Dawg Pound Lounge ,

@bluez...first and foremost, I have not defended Hardesty's professional career or tried to give everyone hope that suddenly he will light the league on fire.

What I have done is defend the pick in 2010...When the draft occurred, he had not had any major health issues for 4 years. The fact that he DID get hurt had nothing to do with his health when drafted. The Browns desperately needed a RB in that draft and after Ben Tate went off the board, Hardesty was the only RB left with a 3 down grade on him. He gave up (2) 5TH Round picks for cripes sake. You make too much of a prospect that happens to get injured in the NFL. It is going to happen...Get over it.



Now moving on to the present...


Stop acting like the sky is falling before the draft even happens.

I too would like the Browns to take Trent Richardson at #4, but if someone trades up to #3 and takes him, it by all means is NOT the end of the world. It may actually turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

I don't know who told you guys that Richardson is the only RB available in this draft, but he must have been the same one that told you Justin Blackmon isn't very good and you believed that too...

If Richardson is gone, Blackmon(who in my amateur humble opinion, is just as a high a prospect as Richardson) will and should be the next WR for the Browns.

Doug Martin is not a poor man's Richardson...what he is, is a 3 down RB that happened to play at Boise State, so he doesn't get the same accolades. He is a RB that will shine at the next level and pairing him with Blackmon, as opposed to pairing Richardson with someone like Randle, Sanu or Jeffery would imho produce more offense and more importantly more offensive TDs.

Heck Bernard Pierce could end up being the best pure RB in this draft and he isn't projected any higher than the 3rd round...BUT that is because of bluez big fear of injuries which are legit here. He also doesn't have the receiving pedigree of Richardson or Martin.

This league is about scoring TDs..Blackmon knows how to score TDs! Richardson knows how to score TDs! Martin knows how to score TDs! Blackmon/Martin combo imho scores more TDs than Richardson/22nd pick or later WR...(unless Kendall Wright somehow drops to us at #22, which I doubt highly)

The sky isn't falling fellas, the future is bright in Cleveland, just "stay the course" and "be patient". "The plan" will show us the way!


Go Browns...IT'S DRAFT DAY!!

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- If the Browns stay at No. 4 in tonight's NFL Draft, they'll most likely take either the best receiver in the draft in Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon or the best running back in Alabama's Trent Richardson.

The Browns seem to need an elite receiver more than a running back, but either way, their points-starved offense will be significantly upgraded with a scoring dynamo in 2012.

"They both score touchdowns, which obviously that's what you want [from] a skill guy," Browns General Manager Tom Heckert said at his pre-draft press conference last week.

The Browns also really like LSU's Morris Claiborne, but they'd be hard-pressed to go defense with a team that averaged 13.6 points in 2011. The Browns have considered Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill and USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil, but would probably only take them if they moved down in the round.

Heckert said last week that he'll get one of his top two remaining players -- after Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III -- if he stays at No. 4. He has consistently identified scoring points as the Browns' pressing need. He also stressed that he has one of those players ranked ahead of the other.

"There are no ties," he said.

The Browns are also open to the possibility of trading down a handful of spots. What they do at No. 4 might be dictated by what happens at No. 3.

One spot ahead of the Browns, the Minnesota Vikings are fielding trade offers. If they stay put, they're likely to draft Claiborne, which would leave the Browns with a shot at Blackmon or Richardson. The Vikings are also considering USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil and Blackmon.

If Minnesota deals the pick, one of the Browns' top two choices -- Blackmon or Richardson -- could very well be gone. The Tampa Bay Bucanneers at No. 5 are very interested in Richardson, according to league sources. Other teams, including the Jets at No. 16, are believed to covert Richardson, but a source told the New York Daily News that the price to move to No. 3 would be too steep.

The St. Louis Rams also like Richardson -- and Blackmon -- but the club is unlikely to trade up, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The Rams have two second-rounders from their trade with Washington that will enable the Redskins to draft Griffin III.

Another team reportedly interested in climbing up is the Bills at No. 10, who covet Kalil, according to Charley Casserly of NFL Network. The Bills would be willing to part with their second-round pick, the No. 41st overall, according to the report. If a team trades up to No. 3 to grab Richardson, the Bills could still call the Browns to try to get Kalil.

If the Browns made the trade, they'd have the 10th, 22nd, 37th and 41st picks. In that scenario, they could draft a player such as Tannehill (who might go No. 8 to Miami) or Notre Dame receiver Michael Floyd at No. 10, and then use one of those second-round picks to move back up from No. 22 and draft another elite player. The Eagles are also possibly interested in moving into the top 10.

