Rumors are Browns may be interested in Vernon Gholston. If it comes cheap, would you be fine with it?

I would. IMO, it'd be worth a shot. If he doesn't work out, it likely won't cost much.

hoops23;877704 wrote:Rumors are Browns may be interested in Vernon Gholston. If it comes cheap, would you be fine with it?

I would. IMO, it'd be worth a shot. If he doesn't work out, it likely won't cost much.

Nope. Completely and utterly sucks. Couldn't make it with the Jets or Bears. Dude is a bust.

And for some good news...

wmms 100.7 WMMS
Jim Donovan expects to be back for the regular season opener calling the BROWNS game on MMS. We couldn't be more happy.

Writerbuckeye;877657 wrote:If the front office doesn't make a move beyond Cousins to try and shore up the depth on the OL -- and McCoy ends up getting hurt because of poor line play -- Heckert should be put in stocks on public square and give people a chance to throw rotten tomatoes at him.

I don't give a rat's furry behind what your overall philosophy is for building a team, in a situation like this you find the best OL you can to protect your (potential) franchise QB. If McCoy is unable to play all the games this year and grow his game...then it doesn't matter what your philosophy is because you will basically be set back a year in his development.

I agree with this completely. O-Line isn't something you want to get "cute" with. Especially in this situation.

hoops23;877704 wrote:Rumors are Browns may be interested in Vernon Gholston. If it comes cheap, would you be fine with it?

I would. IMO, it'd be worth a shot. If he doesn't work out, it likely won't cost much.

Not a fan...so overrated even at the combine. Hell, he didn't even show up for half of the buckeyes games

http://www.cleveland.com/ohio-sports-blog/index.ssf/2011/08/cleveland_browns_pm_links_spor.html

SI has the Browns going 8-8 this season.

zach24oz;877768 wrote:http://www.cleveland.com/ohio-sports-blog/index.ssf/2011/08/cleveland_browns_pm_links_spor.html

SI has the Browns going 8-8 this season.

I'm leaning toward 7-9 but anywhere from 5 to 9 wins is possible, IMO. I've gotten a bit more optimistic about this team but it all depends on team health.

No depth...I can't see that happening. Tough to get to .500 when you only get 1 or 2 division wins

Agreed. If we get solid play from the OL and have our starting D for most of the year (hopefully all year) we should be decent. I really think the Dl, if healthy can be good.

They can possibly get 2 division wins if they beat Cincy twice and in their first 8 games they could win close to 5 or 6. So again, if the starters can stay healthy, I think a .500 season is attainable.

zach24oz;877784 wrote:They can possibly get 2 division wins if they beat Cincy twice and in their first 8 games they could win close to 5 or 6. So again, if the starters can stay healthy, I think a .500 season is attainable.

They have to beat Cincy twice and steal one from Baltimore or Pittsburgh to go 3-3 in the division. Of those two, I see Baltimore as a better chance. Not that they should be scared of Pittsburgh but I think they just match up better with Baltimore.

BR1986FB;877787 wrote:They have to beat Cincy twice and steal one from Baltimore or Pittsburgh to go 3-3 in the division. Of those two, I see Baltimore as a better chance. Not that they should be scared of Pittsburgh but I think they just match up better with Baltimore.

Well, I guess they should beat the steelers since we learned Troy is overrated. Ben Watson will light him up!

wes_mantooth;877791 wrote:Well, I guess they should beat the steelers since we learned Troy is overrated. Ben Watson will light him up!

He is, in coverage. Takes too many risks. Helluva player against the run but susceptible to getting burnt.

He won't have to keep an eye on just Watson, but Moore too if he is healthy when we face the steelers.

[h=1]Cleveland Browns pondering new contract for Peyton Hillis, who says team, city 'represent who I am'[/h] [h=5]Published: Tuesday, August 30, 2011, 6:49 PM Updated: Tuesday, August 30, 2011, 6:50 PM[/h] By Tony Grossi, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer
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View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain Dealer"I think this team, this city, even the colors, represent who I am," says Peyton Hillis on the prospect of a potential long-term contract coming in the near future. "As an individual, as a person and as a player. So I would love to be here as long the Browns want me here."
BEREA, Ohio -- Now that the Browns have secured left tackle Joe Thomas with a new contract for seven years, next up for a long-term deal could be running back Peyton Hillis.
A league source said the wheels have begun turning for talks about a new contract for Hillis. Browns GM Tom Heckert has said he intends to invest in "players we like and want to be here." The club has more than $18 million in salary cap room, according to latest figures reported by NFL.com, eighth-most in the league.
Heckert declined to be interviewed for this story.
Hillis recently changed agents for the second time in five months. He is in the last year of his original rookie contract and is scheduled to earn the NFL four-year minimum of $555,000. By comparison, the Browns gave running back Brandon Jackson a two-year deal for $4.5 million in free agency. Jackson was earmarked to be a role player and currently is sidelined with a toe in a cast. His return is indefinite.
Hillis obliterated the parameters of his existing contract last year when he saved the team's running back situation and burst out for 1,177 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground, and 61 catches for two TDs.
Hillis accounted for 71.5 percent of the team's rushing yardage, 36 percent of the team's total yards from scrimmage, and 50 percent of its offensive touchdowns. Along the way, Hillis' fearless, downhill running style gave last year's Browns a much-needed identity and endeared him to a blue-collar city starving for a football hero. Fans expressed their gratitude by helping Hillis become the cover boy of the ultra-popular Madden 12 video game in a nationwide vote.
Hillis was drafted in the seventh round by the Denver Broncos in 2008, and then was underused for three years by two coaches. He was practically an afterthought in the 2010 trade that sent quarterback Brady Quinn to the Broncos. Six weeks later, the Browns traded up in the second round to select running back Montario Hardesty.
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Hillis came to his first Browns camp as a backup fullback. Now he is the undisputed centerpiece of the running game and one of the most popular athletes in Cleveland. Hillis said he believes he has finally found his professional home.
"Most definitely. I think this team, this city, even the colors, represent who I am. As an individual, as a person and as a player," Hillis said Tuesday. "So I would love to be here as long the Browns want me here."
The only question perhaps about a new deal -- how big -- depended on Hillis' fit in the West Coast offense implemented by new coach Pat Shurmur. For four months while the owners locked out players in a labor dispute, all Shurmur had to go on was game video of Hillis blasting through -- and sometimes leaping over -- defenders.
"It doesn't take many snaps to see that he's a terrific runner," Shurmur said. "He's also a physical blocker just by his sheer physique. I think he does a good job of catching the ball. It didn't take long. He's one of the guys last year that got a lot of touches, so it was easy to see him perform."
View full sizeMarvin Fong, The Plain Dealer"Whenever's my time, whenever the Browns feel like they want to take care of me, they will," Hillis said Tuesday.

