Trent Richardson said his chemistry with the offensive line is "so much better" than it was a year ago. "Last year, I just went right into the fire," Richardson said. "Now, it's time to get better and better each day. ... With the timing, it's a big, important thing." Richardson has rushed 12 times for 64 yards (5.33 YPC) in the preseason, drawing rave reviews for his increasingly explosive burst and sustained health. With elite bookend tackles in Joe Thomas and Mitchell Schwartz, the offensive line will be a top-10 unit. Richardson's ceiling is sky-high.
Browns coach Rob Chudzinski announced Wednesday a few starters will sit out Thursday's final preseason game in Chicago. 0 Comments Browns coach Rob Chudzinski decided it wasn't worth the risk to expose the majority of his starters to the chance of injury against the Bears in the preseason finale Thursday. Chudzinski didn't have a press briefing Wednesday but informed the media through a team spokesman that most of the starters will not play against Chicago, including quarterback Brandon Weeden and running back Trent Richardson. However, Josh Gordon, Travis Benjamin and right guard Oniel Cousins will start on offense, while Billy Winn and Quentin Groves will start on defense. Chudzinski said Cousins needs more time at guard, but he is the leading candidate to open the season at right guard in place of Jason Pinkston and Shawn Lauvao, who are both sidelined with ankle injuries. ?(Cousins) has the edge right now," Chudzinski said Tuesday. "I have been pleased with how quickly he has made the transition. It?s not been perfect by any means, and he is still working and still need to continue to work, but it has been relatively smooth.? in addition, newly acquired punter/kicker Colton Schmidt will alternate the punting duties with Spencer Lanning. Schmidt will also be the holder for field goals and PATs, while handling the kickoff duties. Schmidt was released by the 49ers in roster cuts earlier this week. Chudzinski said the majority of the players who will play against the Bears are fighting for roster spots as the Browns have to pare the roster from 75 to 53 by Saturday. ?For the most part, the guys that are going to play and get significant amount of time in that game are going to be guys that we really want to look at and give them the opportunity to play three quarters in that game and get a chance to see them.? Mingo Update: LB Barkevious Mingo continues his improvement from a bruised lung as the Browns reported that Mingo took part in a weight room workout Wednesday morning. Mingo did some running before practice on Tuesday and has been on the stationary bike for the past week. His return to the field is still uncertain.
In a dramatic development staving off what could have been years of costly litigation, the NFL has settled lawsuits brought by thousands of former players over brain injuries suffered on the field. Former United States District Judge Layn Phillips, the court-appointed mediator, announced that the NFL and NFL Properties will contribute $765 million to provide medical benefits and injury compensation for retired NFL players, fund medical and safety research, and cover litigation expenses. The settlement still must be approved by United States District Judge Anita Brody. ?This is a historic agreement, one that will make sure that former NFL players who need and deserve compensation will receive it, and that will promote safety for players at all levels of football,? Judge Phillips said in a statement. ?Rather than litigate literally thousands of complex individual claims over many years, the parties have reached an agreement that, if approved, will provide relief and support where it is needed at a time when it is most needed. I am deeply grateful to Judge Brody for appointing me as mediator and offering me the opportunity to work on such an important and interesting matter.? Although $765 million is an enormous sum of money, but it?s also a sum of money that the NFL, which rakes in billions each year, can afford. Some of the most dire predictions said concussion litigation could bankrupt the league, but this is a settlement that the NFL can handle. The biggest question going forward may be whether the NFL can make changes to the game to keep players safe from brain injuries in the future.
