May 19, 2013

McFadden: I didn’t really speak to the Cleveland Browns. This was a big surprise to me

April 27, 2013 by 5 Comments

The Browns were quick to the podium once they were on the clock for the 68th pick. They wasted little time submitting their pick for San Diego State CB Leon McFadden, giving the sense this was the guy they wanted. However, this was all news to McFadden who expressed his surprise in being the Browns second pick in the 2012 draft.

I didn’t really speak to the Cleveland Browns.  This was a big surprise to me. I didn’t talk to them much, other than basic questionnaires.  But other than that, I didn’t know of their interest in me at all.

Surprise may be an understatement for McFadden who did not even speak with the Browns before draft day.

No, I talked to one of the West Coast scouts probably at the Senior Bowl or just did a questionnaire for them at the Senior Bowl.  I talked a little bit with them at the Combine.

With months to prepare and to leave no stone unturned it is hard to imagine a team using their second selection on a player they haven’t spoken with. McFadden was the highest corner on the board at the time of his selection according to NFL.com.

[Related: Browns add Bess and McFadden, pass on Honey Badger]

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Pick #245: Browns Select CB Trevin Wade

April 28, 2012 by 3 Comments

Finally, it appears that the Browns have taken at least one action step toward fixing its secondary. With its second-to-last pick in the draft, the Browns picked up CB Trevin Wade out of Arizona, the team’s first secondary selection over the last three days.

A small cornerback listed at 5-feet-10-inches, Wade’s strengths are his above average quickness and agility, according to ESPN. He’s got prototypical bulk, but battled through a few injuries over the past few seasons, including a shoulder problem in 2011.

He finished with 52 tackles and 13 pass deflections during his senior campaign, impressive statistics for a guy who is said to have re-committed himself to the game. He lost his starting spot in 2010, but following his characteristics as an outspoken leader and competitor, he worked aggressively to end strong.

In terms of his fit with the Browns, obviously the team needs another starter alongside Joe Haden and possibly Buster Skrine. With more teams than ever passing frequently, Cleveland will need three solid cornerbacks, and we’ll see if Wade can make the team in order to compete for playing time soon.

The Browns also are about to pick at the No. 247 slot here late in the seventh round. Stay tuned by tomorrow for the latest WFNY analysis on this entire draft.

[Related: NFL Draft: Cleveland selections talk about being Browns]

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NFL Draft: Why not have two premier offensive tackles?

February 29, 2012 by 40 Comments

One thing that has been bothering me immensely over the last few weeks with regard to Browns talk is offensive tackle. Early on, I said that the Browns would be crazy not to draft Matt Kalil if he fell to them. The majority of people started screaming at me that I was crazy. Common thought seems to be that you just can’t force a guy who is left tackle caliber to play right tackle. You also can’t pay two guys premier left tackle money in the NFL. Just totally crazy. Then yesterday, I got to thinking. Why is it any different to draft two top of the line cornerbacks?

Nobody is sitting around thinking the Browns don’t need LSU corner Morris Claiborne because they have Joe Haden. The only thing better than locking down the #1 receiver on every team is locking down the top two receivers on every team. Premier cornerbacks make a ton of money too. Nnamdi Asomugha signed a free agent deal for five years and $60 million with the Eagles as a 29-year-old. While shorter in duration than Joe Thomas’ deal the annual cap figure is about the same. [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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NFL Free Agency: Browns Still Looking For a Cornerback?

August 1, 2011 by 20 Comments

Last season the Browns were thin at the cornerback position. Many were stunned that they broke camp with just a handful of players including Sheldon Brown, Eric Wright and then rookie Joe Haden. The group managed to stay relatively healthy, but many times gave up big plays.

This year the Browns have started camp without Wright, who signed with the Lions. Haden is now the top cover man in the backfield. Sheldon Brown is a smart veteran player, but will be another year past 30 this season (32). The Browns added Buster Skrine in the 6th round of the draft this season, and signed undrafted rookie James Dockery. Add in Mike Adams (also plays safety) and Coye Francies plus a few other camp invites and you have the cornerback depth chart. Usama Young has also played the position, but was most likely brought to Cleveland to play safety.

Make you a little nervous?

Conventional thinking was that the Browns would look to add a veteran in free agency, especially if they let Eric Wright go. But the big names have come off the market already. Not that we expected the Browns to sign Asomugha, but many felt they would have had a Jonathon Joseph or Josh Wilson type in their sites. [Read more...]

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Trying to Make Sense of Brian Robiskie

December 21, 2010 by 33 Comments

Lost in the Browns’ disappointing game against the Bengals this weekend was the relatively big day by Brian Robiskie.

Robiskie was having an alright day with four catches for 36 yards when he made his first legitimately big play of the season.  Robiskie ran straight down the field as the corner bit on Mohamed Massoquai’s cut toward the sidelines and then Colt McCoy released the ball vertically.  Bengals “safety” Keiwan Ratliff took a bad angle on the ball, Robiskie made a nice adjustment with a spin and caught the ball with nothing between him in the end zone.  

Robiskie scored on a 46-yard play to give the Browns hope and push his stats to 82 yards receiving on the day.  This is the same guy that I officially wrote off on November 16th.  So what does this all mean?

[Read more...]

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Browns Training Camp Notes: Eric Wright is Ready

August 9, 2010 by 17 Comments

Friday afternoon in Berea, the White and Brown squads went through some tune-ups before Saturdays scrimmage at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The Family Day intra-squad game was supposed to resemble an actual football game, except with no tackling. One player who looks like he is ready to shed the practice uni’s already is cornerback Eric Wright.

As the White squad’s offense was trying to get their act together, Eric prepared himself for the day’s practice close to the sidelines within earshot of the crowd. He stretched a little and danced a little to the music blaring from the speakers nearby. He made some small talk with the fans standing around. Then came the question- “Eric, who is the best cornerback in the league?’ With little hesitation, Wright pounded his thumb on the two and then the one on his own jersey, drawing roars of laughter and cheers from the nearby fans. [Read more...]

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Browns Sign Roderick Hood to 1-Year Deal

May 26, 2009 by 10 Comments

According to Tony Grossi (who was backed up by PFT,) the Cleveland Browns have signed Roderick Hood to a one year contract.  Hood started for Arizona in the Super Bowl this year after spending his first four seasons in Philly.  He is 27 years old and I am pretty sure Mangini and Kokinis must have told him that he will be able to compete for a starting corner position.

According to Grossi’s report, Hood visited with the Bengals, Lions, Bears, and Rams.  The only way I am guessing he would come sign in Cleveland on a one year deal over those other opportunities is that the Browns must have told him he would have a chance to earn a starter’s spot.  Hood certainly will be playing for a longer-term contract this year and it won’t do him any good to play in a place where he won’t have an opportunity to be 1st or 2nd on the CB depth chart.

Whether or not he will be able to beat out McDonald or Wright, this should be a big upgrade over the warm corpses that populated the cornerback depth chart for the Browns last season. (cough Terry Cousin cough.)

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