Cleveland Browns

I think it's a posturing move. They are attempting to gain interest for someone to move up. I don't think for a second the Browns are serious about Bunkley.

Okay, these are the names of rumored guys for the Browns to bring in. This is what happens when you have a lot of cap space

ILB Bart Scott - Ravens
DE Aaron Kampman- Packers
DE Trevor Pryce- Broncos
DT Ma'ake Kemoeatu-Ravens
WR David Givens-Patriots
WR Joe Jurevicius-Seahawks
C LeCharles Bentley-Saints (just let me dream)
DE (would convert to OLB) Kalimba Edwards- Lions
OLB LaVar Arrington-Redskins
P Dave Zastudil - Ravens
OLB Willie McGinest - Patriots (if he's released)

I won't lie that's a lot of hooch. Realistically I can see the Browns signing Scott, Givens, and maybe Kemoeatu. I'm not sold on Pryce, he's got a bad back, and will want some serious jack. Arrington could be helpful, especially considering he has experience playing the strongside.

LaVar's visit is almost official at this point. This bodes well, with the new salary cap the Browns have roughly $30 mill in space

And think about it. You could soon have Arrington and McGinest for your edge rushers, and have the luxury of not even having to draft Lawson but OL or NT instead...

I'm thinking the Browns score one of the two. If they get both, I love Willie, but he'd have to compete for a spot with Thompson.

I'm kinda marking out for Arrington in Cleveland...the excitement is there. I could see this happening.

But only if the money's right. LaVar seems to really want to stick it to the Redskins, and I wouldn't be surprised if he instead joins Marty in San Diego or Nolan in SF if he can't sign w/ an NFC East team.


Buzzkill!

(Warning- homer statement below)

Romeo could turn LaVar into a star. A baby eater. That's how we do on the shores of Lake Erie

I wouldn't doubt it. RAC probably would be the best coach for Arrington, and it's the best fit for him. But then again, LaVar doesn't believe in dinosaurs, so I have no idea what's he going to do.

I thought that Carl Everett didn't believe in dinosaurs?

Romeo has done a lot for the Browns D, more than people realize. He just needs that one playmaker.

I'm pretty sure LaVar's right there with Carl. Except not necessarily as crazy, just somewhat, um, slow.

Well, that one playmaker and a decent nose tackle...

Romeo did a hell of a job with that team period. It's amazing that he didn't get a head coaching gig before last year.

I think the Browns need more depth at NT. Ethan Kelley and Nick Eason are decent rotational guys, but they need more gnarly, space eater.

Oh man...this could mean Haloti

I know there are others who differ with me on this subject, but you should hope NOT to get Haloti. He's really not that good. I finally got my hands on some Oregon tape and he's just wholly unimpressive. There's certaintly some ability there, but I didn't see him making a whole lot of plays or dominating offensive linemen.

So the past few days you were gone, was Cornbread brainwashing you :P

I think the Browns should invest there $30 mill or so on skill spots like wide receiver (To make up for the loss of Antonio Bryant should he walk) and a pass rushing linebacker such as Kalimba Edwards, Willie McGinest, or LaVar Arrington. With a top fifteen pick, the Browns should focus on building the fronts of both sides of the ball since they were kind of weak. If Ngata falls, which is looking like a possiblity since the teams who need a DT (Buffalo, Oakland, St. Louis) have either addressed the situation (STL) or have bigger needs (Buffalo and Oakland). However, with Morty reporting tonight on ESPN that a deal for Daunte to Oakland is becoming more and more a reality within the next twenty-four hours, I think that could effect the Ngata sweep stakes for the Browns since DT is arguably their biggest need after QB.

I don't think the Raiders are desperate for DTs. Sapp, Kelly, Sands, & everyone's favorite toker, Antaaj Hawthorne. They'll be alright; no need for a first round DT. DTs, generally speaking, are incredibly risky in the first round, esp. early. Bryant won't be back, but the Browns have a good chance at bringing in David Givens. Plus they'll have K2 back. They need to fix the defense. Simple. Give Crennel his new Richard Seymour or McGinest and watch the good times role.

