May 23, 2013

The Cleveland Browns cornerback situation as it exists today

Joe Haden TJ WardThe Browns have a lot of cornerbacks on the roster, believe it or not. Everyone knows about Joe Haden and Buster Skrine at this point, but let’s go over the rest to see just how daunting a task it might or might not be to field a starting backfield with these guys. Remember, the Browns need a starter on the outside opposite Joe Haden and then will need to decide who best fits the needs as depth, nickel and dime coverage situations.

Of course, this is just what’s currently on the roster. There’s still time for free agency, post-draft trades, and also post-draft cuts. The best cuts usually come when a decent player is about to get paid like an elite player and gets cut ahead of a bonus. Not sure which players fall into that category but Browns fans will remember clamoring for the team to sign Eric Winston who was cut loose by the Texans as he was about to be owed $5.5 million in base salary.

Anyway, the here and now includes the following… [Read more...]

Johnson Bademosi named Browns’ fourth captain

When Buster Skrine went down with a concussion this past weekend while filling in for Joe Haden, the Browns had to turn to the bench once again. Johnson Bademosi (every color commentator’s worst nightmare) was the man up and he did pretty well. Bademosi made the team as an undrafted player from Stanford this season because he could play special teams. Now, he’s been named the fourth captain for the Browns’ biggest rivalry game this weekend against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“He’s been an outstanding player on our special teams and then, he stepped in and played some corner for us on Sunday,” Browns coach Pat Shurmur said. “I think it’s pretty impressive when you have veterans like Phil Dawson, Joe Thomas and D’Qwell who bring to me potential captains and they include rookies, which makes sense because we have so many playing, but the fact that they see leadership in these guys is outstanding.”

Whether Bademosi is effective and a part of the team for the long haul remains to be seen. The NFL is a fickle existence. Look no further than previous starting safety and former seventh round draft pick Eric Hagg who hasn’t seen much of the field since being benched early on this season.

[Related: Steelers vs. Browns Reader Survey]

NFL Injury News: Ahtyba Rubin out for Sunday’s game against Chargers

The Cleveland Browns might someday dominate the defensive line when they get Ahtyba Rubin and Phil Taylor back. That won’t be the case this Sunday.

The Browns injury report as of Friday says that Rubin, Dimitri Patterson and (of course) Scott Fujita are out.

Mohamed Massaquoi, Trent Richardson and Tashaun Gipson are questionable.

The probables are Montario Hardesty, John Hughes, Tank Carder, Travis Benjamin, Johnson Bademosi, Chris Ogbonnaya, Frostee Rucker, Usama Young, T.J. Ward, Bubba Ventrone, and some others.

Interestingly enough, Montario Hardesty hasn’t really been a frequent guest on the injury report. Between that and Trent Richardson, could it be that Brandon Jackson sees himself as an active member of the roster this weekend?

[Related: WFNY Podcast – 2012-10-26 – Craig and Rick preview Chargers matchup]