Browns fire director of college scouting John Spytek and pro scouts A.J. Durso, Tom Headlee By Nate Ulrich Published: May 1, 2013 The Browns continued to shake up their player personnel and scouting departments today. The new regime fired director of college scouting John Spytek and pro scouts A.J. Durso and Tom Headlee, a league source confirmed for the Beacon Journal. All three were still under contract when they were let go. Spytek spent the past three seasons with the Browns. He was one of the top lieutenants of former General Manager Tom Heckert, who was fired along with coach Pat Shurmur at the end of the 2012 season. Before joining the Browns, Spytek worked with Heckert for five seasons as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles? personnel staff. Durso and Headlee also had been with the Browns since 2010. They both worked with ex-Browns President Mike Holmgren during his tenure with the Seattle Seahawks and eventually followed him to Cleveland. Director of player personnel Jon Sandusky has not left the Browns, the source confirmed. Sandusky is under contract for another year. With the NFL Draft finished and new General Manager Mike Lombardi in place, it is not shocking that the organization?s personnel and scouting departments are undergoing changes. Earlier this week, the Browns parted ways with senior national scout Pat Roberts, whose contract had expired. And college area scout Bob Welton left the Browns before the draft to become the University of Tennessee football program's director of player personnel.
True story: (Stop me if you?ve heard it). Mike Lombardi is sitting at his desk as the Browns? general manager when his wife calls and asks him to stop by the grocery on his way home to pick up a gallon of milk, a dozen eggs and a loaf of bread. Later that night, Lombardi walks through the door and hands her a bag with a head of lettuce, a box of baking powder and a jar of honey. ?Michael,? she says, thoroughly disgusted, ?how in the world am I going to make breakfast? You didn?t get a single thing I asked you to buy.? ?I know,? Lombardi answers. ?But everything I bought was on sale. I got great value.? Only time will tell if the great value Lombardi believes he received with two draft-day trades this past weekend works out better than that mythical look into his shopping habits. Did the Browns truly upgrade by receiving a third-rounder and fourth-rounder in next year?s draft, rather than choose players they could have taken with the fourth-round choice given to Pittsburgh and the fifth-rounder sent to Indianapolis? The official company line from Berea is that this draft hit ?the ocean floor? after Round 3, so there were no players available who could have appreciably helped the team in 2013. That strategy will be blown apart if Sharmko Thomas, the safety from Syracuse who Pittsburgh selected in Round 4 with the choice the Browns held, shows up at all for the Steelers or ? heaven forbid ? knocks a Cleveland receiver into Concussionville. Lombardi is banking that either Pittsburgh, Indianapolis or both will have down years in 2013, thus elevating the third- and fourth-round choices the Browns received far beyond the 111th and 139th selections they surrendered in those trades. Without question, a third-rounder trumps a fourth-rounder and a fourth-rounder trumps a fifth-rounder, but determining whether Lombardi won or lost on those deals isn?t that simple. If the Steelers and Colts both make the playoffs this season, the picks they traded to Cleveland could fall much closer to the fourth and fifth round of the 2014 draft than Lombardi hopes. There?s also the matter of Pittsburgh and Indianapolis benefitting in 2013 from the players taken with the picks the Browns traded, and the Browns getting no help from the players they could have selected in those two spots. Browns fans are quick to include wide receiver Josh Gordon as part of this draft class, since he was taken with a second-round choice in the Supplemental Draft last year, thus costing the team that pick this past weekend. But if it?s a benefit to have had Gordon for a full season in advance of the 2013 draft, the same logic suggestd it?s a drawback not having fourth- and fifth-round choices on the roster this fall. Travis Benjamin and James Michael Johnson were Cleveland?s fourth-round picks in 2012 and Ryan Miller its fifth-round choice. The year before, the Browns