glad that is settled maybe now they can go back to playing football instead of sissy boy Goodell screwing the game i have loved since i was a kid . get rid of these ridiculous penalties . Sissy boy Roger must gooooo ..Phuquing faggot *ROSE*
BEREA, Ohio ? Josh Cooper saw the pool of Browns possession receivers grow deeper and more experienced in the offseason. The club acquired David Nelson from Buffalo in free agency and Davone Bess from Miami in a trade, and neither transaction seemed to spell good news for Cooper, a second-year pro. But the undrafted slot receiver who followed quarterback Brandon Weeden from Oklahoma State to Berea refused to look at the crowded depth chart as a negative. ?I kind of had a good attitude about it because we needed some older guys like Bess to bring in,? Cooper said. ?It was nice to learn under him, see what he can do out there. And, Nelson for sure. It was good to see that. It?s tough when you got big competition like this, but it makes you better as a whole as a team.? The 24-year-old from Mustang, Okla., survived the first wave of cuts that included receiver Jordan Norwood, and heads into the final preseason game tonight against the Chicago Bears with a solid chance of remaining on the roster. Cooper figures to see plenty of playing time in Chicago as coach Rob Chudzinski plans to rest many of the regulars, including Greg Little. Nelson, Travis Benjamin and Josh Gordon, who must serve a two-game drug ban to open the season, will be in the lineup. The 5-foot-10, 190 pound Cooper isn?t overemphasizing the final exhibition game, saying that, ?It?s a job interview every day when I go out there, and that?s kind of how I approach it.? The team is still carrying nine receivers and likely will release two or three more by Saturday to reach the NFL?s 53-man limit. First-year coach Rob Chudzinski sounds pleased with the development of Cooper, who caught eight passes for 106 yards a season ago. ?Josh has really improved,? the coach said. ?Going back to last season and watching tape on him, he has really become dependable and is catching the ball. He has been able to work to get open. He has had a really good training camp.? Cooper doesn?t possess the career numbers of Nelson or Bess -- one of the game?s top chain-movers on third downs -- but he?s got the healthiest set of knees among the three receivers. It's a job interview every day when I go out there and that's kind of how I approach it. Nelson is making his Browns debut in Chicago after rehabbing from a torn anterior cruciate ligament and bone bruise on the same knee. Bess has missed time with tendonitis in the knee. Cooper, meanwhile, has had perfect attendance throughout training camp and caught a pair of passes Saturday night in a 27-6 loss to Indianapolis. ?I had a good opportunity last week to get out there and play with the (first unit) and show what I can do,? Cooper said. ?I feel I got a good chance, but it?s still down the road, still got another game left, a few more days of camp, just trying to work hard and stay focused on that.? Cooper spent part of the offseason training in Houston and also worked out with Weeden, who?s from suburban Oklahoma City. The receiver temporarily bunked with Weeden and his wife, Melanie, last year earning him the nickname, ?Dupree? from the movie comedy, ?You, Me and Dupree.? Cooper began last season on the practice before appearing in six games. Assuming he makes the final roster, Cooper hopes to expand his role even as he knows Bess and, perhaps, Nelson will play ahead of him to open the season. He gained a good working knowledge of the NFL during his rookie season on and away from the field and feels more prepared. ?Coming in as a rookie, it?s tough,? he said. ?You got to go through all the stuff and mentally you?re drained. So you know what to expect (in your second training camp). This year was a lot better. It?s good to be a vet, kinda, I guess you could say.?
CHICAGO, Ill. ? Jon Gruden sees development in Brandon Weeden and believes the team should focus on improving its receiving corps before terming this a ?make-or-break? year for the Browns quarterback. The ESPN analyst answered questions about Weeden and an array of NFL topics this morning on the network?s conference call hyping the return of Monday Night Football. ?I don?t know what direction Cleveland would go,? Gruden said. ?It?s easy to say make or break, but who are you going to go with next year? They have changed quarterbacks more than any team in NFL history the last 20 years since they have been back in Cleveland. What is the alternative?? Left unstated is the possibility of drafting another quarterback next spring if Weeden falters. He endured an uneven first year while other rookie quarterbacks such as Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III and Russell Wilson all thrived. Gruden, however, expressed optimism in the Oklahoma State product and said the Browns are ?lucky? to have an offensive coordinator such as Norv Turner working with him. ?I think they need to build around Weeden and improve the receiving corps, let them work themselves through this new offense,? the former Tampa Bay and Oakland coach said. ?I?m confident he?s going to be a good pro quarterback.? During the hour-long conference call, Gruden acknowledged that he sometimes is accused of being too positive in his player assessments. He understands how impatient the league is in developing a quarterback and a winner, which usually aren?t mutually exclusive. View full sizeESPN analyst and former coach Jon Gruden on Brandon Weeden: ?????I think they need to build around Weeden and improve the receiving corps, let them work themselves through this new offense.??? Associated Press ?If it doesn?t work out I know coaches and quarterbacks don?t last long,? he said. Weeden will become the first Browns quarterback to earn consecutive opening-day starts since Charlie Frye in 2006-07. Frye was famously benched at halftime of the 2007 opener -- a 34-7 loss to Pittsburgh -- and traded to Seattle two days later for a sixth-round pick. Eighteen quarterbacks have started at least one game for the Browns since 1999. Gruden thought Weeden had a bright start to preseason before the ?setback? in Indianapolis on Saturday. He will not play in tonight?s preseason finale at Chicago. ?On a football team that doesn?t have tremendous skill around him ? I don?t think his wide-receiving corps is a polished group yet ? but I do think he is developing,? Gruden said. ?I liked what he did against St. Louis (in the preseason opener) and really liked some of the things he did against Detroit. ?None of them played very well against Indianapolis. Weeden and the rest of the offense didn?t play very good. I think that was a setback and a disappointment.? Browns vs. Bears tonight: Join our live in-game chat then stay tuned for our video show at halftime and call-in post-game show, all live from Chicago. It starts at 8 p.m. at cleveland.com/browns.
