May 18, 2013

Grossi: Flynn, Griffin III, Tannehill All Lacked Desired Traits

June 6, 2012 by 13 Comments

Citing concerns of size and similarities to current quarterback Colt McCoy, ESPNCleveland’s Tony Grossi reports that the Cleveland Browns never had any serious consideration for former free agent quarterback Matt Flynn.

“[The Browns] needed a strong and accurate arm,” writes Grossi. ”And they needed maturity. Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck? Ideal fits, to be sure … but unobtainable. Manning didn’t want to play here and the Colts weren’t stupid enough to trade the No. 1 pick. Of the more realistic candidates, free agent Matt Flynn was no bigger than McCoy with a similarly popgun arm. He was never seriously considered.”

Following his record-setting performance to close out the 2011 NFL season, Flynn was thought to be a hot-button free agent before he signed a surprisingly small contract with the Seattle Seawhawks, netting him $10 million guaranteed over three seasons.

Grossi adds that Robert Griffin III’s size was also an issue as well as his penchant for running the ball instead of passing. Ryan Tannehill, another quarterback linked to the Browns in several pre-draft discussions, allegedly lacked the maturity and leadership skills the team desired. Griffin and Tannehill were subsequently drafted by the Washington Redskins and Miami Dolphins, respectively.

“So Brandon Weeden emerged as the best option,” Grossi stated. “Great arm. Great size. Great production. And the very thing that scared off every other team – he’s a 28-year-old rookie because of a failed five-year stint in professional baseball – actually became an attraction to the Browns.”

[Related: Pat Shurmur and the Burden of Proof]

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Browns avoiding “winner’s curse” in free agency

March 19, 2012 by 67 Comments

Burning money is for sociopaths

The Browns seem intent on not having that regretful morning after feeling in free agency. This team obviously knows it needs to improve, thus the trade offer to move up to #2 in this year’s draft. At the same time, they’re refusing to act desperately. Just because they think Robert Griffin III has a chance to be a franchise quarterback doesn’t mean that they are willing to throw bad money around in an attempt to replace Colt McCoy with just anyone.

We all know they need a receiver or two. They even said so themselves. Yet, we haven’t seen them engage in bidding wars to place #2 receivers on pedestals with giant contracts that they probably won’t ever earn. It is very frustrating in the short-term and seems at odds with the team’s statement that improving to 6-10 this year won’t be good enough. So, what’s going on here?

Whether the Browns front office is right or wrong, they obviously didn’t believe Matt Flynn had a chance to be better than Colt McCoy or one of the other alternatives available to them with their draft picks. More importantly though, the Browns are limiting their activity in free agency, because frankly it is a wholly inefficient way to build your team, almost by definition. Strangely enough the draft has given us our best example of this because the Browns risked so much trying to get Robert Griffin III. They took the “efficient” way of building their team and made it inefficient by getting into a bidding war to try and move up. [Read more...]

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NFL News: Matt Flynn lands in Seattle

March 18, 2012 by 41 Comments

Any lasting dreams of having Matt Flynn come to the Browns should have been dashed days ago. But just in case you had a little bit of hope left, today you can let it go completely.

Adam Schefter reports that Matt Flynn has agreed to a 3-year deal for $26 million with $10 million guaranteed.

So stop wondering if Matt Flynn is “the answer” for the Browns. If he is a good quarterback, the Browns will never have a chance to get him ever again.

It really seems like the Browns were going to either be Colt McCoy’s team or RG3′s team and nobody else’s.

[Poll: Would you have given Matt Flynn that deal to come to the Browns?]

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Guessing what the Browns’ moves mean… so far

March 16, 2012 by 73 Comments

These are allegedly tea leaves

Even without a ton of movement in free agency, I think we’ve seen and heard enough to start at least making some educated guesses about what the Browns are thinking and doing. Please save me the cheap jokes about them doing “nothing” in the comments.

Defensive line – Regardless of what you think about Frostee Rucker or Juqua Parker, their signings say a few things. First of all, the Browns probably won’t spend one of their high draft picks on a defensive end. It seemed like even the best defensive linemen in the draft were reaches at #4 anyway, so this is good news. The Browns have Sheard, Taylor, Rubin, Rucker, Parker and holdovers like Marcus Benard, Scott Paxson, Brian Sanford, Brian Schaefering, Emmanuel Stephens and Jayme Mitchell. Hold on there, Jayme Mitchell.

