Sunday, February 28, 2010

Help is on the way

INDIANAPOLIS - The Browns will make two of the first 38 picks in the draft in April - seventh in the first round on April 22 and the sixth pick in the second round the next day. No matter what happens in the first six picks on the first day, they should come away with two starters with their top two picks. I am more convinced of that than ever after spending the last four days interviewing players at the Scouting Combine.

Cornerback Joe Haden from Florida and safety Eric Berry from Tennessee came across as confident but not cocky players. USC free safety Taylor Mays seemed to have an attitude.

Dez Bryant is the undisputed top receiver in the draft and at least one draft prognosticator has the Browns taking him. I'm not sure about him. I thought he was a bit of a flake. The Browns already had one - we will call him strange - wide receiver in Braylon Edwards. They don't need another one.

Texas cornerback/safety Earl Thomas will be coachable and Alabama inside linebacker Rolando McClain played in the 3-4 with the Crimson Tide, so he's ready to go.

Stay tuned. Free agency begins Friday. It is an exciting offseason for the Browns.

Friday, February 26, 2010

Jets' G.M. jabs Berea

INDIANAPOLIS - Mike Tannenbaum, the general manager of the New York Jets, took a rip at Berea on Friday when he was asked about Braylon Edwards.

Edwards was never gung-ho about working in the Browns offseason program during his time in Cleveland. Now that he is in the Big Apple, Tannenbaum expects to see a lot of Edwards when their offseason program begins next month.

“With Braylon it’s going to be a really important offseason for him getting acclimated to our offense and working with (quarterback) Mark Sanchez every day,” Tannenbaum said Friday at the NFL Scouting Combine. “It’s important for him to be with us all the time. He has the ability to be a much better player long-term by being in our program every day.”

The Browns traded Edwards to the Jets on Oct. 7 for linebacker Jason Trusnik, wide receiver Chansi Stuckey plus a third-round and a fifth-round draft pick. Edwards will be a restricted free agent on March 5, but the Jets plan to tender him an offer that would virtually assure them no other team will sign him.

Asked what makes him think Edwards will participate in the Jets program in Florham Park, N.J. after making only cameo appearances in the Browns’ program, Tannenbaum answered:

“Have you ever been to Florham Park in March?

“No, I can’t say that I have,” the reporter said.

“It’s a wonderful place to be,” Tannenbaum said. “I’ve been there. I’ve been to Berea, so that’s – Florham Park is a really nice place. We have a lot to offer and a lot to do.”

Florham Park is about 50 minutes from New York City in an upscale neighborhood.

Tannenbaum worked in the Browns personnel department in 1995, so he is acquainted with the city where the Browns train. His shot was more at the city than the Browns’ training complex.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

G.M. praises Holmgren

INDIANAPOLIS - We're here at the NFL Scouting Combine in frigid Indianapolis. First up to the podium is Forty-niners general manager Scott McCloughan. McCloughan says the Browns got a winner when they named Mike Holmgren team president.

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Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Kiper likes Haden

During a conference call Wednesday afternoon ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper projected the Browns taking cornerback Joe Haden from Florida with the seventh pick in the NFL draft in April.

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Wednesday, February 10, 2010

McNabb would help

The Browns have had preliminary talks with the Eagles about a trade that would put Donovan McNabb in a Browns uniform. I say if the asking price isn't too high, go for it.

McNabb is in the last year of his contract, so the Eagles cannot expect a ransom for a 33-year-old banged up quarterback near the end of his career. The Browns have 11 draft choices. If they could persuade the Eagles to take a third-round pick and quarterback Derek Anderson it would be a good trade for both teams.

The Browns would still have to draft a quarterback, but the rookie would not have to play immediately if he would be behind McNabb. McNabb has had injury problems, and that has some fans concerned, but he wins; the Eagles were in the playoffs eight times in the last 10 years.

The simple fact the Browns are talking to the Eagles is an indication team president Mike Holmgren believes quarterback has to be improved for the Browns to win. Holmgren hasn't said that; he says he hasn't decided about Brady Quinn or Anderson. But let's face it. The Browns are looking at McNabb or his backup, Kevin Kolb, as a starter. That doesn't bode well for Quinn even if a trade with the Eagles doesn't materialize.