Browns Notes and Randomness

Photo courtesy of cleveland.com.




Recently-released Browns defensive tackle Shaun Rogers has been busy this week. He has already visited Washington and Kansas City, and he hopes to eventually be signed by Houston. In his radio interview, he spoke glowingly of departed defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. Like many fans and players, myself included, Rogers liked Ryan's excitement and energy level that he brought to the defense.

ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay now believes the Browns will select Marcel Dareus, DT from Alabama. McShay believes that, when healthy, Dareus is a more complete player than projected number one overall draft pick Nick Fairley. It's not exactly relevant to his success on the field, but it would be interesting to see Dareus reunited with Colt McCoy, whose season he ended in the BCS Championship Game. Dareus is a capable pass rusher and has the versatility to play in many schemes. He could conceivably fill the (large) hole vacated by Shaun Rogers.

While head coach Pat Shurmur is in his first head coaching gig, the Browns have two other coaches with head coaching experience. Defensive coordinator Dick Jauron and senior defensive assistant Ray Rhodes. Both have also been awarded Coach of the Year honors in previous seasons. This combination of new blood and experience should bode well for the Browns in the coming years.

GM Tom Heckert took some veiled potshots at departed coach Eric Mangini. In order to give credit where it is due, I didn't take much note of this article until I read this piece at Waiting for Next Year by Craig Lyndall. I agree with the vast majority of Craig's take on the subject, and I'm getting sick of hearing potshots going back and forth from current Browns personnel and former Browns personnel. It seems like it never ends.

The last I heard, there has been no significant changes with the CBA negotiotiations. I'm starting to get a little discouraged due to the complete lack of movement, but I'm still optimistic that there will be football in 2011. Time will tell. As always, stay tuned for more news and analysis.

Vick & Akers Get Tagged, Former Eagle News

In the background of the Eagles' defensive coordinator saga was the Michael Vick franchise tag saga. The new year rolled around and there was speculation. A week and a half ago there was talk of it. Then today there was a "this week" timetable, and that's when Reid, Banner, and Lurie decided to pull the trigger, franchising Vick and giving a transition tag to kicker David Akers. While there is still uncertainty about whether or not the franchise tag will have an analogue in the (eventual) new CBA, for the time being Vick is locked in to Philly, and will quadruple last year's salary. Not bad for the Comeback Player of the Year, but Aker's agent is not happy with the move. It gives the Eagles the right to block another team from interviewing Akers, and is a tactic the Eagles haven't used since 1998, according to ESPN's Matt Mosley. This could mean the Eagles will prolong contract negotiations with the five-time Pro Bowl kicker.

On the topics of the Eagles in the '90s, Ray Rhodes was just picked up by the Cleveland Browns as the senior assistant on defense. Rhodes coached the Eagles from the 1995 playoff run that ended against the Cowboys to the disastrous 3-13 1998 season, after which he left to coach the Green Bay Packers. Rhodes joins Eagles coaching alum Dick Jauron, the Browns newly-hired defensive coordinator.



In other former-Eagles news, Cris Carter (no 'h' there, kids) was passed over (again) for the Hall of Fame. the former wide receiver was drafted by the Eagles in 1987, and led the team in TD catches in 1989. Unfortunately, substance abuse led then-coach Buddy Ryan cut Carter from the team. Carter shone in the mid-90s with the Minnesota Vikings, ending his career in 2002 with the Miami Dolphins. And Cris, like the Eagles, will have to wait and see if a new year will bring better chances.

While Akers' agent wasn't happy with the transition tag, one person who won't be happy about Vick's franchise tag is Chicago White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle. Last week, Buehrle said in an MLB.com interview that he hoped Vick would get hurt in his 2010 comeback season. I'll give that a moment to sink in for everyone. An athlete hoping another athlete gets hurt while playing is a VERY rare thing for one reason: it's douchey. This is just another case in the pattern of people who decide they can prove they're an animal lover or otherwise morally above the rest of us by ripping on Vick. Meanwhile, the puppy-loving Chase Utley, one of if not the most popular athlete in Philly, and his wife Jen have said nothing about Vick, outside Jen's comments that Philly's SPCA should have been informed of the signing. See that folks? It's called class. Meanwhile, NBC Sports' Rick Chandler interviewed the bear Buehrle shot. With an arrow. Apparently Jim Thome was in attendance.

In player news, defensive end Trent Cole underwent elbow surgery yesterday. Players should cash in those benefits before March 4th, just in case the owners play hardball.

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