Plenty of teams in the first round are looking to move down, because there are believed to be about six elite, blue-chip players in this draft.

If the Browns draft Blackmon at No. 4, they could come back and take Boise State running back Doug Martin at No. 22. That would give them the best receiver in the draft and a dynamic playmaking running back. They could then look to land their starting right tackle with the No. 37 pick.

If Blackmon is gone at No. 4 and they draft Richardson, they could look for Baylor receiver Kendall Wright at 22. But Wright is the third-best receiver in the draft and the Browns might have to trade up to ensure getting him.

One way or the other, the Browns will try to end up with a starting receiver and a starting running back in the first two rounds.

If the Browns draft Tannehill at No. 10, they could trade back up in the first round to select either Floyd or Wright. The possibilities would be numerous.

As for Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden, the Browns most likely won't draft him at No. 22, but could consider him at No. 37. However, they're serious when they say they like Colt McCoy, and probably wouldn't plan to start Weeden this season. In that case, can they afford to draft him that high as a backup?

The Browns also need a starting right tackle. Early round options include Georgia's Cordy Glenn, Stanford's Jonathan Martin and Ohio State's Mike Adams, whose stock absorbed a positive marijuana test at the combine.

The Browns have 13 picks in this draft, including five in the top 100 and four nontradeable compensatory picks in rounds six and seven. They promise to do some wheeling and dealing over the next three days.

Will it be in round one? Or will they land Blackmon or Richardson?

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Four things I think about the 2012 draft:

1. The Browns should draft Justin Blackmon. At the beginning of the draft process, I said I wasn't going to overthink this and that the Browns should take the Oklahoma State receiver. It made the most sense to me then and it makes the most sense now. Colt McCoy needs an elite receiver and the Browns need TD catches. They have a clear shot at the best receiver in this draft and they should jump out of their chairs to hand in his name.

2. Only go with T-Rich if J-Black is gone: The only way the Browns should draft Trent Richardson is if Blackmon is taken as the third pick. Granted, Richardson is fantastic, but he's a running back, and I believe you can get a good one -- such as Boise State's Doug Martin -- later. It's pass-happy league now, and the Browns need to join the aerial party.

3. Trade back only a few: If Blackmon is gone, the Browns should at least consider trading back a few spots and picking up an extra second-rounder. (The Rams have one to spare, the 39th overall, from the Washington trade). In this scenario, the Browns could probably still get Notre Dame receiver Michael Floyd, who's thought by some to be almost as good as Blackmon. An extra second-rounder would bring another starter.

4. Trade back up from 22: The Browns shouldn't hesitate to move up in the round if they love someone in the teens, such as Georgia tackle Cordy Glenn. Maybe they can even jump back up and grab Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill, although he's not expected to get past No. 12. But the Browns have 13 picks in this draft, and plenty of teams in the first round are looking to trade down. If dream-boy is there, go grab him.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Could the Buffalo Bills at No. 10 be a potential trade partner for the Browns?

According to Charlie Casserly of the NFL Network, the Bills are interested in trading up to draft USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil. If the Bills knock on the Vikings' door at No. 3 and find that Minnesota has already struck a deal for a team wishing to draft Trent Richardson, they could reach out to the Browns at No. 4.

The Bills, according to Casserly, are willing to part with their second-round pick -- No. 41 overall -- to pull off the deal.

Would Browns GM Tom Heckert be up for moving back? If depends on who's available when the Browns are on the clock. They'll likely draft either Justin Blackmon or Richardson if they stay at No. 4, but they're open to dealing. At No. 10, they could most likely land Notre Dame receiver Michael Floyd, who's not rated much below Blackmon on many teams' boards. Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill could also be an option.

The Miami Dolphins, according to the Miami Herald, are interested in Tannehill, but not enough to move higher than No. 8. Their offensive coordinator, Mike Sherman, coached him in college.

Heckert said he'd more than happy to stay at No. 4, so even if Buffalo or another team makes an offer, the Browns might stay put.

But they can be sure the phone will ring, and that they might have a decision to make.

Browns-Vikes discussions? Casserly also reported that the Browns and Vikings have talked over the past few days, but he didn't specify the nature of the conversations. Would the Browns be willing to trade up a notch to get their man, either Blackmon or Richardson? Heckert said last month that the Browns wouldn't trade up. Last week, he said it's "highly unlikely."

Bucs, Jets like Richardson? The Tampa Bay Bucanneers at No. 5 are very interested in Richardson and might consider trading up to No. 3, league sources said. The Jets at No. 16 are also interested, but might not be able to afford it.