Will Burge from ESPN Cleveland reported on the first day of free agency that Mitchell’s people were trying to contact the Browns, presumably to figure out his future. My guess is they were trying to secure his release. Regardless, the Browns will probably draft a defensive end somewhere in the draft, but it won’t be all that high, considering their signings. [Read more...]

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NFL Free Agency: Browns Have Not Pursued Matt Flynn

March 14, 2012 by 109 Comments

Amid rumors that the Cleveland Browns had been one of two teams to discuss contracts with free agent quarterback Matt Flynn, The Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Mary Kay Cabot reports early this morning that league sources have dubbed such speculation as “untrue.”

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel sourced a report stating that the Browns and the Miami Dolphins were locked in a bidding war of sorts, both teams hoping to acquire the former Green Bay Packer reserve after losing out on Robert Griffin III and (potentially) Peyton Manning, respectively. With free agency starting at 4pm on Tuesday, the Browns had been relatively quiet on all fronts, extending a reserve offensive lineman while tendering a slot receiver and a reserve defensive lineman.

Flynn, 6-2, 225, elevated his free agent stock with his head-turning performance against the Detroit Lions in the Week 17 finale. En route to a 45-41 victory, Flynn threw for 480 yards and six touchdowns — both all-time Green Bay records. In his only other start, in 2010 against the Patriots, Flynn completed 23 of 37 attempts for 254 yards and three TD passes in a 31-27 loss.

As has been the case with all other items of speculation, the Cleveland Browns have not offered official comment.

[Related: Updated: With RG3 Gone, Browns fans prefer McCoy, Blackmon]

(Source: Mary Kay Cabot)

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Report: Browns “not players” for Matt Flynn

March 13, 2012 by 34 Comments

According to New Era Scouting’s Matt Miller, the Browns won’t be pursuing Matt Flynn when free agency hits later this afternoon.

“Hearing from two sources that #Browns are not players for Matt Flynn. Take it for what’s its worth.”

The teams that are ‘in’ on Flynn according to Miller are the Seattle Seahawks and Miami Dolphins. 

“More Matt Flynn news, apparently Seattle and Miami are clear favorites but could be delayed due to Manning”

Even Miller then admits that all teams use misdirection at times like these, but we were told the Browns wouldn’t be making a splash in free agency. Spending money on a quarterback day one of free agency would qualify as a splash.

[Related: For Browns QB spot, desire can't create opportunity]

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Updated: With RG3 Gone, Browns fans prefer McCoy, Blackmon

March 12, 2012 by 154 Comments

With the blockbuster trade between the St. Louis Rams and Washington Redskins now completed, all that’s left to do for Browns fans is figure out the best way forward. We conducted a poll today to do just that.

First of all, on the trade itself Browns fans overwhelmingly agree that they are happy the Browns didn’t pay the exorbitant price that St. Louis was asking. 69% of Browns fans agreed that the Redskins are welcome to the second pick at that price. A mere 11% of fans think the Browns should have paid whatever cost. Finally, 20% of Browns fans claim they never wanted RG3 to begin with.

As far as what the Browns should do moving forward, the results were less decisive, but decisive nonetheless. 60% of Browns fans are fine with one more year of Colt McCoy with more weapons. 17% of Browns fans would like the Browns to sign Packers free agent backup QB Matt Flynn. 13% of Browns fans want the Browns to find a QB in the draft, with 4% of those hoping for a first rounder. Finally Jason Campbell was preferred by 3% of Browns fans and only four people (not percent, but two people) would like Kyle Orton. 7% said they didn’t know, but something else. [Read more...]

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While We’re Waiting… Profiling Chris Grant, Tribe 3B battle and Free agent projections

March 8, 2012 by 21 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.

Very nice feature on Cavs GM Chris Grant- “Chris is very smart, very methodical, very patient. He’s the perfect guy for the job right now. He has a great staff, they work well as a team, and they want to build a championship organization. But they want to do it in a methodical way — not by just pulling the trigger on something.” That last bit has a double meaning. On one level, Gilbert knows that Grant is in a completely different situation than Ferry was: Grant is planting complementary pieces around a rookie, not adding costly sidekicks for an MVP.