took Owen Marecic and Jordan Cameron in Round 4 and Jason Pinkston and Buster Skrine in Round 5. You can argue each player?s abilities and impact ? particularly Marecic -- but Miller looms as the only one from among that group who has no apparent role in 2013. It?s Lombardi?s job, in tandem with his scouts, to find players in Rounds 4 and 5. The argument that no players in Rounds 4 or 5 could have possibly helped the Browns this year seems weak given the success of AFC North rivals in recent fourth and fifth rounds of the draft. Baltimore made six combined selections in those rounds in 2011 and 2012 and all six players contributed, none more than defensive lineman Pernell McFee, who started six games this past season. Pittsburgh played all four of its fourth- and fifth-rounders from 2011 and 2012, the best of whom is defensive back Cortez Allen. The Steelers eventually cut nose tackle Alameda Ta?amu after his arrest for drunken driving, but re-signed him to the practice squad. Cincinnati got contributions from five of its sixth fourth- and fifth-round choices from 2011 and 2012, including guard Clint Boling, who started every game at guard last season. The only non-contributor was defensive back Sean Prater, who spent last year on injured reserve. So, teams drafting after the Browns in Rounds 4 and 5 of the 2011 and 2012 drafts have found useful players with regularity. Lombardi?s defenders will say this draft was weak and next year?s will be strong, but playing the futures game doesn?t always yield a dividend. At this time a year ago, the 2013 draft held the promise of a rich quarterback crop, featuring E.J. Manuel, Geno Smith, Tyler Wilson, Ryan Nassib, Landry Jones, Mike Glennon, Tyler Bray, Logan Thomas, Keith Price and Aaron Murray. One respected NFL writer predicted five quarterbacks would go in Round 1. Manuel, who wasn?t among the five QBs predicted to go early, wound up the only one who did. That proves a lot can change between now and April, 2014. A deep ?ocean floor? can suddenly become shallow wading pool, and what seems like value can instead become a deal that?s too good to be true.
Jimmy Haslam has zero football experience and zero NFL experience beyond a minority ownership stake in the Pittsburgh Steelers, which has essentially been running on auto-pilot since the 1970s. Joe Banner and Mike Lombardi have over 50 years of football experience between them and 50 years of NFL experience between them. I'll take the experience of two NFL vets overs an energetic southern billionaire. I'm not disputing there isn't talent there... there just isn't nearly enough. I believe new coaching should help the offensive line, which is more talented than any other group in the league but is still terrible in rushing and below average in pass protection. What else? Josh Gordon ranked #39 and is a second year player. Greg Little ranked #59 and is a possession-type receiver moving back outside. David Nelson (last he played) ranked #61 and is a possession-type receiver. Davone Bess ranked #46 and is a possession-type receiver. Trent Richardson ranked #18th and averaged 3.5 yards per carry. Brandon Weeden ranked #31st and had a higher INT ratio than every other starter. Jordan Cameron is a project who' struggles staying healthy and who has 239 career yards. Where's this instant success talent? You're completely delusional if you cannot see this is going to take some time. Again... I'm right. And you'll eventually accept it. Because they have been a bad team. This cannot be stressed enough. Apparently you didn't get the point that they're the second-worst NFL franchise since 1999 and the third-worst over the past five seasons. You don't suddenly go from gutter-trash to perennial contender overnight. They inherited a roster that still has a ton of holes to fill. You didn't explain anything? I would expect that point to be the 2014 NFL Draft. They'll address franchise QB and once you finally hit on that position, the rest of the team comes along as well. I can't make you understand that, but you need to try.
Yeah, great experience with drafting like, Sabastian Janikowski IN THE FIRST ROUND, and other greats like Jamarcus Russell, Robert Gallery, Craig Powell, Mike "The Mad Dog in a meat market" Junkin, Tommy Vardell, and I'm sure there are other "Genius" draft day moves I'm missing... if thats part of the "50 Years of NFL experience"... I don't want it!!!
