USA Today Sports Can the Browns still salvage their season? Fred Greetham Friday at 8:48 PM With a quarter of the season left to play, can the Browns still find out what they wanted to find out this season? BEREA, Ohio--At the three-quarter mark of the 2016 season, what can the Browns do to still salvage their season and accomplish some of the things they need to find out? When looking at the 2016 season, I picked the Browns to win four games. Now that was obviously, being very optimistic. Hearing Christian Kirksey and Hue Jackson vowing that the Browns would not go 0-16 looks like a very low bar to achieve--winning one game--but that's where the Browns are at. Jackson was asked if going through this type of season will be worth it in the long run. ?Heck yes," Jackson said recently. "For what we are trying to do, which is be division champs and hoist the Super Bowl trophy, I promise you I will look back at this year and I will probably laugh about it at some point. Right now, I can?t. I can?t stomach it, but I will because I truly believe in what we are trying to accomplish and what we are trying to do. "I will be the first to tell you, there are times when I wake up and I go, ?Wow, what am I doing?? But it is conversations with (Executive Vice-President of Football Operations) Sashi (Brown), it is conversations with Jimmy (Haslam), it is conversations with (Chief Strategy Officer) Paul (DePodesta) and (Vice President of Player Personnel) Andrew Berry that make me realize and see that we are doing this the right way. It is hard and it is hard when you are in it ? there is no question about that ? but I truly believe it is the right thing to do.? ?The 2016 season was never about wins and losses, but rather trying to identify a core of young players to develop and build around heading into the 2017 and 2018 NFL Drafts with a plethora of draft picks and a lot of salary cap space. The Browns--even under previous regimes have been great at trading and acquiring draft picks--but not so good in turning those picks into top flight NFL players. In the upcoming 2017 NFL Draft, the Browns are scheduled to have two first-round picks. Not that Browns fans need to be reminded, but since 2012, the Browns have picked two players in the first round three times. In 2012, they drafted Trent Richardson and Brandon Weeden in the first round. In 2014, they selected Justin Gilbert and Johnny Manziel in the first round and in 2015, they took Danny Shelton and Cameron Erving in the first round. Those six picks should've turned into players that are right now in the prime of their careers and should be key contributors, if not Pro Bowlers. The first four picked are not with the team and of the last two, only one looks like a key player. My expectation for 2016 was that the Browns would be able to identify and solve the quarterback situation long-term, find some play makers and play reasonably well in the second half of the season to feel that this team was definitely on the rise. Not to the same degree, but similar to the 1985 Browns when they had a rookie quarterback by the name of Bernie Kosar, who showed signs of being the franchise quarterback and even though the team finished 8-8, you felt they were a team on the way up. Obviously, the following years from 1986-89, that team played in three AFC Championship games and were just a whisker from competing for the Super Bowl. Here is my assessment of what they've been able to accomplish, despite being winless: At Quarterback: The Browns were hoping to identify if one of the quarterbacks on the roster could be the long-term answer for the franchise. Robert Griffin III was injured in the first game so there has been no way to determine his status. That is why he might attempt to play the final quarter of the season to make a decision one way or another on what to do with him. Even if he plays well, I don't see him as more than a bridge-type quarterback as with his durability issues, it's hard to commit totally to him and build around him. Cody Kessler was able to get more playing time than anticipated for the rookie at the beginning of the season. ?The Browns have a pretty good idea of what they have in him and might not need to see any more of him to decide he can be a starting quarterback or at least a capable backup. He also has durability issues, as he's been knocked out of three games, even though not totally his fault. Analysis: Even though I didn't agree with the decision to sign Griffin and trade the No. 2 pick and have a chance to draft Carson Wentz, I concede that any quarterback behind this offensive line was going to be hard-pressed to be successful. With that said, until they solve the most important position on the field, they will not be successful in the NFL. This is a quarterback driven league and that is why it is the ?most important position. If there is a 'sure-as-you-can-get' franchise quarterback in next spring's draft, I believe you cannot pass him up as you hope you're not drafting at the top of the draft again. With that said, the