October 07, 2009
Braylon Edwards' tenure in Cleveland was losing hope.
He caught only three passes for 35 yards in his last two games despite the return of buddy Derek Anderson to the field, he was displaying poor effort (again), and he wasn't getting along with the coaching staff.
His subsequent trade to the Jets Wednesday morning doesn't guarantee Edwards will fulfill his talent level, but it provides a whole lot of hope for his fantasy owners long-term.
The price the Jets gave up for Edwards -- Chansi Stuckey, Jason Trusnick, and two mid-draft picks -- guarantees they see him as a true "number one" receiver. A large contract keeping Edwards in New York is likely to follow, and there should be an extended honeymoon period where Edwards' effort isn't remotely questioned.
Edwards' potential is more of a debate. This isn't Terrell Owens or Randy Moss in their primes. Edwards still struggles with drops, and isn't a full developed route runner now five years into his career.
Long-term, Edwards has a better chance to be a fantasy WR1 in New York with Mark Sanchez, but that isn't going to happen this year. He has to get integrated into the offense and Sanchez is still a rookie. Look for WR2/3 value from him, complete with a few monster games and stink bombs along the way.
Jerricho Cotchery's numbers are likely to suffer. There are only so many passing yards to go around this year, and Edwards will take more of them as the year wears on. Cotchery had a legitimate chance for his first top-ten season before, but now he looks like the traditional WR2 we expected all along.
Edwards will help Mark Sanchez, who can beat the odds for mid-level QB2 value as a rookie. And he gives Sanchez's excellent dynasty value a boost.
I happen to think Cleveland did very well to get as much as they did for Edwards with his contract running out, but this is still a trade that should make fantasy owners and Jets fans smile.
As a New York City resident, I'm excited for the Edwards era, which should be good for some ups and downs in the tabloids. Braylon got what he wanted: the big city's bright lights, and the promise of big money down the line.
Now it's on him to prove he's worth it.
Update: Many of you emailed about the value of those in Cleveland. In a nutshell ...
Chansi Stuckey is worth an add for some rosters as a WR5/6 type. He's probably the second best receiver on the Browns roster now and could be a decent PPR option in time. Let's not get crazy though.
Mohammad Massaquoi is an even better pickup today than he was yesterday.
Derek Anderson's hope for sneaky top-20 value takes a small hit. He's a QB2 option if you need help or did something silly like draft Brady Quinn or Byron Leftwich. (Whoops.)
May 28, 2009
Like a poor man's Jerious Norwood, Jerome Harrison has toiled in the shadows of fantasy football the last two years, with a fancy 6.8 yards-per-carry average on only 57 rushes. Eric Mangini hinted Thursday Harrison will see a lot more action this year, possibly on first and second down.
FootballOutsiders' Aaron Schatz listed Harrison as one of his breakout possibilities in our magazine, possibly because someone will have to replace Jamal Lewis' declining production. Lewis worked exclusively with trainers Thursday as he recovers from ankle surgery, but it's clear his role and skill set are declining.
On an offense with as many question marks as Cleveland, I want no part of Lewis and even Harrison is only worth a look late in PPR leagues. At best, he'll be like Leon Washington. Hoping for more is pushing it.
Lewis was taken among the top 50 picks last year by owners hoping for him to put up 300 workmanlike carries, like he did in 2007. I'd put the over/under this year closer to 200. I have some thoughts about who could be this year's version of '06 Lewis (heavy workload, mediocre production, but has value at the right cheapest possible price), but I'll save it for another post. Let's see if you can guess.
May 26, 2009
What you missed when you were out drinking with your friends ...
This one was actually from last Thursday, but a great State of the Romo piece by Matt Mosley. I hate how good writers like Mosley get buried on ESPN.com's "blog" format because I usually miss stuff like this. Most interesting passage:
He has some remarkable leadership qualities and he's a tireless worker. Unfortunately, though, he's not much of a listener. It's great to be able to tune out distractions, but Romo runs the risk of tuning out everyone. Since Parcells, Sparano and former quarterbacks coach David Lee have left the building, Romo doesn't have anyone willing to put him in his place.
Continue reading "Skinny Posts: Memorial Day catchup edition" »
April 27, 2009
The Browns had a nice draft. (They even have the grade to prove it.) But from a fantasy perspective, they left the proceedings with a lot of questions dangling.
1. Instead of a confusing race between Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson, we now have a three-man race that includes Brett Ratliff. The former Jet seems most likely to be a backup, but he's a Mangini favorite. It reminds me of when Mike Martz added J.T. O'Sullivan to San Francisco last year as the underdog in a three-man derby.