Vardell wasn't that bad . he wasn't worth the 10th overall pick but he was serviceable . i don't think Lombtard drafted Junkin ..at least i hope not . they drafted Powell after Modell told them to move down knowing his dumb ass was broke . Gallery stunk it up at first then got better but not worthy of his 1st overall status . I am hoping they make the right picks here . do the right thing . we have suffered enough . i don't know of any fan base that has endured what we have since 95 . I can see the Browns winning around 8 games this season . that would be good enough for me depending on how they won or lost them . they could have won 8 last year if not for a drop here or another coaching blunder there . we don't have the puppet walking the sidelines looking clueless this year that alone is improvement . Depending on how Jim Bobs legal issues play out better days are ahead sooner rather than later .if it isn't one thing it's another . why couldn't the Feds raided his place while he was still with the Steelers ????
Irish I accepted your trade offer . i did need a catcher . i think next year i will do autodraft .you have one helluva team there . i have already dumped half of my picks ..Lots of season left . i tried to pick up Santana .I know TD put a claim in as well .the rich get richer .
I figure I'd better get out some popcorn before responding. Banner?s expertise is in CONTRACT negotiation and making the salary cap work. Not PLAYER evaluation and roster building which is what he?s trying to do. As for Lombatard? If he is such a football genius and talent evaluator then why did he spend the last several years out of the fold as a TV analyst? How many Teams did Lombatard work for that were successful while he was there? Why didn?t he follow Bellicheck to NE? Sammy if you want me to believe that these two guys are the right ones to do this then the proof will be in the pudding. As of today I don?t believe 90% of the shtuff that comes out of their mouths. What another 15-20yrs? It?s that mentality that has this team living in the cellar of the NFL. Only in your own mind. I accept that you?ve expressed your opinion and you?re entitled to it. I don?t have to believe that you?re right. I get it Sammy. I just don?t accept that it has to be the ?norm?. Evidently comprehension isn?t one of your strong suits. It?s ok. I have to explain things 2-3 times to my wife sometimes as well. Hopefully you?ll catch on. I?d rather Norv and Chud decide who the next ?franchise? QB will be. Not Banner or Lombatard. Besides IT HAS been proven that you don?t? have to have a franchise QB to win a SB. It helps, but it isn?t a hard and fast rule. Also keep in mind that you can have that ?Franchise? QB and NEVER win a SB either. I think only your therapist and/or wife could understand what goes on inside your head.
Wow... far from it for me to be the ray of sunshine, but... Joe Banner worked with the Eagles for 17 seasons. That franchise maintained a 0.566 winning percentage for that time. To give that some perspective, the Ravens have a 0.551 winning percentage over that same time period. I don't deny that Mike Lombardi has a somewhat checkered history, but look at some of our past GMs. Despite the fact that Heckert still gives some people here a hofty, he was a pretty bad GM. The Mangini/Kokinis experiment was a blunder. Phil Savage had moments of brilliance but more moments of sheer insanity. The last GM to actually acquire solid talent was Butch Davis (2001 - 2004). Consider that, for a moment. I could be wrong (doubtful) but I think Banner/Lombardi will do good things for us. Oh... and I was the only one who called out the Holmgren hire as a disaster from Day 1. You know, that whole "more of a prophet..." thing.
See... I think that's the problem. Some of you are just so eager to start something you don't even approach it rationally. You guys get butt-hurt when I call out a legitimately bad QB for being bad. When everyone is panicked over the new F/O and I try to calm that situation, it's more butt-hurt. I just can't win with some of you. Well, since you weren't there... we can never know. He was the Senior Vice President for the Eagles. He's the President here. Seem like similar job titles to me. And I could be wrong, but aren't Mike Lombardi and Ray Farmer the GM and Assistant GM? Before I answer, same question for you. But replace "Lombardi" with: Bill Cowher Jon Gruden Tony Dungy Brian Billick I could go on, but most people have already gotten the point. I don't have a problem at all with skepticism! I just wish it were based more off things other than not taking the "next Hall of Famer" in the fourth round or saying a .267 football team probably won't go 13-3 next year. You don't have to believe the world is round, either. Doesn't make it a good idea.
