Gruden: Browns fan
There is NO worthwhile Browns news right now. The closest thing going is a story about John Gruden and Chuck Noll at a University of Dayton fundraiser. John Gruden explains that he grew up a Browns fan, hating the Steelers. Also, I should remind everyone that Gruden went to UD, won a Super Bowl, and managed to get a DUI while I was attending UD myself (thus cementing a certain sort of reputation in places like the UD Ghetto). It's nice to see him come back and lend some support to his alma mater though. And if you ask me, UD is on the upswing in general... hey, if that whole NCAA basketball "Catholic Leauge" conference becomes a reality, look out.

Cavs are lucky?

I didn't think "Cavs" and "lucky" could possibly go in the same sentence, but tonight at least their 22.5% chance got them Lebron James. I could speculate on how Lebron is a prime candidate for a collassal flame-out but I won't. Might as well enjoy The Dream right now. It is a pretty nice dream.

June 1 cuts


Of the sparce June 1st casualties, the only name the stands out of possible interest to the Browns seems to be CB Ray Crockett. Do the Browns want a veteran to help in the secondary? Probably not if they let a guy like Fuller go, but if the market isn't very kind to Crockett and the coaches have reevalutated their secondary needs after QB school, maybe we'll see some interest.

Tonight is the night for the Cavaliers -- the ping-pong balls bounce and there's a 22.5% chance of getting the 1st pick in the draft. I'm sure lots of people would agree that it is downright comical that, in a sense, the fate of the franchise rests on some ping-ping balls. Hey, better than it resting on the shoulders of Jim Paxson.... anyhow, I'm all for getting the 1st pick and Lebron -- at the very least it'd be fun -- but getting any of the first 3 picks would probably serve the franchise well. And if the team ends up with pick 4 or 5, then we are, um, back to hoping for Ricky Davis to stop being a punk and for Z's feet to hold up. Ha!

Sehorn signs elsewhere...

One year deal with St. Louis. This is fine by me. Maybe he'll be a pleasant surprise for the Rams, but here in Cleveland we really need our young guys to establish themselves. Even if, say, Lewis Sanders proves to be completely ineffective, at least we will know and quit wasting a roster spot on guys who can't help the team win. With Sehorn all we likely would have gotten was average play while the player plans for his retirement.

Slow news day

Another article that suggests Holcomb may be the man. Otherwise, it has been a slow weekend for Browns news. The biggest actual news -- that OL Reese Hicks had been released. Hicks was an undrafted rookie FA and was pursued by a few teams. I don't want to read too much into this, but it is probably a sign that the coaching staff is optimisitc about the offensive line at this point. Hey, I'll take that.

First day of school -- QB battle begins

Yahoo says Holcomb will win job

Unknown fan reports on 30 minutes of practice at quarterback scool -- the first known report of the QBs in action.

As Quarterback school opens today, the time has come to blather about the quaterback position...

I am a Couch fan. But last season he lost me -- there was a moment after a particularly bad decision during the first Ravens game where I announced this to several dozen fellow fans in section 503. I thought he needed to be benched on the merit of his play that week; it looked like he just wasn't prepared to play. A benching would have testing him, and maybe knocked it through his head that he has to come to play. But that's not how it went down.... he got hurt, shed tears, and all hell broke loose with the QB situation.

While Holcomb's great performance in the playoffs is a big vote in his favor, there is much more to the situation. Couch's attitude after the first Ravens game was not good (they booed me, WAAYHHh!!!) but was fiery (cuss words, etc.). Couch inconsistent play the rest of the way was both good (he hung in there) and bad (he looked bad much of the time). Then in the big victory in the second Ravens game he pulled a rabbit out of the hat for a huge win -- but proceeded to flip the bird to the fans on the way out. Not too classy. If Couch could even harness his intensity and leadership ability he could be a force to be reckoned with -- but there are a lot of questions about that.

Almost everything about Holcomb is positive -- he's a steady leader, and aggressive thrower, and seems prepared for the job. No one doubts that if Holcomb starts this team will win often. He probably doesn't have quite the physical attributes of Couch but he's not too far behind. The biggest thing for Holcomb is his ability to stay healthy since he was hurt twice last season.

I think Holcomb is bound to start some games in 2003. The question is whether this happens because he becomes the starter right out of training camp, or whether he subs in when Couch is hurt or ineffective. The "qb battle" is interesting but is not about one guy coming out on top -- it's about getting both of these guys ready to play, because it's a safe bet the team will need each player at different points of the year.

If Couch wins the job (and he sure looked good last preseason) he'll be on a short leash. There will be pressure to be consistent and to keep a cool head. Holcomb's presence will test (and hopefully encourage) Couch's maturity. This is a test every Browns fan should hope Couch passes (pun intended).

If Holcomb wins the job he will likely be more entenched as the starter, and Couch will play only if there is an injury. It seems likely Holcomb would hold the job and play well, perhaps extremely well. A season as the second-stringer would be another sort of test for Couch. If Holcomb stays healthy and ended the year as the starter, the Browns would seek to sign him to an extensions and Couch would be traded since his contract is far too big to justify as a backup. This is not a bad outcome, though one potentially bad outcome is Holcomb not re-signing with the Browns and Couch back as the starter in 2004 --- that could be awkward and probably disastrous.