Quinn looks unlikely to be dealt now, but you can't know for sure now because of the logjam at the position. Cleveland tried to see what they could get for Quinn and weren't happy with what they found.
2. Remember when we heard at various points the Browns had first-round picks on the table for Braylon Edwards and Quinn? The media got played there: Mangini apparently wasn't just spreading Michael Crabtree information.
Continue reading "Draft doesn't answer Browns questions" »
April 14, 2009
Thomas G. did not mess around submitting his mock choice. It was in almost immediately after Seattle picked at No. 4. Thomas "Don't call me Stylez" G's best George Kokonis impression:
With the 5th pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns select Aaron Maybin of Penn State.
As a team rebuilding and with many holes, the Browns can go any number of ways with this pick. However, the most pressing need may be for a sustained pass rush, something missing from the organization for years. The Browns managed a pathetic 17 sacks last year, with their Nose Tackle leading them, something that should never happen.
Continue reading "Pancake Blocks Mock: Pick No. 5" »
April 13, 2009
Michael Lombardi has been all over the trade winds blowing out of Cleveland the past couple of days. He stated Sunday that the Browns have No. 1 picks on the table for both Brady Quinn and Braylon Edwards and followed up Monday with the revelation that the team is holding out for more than first-round pick for Edwards. So where might the drop-plagued playmaker wind up?
1. Giants – The prohibitive favorites. The Giants desperately need a big, playmaking wide receiver to fill Plaxico Burress’ shoes. While they have an extra pick in both the second and third round, they don’t have the roster space to carry a draft full of rookies. Throw in the fact that the teams have already tossed Edwards name around in trade talks, and it makes even more sense.
Continue reading "Where might Braylon Edwards wind up?" »
April 08, 2009
We’ve already covered the fallout from the Larry Johnson grievance ruling. He carries no trade value at this point, but the Chiefs can now safely dump him without swallowing a chunk of guaranteed money. So if LJ is currently persona non grata in K.C., where is he most likely to resurface?
Saints – Michael Lombardi believes the Saints should be all over LJ should the Chiefs release him, and Sean Payton is dying to add a power back to his offense.
Seahawks – If Seattle uses the No. 4 pick on Mark Sanchez, they still have to upgrade offensive tackle and linebacker early in the draft. Running back would be left unaddressed, with Julius Jones as one of the few starters around the league who would take an immediate backseat to LJ.
Continue reading "Who wants Larry Johnson?" »
March 26, 2009
With the NFL Draft just a month away, let's take a look at a handful of players that could lose either short-term or long-term value.
Steve Slaton – There’s been a debate in Dynasty league circles about whether Slaton will be a fantasy stud lead back or a spot-start straight committee back. Gary Kubiak has made it clear that he wants a big, physical runner who is more than just a backup. I’ve had Slaton as a Dynasty league "sell" for awhile as I think his value is headed the way of Willie Parker’s. Worst case scenario: Chris Wells. Best case scenario: Chris Brown.
Pierre Thomas – Due to the Saints short-yardage issues the past two seasons, Sean Payton has been looking for a bigger, more physical situational back. The Saints would be crazy to choose Beanie Wells over defensive help in the first round, but the drumbeat isn’t going away.
Continue reading "Draft-day losers?" »
March 25, 2009
My favorite player comparison from the 2007 season was Derek Anderson and a young Jake Delhomme: a quarterback who locked on to his playmaking receiver, took chances down the field, and was terribly streaky due to some accuracy issues.
That final point, however, was a harbinger of things to come in 2008 as Anderson’s 56.5 completion rate dropped to a woeful 50.2 and the offense stagnated behind a cratering offensive line, poor receiver play, and an assortment of injuries to Kellen Winslow.
By the time Brady Quinn took over in the nationally televised Thursday night game in Denver, Anderson was left for the vultures to pick over. An outbound Romeo Crennel threw his support behind Quinn, and Anderson looked likely to be traded or even released.
Continue reading "Derek Anderson pulls a Rasputin" »
March 23, 2009
Receiver magician Sean Payton turned David Patten's career around in New Orleans. Patten averaged 14.7 yards a catch on 65 grabs in 21 games as a Saint after busting as a $13 million Redskins signing in the 2005 offseason.
Now going to the Browns, Patten gets a leg up because he's returning to a Patriots-style offense and knows the terminology from his New England days. The Browns are extremely thin at receiver, especially with Donte' Stallworth's playing status in serious doubt. Opportunity is on Patten's side.
