May 20, 2013

Brian Hoyer, Brandon Weeden and what it all could mean

May 17, 2013 by 16 Comments

Hoyer PatsA fictional conversation that could have taken place in Berea over the last couple of days…

Michael Lombardi: “Hey. Have you heard of Brian Hoyer?”

Ray Farmer: “You mean the journeyman Michigan State guy who went undrafted in 2009, with one career NFL start who was cut flat by the team, the Arizona Cardinals, with some of the worst quarterback play since Kurt Warner retired as an arthritic old man?”

Michael Lombardi: “Yep! He’s available! Go get him!”

And scene…

Look, the jokes that were going around yesterday had more to do with the fact that almost everything that’s ever been rumored about Michael Lombardi has come true. The only thing that hasn’t happened (yet) is the Browns trading for Patriots backup Ryan Mallett. With that lens, of course it’s somewhat comical that Brian Hoyer finally became available and signed with the Browns. That’s really where the comedy ends. In all, the Brian Hoyer signing is a good one for depth for a team that has question marks at the quarterback spot. [Read more...]

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Brandon Weeden opens Browns OTAs as No. 1 quarterback

May 16, 2013 by 12 Comments

Despite various attempts to suggest the contrary, Brandon Weeden has opened Cleveland Browns Organized Team Activities (OTAs) as the starting quarterback.

ESPN Clevland’s Tony Grossi reports that Weeden, while he may have merely been given the job due to a lack of serious alternatives and could very well be on a one-year audition, is firmly running with the first team while Jason Campbell and Thad Lewis are second and third, respectively.

“The Chudzinski-Turner offense – a vertical passing game played off a power running game – would seem to be an ideal change for a team that invested first-round draft picks last year in Weeden and Trent Richardson,” writes Grossi.

Earlier this week on WKNR’s Cleveland Browns Daily , Weeden said to host Vic Carucci, “I looked at (receiver) Greg Little walking in and said, ‘What do you think?’ And he’s like, ‘This is fun.’ That’s what we want. We want to go out and have fun. Usually as a receiver and a quarterback, that’s dropping back and slinging it around a little bit. That’s what we’re gonna do. We’re gonna throw the football down the field. We’ve got guys that can go get it. It’s fun to come to work every day.”

With the Browns adding slot recievers Davone Bess and David Nelson, they are giving Weeden the weapons they feel he needs to flourish in an offense that arguably suits his skill set better than the one employed by former head coach Pat Shurmur.

In 2012, the strong-armed Weeden threw for nearly 3,400 yards, but did so with a passer rating of 72.6 with an average of 6.55 yards per attempt. He has been working out for the large part of the offseason, including private work with former NFL quarterback Chris Weinke.

[Related: In 2013 the Browns are betting on defense and hoping for offense]

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NFL draft talk, Browns talk, Lake Erie Crushers and a contest! – WFNY Podcast – 2013-05-14

May 14, 2013 by Leave a Comment

WFNY Podcast LogoRick is running a contest for a free WFNY t-shirt. He will be posting a link of the show on his twitter page @RickWFNY and you need to RT it for a chance to win. We will pick a winner at random. (There is no purchase necessary. There are no guarantees of winning, but we guarantee we will make an attempt to give someone a free t-shirt. Please don’t sue us for trying to do something nice.)

  • Just how open are the Browns right now in terms of their public face

  • The Chuck Klosterman article on Grantland

  • What was the lead time of the trip to Cleveland?

  • Where is the split in the Browns home building?

  • Is there a split in the Browns building?

  • Jimmy Haslam’s trucking company troubles and how it changed Klosterman’s access

  • Missing the opportunity of having Chuck Klosterman in the room

  • Grading the front office on the pass rush should be easy

  • The Browns front office casts a vote against Pat Shurmur by bringing them all back

  • Brandon Weeden and his ability to get incrementally better

  • The possibility that Chud and Norv Turner will try to put guys in abilities to achieve

  • Finding the next Darren Sproles or finding a true change of pace back

  • Are the Browns going to have a third down back, or a second featured back?

  • What are Montario Hardesty’s chances of making the Browns?