Browns have to do everything possible to re-tool their offensive line with the resources they have in the draft and the possible free agents available.? Find PlayMakers at Wide Receiver: By not addressing the wide receiver position under Ray Farmer, the Browns needed to find play makers at the position. They drafted four wide receivers and all indications were that Corey Coleman was going to be a playmaker, but a hamstring injury in training camp and broken hand in Week Two set him back. Josh Gordon was expected to return in Week Five, but due to his off-field issues, likely won't suit up for the Browns again. Terrelle Pryor ?was an unknown at receiver after making the transition from quarterback. He has emerged in the absence of Coleman and Gordon to be the top playmaker at the position. ? Analysis: The only negative with Pryor emerging is that the Browns signed him to just a one-year contract in the off-season and now there is a chance they could lose him in free agency. Coleman should be a good, if not great receiver in this league, but the other three drafted in Ricardo Louis, Rashard Higgins and Jordan Payton have shown little this season on the field. The decision to keep Andrew Hawkins over Taylor Gabriel looks like a big mistake by the personnel department as Hawkins has had little impact, while Gabriel is excelling in the Falcons offense and he is much younger than Hawkins.? Build a Wall on the Offensive Line: Previous regimes allowed Alex Mack and Mitchell Schwartz the opportunity to leave as free agents and they did. They tried to address the losses with Cameron Erving in 2015 and Shon Coleman and Spencer Drango in 2016. Erving looks like a big mistake at this point, while the Coleman pick looks confusing as they used a high third-round pick on him and have refused to put him on the field on a regular basis. The OBR's Lane Adkins has reported on several occasions the Browns have a plan for Coleman and don't want to rush him into action. However, I don't know how it can hurt to give him experience and learn as the team is winless. In other words, how do you know what you have if you don't play him. Drango has been on the field at guard in recent weeks and he seems to be making progress.? Analysis: I would use the assets in draft picks and or free agency to bring in top-flight offensive lineman. Much like the Cowboys did, they built a line and put a young quarterback behind them in Dak Prescott that has been successful. If Joe Thomas is the only sure lineman, bring in as many as needed to fix the line. A line that has given up 45 sacks and numerous more knockdowns is not the type of line you want to put a quarterback behind, especially if you draft a quarterback again in 2017 in the first round. Joel Bitonio looks to be a good player, but he's spent most of the last two years on injured reserve. John Greco is solid and versatile, but they need to decide if Erving, Drango, Coleman, Austin Reiter or Austin Pasztor are the answers at the other positions.? Find Pass Rushers: The Browns went into the draft wanting to find players that could get to the quarterback. Emmanuel Ogbah and Carl Nassib were drafted high and identified as players that could do so. Ogbah has three sacks and Nassib has 1.5. Both players have shown glimpses of being playmakers on defense, but the Browns have just 17 sacks for the season--just a little over an anemic one per game. Both rookies appear to be better suited as defensive ends in a 4-3 defense, but the Browns are employing a 3-4. Desmond Bryant missed the season with a torn pectoral, but at 31 years old, it is unknown if the Browns figure him in their plans going forward.? Nate Orchard showed some promise in his rookie season as a pass rusher but even though he was sidelined this year with a high ankle sprain, the Browns chose to keep him on injured reserve and bring back Griffin with their one designated to return player. Jamie Collins has shown he is a playmaker where ever he lines up, but he is a free agent that can walk away at the end of the season.? Analysis: It's hard to know if the group of Ogbah, Nassib, Orchard, Tyrone Holmes, Jamie Meder and Xavier Cooper can be the players that can get to the quarterback on a consistent basis. Joe Schobert has not shown any signs of being a pass rusher and Collins is a player that can leave after this season. If the Browns could keep Collins, they likely couldn't draft a player who could make as immediate impact as he could, even in the first round and they could add even another playmaker at the position or address additional areas.? Find Playmakers in the Secondary: The Browns once-again chose to let Tashaun Gipson, Donte Whitner, Buster Skrine and K'Waun Williams leave over the last two off-seasons, while trading away Justin Gilbert. They only drafted Ibraheim Campbell and Derrick Kindred as defensive backs. Both of those players were drafted in the fourth-round and have shown some promise, but thus far haven't looked to be big time impact players. Jordan Poyer also played solid before he