Tag Archives: Cleveland

Browns, Dawg Biscuits

Dawg Biscuits: Myles Doesn’t Want to Be a Brown?

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***Dawg Biscuits is a daily rundown of thoughts, news, and opinions on the Cleveland Browns.***

  • A video came out this weekend of possible number one overall pick and Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett pleading with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to trade up for him. In it, Garrett tells Jones that he should trade Tony Romo and picks to the Browns so that they can take him number one overall and he can be a Cowboy. Browns fans are losing their minds about this and it is so unnecessary. Yes, Garrett would prefer to be a Cowboy and yes, he did say he didn’t want to play for a cold weather city, but in another video, posted on twitter by Fox 26 (Houston) sports director Mark Berman Garrett talks about wanting to be a Brown. There are two sides to all stories and unless he pulls an Elway or an Eli he should be the number one pick. He is a talented monster.
  • Many people have talked about how deep this edge rush class is in the 2017 NFL Draft, with as many as seven guys going in round one. That talk has brought about the argument that the Browns should take a quarterback (which is not as deep a unit) at number one. No. NO, they should not. This quarterback class is filled with questions all around. At number one, the Browns need a sure thing and Garrett, who is clearly the best edge rusher available, is the closest to a sure thing you can find.
  • While the quarterback class is weak, I am still among the few that think North Carolina’s Mitch Trubisky can be a very good NFL QB. The kid has everything you want in a franchise signal caller.
  • Speaking of Trubisky, the fact that he was not a starter until 2016, as  a redshirt junior, has been brought up ad nauseam. Carson Wentz sat for years behind a guy who wasn’t an NFL prospect (Brock Jensen), let alone future starter, and how did he look last season? Pretty damn good. College coaches are paid to win games not develop NFL type signal callers. Marquise Williams, who was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Vikings, was a good college quarterback and an athletic freak who helped his college team win ball games. Jensen won National Championships while keeping Wentz on the bench.Just because Williams started over Trubisky does not mean Trubisky won’t be an excellent NFL quarterback. It’s just a weak take.
  • More on this, last night Ken Carman of CBS Radio tweeted out a take from North Carolina quarterbacks coach Keith Heckendorf…
  • carman-mitchy
  • The reasons most likely are that Williams was a very good college quarterback. Some guys are great college quarterbacks, but not suited for the NFL game.
  • Last thought on Trubisky…Biggest worries with him are his true height (hope he is at least 6’2″) and his velocity (hopefully clocked over 56 mph). Outside of either of those coming up short, he will most likely remain my number one QB in this draft.
  • My current top five in this draft at QB…Trubisky, Mahomes, Watson, Kizer, Kaaya.
  • Mahomes is rising because of what he can be. He’s a mix of Favre, Cutler, and Manziel…As long as the good outshines the bad, the future can be very, very, bright.
  • After releasing Josh McCown and Tramon Williams, the Browns have more than $100 million in cap space. Even with that, don’t expect them to go crazy in free agency. They will add some pieces, but they won’t go overboard.
  • The reason they have so much cap space is because they don’t have the piece that takes up most of a teams cap, a franchise QB.
  • That’s all for today. Want to finish off before I say anything about a certain growing legend that rides the bench for the Patriots…
Browns

Browns Cut Season Ticket Prices for 2017

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first-energy-stadium
The Browns hope there will be less orange seats as they cut ticket prices. GETTY IMAGES

Cleveland— In a move that is indicative of the product on the field at First Energy Stadium, the Cleveland Browns announced that they will be cutting season ticket prices in certain areas for the 2017 season.

Most sections will remain the same price, but about 40% of their season tickets will be cheaper than the previous season, including 90% of the upper deck seating areas.Tickets will range from $25-$65 per game in those areas. This is the eighth time in nine years that the team has not raised their prices and given the product on the field, the fact that they will be among the bottom two franchises as far as pricing seems very fitting.

Of course lost in the announcement that the pricing in some areas will be cheaper this season is the fact that the team will have one less home game in 2017 since they will be hosting a game in London.

Browns

Browns Bring in Lee as QB Coach

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The Cleveland Browns search for a quarterback coach came to an end on Wednesday when the team hired former Buffalo Bills quarterbacks coach David Lee to the same position.

