May 20, 2013

D’Qwell Jackson, Chris Gocong and Eric Barton join Athlete Ally

May 10, 2013 by 7 Comments

Browns linebacker D’Qwell Jackson and former teammates Chris Gocong and Eric Barton have become ambassadors for Athlete Ally, an organization dedicated to ending homophobia in sports, the trio announced via press release on Friday.

Per the release, the addition of these three new Athlete Ally Ambassadors is part of an ongoing effort to empower professional athletes to help make sports a welcoming environment for all. Former Browns linebacker and Athlete Ally Ambassador Scott Fujita directly helped grow the movement in Cleveland with these new additions.

“I believe that everyone should be treated the same,” said Jackson. “That’s my thought as a person and as a teammate. Joining Athlete Ally is my way of letting it be known that I would respect any teammate – gay or straight – it just doesn’t matter.”

Chris Gocong, a member of the Browns for the past two seasons prior to being released earlier this spring, added that  Fujita was a “pioneer” in the movement to create an inclusive environment in the NFL. ”I feel it is my duty to help continue that work as the league moves from tolerance to acceptance,” he said. ”I want to support any athlete to feel more comfortable and confident being himself.”

As Athlete Ally Ambassadors, Jackson, Gocong, and Barton join the NFL contingent of Fujita, Brendon Ayanbadejo, Chris Kluwe, Donte Stallworth, and  Connor Barwin, as well as tennis greats Andy Roddick and Mardy Fish, NBA star Kenneth Faried.

[Related: What’s the opposite of transparency?]

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WFNY Podcast – 2013-04-02 – Terry Pluto talks Twitter, Facebook, tailgating culture and more

April 2, 2013 by 5 Comments

WFNY Podcast LogoFeeling very fortunate for a day like today where I get to start it talking to Scott Raab and finish it talking to Terry Pluto. Hope you guys feel as fortunate listening as I do asking them questions and talking.

  • Access to Twitter and Facebook changing the way writers do their job
  • Browns culture of tailgating
  • Protecting drunkenness
  • Keeping comments sections clean and family friendly
  • Colt McCoy getting shipped to San Francisco
  • The Browns roster moves cutting Chris Gocong and Usama Young
  • The Indians’ off-season and whether it will work
  • Ubaldo Jimenez’ different Spring from 2013 compared to 2012
  • Approach to writing about sports and longevity [Read more...]

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Cleveland Browns release S Usama Young and LB Chris Gocong

April 2, 2013 by 31 Comments

The Browns today announced that they have released safety Usama Young and linebacker Chris Gocong.

Gocong tore his right Achilles during practice and missed the entire season. He had 2 years left on his contract, and was due to make $4.62 million this season. Young would have been a free agent after the 2013 season. He was due $2.4 million this year.

The Browns won’t be in a hurry to sign a replacement for Gocong with the moves already made in free agency, but the secondary is already pretty thin.

While the team may certainly look for a safety in the draft, don’t be surprised if new defensive coordinator Ray Horton doesn’t make a push to bring in free agent Kerry Rhodes who played for him in Arizona.

The Browns also signed a kicker. Brandon Bogotay. From the team-

“A three-year letterman as a kicker at the University of Georgia (2009-11), Bogotay appeared in 14 contests, while kicking behind current Minnesota Vikings kicker Blair Walsh, who as a rookie in 2012 was voted to the NFC Pro Bowl squad. During his collegiate career, Bogotay handled kickoff duties as eight of his 29 career kickoffs went for touchbacks. He also converted all seven career PATs. As a senior, he made one of two field goal attempts, as his only miss came from 52 yards.

Before attending the University of Georgia, Bogotay spent one season at Grossmont College in El Cajon, California, where he was named a First-Team All-Southern Conference selection after converting 15-of-23 field goals with a long of 52 yards. Born May 8, 1989, the 6-3, 207-pound Bogotay attended Patrick Henry High School in his hometown of San Diego, California.