Hillis shrugged, "Just because he says that doesn't mean anything to us. I know me and the O-line are really focusing on this running game. We always got to. We're in the toughest division in the NFL."
Hillis has carried the ball only eight times for 34 yards in three preseason games as Shurmur has devoted the games to polishing his timing-based passing attack. Although Hillis probably will not play in the practice game finale Thursday in Chicago, there is little doubt in his mind that the team will preserve its smash-mouth mentality in the running game.
"Especially with the guys that we have," he said. "You can always try different things, but what you're good at is what you're good at. You eventually come back around to that. There's no doubt we have to pass the ball. And we have the guys to do that. We're working on that and getting slowly better at that."
Hillis said he doesn't intend to rest on his laurels and is not overly concerned about a new contract.
"Whenever's my time, whenever the Browns feel like they want to take care of me, they will," he said. "I'm going to do my best, try to prove myself to them. This is a business and you still have to produce every day, every year. That's going to be my outlook from here on out."

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2011/08/cleveland_browns_pondering_new.html

This team has a decent shot at a .500 record IF it can stay healthy. It's far, far too thin in too many places to provide any confidence season-long -- but if they can catch a good wave of luck and keep people on the field, a .500 record will be within reach.

If this team manages to go about .500 or even one game or so above it headed into the last 5 games of the season but lose key players like they did a year ago, they'll end the year the same way with a horrid losing streak.

It all comes down to injuries and there's no wiggle room with this roster that I can see.

I want no part of Gholston. When Rex Ryan and Lovie Smith both exile you in the span of a calender year, you know that you are not long for the league.

Somewhere Mike Mamula is smiling because Gholston is on the verge of supplanting him as the biggest combine wonder turned bust in the history of the NFL draft.

I dont think .500 is in this team's future. 6-10 is about where I see us. Lber depth scares, RB/DB depth also worries me. Outside of Bernard not sure who can provide a consistent pass rush, and also almost no depth on the Dline. Seems we'll have 2 starting rookie guards. WRs are a big question mark as well. I just don't see .500 ball there, but I do see the arrow trending upwards. I could easily envision a playoff push next year IF McCoy proves to be a capable QB.

I don't see the WR's as a question mark anymore. Pass rush and the guard positions, yes, but not the WR's. McCoy will have PLENTY of targets.

IggyPride00;877864 wrote:I want no part of Gholston. When Rex Ryan and Lovie Smith both exile you in the span of a calender year, you know that you are not long for the league.

Somewhere Mike Mamula is smiling because Gholston is on the verge of supplanting him as the biggest combine wonder turned bust in the history of the NFL draft.

Maybe Gholston can hang out with David Veikune while looking for work?

[h=1]Evan Moore, Greg Little emerging in Cleveland[/h]Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on August 31, 2011, 8:24 AM EDT
AP During the lockout, we wondered if the Browns would add a veteran receiver to their mix of young players.
When that didn’t happen, we wondered who would step up out of their young players to emerge in a big role. The early signs: tight end Evan Moore and rookie wideout Greg Little.
Vic Carucci, who has been a great read since joining ClevelandBrowns.com, said this week he envisioned Moore leading the team in receiving. He thought Little had the best chance to lead all the wideouts in catches.
Tony Grossi of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer got the same idea, saying Little has the best chance to emerge as a No. 1 receiver on the roster. He’s looked impressive in the preseason, although he has to cut down on drops.
We’ve heard a lot of good things about Moore this year. He’s a fourth-year undrafted player. Between him and Ben Watson, the Browns may throw the ball to their tight ends as much as any team.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/08/31/evan-moore-greg-little-emerging-in-cleveland/

Moore has to stay healthy first to lead the team. He has yet to prove capable of doing so.

http://cle.scout.com/2/1101112.html

I'm sure to catch a bunch of heat for this, but o'well...it's out there now, too late to take it back - not that I would anyway.

http://www.brownsgab.com/2011/08/31/five-bold-predictions-for-the-browns-2011-season/

OhioStatePride2003;878583 wrote:I'm sure to catch a bunch of heat for this, but o'well...it's out there now, too late to take it back - not that I would anyway.

http://www.brownsgab.com/2011/08/31/five-bold-predictions-for-the-browns-2011-season/

5. no
4. possible
3. possible
2. no
1. very possible

5. no
4. unlikely
3.no
2.no
1. doubt it

I like the optimism though.