I did? *SCRATCH* I can get behind the thought that there isn't anyone that is better than Hoyer...I guess, but if one is considered similar, we don't know he would perform the same or worse than Hoyer did. We had Hoyer and saw him every week, it gave us plenty to evaluate. As for Mariota..As sure as I am sitting here, I would have Mariota as the #1 player available at #12. I cannot foresee ANY of the other players that might sneak ahead of him being available at #12. I agree 100% in drafting the BPA, I just believe Mariota would be that guy if he were still available, which he won't. THEN it becomes, where do you have Mariota rated against the other 11 guys you have on your board..if he falls in the top 5, how much are you willing to give up to move into position to draft him. You don't simply pass on him, if he is rated a top 5 talent because you don't want to trade future draft picks. If he is rated that highly, then he is worth trying to move up for. I don't know exactly where I have him rated yet, been too busy at work to watch as much video as I usually have at this point of the year. Now, Winston on the other hand, his off field issues have me running in the other direction. I will not get behind another player that has those issues to deal with...I do think Winston is a better QB than Hoyer, but I don't think he will have the wherewithal to train for the next level.
Here?s everything you need to know about how bad this year?s class of free-agent quarterbacks is: Josh McCown may be the best quarterback on the market. McCown, who was cut by the Buccaneers on Wednesday, moves to the top of a list that may not have a single player on it who will be a Week One starter. Mark Sanchez has generally been considered the top quarterback in this year?s class, which isn?t saying much. Sanchez was OK in Chip Kelly?s Eagles Offense after Nick Foles went down last year, but Sanchez was a disaster at the end of his tenure with the Jets, and it?s hard to believe that any team would make him its starter this year. Brian Hoyer has also shown promise at times, but if he couldn?t hold onto the starting job in Cleveland in 2014, is any team going to hand him its starting job in 2015? Hoyer?s best bet might be to return to Cleveland and try to win a training camp competition with Johnny Manziel. Ryan Mallett might be the most talented free agent quarterback in this year?s class, but we have no idea if his arm talent really translates to being a good NFL quarterback. Mallett started just two games in Houston last season before a pectoral injury cut short his season. Colt McCoy provided a bit of a spark in Washington last season and now becomes a free agent, but McCoy?s biggest accomplishment was being better than Robert Griffin III and Kirk Cousins. And that?s not much of an accomplishment. Michael Vick is a free agent, but it?s been a long time since Vick looked like a franchise quarterback. He had a terrible 68.3 passer rating with the Jets last year. Jake Locker, Christian Ponder and Blaine Gabbert all become free agents in March because all of them were first-round picks in 2011 and none of their fifth-year options were picked up. If the teams that drafted them don?t want them anymore, why would any other team? Going through that list of quarterbacks, is there anyone you can say is definitely better than McCown? The fact that teams are showing interest says less about McCown than about the lack of good quarterbacks available.
