Cleveland Browns' 8 Best, Worst Moves of the 2012 Offseason

Source: Bleacher Report

Mike Holmgren and Tom Heckert may often resemble a dyspeptic NFL Laurel and Hardy, but the Cleveland Browns' 2012 free agency and draft decisions ultimately featured more bulls-eyes than pratfalls—as long as everything plays out according to Holmgren’s “my system is king” plan. And no one gets hurt. And every new player performs his chess-piece role precisely as predicted by Holmgren, Heckert and the rest of the personnel gurus.

Hey, it’s training camp—everything is possible in May!

On the "best" side of the ledger, the Browns front office addressed both lines in a generally intelligent manner and added depth to a linebacking corps about to suffer a suspended starter. Unfortunately, they took a scatter-the-buckshot approach to WR.

However, all is good in Cleveland since the decision makers managed to nab the biggest deodorizing Band-Aid available in 2012: running back Trent Richardson. 

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Around the Dawg Pound: Monday Morning Cleveland Browns Links

Source: Dawg Pound Daily by Steve DiMatteo

To say that new quarterback Brandon Weeden is exciting people in Cleveland might be a bit of an understatement. Even the local visit site to read more]

Around the Dawg Pound: Monday Morning Cleveland Browns Links - Dawg Pound Daily - Dawg Pound Daily - A Cleveland Browns Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and more.

A closer look at the Browns' defensive depth chart

Source: CantonRep.com by Steve Doerschuk

As spring practice heats up, the Browns are exploring ways to improve on last year’s No. 10 NFL ranking in total defense.

Here is one view of the depth chart, and what to make of it:

Beyond the Shutdown 50: Juron Criner, WR, Oakland Raiders (Shutdown Corner)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

Now that the 2012 NFL draft is in the can, it's time to take the Shutdown 50 scouting format forward and get a closer look at some of the surprising and fascinating selections from this year's draft -- the guys we missed in the original 50, but who could be impact players now or down the road. Our next entry: Arizona receiver Juron Criner, selected by the Oakland Raiders with the 33rd pick in the fifth round (168th overall). Overview: While most of the talk about Pac-12 passing attacks in 2011 focused on the offenses led by Andrew Luck and Matt Barkley, the Arizona passing  game has been one of the more productive in the nation in recent seasons -- and receiver Juron Criner may be the primary reason for that. If you're in the group who believes that former Arizona and current Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles hurt that aerial attack as much as he helped it with his inaccuracy and questionable decision-making, Criner stands out in sharper relief. After catching 7 passes for 88 yards and a touchdown as a true freshman, Criner moves up to 45/582/9 in 2009, and made a name for himself in 2010, when he caught 82 passes for 1,233 yards and 11 touchdowns. He repeated that touchdown figure last year, and the rest of the numbers almost matched up (75 for 926). Criner further set himself on the radar with an exciting week at the Senior Bowl. From our own Mike Tanier's report : Criner has probably helped his stock more than any other player during Senior Bowl practices this week ... [he] does not have breakaway speed, but he appears to have the rest of the package. "I'm very agile for a man my size," Criner said after Thursday's practice. That agility was evident earlier in the week, when he made smooth cuts and adjusted to poorly thrown balls in live practices. Criner has also been demonstrating good hands and pass-catching technique, and he looks more fluid and comfortable running routes than some of the other big receivers on the South squad. Janoris Jenkins (CB, North Alabama), the likely first-round pick who transferred from Florida because of personal issues, singled Criner out as the hardest South receiver to cover this week during his Thursday press conference. "He's kinda got ball skills," Jenkins said. "If you hit his hand, he'll catch it. And he's tall." So, there's that. When he's thrown to by good quarterbacks, Juron Criner tends to make plays. And even when he's thrown to by quarterbacks who couldn't hit water if they fell out of a boat, he's going to do some interesting things. Now a proud member of the Oakland Raiders, Criner has a shot at doing what Tennessee wideout Denarius Moore did in 2011 -- come out of nowhere as a late-round pick and impress the NFL. Moore went off the hook in a relative sense in his rookie campaign, catching 33 passes for 618 yards and five touchdowns. Could Criner be the next guy on the Raiders' late-draft boards to flash that same kind of long-term potential? Strengths: Shows an impressive burst for an alleged "possession receiver" -- Criner gets up to speed quickly off the line and in end-arounds. Fires upfield with an impressive second gear. Good catch radius and fine hands in space -- Criner often contorted his body to make catches when Foles was throwing with questionable accuracy. Will adjust his body to catch deep balls without losing too much speed after he's already beaten the corner or safety down the seam. Made a lot of catches despite the fact that Foles was clearly targeting him as the first read, which allowed opponents to time their jumps on the ball. Will fight to get through contact before he's wrapped up and occasionally gets free to make a big play. Senior Bowl performances showed what he could do when targeted by quarterbacks with a clue, as has his brief performances in Raiders minicamp. Frequently listed as a possession receiver, but he's got more downfield speed than the title might imply. Weaknesses: Tends to lose control of the ball when contact is coming -- doesn't have alligator arms, per se, but has trouble bringing the ball in and securing it when a defender is bearing down on him. Will lose the ball too often upon contact, leading to fumbles and incompletions. Not an especially physical player when fighting for balls with defenders in short spaces.