Continue reading "Patten unlikely to help Browns much" »
March 20, 2009
I'm a podcast guy. I run solo usually, and have a long commute twice a week from New York to Stamford, CT., site of Rotoworld international headquarters. Even then, there isn't enough time to stay current with my favorites: Adam Carolla, On the DL, Fresh Air, and Bill Simmons. Time spent on the subway without a podcast feels like time wasted. I'm terribly addicted.
The Sports Guy remains atop my rotation. I was listening on the way home last night, and surprisingly found a Rotoworld blurb when listening to Mike Lombardi talk Brady Quinn.
"I'm just hearing things out of Cleveland that don't make me feel Brady Quinn is part of their future. ... (Quinn's) support has left the building. We used to call it sponsorship at the Raiders. When your sponsorship goes, you aren't the same player."
Continue reading "Lombardi: Quinn's support has 'left the building'" »
March 18, 2009
They have ugly uniforms, a new coach who's already alienated his best player on either side of the ball, and cast away by far their most consistent pass catcher, but sometimes we have to talk Cleveland Browns football.
Kellen Winslow's trade and Donte' Stallworth's career-threatening arrest for killing a pedestrian with his Bentley leave the Browns with one unsightly pass-catching corps:
SE - Braylon Edwards/Paul Hubbard
FL - Stallworth*/Syndric Steptoe
SL - Josh Cribbs
TE - Robert Royal/Martin Rucker/Steve Heiden
Royal is an aging plodder, Rucker is untested with only situational upside, Heiden is coming off major reconstructive knee surgery, and Steptoe and Stallworth (* if available in '09) are not impact players. Cribbs might help some on third downs, but is most valuable on special teams.
Continue reading "Browns begging for ball catchers" »
January 15, 2009
While T.O. could get cut, and it would make sense on some levels, there still isn't a lot of proof behind it. Stephen Jones is reportedly is in the camp of people who think it would be good to cut him for team chemistry. It sounds like offensive coordinator Jason Garrett doesn't want him around. Matt Mosley thinks Owens is "probably" gone, which is surprising.
Cutting Owens, however, will actually cost Dallas a bit of money against the cap. his roster bonus isn't due until June, so there isn't much Getting rid of aging high priced talent for chemistry reasons makes sense to me, but it goes against everything we know about Jerry Jones. It still sounds like a longshot.
***
Brandon Jones, once a favorite in these parts, played just well enough to get another chance to start in Tennessee. He led the wideouts in catches and has to be favored over Justin McCareins after the latter's embarrasing performance against the Ravens. Bo Scaife should also be back.
Continue reading "Skinny Posts: Could T.O. really get cut?" »
January 08, 2009
Romeo Crennel declared Brady Quinn Cleveland's starter for 2009 in December, which is sorta like George Bush choosing the next Supreme Court justice. Now that Eric Mangini has taken over, the Browns are back to square one at quarterback. For now, Mangini is saying he will evaluate Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn and go from there. There is nothing else he can really say on day one. Bang the link above for a pic of Mangini's wife, another victim of the incestuous Parcells/Pioli/Shapiro/Mangini love square.
By March, Mangini and the incoming Browns GM must decide what to do with Derek Anderson's $5 million roster bonus. My gut says they will try to re-negotiate it (unlikely Anderson will go for that) or they will place their faith in Brady Quinn. Anderson is due a total of $6.45 million in 2009, and his 2008 play was proof that he isn't worth that much. A trade of Anderson is also possible in the meantime, although his market value is far lower than it was a year ago.
Update: Lombardi "knows" that Derek Anderson will get dealt or cut. He also thinks Kellen Winslow will get dealt. So there you go.
January 07, 2009
News that won't make Jets fans happy from Mike Lombardi: "Everyone I talk to in and around the NFL feel this job is Schottenheimer’s. He is bright, he is young and he will work with GM Mike Tannenbaum. In the end, the Jets (i.e., Tannenbaum) are more interested in finding someone who will not challenge Mike T.’s power rather than getting the best coach."
I agree with Lombardi that it's not that attractive of a job. The expectations are high, there is no quarterback, and the roster doesn't have a lot of young talent.
Also in that Lombardi article: News that the Cowboys wouldn't seem to mind if Jason Garrett left. How can so much change in a year? Either Jerry Jones misevaluated him them or is misevaluating him now?
The Top-30 Keepers (plus ties!) are finally up.
Chad Pennington is Miami's starter, but I think he will be in a similar situation to Derek Anderson this season. If Miami is more than two games under .500 at any point after midseason, a change will probably be made. It may not be fair, but life's not fair, as Tom Rosenthal always told me.