According to Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com, the Jets called Richardson on Wednesday after he arrived in New York for the draft and gave him the impression they might try to land him.

"They wanted to know my information as far as whether that's the right number to reach me in case something does happen, with them trading up," Richardson told Cimini at an NFL community event in Manhattan.

Later in the day, a Jets official told the New York Daily News that it would be too pricey for the Jets to move up that high. "It's ridiculous," the official said.

Hosley tested positive: Virginia Tech cornerback Jayron Hosley, one of the players the Browns hosted for a pre-draft visit, failed a drug test at the combine, according to Jay Glazer of FoxSports.com. He joins another player the Browns hosted, Ohio State's Mike Adams, in testing positive.

Big mocks: ESPN's Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr. still had the Browns drafting Richardson at No. 4 in their mock drafts, and NFL Network's Mike Mayock has them taking Blackmon.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns' failed attempt to land Robert Griffin III leaves them with the No. 4 pick and no quarterback prospect worthy of it. Alabama running back Trent Richardson is the next best thing.

You can trot out all the charts and graphs meant to show running backs are a devalued commodity in the NFL. How it's possible to find them later in the draft. How the top offenses in the league are pass-first attacks. It's a good argument (so long as you admit wide receivers are just as easily found outside the Top Five). It just falls apart when you apply it to the Browns, Richardson, and the 2012 draft.

Richardson isn't just any running back. He's a dynamic three-down runner who can get outside, carry it inside, catch out of the backfield and prop up his quarterback in pass protection.

Richardson and Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon are the only choices that make sense as Top 5 picks for a team that scored exactly one more point in 2011 than the 1999 Browns did.

What separates him from Blackmon is that he's closer to being Adrian Peterson than Blackmon is to being A.J. Green. He's the higher-ranked player at a position of equal need.

Funny thing about the NFL being a passing league. It's true enough. But it's pertinent in the draft only when you already have your passer of choice on the roster. The number of touches Richardson would get (hopefully) in the Browns' offense make him more valuable than Blackmon. It also makes him indispensable for a team following Plan B at quarterback.

Whether the starter is Colt McCoy or Seneca Wallace or a rookie such as Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden, their best complement would be a dominant running attack led by a great talent who fumbled once in 614 touches in college.

AP FileAlabama's Trent Richardson is considered the best running back prospect since Adrian Peterson.

When did McCoy look his best behind center? In 2010, when he had Peyton Hillis lining up behind him.

If you have your answer to Tom Brady behind center, you'd be free to go get him all the down-field acrobats you can find.

Anybody think they have him? Anybody?

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns should take wide receiver Justin Blackmon of Oklahoma State with the fourth pick in the NFL Draft's first round.

They should take quarterback Brandon Weeden of Oklahoma State at No. 22 in the first round.

They should break the Okie State circle and take a right tackle at No. 37 in the second round. Not just any right tackle. They already have that. But as General Manager Tom Heckert said in his chit-chat with the media last week "If you look in the league, there are a lot teams playing with guys that you've never heard of, to be honest with you."

Why is this even a debate? Why in the world would a team with an offense that is a disgrace take a cornerback first? Running back Trent Richardson of Alabama is almost as good a choice. But the weakness of the receivers is so hideously pronounced that this has to be addressed first.

I'm not real sure Colt McCoy could connect with a good receiver anyway on some throws -- such as the 15-yard out-- even if he was open, but he has to get the chance.

Long ago when hopes were higher, Tim Couch resembled McCoy in some ways. Both were "system" quarterbacks in college. Couch didn't know the Browns' offense well enough to throw to spots, only to what he saw on the field. McCoy lacks arm strength.

Michael Thomas, Associated PressJustin Blackmon's ability to get the most out of his receptions at Oklahoma State resulted in 38 touchdowns over the last two seasons for the Cowboys.

Blackmon is only 6-foot-1/2, but he has the wingspan of a man 6-6 1/2, so he plays bigger and he is also physical. He will give either McCoy or whoever is taking the snaps a chance to succeed. That quarterback might be Weeden. Forget the coincidence that the wasted Brady Quinn pick was also No. 22. Weeden can stretch the field better than McCoy. The 29-year-old Oklahoma State quarterback certainly wowed ESPN analyst Jon Gruden with his throwing ability.

Then again, name the player Gruden didn't like. I just think there is a strong chance McCoy is never going to be more than a mediocre player. Wish I didn't think that because I like him. But I do.

If the Browns trade down from No. 4, they can, at long last, kiss much of their fan base goodbye. If they don't use the top three picks for offense, ditto. And if they don't draft a quarterback, same story.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns absolutely, positively must draft Trent Richardson with the No. 4 pick in the NFL draft.