Gocong was acquired in a 2010 trade with Philadelphia. Since that time he started 32 games and totaled 141 tackles with 5.5 sacks, six passes defensed, three fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles. He spent all of last season on injured reserve with a ruptured right Achilles sustained in training camp.

Young was signed as an unrestricted free agent in 2011. In his two seasons with the team he played in 29 games with 19 starts and posted 118 tackles, four interceptions, 1.5 sacks, eight passes defensed and a fumble recovery.”

[Related: Fair shots at the end of the McCoy era]

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Banner Report: The Linebackers

March 4, 2013 by 42 Comments

Banner Repor HighYou 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.

Today, we kick things off with a look at the linebacking position. The Browns will be moving from Dick Jauron’s 4-3 to Ray Horton’s 3-4. Due to injuries and Bountygate suspensions, the 2012 linebacking corps was in a constant state of flux. The 2013 Browns will not only require more from the linebackers, but could potentially look like a completely reformed group when it’s all said and done.

What do we have on the roster, and what players might be available to add? Let’s dig in and see.

[Read more...]

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Browns Make Next Wave of Cuts, Awarded Player

August 27, 2012 by 6 Comments

The Browns had to cut the roster down to 75 today. After yesterday’s cuts, which were offense heavy, we expected to see some defensive players let loose today.

The players asked to bring the playbook to the coach’s office were Marcus Benard, Auston English, and Antwuan Reed. Additionally, Chris Gocong and Emmanuel Acho were put on IR with Phil Taylor being placed on the PUP list.

Additionally the Browns were awarded defensive lineman Ernest Owusu off of waivers from the Minnesota Vikings. He is a 6’4″ defensive end out of California. He was an undrafted free agent in camp with the Vikings. At Cal’s pro day the 277 pounder registered a 40 time in the high 4.7s which turned a few heads.

[Related: Will there be a tailgating crackdown in Cleveland?]

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Shurmur: James-Michael Johnson Might Start for Fujita

August 20, 2012 by 9 Comments

Getting any kind of commitment from an NFL head coach prior to roster cutdowns is a miracle. This is not to criticize Pat Shurmur. There is a lot of football and a lot of moving pieces between now and the opening week against the Philadelphia Eagles. One piece that won’t be moving is Scott Fujita serving his suspension. One of the biggest questions the Browns needed to answer this training camp – even before Chris Gocong’s injury – was who would start in Fujita’s place during his three game suspension. According to Pat Shurmur today, it seems like James-Michael Johnson is on track.

(On if James-Michael Johnson is ready to start at linebacker if they don’t have Scott Fujita)- “I think the production that he has given us in the games so far points to the fact that he may be a starter for us this year. He has a chance. Again, I don’t want to make any proclamations at this point, but I think he will continue to improve as well. I said it after the game, but I thought that young linebacking core did an outstanding job against Green Bay.”

(On Johnson has progressed through training camp)- “He’s getting better. I think you see his run fits are better. He matches up better in coverage. He runs to the ball extremely well. I think as he dives in on the match-ups of the team we’re playing, and can pick up little pointers as to whether it’s run-pass, or where they’re going with the football, he’ll even be better.”

Johnson looked good and active in the game against Green Bay. It’s just a pre-season game, but that’s great news for the Browns and Browns fans. It sure beats the alternative. Plus, if it translates well into the regular season, it would be quite a score to get such quick value from a 4th round draft pick (120th overall) in his first season in the league.

[Related: Browns Veterans Return, Continue to Praise the Kids]

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Cleveland Browns Training Camp Report: 8/4/12

August 4, 2012 by 4 Comments

Buster Skrine had a pick and a big hit

Update:Reports from Berea are that Gocong has a torn achilles and will have season ending surgery as early as Monday.

The big story coming out of training camp today is obviously the injury of LB Chris Gocong. The injury occurred on a goal line 11-on-11 drill. Gocong was covering TE Jordon Cameron. Cameron and Gocong both went up for the ball, and when they came down Gocong was in immediate pain. It did not appear as if Gocong stepped on Cameron, but rather hurt himself on the way up.

