… Father, Bret, was a defensive end for the Pittsburgh Steelers (1987)… Attended Klein (Texas) High School.

LB Andrew Sweat – Appeared in 49 career games at Ohio State University (2008-11)… Totaled 201 career tackles, three interceptions, three forced fumbles and one sack… As a senior, finished second on the team with 72 tackles, while adding one interception and one forced fumble… Attended Trinity High School in Washington, Pa.

I Look for a couple of these undrafted free agents to make either the final 53 or the practice squad . Cooper alreday has a rapport with Weeden that gives him a leg up at a postion of need .

the same with Bert Reed . he can fly as well .

LB Andrew Sweat i hope makes it . can't you see him standing next to Smelly on the Sidelines with Matt Cleveland on the other end


" Smelley Cleveland Sweat "


DB Bademosi has a pretty good shot as well . i think that Safety ..never should have let Adams leave  is a postion of need . Young stunk it up last year . 

I look for fourth round pick Johnson ..he really needs to shorten his name to start the opener in place of Fugita . i wish Fugita was 7 years younger .

the Browns are on the right track  . it may not show up in the win loss  record this season with the brutal schedule . just knowing that better daze are ahead for us to long suffering fans is comforting .

i have 7-9 wins pencilled in with the needle pointing up!

WOOF WOOF WOOF !!!!

i have 7-9 wins pencilled in with the needle pointing up!

WOOF WOOF WOOF !!!!

Morning Bluez.  But weren't you griping about another 4-5 win season awhile ago after the schedule was released and after the first couple rounds of the draft?  Seems to me that you been dipping into the Kool-Aid something fierce in the last week or two.   



(Pokes the bear one more time before hitting the "post" button )

Morning Duff .yes i was after i first saw the schedule


tired of being negative . my only gripe is the inactivity in free agency & the fact that we really dont have any WR that scares anyone ..still .

no matter what h&h say about them i am still verry skeptical

Keep the Kool - Aid comming Duff ..that stuff is powerful!

time to go look for some gems in FBB .. in a couple leagues my starters are SUCKING

Keep the Kool - Aid comming Duff ..that stuff is powerful!

Slides a Duff "I'll have what the gentleman on the floor is having" Kool-Aid down the bar to Bluez

..........................(_)>


Oops, forgot one for your other hand
.........................<(_)   (it's a left-handed mug )

Happy Holmgren said the other day they still might be looking at a veteran WR...


and the ones still out there kinda scare me...

 
tired of being negative . my only gripe is the inactivity in free agency & the fact that we really dont have any WR that scares anyone ..still .

tired of being negative . my only gripe is the inactivity in free agency & the fact that we really dont have any WR that scares anyone ..still .

If it makes anyone feel any better, this is the last season of this CBA cycle that will allow the Browns to NOT spend money in free agency, whether it is our own free agents or someone else's...They must spend 90% of the salary cap going forward in 2013 and beyond...

Irish i wouldnt want them to sign a free agent just for the sake of signing one . there is no way in hell that anybody can convince me that this WR Group is up to NFL Standards . i dont care if they think that Weeden will make them all of a sudden catch the ball . run better routes . get seperation .

 its not going to happen.
 
my one and only issue and its a big one is that they are i say it again depending to much on the draft . in this day & age of quick turnarounds h&h are taking there sweet..err  fat ass time getting it done !

Weeden will struggle this season . he is a rookie . its expected . all rookies struggle at some point and time during a season espcially rookie QB . 

with that said i know that they are all on the same page and the right track ..just speed this deal up some will ya . i about threw out my arm tossing chit at my TV . i invented new cuss words last season .. all of that before apathy set in

Browns head coach Pat Shurmur held a conference call with local media Thursday regarding the weekend's festivities.

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Pat Shurmur held a 15-minute pre-rookie minicamp conference call with local reporters Thursday to discuss this weekend’s camp. Shurmur said he expected 37 players to attend, including all 11 of the team’s recent draft choices and 15 undrafted free agent signings. Shurmur said the rest of the players would be young players still classified as rookies.

Shurmur said the players would have physicals on Thursday evening and then have an orientation before practices on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. He also said the reason the camp is this weekend is so the player’s wouldn’t have any graduation or school obligations and could stay over Monday for offseason workouts.

Shurmur said he expects top choice Trent Richardson to take part in practice, despite having an off-season arthroscopic surgery on his knee. He said he also is excited to see Brandon Weeden take snaps under center.

He also talked about the perception of Weeden earning the starting quarterback spot.

“You draft players for a reason, but you have to see them perform,” he said. “I can see the quarterback discussion is going to be interesting.”

There have been league reports that DL John Hughes and DB Trevin Wade have agreed to terms to go along with FB/TE Brad Smelley and LB James Michael-Johnson.