Around the AFC North (5/20): Another Suspension in Cincy

Source: Dawgs By Nature by Chris Pokorny

We haven't had an edition of Around the AFC North for awhile, but without the Daily Dawg Chow on the weekends, the weekend seems like a fitting time to talk about some of the latest hot topics in the division. In today's edition, we take a look at another suspension for the Bengals, the doubt about the future of Ravens safety Ed Reed, and Mike Tomlin's salary.

Cincinnati Bengals: Dontay Moch Suspended for Banned Substance Use

You might be wondering, "who?" The

The Weekend Wrap

Source: TheClevelandFan.com

Mixing and matching this week for The Wrap. We’ll talk Tribe, Santana, attendance (yawn) and more and we’ll hit on my most updated and recent thoughts on LeBron James. And while we’re talking NBA Playoff hoops, we’ll jam an Ozzie Guillen take into the column. It’s The Weekend Wrap:

The Remote Report: The Culture of Fear in Cleveland

Source: Dawg Pound Daily by Kevin Nye

visit site to read more]

The Remote Report: The Culture of Fear in Cleveland - Dawg Pound Daily - Dawg Pound Daily - A Cleveland Browns Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and more.

SB Nation: An Article on the NFL Mortality Rate

Source: Dawgs By Nature by Chris Pokorny

Last week, SBNation.com came out with an article about player mortality rates in the NFL, sparked by the death of linebacker Junior Seau. In 1990, the NFL Players Association contacted the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), which is part of the Centers for Disease Control, and asked them to do a study on mortality rates among former football players. The results of that study do not seem too surprising:

NIOSH conducted a records-based study of 3,439 retired players with at least five seasons of service between 1959 and 1988. The results,

Beyond the Shutdown 50: Gino Gradkowski, C/G, Baltimore Ravens (Shutdown Corner)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

Now that the 2012 NFL draft is in the can, it's time to take the Shutdown 50 scouting format forward and get a closer look at some of the surprising and fascinating selections from this year's draft -- the guys we missed in the original 50, but who could be impact players now or down the road. Our next entry: Delaware guard Gino Gradkowski, selected with the third pick of the fourth round (98th overall) by the Baltimore Ravens. Overview: Gradkowski did not expect to be selected so early in the draft. According to a profile at DelawareOnLine , he had just settled down in front of the video game console when the phone rang. "I just got done playing a game of NHL PlayStation against my cousin Carmen …  "I didn't even have time to get anxious about the draft because I was still mad about losing in that game." You have to love a lineman who is so competitive that he cannot let go of his rage over losing a video hockey game until Ozzie Newsome's office calls with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If Gradkowski is anything like older brother Bruce Gradkowski, then competitive fire will never be an issue. Bruce, now Andy Dalton's backup with the Bengals, has built a seven-year NFL career out of determination and little else. "The whole family has the underdog mentality," the older Gradkowski once said. "We're going to work hard to get the job done. We're disciplined. We're going to know what to do. We might not be the fastest, strongest or the biggest, but we get the job done. That's it. It's in the blood." Gino was certainly an underdog heading into the draft. He transferred from West Virginia to Delaware early in his college career so he could earn a starting job, played center and guard for three seasons, and earned All America status at the I-AA level. But Gradkowski was expected to enter the NFL as a seventh round pick or rookie free agent. Now, he is the heir apparent to Matt Birk, and may someday be snapping to another player who took the Big Program-to-Delaware-to-Ravens path to success: Joe Flacco. Strengths: Gradkowski has fine foot quickness and lateral quickness. Delaware's offensive line took extremely wide splits, and the centers and guards pulled, trapped, and blocked on the move. Gradkowski was effective when shuffling to the side on a rollout or peeling behind the center on a trap. He appears to be very football smart and generally finds the right person to block when on the move or picking up blitzes. Gradkowski performed well at his Pro Day, benching 225 pounds 29 times and posting respectable results in agility drills. His strength is generally evident on tape, though you must take what you see with a grain of salt when what you see is a blurry image of someone nailing a Towson State defender. By all accounts, Gradkowski has a great work ethic and the right mentality for his position. Weaknesses: Gradkowski is too small to be a guard in most systems, particularly the Ravens' drive-blocking offense, and at 300 pounds he is a little small to be a starting center. He played guard in his senior season at Delaware and will have to be developed at center, his likely pro position.