He was on the field for several minutes before the trainers finally helped him to the cart and took him off the field.

The Browns will have an MRI performed on his right ankle/foot. The buzz around camp after practice was a possible achilles injury, and a serious one at that. Browns players certainly are hoping for the best, but fear the worst. Shurmur would call the injury unfortunate and “an unitended consequence of the game.”

Kaluka Maiava said that the loss of Gocong would definitely hurt the team- “He’s a great leader on the defense. A positive guy. The defense just works better with him in there.”

Maiava would be one of the players that would see more playing time if Gocong is out for an extended period. With the Fujita suspension, he and James-Michael Johnson could both be pressed into starter’s duty. Kaluka added he felt like he was in the best shape of his life, and has a good grasp of the playbook. [Read more...]

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Browns Camp: Gocong Carted Off Practice Field This Morning

August 4, 2012 by 12 Comments

The Cleveland Browns have sustained another critical blow to their defensive front seven this morning. Reports out of Berea (including from our own Rick Grayshock) indicate that linebacker Chris Gocong was carted off the field after suffering an injury to his lower right leg. Some (including Tony Grossi and Mary Kay Cabot) are speculating that due to the nature of his reaction after planting his foot to change directions that it was his Achilles. The Browns are painfully thin behind Gocong with fifth-rounder James-Michael Johnson and Kaluka Maiava being the most likely candidates. The Browns are already facing the loss of defensive tackle Phil Taylor for significant time this season as well as the suspension for linebacker Scott Fujita, so this was a blow that will certainly cripple the team defense.

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Cleveland Browns switching to white facemasks?

May 17, 2012 by 40 Comments

Browns LB Chris Gocong tweeted a picture of T.J. Ward in his new helmet today. The interesting part of the photo to uni-nerds like myself is that the facemask is white.

[Read more...]

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On the Bright Side, The Browns Defense

October 17, 2011 by 24 Comments

The Browns definitely missed Joe Haden yesterday.  Dimitri Patterson gave Raiders receivers a bit too much room and they made some catches in front of him.  That being said, the horror story that could have been written about the day the Browns were without Joe Haden wasn’t written because Patterson proved to be an adequate backup.  You don’t expect a guy to come in and replace a first round talent like Joe Haden.  You assume there will be a dropoff.  The quality of the backup is measured by how much of a dropoff it appears to be.  In this case, Dimitri Patterson did a fine job, I thought.  That’s the way I felt about the whole defense yesterday.

They got gashed badly on the Raiders’ first drive.  McFadden set the tone on the first play as he went for 24 yards.  The Raiders moved methodically after that.  Well, it helps to be methodical when you burn two timeouts on your opening drive, I guess.  The Raiders finally capped the 88-yarder off with a McFadden running score and a seven point lead.  That was really the only meaningful drive the Browns defense gave up all day.  The Raiders scored on a kickoff return and a fake field goal following a fumble.  Other than the one long drive to open the game, the Browns gave up a Janikowski field goal, but there is no shame in that. [Read more...]

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Breaking NFL News: Browns Extend LB Chris Gocong

September 28, 2011 by 7 Comments

Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Cleveland Browns have agreed to a three-year contract extension with veteran linebacker Chris Gocong that could pay him up to $16.8 million.  There is presently no word on guaranteed figures or any confirmation by the team.

This said, the Browns continue to allocate available funds to players who they feel will be a part of their continued progression. Recall, the Browns traded next to nothing to acquire Gocong’s services (along with those of Sheldon Brown) just a little over one year ago.

The world continues to await any additional discussion with running back Peyton Hillis who has reportedly been rumored to be looking at a contract extension of his own.

For now, add Gocong’s name to the list including Joe Thomas, Athyba Rubin and Evan Moore. Formal handshakes for everyone!