For 2003 this "battle" is likely to be good for the team. I rate the possibilities this way:

1. 40% Holcomb starts the year as the starter. He plays good, maybe great. Couch spells Holcomb in event of injury. Holcomb ends year as starter.
   
2. 30% Couch starts the year as starter. He plays okay, possibly very good. Holcomb spells Couch in event of injury, and possibily spells him when Couch has a bad day. Couch ends year as starter.
   
3. 15% Holcomb starts the year as the starter. He either plays well but gets hurt, or plays poorly. Couch seizes the oppurtunity and takes over as starter for the rest of the season.
   
4. 15% Couch starts the year as starter. He plays inconsistently and Holcomb takes over in midseason. Holcomb ends year as starter.
   

The main thing for the Browns is that someone ends the year playing very well. If it is Couch, that's great cause they've got a lot of money invested in him and perhaps they can even retain Holcomb. If it is Holcomb, that is wonderful too because it means he played very well and perhaps the team can trade Couch for a 2nd or 3rd rounder. The team would take a salary cap hit, but the issue would be settled.

Ragone

He's not a Brown but he is from Cleveland and St. Ignatius. Who knows, he may be the most high profile Cleveland QB since Elvis. I think he's got a great shot at being a starter in 2-3 years -- and with the Texans Browns-like offensive line it could happen sooner than anyone thinks. Check out this article on Dave Ragone.

Miller retiring

...reportedly due to the injury. Which begs the obvious question -- why the hell has he been toying with signing to play next season? I guess he was hoping for the best and keeping his options open. But the BS about not wanted to be a role player sounds pretty hollow. Steinburg says Miller may go into broadcasting or go into the sports representation business (which seems a little, um, interesting given Miller's multiple bungled contract situations).

Anyway, once again I'll say it -- this is all just fine for the Browns. The team already has a big distraction at QB this offseason, and the last thing they need is an injured Miller being a part of the mix, especially since in recent years has said some questionable things about management and Couch. Let the young linebackers prepare knowing they will be thrown into the fire; I think they'll be a pleasant surprise.

Depth

A nice article, via Ace Davis' Blog.

Jamir is cut loose for real

All over the news is the Browns recinding their offer to Jamir Miller. You could see that coming for the last few days. I think the team will be okay. I think Jamir will be okay too, though he might sit out a year. I do wonder why the Browns played such hardball with him -- the recent descriptions of Miller as a "situational player" were unneccessary. I also wish Miller could have swallowed his pride and played out the year. Of course, he is recovering from a major injury and he is unlikely to be 100% for another year or so. It is probably for the best that Miller sits out a year and maybe he'll come back strong in 2004. But it won't be with the Browns.

Ben Taylor, stud

Here's nice article. Actually he seems to be all over the news right now. Here's another one.

Miller still MIA, but the linebackers will be okay

The nfl offseason is as much fun as the real season, maybe more so. It's like fantasy football except there is never an actual game to spoil the imaginary strenths and weaknesses of the team. For instance, i have pondered what it will be like for the Browns to start Bentley/Thompson at one WSLB, Davis/Boyer at MLB and Taylor/Gardner at SSOLB. In my mind, they are not so bad, yet in reality -- there is no reality, and in fact there is almost no evidence to make a prediction on. Whatever, anyway I am near convinced of a few things--

• Our young linebackers are going to perform well, and you don't need the rumors of other teams trying to trade for them to think that. It is reasonable to think that 2 of the 3 drafted guys last year will make a positive impact. It helps that they are all faster than the veterans they'd replace.
  
• Ben Taylor will make a fine starter, maybe even a very good one. He looked tough in camp last year, and it's too bad he had the injuries he did. All the comments coming out of Berea suggest that Taylor will be ready to shine this year.
  
• Kevin Bentley will be okay. I generally liked what I saw of him last season despite a few obvious screw-ups. There will be more mistakes this year, but also some big plays. Like Taylor, injuries slowed him down, but he did make a strong push in the early season to supplant Rudd.
  
• Davis made a fine INT against Pittsburgh, but we really didn't see too much of him last year while Earl Holmes was entrenched in the middle. The opportunity to start is there this year, as Davis is clearly the most likely candidate. We will learn a lot about Davis during the preseason.
  
• Chaun Thompson is going to play. He might not start, but there is no reason to think he won't get significant playing time on passing downs. It'd be foolish to predict too much out of Thompson, but he's a good enough athlete that he'll make some plays.
  
• If our defensive line rebounds from last year's lame performance (can it be that hard to do?), that only helps the LB corp. If we are to believe Davis is following the "Dallas mold" then these young linebackers fit the profile of being both aggressive and fast. It will be up to the defensive line to hold it's end of the bargain.
  