They do need a cornerback, and LSU's Mo Claiborne has a chance to be a star. But even more than adding another good player to an already solid defense, the Browns must do something dramatic to improve their desperate offense.

It would not be a massive mistake to select Justin Blackmon, the receiver from Oklahoma State. But when considering Blackmon (a chance to be good) vs. Richardson (a chance to be great), make a play for greatness.

There has to be a player whose jersey the fans can not only wear proudly on Sunday, but who brings them at least to the edge of their seats (if not on their feet) every time he touches the ball. Richardson has a chance to be that player. If you can't have a powerhouse passing attack (and the Browns won't), then why not run the ball with authority?

Is there a risk taking a running back so high in the draft? It's a fact that Reggie Bush (No. 2 in 2006) was the last running back selected in the top five. In 2005, Ronnie Brown, Cedric Benson and Cadillac Williams were running backs picked in the first five.

In 2007, Adrian Peterson was the No. 7 pick. He should have been in the top 5. The same with Maurice Jones-Drew, who was the 60th pick in 2006.

Richardson is that type of player, where the eye test and the stats reveal the same thing -- a back with power, with sharp cuts and patience as he waits for holes to open. He's a back who set a single Alabama season record for rushing (1,679 yards) and gained 96 yards in 20 carries in the NCAA championship game against LSU.

He also had 181 yards rushing against Florida, 203 against rival Auburn, and he even caught 29 passes last season.

APTrent Richardson has a chance to be great, Terry Pluto writes.

You can find a running back in the later rounds, but it's doubtful that back will match everything that Richardson can bring to the Browns from the moment he steps on the field.

Yes, he is that gifted, that special ... and he belongs in an orange helmet.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- "Hey Bud:

"With anticipation of draft day finally here, I keep getting the chills, sweats and sick feeling that the Browns will somehow mess up the No. 4 pick. How about you?" -- Doug, Westlake

Didn't Browns' GM Tom Heckert put that concern to rest in January when he said it would be "tough" to mess up the No. 4 pick? Being a Cleveland fan, I can see where that statement might worry you, that it could seem like tempting the fates.

But have faith. It would be almost impossible to botch what now amounts to the No. 2 pick with Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III already spoken for. Let's go to the Spin Draft Day Satisfaction Scale for a closer look at the possibilities.

"0" represents the worst case of the sweats and chills this side of H1N1 or the Browns facing third-and-nine.

"10" represents the best feeling you've had about the Browns since the league deemed the city worthy of more bad football back in 1999.

0: Braintrust gathers in Mike Holmgren's office for pre-draft pep talk, get caught up in watching his Arizona vacation slides. In the ultimate clock management debacle, they do not make it to the draft in time to pick No. 4.

1: Trade out of the Top 20 to take Alex Mack's successor. If this happens and you're in position at a nearby sports bar to order a double shot of amnesia, please use a designated driver.

If this happens and you're at home, please, for safety concerns, fight the urge to put your head in the microwave for a minute on high. Thirty seconds should do it.

2: Draft USC LT Matt Kalil and turn him into RT Matt Kalil. This would be like hiring Placido Domingo -- not to be confused with Plaxico Burress -- for your kid's party, then having him hum "Happy Birthday."

3: Draft Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

The Browns' need to draft guys who find the end zone, so a quarterback shouldn't be out of the question. It's just that you can't take a chance on missing with this pick. Tannehill is a projection, an intriguing one, but a projection along the lines of predicting Spin for a future Pulitzer.

4: Trade down out of Top 15 for extra ammunition. This team needs a big gun on offense, not more peashooters.

View full sizeAP fileSure, Morris Claiborne is an outstanding player and could be a long-time star in the NFL. But his acquisition makes one wonder if the Browns really plan to win games by 7-3 scores.

5: Draft Morris Claiborne, with Alabama running back Trent Richardson still on the board.

You'd expect the reaction to be crickets if this happens. But that's selling crickets short on their football acumen. They would be stunned to silence, too.

6: Trade down out of Top 10.

7: Draft Morris Claiborne, with Trent Richardson already taken.

OK, good player. His standing as the best defender in the draft keeps this from being a "5." But one of the reasons the Browns suffered so much offensively last year is that they passed on a playmaker at the top of the draft.

To pick a corner the next year at No. 4? Why did Randy Lerner hire an offensive-minded president who hired an offensive-minded head coach? After another 4-12 season, he'll be asking that, too.

Then again, if Colt McCoy can complete some passes in practice against Claiborne and Joe Haden, maybe third-and-nine won't seem like Everest.