The Morning Kickoff ? Word of the day: Browns owner Jimmy Haslam suffered 50 minutes with reporters on Wednesday hosing down the image of his organization as a raging dumpster fire. Haslam relentlessly defended his management team as ?not dysfunctional,? maintained that he has the right people in place, and insisted those people not only work well together but enjoy each other?s company. ?If everything?s hunky-dory, then why did (offensive coordinator) Kyle Shanahan leave?? a reporter demanded of Haslam. ?You?ll have to ask Kyle that,? Haslam responded. An unsatisfactory answer, but at least hunky-dory was introduced into the conversation. A few minutes later, Haslam conceded, ?I don?t at all want people to think everything?s great. We don?t. What I want you to understand is we all work together. It?s not dysfunctional. We understand in the last five years, our division rivals have been 6, 7, 8 in wins and we?ve been in the high 20s, OK? ?So we?re not at all satisfied and it?s not hunky-dory.? That was a believable comment. But Haslam said a lot of other stuff that strained credulity. Here are 10 Haslam comments that did not help his cause to insure fans that his organization is not dysfunctional: 1. Haslam said he was unaware of the content of texts from GM Ray Farmer to coaches and team employees during games, reportedly to complain about the use of players. ?I haven?t seen the texts, so I don?t know.? Considering the embarrassment to the Browns and the possibility of penalties of fines, suspension and loss of draft pick(s), wouldn?t Haslam at some point in time have asked Farmer exactly what he was texting? 2. Further defending Farmer, Haslam said, ?I?ll just say I don?t think Ray intended to gain any unfair advantage and he?s learned from his mistake.? So how could he make that statement if he didn?t know the content of the texts? 3. The fact that Farmer will not take the fall for any sanctions against the Browns leaves the impression that Haslam not only was aware of the texts but possibly ordered them to gather answers to his own questions. Haslam confirmed that he and Farmer sit together in the visiting owner?s box at road games, but do not at home games. But Haslam wouldn?t say whether Farmer was merely following his own orders. ?I don?t want to talk about it. I think I?ve spelled out where we are and what our thoughts are and our full support for Ray.? 4. Haslam disputed the charge in a CBSSports.com story that President Alec Scheiner was a divisive force that interfered with coaches. ?Absolutely not.? Haslam confirmed that Scheiner joins Farmer every Monday morning at 6 to view video of the previous day?s game, saying he does so to learn football from Farmer. Haslam also said that Scheiner and Sashi Brown, the team?s general counsel and chief contract negotiator, are included in football decisions because ?they?re very good, smart, strategic thinkers who add value.? ?The business and football side get along well here, despite what?s been depicted.? 5. Haslam disputed that the selection of quarterback Johnny Manziel was driven by business operations. ?That?s crazy ? crazy. Everybody thinks he?s going to sell a lot more jerseys, but you (contribute) what you make on merchandise into a pool and it?s divided by 32 (teams). So in the scheme of things, it?s this big (a small amount) ? not this big (a large amount).? 6. Haslam again disputed the story from fired QB coach Dowell Loggains that Haslam gave the signal to trade up for Manziel after Manziel texted Loggains, ?let?s wreck this league.? ?The organization was going to pick a quarterback. Johnny was the top-rated quarterback on the board at this time. I know everybody?s down on Johnny at this time. But every single person had him just about in the first round ? I?m not going to get into the Dowell stuff just to say his story?s not accurate.? 7. With Manziel now in a treatment center for presumed alcohol dependency, Haslam dismissed the notion that the Browns should have heeded numerous reports of Manziel?s legendary drinking in college and even high school. ?I don?t know how much of Johnny?s personal life was known by everybody then and I don?t know how much is known now.? Later, Peter John-Baptiste, Browns spokesman, emailed a clarification to Haslam?s remark. ?Jimmy acknowledges that we did our due diligence on Johnny and we were obviously well aware of the incidents during Johnny?s college career. Ultimately, we decided to draft him based on all the information gathered by our organization.? Which seems to say the Browns knew full well of Manziel?s drinking problem and chose to ignore it. 8. Haslam disputed the prevailing opinion that he or Farmer or Scheiner pressured coach Mike Pettine to bench Brian Hoyer to get Manziel on the field for Game 14. ?There?s so many mistruths out there. I don?t know where the issues of not supporting Brian ? I?ll just take you through the year, OK? Let?s remember, we struggled offensively the lastfew games and we struggled at the quarterback position. Not all Brian?s fault. But after the Buffalo game, Pet said, ?We?re going to evaluate the quarterback position ? I?m going to talk to our offensive guys.? He called me and said the consensus is Brian gives us the best chance to win. I said, ?Great, go get ?em.? We didn?t play well on offense the next week and he ? HE ? OK, get that? ? HE made the decision to change quarterbacks. There was no force from Ray. There was no force from ownership. The coaches make those calls. He made that decision to change quarterbacks and unfortunately Johnny didn?t play well.? 9. Despite a reported $50 million in salary cap room, and affirming the franchise?s financial health is ?really good,? Haslam said he anticipated not being a major player in free agency. ?I just think you have to see what your team needs are and who?s available and see what makes sense for your team.? 10. Haslam acknowledged that he?s still learning his job as owner of the Browns and disputed that he is overly meddlesome. ?Here?s how I view my role: set the goals for the organization, put the right people in the right place, provide them with the resources they need to do their job, and then hold them accountable. That?s what I spend my time doing, OK??