Nothing is happening with Jamir Miller. In fact, I think it's likely Miller doesn't play this season and hopes he and his Achilles will find themselves with better market conditions next year at this time (which is likely, if he wants to play of course). In any event, voluntary "quarterback school" in a week seems to be a safe bet for a "make or break" date for Jamir. Nobody fret; while it sure would be nice to have Miller circa 2001 back, he probably is not the same player. And the defense has had such a turnover it's possible another player will emerge as a leading pass rusher (I'm serious -- Word? Thompson? Andra Davis? Why not? Hell, C Brown?).

Tuesday thoughts

Even if you didn't think much of the Browns draft you have to like 6th round pick Antonio Garay. Rated as one of the best defensive ends in the country at the start of last season, Garay could prove to be an extremely valuable defensive lineman if he can overcome some of his injury problems. He is slated to move to defensive tackle where he may be a bit undersized but reportedly has a great "first step" that Butch likes. There's of course no guarantee Garay can stay healthy but for a 6th round pick you have to like his chances. If he can be a 3rd or 4th defensive lineman and provide something of a pass rush next to Warren we should all be ecstatic. Overall, I still think the defensive line will be a strength of this team despite it's poor showing last season. Roye and Warren will have good years, C Brown will hopefully contribute, and Word, McKinley will team with guys like Garay. Will it be enough to stop the run? We'll see, but I like the potential.

Also, one thing that can safely be noted now -- Butch's draft philosophy is coming into focus more and more. Although no longer a college coach, I think Davis is still trying to outsmart NCAA coaches by finding good prospects who played out of position like Crocker (moving to CB from safety) and Garay (moving inside to DL). These are not major position changes but they are things that Butch obviously believes makes these guys much more valuable in the NFL. It also helps explain why the Browns "reached" for guys the draft pundits had rated lower.

I think when all is said and done and we are a month into the 2004 season it will be obvious that the travails of this offseason were overblown. The draft was fine, maybe even excellent. Couch is still a decent NFL quarterback who will win some games for this team. Jamel White will continue to be an effective running back and receiver. And all the inexperienced linebackers will perform well enough to keep the defense competitive, and by the end of the year they may be outperforming last years trio of Rudd, Hambrick, and Holmes.

Miller to retire?

At age 29 Jamir Miller is considering retirement because the financial incentive to keep playing football may not be great enough. With all due respect to Jamir, who is a pretty class guy, this is insane. He's got an offer to make 1.65 million for one year of football, and if he plays well he could play the next year for twice that or better. It sure seems like Miller is sulking about not getting a better payday than he deserves.

I'm almost 29 and have changed jobs 3 times. I could always tell when it was time for a job change because I would suddenly be unsatisfied with the amount of money I was making. And I think I read a study once that said employees who demand a raise and get it are still likely to quit that job within a year or two. In other words, Jamir may be checked out of football. The NFL is not a good place for someone who isn't hungry, and the only way Jamir is likely to regain that hunger is to sit on the sidelines for a season. That's too bad.

Miller says he won't have anything to say for a week or two. Policy suggests Miller needs to decide in the very near future. I'm with Policy on this one.

News + Notes

Some interesting things to consider today:

• Northcutt is a FA after this year.
  
• The longer mIller waits the worse for the Browns
  
• We drafted a longsnapper in the 5th round.
  
• We drafted a longsnapper in the 5th round.
  

Suggs has only partial tear

The news is dominated today by the fact that Lee SUggs has only a partial tear of his shoulder, meaning he could be healthy for preseason football. Needless to say, the media is taking it as a given he'll be on the field. Butch seems to think it will still be unlikely. So do I. Even if he is almost completely healthy for preseason football and even if he plays in some preseason games, the team will have to consider weather he will really be much better than James Jackson. He may be. But it's not hard to imagine putting Suggs on IR and letting him train with the team all year and heal from knee and shoulder injuries, setting up a healthy Suggs for a very strong "rookie" campaign in 2004. But this does open the possibility of Suggs playing preseason football + really tearing it up, forcing his way onto the team. You can bet James Jackson is not too excited about that possibility.

Oh yeah, my alma mater has a kicker trying out too.

Rookie FA Class to be announced today, Browns draft still getting panned, screw the Ravens

The list of undrafted rookeis signing with the Browns will be officially announced today. Lots of names you never heard of, lots of college press releases touting the players. Hopefully the Browns get some practice squad players out of the bunch, and maybe even 1-2 will make the team.

Around the country the Browns' draft got almost all negative reviews. The worst give them a failing grade. The reality is not so bad, and I believe things could work out very well. I know Butch Davis certainly thinks so.

As the Browns got bad grades, the Ravens have enjoyed near universal applause for getting Terrell Suggs and Kyle Boller. Give me a break. In face no one noticed, a lot of teams passed on Suggs and had some fairly good reasons for doing so -- multiple sluggish workouts, some inconsistant college performances. Suggs is likely to have his moments playing next to Ray Lewis and may be a standout performer, but that is no more guaranteed to happen than with any other top 20 pick. And Boller -- c'mon! The Ravens did not get the guy for free as they traded away next year's 1st round pick, and the guy is far from a sure thing. Despite immense physical talent Boller has enjoyed only one very good college campaign. Between the two of them, there is a decent chance one of these picks is not going to pan out. And the team still needs a WR. Maybe the Ravens will pick a star WR next year. but it won't be in the first round....