On another level, it’s very much a referendum on Ferry, who made a midseason trade in early 2008 that shipped out five Cavaliers, including Larry Hughes, and brought in four new players, including Delonte West, Ben Wallace, and Wally Szczerbiak. Though most folks lauded Ferry for the ballsy move, the shakeup never panned out. The thrown-together squad didn’t jell in time for the playoffs, which ended in another early exit. Each of those players was eventually shuffled out of town in Ferry’s never-ending search for guys who could actually put the ball in the basket.” [Grzegorek/Scene]

[Read more...]

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While We’re Waiting… Robert Griffin III or Matt Flynn, plus the Dunc Tank

March 7, 2012 by 25 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.

Some reasons why the Browns could pass on RGIII- “Robert Griffin III is a special and unique talent. I’ve heard comparisons to quarterbacks like Steve Young and Cam Newton. Griffin III is not the next someone, he is the first Robert Griffin III. Moreover, football pundits think he is a perfect fit for the West Coast offensive system. This is what the Browns’ employ to a certain degree. Yet because Griffin III is so unique, the team that does select him will have to tailor their offense. The Browns believe in their system from the top down. Holmgren, Heckert and Shurmur come from similar backgrounds and have similar beliefs in how to run a football team. That trio is more inclined to fit players to their system and not vice versa. [Delco/Orange and Brown Report] [Read more...]

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NFL Free Agency: Matt Flynn unlikely to be tagged by Green Bay Packers

March 4, 2012 by 5 Comments

As the deadline for using the franchise tag approaches Monday at 4 PM it becomes less and less likely that the Packers will use their franchise tag on Matt Flynn. The Green Bay Press Gazzette seems to think that Packers GM Ted Thompson will not take the risk.

If they tag Flynn, though, they would have to make room for his $14.4 million tender, at least for a brief time, on March 13. That would require personnel moves, such as releasing players and restructuring contracts, before 3 p.m. March 13.

For all the Matt Flynn fans amongst Browns fans this is good news. Certainly you have to think the Dolphins have the inside track on Flynn should he become a free agent with former Packer offensive coordinator Joe Philbin as the new coach in Miami. Fans and media types have also mentioned Miami as a destination for Peyton Manning should the Colts cut him loose.

So we’ll see. For now, it appears that one hurdle to Flynn’s availability in free agency is close to being cleared as the franchise tag deadline approaches quickly.

For more on Matt Flynn and the Browns…
Please let it be Matt Flynn
What would it cost for Matt Flynn if he is franchised?

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NFL Draft: Bullet point thoughts on RG3 and the Browns

February 27, 2012 by 85 Comments

On a day where I’m having trouble thinking about anything but the crazy news out of the next town over from me, I am trying to distract myself with RG3 stuff.  And I find it all confusing.

  • I’ve said it before, and I know the logic isn’t sound, but I have a lot of trouble figuring out how it makes sense to trade up with massive compensation for the Rams for the consensus second best quarterback in the draft.
  • The logic stinks because some years Eli Manning and Phillip Rivers come out together and everyone wins. [Read more...]

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Report: Flynn to Dolphins not a slam dunk

February 24, 2012 by 17 Comments

“It’s hardly a no-brainer that free agent Matt Flynn is destined for Miami based on the Joe Philbin factor.

True, Philbin was the offensive coordinator in Green Bay under whom Flynn looked like Bart Starr, Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers rolled into one in Green Bay’s 2011 season finale. True, Philbin is head coach in Miami now, and the Dolphins would be wise to dive off the Chad Henne treadmill. True, some team likely will throw a small fortune at Flynn and promise him a starting job.

On the other hand, Philbin’s coordinator in Green Bay will be ex-Packers head coach Mike Sherman. And we’ll guess he’ll have a big say in who the Dolphins chase at QB.

Sherman was the head coach at Texas A&M during the ascent of Ryan Tannehill, widely regarded as the third-best quarterback in the 2012 draft.

Here’s Sherman talking to the Sun-Sentinel about Tannehill:

“Like all good quarterbacks he had great poise. Very confident in any system, west coast or not. Any quarterback has to be confident in his own skin and believe in himself. They always say a great quarterback makes those around him better. I thought Favre did that. I think Aaron Rodgers does that. I think Tannehill does that as well.”

-From the Canton Repository’s Steve Doerschuk. Of course, it’s not like anyone hoisted a huge Matt Flynn banner in Miami anyway.