  • The Lake Erie Crushers in the independent league

  • The Frontier League and their 14 team league

  • CONTEST WIN T-SHIRT PRIZES PRIZES PRIZES

Check out this episode

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In 2013 the Browns are betting on defense and hoping for offense

May 14, 2013 by 18 Comments

Kruger jerseyThe off-season isn’t over, but it’s not time to look at what the Browns have put together to try and figure out how they’re going to compete in 2013. When you’re caught up in all the details of free agency and the draft it’s much more difficult to get the overall picture, but now more than ever it seems readily apparent what the Browns are trying to do. It’s also apparent what this team could look like in 2013 as they look to improve on their 5-11 season with a whole new coaching staff and brand new looks on offense and defense.

It starts with the defense. The Browns spent almost all of their resources in free agency and the draft on defense. The combination of switching schemes and the defensive performance in 2012 demanded some serious attention. The Browns were second-worst in the NFL in terms of number of offensive plays that opposing teams ran against them. The Browns allowed opposing teams to run 1095 plays showing an inability to get off the field. They gave up the fifth-most number of first downs and the 14th most points. The Browns were truly middle of the road in terms of pressuring the quarterback with their 38 sacks and 6.0% sack rate. 1

So take that group of defenders, put them with an aggressive coordinator, add Desmond Bryant, Paul Kruger, Quentin Groves and sixth overall pick Barkevious Mingo and all of a sudden I think we’ve seen pretty much exactly where the Browns hope to be able to compete in 2013. [Read more...]

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  1. Sack rate is the number of sacks divided by pass attempts + sacks [back]

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New receivers Bess and Nelson bring experience, reliability to the slot

May 11, 2013 by 6 Comments

Davone-BessThe Browns have not had a productive offense since 2007. And if you’re like me, over the last five years you’ve probably watched the likes of New England, Green Bay, and New Orleans and wondered how it was possible that Brady, Rodgers, and Brees were playing the same sport that us Cleveland fans watched every Sunday.

In 2011 Drew Brees threw for 46 touchdowns while the entire Browns offense scored just 20. Yikes.

2012 was a little better. Last year Brees threw just five more TD’s (43) than the Browns offense scored (38). Signs of improvement for sure, but still a long way to go.

This offseason Banner and Lombardi put their emphasis on arming new Browns’ defensive coordinator Ray Horton with as many weapons as possible, but the offensive personnel remains largely unchanged. With Ben Watson being the only key departure leaving via free agency the hope was the Browns would land a new starting tight end, one that could be a reliable safety net for the inexperienced Brandon Weeden. But the Browns didn’t land Jared Cook, Dennis Pitta, or Brandon Myers, leaving the raw and inexperienced Jordan Cameron as the starter by default.

On 3rd and 6 are Browns fans are supposed to feel secure that Brandon Weeden has Jordan Cameron working the middle of the field to secure a first down? I don’t think so.

Enter wide receivers Davone Bess and David Nelson. [Read more...]

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One Week Removed, More Browns Draft Thoughts

May 4, 2013 by 7 Comments

Barkevious MingoOne week removed from the fun and buildup of the NFL Draft, and what do we know? Well, not much. We know the Browns are bringing Barkevious Mingo, Leon McFadden, Jamoris Slaughter, Garrett Gilkey, and Armonty Bryant, along with a bunch of undrafted free agents into the fold with a shot at making the team. We know the team has 9 picks next year, including 6 in the first four rounds. We know there are still holes on this team. Other than that, it’s a lot of guesswork, and listed below, is some of mine. [Read more...]

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Cabot: Jason Campbell Will Have “Legitimate Shot” At Starting QB Job

May 4, 2013 by 12 Comments

Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer informs us this morning that her sources are saying that free-agent signee Jason Campbell will be given a shot to beat out incumbent starter Brandon Weeden for the starting quarterback spot.

“…head coach Rob Chudzinski said: “I feel good about the group. How all that plays out, we’ll see and know in time. I’m excited about Brandon and the progress he’s made thus far, learning the system to the point we are right now, which is still very early.

“I’ve also been pleased with Jason [Campbell] and the role he’s taken on being there.

“We want to give these guys every opportunity to succeed and give Brandon, since you are asking about him specifically, every opportunity to succeed.”

Pressed on whether the team is moving forward with Weeden as the intended starter, Chudzinski said: “We’re going to proceed as we’re proceeding right now.”

“Brandon is getting the reps with the first team and working with the first group. A lot of this will remain to be seen when we get into pads and we get into real football instead of the football where you run around in shorts on air.”

