May 22, 2013

WFNY Podcast – 2013-04-01 – Dennis Manoloff talks charities, Weeden and NFL draft

April 1, 2013 by Leave a Comment

WFNY Podcast LogoDennis Manoloff agreed to join me for about 15 minutes to talk sports. I always appreciate the D-Man’s take on things and with a radio voice like his, it’s a crime that he doesn’t have a regular slot on the local shows. Anyway, enjoy.

  • Outside the Lines report on athlete charities being shams
  • The right ways to do charity
  • Brandon Weeden vs. Jason Campbell and heading into year two
  • What the Browns should think about with the 6th pick
  • Trading down and the benefits
  • Dee Milliner and Dion Jordan
  • Projecting corners vs. other positions
  • Free safeties and the blending of the definition of safety

Check out this episode

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Cleveland Browns current cap space $28.7 million

March 27, 2013 by 34 Comments

The Browns got busy this off-season with Desmond Bryant and Paul Kruger on reasonably large deals. They followed that up with a few more smaller signings, but it hasn’t come anywhere close to exhausting the space the Browns have available. According to Mike Florio and his cohorts at ProFootballTalk, the Cleveland Browns still have $28.7 million available in cap space.

That puts the Browns second in the entire NFL behind the Bengals. Here are the top five.

Bengals:  $28.9 million.

Browns:  $28.7 million.

Buccaneers:  $28.8 million.

Jaguars:  $26.6 million.

Eagles:  $26.3 million.

I wouldn’t expect the Browns to finish the off-season anywhere near that obviously. The Browns will have to sign their draft picks and it is also reasonable to assume a current Brown like Alex Mack or T.J. Ward could see an extension that makes a meaningful impact on the salary cap for 2013. As we’ve continually pointed out this off-season, Joe Banner appears to be front-loading deals when he has cap available to do so.

[Related: Breaking down Paul Kruger’s and Desmond Bryant’s Browns contracts]

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T.J. Ward hit on Ogletree: A Rules Discussion

November 19, 2012 by 25 Comments

There will be a lot of talk about the hit that T.J. Ward hit on Cowboys receiver Kevin Ogletree. You may not like the rules, but the latest NFL rules give referees latitude to call unnecessary roughness in their judgement at basically any time at all. So all the talk about whether T.J. Ward hit Ogletree in the chest or not is moot, unfortunately. Don’t mistake my explanation as justification for the rule. I don’t particularly like the rules, but it is important to understand them.

From the official NFL rulebook, emphasis mine. [Read more...]

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Animated: T.J. Ward Hit on Kevin Ogletree

November 18, 2012 by 15 Comments

T.J. Ward was flagged for 15 costly yards when he hit Kevin Ogletree (and Buster Skrine) on a pass attempt. Here’s another look at it in case you missed it. We’ll have a complete discussion on the rules and whether or not this was a legitimate flag tomorrow morning.

Related: Browns blow 13-0 halftime lead; lose 23-20 in overtime

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While We’re Waiting… ‘Hard Knocks’ Possibility, Francisco Lindor’s Potential, Chuck Booms’ Past

May 28, 2012 by 3 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.

How would you react to the Brownies being on “Hard Knocks”? Seems far-fetched, but it’s fun to consider: “Now, the Cleveland Browns don’t appear to be anywhere on HBO’s radar, but if they were, what would that show look like? For starters, the first thing on everyone’s mind would be two ugly words:  ‘quarterback’ and ‘controversy.’ … Mike Holmgren’s Browns are also far more insular than those teams of the boisterous Ryan, Harbaugh, and Irsay clans, and if a public relations rebuilding effort is underway in Berea, perhaps they’d prefer to control the message a little more for the time being.” [Jimmy Weinland/Dawg Pound Daily] [Read more...]