Troy Aikman would take Eli Manning over Tony Romo. In fantasy, that's an easy call. In reality, to win a game this weekend, I can't believe I'm hesitating. But I'd still take Romo. What say you?
Continue reading "Skinny Posts: Jets staying in-house?" »
November 07, 2008
What a great Thursday night game between the Broncos and Browns. It re-affirms my belief that you never know when you are going to see one of the best games of the year, and that you don't need quality teams to produce it. Bears-Broncos in Week 12 was near the top of my list from last season and featured to sub-.500 teams. Like last night, it more or less ended the season of one team. Here are a few thoughts on the Browns after their loss.
1. That's it for Romeo Crennel in Cleveland. You can't lose that game when the Broncos have no defense or running game. It wouldn't shock me if the firing happened before the end of the season, but it would surprise me if Crennel was back next season. He's failed to improve their defense.
2. Great effort by Brady Quinn, although I didn't expect anything less. He was ranked tenth. He made good decisions, bought time in the pocket, and was calm. I was impressed how well he knew the offense. All great signs, but he'll have to face a real NFL defense soon. Even Tyler Thigpen threw for 280 and 2 in his second NFL start if the matchup is right. The only thing Quinn didn't do is throw the ball down the field. Which doesn't help...
Continue reading "Say Goodbye to Romeo" »
November 03, 2008
Every Catholic's favorite dreamboat is finally getting his shot. Forget the election, National Brady Quinn day on Thursday is the big event of the week. At least if you have NFL Network.
Quinn's healing powers may not be able to fix Cleveland's poor wideout depth or Braylon Edwards' ugly case of the drops. But he can put up solid QB2 numbers at worst against Denver, Buffalo, and Houston over the next three weeks. After that, he probably won't be a fantasy option: Indy, Tennessee, and Philly are on the docket.
Quinn is a better bet than Sage Rosenfels this week because of the matchups, but Sage should be the superior option over the next month overall. Rosenfels figures to return to the bench in December, while Quinn should keep the gig the rest of the season. Who you take depends on your short and long-term needs. I'd lean Sage unless you need someone this week.
October 31, 2008
In five years on this job, I can't remember a trio that came out of nowhere more than Derek Anderson, Ryan Grant, and Earnest Graham last season. They went from off-the-radar to every-week fantasy starters in a matter of weeks. They weren't up-and-coming prospects or fallen sleepers with pedigrees; Graham and Grant were fourth-string running backs and Anderson started the year as a backup on a hopeless-looking team.
This year, they have fallen back to Earth. Graham remains a stellar running back, but Warrick Dunn is stealing his catches. He's lived up to his draft value well enough, but he's on pace to put similar numbers to last season. The difference: he only started ten times last year. I'd guess his owners are content, but not thrilled with him.
Continue reading "Surprises of 2007 coming up short" »
September 12, 2008
The Browns are under more pressure than any team to win in Week 2. If they lose at home against Pittsburgh, they are already two games down in the division, with a trip to Pittsburgh to go. That's a rough start.
Vegas gave up on Cleveland, making them ridiculous seven point underdogs this week. I'm going with the home team, trying to build on a solid 9-7 start to the year. The video below has my fantasy picks for the game. Here's a hint: I'm not bailing on the big name offensive players in Cleveland and the Browns secondary is terrible!
July 01, 2008
So Kevin Jones reversed course at the last minute and worked out in front of four NFL teams Saturday: Detroit, Miami, Green Bay, and Pittsburgh. Cleveland reportedly asked for a tape of the proceedings. Now it appears Tampa is in the mix or at least Jones is interested in them. I touched on the topic in my minicamp notes some, but here is what we know about Jones.
Continue reading "The latest in Kevin Jones" »
June 13, 2008
1. Kellen Winslow's recovery is going just fine, thank you. He'll be ready for camp.
2. Joe Jurevicius may not be ready for the season. If that helps anyone, it could be Winslow and Donte Stallworth, who figure to see more targets.
3. Brady Quinn has some wheels. He reportedly out-ran linebacker Leon Williams for 40 yards down the field.
4. Browns line has great depth, but they won't have the upside of LeCharles Bentley's return. Something tells me he's not going to make them regret releasing him.
May 22, 2008
Let's start this Thursday morning with a check on our last reader decision: Kellen Winslow vs. Jason Witten.