Schudel: Cribbs' On-Field Value to Browns is Diminishing

Source: Dawgs By Nature by Chris Pokorny

Jeff Schudel of the News Herald published an article last night with the following title: "Cribbs' on-field value to Browns diminishing." He adds an immediate disclaimer to the article that says it does not mean that Cribbs' skills are diminishing, but that the rule changes made on kickoffs last year makes him expendable [in 2013] for the type of money he is making.

Cribbs played as hard as ever in 2011, and he still throws his body around without care for his own bones or ligaments. But unless he is willing to play for substantially less than the $1,438,000 he will make this season — the final year of

The Sunday Five: Rookie Minicamp Goes Well, on to OTA's

Source: Dawgs By Nature by Chris Pokorny

"The Sunday Five" is a loosely-titled piece where I talk about five NFL- or Browns-related topics related to this past week. In today's edition, we take a look back at the team's offseason programs, a hypothetical that only makes sense to ask in the dead of the offseason, the buzz that fullback Brad Smelley has created, and more.

The Browns wrapped up their first rookie minicamp this past week under head coach Pat Shurmur, but the vibe certainly didn't seem like one of a "rookie" minicamp because of

Tanier’s Team Reviews: The Kansas City Chiefs, via Todd Haley (Shutdown Corner)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

Any website can post "offseason grades" for NFL teams, mixing the draft and free agency into transaction soup, then straining it through the mind of some sportswriter who doesn't know who half the players are. Only the Shutdown Corner has the resources to get actual players, coaches, and executives from each team to evaluate their own offseasons! That's right: over the next few weeks, you will get transaction evaluations straight from the horse's mouths: straight talk about who was signed, who was lost, who was drafted, and why. (For the satirically challenged: all player, coach, and executive remarks are made by an impersonator). In this segment, former Chiefs coach Todd Haley breaks down the offseason moves of the team that fired him at the end of last season. We have a bad feeling about this. TODD HALEY: Wash your windshield, mister? I don't scrub windshields for the money. I have a coaching job now as offensive coordinator for the Steelers. I carry this slop bucket because I like it. It's comforting to wash windows while the mad clown stares at me with his dead, gray eyes, whispering razor truths mortals dare not speak aloud, truths that pierce flesh and cut an inky scarlet line against the throat of the he-goat … Sorry, my thoughts meander sometimes. The Chiefs had a productive offseason. At the skill positions, they added Peyton Hillis to a running back committee that already includes Dexter McCluster and Jamaal Charles, who is ahead of schedule rehabbing his knee injury. Kevin Boss joins Tony Moeaki, also on schedule to return from a knee injury, to give the Chiefs two tight ends who can block and catch. Two rookie wide receivers, Devon Wylie and Junior Hemingway, will provide extra depth behind Dwayne Bowe, Steve Breaston, and last year's top pick Jonathan Baldwin, who started to come on late in the season. Matt Cassel, yet another player who missed much of last season with injuries, won't have to worry about throwing to the likes of Keary Colbert or Anthony Becht. That's right, everyone gets to come back to Kansas City but me, the guy who got blamed for not being able to build an offense around Tyler Palko and Terrance Copper, while the dead-eyed clown stares back at me from the mirror and cackles. "You ever played cornhole with the devil, son?" he asks, his raspy voice a rusty hypodermic needle scraping gutter concrete. "He don't use no beanbags, boy." And that he-goat just brays and brays like he sees the end coming and don't know whether to fight it or welcome it. Moving on to the defense, Dontari Poe was one of the most physically gifted specimens in this year's draft class. The Chiefs have a bad habit of striking out with big defensive tackles, from Ryan Sims to Glenn Dorsey, so my former assistant Romeo Crennel will have to be careful about Poe's development and role if he doesn't want Poe to become an overpriced space-eater the greasepaint smears and the sharpened steel glints in the pickup truck headlights behind the barnyard. The loss of Brandon Carr is going to hurt at cornerback, because Stanford Routt is an adequate #2 corner behind Brandon Flowers. But the defense will be better if it is not  on the field as often, and when the muffled brays fade to pitch-black silence, vengeful darkness sated all-too-briefly by the still-quivering sacrifice .