Lee will step in to the spot that was briefly held by tight ends coach Greg Seamon, who coached quarterbacks at the Senior Bowl , after Pep Hamilton left the team to head back to college as an offensive assistant for the Michigan Wolverines.

Before working in Buffalo, Lee also worked with Rex Ryan in New York as the Jets QB coach for two seasons. He has worked in both the NFL and the college ranks in various offensive positions during a career that has spanned nearly four decades.

The addition of Lee from Buffalo will only fuel the fire of Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor coming to the shored of Lake Erie, if the team decides to release him before guaranteeing $30 million on his contract.

Browns, Uncategorized

Report: Browns Release Josh McCown

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According to Mike Garafalo of the NFL Network, the Cleveland Browns have released veteran quarterback Josh McCown.

McCown, 37, joined the Browns in 2015. He threw for 3209 yards with 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

Originally brought in by former general manager Ray Farmer to be a mentor to Johnny Manziel, McCown became a fan favorite and showed unbelievable toughness on the field. There were reports that the team and head coach Hue Jackson offered McCown a chance to stay on as a coach, but the veteran still wants to continue his career as a player.

McCown signed a three-year deal to join the Browns and was due over $3.5 million in 2017, as well as a $750,000 roster bonus.

Browns

Browns Add Former Buckeye Powell

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On Monday the Cleveland Browns announced that they have claimed Tyvis Powell off of waivers from the Seattle Seahawks.

Powell, a 6’3″ 211 pound defensive back, went undrafted in the 2016 NFL Draft following an outstanding career as an Ohio State Buckeye.

Powell had 11 tackles and one interception for the Seahawks in the preseason, but was mainly a special teamer during the regular season and then was cut during the playoffs. Powell, who grew up in Bedford, Ohio is known as a diehard Browns fan by those who have covered him, will now have a chance to fulfill his dream of playing for his childhood team. He will also bring much needed depth to one of the weakest spots on the Browns current roster.

 

Browns, Draft

QB Search 2017: Player Profile Jimmy Garoppolo

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*This is the first part of a 10 part series where we will take a look at the Cleveland Browns options for the elusive quarterback of the future. 

jimmy-g

Name: Jimmy Garoppolo

Height: 6’2 1/4″

Weight: 225 pounds

Throws: Right

School: Eastern Illinois

NFL Team: New England Patriots

Draft Spot or Projection: 2nd round, 62nd overall (2014)

Strengths: Good, but not great size…Excellent usage of his eyes, scans the entire field…lightning fast release…accurate…smooth, natural delivery…good feet, helps evade pocket pressure, average pocket presence, resets himself after getting “happy feet” on occasions…very good ball placement…stays calm, leader on the field, does not show many ups and downs…executes his offense well…elite production at FCS school with 13,156 yards and 118 touchdowns…2013 Walter Payton Award winner…

Weaknesses: Velocity is not elite, but good enough…needs to continue to improve his decision making…deep ball accuracy issues…has tendency to go side arm at times…will take time to develop…holds the ball to long and needs to develop a better internal clock…gets happy feet when faced with pressure and does not show great form when forced to improvise…

Summary: When I wrote the original scouting report on Garoppolo in 2014, I saw him as a late second to early third round quarterback who would be an NFL starter if given the time to develop. After sitting behind Brady and working with Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels over the past three seasons, he has been given the proper time to develop and has been taught by some of the best ever. If Garoppolo was in the 2017 draft with his current skill set, shown in minimal NFL playing time, I truly believe he would he would be a first round pick.

Up next: Bengals QB A.J. McCarron

Browns

Browns Hire Greg Williams as DC

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The Cleveland Browns have hired former Rams defensive coordinator Greg Williams to the same position.

The hiring of Williams marks the end to the second, very short, tour of duty for outgoing Browns defensive coordinator Ray Horton. Horton has now been fired by the Browns twice in four seasons, both times after one season.

Williams, who was fired after the season by LA, led a defense with the Rams that was ranked ninth in yards and 23rd in points allowed. The Browns defense, filled with youth, finished the 2016 season giving up the third most yards and second most points in the league.