Campbell, as MKC mentions in the article, was 4-2 at the time of his injury in Oakland in 2011 and has a career record of 31-40 as a starter over eight seasons. Weeden was 5-10 as a starter last season, throwing for 3,385 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions for a QB Rating of 72.6, completing 57.4% of his passes. Campbell, an Aubrun product, has 76 career TDs, 52 INTs, and a career QB Rating of 82.5 while completing 61% of his passes in time with Washington, Oakland, and Chicago.

The Browns chose to go in a different direction than drafting a quarterback in the 2013 draft. Assuming that both Weeden and Campbell are both 2013 stopgaps, the team will likely look to the 2014 draft for a longterm answer under center.

If there is a changing of the guard and Weeden doesn’t become the first Browns QB to start back-to-back openers since Charlie Frye in 2006-2007, it will be seven different opening day starters in seven years for the Browns (Frye, Anderson, Quinn, Delhomme, McCoy, Weeden).

Related: One Week Removed, More Browns Draft Thoughts

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NFL News: Browns’ Chudzinski won’t name starting quarterback

May 3, 2013 by 66 Comments

The Cleveland Browns did not draft a quarterback last weekend, but that has apparently not cemented the starting job for last year’s rookie Brandon Weeden.

In an interview with 92.3 The Fan, Browns head coach Rob Chudzinski said that he expects the recently added Jason Campbell to compete with Weeden for the starting job.

“We’ll just see as we go forward,” said Chudzinski. ”I expect both of these guys to compete. I don’t know any other way.”

Chudzinski added that Weeden’s approach—in the wake of all of the turnover in Berea—has been “outstanding” and that the second-year quarterback has shown solid progress. The team appears to be working on Weeden’s mechanics (the quarterback recently discussed his “patting” of the ball) and speeding up his delivery.

In 2012, Weeden threw for 3,385 yards to go with 14 touchdowns and 17 interceptions, totaling to a quarterback rating of 72.6. Weeden is expected to be in the shotgun exponentially more often this season under Chudzinski and offensive coordinator Norv Turner than he was in 2012 under Pat Shurmur.

[Related: Michael Lombardi: Two different interviews, one set of answers]

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2014 Mock Draft has Browns missing out on quarterbacks yet again

April 30, 2013 by 37 Comments

The Cleveland Browns will once again just miss out on a quarterback and select a skill player in the 2014 NFL Draft, says Sports Illustrated’s Chris Burke.

In an entirely-too-early mock draft posted at SI.com, Burke has the Browns selecting fourth, representing a finish of roughly three or four wins in 2013. This said, the Orange and Brown are presently forecasted to miss out on the two quarterbacks slated to lead the pack at this time next year, Louisville’s Teddy Bridgewater and Clemson’s Taj Boyd. Instead, they address the wide receiver position with USC’s Marqise Lee.

“Lee is just 6-feet tall, so we’re not talking about a Calvin Johnson-type that’s going to win jump balls consistently,” writes Burke. “What Lee will do, though, is get open and make plays. He caught a whopping 118 passes last season for 1,721 yards and 14 touchdowns. You’re looking at a Heisman frontrunner for 2013 and a player that could dramatically improve an NFL offense.”

If the Browns do finish among the five worst teams in the NFL, it will undoubtedly be due to poor play or a disastrous injury suffered by quarterback Brandon Weeden. Accumulating a slew of picks in 2013, it is widely expected that the Browns will attempt to trade up in the instance they are in need of a passer come next spring. If Boyd’s name rings a bell, it is because the Clemson star was slated to attend Ohio State but opted to go south once it appeared he would have to wait for Terrelle Pryor to finish his tenure with the team.

In 2012, with sure-fire quarterbacks Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III going first and second, respectively, the Browns picked third and selected running back Trent Richardson. Acquiring a third- and fourth-round selection this past weekend, the Browns will head into the 2014 NFL Draft with nine selections at their disposal.

[Related: WFNY weighs in on the Cleveland Browns’ 2013 draft]

 

 

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NFL Draft Day Rumor: Browns inquiring about QB Ryan Mallet again

April 25, 2013 by 11 Comments

Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald is reporting that the Cleveland Browns have called the New England Patriots looking to trade for former Arkansas QB Ryan Mallet-

“The Browns have continued to show interest in acquiring Mallett from the Patriots, according to a source. The Pats want at least a second-round pick in return for the backup quarterback who was taken in the third round of the 2011 draft.