AFC North Preview Part III: The Cincinnati Bengals.

Source: Cleveland Browns Report by C.B.R.

The Cincinnati Bengals had an outstanding 2011 season, and hope to have a great 2012, but it may be tough to repeat their success from last year. The Bengals cashed in on their magical draft bringing together a great battery in A.J. Green and Andy Dalton. They took the league by storm and opened a lot of eyes. Their defense also performed better than expected finishing in the top 10 in the NFL and all signs point to this team only getting better. The real surprise during free agency for the Bengals was that they did not pursue the resigning of running back Cedric Benson. Benson has been a...

Around the NFL: Could Browns be building elite offensive line?

Source: CantonRep.com by Steve Doerschuk

The Steelers are making noise about hammering out one of the top two offensive lines in the NFL. The Browns, meanwhile, think they can have the best blocking group in the AFC North. That’s interesting, since neither one of them was any great shakes last year.

NFL 2012: Predicting Every Cleveland Browns Game

Source: Bleacher Report

The Cleveland Browns have compiled a 9-23 record in the first two years of the Mike Holmgren era. When the Super Bowl winning coach came to Cleveland there was hope he'd bring stability to a franchise that had been in turmoil since coming back into the league in 1999.

But after a solid draft, it seems there is hope. The Browns plucked running back Trent Richardson with the No. 3 pick and then took 28-year-old quarterback Brandon Weeden with the No. 22 pick in last month's draft. Both looked great in shorts and playing against air at a recent rookie camp.

But just as things looked like they could be going the Browns way, second-year defensive tackle Phil Taylor tore a pectoral muscle and may be out for the year.

Sometimes it seems like the team is jinxed. 

Be that as it may, there is a season to play and a schedule that is rank third toughest in the league. The Browns play in a division where every team, with the exception of them, made the playoffs in 2011.

That said, we'll peer into our crystal ball and see how the 2012 Browns will fare:

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Weekend mailbag: Future for Steelers kicker

Source: AFC North Blog

Time to open up some mail, which includes a couple of questions concerning the Pittsburgh kicker. C from Ontario, Canada, writes: Shaun Suisham grew up close to me and I want him to do well. But I'm a Steeler fan first, so why is he on the team still? He bombed hard last year, his field-goal percentage was 31st in the league last season. Please tell me this young guy can beat Shaun out! Or at least the Steelers will do something. Dennis from Clermont, Fla.

AFC North Preview Part II: The Pittsburgh Steelers

Source: Cleveland Browns Report by C.B.R.

In Part II of this AFC North preview we come to the team that has been dominate contenders since 2000. This team has suffered only one losing season since the new millennium and has finished 12-4 in three out of the last four seasons. I am talking about an NFL staple, the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers season came to an abrupt end in the first round of the AFC playoffs last season losing to the Tim Tebow led Broncos 29-23 in overtime. That game not only ended the season for the franchise, but it also marked the end of some of the Steelers long-time icons such as wide receiver Hines...

Colt McCoy 'working harder than ever' to keep job

Source: NFL.com by Rosenthal, Gregg

Since the Browns drafted Brandon Weeden in the first round all of the talk in Cleveland has been around Weeden starting, but at least one person thinks he’ll have to earn that role, incumbent starter Colt McCoy.

Judge: Otto Graham the No. 2 QB of All Time

Source: Dawgs By Nature by Chris Pokorny

Senior NFL columnist Clark Judge from over at CBS Sports published a column a few days ago highlighting the top 10 quarterbacks of all time. His motivation for writing the column revolved around the belief that former Colts quarterback Peyton Manning was the greatest of all time. That was impossible, according to Judge, because Manning "wasn't even the greatest quarterback in team history." Judge based his ranking on championships, and because of that, Manning was all the

Jonathan Vilma's Suit Against Roger Goodell

Source: Dawgs By Nature by Chris Pokorny

Last year, the lockout dominated the offseason storylines in the NFL. This year, the punishments doled out for the New Orleans Saints bounty program, and the aftermath, will be what dominates the offseason headlines.

If any of you have fallen behind on what has been going on with this situation over the past few weeks or so, check out SB Nation's Storystream to get caught up. Back on May 7, all four players who were suspended, including Cleveland Browns linebacker

Weeden and Richardson Interviewed at NFLPA Rookie Premiere

Source: Dawgs By Nature by Chris Pokorny

As many of you know, SB Nation is live in LA at the NFLPA rookie premiere. SB Nation Studios should have some video interviews with Brandon Weeden and Trent Richardson online soon. In the mean time, here are some quotes they sent me, representing some highlights from the interviews.