Witten won in a landslide. While I agree, it's worth keeping in mind that Winslow topped 1,100 yards in a season that often would be the best among tight ends. Throw in Antonio Gates, and I think there is a big gap this year between the top-three tight ends and the rest of the pack. While I will be happy to take someone like Owen Daniels or Todd Heap at the right spot, I think the "big three" will be a better value in the middle rounds than players like Tony Gonzalez and Dallas Clark, who may only go a round later.
Winslow has missed OTA work this offseason, but Drew Rosenhaus says he'll be there for the mandatory work.
May 16, 2008
Okay, we've got the results from the last two player matchups. In a surprise (to me), Heath Miller edged out Jeremy Shockey, with Vernon Davis finishing a relatively close third. Wes Welker also trashed Roy Williams in their head-to-head matchup.
Today's battle will go back to tight ends one more time. I'm going to take Antonio Gates out of the discussion because of his foot surgery. If he's ready to play Week 1, he's number one in my rankings. We'll see how that plays out.
Continue reading "Winslow vs. Witten" »
May 06, 2008
Another great job with the Grant vs. Barber debate. With some precincts still hanging, Grant holds a one vote lead. Let's stick with running backs, moving into the RB2 territory.
Fantasy owners have been waiting for Michael Turner to become a primary back for years; then he got stuck in Atlanta. He's good, but he's never topped 100 carries before and he's going to have to carry a bad offense. Lewis turned around a severe decline last year, and he certainly plays on a great offense. But the schedule gets harder this year and he will be ranked higher than any back with more than 2,000 career carries except LT2. So let me know your pick: Do you hope for one more good year from Lewis or chase the upside of Turner?
May 02, 2008
If it seems like I'm leaning on you guys more than ever while preparing this magazine, well, it's because I believe in the wisdom of the Pancake Blocks crowd. I love getting informed opinion to consider when making tough choices. It doesn't mean I go along with it all of course, but I do value it highly.
One of the toughest decisions I'm wrestling with currently is near the top of my receiver rankings. I won't say exactly where, but the battle is between Braylon Edwards and Andre Johnson. My gut says one thing, my numbers say another. They are both true game-breakers who have put themselves firmly among the receiver elite. But if you're on the clock today, who are you taking?
April 07, 2008
Derek Anderson is not going to lose his starting job in training camp, but the presence of Brady Quinn makes him a difficult 2008 projection. Without Quinn, and with Donte Stallworth added to an impressive receiver mix, Anderson would likely project as a top-7 quarterback.
With Quinn and such a short track record, Anderson becomes a riskier QB1 than most think. The schedule, for one, gets a lot more difficult.
So where would you rank Anderson? He's certainly after the top-five, but does he go below guys like Matt Hasselbeck, Donovan McNabb, Jay Cutler, and Marc Bulger outside the top ten?
March 02, 2008
It's amazing how much a 697-yard season and some Rosenhaus magic can rehab your value. No one wanted Donte Stallworth last offseason, but that was largely due to some concerns about a positive drug test.
After fitting in to the Patriots system, but hardly shining, Stallworth was rewarded by the Browns with a seven-year, $35 million deal. That gives Rosenhaus a nice talking point with future clients, but the key number is $17 million for Stallworth over the first four years - much more reasonable.
Continue reading "Nikko finds a home" »
March 01, 2008
With my wife out of town, Pancake Blocks is back to the working weekend. The action has slowed on Day two of free agency, but not by that much. Let's take a look at what's transpired since I last checked in here.
While Randy Moss might be frustrated, no other teams have stepped up to the plate. I can't think of many fits to be honest. Jacksonville made the most sense, but they are out of it following the Jerry Porter signing. Philadelphia, Denver, and Washington sound like fits but no contact has been reported. Which is possibly what is frustrating Moss. It reminds me of when Adam Vinatieri had no takers for a while because everyone assumed he'd return to New England.
Continue reading "Skinny Posts: Moss hanging around" »
February 22, 2008
If peeing in your pants was cool, this guy's Miles Davis.
I didn't nail Jamal Lewis' contract exactly, but it sounds about right if he only plays the first two years.
Continue reading "Skinny Posts: Combine" »
February 21, 2008
The running backs continue to stay put. On the heels of Justin Fargas and Travis Henry staying with their teams, Jamal Lewis has decided to re-up with the Browns.
In a deep year for backs in the draft, it made sense for Lewis to re-sign. Cleveland's offensive line will make Lewis look like a better player than he really is, just like Derek Anderson. He wasn't going to get a huge deal elsewhere.