was hurt, but again hasn't been a big impact player on the back end of the defense. The only cornerback the Browns drafted, Trey Caldwell in the fifth-round, is on the practice squad.? Analysis: The secondary is a high priority. In a passing league, the Browns need cornerbacks and safeties. Joe Haden has not been the Pro Bowl player he was two years ago and Tramon Williams at 33, is past his prime. Jamar Taylor has played pretty well as the second cornerback, but the Browns could use additional help at the position. Briean Boddy-Calhoun has been a nice find, but it's hard to count on him to be the answer at cornerback. Since the Browns missed big time on Gilbert, they need to address cornerback and or safety high in the draft or in free agency.? Overall Assessment: Among the young players, the Browns have found some core players, in my opinion, that they can build around. On offense, these are players I think can be impact players or solid starters: ?Pryor, Coleman, Bitonio, Duke Johnson and Isaiah Crowell. The jury is still out on Seth DeValve, Drango, Coleman, Erving, Reiter, Higgins, Louis, Payton and Kessler. On defense, these are the younger players they can build with: Collins, Christian Kirksey, Danny Shelton, Jamie Meder, Ogbah, Nassib, Orchard, Kindred and Boddy-Calhoun. Those that haven't shown enough to know are Schobert, Campbell, Ed Reynolds, Cooper and Holmes.? Looking at the numbers of holes to fill, it is possible to see the Browns making huge strides during this upcoming off-season, but they have to be judicious in their analysis of the personnel they have and what is available to them. In order to make this season worthwhile, the Browns need to find out some of those answers in the final four games so they are as prepared as they can be when they enter the off-season.? If they don't, history could repeat itself and Jackson said he will not allow that to happen.? "It is critical over these next four weeks that we do come away grasping some of those things as you are mentioning as we walk out of here," Jackson said after the loss to the Giants. "We have to because if not, these things repeat themselves. I am not going to ? I have told our players, and I mean this, and I am going to tell all of you ? this will be the last time, this year, that we ever feel the way we feel. I know that. I know that in my heart. I know that without question, and that is why I have always said if you are going to get us you better get us now because we are not going to feel like this a year from now.?
Hey all I renewed my CFB Bowl bash on YAHOO . Group name .. bluez bowl bash Group ID# 5441 group PW .. bucks Have fun with it
I had my yearly physical last week and my Doctor ask me if I smoked after sex. I said Don't know, never looked.
Waitress - Just to let you know, kids eat free today. Grandpa - Ok, I'll have a water, my granddaughter will have the steak and shrimp and my grandson will have a margarita.
http://www.espn.com/espn/feature/st...e-thomas-9684-straight-shifts-factory-sadness A very good read .I love Joe Thomas
Has anyone heard about another injury to McCown? It is also being reported that Kessler will be the backup and McCown will not be active.
USA Today Sports RG3 to start, but will it give the Browns a spark? Fred Greetham 12:25 PM With Robert Griffin III set to return to the field, will it give the Browns the spark needed to win? BEREA, Ohio--It's back to the future. One?of the best kept secrets will come to?fruition?as Robert Griffin III has officially been named the Browns starting quarterback for Sunday's game with the Bengals at FirstEnergy Stadium.? Hue Jackson made it official and named Griffin the starting quarterback before practice on Thursday. He admitted that he thinks it gives the Browns the best chance to win, but he also needs to see Griffin play. "Any decision I am making is for that locker room and to give us a chance to win," Jackson said. "Right now, to give us a chance to play well, ?but also to see (Griffin play)." Jackson said he saw enough of Griffin in practice to make the decision.? "I wanted to see and evaluate it all," Jackson said. "We won't really know until we see Sunday, but what I've seen in practice is a guy who's ready to play." Jackson said the more he practices the better he will be prepared. ?I think the more you work at it, the more you get in the flow of things in a live situation, as much as we can simulate it in practice, the better you are going to be," he said. "Robert is a pro. He understands. Trust me, he wants to be out there.? Griffin said he's focused on the?opportunity?to play this week, nothing beyond. "This is not about next year or next week," Griffin said after practice. "This is about this week." Griffin said he thinks he's been able to get the rust off while practicing the last week. Griffin last played in the season opener against the Eagles when he fractured the coracoid bone in his left shoulder near the end of the game.? ?Yeah, it has been a while since I have been back out, but the guys around me are going