Brandon Weeden

On being at hte NFLPA rookie premiere: "It was fun to come out, spend some time with the other draft picks."

On the other players here at NFLPA rookie premiere: "I've met everybody. We spent a lot

McCoy and Weeden set to battle in Cleveland (National Football Post)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

Who has the edge in the fight for the starting QB job?

Chat rewind: Lots of Steelers talk

Source: AFC North Blog

The AFC North weekly chat had a lot of Steelers talk, from the red zone to Ben Roethlisberger's longevity. There were some questions about the Bengals, Browns and Ravens along the way. Anthony Costa (Pittsburgh): Hey Jamison, love your blog, but I have to ask you one question that is puzzling all Steelers fans, will our offense be able to score (touchdowns) in the red zone this year? Jamison Hensley (ESPN): I don't like to say this, because you never want to highlight an injury, but the Steelers can improve in the red zone without Rashard Mendenhall.

Should Browns add Donovan McNabb?

Source: AFC North Blog

ESPN's Chris Sprow provides three reasons why the Cleveland Browns should consider signing quarterback Donovan McNabb. Here's my rebuttal: No, no, no. McNabb has nothing left. He was beaten out by mediocre Rex Grossman in Washington and rookie Christian Ponder in Minnesota. In six starts last season, McNabb threw four touchdown passes and lost five times. McNabb has no value as a backup. Even Eagles coach Andy Reid, who needs a No. 2 passer, isn't touching his former franchise quarterback.

Should Browns consider Donovan McNabb?

Source: AFC North Blog

ESPN's Chris Sprow provides three reasons why the Cleveland Browns should consider signing quarterback Donovan McNabb. Here's my rebuttal: No, no, no. McNabb has nothing left. He was beaten out by mediocre Rex Grossman in Washington and rookie Christian Ponder in Minnesota. In six starts last season, McNabb threw four touchdown passes and lost five times. McNabb has no value as a backup. Even Eagles coach Andy Reid, who needs a No. 2 passer, isn't touching his former franchise quarterback.

First AFC North first-round pick signs

Source: AFC North Blog

The Cincinnati Bengals have the most remaining unsigned draft picks in the division, but they became the first AFC North team to sign its first-round pick. The Bengals announced they have reached a deal with cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, the 17th overall pick in the draft. He agreed to a four-year deal worth $8.6 million with $7.84 million of that fully guaranteed, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. Kirkpatrick’s signing is the earliest by a top Bengals draft pick since 2003, when Cincinnati sealed a deal on April 24 with quarterback Carson Palmer, the top overall selection in that draft.

AFC North minicamp schedule

Source: AFC North Blog

Now that every AFC North team has had their rookie minicamp, it's time for the voluntary minicamps for veteran players to begin. Here's the schedule for each division team: CINCINNATI BENGALS Offseason Team Activities: May 22-24, May 29-31, June 4-7 Minicamps: June 12-14 (full team mandatory) CLEVELAND BROWNS OTAs: May 22-24, May 30-June 1, June 12-15 Minicamps: June 5-7 (full team mandatory) BALTIMORE RAVENS OTAs: May 22-24, ...

The Shutdown Corner Podcast: Greg Cosell on the 2012 AFC North Draft (Shutdown Corner)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

With the draft over and all wrapped up, we thought it would be a good idea to get back on the phone with our buddy Greg Cosell of NFL Films and ESPN's NFL Matchup, and talk about the NFL by division. Who did themselves the most favors in the draft, and who came up short when addressing their roster deficits? The Shutdown Corner Podcast Greg Cosell on the NFC West draft We started off with the NFC West last week , and we now move to the hyper-competitive AFC North. Appropriate, given Greg's recent post on the NFL Films Blog praising the Cincinnati Bengals' draft strategy . With that in mind, we asked Greg what he thought the Bengals, Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburgh Steelers did to bolster their teams. Related: [Cosell on  quarterbacks ,  running backs/wide receivers ,  tight ends/offensive line ,  OLB/DE/DT stars , the ILB/DB class , and overall draft review ] Baltimore Ravens OLB Courtney Upshaw, and how he'll be tasked to replace Terrell Suggs: "The Ravens are very versatile with their fronts. Suggs would line up in two-point and three-point stances. He played a number of different positions and alignments -- that's what the Ravens do, and Upshaw fits that role. I don't think anybody's going to say that he's going to do what Suggs has done for a number of years -- Suggs is a pretty damned good player -- but the way Upshaw plays, I think he could eventually become similar to that guy." Cincinnati Bengals OG Kevin Zeitler: "I seem to be in the minority here, and we'll never know how the Bengals felt because David DeCastro was gone when they picked, but I thought Zeitler was a little more complete than DeCastro -- I thought he was a better athlete. I thought he had more scheme-versatility, and he fits very well in a zone run game. I'm not sure DeCastro does. Now, DeCastro fits in the power run game better; that's what he did at Stanford. But given what the Bengals want their guards to do, I think Zeitler was the better choice, and would have been the better choice had DeCastro been available." The Shutdown Corner Podcast: Greg Cosell on the 2012 AFC North Draft The Cleveland Browns' first-round selections of Trent Richardson and Brandon Weeden: "Theoretically, you could look at it this way -- they ended up with Richardson and Weeden instead of Ryan Tannehill and Doug Martin. And I think Richardson/Weeden is the better combination ... in fact, I don't think, I know. Richardson, we don't need to discuss ... I thought he was the best player in this draft. Weeden has some concerns. He was the best pure pocket passer in this draft, but he's got meaningful and troublesome issues with pressure. That's a serious red flag when you transition to the NFL."