Continue reading "Jamal Lewis shows good vision" »
February 20, 2008
I was set to post my free agency primer for quarterbacks later today, but I'll need to do some serious editing. That's because the top name on the market isn't going to make it there. Derek Anderson and the Browns are focusing on negotiating a three-year contract and GM Phil Savage is confident a deal will be reached. This concession from Anderson, who originally wanted a longer deal, should keep him in Cleveland through 2008 and possibly beyond.
Continue reading "Anderson should keep Quinn on bench" »
February 08, 2008
The Pro Bowl means very little to the general public, but it means a lot to the players. Take Kellen Winslow, who is participating in the game despite impending knee surgery.
At the time I interviewed Winslow last week, his camp was very upset because he still wasn't on the roster. Antonio Gates was supposed to bow out, but said he would play despite his toe injury. Winslow's camp was convinced that Gates was going to play just to block Winslow's appearance. It seemed like there was some bad blood there.
Continue reading "Pro Bowl drama! (sort of)" »
December 03, 2007
With a little help from the officials, Braylon Edwards set a career high in yards on a day when he was a game-time decision. It's a reminder that we should play our very best players if they are in the lineup, regardless of midweek scuttlebutt.
This has happened a few times this year with Brian Westbrook barely practicing during the week, and then going off. Many Adrian Peterson owners considered benching the Purple one Sunday because he was splitting carries.
I'm not going to pretend this is a hard-and-fast rule without exceptions. Javon Walker is clearly not Javon Walker right now. But there is an elite level of fantasy option that must be played if they are active. Edwards' emergence to that status has been one of the most enjoyable storylines of the season.
November 29, 2007
There will be a lot of talk concerning what the Browns should do with Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn, but the final outcome is easy to predict: The Browns have to keep them both heading into 2008. Luckily for Browns fans, GM Phil Savage seems to recognize how important it is to maintain the position.
After searching for a decent quarterback for nearly a decade, the Browns can't possibly let Anderson go without knowing what they have in Quinn. And they shouldn't deal Quinn until Anderson backs up his breakout performance after defenses get more tape on him.
It's not like Quinn is an expensive backup. He is set to make $1.43 million in base salary next year, which is very affordable. The real question is how the Browns choose to keep Anderson.
Continue reading "Browns have to keep both quarterbacks" »
August 21, 2007
Two quarterback battles we've been tracking all offseason appear to be winding up. This article sure makes it sound like Brodie Croyle is the man in Kansas City, barring a complete collapse this weekend. Which I wouldn't totally discount.
Charlie Frye, meanwhile, is closing in on the Browns job. In yet another odd presser, Romeo Crennel said the quarterback battle was between Frye and, well, a mystery man. While Crennel said Monday that Derek Anderson would play second in the game, it appears that Brady Quinn is going to get his shot. And logically, Quinn is the unnamed quarterback, even if Frye is the heavy favorite.
Continue reading "QB Decisions in Cleveland, Kansas City?" »
August 20, 2007
There were a few interesting stories I couldn't tackle in today's Daily Dose, so let's go over them here.
Starting with Brady Quinn. A few readers and friends have the idea that I don't like Brady Quinn, and were quick to notify me about his performance Saturday. One, I like Quinn just fine. I thought Russell was a fine pick ahead of him is all. Two, Saturday's effort means slightly more than nothing.
Continue reading "Did Quinn's game matter?" »
August 15, 2007
Croyle losing starting job?
It's a quiet news day, so let's empty out the notebook before the second week of the preseason starts. I was looking forward to this game because these teams have true quarterback battles. It's mid-August, and it's legitimately a 50-50 call for both teams. This game didn't help.
Chiefs vs. Browns
* This game was Charlie Frye in a nutshell. He played better than Derek Anderson, but made two crushing mental errors that erased his progress. A poor pass he threw to Jerome Harrison was actually a lateral and returned for a touchdown. He tried to run for a touchdown at the end of the first half and time ran out, costing his team three points.
He made some nice scrambles and throws, but he makes a lot of errors for a quarterback once compared to Bernie Kosar, the king of managing the game.
* Anderson was hurt by a key drop, but he made a couple of ugly throws. He's had a big opportunity this month, and hasn't grabbed it. Big game for him this weekend.
Continue reading "Chiefs-Browns Notes" »
August 10, 2007
I don't blame Browns fans for thinking they have bad luck. This franchise absolutely has had terrible luck since re-starting the franchise, especially since Romeo Crennel took over.
