Browns have to know Brian Hoyer is earning starting QB money By Pat McManamon | ESPN.com We apologize for interrupting the revelry over the Cleveland Browns being in first place in the AFC North for some Brian Hoyer contract talk. GM Ray Farmer said last week he?d let the season play out before addressing Hoyer?s impending free agency, but teams with good quarterbacks don?t generally let them go. The Browns have had very few good quarterbacks since 1999. If they want to keep Hoyer, they?ll have to pay him. Simply put, winning quarterbacks are paid. Hoyer has led the Browns to a 6-3 record and first place and is 8-3 overall in games he?s started and finished for the Browns. He has a stronger arm than he's given credit for, he reads defenses and processes information in a hurry and he can slide and avoid the rush. He is 29. He?s bounced around and he?s not Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers, but he?s exceeded expectations for himself and his team while dealing with the reality that Johnny Manziel mania is one play away. It?s up to the Browns to decide if they want to sign Hoyer for the long-term, but giving up on Hoyer after one season risks all with Manziel, who did not win the job or force his way on the field as a rookie. Balancing where Hoyer falls on the pay scale and with guaranteed money will be the jobs of Farmer and Joe Linta, Hoyer?s agent. According to ESPN?s Roster Management System, the major players at the quarterback position have guaranteed money exceeding $50 million. That group includes Brady, Drew Brees, Rodgers and Tony Romo. (It also includes Jay Cutler, which shows the risks). Colin Kaepernick?s guarantee is placed at $61 million, but the way his deal is structured, the 49ers can get out of it after any one of the six seasons. If the team commits to Kaepernick on April 1, his salary for that year is guaranteed. If it doesn?t, he?s a free agent. The guarantee takes on a different feel in that light. There are other starters with guaranteed money far less than the top tier, including Matthew Stafford, Ben Roethlisberger and Philip Rivers. Andy Dalton, who had the historically low rating of 2.0 against the Browns, is guaranteed $17 million. Carson Palmer, 33, recently signed a three-year extension with $20 million guaranteed. And Alex Smith has $45 million guaranteed. Smith and Dalton seem to provide clues related to Hoyer. Dalton?s deal was valued at six years and $96 million. He was given a $12 million roster bonus, a roster bonus in the first year of $5.1 million and a base salary of $986,000 -- meaning he will earn $18 million this season. Smith received a signing bonus of $18 million and a salary of $1 million this season. He has roster bonuses the final two seasons of $2 million (an out for the team). All the numbers are benchmarks, not guidelines. The team and Linta will seek, like water, to find their own level. Hoyer will be 30 next season, so a four-year extension seems appropriate. He probably won?t take three, and the Browns won?t want to give five --- unless it?s funny money common in NFL deals. What works? Start his deal with a $15 million signing bonus, a roster bonus due next April of $4 million and a base salary the first year of $1 million. That?s $20 million, guaranteed. His salaries the next three seasons could be $10 million, $8 million and $12 million -- making the total $50 million. A roster bonus of $4 million the third year and $2 million in the fourth give the team an out if they decide Hoyer no longer fits and reward Hoyer if he continues to play well. Total: $56 million. Another $8 million in incentives -- $2 million each year for reaching the Super Bowl -- make the total $64 million. The final deal: Four years, $64 million, $20 million guaranteed -- with the team making decisions on Hoyer?s future before the third and fourth year. That seems workable -- for both sides.