7 Players the Cleveland Browns Will Depend on in 2012

Source: Bleacher Report

"Teamwork is essential. It allows you to blame someone else."—Unknown Cynic

Though football stands as an example of the ultimate team game, the Cleveland Browns face a production deficit in three essential areas: the rushing game, the passing game and defensively against the run.

The Browns' 2012 draft class will need to hit on all cylinders when they arrive back in Berea this summer to prepare for a cruelly-conceived third-strongest-in-the-league schedule, according to ESPN.

Six out of 16 games automatically pit the Browns against 2011 playoff squads, as the AFC North featured three in 2011. But even the matchups against teams with losing records look dubious at first glance: Washington, Kansas City and Buffalo feature remade units with high-profile draft picks and free-agency signees galore.

Indianapolis has cleaned house from the Peyton Manning era and will enjoy the services of the draft's top prospect: quarterback Andrew Luck.

Browns Backers: Rolling with the punches is kind of our thing at this point, so before we get all huffy about how the NFL likes the Steelers better—they do, let's get over it—it's important we consider that no wins will come easy this year (not that they ever do.) and we need not worry about a 2007-like mirage.

If these Browns demonstrate they can compete this year, the quality of their competition will provide outstanding battle-testing.

Browns Backers, brace yourselves: We're going to see what we need to see, not what we want to see.

 

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Richardson, Weeden to Compete in NFLPA Premiere League Flag Football Game

Source: Dawgs By Nature by Chris Pokorny

The NFLPA Rookie Premiere is taking place this weekend in Los Angles, and tonight there is a flag football game with some former and current NFL players, as well as some celebrities. The Cleveland Browns will be well represented in the game, as first-round picks Brandon Weeden and Trent Richardson are scheduled to participate. Whether they are on the same team or not remains to be seen, but the Browns' new tandem could see their first "game action" together rather quickly.

Not that he would even acknowledge

Brandon and Brady: A strange passing tale

Source: CantonRep.com by Steve Doerschuk

It's the B&B boys, Brandon and Brady. They arrived in Cleveland under eerily similar circumstances. It would be best for the team if their paths stopped bearing a resemblance immediately.

Big Ben is bedrock of 'Rosetta Stone' attack

Source: AFC North Blog

One week, Ben Roethlisberger is being given a diploma after graduating from college. The next, he's being handed a new playbook from offensive coordinator Todd Haley. "I joke and say that my final paper for Miami on Tibet was a lot easier than the Rosetta Stone we're doing now here," Roethlisberger told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette last week. The Steelers quarterback might have been showing off with the reference to the the ancient hieroglyphic stone (and not the computer software that helped swimmer Michael Phelps learn some words in Mandarin), but you get the point of the punchline.

Tanier’s Team Reviews: The Seattle Seahawks, via Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson (Shutdown Corner)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