I don't think there's a tackle worth #12, nor should Ngata be their primary target. I actually like Bunkley a little more then Ngata, but he's not worthy of a top 15 pick. Grab a pass rushing OLB or trade down, dear Phil Savage. Or get a RB. Hell, I don't care. Just make sure Jason Allen or Stovall get to the Bucs, damnit.

Skorik, Minnesota has Pat Williams and Kevin Williams, plus Spencer Johnson, and a few other good backups. I absolutely do not see them drafting a DT. If anything, this makes them more players for AJ Hawk.

If the Browns make a move on Kemoeatu (sounds like they will), I think it lessens the possibility of a 1st round NT. I expect either Willie, LaVar, or Kalimba to be a Brown within a week, so then, bang, another need eliminated. This would be a huge boon for Savage, he can get to his BPA philosophy. Such as, if Willie comes to Cleveland, I still think Lawson could be the pick, given Willie's age. The point of this rant is that the Browns are in a very good spot. Let's say they grab a pass rusher, and a NT. Here's my list of possible picks at 12...

Winston Justice - Gives the Browns the OT depth they need
LenDale White/DeAngelo Williams - Phil believes in having a lot of RB's
Chad Greenway - Would be moved to the money WILB spot. I'm pretty sure he can handle it if Ben Taylor could.
Chad Jackson - Would be a HUGE shock, but you never know. The Browns could still need a WR after they lose Bryant.

I'd be extremely happy if free agency brought in these guys (all of which the Browns are talking with):

ILB: either Bart Scott
OLB: Willie McGinest (preferably to show Thompson the ropes a little more) or Will Witherspoon
LB: JAMES Harrison (local guy who can play ILB and OLB, but he is an RFA)
NT: Maake Kemoeatu
P: Dave Zastudil
DE: Anthony Weaver
WR: David Givens


(thanks, skorik)

You have a good chance of getting most of those guys, but I don't think you'll get Witherspoon. I expect Jax to push for him hard (shuddup), plus he's almost strictly a 4-3 WLB. I wouldn't want to see him in a 3-4.

I think Ryan Pickett would be a good fit for Cleveland who would come in at the prime of his career (27) and probably contribute for a whole cylce of a franchise, seeing them during their rebuilding stages (right now) probably to tapering off and either retiring or being released during the rise of the Browns (maybe two or three years down the road). He will be an expensive player at probably four million a year, but he is coming off a good year for the Rams, and has been one of their best defensive players for quite some time.

If the Browns land some players in free agency, I think they could be like the New York Giants, a team that did not have a good year the year before, then with some impact players in free agency they are in the playoffs. However, what I think will seperate the Giants from the Browns is it will be more of quantity over quality, considering the Giants made two big splashes with Pierce and Burress. Here is what I think the Browns could do:
NT Ryan Pickett STL - $4 Million a year
ILB Brandon Moore SF - $1.85 Million a year
OLB Willie McGinest/Kalimba Edwards/LaVar Arrington - $4-5 Million a year
DE Kimo von Oelhoffen - $3.75 Million a year

With a new front line of Pickett, Roye, and Oelhoffen the Browns would have a front that could control the line of scrimmage and then allow some of their newer acquisitions at linebacker to get after the QB.

I think that building DE depth is key. McKinley and Roye are both good 3-4 DE's, but the problem was they had no backups last year. So bringing is a guy like Kimo would be for depth purposes. A lot of people don't see how athletic McKinley really is. He has like 5 blocked kicks since he came to Cleveland. Very underrated, like a young Orpheus Roye.

Local boob Roger Brown is speculating the Browns will draft Greenway for the WILB spot, and it might be the only time I've ever agreed with him. Just for a sample of his work, he once predicted Steve Bellisari would be an All American QB at Ohio State...and this was right before the start of Bellisari's senior year.

I like Brandon Moore though.