You almost have to expect Willie McGinest to have injury problems, but losing key backup linebacker Matt Stewart for the season is a big blow. Their depth will be tested. Couple those injuries with prized free agent recruit Eric Steinbach's knee strain, and using a coin flip to decide the starting quarterback, and it's beginning to feel like more of the same surrounding the Browns.
July 25, 2007
Mr. Anderson
#17. Browns QB: Derek Anderson vs. Charle Frye vs. Brady Quinn
One could argue that the winner of this battle doesn’t matter because Quinn will get the job at mid-season, canceling out all their value. In fact, I just did. Any chance Quinn has to win the job for Week 1 will probably go out the window following a holdout.
In leagues where teams start two quarterbacks, Anderson could be a sleeper for the first part of the year. I own Braylon Edwards in one league and absolutely am rooting for Anderson because he has a better chance to stretch the field and showed real potential late last season. If you want to know which fantasy magazines weren't paying attention this summer, find the ones that boil this battle down to Quinn and Frye. We've probably written about it too much.
Note: I'm on the news this morning, so will be back in the early afternoon with our final position battle on the blog (the remaining 15 will be for a Friday column). After that, it's camp coverage for the six weeks. Thankfully.
July 20, 2007
# 30. Browns backup RB: Jerome Harrison vs. Jason Wright
The Browns must really think their offensive line was the problem last year, because the only change they made to their backfield was replacing Reuben Droughns with Jamal Lewis. That’s like firing Michael Irvin to hire Keyshawn Johnson.
The Cleveland backups remain uninspiring, although Harrison’s third-down skills give him some upside in deeper leagues. Its clear from offseason comments that the front office believes Harrison is a player. Watch to see if the coaching staff agrees.
July 16, 2007
I love Tom Kowalski's Scouting Reports on Mlive.com, but sections of his Mike Martz writeup are odd. Martz hardly looks like a guy who is going to be choosy about what head coaching job he takes if he gets an offer. If anything, he gives off the impression through his media leaks that he wants out of his coordinator status a little too much. He tries to cultivate a certain desireability through the media, but NFL owners don't seem to share it.
As a Kitna owner, I can only hope his stay in Detroit is a long one. After the way Martz's tenure ended in St. Louis, he's more likely to remain a great coordinator than become a good head coach again.
* Mike Reiss had a good look Sunday at the strategy of re-signing veterans early to anticipate the free agent market. It's hard to criticize anything the Patriots front office has done in the last seven years, but I think they were one of many teams that took time to adjust to the new salary cap increases. It's a lot easier to stay under the cap these days.
* The unbridled optimism about Jamal Lewis continues in Cleveland. They are clearly a team that is going to be built around running the football. In the same mailbag, Tony Grossi notes that GM Phil Savage and Romeo Crennel don't appear fired up about LeCharles Bentley's decision to attempt playing this year. He may simply be delaying further surgery.
July 10, 2007
# 49. Browns third receiver: Tim Carter vs. Travis Wilson
When you make a top-50 list of position battles, the bottom isn't going to be pretty. And the bottom is exactly where Cleveland's passing game has been since Kelly Holcomb helped them achieve mediocrity in 2002. The Browns quarterback situation remains up in the air (will come later in the countdown), but the strides made on the offensive line look promising.
Cleveland has a thin wideout group, with Braylon Edwards and Joe Jurevicius starting. Jurevicius is a player annually overrated in fantasy leagues, someone who has never topped 750 yards and is often hurt. He's missed 20 games in the last four years and has recurring back problems. With Dennis Northcutt gone, odds are that Tim Carter or Travis Wilson will start at some point this season.
Carter had chance after chance in New York, but never made a real impact in five years with the Giants. He was often hurt, but did manage to start eight games last season. He caught 22 balls for a decent passing offense. The Browns traded Reuben Droughns for him, but there's little reason to think he'll succeed.
Travis Wilson was a third-round pick in 2006, but only played enough to catch two passes. He had a tremendous junior season at Oklahoma and may have been a first-round pick before a senior year ended by injuries. We were very high on him coming into the draft because of his size and speed, but he didn't crack a weak Browns group.
GM Phil Savage's inactivity at receiver tells me they still have high hopes for Wilson. This battle is too close to call, but I suspect the Browns are pulling for the guy they drafted. In deeeep dynasty leagues like the one I play in, Wilson is a guy to keep an eye on.
June 14, 2007
A day after I wrote about him, Derek Anderson fever is sweeping across Berea, Ohio.
Patrick McManamon writes that Charlie Frye may no longer be the favorite for the starting job. Even Frye isn't sure if the job is his.
"We'll find out,'' he said.