[Related: For the Browns, Please Let it Be Matt Flynn]

 

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Mayock, RGIII, and the West Coast Offense

February 16, 2012 by 125 Comments

Kudos to the PD’s Mary Kay Cabot who scored an interesting interview with the NFL Network’s draft expert Mike Mayock about the Browns, their QB position, and the kid that seems to be universally loved both on and off the field, Baylor’s Robert Griffin III. Mayock was an open book on how he feels about RGIII the player and RGIII the man off the field. He also had some very strong feelings about how the Browns should handle the entire situation.

Mayock had so much to say, I want to tackle some of these quotes one by one.

“As much as I like Colt McCoy, I still think they have to look to upgrade that position and I think they have to do whatever it takes to get there,” said Mayock of grabbing Griffin. “If it’s me, yeah, I’m looking at that real hard. I want to go get RG3.”

There is no doubt in my mind that Mayock is correct here. I am one of the Colt McCoy defenders, but in this league, if you look at the top teams in the league, nearly all of them have a top tier QB. This is not news to anyone. The two Super Bowl teams – the Giants and the Patriots – have Eli Manning and Tom Brady at the helm. Both are studs. The Packers were 15-1 with NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers under center. [Read more...]

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NFL Free Agents: Quarterbacks

February 10, 2012 by 79 Comments

League-wide free agency begins March 13th. The Browns have stated all along they prefer to build the team through the draft, but will take a look at the players available in free agency. Previously we looked at the receivers available. Then a glance at the linebackers. Yesterday, we stared longingly at offensive tackles. Up next, the signal callers.

The Browns have Seneca Wallace and Colt McCoy under contract next year, but that is no guarantee that both will be in camp come summer. Wallace’s deal isn’t outrageous by any stretch, but there was a little noise last year about him wanting a chance to start. IF Wallace asks to go elsewhere, or IF the Browns decide to make a trade or pick a QB high in the draft, they may be in the market for a veteran. Here is the market:

Richard Bartel (ARZ) – Restricted

Max Hall (ARZ) – Exclusive Rights

Chris Redman (ATL)

Derek Anderson (CAR) [Read more...]

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For the Browns, Please Let it Be Matt Flynn

January 20, 2012 by 134 Comments

I am not a talent evaluator.  I scour Youtube during draft time much to the chagrin of my computer speakers which get worn out playing “Bodies” by Drowning Pool every time some no-name defensive end sacks a division two quarterback over ultra-grainy close-up video footage.  With that in mind, I can’t possibly say definitively from an expert point of view that Matt Flynn is the next backup-turned-Pro-Bowler quarterback in the NFL.  What I am saying is that it would be really good for the Browns if he was and they were successful in their pursuit.

Seems like too obvious a statement for a post, right?  ”Here’s hoping a free agent is not only a great player, but ends up in a Browns uniform!” (PUBLISH)

There’s more at work here though.  The Cleveland Browns tipped their hand a bit this week when Randy Lerner spoke to Mike Trivisonno.  That’s not to say that finding a franchise quarterback when you don’t have one is a trade secret that nobody knew, but the way Randy Lerner talked about it indicates just how much of a priority it is.  When you think priorities like that, you start thinking about trading up in the draft.  You start thinking about throwing gobs of money at free agents that fill a huge need.  That’s where the Matt Flynn hope comes in for me.  With those two options hanging in the balance, I would love not to have to trade up. [Read more...]

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Randy Lerner is In the Building and Buying In

January 19, 2012 by 67 Comments

I don’t think it is unfair to say that Randy Lerner did very well for himself yesterday.  Sure, there will be those among us who will prefer to continue to harp on the lack of winning and disregard anything Randy had to say.  As I’ve said before, if wins and losses are all that matters in critiquing and analyzing the Cleveland Browns, we probably shouldn’t even talk about them again until after week one of the regular season next year.  I thought it was a great move by Randy to answer his critics.  He seemed to be saying that he isn’t just throwing money at this team and hoping.  He seemed to be saying that despite what some critics say and what has been purported in the past he is deeply invested and involved in this rebuilding organization in a manner other than the obvious financial one.

There’s no doubt that Randy Lerner chose his interviewer, Mike Trivisonno, for a reason.  Triv made no bones about the fact that he considers himself a friend of the Lerner family.  What transpired with Randy Lerner was the polar opposite of an interrogation and came off as a very friendly conversation.  None of these facts are criticisms by the way.  This is entertainment folks, and telling your story how you want to tell it is part of the deal.  My biggest problem with Randy Lerner hasn’t been what he says, how he says it or who he says it to.  It has been that he doesn’t say anything for the most part.  Randy changed that yesterday afternoon, at least for one day. [Read more...]

