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In Cleveland, hope dies last

Archive for the category “Cleveland Browns”

Browns close out an interesting weekend at the NFL Draft

2013_04_browns_bark_mingoThe Cleveland Browns had an “interesting” weekend during the three-day NFL Draft – and that may be understating things a bit.

Once all seven rounds were completed, the Browns turned their seven draft picks into outsider linebacker Barkevious Mingo, cornerback Leon McFadden, safety Jamoris Slaughter, defensive end Armonty Bryant, offensive tackle Garrett Gilkey and a bucket load of draft picks in the 2014 NFL Draft. And they added veteran wide receiver Davone Bess in a trade with Miami

It was quite the weekend, so let’s recap what happened over at The Cleveland Fan.

Cleveland Browns NFL Draft preview

2013_04_browns_mingoToday is the day that Cleveland Browns fans have been waiting for.

After months of hearing about big boards, fluid hips, short arms, tight ankles, combines, Pro days, 40-yard dash times, game changers, sleepers, and more mock drafts from the likes of Mel Kiper, Todd McShay and Mike Mayock, it is finally time for the NFL Draft.

Heading into tonight’s action, the Browns hold the No. 6 pick in the first round, as well as pick Nos. 68, 104, 139, 164, 175 and 227.

This will be the first draft for the team under CEO Joe Banner, the first draft with general manager Mike Lombardi in the building since 1996, and the first draft in franchise history where the owner is facing a federal investigation for his business practices.

In other words, just another day in Cleveland sports.

So what will the Browns do when they finally get on the clock at approximately 9:30 p.m.?

Your 2013 NFL Draft preview starts … now at The Cleveland Fan.

Talking Browns football with Scotland’s Sad Factory

2013_04_sad_factoryBeing a fan of Cleveland sports is one of the better aspects of life, aside from the no championship thing, of course.

The allure of the Browns, Indians and Cavaliers is not just confined to Northeast Ohio, however, as the power of Cleveland sports extends not only across the country but internationally as well.

Which brings us to Murray Alexander

Murray is a 24-year-old from Glasgow, Scotland, and the author of The Factory of Sadness, a blog about the Cleveland Browns that has been “churning out canned heartbreak since 1796.” You can also find him on Twitter @SadFactory.

Murray was kind enough to sit down for a virtual Q&A on how he became a Browns fan, why things are going to be better under the new regime and the team’s prospects for 2013.

To see what he had to say, head over to The Cleveland Fan.

Brownie Bits

26-Oct-10_98597085CG118_Cleveland_Bro_crop_450x500Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said he’s not going anywhere in a brief press conference on Friday in Knoxville.

“I thought to myself, ‘well why would I do that?’” he said in published reports. “Candidly I haven’t done anything wrong number one. And number two, if there’s ever a time a company need our leadership it’s right now.

“We feel confident that this company is run the right way and will be continued to run the right way.”

Mrs. Haslam even chimed in on this week’s events at Pilot Flying J.

“(Jimmy) hasn’t done anything wrong,” Dee Haslam told knoxvillebiz.com. “He’s probably one of the best CEOs anywhere.”

We like the fact that the owner of the local football team is confident and willing to fight for what he believes. That bodes well for the future prospects of the Browns.

We just wish that owner wasn’t currently facing a federal investigation into his company’s business practices.

But that’s just us.

Read more…

Pilot Flying J raid may be most Only in Cleveland story ever

pilot flying j raidOver the years we have seen and heard our share of strange stories when it comes to Cleveland sports.

From bankrupt owners, to bad trades, ill-timed injuries, prevent defenses in the playoffs, players burning their uniforms in trash cans, fat guys eating beer cans, players taking their “talents to South Beach,” and more disappointment than any one fan base should ever witness, we though we had seen it all.

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Browns trade backup linebacker for backup running back

browns dion lewisThe Cleveland Browns were up to business again on Thursday, trading second-year linebacker Emmanuel Acho to Philadelphia for third-year running back Dion Lewis.

Funny, we thought that Browns CEO Joe Banner was the “arch-nemesis” of the Eagles. Interesting that they would be willing trading partners if that were true.

It’s not hard to figure out why Philadelphia would be a landing spot for Acho, a sixth-round pick in 2012 from the University of Texas. Eagles defensive coordinator Bill Davis was Acho’s position coach last year in Cleveland, while offensive coordinator Pat Shumur was Acho’s head coach for the Browns.

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Browns sign free agent wide receiver David Nelson

david nelson cleveland brownsThe Cleveland Browns added to their depth at wide receiver on Monday, signing unrestricted free agent David Nelson to a reported one-year contract.

Nelson is a big target (6-foot-5 and 214 pounds) and, more importantly, was second in receptions for the Buffalo Bills in 2010 and 2011. For his NFL career, he has 94 receptions for 1,042 yards and eight touchdowns.

In their rankings of free agent wide receivers, Pro Football Focus wrote that Nelson “possesses the kind of size and talent that plenty of personnel people around the league will think they can exploit. … In 2011, Nelson emerged as one of the leading slot receivers in the league, finishing seventh overall in terms of slot yardage.”

What’s that? You don’t remember seeing Nelson on the field when the Browns took on Buffalo in Week 3?

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Browns should heed mistakes of past drafts

2013_04_browns_momassMohamed Massaquoi, the last of the Cleveland Browns ill-fated second round selections from the 2009 NFL Draft, signed a free-agent contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Friday.

The Jaguars reportedly gave Massaquoi  a two-year deal worth up to $4.7 million. In four years with the Browns, Massaquoi had 118 receptions for 1,745 yards and seven touchdowns. He never had more than 36 receptions in a single year (his second), 624 receiving yards or three touchdowns (both in his rookie year). By comparison, Josh Gordon, a second-round supplemental pick, had 50 receptions for 805 yards and five touchdowns in his rookie season in 2012.

Massaquoi also suffered from knee and hamstring injuries, as well as a concussion delivered by Pittsburgh’s James Harrison, but in the end he just wasn’t very good – especially for someone drafted in the second round.

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Browns continue roster purge, release Gocong and Young

2013_04_young_gocong_releaseThe Cleveland Browns continued the roster purge on Tuesday, releasing linebacker Chris Gocong and free safety Usama Young.

With Young’s release, third-year safety Eric Hagg currently sits at the top of the depth chart at free safety (unless you prefer Tashaun Gibson, that is). At Gocong’s position, the team has undrafted free agents Craig Robertson and L.J. Fort.

Luckily, the Browns don’t play a game until September so they have some time to work this all out.

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Browns decide to close the corral on Colt McCoy

2013_04_colt_mccoy_tradedThe Cleveland Browns severed another link to the Randy Lerner & Mike Holmgren era on Monday, trading third-string quarterback Colt McCoy to the San Francisco 49ers.

Along with McCoy the Browns threw in their sixth-round selection (173rd) in this month’s NFL Draft. In return they get San Francisco’s fifth- and seventh-round draft picks (numbers 164 and 227, for those of you keeping score at home).

Even by Cleveland standards, McCoy’s story was a strange one.

For the full story, head over to The Cleveland Fan.

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