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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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Violent Hits Are Pretty Much Banned by NFL Rules

November 29, 2011 by 6 Comments

Last night watching Monday Night Football there were a lot of questions after a violent hit by Isa Abdul-Quddus on Hakeem Nicks was flagged for a 15-yard penalty.  Some people think that it shouldn’t have been a penalty.  Most notable among those people is Jon Gruden who claimed pretty flatly that he didn’t think it was a penalty.  At home, many (including this dork) were rewinding and examining the hit with their DVRs to see exactly what happened with a Zapruder-like level of detail.  I could see a lot of people working hard to find ways that it wasn’t a penalty.  Problem being that this iteration of the NFL is intent on looking at plays that result in ultra-violence in an attempt to justify throwing a flag not the opposite.

The NFL fan desperately wants to see a shoulder make contact first in attempt to prove that the referee was wrong.  It is an effort in vain though because the NFL has written the rules in such a way that they want referees to use their discretion to justify flags on any play that even approximates the hit that Abdul-Quddus put on Hakeem Nicks.  We learned this last year with T.J. Ward vs. Jordan Shipley.  The game has changed.  Just get used to it.  If you don’t believe me, check out the rules. [Read more...]

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Browns Injury Update: T.J. Ward Could Miss Four to Six Weeks With Foot Injury

November 12, 2011 by 6 Comments

Yesterday, Craig wrote about the potentially scary scenario of having Eric Hagg starting at safety on Sunday opposite Mike Adams. With both Usama Young and T.J. Ward missing practice this week, it was a very real possibility. With Young returning to practice yesterday but still dealing with a hip injury, it now appears that Hagg could be seeing the field for a majority of the remaining season. It’s been reported that Ward could be out four to six weeks with a right foot injury. The length of the Ward’s unavailability came as somewhat of a surprise as the seriousness of the safety’s foot injury had not been previously addressed in detail – the club still does not know for sure if the foot is sprained or broken. He will have the foot re-examined on Monday.

Browns defensive coordinator Dick Jauron addressed the depleted safety position, and didn’t exactly sugar coat the unenviable situation.

[Read more...]

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Nice Story or Nightmare? – Eric Hagg Could Debut as Starter Sunday

November 11, 2011 by 21 Comments

Injuries are a way of life in the NFL.  Everyone knows it.  Some years are still considerably worse than others.  For the Browns it feels like some decades are worse than others.  I’m nervous even thinking about the word “staph” let alone typing it to this day.  In the NFL, injuries are a way of life and an opportunity for a player to step up and prove his capability, value, toughness and guts.  Then again, for many other teams, the guy stepping up isn’t likely to be a seventh rounder chosen a mere six slots away from “Mr. Irrelevant.”  That is the position of the Cleveland Browns this upcoming Sunday with rookie Eric Hagg probably set to start opposite Mike Adams in the defensive secondary.

T.J. Ward and Usama Young both missed practice today and Eric Hagg started with the first team.  Hagg is an experienced player from Nebraska and obviously did enough in camp to justify sticking around for the Browns who also added to the unit by signing Usama Young in free agency.  That in and of itself is no small feat for a seventh round pick.  But the story could still turn out to be a nightmare unless Hagg takes this opportunity and shows something on Sunday other than an ability to chase Steven Jackson toward the end zone. [Read more...]

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What Do You Want to See This Weekend Against Houston?

November 3, 2011 by 33 Comments

Forget the stupid statements like “I want to see the Browns win!”  We obviously all want to see that, despite the fact that the Browns are 11 point underdogs heading down to Houston.  Obviously we’d love to see the Browns come out and play like we haven’t seen them play this year and win against a legitimate playoff contender and division leader.  Beyond that, the game within the game, what would you like to see?

In case you haven’t noticed, this is a rebuilding season as the Browns figure out what they have and more importantly what they don’t.  They’ve rolled the dice and won like on the defensive line.    They’ve also rolled the dice and lost like thinking the receivers on the roster from last year were going to develop quickly or at all.  (See Robiskie, Brian)  So, we all know where they stand now.   The best thing that could happen to this team is that they start to figure out how to play together.  Here’s what I want to see without sarcasm.