Lannng should take a shot at QB too. What a night he had. I thought it was great, him doing the kicking and punting. I have to admit he won my heart if not a roster spot with that performance. And if he doesn't, he can always proudly point to his one game as kicker and tell his grand kids how he "won the game". Awesome! Otherwise: cudos to Hoyer, nice job coming in and running the show for a full game. Not a starter but if he had to hold the reins for a game, we could still play. D Nelson, sorry son, not this year. He obviously isn't ready yet. D looked beatable, and McFadden needs work. He's just succeeded in making himself a target for every offense we face. All in all it's preseason, but a 3 and 1 preseason makes for a much happier Browns fan here, than 1 and 3 would have. There are signs of hope again. Got to get through some injuries, and need Weeds to keep progressing, but we've got some talent and I believe we have some of the best coaching we've ever had. I give Chud credit for being comfortable bringing in guys who have long and impressive resumes. It demonstrates confidence, and I think I see that taking hold in the players as well. Tee it up already. Let's play some football. GO BROWNS !
With all of our QBs looking good. I sure as hell hope that theyre trying to pimp J Cam to the Jets or Bills..he would be a step up above an undrafted rookie, an injured rookie, and Thad Lewis. Id take a 5th rounder for him and run with 2 qbs, or find a young developmental 3rd stringer that someone is trying to sneak on to the practice squad.
After 12 noon ET Sunday, clubs may establish a practice squad of eight players by signing free agents who do not have an accrued season of free-agency credit or who were on the 46-player active list for less than nine regular-season games during their only accrued season(s). A player cannot participate on the practice squad for more than three seasons.
cdotcombrowns @ cdotcombrowns 10m Cleveland Browns need more than a kicker, also must shop for a wide receiver and running back: Terry Pluto http://dlvr.it/3tq9Bb # browns
A young man was lost wandering in a forest, when he came upon a small house. He knocked on the door and was greeted by an ancient Chinese man with a long, grey beard. "I'm lost," said the man. "Can you put me up for the night?" "Certainly," the Chinese man said, "but on one condition. If you so much as lay a finger on my daughter, I will inflict upon you the three worst Chinese tortures known to man." ... "Ok," said the man, thinking that the daughter must be pretty old as well, and entered the house. Before dinner, the daughter came down the stairs. She was young, beautiful, and had a fantastic figure. She was obviously attracted to the young man since she couldn't keep her eyes off him during the meal. Remembering the old man's warning, he ignored her and went up to bed alone. But during he night, he could bear it no longer, and sneaked into her room for a night of passion. He was careful to keep everything quiet so the old man wouldn't hear. Near dawn he crept back to his room, exhausted, but happy. He woke in the morning with the feel of pressure on his chest. Opening his eyes he saw a large rock on his chest with a note on it that read, "Chinese Torture 1: Large rock on chest." "Well, that's pretty crappy," he thought. "If that's the best the old man can do then I don't have much to worry about." He picked the boulder up, walked over to the window and threw the boulder out. As he did so he noticed another note on it that read: "Chinese Torture 2: Rock tied to left testicle." In a panic he glanced down and saw the rope that was already getting close to the end. Figuring that a few broken bones was better than castration, he jumped out of the window after the boulder. As he plummeted downward he saw a large sign on the ground that read, "Chinese Torture 3: Right testicle tied to bedpost." >
personally I'd be pissed, but if I was pissed because we lost the chanpionship game this year........
Billy Cundiff, eh? Didn't see that one coming. *SCRATCH* However . . . the last time he was a Brown (2009, I think, filling in for an injured Phil Dawson) I believe he went 6 for 6 on field goals. (Probably didn't have too many opportunities for extra points *NO* )
2. Brandon Weeden, Browns ? Owned in 14 percent of Yahoo leagues I?ve been the president of the Browns bandwagon all offseason. Their front seven is nasty, they have a shutdown corner in Joe Haden, they have a top-eight offensive line and they have an elite running back. Their 6.5 win total in Las Vegas is laughable. All this will help Brandon Weeden, who is operating a Rob Chudzinski/Norv Turner vertical offense that is always quarterback-friendly. Weeden takes a hit without supremely talented No. 1 wideout Josh Gordon for two weeks (suspension), but he?ll be a fine plug-n-play as we move along. The second-year man went 30-of-50 (60.0 percent) for 334 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions in the preseason. He?s made giant strides since last year?s ugly rookie campaign. Recommendation: Should be owned as a QB2 in 14-team standard leagues
Just a friendly reminder - Last chance to get in on the pick-em contest, free to enter and the winner gets some free MNC merchandise. http://mudncleats.com/forumlist/viewtopic.php?id=786