Any website can post "offseason grades" for NFL teams, mixing the draft and free agency into transaction soup, then straining it through the mind of some sportswriter who doesn't know who half the players are. Only the Shutdown Corner has the resources to get actual players, coaches, and executives from each team to evaluate their own offseasons! That's right: over the next few weeks, you will get transaction evaluations straight from the horse's mouths: straight talk about who was signed, who was lost, who was drafted, and why. (For the satirically challenged: all player, coach, and executive remarks are made by an impersonator). In this segment, Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll breaks down his team's offseason moves. PETE CARROLL: What an awesome day! The sun is shining! The birds are chirping! Let me give a shout out to all the folks at The Circle Perk coffee shop for working so hard to keep all of us energized! And to all the crossing guards making sure kids get to school safely! And to the Seattle-area sewer workers: you guys are the thin line that separates good citizens from their own filth, and I cannot thank you enough! Fans really need to get amped about our three-way quarterback battle. The front-runner is Matt Flynn, who got America totally stoked in that awesome Packers-Lions game in Week 17. Next, there's rookie Russell Wilson, who is short but fiery. Isn't that right, Russell? RUSSELL WILSON: Grrrrrr... PETE CARROLL: I love this kid! He's like a feral cat! And finally, there's Tarvaris Jackson, the Taylor Hicks of NFL quarterbacks. You don't like him, you keep expecting him to lose, and then bang! He finds a way to win a starting job, if not many games. But enough about the offense. Let's talk defense!! We are going to have one of the best front sevens in the NFL!! Defensive tackle Jason Jones had a great, if quiet, season for the Titans last year. First-round pick Bruce Irvin may have seemed like a reach, but that is only because West Virginia had this crazy idea that a 245-pound speedster was a good fit at defensive end. I like my defensive ends Red Bryant-sized! When I am not being enthusiastic about everything, you can find me in my office drawing up creative defenses, and Irvin is going to be everywhere the offense doesn't expect him to be!!! Irvin and Wilson had awesome rookie camps. In fact, all of the rookies had awesome camps, as did our parking lot attendants and the people who work so hard to make sure the office wastebaskets are clean enough to guzzle energy drink out of!! Let me dedicate my Song of the Day to the rookies: "Dog Days are Over" by Florence + the Machine! That's right: I'm a 60-year old man who listens to Florence + the Machine!!! Nicky Minaj, too! And don't forget Ke$ha, who is tiny and has a nasty attitude, just like Russell Wilson!!! RUSSELL WILSON: Grrrr… PETE CARROLL: Excellent growling, buddy!!

49er says team didn't target Big Ben's ankle

Source: AFC North Blog

San Francisco linebacker Aldon Smith told the Sacramento Bee that the 49ers weren't targeting Ben Roethlisberger's injured ankle in a Dec. 19 game. "Our goal was to win the game," said Smith, who had 2.5 sacks that game. "We don't go out and talk about hurting other players, their ankles or injuries or any of that. We were going out to win the game. The quarterback, he controls the game. So if he got hit, it happens." While no one expected any of the 49ers to admit they went after Roethlisberger's ankle, Smith's defense is supported by the research done by my NFC West colleague Mike Sando, who found no evidence of it when he reviewed every Steelers offensive play from that game.

Tanier’s Team Reviews: The Arizona Cardinals, via Kevin Kolb (Shutdown Corner)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

Any website can post "offseason grades" for NFL teams, mixing the draft and free agency into transaction soup, then straining it through the mind of some sportswriter who doesn't know who half the players are. Only the Shutdown Corner has the resources to get actual players, coaches, and executives from each team to evaluate their own offseasons! That's right: over the next few weeks, you will get transaction evaluations straight from the horse's mouths: straight talk about who was signed, who was lost, who was drafted, and why. (For the satirically challenged: all player, coach, and executive remarks are made by an impersonator). In this segment, Cardinals quarterback (at least for now) Kevin Kolb breaks down the Arizona Cardinals' offseason moves. KEVIN KOLB: Howdy folks. Don't mind me. I'm just tyin' a few flies, polishin' up the outboard motor, gettin' ready to hit the lake. Goin' fishin' right after we're done. It won't take long, 'cuz the Cardinals didn't do much this offseason. We didn't get a new quarterback for one thing. Sure, the team chased Peyton Manning, but that was one big river bass with a lot of fight in him. So the quarterback job is mine to lose. And don't you worry, I'm gonna lose it. It's not that John Skelton is any better than me: he may have led just as many fourth-quarter comebacks as Tim Tebow last year (four), but only city slickers and TV blowhards in fancy suits pay attention to those cow chips. I just have no idea what to do in the pocket. So the third or fourth time I roll to my right and get dragged down by Aldon Smith or somebody, Coach Whisenhunt's gonna decide it's time to cut some fresh bait. I know Larry Fitzgerald's happy about our new second receiver, Malcolm Floyd. Floyd liked to hit the honky-tonks in college, but he's a big guy, and when he wants to be, he can be as fast as a boar gettin' flushed by three hound dogs.

Wake-up: Ed Reed now says he will play

Source: AFC North Blog

Every morning, grab a cup of coffee and get your AFC North wake-up call here: Ravens safety Ed Reed is backpedalling once again, saying he now plans on playing in 2012 and beyond. Reed created a stir Thursday when he told SiriusXM NFL Radio that he was "not 100 percent committed right now to playing this year." He has since changed his stance. "It's not about retirement, it's about my focus in the offseason, health, family and football," Reed said in a statement given to the Carroll County (Md.