Updated at 6:58 a.m. The Morning Kickoff ... Rex Ryan did his coaching prot?g?, Mike Pettine, a huge favor in inspiring his New York Jets to a 20-13 upset victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. The Pittsburgh loss dropped the Steelers to 6-4 and left the Browns, for whom Pettine is in his first season as a head coach, all alone in first place in the AFC North with a 6-3 record. The loss was also significant because it came in an AFC game and reduced the Steelers? record in conference games to 5-3. Records in conference games are the fourth step to break ties in division standings. The Browns are 4-3 in AFC games. While the Browns enjoyed their mini-bye following their Thursday night win in Cincinnati, the weekend events left them with sole possession of first place for the first time after four games since Sept. 24, 1995 when they were 3-1. (They were 2-1 and in first in 2002.) To put that historical reference point in perspective, consider that the last time the Browns were alone in first place after four games: * Jacksonville and Carolina ? the NFL?s 29th and 30th franchises ? were in their first season of existence. * The Browns resided in the AFC Central Division, not the AFC North. * Bill Belichick was the Browns? coach. * Andre Rison caught his first touchdown pass for the Browns in a 35-17 victory over Marty Schottenheimer?s Kansas City Chiefs. * A key play in that game was a pass from Browns punter Tom Tupa to reserve safety Louis Riddick. It was the only reception of Riddick?s six-year NFL career. He is now an NFL analyst for ESPN. * Brian Hoyer was 9 years old. * The Internet was 1 year old. * O.J. Simpson was on trial for the double murder of former wife Nicole Simpson and Ronald Goldman. He was found not guilty four days later. The Browns? reign in first place was short-lived. They lost three games in a row amid rumors that Art Modell was negotiating with government officials in Maryland to move the Browns to Baltimore. Forty-four days after residing in first place, Modell signed a secret deal to take guaranteed money and a new stadium in Baltimore to avoid personal bankruptcy. The Browns lost seven of their last eight games and finished 5-11. They did not own first place by themselves again, past the first four games, until Sunday -- after Cleveland built a new stadium, started up an expansion franchise, changed owners two times, hired seven head coaches and fielded 20 different starting quarterbacks. After returning from Thursday night?s 24-3 win in Cincinnati to move to 6-3, Pettine cautioned about his team needing to handle its success. ?I think it will be very important after this one,? he said. ?This was a big win for us, and I think it surprised a lot of people. There will be -- there?s already started to be -- a major overreaction to it, people already starting to talk about playoffs and just grandiose plans for this team.? Maybe now he can understand why.
as a lions fan, i feel great about how the browns are playing so far. both of these groups of fans have deserved better for... well... my entire life. and since i sat behind lyman in 3rd grade, u know that's been a while now. keep it up, dawgs *DRINK*
The Browns schedule doesn't get any easier from here on out, but here's my predictions for the rest of the season: Hou (4-5) - The Browns D is finally starting to "Get it" and with Mallet making his first NFL start, and Houston having to come to the "Dawg Pound" where we finally have home field advantage.... I expect a BIG win on Sunday! WIN @Atl (3-6) - At the beginning of the season, we all had this penciled in as a loss, but coming off (my predicted) win over Hou, they go down to Atlanta and win a close one against a Falcons team that just can't seem to put all that talent together. Not to mention Gordon coming back... WIN @Buf (5-4) - In a fight of there own for a division title/slash playoff spot, I believe the Bills come into this game at 6-5, and I think the Brown lose a close one against a (just as surprising team as the Browns), traveling to Buffalo, against another team finally putting "it" together, I don't see Pettine getting a win against his old team LOSS Ind (6-3) - I believe the Colts come into this game at 8-4 (same as the Browns) in a game that will have HUGE playoff implications... I see the Browns pulling off a win at home, in a hard fought game... the Colts are good, no doubt about it, but once again, I think home field advantage plays a HUGE factor and the Browns PROVE they are legit with a close win at home over an AFC powerhouse! WIN Cin (5-3-1) - Once again, home field advantage, coupled with the fact that we just beat the brakes off them IN THEIR HOUSE... this one is a win as they come to the Dawg Pound! (Suck It Jeremy Hill) WIN @Car (3-5-1) - Here I believe the Panthers go 4-1 in the games leading into this game, fighting for a division title, trying to make the playoffs, and playing at home (with a nasty Defense) I don't see Cleveland winning this one... LOSS @Bal (6-4) - The Ravens come into this game at (a projected) 9-6, fighting for a Division Title/Playoff Spot, the Browns come to Baltimore at (a projected) 10-5, with a bitter taste in their mouths from the early season loss to the Ravens and a close loss to Carolina on the road, and unfortunately I see a let down as traveling to Baltimore, with everything on the line, is too big for this young up and coming team.... LOSS So overall, I see the Browns going 10-6, making the playoffs as a wildcard (2nd in the division to the Ratbirds due to getting swept) If the rest of the season breaks down like that.... I'll take it! *THUMBSUP*