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Cleveland Browns Defense Had Incredible Day Against Dolphins

September 26, 2011 by 26 Comments

The Cleveland Browns offense struggled big time for most of Sunday’s contest.  It isn’t exactly unexpected that a young offense will struggle.  Plus, yesterday they were dealing with the loss of Peyton Hillis to what must be one heck of a bout of strep throat.*  These facts make it all that more amazing that the Browns not only won the game yesterday, but that they were even in the position.  The defense of the Browns is playing incredibly well so far this season, especially considering their youth.

It starts up front.  The Browns biggest question mark coming into the season was defensive line.  Before the draft, all Browns fans were wondering who would play alongside Ahtyba Rubin**.  Most of us were hoping that Marcus Benard could play defensive end and sure enough he is a backup.  Rubin along with Phil Taylor, Jabaal Sheard and Jayme Mitchell have been steady and productive so far this season. [Read more...]

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NFL Pre-season: What to Watch After Browns Starters Exit

August 12, 2011 by 18 Comments

Cleveland Browns head coach Pat Shurmur indicated that his starters will play the first quarter on Saturday when they take on the world champion Green Bay Packers.  Obviously, during that quarter, we’ll all be watching the same stuff.  How will Colt McCoy and the offense look against live action defense considering they are all learning a new offense?  How will Phil Taylor, Ahtyba Rubin, Jayme Mitchell, and Jabaal Shear perform against an opposing offensive line, QB and running attack?  Will any wide receivers step up and identify themselves from the rest of the pack, or will we be talking about tight ends all year long?

What about after the first quarter when the starters exit the game?  Here’s what I’ll be watching, amongst other things. [Read more...]

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Save Me NFL – You’re My Only Hope

June 27, 2011 by 16 Comments

I am a big sports fan.  We all are big sports fans, for the most part.  Ask my wife though.  I am extended well beyond the simple bounds of what Cleveland sports teams have to offer.  This weekend I watched the Tribe drop three in San Francisco.  I watched the U.S. Men’s National Team blow a 2-0 lead in the Gold Cup, losing to Mexico 4-2.  Even the entertaining UFC event that I watched last night had a pall cast over it as Nate Marquardt “failed his medical” and couldn’t fight in the main event.  Point being, I need the NFL to go ahead and use that positive progress, sign their deal and start free agency.

Regardless of what the Browns do in season, they have largely been entertaining to follow in the draft and free agency.  The Browns can’t lose any games during free agency.  We just get to plug holes in the roster in our minds as our total win predictions climb in our dreams every night.  Last year when the Browns brought in guys like Sheldon Brown, Scott Fujita, Chris Gocong and even Tony Pashos, the roster never looked better than it did before a game was played.  Nobody ever imagines for a second that the player that was just signed to an NFL contract will be unable to play at his highest level during the year.  When NFL free agency is taking place, they aren’t real people.  They’re more like the Madden version of themselves with injuries turned off. [Read more...]

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Pluto: Browns Still Interested in Dawson

February 21, 2011 by 6 Comments

It was seemingly a foregone conclusion that the future of the Cleveland Browns did not include one Phil Dawson.  The veteran kicker, entering free agency, has been the lone mainstay of the Browns since returning in 1999 and has long been a fan favorite despite his asymmetrical role on the football field.

However, in his latest “Talkin’” column in Sunday’s Plain Dealer, Terry Pluto says that the Browns are not moving on just yet and are interested in bringing the underrated player and his right foot back for another round.

“The front office is interested,” writes Pluto. “They know Dawson remains one of the NFL’s most underrated kickers. They also know he put his Cleveland-area house up for sale, and believes he was not treated fairly by some of the other previous regimes.”

[Read more...]

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2011 Holmgren Report: Linebackers

February 18, 2011 by 19 Comments

Browns Roster Upgrade GuardedLast year we thought we’d introduce ourselves to Mike Holmgren by offering a report of each position group. The reports contained a ‘Roster Upgrade Advisory System’ not unlike that of Homeland Security. This year, even though the big show has been around for a year and has Tom Heckert in house, we thought we’d give the reports another shot.  Previous reports: OL, DB, ST, RB

Continuing Disclaimer: NFL teams looking to add pieces this offseason are in a bit of a quandry due to the pending labor issues that could halt free agency all together.