8: Justin Blackmon. To paraphrase Keyshawn Johnson, just throw him the damn ball.

9: Trent Richardson.

He's 20. He's dynamic. If he's close to Adrian Peterson, I don't think there will be many regrets six or seven years from now when all the pounding takes its toll.

10: In a classic case of Washington gridlock, the Redskins fail to announce RGIII as their selection and the Browns swoop in.

About 11 hours to go.


Oops.  Forgot to put on my Kool-Aid glasses.



Aaahhhhh........Much better!



Bluez, my man, a round for the house if you would.

Browns leadership must persevere through what may be a tumultuous 2012 season.

35 Comments

We can now, realistically, begin to ponder how long Mike Holmgren is going to last as Team President of the Cleveland Browns.

The reboot risk factors are all there: more losing seasons, a roster that remains thin and riddled with holes, lack of confidence in the teams starting quarterback, a rough schedule, a toxic media environment.

While the team argues that "things have changed" in Cleveland, those changes aren't obvious from their won-loss record, where a 5-11 and 4-12 record under Holmgren's leadership are identical to what the team accomplished in five of the seven seasons prior.

Optimistic fans could point to possible parallels to 2007. That squad had gone 4-12 the year before and had a schedule that was heralded as certain doom for team's front office. Somehow, miraculously, the offense clicked and the Browns had their best season since 1994, going 10-6 and barely missing the playoffs.

Barring that sort of reversal, this season already feels more like the 2009 campaign, where fan frustration and media opportunism overflowed into a season of pure misery.

The biggest risk factor heading into 2012 is that that Holmgren's image in Cleveland has gone from savior to savaged in just three seasons. Justified or not, the image that Holmgren is currently being promulgated in Cleveland is that of a somewhat uninvolved, vacation-happy chief executive resting his feet on a large desk in his corner office while he talks to radio shows in Seattle.

This image is likely unfair to the Team President. Fans and the local media focus entirely on the football side of the organization, and expect Holmgren to have a similar focus. But that doesn't map to his role in the organization: Holmgren's responsibilities supposedly encompass both the less-visible business side of the organization in addition to being Tom Heckert and Pat Shurmur's boss. Being the lead "football man" in the organization actually IS a part-time job for Holmgren.

The developing negative perception of Holmgren, plus the selection of the low-key Shurmur as head coach and the go-slow approach of building through the draft, has provided a wide target for ratings-frantic sportstalkers and page-view-hungry websites to go on the attack during this off-season. That will only heat up when the team is playing games that matter.

The most recent broadside levelled at Holmgren is that he was not present during a rescheduled visit by QB prospect Ryan Tannehill. Speculating endlessly and without the benefit of any of the relevant facts, the local media has filled airtime with continually reinforced images of Holmgren as a do-nothing Team President.

The greatest irony is that the Browns are finally doing things in a way that makes sense for the long term, delaying gratification in order to try to build the team around a consistent philosophy. Resisting the urge to duct tape the roster by overpaying for free agents, the Holmgren team has the misfortune of having adopted a philosophy in 2012 that should have been in place in 1999.

The football moves largely make sense, even if they've been immediately unsatisfying on the field. Last year's trade-down in the draft was a textbook example of what to do when you have roster riddled with holes. Knowing that the rebuild was going to be a multi-year process, the Browns accumulated future picks while trading into an area of the draft that allowed for the more cost-effective reconstruction of their defensive line.

While Shurmur still has a lot to prove, his hire and the Browns personnel moves revolve around Holmgren's preferred West Coast Offense, giving the team a nascent offensive identity for the first time since their return in 1999.

But Holmgren and crew are being asked to pay back a debt to Browns fans that has been amassing since 1999 and before. The Browns faithful are the most put-upon fans on the planet, and are well aware of their status. Patience disappeared years ago.

But patience is what is needed now.

It will be up to the team's owner, Randy Lerner, to determine if this is yet another abortive experiment, or whether a long-term winning culture is being established.

Lerner, despite his carefully maintained low profile, is very sensitive to criticism of his team, and is particularly aware of criticism by passionate fans. He soaks it all in, and responds in some situations where he feels he can make his case fairly.

It is incumbent upon Lerner to ignore what is likely to be a firestorm of vitriol directed at his franchise throughout the 2012 season. Holmgren and Heckert need to have at least through 2013 to show progress with the franchise, given draft-oriented approach they've taken to building it.

