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March 4, 2010NFL Free Agency: D’Qwell Jackson Would Like More Money, Please
March 4, 2010
This is an exciting time of year for Browns fans. We start to get a feel for some of the roster changes that the team is about to make in the draft and free agency. Sometimes it is painful for us too as we lose guys we actually like.
For me, Hank Fraley is one of those guys. Fraley played center admirably for the Browns. He was elected a team captain in 2008 by his teammates and it wasn’t any surprise to the fans who had grown accustomed to his work ethic and attitude on the field. Fraley showed what a good teammate he could be this year by helping to mentor first round draft choice Alex Mack and also by showing a willingness to move around the offensive line wherever Eric Mangini asked him to play. For these reasons alone, I will miss Hank Fraley.
This doesn’t even take into account the circumstances with which we all got to know Hank Fraley in the first place.
In 2006, I don’t think as Browns fans we could have been any more excited. The Browns went out and signed a pro bowl center, who was not only a Clevelander, but also an Ohio State star in LeCharles bentley. Of course, as we all know, Bentley got hurt in training camp without pads on. At the time, we knew Bentley was going to miss the season. We certainly never dreamed that the injury and subsequent infections would cause him to retire.
Hank Fraley ended up providing the solution that we were all looking for after a trade with the Eagles. Don’t forget all these names though. After Bentley got hurt, Bob Hallen decided to retire, the Browns signed Todd Washington, acquired Lenny Friedman, watched Alonzo Ephraim get suspended for violating the league’s substance abuse policy, and Ryan Pontbriand reportedly peed himself at the prospects of playing every down. OK, in all fairness to Pontbriand, I made that last one up. Still, the situation was scary until Hank Fraley showed up in Cleveland ready to play with that slight twinge of a mean streak.
Fraley must really have fallen out of the Browns’ plans for the upcoming season. According to Rotoworld, Fraley was due only $1.6 million this season. At 33 years of age, Fraley was certainly becoming a less than ideal starter. Still, it is hard to believe that he wouldn’t have provided a nice insurance policy at both the center and guard positions. Here’s hoping Fraley finds a new place to play in the upcoming season (outside of the division, preferably in the NFC.)
(Photo Mark Duncan / USA Today)
15 Comments
Best wishes Hank. Truly an upstanding player for the Browns, a very like-able guy and a strong leader for the team. Plus the guy was hilarious if you saw him live during his show on Mondays.
Great….
“With the 7th pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns select Bruce Cambell Offensive Tackle from Maryland.”
I always liked Fraley as well. I’m sure he’s still got a year or two left in the tank, and 1.6 million isn’t a whole lot (just ask Cribbs!)
Speaking of, any news on what his press conference is all about tomorrow night?
Happy trails Hank…..next up DA
I’m sure he was a nice guy, but anyone who thinks he was an asset to the browns is kidding themselves. Take a look back at any of his games and you’ll see the biggest hole we had was at center. He was too slow to get to the second level and not strong enough to handle any decent nose tackle on his own. In my opinion, I would love to see him start at center on any team the browns play.
@4- I agree. I didn’t meant to imply that I thought he was a great player, just a great guy. Never complained about taking a backseat to other players, was always willing to help…just a good professional. He was someone these younger higher paid players could learn from. They could take a lesson on being humble sometimes.
That being said, now we can look to do what you suggested by adding players who can get to that second level and make those tough blocks, handle those bigger nose tackles.
Fare thee well, Hank. Bailed us out of a tough spot. A good guy, and a good Brown, but not necessarily the best offensive lineman.
I agree with a lot of the sentiments here. I just wanted to make sure everyone remembered how he saved our butts when he first showed up here during the carousel of centers that followed LeChuck.
Maybe he will celebrate at applebees after being cut by the browns. I think I would
I’ll miss him. He is a quality guy. Hopefully there is a plan in place to replace the depth he brought to the line.
Can you guys let your advertisers at Tervis Tumbler know that they may be inclined to get more people from a BROWNS blog to buy their product if the don’t put the STEELERS on their ad???
@ #10 I was thinking the same thing. Tervis tumblers are awesomethough…..
I hate to see Fraley let go. Sure seems like a good value to just hold on to him as a backup for only 1.6 mil. ANd I don’t htink it was Pontbriand who peed himself at the prospect of playing every down – that distinction goes to the cowardly Haden, who was just fine with collecting his salary at a backup position, but when the $^%# hit the fan and it was looking like he was actually going to have to play to earn his money, he simply retired. What a jerk.
I dont know what a lot of you were watching. Fraley did not play C last year. He was a RG and 3TE in goalline. He also may have been RT a few times. When he was on the field our OL played much more together and better. He was a great tutor on the field for Mack being able to point out what the D might be doing. He was not bad at what he did. Thomas, Mack and Fraley were the top 3 OL in my opinion last year.
Pluto did an article at the end of the season where he referenced stats inc or something like that where OL were ranked, and Steinbach was one of the worst ones for us. If you actually watch, there were many times when steinbach let people run right into the back field untouched, where hes not doing anything and Mack had a DT. I know that got off topic, but man its real easy to just buy into “this guy is a pro bowler, and this guy is a scrub” when talking about OL. Fraley was a good asset to our team last year. I wish him well.
Rob Smith and his sweaty hands are bummed to have been omitted from this article.
Best of luck Hank. Thanks for bailing us out and for the magical 2008 season!
First off Hank is a very good center. He started six years in a row for Philly, they went to the playoffs every year, the superbowl one of those times and that offense put up some of the best numbers EVER! Jamal Lewis had over 1300 yards rushing in 2008 behind Hank and the rest of the line. He has been in the league over 10 years and the average life expectancy of an NFL lineman is 3 years. Some of you on here must know more than NFL teams. As far as him getting to the “second” level, he did get to that level but some of the blocking assignments did not constitute him getting there, oh and he was the fastest and smartest lineman on the Browns, and yes that includes Mack. It says a lot when your all american, all academic center that you just drafted is having trouble reading defenses EIGHT games into the season, and THAT is a FACT. First hand knowledge. They will miss his leadership, toughness (never missed a game) and his ability to make everyone better around him. Hank did everything right, never refused autograph seekers, never refused and interview, and never refused anything to do with helping out in the community. He came from meager upbringing and didn’t have a lot but came from Robert Morris, and worked his tail off to were he is now, and to be in the league for 10 years and counting doesn’t happen by luck. You have to be good and smart! He will be missed and we will be wishing that we kept him on the team, because it is a long season.