May 23, 2013

NFL News: Skrine, Cooper more involved in Thursday’s practice

November 22, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Some positive news from today’s Browns practice: cornerback Buster Skrine and wide receiver Josh Cooper each saw increased reps as they battle their respective injuries.

Skrine (concussion) was a limited participant Thursday after not practicing on Wednesday. Cooper (knee) was a full participant after being limited the day before.

In other notable injury news, Joe Haden (olbique) and Ahytba Rubin (calf/back) both remained limited participants in Thursday’s agenda. Defensive backs and special team guys Dmitri Patterson (ankle) and Ray Ventrone (calf) both did not practice again.

I’m certain we’ll hear more as the week continues, as Haden and Rubin will likely be the focus of more questions as Sunday’s Steelers game approaches.

[Related: Cleveland Browns Film Room: Game 10, Under Pressure]

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NFL News: Josh Cooper will, in fact, be added to Browns roster

October 12, 2012 by 7 Comments

Though the cat may have peaked its head out of the bag a day earlier, wide receiver Josh Cooper will reportedly be added to the Cleveland Browns roster for their Sunday afternoon tilt against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that Cooper will join his friend and college quarterback Brandon Weeden as the team tries to record their first win of the 2012 NFL season. With injuries sustained by Mohamed Massaquoi (hamstring), Travis Benjamin (hamstring) and Jordan Norwood (foot), the Browns were down to Greg Little, Josh Gordon and Josh Cribbs as receiving options. Cooper will be able to step in to the spot vacated by Norwood, providing relief as a slot receiver who was on the end of several targets a year ago when he and Weeden were at Oklahoma State.

In his final two seasons with the Cowboys, Cooper caught 68 and 71 passes, respectively, averaging over 10 yards per reception, and found the end zone eight times.

The team parted ways with quarterback Thad Lewis late on Thursday to activate cornerback Joe Haden (suspension). To make room for Cooper, the team placed Norwood on Injured Reserve, designated for return.

[Related: What should the Browns do with receiver injury situation?]

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What should the Browns do with receiver injury situation?

October 11, 2012 by 40 Comments

The Cleveland Browns have had receiver problems for as long as anyone can remember at this point. Anyone talked to Kevin Johnson lately? Former Browns receiver and returner André Davis is only 33. Maybe he still has something in the tank. Kidding aside, it felt like the Browns’ receivers were developing this year early on as we got looks at Mohamed Massaquoi, Greg Little, Travis Benjamin and Josh Gordon. Plus, we had the promise of pesky Jordan Norwood and Josh Cribbs making appearances in relief. …And then there were none. Or at least that’s the way it feels.

Mohamed Massaquoi is presumed to be out this weekend along with Travis Benjamin and Jordan Norwood. That leaves Greg Little, Josh Gordon, and Josh Cribbs. Add in the presumed call-up of Josh Cooper from the practice squad and the possibility of recently re-signed Rod Windsor and you can at least fill out the lineup, I guess. But, that’s a whole lot of guys without a whole lot of experience or meaningful recent playing time, so what should the Browns do? Here are some suggestions. [Read more...]

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Weeden: lack of Greg Little targets “coincidence”

October 11, 2012 by 5 Comments

During media sessions today Brandon Weeden was asked about the lack of targets for Greg Little this past weekend against the Giants and was overall very supportive and dismissive of the notion.

He had one game where he was target twice. It was a coincidence. I talked to him about it. He’s a guy who’s capable of making a bunch of plays. I’d be crazy not to throw to him.

Maybe Weeden is just being supportive of Little, or maybe it is just coincidence. More likely it had to do with Greg Little being thrust into the primary receiver role and most likely ending up with much more difficult matchups with Mohamed Massaquoi and Travis Benjamin both missing time in the last game. Jordan Norwood caught nine balls on nine targets and was on crutches today.

So, chances are good that Little will get more than two targets this week against Cincinnati by default if not by the coincidence pendulum swinging back the other way.

[Related: WFNY Podcast – 2012-10-10 – Browns, Tribe and Obama on sports talk radio]

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Josh Cooper might have been added to the Browns roster

October 11, 2012 by 17 Comments

Daryl Ruiter from 92.3 the Fan reported that Josh Cooper had been brought up to the Browns active roster from the practice squad. Apparently he was told this by Josh Cribbs. Since that time the Browns have apparently denied it… for now.

So, unless you think the Browns are going to go into the Cincy game with only three active wide receivers, it is safe to assume that at least Josh Cooper has been brought up to play this weekend, if not Rod Windsor too.

Of course, Cooper was the college teammate of Brandon Weeden who made it to the Browns’ practice squad after a decent training camp for an undrafted free agent rookie. Cooper was on the receiving end of some screaming in practice as they tried to coach him up to the NFL level on special teams, but overall, Cooper didn’t seem to shrink from the pressure.

[Related:WFNY Podcast – 2012-10-10 – Browns, Tribe and Obama on sports talk radio]

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Browns Preseason Game #3: Winners and Losers

August 27, 2012 by 50 Comments

Who caught your eye? Did someone stand out? Who blew it? That’s what were interested in this morning. Winners and losers.

Kind of the opposite of last week.

We could name an awful lot of losers from this past weekend. But let’s start with the positives-

WINNER: Josh Gordon. Three catches for 50 yards, and a highlight reel play over Nnamdi Asomugha. Well, highlight reel for the Browns last season anyway. That’s how you draw it up though. The rookie had his best week of practice, and it spilled over to the game. Good for him, and good for the Browns if he keeps developing. [Read more...]

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Braylon Edwards is still available

June 18, 2012 by 47 Comments

As Mike Holmgren came out front to talk about the Browns last week, he was asked frequently about the Browns and how they feel about their wide receivers. Out of one side of his mouth, Holmgren proclaimed his love for Mohamed Massaquoi and stated his expectations of the receiver are high. Out of the other side of his mouth, he indicated (without using any specific names) that the Browns made bids for receivers like Pierre Garcon and Josh Morgan, but were drastically outbid in free agency.

If they ever had Braylon Edwards somewhere deep on their list of backup plans for the position, there’s no need to remove him from that list yet.

The Jets have apparently closed the door on Braylon Edwards coming back.

The New York Post reported that they Jets have ruled it out, opting to go with a group of younger wideouts.

Edwards caught just 15 passes for 181 yards in nine games with San Francisco last year, as he was slowed by knee and shoulder injuries. The 49ers released him before the end of the regular season, and some thought the Jets were a logical landing spot.

You might think that the Browns would be a logical landing spot too considering the problems they’ve had at receiver in the past. Of course Browns fans, who have clamored for every receiver under the sun including Lee Evans, have been talking about Edwards a bit here and there. Still, there is no actual indication that the Browns have any interest bringing him back.

I am not sure whether that says more about Edwards or Travis Benjamin and Josh Cooper.

[Related: Mike Holmgren changes Browns public relations course]

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Undrafted Free Agent Recap: Browns Look for WR, OL and DB Help

April 29, 2012 by 13 Comments

According to Pat Shurmur after the draft, the Browns planned on adding roughly about 15 new players to the roster via undrafted free agency. We all know now about the drafted players that the team picked up over the last few days, so let’s look at the various players that reports are linking to Berea.

Adding up the positions, it appears the Browns have nabbed three more WRs, four more OLs and three more DBs. The remaining positions are one DE and two LBs. Looking back at the team’s main pre-draft needs — QB, RB, OT, WR, DB, OLB — this makes perfect sense.

Here’s the current list of 14 according mostly to www.mockingthedraft.com: [Read more...]

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