Another Brown wants a new contract
Another Cleveland Brown appears to be holding out, wanting a new contract. Browns GM Tom Heckert told Cleveland.com that he wouldn’t get into why K Phil Dawson was not at the voluntary workouts today. The number of players staying away from camp at this point has to be becoming frustrating to the Browns coaching staff.
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Dawson is a 12 year veteran and has been seeking a new contract for the past few seasons without success. Perhaps Dawson’s holdout prompted the signing of Alabama K Leigh Tiffin for workout. Tiffin is one of 6 players signed by the Browns. The others include 3 defensive linemen. Kwaku Danso-ECU, Brian Sanford-Temple and Martin Tavaseu-UNLV. Also inked to a contract were TE Ryan Moya from UCLA and DB Matthew Harris.
Heckert also commented on the Matt Roth demand for a trade. Heckert telling Cleveland.com, “first of all, it’s not going to happen”. Other than Dawson and Roth, LB D’Qwell Jackson, S Abe Elam, FB Lawrence Vickers and RB Jerome Harrison are all boycotting camp. Heckert says the team is not concerned because the players hold no leverage.
Roth demands Trade
Cleveland Browns LB Matt Roth is demanding a trade from the Browns. Roth started the season last year with the Miami Dolphins but was acquired by the Browns prior to the start of week 12.
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Roth has been demanding a long term deal with Cleveland but the sides appear too far apart to reach a deal and he is expected along with several other RFA’s from Cleveland to skip mini-camps. ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirmed today via Twitter that Roth is demanding a trade now. Roth was effective for Cleveland last season, recording 4 sacks in 6 games and 32 tackles.
Roth was tendered at a 2nd round level.
Cleveland Browns fantasy outlook 2010
The 2010 Cleveland Browns are poised to be an improved team over last years squad, so let’s look at some fantasy football implications for the Browns in 2010. Yes, draft picks aren’t signed yet, training camp hasn’t opened, but it’s never too early to get a jump on thinking about your fantasy squad for the upcoming NFL season, after all you’ll be drafting likely within the next 12 weeks.
Quarterback-
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To be brutally honest Browns fans as you must already know, this is not currently a position of strength for Cleveland. Jake Delhomme is most likely going to be starting the season at quarterback for the Browns, McCoy may or may not see some action and Mike Holmgren said this week Seneca Wallace would see some limited playing time in a wildcat role. From the end of 2008 through 2009, Delhomme has become the new T.O. and I don’t mean Terrell Owens. I mean turn over. Delhomme will likely go undrafted in your league this year and might be worth a pickup as a backup after a few weeks of playing to see if he has reversed his ways and has become a serviceable quarterback. Someone in your league may pick up Colt McCoy, let them. McCoy will not be a factor this year even if he does start. The only way Wallace puts up any significant stats will be if Delhomme goes down with injury and even then, they most likely won’t be significant.
Wide Receiver-
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Between now and the start of the regular season, I fully expect the Browns to acquire a veteran receiver but for now, let’s look at the pass catchers on the roster currently. Mohamed Massaquoi led the Browns in receiving yardage last year, with 624 and 3 scores. He’s the closest thing to a #1 receiver the Browns have and should benefit from Delhomme’s veteran presence. Expect somewhere in the range of 50-55 receptions 800 yards and 5-6 scores. Currently, Massaquoi has the potential of being a #3 Wide receiver on your roster. KR Josh Cribbs is officially listed on the Browns roster as a wide receiver and did manage 20 catches last year. Cribbs will likely be involved in the Browns version of the wildcat offense and does handle kickoff duties for the Browns. If you play in a very deep league or a league which rewards points for return touchdowns, Cribbs might be worth a look in the late rounds after you’ve addressed other needs. Quite frankly, these are the only two wide receivers worth consideration during your draft at the current time.
Tight End-
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Cleveland signed a couple of veteran tight ends this offseason. Alex Smith and Ben Watson. Ironically both played for the Patriots in 2008. Smith broke into the league with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and while he did have a promising rookie campaign, he has really failed to live up to his athletic ability. Watson on the other hand will give the Browns quarterbacks a viable option and receiving threat. Currently, the tight end position in the NFL is the deepest I can remember so depending on the size of your league, you most likely will have a shot at a premiere player but Watson deserves strong consideration for a #2 TE in case of injury or for play during a bye week. I expect Watson to log at least 50 receptions and 5 touchdowns.
Running Back-
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The running back position is where it gets tricky for the Browns and your fantasy team. More and more teams around the league are adopting the running back by committee approach and I really believe that is what is going to happen in Cleveland this year. Jerome Harrison closed out 2009 in dynamic fashion, with 561 yards on 106 carries and 5 scores in the final 3 games. While those stats turned heads in fantasy circles, Harrison’s small frame cannot absorb that kind of workload throughout a full NFL season. Harrison should be considered to be the odds on favorite to be the starting back heading into 2010, but this years draft pick, Montario Hardesty and sleeper James Davis will see their share of carries as well. The Browns also acquired RB Peyton Hillis from the Broncos in the Brady Quinn trade, and he has the opportunity to become the Browns short yardage back. Hillis could become Harrison’s Willis McGahee. McGahee was Baltimore’s short yardage back last season and while the Ravens primary back, Ray Rice had a stellar season racking up over 2000 total yards, Willis vultured off all the short yardage scores, crossing the goalline 12 times. If McGahee were not in Baltimore this year, Rice would have to be considered a top three pick overall in any draft. I look for Harrison to break 1000 yards on the ground this season and add 7 scores. He is a solid #3 running back.
Defense-
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Cleveland did record 40 sacks last season but only managed 10 interceptions. The drafting of CB Joe Haden and S T.J. Ward along with the trade for veteran CB Sheldon Brown should help to improve those numbers, but frankly in fantasy relevance, stay away from the Browns. Cleveland plays Cincinnati and Baltimore twice in a season and those offenses are going to score a lot of points this year. The Browns also have games against New England, New Orleans, Atlanta and the New York Jets. While the Browns are heading in the right direction, don’t make the mistake of selecting Cleveland’s defense in this years fantasy draft.
T.O a Brown?
Terrell Owens a Cleveland Brown? Well, if Josh Cribbs has his way, T.O. will be a Brown. Cribbs was on NFL.com and participated in a live chat on Thursday. Cribbs responded to a question about where did he think T.O. would end up. Cribbs response, “Hopefully in Cleveland. I think he got a little bit left in the tank. He’ll eventually be with a team in training camp. T.O. is going to go to a team once they figure out what these rookies are made of”.
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While I agree with Cribbs, that T.O. has a bit left in the tank, and I understand the Browns need a veteran presence at the receiver position, I Really wonder how long it would be before there was a meltdown between Owens and Mangini.
Browns Safety Unhappy
Cleveland Browns S Abe Elam is unhappy with the lack of a long term deal and is skipping organized team activities. Elam maintains a website, www.abeelam.com and he stated on that site, “I was tendered at second round level by the Browns but at this point I am weighing my options in hopes of receiving a multi-year deal”.
Elam has yet to sign his tender offer of 1.750 million and has said he will skip voluntary workouts.
Elam is entering his 5th year in the league and is a product of Kent State. He hhas recorded 226 career tackles, 3 sacks, 5 forced fumbles and 1 interceptions while playing for the Dallas Cowboys, New York Jets and the Browns.