I don't know about the comment that Farmer and Schiener "add value" by reviewing game film 6am the following morning. It sounds like a critique of the game plan, players, etc..... I get the idea of reviewing game film for Farmer, to scout opposing or other teams for possible acquisition, but other wise .......? It just sounds like they fancy themselves coaches, and I think we have one. They work well together? Based on what? I get the sense that Haslam hasn't figured out who does what, and more importantly, where authority and responsibility needs to be placed and left to those hired to do it. Finally, he sounds like a snake oil salesman, with his declarations of hunky dory. No it's not, and I sincerely hope you are trying to sell it but don't believe it, cause if you do.............. crap
A small church had a very attractive big-busted organist, Linda, and her breasts were so large that they bounced and jiggled while she played the organ. Unfortunately, she distracted the congregation considerably. The very proper church ladies were appalled. They said something had to be done about this or they would have to get another organist. So one of the ladies approached Linda very discreetly about the problem, and told her to mash up some green astringent persimmons and rub them on her nipples and over her breasts, which should cause them to shrink in size, but warned her not to taste any of the green persimmons, because they are so sour they will make her mouth pucker up, and she wouldn't be able to talk properly for a while. The voluptuous organist reluctantly agreed to try it. The following Sunday morning the minister walked up to the pulpit and said, "Dew to thircumsthanthis bewond my contwol, we will not behabbing a thermon tewday ."
I can see where it would be good for both of them to not only understand the game of football better in Schiener's case, but for Farmer to do his job properly, he MUST understand exactly what his coaches are trying to accomplish in order to find the proper players to execute it. Scheiner isn't really (or shouldn't be) involved in the football aspect of the team. But in order to properly conduct the business side, he needs to know the team inside out, on and off the field. Watching game film can help him get a sense of heart and soul of this team. I believe that is time well spent, you MUST know your product to conduct business. The problem with Farmer, as I see it, he is getting an ego. When you start thinking a) your job is more important than another b) you think you can do someone else job or c) you start giving advice to someone on how to do their job...the process of teamwork essentially breaks down and no one then can work to the best of their ability. Farmer is becoming a detriment, if he doesn't shut up and do his job, and his job only, he will need to be replaced. Haslem has got to step in and tell him to stay out of everyone's business and just find players and coaches that can lead this team...that is all.
From the Haslam presser . . . This, to me, is THE most disconcerting response of them all. Apparently, Haslam recently learned (as did I) that the Cap Floor requirement is based on cash expenditures . . . not the actual salary cap. I wrongfully thought that the Browns had to spend at least 90% of the Salary Cap or pay the league the difference which would then be paid out to the players. This is not the case. The Browns could literally write one front end loaded contract, meet the spending floor requirement and be off the hook for another three years. In other words, forget about bringing in Free Agent starters and then drafting for depth like the really good, consistent teams do. Maybe we should just plan on sprucing up the basement with some paneling and peel and stick floor tiles. As long as we're going to be spending more time down there, might as well make it a little more livable.
I believe that goes hand in hand with the city's new motto...... Cleveland: We're just crashing here in Canada's basement until we get our shit together.
