This guy lost his cred right out of the shoot by saying Grossi was "respected...."

NFP Sunday Blitz

A closer look at the Browns' big draft trade, impact assistant coaches and all the latest scuttlebutt.
Dan Pompei
May 15, 2011, 06:00 AM EST

New Browns coach Pat Shurmur, perhaps trying to get a group of Browns backers a little jacked up, called it &#8220robably one of the greatest trades in draft history.”

The respected Tony Grossi of the Cleveland Plain Dealer questioned whether the Browns passed on a star to take a handful of ordinary Joes. Many Browns fans appeared to share his sentiment.

Both perspectives are interesting.

When you make a deal like the Browns did, moving down 21 spots and passing up a potential start like Julio Jones, you unquestionably leave yourself open to criticism. A couple of weeks ago, I examined why the Falcons felt compelled to make the deal. Now, I’d like to take you through the thought process on the other end of the telephone line.

First, understand the trade down was not about the Browns not liking Jones. If no deal had been offered, it’s very likely Jones would be house-hunting in the Cleveland area now. Browns general manager Tom Heckert told me he probably would have done the deal no matter who was left at 6, though my guess is if Marcel Dareus had been on the board, it would have given the Browns pause.

“I do think Julio Jones, or whoever we would have taken at 6, is going to be a really, really good player,” Heckert said. “We were more focused on getting more players. We knew we were more than just a couple guys away. The more picks we could get, the better off we could be.”

The Falcons thought one player could make a difference on their team. The Browns don’t have that feeling. They need numbers, and this gave them a chance to add numbers with the five draft picks (Phil Taylor after moving up, Greg Little, Owen Marecic and 2012 picks in the first and fourth rounds) they received for one.

Heckert was where the Falcons are now when he worked for the Eagles. Twice, he made draft trades from the other perspective in Philadelphia, moving up 12 spots for Shawn Andrews in 2004 and two spots for Jeremy Maclin in 2009. But this is different.

The chances of getting a star, as Grossi points out, are better the higher you pick. But there are a lot of disappointments at the top of the draft too. “You hope you get on a difference maker no matter where you are picking, but realistically, that’s probably not the way it’s going to be,” Heckert said. “We said let’s try to get to the point where Atlanta is so we could go out and get the one big time difference maker. We’re not there yet, and we thought that outweighed everything else. With more picks, you have more chances to get a difference maker, and if you get a bunch of good players, then you’re good.”

The Browns had numerous holes. Defensively, they were getting old. And they also are changing schemes, going from Eric Mangini’s 3-4 to Dick Jauron’s 4-3. They thought about sticking with a three man front just because of the personnel difficulties changing schemes can cause. This trade empowered them to make the switch because it resulted in the Browns getting two players who should be starters quickly in defensive tackle Taylor and defensive end in Jabaal Sheard.

“Defensive line was a big issue for us,” Heckert said. “We knew we were going to have to get them either through the draft or free agency or a combination, and that still could be the case. We still need a couple more guys.”

Part of the problem with making a deal like this is it doesn’t always go over well. Within an organization, there often are factions that are hoping for a star addition. And outside the organization, a move like this can be perceived as disheartening. Heckert said inside the building, everyone was on board. He knows the only way to win over Browns fans is to make sure the extra players they acquired develop into above average starters.

If the trade is all the Browns hope it could be, it will build the foundation of a contending team. Say this for the deal—given where the Browns are, the risk was worth the potential reward, and it followed sound logic.

“We’re in a rebuilding deal—the Falcons are not,” Heckert said. “I think it was a good move for both teams, I really do.”

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/NFP-Sunday-Blitz-3468.html

BR1986FB;768815 wrote:This guy lost his cred right out of the shoot by saying Grossi was "respected...."

lol.

I know this is the Bleacher Report but how in the Blue Hell did the Browns land so high in this guys power rankings?

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/701351-2011-nfl-power-rankings-pre-free-agency#/articles/701351-2011-nfl-power-rankings-pre-free-agency

I like the guy's optimism but wow at some of the comments. "The Browns are the best 5-11 team ever." "but the Browns used a second round pick to draft the second best receiver in the Draft, Greg Little."

lol he's obv a Browns fan.

Commander of Awesome;769741 wrote:I like the guy's optimism but wow at some of the comments. "The Browns are the best 5-11 team ever." "but the Browns used a second round pick to draft the second best receiver in the Draft, Greg Little."

lol he's obv a Browns fan.

No kidding. They wouldn't have been in my top 25.

He may be a Browns fan, and have them too high. But he could be right about Little. He looks like a stud in his videos.

I saw a Grossi piece earlier where Jauron said Marcus Bernard could be the starter, opposite Sheard, at DE. His size (256 lbs) is about right for the system they will run.

BR1986FB;770001 wrote:I saw a Grossi piece earlier where Jauron said Marcus Bernard could be the starter, opposite Sheard, at DE. His size (256 lbs) is about right for the system they will run.

That'd be great. I'm not sure about his run stuffing skills, but for him to be a productive starter who can rush the passer would be tremendous imo.