Joe Flacco Eli Manning Aaron Rodgers Drew Brees Ben Roethsliberger Eli Manning Peyton Manning Ben Roethlisberger Tom Brady Tom Brady 2002 - Brad Johnson vs. Rich Gannon Tom Brady 2000 - Trent Dilfer vs. Kerry Collins Kurt Warner John Elway John Elway Brett Favre Troy Aikman ... Jesus... we're already back to 1994 and while Dilfer, Gannon, Johnson and Collins aren't Hall of Famers, two of them were high first round picks and all of them had pretty good NFL careers.
Thus proving my point that it helps but you don't have to have that guy. Oh yeah and how many SB rings does Dan Marino have?
Aikman Rookie Year - Comp-52.7% TD-9 INT-18 Rate-55.7 Elway Rookie Year - Comp-47.5% TD-7 INT-14 Rate-54.9 P Manning Rookie Year - Comp-56.7% TD-26 INT-28 Rate-71.2 E Manning Rookie Year - Comp-48.2% TD-6 INT-9 Rate-55.4 Brees Rookie Year - Comp-60.8% TD-17 INT-16 Rate-76.9 Dilfer Rookie Year - Comp-54&% TD-4 INT-18 Rate-60.1 Weeden Rookie Year - Comp-57.4% TD-14 INT-17 Rate-72.6 Atleast Weeden is ahead of (or atleast right around) 6 Super Bowl Winning QB's as a rookie, not bad company to be in, eh SAS? An I know, you're gonna bring up Weeden's age... But how old was Warner when he became a starting QB?
I provide some snacks for the audience and I?m not being ?rational? :rolleyes: Line-em up Duff I?m sure everyone else is thirsty. (_)>======================== I?m not butt-hurt because of your opinion of Weeden. I?m just sick of you spewing the same twisted sadistical analysis every day. I get how you feel about Weeden, stop beating the dead horse and move on. And here SAS is where you start losing credibility in your argument. Before Banner left Philly he was strategic advisor to the owner, having been replaced by Don Smolenski as president. His title for the Browns is CEO. Alec Scheiner is the Browns President. http://legacy.philadelphiaeagles.com/eagles_files/html/Banner_1.html At least you?ve got that part right. What point? All these guys are former HC?s that expressed that they have no interest in coming back to the NFL. So all wise and omnipotent SAS tell me what is the point? Plus you failed to answer the question. How many Teams did Lombatard work for that were successful while he was there? Neither does continuing this bull headed debate. I could agree with you, but then we?d both be wrong.
Greg Little, Joe Haden, Trent and some other players went to the Indians game together. I love it that we have young talent and they all are close and are supportive of the community. These young guys are bonding and that is a good thing . whats better is they have supported the community and like it in Cleveland . i haven't head that since before the move . if this keeps up we will have something special . something we haven't had since before the rat bastard moved us . All three major sports teams have young players who like it here ..SWEET!!!
Not that I love Lombardi, but you can not fault anyone for decission making under Al "just win baby" Davis. That man thought you could just win with athletes and raw talent. The same man promoted his offensive line coach to Head Coach...thats not usually how the line of progression goes leading upto an NFL coaching job. As for the trades that everyone is sore about...like ive said in other threads...Thomas is not the type of safety we were looking for, so its pointless to argue. Second, perhaps they wanted to utilize the picks with a revamped scouting department. None of us have seen the scouting reports, but we have watched games and know that we havent had too much success in the draft since our return. Everyone whos "fed up" needs to relax. This time around, there seems to be a legitimate plan in place. As long as Jim Bob maintains controll of the team we will not having an owner blowing it up every 2 years just so it looks like he is doing something.
Answer: 28 (same age as Weeden) had Three Super Bowl appearances, which is one more than Peyton Manning There is another one that I have mentioned also...Roger Staubach: He was 27 when he finally entered the league(28 when he became the starter) after serving our country..He would go on to Four Super bowl appearences winning two of them. It isn't unprecedented that a QB enters the league at a ripe age and succeeds...