Browns owner Jimmy Haslam thinks his team has taken some unfair heat in the media. Haslam says he was hurt by a story from Jason La Canfora of CBS titled, ?Browns? mess with Gordon, Manziel starts with owner Haslam?s mismanagement.? ?I feel very good directionally about where we?re headed,? Haslam said, via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. ?That?s why [the article] was like getting sucker-punched when it kind of came out of left field ? ?whoa, that?s not what we?re seeing.? Now, I also accept that until we win and win consistently which we have not done ? they didn?t do before we got here ? and we haven?t done, we don?t have any credibility. We don?t have any equity with y?all. We accept that. We have to prove we can win and win consistently and we accept that.? As for the charge that he meddles too much, Haslam insisted that he lets the football people make the football decisions. Specifically referencing the drafting of Johnny Manziel, Haslam says that was General Manager Ray Farmer?s call. ?Let me say, I have never watched tape,? Haslam said. ?That?s not my skill set. I?m supposed to get the right people in the right place and I think in Ray Farmer we have the right person and [personnel executives] Bill Kuharich and Morocco Brown and all of the other scouts, I think we?ve got the right people in the right places, so Ray has all of those final calls.? What Haslam needs now is for Farmer to make the right calls with the Browns? two first-round picks this year. Just as soon as the Browns show they?re on track, they?ll stop getting sucker-punched by the media.
Bill Kuharich ..hasn't he been a GM before ? to lazy to research it this morning . heading down to WPAFB to see the surgeon for a follow up in a short and don't have the time anyway . its Fri the 13th for you who are superstious
Well, with the debacle of the last half of the season, the Manziel and Gordon issues, Haslam flapping his gums about the team and front office with no end in sight, Farmer possibly costing us a draft pick (or more), the lack of a QB worth a #1 pick in the upcoming draft, etc., etc.......... I think I found something which pretty much sums up my feelings for this team at this point in time.............
Irish I agree with you on Farmer, but it makes me question Haslam's vocal support of him. Now it could just be media speak, and I for one sincerely hope that is the case, because, like you said he needs to focus on his job, and let the people chosen to do other jobs, just do them. Team unity begins at the top and I hope Haslam sees that and recognizes that the way they approached it last year failed to provide that. As for Slam constantly flapping his gums ...... shut up. Just fix it. Actions speak louder than words, and you are not going to win the media battle until you "fix it". Forget the press, focus on the team's management, and figure out how to instill the teamwork at the top. This whole nonsense about "I didn't make the call on Johnny and I didn't make the call on Hoyer's benching" is a non issue to me. You don't have to make the call to be responsible for actions taken that reflect your wishes.
Lym, I hear you on the money thing, but just a thought........ what if their reluctance to make a big move in FA is in reaction to the fact that they don't have their guy at QB,and recognizing that want to ensure that they remain in a strong position going forward to spend that money when "the guy" they want comes up next year. By front loading some contracts now, they can be sure to have something to use then. Does that make any sense? I'm not sure, but it occured to me that most NFL pundits and teams don't feel this draft has anything resembling a "sure fire" QB. Some of that money could be well spent in resigning some of our guys, and maybe the top draft choice. We have and will certainly continue to chew on the QB situation going into the 2015 season, mostly because there is no silver bullet move on the board to cure the problem this year. What do you think. Am I just being naive or just not understanding the money rules and constraints?
KD, Its not like the fact that there's a dirth of QB's available now is a secret. The whole world knows it including idiots like me. So, lets take your train of thought and project it out a year. Mind you, without filling holes in the roster now, they will probably suck again in 2015. They either simply have too many holes or, where they don't have holes, they have zero depth. So, their two options for 2016 are; One - draft yet another QB with a probable high draft pick. Who "that guy" is I haven't a clue. And will they suck bad enough to ensure that they can draft him. Remember, Indy sucked bad enough to land their guy only because of Peyton Manning's injury. Add to that, what happens if "their guy" gets busted up in his last year of college football? -or- Two - Sign an Upper echelon QB in free agency. Again, who that guy is I haven't a clue. But, why would a good quarterback who is an available Free Agent in 2016 want to come to team who just demonstrated that they are reluctant to spend cash to improve the team. And even if they found one stupid enough to come here, they STILL have all those holes to fill because now they spent their wad on this fool. My whole rant was that they have the money to enact change . . . NOW. If we know where the holes are then they better damn well know where they are as well. And, it turns out, there is a whole list of good players that can fill those very same holes in THIS YEAR'S free agency class and they have the cash to do just that. I've been saying "maybe next year" now since 19 phuquing 64 !!! Kids that began junior high school in 1964 are eligible to retire on Social Security today and I'm (We) are supposed to buy into this crap?