The validity of the team's draft orientation won't matter if it loses the first five games. The airwaves will be full of nothing but negativity, and no excuses for poor performance will be tolerated. Local sports personalities will jockey for attention, attempting to out-do each other's over-the-top rants as the team struggles.

The Cleveland Browns post-expansion history of pre-ordained failure has been well-documented. It's up to the team's leaders to determine whether they are currently writing just another repetitive chapter of that book, or are whether they are finally bringing it to a conclusion.

It won't be easy to put in the blinders, keep a sense of humor, and get through what may be another tough season. In fact, it may be the hardest thing that Lerner and Holmgren have ever done.

But it's the best hope we have.

only beverage i want this morning is a very very LARGE coffee

Too much of of a good time last night Bluez?

But Holmgren and crew are being asked to pay back a debt to Browns fans that has been amassing since 1999 and before. The Browns faithful are the most put-upon fans on the planet, and are well aware of their status. Patience disappeared years ago.

But patience is what is needed now.

It will be up to the team's owner, Randy Lerner, to determine if this is yet another abortive experiment, or whether a long-term winning culture is being established.

Lerner, despite his carefully maintained low profile, is very sensitive to criticism of his team, and is particularly aware of criticism by passionate fans. He soaks it all in, and responds in some situations where he feels he can make his case fairly.

It is incumbent upon Lerner to ignore what is likely to be a firestorm of vitriol directed at his franchise throughout the 2012 season. Holmgren and Heckert need to have at least through 2013 to show progress with the franchise, given draft-oriented approach they've taken to building it.

morning Duff ...yup we had a blast last night . a few friends showed last night that we hadnt seen in awhile . needless to say we had fun catching up . left Despoes headed to the lake ..short ride hopped on a very well stocked pontoon boat cruised the lake stopping at a couple other watrerfront bars ..the Lake has 14 of them.  needless to say i crashed at a buddys house last night . there was no way in hell i was making back to get my car . we all crashed there last night .

we need to stay put at #4 take the BPA ..Hopefuly its Richardson .

the most important weekend since 99 ..

make it happen Heckert .make it happen

i must be a dinasour as i still believe that you can win a championship with a punishing ground game coupled with a stout defense solid special teams and a adequate middle of the pack passing attack .

i must be a dinasour as i still believe that you can win a championship with a punishing ground game coupled with a stout defense solid special teams and a adequate middle of the pack passing attack .

This is just it, bluez...that isn't realistic anymore.  You can win games, no doubt.  You could have good regular seasons, preying on the weaker teams in the league, but come playoff time, if you can't throw the ball effectively, you aren't going to win.  We haven't seen a team win the Superbowl that way since...well...probably the Steelers in 2005.  But even they won the first 3 playoff games largely on the arm of Ben Roethlisberger.  Since that Superbowl, it has been all franchise QBs winning the big game and I don't see it changing anytime soon.  The league wants it that way, it gets better ratings.

Again, I'm okay with Richardson at #4.  I think he makes the team better and gets them closer to contending, but he doesn't make them a Superbowl contender unless you get a quarterback that scares people. 


I'd love to see the Browns become competitive again, and Richardson will help accomplish that. 

Again, I'm okay with Richardson at #4.  I think he makes the team better and gets them closer to contending, but he doesn't make them a Superbowl contender unless you get a quarterback that scares people. 

morning Mano ..agreed you must have a passing attack that teams have to respect .or else they stack the line and play man on the outside . the Browns saw lots of that last season with no WR on the roster that could beat man coverage . that will continue untill they prove otherwise . yes a QB that teams respect with a couple WR yes the Browns need more than just one to losen things  up .

i look back at the 86-90 Browns they were very well balanced with the passing attack that could strike from anywhere coupled with the two headed monster that was Mack / Byner at RB .

Marty Ball . i still love Power O !

nothing cures the old 'next morning blues' like full-strength Coke, 2 aspirin & a grilled cheese sandwich 

..no grilled cheese ..nothing that resembles food ..more than two aspirin for sure ..Coke i agree with

no worries i will be back to being my normal abby normal self by noon time

after a Wendys double greasy cheeseburger ..thats my remedy .Wendys burgers

does anybody else play ESPN beat the streak ? if so wahts your longest strak been ?

i hit 10 last Month before going on a 7 losing streak to finish the month

even if Heckert strikes gold with this draft and he has to . the reality is that this team is still two years away from making any noise . espcially with the way this regime is choosing to rebuild it . its a long painstaking process when you do nothing in free agency to speed it up .

i look at how quickly the Lions turned things around after going 0 - 16 just a few seasons ago.the drafted well & used free agency wisely . 

i look at the Texans who have drafted very very well . they went 8-8 in back to back seasons before taking off last season .if they hadnt started there third string QB during the playoffs they might have made the Super Bowl .


i look down I75 to Cinncinatti who have dare i say this have drafted well the last couple seasons . some say they will go back to there losing ways this season . i dont think so . i hope so but they have turned the corner IMHO .

where does that leave the Browns ? with hope for the future just not the imediate future . they will be better this season . they cant be any worse on offense ..can they .

give me a 500 record this season . this old dawg will be wagging his tail

Listening to ESPN 1st Take...interesting convos going on...Jets interest in Richardson real or a smokescreen...