Thursday afternoon, Tony Grossi of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that Anderson took first-team snaps to wrap up the minicamp. Grossi says Anderson was "clearly the most impressive" of the three quarterbacks over the last month. I know it's hard to judge minicamp season, but I might try to watch NFL Network's Inside Minicamp on the Browns to see for myself.
Of course none of them have impressed too much in Rob Chudzinkski's complex new offense. Coach Crennel was so upset that he had the offense run four gassers before Anderson finished off minicamp with the first team. The chances are looking better that Anderson will be there again next month. I'm tempted to project some starts for Anderson in our next magazine. In deep keeper fantasy leagues where all starting quarterbacks have value, it's time to take a shot on him.
* I'm up at NBC in Stamford today and will try to post some links here before leaving if I can finish my magazine work. Stay tuned to the player news in the meantime and a pair of Fantasy Fix videos posting later today.
June 13, 2007
Frye on the run
Most of the focus on the Browns quarterback situation has focused on Brady Quinn, which isn't a surprise. The main question has been when he'll pass Charlie Frye on the depth chart rather than if. With Quinn struggling to adapt to a new offense and a holdout looming, Frye should be a lot more concerned with another quarterback on the roster. Not Ken Dorsey.
Derek Anderson played in four games last season. Three of them were unqualified successes for a first-time starter. He was hurt in the other one.
* In his first appearance, he came off the bench to lead the Browns to one of the best comeback victories in the league all season, a 31-28 win over Kansas City.
* In his second start, he threw for 276 yards with one score and a pick in a loss at Pittsburgh.
* His next start included 223 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions at Baltimore. He had the Browns in a tie game midway through the third quarter.
* Anderson's final start included four interceptions against the Bucs as he tried to play through a seperated shoulder.
I came away from those efforts shocked about how competent Anderson looked. He was known for his big arm, but he couldn't even stay on Baltimore's active roster as a rookie. He certainly outlplayed Charlie Frye last year and it's hard to fault Anderson for a game he played through a serious shoulder injury.
Continue reading "Why not Derek Anderson?" »
May 29, 2007
Braylon Edwards is practicing again with the Browns, but Romeo Crennel has temporarily demoted him to the third team offense.
Players like Travis Wilson and Tim Carter were likely slotted ahead of Edwards. Coach Romeo Crennel says it's because Edwards, "Missed one day and fell behind."
Edwards skipped the first day of OTAs last week for what he says was a family emergency, but it's clear Crennel doesn't buy it. Or that Edwards has used up all his excuses and this is a case of a coach finally making a stand. Edwards is going to be Cleveland's starter and best receiver before training camp. Crennel is spending the months before it trying to get his head screwed on tightly.
Edwards has been impressively productive as a pro considering the talent around him and the ACL tear he suffered as a rookie. That's why we projected Edwards to make a major leap in production in his third season. A sterner hand from Crennel can only help.
April 28, 2007
Romeo Crennel and Phil Savage's hot seat just went from scalding hot to warm.
That Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson will both be backups by midseason at the latest.
That Braylon Edwards is unlikely to see his stats soar while playing with another rookie quarterback.
I talked a lot this week that the Raiders had to take JaMarcus Russell because of the value of the quarterback position. Well, that's what makes the deal make sense for Cleveland despite giving up a likely top-ten pick in next year's draft to Dallas. It's a swindle of a trade for Dallas, but Cleveland won't care if Quinn solves their long-time quarterback question.
One other thing to consider: The Browns may have been in the market for a top-tier quarterback a year from now, possibly at the top of the draft. They now get to have Quinn for a year, and they won't have to pay him top-five money.
Which brings to my final rambling point. Brady Quinn is going to be difficult to sign. He won't want to be slotted in the 22 spot, and can argue he really cost two first-round picks.
February 21, 2007
It's hard to change a losing culture or a perception of a "cursed" franchise when all your big free agent signings suffer career-threatening injuries.
Last year, ESPN.com ranked C LeCharles Bentley as the top free agent on the market. The Browns got him to back out of a verbal deal with the Eagles to sign with them, which looked like a major coup. But Bentley's career may have ended on his first day of training camp last year. The Browns couldn't cut him even if they want to now, so they will see where his health is at next year at this time. He's definitely going to miss the 2007 season and the Browns don't have a center.
Meanwhile, their big free agent signing of 2005 may also be done as a pro. Gary Baxter, who received a $10 million signing bonus at the time, is recovering from two torn patella tendons. If he plays in 2007, it would be a surprise.
Continue reading "Are the Browns cursed? " »
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