The Browns and Buccaneers inquired about Mallett earlier this offseason, to no avail. One snag is Mallett’s contract, which can’t be restructured or extended until next offseason, per CBA rules. While the Browns would have Mallett in their control for a very affordable number over the next two years, they’d obviously be acquiring him under the assumption that he’d play well enough to earn a big paycheck. If that happens, he would control all of the negotiating leverage.”

The Patriots, according to Howe are seeking a second round pick for Mallet. The Browns of course used their second round choice in this year’s draft last summer on WR Josh Gordon. If the Patriots held firm to their desire for a second rounder, Cleveland would have to trade back from the sixth pick to acquire a second rounder to send to New England.

There has been speculation that the Browns new regime is not satisfied with QB Brandon Weeden and has looked at replacing him with Geno Smith of West Virginia, EJ Manuel of Florida State and of course Mallet. Publicly the Browns have said they are excited about Weeden’s skills, specifically his strong arm.

Ryan Mallet was a third round pick of the Patriots in 2011. He has thrown 4 passes in the NFL, completing one and throwing one interception.

Obviously many draft day rumors should be taken with a grain of salt. Presented for your information.

[Related: Fun with numbers, draft day edition]

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Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal talks about being a beat writer and the Browns draft – WFNY Podcast – 2013-04-23

April 23, 2013 by Leave a Comment

WFNY Podcast LogoNate Ulrich’s first appearance on the podcast was a good one. We talk about what it’s like to be a beat writer, and also some more specifics about what to expect from the Browns on Thursday.

  • Covering the Browns and how it’s been over the last four years

  • Jimmy Haslam’s approval at the ownership group

  • Pilot Flying J scandal

  • The layers of management in Berea

  • Fan negativity and paranoia and distancing yourself from it in the professional capacity

  • Solving pass rush or corner first?

  • Trading down

  • Rob Chudzinski and the read option

  • What does Nate have in his provisions for the marathon draft weekend beat?

Check out this episode

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Colt McCoy on 49ers: “We want to win, and we want to win now.”

April 14, 2013 by 17 Comments

Former Browns quarterback and current San Francisco 49ers backup QB Colt McCoy said that he would “always be grateful” to the Browns organization, but his tune is a little different lately.

In a NFL.com article by Marc Sessler, it’s communiated that McCoy says things are quite different in San Francisco, who made it to the Super Bowl last year, than Cleveland.

“When I walked in the building in San Francisco, it was the same feel (as at the University of Texas),” McCoy told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram on Saturday. “It’s a great organization, and their only focus is: We want to win, and we want to win now. That’s obviously different than some of the things that I’ve been part of the last few years. I was really happy about that.”

McCoy played in 24 games (21 starts) for the Browns over three seasons, throwing for 4,388 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 20 interceptions with a career passer rating of 74.8. He was a third round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, but he was replaced by rookie Brandon Weeden last season as the team’s starter. McCoy was traded earlier this month to the Niners along with a sixth-round pick in this year’s draft for fifth and seventh round selections.

Related: Former Brown Ricky Feacher Arrested In Florida

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Raiders to work out former Browns QB Seneca Wallace

April 9, 2013 by 6 Comments

Adam Schefter is reporting (by way of PFT for us) that former Browns QB Seneca Wallace is going to work out for the Oakland Raiders. It just goes to show that there are at least nine lives available for anyone who can stand under center in the NFL. It also goes to show that the economics of football are changing just a bit.

Seneca Wallace was cut prior to the 2012 season in favor of Brandon Weeden, Colt McCoy and Thaddeus Lewis. Wallace was set to make $2.4 million on the year and even with plenty of money to spare, it almost certainly was a part of the Browns’ decision to cut Wallace loose.

Fast-forward to this off-season where the Browns signed another journeyman veteran quarterback – Jason Campbell – with experience at a similar age as to what Wallace was when he originally signed with the Browns. Wallace signed that deal for three years and $9 million plus incentives. Campbell’s contract is two years and a mere $3.75 million with a reported $2.6 million in available incentives. And Campbell is a player with legitimate starting experience that Seneca Wallace never had.

Add in additional evidence like Kevin Kolb’s two-year deal for $6.1 million with a miniscule $1 million in guaranteed money, and it might be a full-blown trend at the league’s most important position.

[Related: NFL News: Browns sign WR David Nelson]

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WFNY Podcast – 2013-04-01 – Dennis Manoloff talks charities, Weeden and NFL draft

April 1, 2013 by Leave a Comment

WFNY Podcast LogoDennis Manoloff agreed to join me for about 15 minutes to talk sports. I always appreciate the D-Man’s take on things and with a radio voice like his, it’s a crime that he doesn’t have a regular slot on the local shows. Anyway, enjoy.