General consensus: real, b/c he 'perfectly compliments Tebow'...  Huh? Seems they got plans to make Tebow the starter. G/l with that. Hes overrated & 2 dimensional at best. Cant for the life of me figure why the entire media thinks hes the 2nd Coming... 

Going to be a real interesting night...

Bluez: nothing cures the old 'next morning blues' like full-strength Coke, 2 aspirin & a grilled cheese sandwich 

bluez, I completely understand where you and duff are going with your lastest blogs.  H&H and Lerner for that matter are building through the draft and that is the way to do it, LONG TERM.  This gives you, guys that grow with the organization and at some point all mesh together and give the Browns that winning edge.  At #4 the Browns are in the best spot outside the Vikings to upgrade their team from a top tier guy perspective or trade down for even more then the already 13 picks they have.  Those picks will often take a team back up to get guys that will be able to start on day 1 next season.  My only problem with this approach is not the TOP FAs but the lower case FAs that cost less but do have a couple few years in them to understand the NFL level.  This is how Jeff Fisher and the Rams approached this off season, fill as many holes with lower tier FAs with the exception of CB Finnegan and OC Wells, sign guys in the 26 to 27 year old range and draft (HOPEFULLY)for need.  Beer and a pizzais my course for tonight and through round 7.  It is the Rams and Browns best chance to get back in the game of the NFL.

Again, I'm okay with Richardson at #4.  I think he makes the team better and gets them closer to contending, but he doesn't make them a Superbowl contender unless you get a quarterback that scares people. 

C'mon Mano!!!!!  Getting Luck or RG3 in this draft won't make them a SB contender.  One draft ain't gonna do it.  This year may add some pieces but they'll need more next year.  Now weteher or not the Browns get the QB this or or next is just plain dumb to argue about.  The top 2 guys are off the board and Tannehill and Weeden aren't worth the #22 pick.  The Browns need 2 players with their first two picks who will contribute immediately.  Not a player who may learned the system in a year or two or three longer.  Can't guarantee any draft pick is "can't miss" but I hold more stock in Richardson and any non-QB (other than Luck or RG3) they might grab at #4 and #22.

And if they stink this year, especially Colt McCoy, the Browns will be drafting early enough and won't have the Redskins to out-bid them in an attempt to move up and grab next year's QB who will "get them to a Super Bowl" as you put it. 

Now weteher whether or not the Browns

http://youtu.be/cn358RJZuPU


to funny



please feel free to correct my spelling anytime you guys / gals feel like it .


i honestly could give a chit less as its ovverated anyway . i know total idiots that can spell . it doesnt change the fact that there idiots . it just means there somewhat edumacated idiots ..far to many of those running around free . maybe there should be open season them you know like there is for deer .

karry on now .i am taking my fat hungover ass to Wendys

As the draft approaches, some teams will need to find a feature back to help them pound the rock and improve their running game.

Essentially, running the football and working down the clock translate into winning football games for most teams, so in this year's draft a few teams will be looking to add talent to their backfield and hopefully improve their rushing attack.

