Recapping Week Two: Kicking The Colts When They're Down

Monday mornings always feel a little lighter after a Browns win, don't they?  Those type of Mondays have been few and far between for this franchise of late, so we'll savor this one right until opening kickoff against the Dolphins on Sunday.  I think it is safe to say that the Browns don't win Sunday if Manning is under center - but the Browns made strides toward respectability. 

Recapping Week One: A Familiar Feeling....Ugh.

Why do we Browns fans continue to subject ourselves to this torture? Browns games are quickly becoming 3 hours of frustration that I could do without. I love football, but not the kind of sloppy, frustrating and disappointing football the Cleveland Browns give me almost every week. 

Know Thy Enemy: The Cincinnati Bengals - Week One

The Browns season opening home game against the Bengals will be an excellent gauge of how well the coaches and players have done in this shortened and bizarre offseason. Like the Browns, the Bengals installed a new west coast offense and experienced high roster turnover from last season.  However, the Bengals are adding a rookie quarterback into the mix with a new offensive coordinator, Jay Gruden (Chucky's brother.) 

Realistic Expectations For Tonight's Browns Game Versus Philly

So tonight is the Browns third preseason game, which typically serves as the "dress rehearsal" where starters get their most extensive playing time before the regular season starts.  For the Browns, however, tonight may not reveal much, except that the team has a lot of injuries. 

Getting To Know Usama Young

Many Browns' fans viewed the signing of veteran free agent Usama Young with little interest and even some skepticism. Fans were aware of the Browns' need at safety and were clamoring for more well-known free agents. Young was a backup DB in New Orleans with limited game experience. Yet Browns' GM Tom Heckert saw potential in Young and the team went out and got him. He is now competing with Mike Adams for the starting Free Safety spot, with the coaching staff hoping he wins the battle.

Question: What Are The Browns Going To Spend $31 Million On?

With the release of Jake Delhomme, the Browns are now more than $35 million under the salary cap of approximately $120 million for this season.  The new CBA will require teams to spend 99% of the salary cap this year, with the deadline for that spending towards the end of the season.  That number is a bit misleading because the 99% refers to the league as a whole.  The lowest percentage any single team can spend is 89%.  Applying that to the Browns would result in spending $31 million at minimum.

Question: Who Will Start At Safety Opposite T.J. Ward?

This post is the first in a series that will ponder the questions that need to be answered for the Browns whenever the season starts.  Hey, until we know if there will be NFL football this season - we have to talk about something, right?

Browns' Veterans In Free Agent Limbo - What Will Team Need?

An appeals court ruling is expected today or tomorrow on whether to maintain or lift a stay on the NFL lockout.  If the stay is lifted, that means free agency must begin - but what will it look like and what will the rules be?  Now that there is no Players Union, some of the old free agency rules might be challenged by the Players Association as violations of anti-trust laws, such as franchise tags and free agent tenders.  The most likely route for the NFL to take is to keep the same rules that were in effect in 2010: no salary cap, no salary floor and unrestricted free agency after six years of service instead of four.

Those rules put a whole lot of players with 3, 4, or 5 years of service in a potentially bad position.  Apparently, for those players whose contracts have expired with their current team, but who have yet to reach 6 years of service, the team still retains their contract rights - or the right of first refusal if another team wants to sign the player. 

Get To Know Wide Receiver Greg Little

Greg Little was the Browns' second pick in the second round, #59 overall.  Little played college football at North Carolina as both a running back and wide receiver before being suspended for all of the 2010 season for accepting improper gifts from an agent.  At 6'3" and 230 pounds, Little is a beast who can catch like a wide out and runs like a 230 pound running back once he has the ball.  He also blocks like a tight end.  With first round talent, Little fell into the 2nd round because he missed all of last season and has a "diva" label, though he recently claimed missing a whole season humbled him.

Get To Know Defensive End Jabaal Sheard

Jabaal Sheard, a defensive end from Pittsburgh, was the Browns' second round pick at #37 overall.  Below are scouting reports and highlight videos.  As you'll see, Sheard is very good with his hands and lives in the backfield.