Jordan Norwood period.  Josh Cribbs seems disenchanted and discouraged.  Massaquoi and Little have shown spots, but remain inconsistent targets for Colt McCoy.  Jordan Norwood seemed to provide the first big target for McCoy since he was able to check down incessantly to Peyton Hillis week one against the Bengals.  It is ironic that a guy as little as Norwood could be a “big target,” but it isn’t surprising that the quickest guy on the field might be able to get open against a nickel corner, linebacker or safety. [Read more...]

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While We’re Waiting…NBA Parity, TJ Ward Impresses, Beating Miami

September 24, 2011 by 2 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.

Parity unattainable in the NBA: “There is only one LeBron James. Last offseason every team and their mother made an attempt to get him on their team. The team that got him made the finals. The teams that missed out on him were visibly upset.  In the lockout a lot has been said about parity. In the NBA, a few great teams rule the league with an iron fist. How are small market teams to compete (San Antonio is conviently left out when this point arises)? There will be a lot of talk about hard caps and contract set ups to ensure that the talent in the league is distributed so that one team can’t buy all the best players. I want to reiterate a point though: no matter what changes happen to the salary cap, no matter what changes happen to player contracts, and no matter what happens with revenue sharing…PARITY IS IMPOSSIBLE IN THE NBA.” [Dre/Wages of Wins] [Read more...]

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On the Browns and Taylor Mays

August 15, 2011 by 23 Comments

I’m not even sure, exactly why I am talking about Taylor Mays.  I guess mostly for a couple of reasons.  Last year before the Browns drafted Joe Haden and T.J. Ward, Taylor Mays was one of the many draft options in the forefront of many Browns fans’ minds.  There were questions about his maturity, attitude and his size being a bit too big to play NFL safety in coverage.  Those questions ended up causing him to drop into the second round where Mike Singletary and the 49ers snatched him up with the 49th overall pick.  Fast forward and Mike Singletary is out and ESPN reported that the 49ers sent an email blast letting everyone know that Mays was available.

Again, why am I even talking about this?  The Browns don’t have a spot for Taylor Mays with T.J. Ward at the strong safety and Usama Young and Mike Adams at the free safety.  Plus, free safety seems like a pretty bad fit for Mays as the question marks around him are related to his ball skills and inability to play in space.  Even still, I can’t help but wonder if this is the kind of project that the new Browns’ regime would be interested in entertaining.  Why?  Check it out. [Read more...]

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Browns Reportedly Reach Agreement with Safety Usama Young

July 28, 2011 by 30 Comments

Chris Fedor of WKNR said it was imminent and Tony Grossi has apparently confirmed that the Cleveland Browns have signed 26-year old Usama Young.  Young comes to the Browns by way of the New Orleans Saints and the third round of the 2007 NFL draft.  Grossi also reports that the Browns expect Young to be their starting free safety this season, spelling out Abe Elam’s future (or lack thereof) pretty definitively.

I know this isn’t the big splash that a lot of Browns fans were looking for, but it seems like a decent gamble.  Young is a Kent State grad and hasn’t played a ton.  He served as a backup and utility type player on special teams for the Saints.  There is really no shame in being a backup to Darren Sharper in your mid-twenties.  You can consider this a real opportunity to judge the Browns’ scouting department. [Read more...]

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Browns Will Look To Add Safety

June 2, 2011 by 15 Comments

Despite the fact that the Browns have used a multitude of draft picks to reshape their secondary over the last two drafts, it appears they aren’t satisfied with the depth yet. The Browns have Joe Haden and Sheldon Brown returning as corners. They could have Eric Wright returning as well, depending on the collective bargaining agreement. The Browns grabbed speedster corner / returner Buster Skrine in the draft. At safety things could be a bit thin though.