Evaluating 2010

Again much like last year, I’m also taking a look at the linebackers. This year’s post has a bit of a wrinkle: with the new coaching staff there has been talk of a switch back to the 4-3, which completely adjusts the needs of the linebacking corps. It also means there is one less starting spot needing to be filled, which makes the current shape of the roster a little deeper. [Read more...]

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While We’re Waiting… 3-4 Defense, Sweater Vests, and Big Ten Play

September 28, 2010 by 6 Comments

While We’re Waiting serves as the early morning gathering of WFNY-esque information for your viewing pleasure. Have something you think we should see? Send it to our tips email at tips@waitingfornextyear.com

It’s a scheme thing, or something: “On multiple occasions yesterday, either [Chris] Gocong or [Eric] Barton flashed a fake blitz, then dropped roughly two yards in coverage – manning a spot on the field that virtually no one other than the Ravens’ guards would occupy. Meanwhile, some 7-10 yards further down the field, Baltimore’s Joe Flacco was completing passes against single coverage to one of his veteran wideouts.

Occasionally, either Gocong or Barton would blitz – along with five other defenders – but for the majority of the Ravens’ passing downs, they would guard the same two yards of field turf. For the life of me, I can’t figure out what this strategy accomplishes. If the Ravens featured a mobile QB, then these two would be performing “spy” duties. If the Ravens threw underneath routes that were less than three yards, then the Browns would be ultra-prepared.

And for the 3,437th time, I have to state the following: I hate the 3-4 defense.” [Cleveland Reboot]

[Read more...]

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About the 12 Browns Linebackers…

August 3, 2010 by 12 Comments

At present day, the Cleveland Browns have 12 linebackers on their roster. Regardless of defensive scheme, this is a lot of bodies vying for the same position.

The strength of a 3-4 defense is supposed to be said linebacking corps.  With the defensive line hopefully plugging gaps, the four men behind them are then able to make a play on the ball-carrier, rush the quarterback or even drop back into coverage.  What should be the strength of the Browns defense in terms of talent can currently best be described as “deep.” 

But fans shouldn’t let this be a complete detraction.

What the current crop of those wearing numbers between 50-59 or 90-99 provide this year is an attack that may be put together as compensation for top-level talent, but it is one that may also be extremely tough to plan for when considering opposing offenses.

[Read more...]

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NFL Trade Rumors: Browns Closing in on Chris Gocong, Sheldon Brown

April 2, 2010 by 32 Comments

Needing help at almost every defensive position on their roster, the Cleveland Browns are reportedly close to a deal that would land them Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Chris Cocong and defensive back Sheldon Brown. 

In return, the Browns would send either a draft selection and a player or two selections and a player of lower perceived value.

The deal is reportedly contingent upon the disgruntled Brown obtaining a new contract if the Browns were to acquire his services.  Last season, the veteran cornerback was unhappy with his contract situation and demanded a trade – one that was not granted.  With four years remaining on his current deal, Brown continues to plead for a renegotiation. 

[Read more...]

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NFL Trade Rumors: The Browns Aren’t Done Yet

March 24, 2010 by 23 Comments

In what was a surprisingly candid discussion about the Cleveland Browns, head coach Eric Mangini went on record during Tuesday’s NFL owners meeting to say that his football team is not done adding pieces to the puzzle as the team heads into the 2010 season.

With the recent trades of former first-round selections Brady Quinn and Kamerion Wimbley, the Browns have amassed 12 selections for the upcoming draft.  And while the team is expected to use most of them – five of which are within the first three rounds – Mangini stated that the team is not counting out a move that would land them higher selections than they currently own. 

“There’s some other things that hopefully will get done in the next couple of weeks,” said Mangini. “A little bit of [the Quinn and Wimbley trades were] done in anticipation of being able to get some other things done that will involve draft picks.”

[Read more...]

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