1. Cleveland Browns - Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama, First Round (4)
Unfortunately for the Browns, after being put on top of the list for needing a wide receiver, they also find themselves at the top for needing a running back. With Peyton Hillis departing for Kansas City, they needed to add a back in the draft, but it's time for them to add an elite one to their roster.
For them to be successful, especially in a tough AFC North, running back by committee isn't going to work. Neither Montario Hardesty, Brandon Jackson nor Chris Ogbonnaya are the solution to the Browns becoming successful. Richardson is the best prospect since Adrian Peterson. He is "can't miss" for the Brownies.
2. Indianapolis Colts - Cyrus Gray, RB, Texas A&M, Fourth Round (97)
When you have the first overall pick in a draft, obviously you have a lot of needs to fill. This is exactly the case for the Colts. With Joseph Addai's return highly unlikely, guys like Donald Brown and Delone Carter will need to step up.
With their inexperience, the Colts can look to add a solid back in Gray in a later round of the draft. He isn't the best prospect coming out of the draft, but can bring a lot to Bruce Arians' rushing offense.
3. Washington Redskins - Robert Turbin, RB, Utah State, Fourth Round (109)
Everyone knows Mike Shanahan loves having a strong rushing attack. With the 'Skins projected to draft Robert Griffin III, it only makes more sense for them to bulk up their rushing attack to help the rookie quarterback grow.
Turbin is a big, bang between the tackles back that can make an immediate impact bruising defenders in short-yardage situations. He would be a nice complement to Roy Helu in Shanahan's run game.
4. Cincinnati Bengals - Isaiah Pead, RB, Cincinnati, Second Round (53)
As the Bengals grow as an offense behind last year's top draft picks A.J. Green and Andy Dalton, they will need to add a running back to the mix that can make their offense one of the most dynamic in the game.
Although the Bengals have brought in BenJarvus Green-Ellis and have Bernard Scott as a solid backup, bringing in the hometown kid, Pead, can give the Bengals a dominant rush attack to pair up with their aerial assault.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Ronnie Hillman, RB, San Diego State, Fifth Round (140)
The Bucs would love to get their hands on Richardson, but who wouldn't? Instead they're going to have to find complements for their bulldozer, LeGarrette Blount. A perfect fit for the Buccaneers could be Ronnie Hillman, a speedy back that broke all of Marshall Faulk's freshman records at San Diego State.


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C'mon Mano!!!!!  Getting Luck or RG3 in this draft won't make them a SB contender.  One draft ain't gonna do it.

Hey Duff!  I'm not saying it would, but it gets you MUCH closer than drafting Richardson does.

The most important position on the field is QB.  Without a great one, you aren't winning a Superbowl.  Not anymore.  Period.
There is no point in harping on the RGIII thing anymore, that ship has sailed. 

And if they stink this year, especially Colt McCoy, the Browns will be drafting early enough and won't have the Redskins to out-bid them in an attempt to move up and grab next year's QB who will "get them to a Super Bowl" as you put it. 

The future is uncertain.  That's why I was such a big advocate for taking one of the top guys this year while you had the chance.  If the Browns go out and win 7 or 8 games this year, the top QBs in next year's draft are likely out as well.  McCoy, Richardson and, say, Stephen Hill might make this offense just good enough to be a middle of the pack group, making finding that elite QB more difficult.

Then again, maybe the Browns get lucky in the next couple of years and find that guy.  Who knows?

All I know, without reservation, is that as long as the Browns don't have a franchise quality QB, they will not be a factor in the championship race.

The most important position on the field is QB.  Without a great one, you aren't winning a Superbowl.

Not if you don't have a RT an RB (and Hardesty, Oingo-boingo, and Brandon Jackson aren't collectively worth one good RB) and a bona fide #1 WR, it isn't.  You could put Brees, Brady, or Rodgers in at QB and they might win us 3-4 more games but that's it.

The future is uncertain.  That's why I was such a big advocate for taking one of the top guys this year

After Luck and RG3, there are no more Top Guys.  The rest are more likely to be considered projects. just as Colt McCoy still is.

Then again, maybe the Browns get lucky in the next couple of years and find that guy.  Who knows?

Then again, maybe McCoy just needed some pieces and parts to give him a real chance.  I'm not saying he's our guy.  I'm saying, who the heck can tell, if he has nothing better than the sub-par supporting cast he plays with now.

All I know, without reservation, is that as long as the Browns don't have a franchise quality QB, they will not be a factor in the championship race.

I agree.  But there isn't one left in this year's draft who "the experts" would deem to be our franchise's saviour.  And without a viable supporting cast, it wouldn't matter if there was.  Who knows if one of the later round QB's doesn't turn out to be another Tom Brady?  Better to stock the pantry, go for broke next year in hopes of getting the "franchise" QB and grab Cousins, Osweiler or Foles later on this year.

The first 3 or 4 rounds of this draft, if Heckert hits on his picks, should more than likely be starters who will have an instant impact.  If you take a QB at #22 (cause Tannehill at #4 is just insane), you now downgrade the next 2 or 3 players the Browns select to fill immediate needs like LB, RB, WR, RT, and DB.  The "QB of our dreams" can wait another season.  And then if the Browns are still in need, the Redskins won't outbid us and we'll be a better team overall and in more positions, for the new QB to come in and start.  And who's to say that Colt won't prosper if he has some weapons?  If he does, great.  If not, we only have one (and I stress, just one) priority next year......getting one of the top QB's.  And they should be more able to give up a large part of the draft to get him, if all goes well this year.