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Archive for the tag “Cleveland Browns”

11 Apr 2013

Browns trade backup linebacker for backup running back

The 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.

09 Apr 2013

Browns sign free agent wide receiver David Nelson

The 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?

05 Apr 2013

7 Comments

Browns should heed mistakes of past drafts

Mohamed 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.

Posted in Cleveland Browns and tagged Cleveland Browns

02 Apr 2013

Browns continue roster purge, release Gocong and Young

The 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.

Posted in Cleveland Browns and tagged Chris Gocong, Cleveland Browns, Usama Young | Leave a comment

01 Apr 2013

Browns decide to close the corral on Colt McCoy

The 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.

Posted in Cleveland Browns, Colt McCoy and tagged Cleveland Browns, Colt McCoy | Leave a comment

30 Mar 2013

2 Comments

Missing on Grimes not the end of the world for the Browns

The Cleveland Browns missed out on a chance to strengthen their secondary as free agent cornerback Brent Grimes reportedly agreed on Saturday to a one-year deal with the Miami Dolphins.

While it is disappointing as a healthy Grimes would have looked good in the secondary opposite cornerback Joe Haden, it is by no means the end of the world for the Browns.

Posted in Cleveland Browns and tagged Cleveland Browns

27 Mar 2013

Campbell signing seals Weeden as starter in 2013

The Cleveland Browns signed journeyman quarterback Jason Campbell to a reported two-year contract late Tuesday night.

Campbell’s arrival probably means the end of Colt McCoy’s days in Brown and Orange and is most likely the final move to solidify the Brandon Weeden in 2013 campaign.

Campbell’s signing will have a ripple effect with the Browns quarterback situation, just not the one that some will assume, because, barring a complete collapse or an injury in the preseason, Weeden is going to be the starting quarterback when the 2013 season starts.

For the rest of the story, head over to The Cleveland Fan.

(Photo by Getty Images)

Posted in Brandon Weeden, Cleveland Browns and tagged Brandon Weeden, Cleveland Browns, Jason Campbell | Leave a comment

26 Mar 2013

Browns still collecting back-up cornerbacks

The Cleveland Browns added another cornerback in free agency on Monday – and, no, it wasn’t Brent Grimes.

Instead it was Kevin Barnes who signed a one-year deal with the Browns. Barnes played two games with Detroit last season before the Lions – who have one of the worst defensive backfields in the NFL – released him.

Barnes was originally a third-round draft pick by Washington in the 2009 NFL Draft. He has played in 31 games (making three starts) and has 44 career tackles, three interceptions and nine passes defensed.

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22 Mar 2013

3 Comments

Browns add some more depth with signings of Owens, Davis

The Cleveland Browns added two players in free agency on Friday, signing tight end Kellen Davis and cornerback Chris Owens.

Both players reportedly signed one-year deals and both add depth at areas where the Browns can use it.

Davis, who is 6-foot-7 and 265 pounds, started for Chicago the past two years and has spent his entire NFL career with the Bears after being drafted in the fifth round of the 2008 draft out of Michigan State. He was released after the Bears signed Martellus Bennett.

He had career “highs” in 2012 with 19 catches for 229 yards and two touchdowns. He had eight drops on just 44 attempts – or one fewer than wide receiver Greg Little, who was targeted 87 times.

Posted in Cleveland Browns and tagged Cleveland Browns, free agency

20 Mar 2013

Browns GM needs to focus on working, not talking

When the Cleveland Browns hired Mike Lombardi in January as vice president of player personnel, it was a controversial move that raised several questions among Browns fans (although not in the Jim Nantz household, of course).

After being out of the NFL since 2007 – and having what could best be described as a dodgy track record when he actually was employed with an NFL team – there’s more than reasonable doubt that Lombardi, who has since been promoted to general manager, may not be fully qualified for the job he currently holds with the Browns.

But one thing that is not in doubt is this: it is far more important for Lombardi to actually work on scouting players and trying to make the Browns relevant, and far less important for him to spend time talking with the media.

Hit up The Cleveland Fan for the rest of the story.

(Photo by ClevelandBrowns.com)

Posted in Cleveland Browns, Mike Lombardi and tagged Cleveland Browns, Mike Lombardi | Leave a comment

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