T.J. Ward returns to try and keep getting better after a pretty solid rookie year. Mike Adams returns as a hybrid who played both corner and free safety for the Browns a year ago. Abe Elam is an unrestricted free agent, and despite some brilliant flashes last season, it is unknown exactly what level of interest the Browns and new defensive coordinator Dick Jauron have in bringing him back. [Read more...]

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While We’re Waiting… Embarrassed Yet?, Ward a Keeper and Son of Nance

January 13, 2011 by 8 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.

Jamison, Mo Williams get embarrassed. Well, good. That is the proper reaction if you ask me- “For Jamison, specifically, it’s an interesting situation because he came to Cleveland last season seeking a championship after escaping an atrocious situation in Washington. Now, less than a year later, he’s back in the doldrums of losing and arguably in worse shape than when he left D.C. This isn’t what he was expecting. On the other hand, it’s tough to feel too bad for a group of people who get to play a children’s game for millions of dollars. In the grand scheme of things, Jamison’s plight is much better than that of the many unemployed Clevelanders who watch him play on TV. It’s hard to feel too sorry for Jamison when he goes to sleep on a pile of money with many beautiful women.” [Freeman/Ball Don't Lie] [Read more...]

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Browns 2011 NFL Draft Update: Defensive Line, Cornerback or Wide Receiver?

January 9, 2011 by 29 Comments

This is the first of a two-part segment on the 2011 NFL Draft: This first edition analyzes the current draft forecast and matches up general options at the No. 6 pick to the current Browns roster. The next article will analyze the stories of the individual players likely to be available.

Just like last year, it is now time to start analyzing the top prospects available for the Cleveland Browns in the upcoming NFL Draft. The franchise is in a different position than 12 months ago, as despite the success of quarterback Colt McCoy and running back Peyton Hillis, the team finished with another 5-11 record and is now hunting for a new head coach.

This April, the Browns will look to add more pieces to compliment star rookies McCoy, cornerback Joe Haden and safety T.J. Ward. An improved defense shined throughout 2010, but more playmakers are necessary on both sides of the ball to take the next step. Stay tuned below the jump for a look at where things stand right now. [Read more...]

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Browns Fold to End Season Against Steelers

January 2, 2011 by 46 Comments

One of the biggest things going for Eric Mangini in his tenure as Cleveland Browns head coach is that the team seemingly never quit on him.  Even today, you could make that argument.  Mangini’s detractors will, no doubt, laugh at that sentiment in the weeks going forward (if the debate is permitted to last that long.)  The Browns were crushed by the Steelers 41-9.

This Browns team was outmatched coming into the year from a talent perspective and no doubt injuries have taken their toll to the tune of starters on both sides of the ball.  We knew this team was about as deep as an Arizona puddle.  Whether or not Mike Holmgren cares about any of that remains to be seen.  From what I have been hearing and seeing, Browns fans are about as discouraged by the four game losing streak to end this season as they were encouraged by the four game win streak to end the prior one.

Long forgotten are the wins against New Orleans and New England.  Long forgotten are the mid-season epiphanies about just how difficult the Browns’ schedule was this season.  All Browns fans seem to care about at this moment right now is that the Browns lost a lot recently and that nobody likes losing. Thankfully for Eric Mangini and company, the fans don’t make the decision.

So where do we go from here? [Read more...]

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Browns Defensive Coordinator Rob Ryan Accuses Bengals of Cheap Shots

October 9, 2010 by 6 Comments

This week’s football story of interest across the state of Ohio has been the T.J. Ward hit on Jordan Shipley from Sunday’s Browns-Bengals game. With the rookie receiver out this week for Cincinnati, it continues to leave those from both parties talking about the incident.

According to Browns defensive coordinator Rob Ryan however, that wasn’t even the most outlandish play in last week’s surprising Cleveland victory. Flipping the tables on the national media and the Bengals, Ryan utilized his new conference yesterday to discuss another important cheap shot, according to the Plain Dealer:
[Read more...]

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