While he is best known for his role in the bounty gate scandal while with the Saints, Williams is a leader of men and expects greatness on the field from his defense.

Browns head coach echoed those sentiments in his first words after the hiring, “We are thrilled that Gregg Williams is joining our staff as defensive coordinator,” Browns head coach Hue Jackson said in a statement. “Gregg has been an outstanding defensive coach in this league for a very long time. His defenses have frequently finished among the top ten in the league. He adapts his scheme to maximize the strengths of his personnel and has always been able to get the most out of his players. We look forward to him coming in, helping our players improve and helping us become the winning team we are all working towards.”

Browns

Sources: Browns Will Show Interest In Every Available Quarterback

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Earlier today, reports came out that the Browns have a very real interest in trading for Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. The 6’3″, 25 year-old, backup to Tom Brady is one of the more attractive options that could be available this offseason, so it should come as no surprise that the quarterback starved Browns would have an interest. However, in late January, with only rookie Cody Kessler, the ghost of RGIII, and veteran journeyman Josh McCown on the roster, expect the Browns to show interest in any and all available quarterbacks. In fact, don’t be surprised if they end up trading for a signal caller AND drafting one in April in the 2017 NFL Draft.

Armed with 5 picks in the top 65, the Browns will have plenty of options available to them to make moves as they attempt to find the guy who will lead this team into the future. In the coming months, you will hear the names Mitch Trubisky, Deshaun Watson, DeShone Kizer, Patrick Mahomes, and possibly Brad Kaaya in the NFL Draft and Garoppolo, AJ McCarron, as well as many others linked to the Browns.

If you are a fan of the Browns, as well as a fan of any of these guys, do not get your hopes up to soon. As this point there will be lots of smoke, but don’t expect fire until at least early March.

Draft

NFL Draft: Five Possible Guys for Browns at the Senior Bowl

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One benefit of coming off a 1-15 season, if there is one, is the fact that the Cleveland Browns coaching staff will have a chance to coach incoming college seniors in the Reese’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama.

Head coach Hue Jackson and his staff will have hands on interaction with the South roster but also will be able to meet with North roster, something that can reap massive benefits going forward as they attempt to turn around the Browns franchise. With tons of holes on a young roster, the team will be able to select the best player available throughout the draft.

Most of the players in the Senior Bowl will be day two or three picks in the 2017 Draft. Here are ten guys to keep an eye on for the orange and brown.

Damontae Kazee, CB, San Diego State

Kazee plays with a chip on his shoulder and always seems like he has something to prove. This was especially evident in Mobile. He competes and will work as hard as anyone, he also has quick feet and is someone the Browns could take a flyer on in round 4-6.

Obi Melifonwu, S, UConn

Melifonwu is a big safety at 6’4″ and 219 pounds. He has very good range in the middle of the field and also has the ability to cover tight ends and big wideouts and cause matchup nightmares with his size. He is one of the guys I cannot wait to see at the scouting combine at the end of February. Expect him to be taken anywhere between rounds 2-4.

Dalvin Tomlinson, DT, Alabama

Tomlinson looked unblockable at times in the Senior Bowl practices. He is a solid run stuffer and looks to be pro ready. I could see the Browns lining him up next to Danny Shelton in between Emmanuel Ogbah and possibly number one overall pick Myles Garrett to give the orange and brown an exciting young defensive line. He could go anywhere from round three to late in round four in my opinion.

Ethan Pocic, C, LSU

At 6’7″ Pocic is a skyscraper at center, but he is also a very talented guy that could help solidify the interior of the Browns offensive line, where Cam Erving struggled much of the year before being sent to right tackle in the season finale. Pocic has the ability to start day one and could allow the Browns to keep Erving at right tackle. Pocic has the ability to be an early pick but could fall as low as early round 4 due to inconsistencies at times as a Tiger.

Jourdan Lewis, CB, Michigan

At 5’9″ and 170 pounds, Lewis is a bit small to be an outside corner in the NFL, but he has more than enough skills to make up for it. In the mold of Jason Verrett, Lewis can be an outstanding corner in the league and is one of my favorite players in the draft. If it wasn’t for his smaller stature he would be a day one pick in my opinion, but I expect him to go somewhere on day two.