Not so fast, JYD ! Allow me to flip flop my eternal pessimism. HOU - WIN: This is probably closer to a "push" with the Texans' D-Line and a "career journeyman back-up QB from the Patriots". @ATL - WIN: The Falcons are in complete fold mode. @BUF - LOSS: Could be another "push" with the Bills at home and Pettine's knowledge of their D IND - LOSS: Andrew Luck > Brian Hoyer CIN - WIN: Stick a fork in the Bengals. There destined to finish last in the AFC North. @CAR - WIN: Still not sold on Cam Newton. @BAL - WIN: They snuck out of Cleveland the first time with a win and they know it. This time is our turn. AFC North Final Standings 1 Cleveland Browns 11-5-0 2 Pittsburgh Steelers 10-6-0 3 Baltimore Ravens 8-8-0 4 Cincinnati Bengals 7-8-1
HEY DUFF!! I WILL TAKE THIS: Any way you slice that deal, it is cap friendly in a time where the cap is blowing up and it is a bridge to the end of Manziel's rookie deal. IF he can't prove himself in the next 4 years, then he won't make it in this league. If he DOES prove himself and make it impossible to start Hoyer over him, then we have one of the 1) best backups in the NFL, 2) Trade worthy of a 1st round draft pick, with a team friendly contract to a proven starter or 3) If Hoyer for any reason at all falls flat on his face after this season, they can cut ties without hurting the team cap in the least. I would sign him to that deal today if his agent agrees to it...Something tells me it isn't going to be that simple though.
I'm with you Irish. Don't see his agent going for that at this point in time. I think Hoyer's agent is banking on winning the AFCN or a playoff berth. And the cost goes will keep going up if the Browns win a playoff game or two (or three or four and a Lombardi - hey, a fan can dream can't he?). I can see the Browns using the transition tag, which I think I read was about $16-18 mill and then trying to work out something longer after the tag is used, if they can't agree on something sooner. If Hoyer does sign a multi-year contract, it appears that teams are leaning towards the cap friendly "you play well and we'll keep paying you" type deals with cap friendly "outs".
Browns need to stay focused and take it one week at a time. If they do that, they could win out from here....I'm not sure the Browns aren't the third best team in the AFC behind Denver and New England. Two of the most dominating games I've seen all year have come in Cleveland Browns' wins over tough division rivals Pittsburgh and Cincinnati...Looking at the remaining schedule, and taking into account that the Browns will be getting a couple premiere weapons back into the mix, I can see Cleveland going on a serious run...I'd be much more concerned about Andrew Luck and company if that game was in Indy. But it's not, and our defense is showing signs of being dominant.... I know it's not likely that Cleveland will run the table from here, but I really don't think these guys are scared of anybody. Nobody thought they could win in Cincy, and they took the Bengals apart from start to finish.... I'm sure most Browns fans will be happy at 10-6, and rightfully so......I just think it's going to be better than that....
As long as we don't wind up playing Denver in the AFC Championship again. Just imagining Peyton Manning and The Drive II. I just may have to crawl under my bed for that one.
I am on such a positive high...do we really want to do this AGAIN?? Let me just say, I don't cringe every time Hoyer takes a hit, because I am still convinced once Johnny sees the field, he won't leave it again...
ESPN Cleveland's Tony Grossi considers the Browns' running back rotation a "week to week guess." Not even the people covering the team pretend that the rotation and workloads are predictable. Cleveland has the most "hot-hand" backfield in the league, with Ben Tate, Terrance West, and Isaiah Crowell coming off a Week 10 game where they were all involved heavily. West has seemingly emerged as the Browns' lead back, leading the corps in touches and snaps the past two weeks.
For the Cleveland Browns and their success, I love the three headed monster at running back. Always have a fresh back ready to roll. That's not a bad way to take care of business..... ....of course, from a fantasy football perspective, it's a nightmare. I'm guessin Kyle Shanahan has plenty to do with this. His dad was a master, hence the term "Shanahanigans"...lol! ....As an owner of Tate and Crowell, it is sort of frustrating, but I could really care less as long as it's working for the Browns....Fantasy teams are important to me, but not nearly as important as seeing the Browns win.