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Report: Packers Unlikely to Use Franchise Tag on Matt Flynn

January 15, 2012 by 6 Comments

Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Green Bay Packers are likely to use their 2012 franchise tag on tight end Jermichael Finley rather than back-up quarterback Matt Flynn.

The Packers were reportedly considering using said tag on Flynn to allow for sign-and-trade possibilities, ultimately netting them at least one additional draft selection with the counterparty inking the quarterback to a long-term deal akin to that off Matt Schaub or, more recently, Kevin Kolb.

Flynn, 26, was on the radar of many heading into the final week of the season and saw his stock rise considerably following a 480-yard, six-touchdown Week 17 performance against the Detroit Lions.  He has been linked to the Browns as well as other quarterback-hungry franchises like the Seattle Seahawks and Washington Redskins.

The one-year tender for Flynn would cost the Packers $14 million in guaranteed money.

[Related: What Would it Cost for Matt Flynn if He is Franchised?]

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What Would it Cost for Matt Flynn if He is Franchised?

January 9, 2012 by 55 Comments

One of the options for the Browns this off-season should they choose to address quarterback in free agency is Matt Flynn.  Flynn has only started two NFL games as Aaron Rodgers’ backup, but his most recent start was a record-setting performance that set the world abuzz.  That can tend to happen when you throw for 480 yards and six touchdowns in a football game.  For reference, this weekend in his playoff game against the same Detroit defense, Drew Brees put up 466 yards and 3 touchdowns.  That says a lot about the defense that Matt Flynn went up against.  Anyway, that’s a different discussion.  Let’s assume that the Browns do want Matt Flynn and they have to deal with the Packers who franchise him in order to trade him.  What might the price tag be?

First of all, the price tag for franchising a QB is, um, really high.  Going into this past season, Jason La Canfora had estimated that the cost of franchising a QB would be $16 million.  So assume that to franchise Matt Flynn will be somewhere in the same ballpark.  The acquiring team will be on the hook for that, but in all likelihood it will lead to a new long-term contract that will be pricey.  But what we are really looking for is what the potential acquisition cost could be for the Browns.  There are three obvious examples, Matt Schaub, Matt Cassell and Kevin Kolb. [Read more...]

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While We’re Waiting… Cavs Fall, Seneca’s Struggles, Matt Flynn Rumors, Grady’s Engaged

January 5, 2012 by 13 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.

About how the Cavs fell flat in Canada: “Mama said there’d be days like this. The Cavs lost handedly to the Toronto Raptors at the Air Canada Centre on the back end of their first back-to-back of the season. …Well, Kyrie Irving came back to Earth with a vengeance. The rook put up 12 points on 13 shots and mustered only four assists. This game was reminiscent of his debut: Irving was outplayed by Jose Calderon, stopped at the rim by Toronto’s bigs, and took a handful of ill-advised shots.” [Colin McGowan/Cavs: The Blog]

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More on how Seneca Wallace failed with his late-season opportunity: “Perhaps if Wallace played one level better than Colt McCoy, the Browns win a few games and Wallace gets a chance to further prove himself in 2012. Wallace posted a weak 50.27 Real Quarterback Rating. This includes completing only two of 14 passes attempted to Greg Little or Mohamed Maasquoi.” [Adam Dobrowolski/Cold Hard Football Facts] [Read more...]

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Talking Myself in Circles over Quarterbacks

January 3, 2012 by 78 Comments

Feel free to take any or none of this first part seriously.

This time five years ago Drew Brees was a free agent at the age of 27.  He had five years of NFL experience and 59 games under his belt, starting 58 of them.  In that time he threw for 12,348 yards and 80 TDs. Brees had some shoulder problems that caused him to miss the Pro Bowl and ultimately chose to field offers from the Dolphins and Saints after the Chargers offered him a deal that was so heavily-laden with incentives that he passed on it.

In 2005, the Browns had Trent Dilfer and Charlie Frye both playing QB at times.  The Cleveland Browns had just as much chance as any other team in the league (presumably) to negotiate with Drew Brees and make him a part of their franchise. Brees was a QB who had thrown for over 3,000 yards in three of four years.  Matt Flynn is nothing like Drew Brees. [Read more...]

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