  • Outside the Lines report on athlete charities being shams
  • The right ways to do charity
  • Brandon Weeden vs. Jason Campbell and heading into year two
  • What the Browns should think about with the 6th pick
  • Trading down and the benefits
  • Dee Milliner and Dion Jordan
  • Projecting corners vs. other positions
  • Free safeties and the blending of the definition of safety

Check out this episode

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Joe Banner says Colt McCoy won’t be cut

March 28, 2013 by 24 Comments

(Note: an earlier headline said “will compete for starting QB job” and that was speculation based on what Joe Banner said. I’ve updated the headline as such.)

Despite the fact that the Cleveland Browns signed Jason Campbell, the Browns will seemingly not cut loose Colt McCoy, at least not yet. Brandon Weeden will start the off-season at the top of the depth chart, but the Browns are saying right now that the best players will play. If Colt McCoy is the best quarterback, he’ll be the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns. At least that’s the message of Browns CEO Joe Banner as he makes the rounds on both ESPNCleveland and 92.3 The Fan this morning.

That’s a pretty good stance on a quarterback – even one with a suspect future – who makes less than $3 million like Colt McCoy. Despite the fact that many Browns fans continue to tell me Colt McCoy has no trade value, as long as he has a chance to put some pre-season performances together, there’s always a chance.

Or maybe Colt McCoy pulls off a miraculous feat and wins the starting quarterback job. Not at all likely, and the Browns aren’t likely to give McCoy much better a chance to win the job than Pat Shurmur and company did a year ago as they anointed Brandon Weeden.

Now about Jason Campbell…

[Related: Cleveland Browns current cap space $28.7 million]

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Jason Campbell to Cleveland makes some sense

March 27, 2013 by 17 Comments

Jason Campbell Football CardThe Browns signed Jason Campbell to a two-year deal yesterday to “add to the pile” 1 at the quarterback position. Is this more like Jake Delhomme or Seneca Wallace? That’s what we Browns followers like to do, you see. We try to put everything in the context of other stuff we’ve seen before. Remember when we were talking about hiring coaches and were forced to endure “logic” about how Chip Kelly was like Butch Davis and Nick Saban because they both were former college coaches? 2 Maybe Jason Campbell is like Jeff Garcia or Trent Dilfer. Or maybe he’s just Jason Campbell and unlike any of those other guys.

Campbell is a guy with starting experience. He’s not at an advanced age with declining skills like Jake Delhomme was when he arrived in Cleveland. He also probably hasn’t had the same level of success at the top end that Delhomme had at points with the Panthers. Campbell has had some pretty excellent statistical seasons.

Campbell also arrives as a more qualified starter than Seneca Wallace was when he was brought in by Mike Holmgren. Still, in terms of accomplishing the goals of bringing in a “system” guy, there are similarities between Jason Campbell’s experience with Norv Turner-style offense and Wallace’s prior Seattle experience with Holmgren.  [Read more...]

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  1. At this point I can’t remember if this was a Holmgren-ism or someone else talked about “adding to the pile” at positions. [back]
  2. Fake rules! [back]

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The Cleveland Browns and year-over-year quarterback envy

March 26, 2013 by 36 Comments

Colt McCoy Brandon WeedenOn March 26th 2013 we are now a little over a year since the Browns missed out on commencing a trade with the St. Louis Rams for the right to draft Robert Griffin III. I remember those days embarrassingly now not because it was dumb to covet RG3 as a Browns fan, but because I wasted so many words talking about a guy who would end up playing for a different team. Then again, faced with an uncertain future of Colt McCoy, and with the potential franchise-changing talent seemingly in reach it is quite defensible, really. Another year goes by and another year where lots of talk has been bandied about with regard to the Browns quarterback position. This time, even as the Browns seem poised to go into the year with an unproven guy, I think I’m alright with it.

Alex Smith could be a Cleveland Brown right now. 1 We all knew he was going to change teams and there’s no reason why the Browns couldn’t have made that deal if they’d really wanted to make it. Now that he’s in Kansas City and we know that Andy Reid parted with pick number 34 plus more, I think I can safely say I’m O.K. with the Browns’ decision to forego Alex Smith.