to make it a very smooth transition," Griffin said. "We are all out there fighting for each other. They know that not one guy can do this by himself and make a world of difference. It is going to take everybody, and that is why we are an offensive unit not just individual guys. We are all looking to pull our weight, do our jobs and make sure we can go out and put on a good show.? Griffin will be starting for the second time this season, but overall, it is the sixth change at starting quarterback in the first 13 games of the season. Griffin said he won't shy away from running or getting hit, but knows game situations are much different than practice. ?Yeah, I had a couple slides here and there (at practice), but no 350 pounders have landed on me yet," he said. "It is just something you have to be ready for. Football is a very physical game, and they are not going to shy away from trying to hit me. I just have to make sure I protect myself. I know my line is going to protect me. That is the goal is to not get the quarterback hit. We are going to do things to try to be conducive to that and I just can?t worry about those things. It is football. You are going to get hit. That is why you put on your armor and go out to battle.? ?In the season opening loss to the Eagles, Griffin was 12-of-26 for 190 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. His rating was 55.0 and he was sacked three times. He also carried the ball five times for 37 yards.? Griffin said he is hoping to not only provide a spark for the offense, but deliver Hue Jackson his first win as coach of the Browns.? ?It is paramount," Griffin said. "I do not think ? it is his former team, but I just think when you see Coach breakdown like that, as a player in this locker room it makes you ? we already wanted to play hard for him, but it makes you want to play harder for him and win for him because he does not deserve to be 0-12. It is like I said, these guys in this locker room do not deserve to be 0-12. Talking about it is not going to do anything about it, but I think seeing that emotion from Coach lights a fire in everybody. We have to go out and prove it on Sunday.? Extra Points Browns sign Elston, Kindred to NFI: The?Browns have signed DB Trae Elston and placed DB Derrick Kindred (foot) on reserve/non-football injury (NFI). ?In addition, the team signed DB Justin Currie to the practice squad. ?Elston (5-11, 193) is a rookie out of Mississippi. Originally signed by New Orleans as an undrafted free agent, he has spent five weeks on Tampa Bay?s practice squad. A four-year starter at safety at Mississippi, he opened 44 of his 50 career games and totaled 252 tackles, 34 passes defensed, four interception, 11 tackles for loss, one sack, two forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries. ?Kindred, a fourth-round pick this year, appeared in all 12 games with five starts. He logged 43 tackles and five passes defensed. ?Currie (6-2, 212) is officially in his first NFL season out of Western Michigan. He was originally signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2015. At Western Michigan, Currie started 37 of his 47 games and totaled 339 tackles and five interceptions.? With the move of Kindred, the only players limited at practice were DB Jamar Taylor (groin) and OL Joe Thomas (knee).
I read where McCowns shoulder isn't completely healed . it showed the last game against the Giants . Pretty sure its McCowns last year playing .I hope the bean counters give him a job somewhere . he is a class act on & off the field . a true leader . the kind of person you want in your organization.
RIP John Glenn Last of the "Mercury 7" original NASA astronauts passed away at 95. God speed, John Glenn.
John Greco likely needs Lisfranc surgery too, like his teammate http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...needs-lisfranc-surgery-too-like-his-teammate/
Browns signed CB Jamar Taylor to a three-year, $15 million extension. A former second-round bust with Miami, the Browns traded next to nothing for Taylor at April's draft. He's turned his career around as a full-time starter opposite Joe Haden, grading out positively both outside and in the nickel spot at PFF. Taylor gives Cleveland a solid No. 2 corner going into next season. His new deal keeps him under team control through 2019. I like it . now lock up Pryor . he is only going to get better and wants to stay in Cleveland .
Thanks for this one Bluez. lol! I tell it with my own spin, and I've got some serious mileage out of it....Hilarious.
Browns: QB Kevin Hogan, QB Josh McCown, OL Gabe Ikard, OL Shon Coleman, DL Tyrone Holmes, DB Trae Elston McCown inactive .story was true on his shoulder not being healed .
:! That's all this sorry ass coaching staff can comeup with after aby week ??? and REGME cant hit the phuquing dirt ..wait a minuet all the diva can hit is the dirt . put the kid in see if he can handle the weather . send the diva who I didn't like coming out of college ass to the street . phuquing disgusting and a total embarrassment . :!