If they resign Jayme Mitchell I can see them targeting another DL, a FS, an OLB and perhaps a veteran corner in FA. If DQ is going to be the starter at MLB, I could see them targeting someone like Ben Leber to play on the outside.

I think Bernard would be better at rushing the QB off the edge than Roth. Roth may be the better run stopper. I don't know enough about Mitchell to know what his strengths are. I'm also not crazy about DQ starting at MLB. I would agree with all of your FA pick ups. (needs)

I was surprised when I heard 'DQ at MLB" myself. I thought that was where Gocong was penciled in. Who knows though, if the two space eaters (Taylor & Rubin) do their job and DQ stays healthy (big if), he may thrive.

If what Collinsworth says WERE to happen, I'd likely be done with football, PERIOD. It would be a league of "haves" and "have nots" with Jerry Jones likely fielding "super teams" ala the Red Sox & Yankees. Granted, Lerner could financially stay in that "mix" but you'd likely see teams like the Bengals & Steelers go the way of the KC Royals & Pittsburgh Pirates...

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/peter_king/05/15/mmqb/index.html?xid=si_nfl

This would be the death of the NFL.

NFL Total Access segment on the Browns...

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-total-access/09000d5d81fdd986/32-in-32-Browns

Can't wait for brownies football

If (God forbid) a totally free agent system were to take hold with no draft, no salary cap, etc. the Browns would continue to be a very mediocre team. The type of teams we've watched since the return would be the norm most seasons -- since Lerner does not have the resources to get into annual bidding wars over top tier players.

Remember, the Browns are being funded by a foundation now and Lerner is not an active businessman who is expanding his worth. In fact, with the market downturn and recession, his value actually went down about a half billion dollars from what it used to be.

A Browns TV network would probably draw more money than many teams, but it would not get the major bucks like teams from Dallas or New York, and without an owner like Snyder or Jones who have very deep pockets, it would be a rough world for Browns fans.

Ironically, the Steelers would probably fare better in a TV market setup like this since they have such a huge bandwagon following at this time, and the Browns Backers, which for years was the largest NFL fan group in the world, has since fallen off (I believe) and is nowhere near the numbers it was at its peak.

Hope and pray they settle this thing with a system very much like the one that expired (except including a rookie salary schedule) if you want to see a more level playing field for all teams.

If the NFL goes the way of baseball, I'm afraid you would see many Browns fans become like those of the Indians under the ownership of the Dolans.

BR1986FB;771043 wrote:NFL Total Access segment on the Browns...

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-total-access/09000d5d81fdd986/32-in-32-Browns

Video pissed me off. They talk about letting Rogers go as a mistake, yet dont account for hi salary, age, or him doggin it on the field. SMH, pretty piss poor coverage in my opinion.

Gotta love what Joe Haden has brought to Cleveland.

Not only his play on the field which was great, his visibility and participation in Cleveland activities has been awesome. He dresses up in full Indians gear, attends numerous games, and goes to the NBA lottery to support the Cavs.

Haden is a throwback. The Browns need MORE players like him who embrace/support the city and aren't just looking to collect a paycheck and move on.

Joe Haden is the Brandon Phillips of Cleveland.

I'm so sick of this lockout crap. Makes me feel bad for guys like Haden and McCoy that need the time to work with the coaching staff to progress their career and to perform their best this next year. I hope we don't see sophmore slumps from these guys because of it. You know those guys would maximize the offseason programs and workouts too.

OneBuckeye;772601 wrote:I'm so sick of this lockout crap. Makes me feel bad for guys like Haden and McCoy that need the time to work with the coaching staff to progress their career and to perform their best this next year. I hope we don't see sophmore slumps from these guys because of it. You know those guys would maximize the offseason programs and workouts too.

You know what's even MORE sad? The way that the Browns schedule lies. Let's say this lockout condenses the season to 10 games? The league will probably bypass the early season games, which could be easier games, and put them right into the "meat" of their schedule. Kinda sucks.

BR1986FB;772619 wrote:You know what's even MORE sad? The way that the Browns schedule lies. Let's say this lockout condenses the season to 10 games? The league will probably bypass the early season games, which could be easier games, and put them right into the "meat" of their schedule. Kinda sucks.

Would they actually do this? Or would they take divisional play down to 1 game? Something I've been wondering.

royal_k;772633 wrote:Would they actually do this? Or would they take divisional play down to 1 game? Something I've been wondering.

No. From what I've been hearing, and it's been discussed a lot on Browns boards, they'd likely start the season AFTER week 5 (Browns bye) and they'd miss out on those first 4 games.

If you look at the schedule, they "could" get out to a fast start with that schedule. Skipping it, with the team already being behind the 8 ball (new coach/system/young players, etc) and would really suck. Nothing's a guarantee but those first 4 games (except for maybe Indy) are easier than the later season games.

Yeah, any way you look at it, this shit is hurting us. The one good thing is Colt being the leader he is and holding his own mini-camps to get players used to WC lingo and plays. But it's not close to being the same as having coaches there to lead them. And the defense is really getting behind.