That isn’t to say I wouldn’t feel slightly better about the Browns’ chances this year with Alex Smith on board as opposed to Brandon Weeden. I am completely confident that the Browns could have guaranteed a quarterback quality basement of slightly above mediocre with Alex Smith. The ceiling on Smith still remains to be seen, even after eight seasons of experience in the NFL. But his basement is higher in my confidence levels than any kind of basement that I can conceive of for Brandon Weeden. The mere fact is that even without subjectively hating on Brandon Weeden, we just don’t have any idea if we’ve seen his best or worst after his rookie year. [Read more...]

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  1. I focus on Alex Smith because out of all the available guys like Ryan Fitzpatrick and Jason Campbell, etc, I think he’s the best of the bunch. [back]

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Dolphins re-sign quarterback Matt Moore

March 8, 2013 by 12 Comments

Almost everyone who talks about the Browns this off-season indicates they think the Browns will bring in a quarterback to compete with Brandon Weeden. Well business just picked up for Derek Anderson.

The Dolphins signed their backup – and frequent Browns rumor victim – Matt Moore to a two-year deal to back up Ryan Tannehill. According to reports, the deal is worth $8 million.

So take a target off the dart board for the folks in Berea at midnight tonight when talks with free agents can begin, well, officially anyway.

Other targets not named Derek Anderson could still include Brian Hoyer, Jason Campbell, Rex Grossman, Drew Stanton, A.J. Feeley and David Carr. Yes, I purposely left off Brady Quinn.

[Related: Banner Report: The Quarterbacks]

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Banner Report: The Quarterbacks

March 5, 2013 by 34 Comments

Banner Report GuardedYou may remember back in 2010 (you know the last time there was a complete overhaul in Berea) we wanted to give incoming President Mike Holmgren a hand evaluating the roster. We are nothing if not equal opportunity. The Browns have a completely new group in charge this year. Joe Banner, Mike Lombardi, Rob Chudzinski, Norv Turner and Ray Horton take over a 5-11 team. They have plenty of important decisions to make about the roster between now and the 2013 NFL Draft. WFNY wants to offer our assistance with The Banner Position Reports. Previous reports: LB

The position. Highly paid, highly touted, and highly analyzed, the quarterback is just one of 22 players on the field, but he’s the one most often tasked with being the reason a team wins or loses. There is a growing number of “elite” quarterbacks and a growing frustration among Cleveland fans as the revolving door at the position has yet to produce a name that can even be entered into the conversation.

 With regard to the Browns, not only do you have a 30-year-old quarterback in his second year — one who cost you the 22nd-overall selection one year ago — but there is the variable of the new regime and the ever-pressing notion that regime’s prefer to hitch their respective wagons to their guys; this notion is top-down, by no means insular to just the quarterback, but is magnified due to the way in which the league has morphed. Philosophical shifts are, in turn, colliding head-on with an impatient fan base. If Brandon Weeden is not going to be the next elite quarterback in what is increasingly becoming a quarterback’s league, the team obviously needs to move on.

Or do they…

[Read more...]

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NFL News: Brandon Weeden working with former NFL QB Chris Weinke

March 5, 2013 by 16 Comments

Looking to make a leap from a rather lackluster rookie season, Cleveland Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden has reportedly been spending time with another pitcher-turned-pass-thrower in former NFL quarterback Chris Weinke.

In a feature written by The Plain Dealer’s Mary Kay Cabot, Weeden reportedly reached out to Weinke — now the director of the IMG football academy in Bradenton, Florida — to work on improving key area’s of the Browns’ quarterback’s game before the team gets together at the beginning of April.

“I’m very impressed with Brandon,” said Weinke of Weeden. “”In the short time I’ve worked with him, he’s an impressive guy and he has a huge upside.”

Weinke, a former farmhand for the Toronto Blue Jays, had a very successful collegiate career — including a Heisman trophy — before panning out after two seasons in the NFL. He has since worked with many NFL players including former No.1 draft pick Cam Newton who played under new Browns head coach Rob Chundzinski in Carolina. Weinke has also reportedly been working with impending draftees Geno Smith and Matt Barkley.

“We’re focusing on [Brandon's] footwork, and he’s a gifted athlete,” said Weinke. “We’re trying to create that sense of urgency within his feet, which will obviously translate into getting rid of the ball quicker. He was very receptive and I’m excited to see what transpires over the next couple days.”

[Related: The Browns’ dive into analytics will be a subtle revolution]

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