Daily Dawg Chow (5/18/12)

Source: Dawgs By Nature by Jon @ DBN

Cleveland Browns:

"Browns DT Phil Taylor's surgery 'went well' today, team spokesman says" (Ohio.com) - "As expected, Browns defensive tackle Phil Taylor had surgery today to repair his torn left pectoral muscle. Dr. Mark Schickendantz performed the surgery at the Cleveland Clinic, said Neal Gulkis, the Browns’ vice president of media relations."
"A prospective new USFL conjures memories of how the Browns once became contenders

Lions' Sims put on weight to go from good to great (The Associated Press)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) Detroit Lions offensive guard Rob Sims has put on weight to go from good to great.

AFC North Preview Part I: The Baltimore Ravens.

Source: Cleveland Browns Report by C.B.R.

Looking around the league there is almost no division tougher than the AFC North. Every team from the division had a top ten defense and three out of the four teams made the playoffs last season. Add the hostile weather climate which plays a factor in all four locations, combined with rabid fans and the AFC North is not for the faint at heart. Now that the Draft is complete and free agency has died down we will look at this division team-by-team. We will look at their strengths and their weaknesses and analyze their chances for success in this tough division. This will be a four part series...

The Rams Belong in Los Angeles: Fan’s View (Yahoo! Contributor Network)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

It's time for the return of the Los Angeles Rams. As a transient fan who has followed the team since its days in Anaheim Stadium, this is a hard line for me to take, especially when there are so many outstanding people in St. Louis.

Does LeSean McCoy's deal help Ray Rice?

Source: AFC North Blog

The Eagles signed running back LeSean McCoy to a five-year, $45 million extension Thursday evening, $20.76 million of which is guaranteed. This continues to provide a framework of the market value for running backs, but this deal might not accelerate the signing of Ravens running back Ray Rice. The problem is the disparity between the tiers for running backs. McCoy's deal is in line with the second tier like the Texans' Arian Foster (five years, $43.

DK on the NFL: Pete Prisco's Top 100

Source: Scout.com

It's that time of the year again. It's time to argue.

Will Cleveland Browns DT Phil Taylor Play This Season?

Source: Dawg Pound Daily by Steve DiMatteo

Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Phil Taylor underwent surgery this week to repair a torn left pectoral muscle, an injury that can visit site to read more]

Will Cleveland Browns DT Phil Taylor Play This Season? - Dawg Pound Daily - Dawg Pound Daily - A Cleveland Browns Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and more.

Rookies and wild cards: Browns’ offense will be different

Source: CantonRep.com by GateHouse Media, Inc.

A look at what’s new and some of the wild-card possibilities on the depth chart of “skill players” running around in the Browns’ spring practice.

No respect for AFC North quarterbacks

Source: AFC North Blog

The AFC North quarterbacks received no love from NFL.com, which ranked the division's passers fifth in the league. This is a little low in my estimation. Ben Roethlisberger, Joe Flacco, Andy Dalton and Brandon Weeden (or Colt McCoy) should at least be No. 4. Here's how NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah assessed the division: It was a tough call putting this group behind the AFC West QBs. Big Ben has two Super Bowl rings and is arguably the best in the league at extending the play.

Report: Reed not fully committed to playing

Source: AFC North Blog

Ravens safety Ed Reed said he's "not 100 percent committed right now to playing this year," according to tweets from Sirius Radio's Rich Gannon and Adam Schein. When asked if the Ravens know he's not committed, Reed said, "I'm sure they will after this interview." Let's not overreact to this. This isn't news. This is Ed being Ed. This is the same player who has contemplated retirement every year since the end of the 2008 season because of a nerve impingement in his neck -- even saying he was 50-50 to return in January 2010 -- but he always ends up playing.

Tomlin is 8th on highest-paid pro coach list

Source: AFC North Blog

The Steelers' Mike Tomlin has proved to be one of the top coaches in the NFL, and he's getting paid like one. With an annual salary of $5.8 million, he ranks tied for eighth on the list of highest-paid coaches in sports and tied for sixth among NFL coaches, according to Forbes. In terms of football, Tomlin is only behind the Patriots' Bill Belichick ($7.5 million), the Redskins' Mike Shanahan ($7 million), the Rams' Jeff Fisher ($7 million), the Seahawks' Pete Carroll ($7 million) and the Bears' Lovie Smith ($6 million).