I thought we were going to end up with someone from a local high school (using the Browns for a second job) for sure.

Pettine isn't bad. He's not a sexy hire, but he's well-respected and Buffalo loves him. Also, a chance to definitively and finally reject the Belichick coaching tree.

They haven't hired him yet, have they? I wish they would just pull the trigger. He's probably the best of what's left, so just get him and let's move on to the next fiasco....Like when the QB we draft refuses to report.

 

Jimmy and Joe would have to eat a whole lotta crow to hire Pettine.  He in no way fits the narrative of the type of coach they said they were looking for when they fired Chud.

They should tuck their napkins into their collars, then, because I don't think any of the remaining candidates they're talking to represent any significant upgrade to what we had.

 

Besides, what do they have to lose. They can always fire him at the end of the season. 

Looking from the outside, this has been one of the strangest coaching searches I've seen.  I feel for Browns fans (because it certainly gives the impression that the FO doesn't know what the heck it's doing). 

Musky, I moved your post about the construction apparently starting at the stadium to:

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,8604.0.html

 

Thank you

so pettine is next in the coach parade -- the bills/jets D guy.

 

looks like they really wanted josh mcdaniels:

 

http://m.espn.go.com/nfl/story?storyId=10338529&src=desktop

 

So we got Stone Cold's doppelganger....

 

official now.

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2014/01/mike_pettine_cleveland_browns.html#incart_maj-story-2

yeah they just ended the press conf on espn. hes just happy to be an nfl head coach. not real dynamic with the press, but thats not whats important.

We hired the defensive coach of the only team Weeden beat last year. How's that for convoluted? It's enough to make your head explode.

To be fair, that was the game with a TJ Ward pick-6 and one of TBenjamin's returns.  And, iirc, Buffalo was missing their two best DB's.  Buffalo had a top 10 Def last year.  The years he was with the Jets, they had a top 10 Def each year, with the #1 unit in 2009.  Thankfully, he runs the same hybrid 3-4

Lets not pretend like any of us know whether this hire is good or not.  It is impossible to tell; the science is too imperfect and none of us are expert enough

Lets not pretend like any of us know whether this hire is good or not.  It is impossible to tell; the science is too imperfect and none of us are expert enough

We've been doing little more than speculating for 148 pages, why stop now?

To be fair, that was the game with a TJ Ward pick-6 and one of TBenjamin's returns.  And, iirc, Buffalo was missing their two best DB's.  Buffalo had a top 10 Def last year.  The years he was with the Jets, they had a top 10 Def each year, with the #1 unit in 2009.  Thankfully, he runs the same hybrid 3-4

 

And their QB for most of the game.

 

I was just messing around because the whole thing is absurd and that's how it looks from the outside.

 

I am pretty much tongue in cheek about the Browns from now on...

Heard some talk this morning that the Browns might want to bring in Gary Kubiak as their OC.  That would be a great hire, but supposedly he has other offers, he has ongoing health concerns, and the Texans still owe him a ton of money he can make without lifting a finger.  The PD mentioned the name Alex Van Pelt as a possible candidate as well.  The DC will be the LBs coach from the Bills (Jim O'Neil?).

 

Mary Kay Cabbot has quite a lot of egg on her face today.  Supposedly, Will Berge (who now works for Bleecher Report) called into 92.3 yesterday before lunch to tell them that multiple sources had indicated to him that Pettine would be hired.  MKC then called in to adamantly deny those rumors and confirm that her sources confirmed just the opposite.  Ooooops.  Not a good look for the lead beat reporter at the PD to get scooped by some AM radio cast-off who is biding his time at Bleecher Report.

Heard sMary Kay Cabbot has quite a lot of egg on her face today.  Supposedly, Will Berge (who now works for Bleecher Report) called into 92.3 yesterday before lunch to tell them that multiple sources had indicated to him that Pettine would be hired.  MKC then called in to adamantly deny those rumors and confirm that her sources confirmed just the opposite.  Ooooops.  Not a good look for the lead beat reporter at the PD to get scooped by some AM radio cast-off who is biding his time at Bleecher Report.

 

That was pretty funny about Mary Kay Cabot denying the Bleacher Report's news. But MKC was scooped much earlier than that.......

 

Buffalo News is reporting that Mike Pettine will get the Browns HC job.

^That was contradicted by reports this morning that no deal was reached and the Browns are going to interview other candidates.  Whomever they end up with, you can be sure of one thing...... he was "their guy" all along..... they were just covering their bases by talking to other candidates.

She always seems to be wrong. On twitter she has been really bad. I cant remember the exact situation but one time she tweeted something and literally 5 minutes later something came out basically showing she was completely wrong. It was hilarious.

I almost feel like people are just sabotaging her now - how can anyone be so confident and so wrong? She's trying too hard, or is extremely unlucky, or both.

I think she is somewhat the victim of people taking a leap of faith and turning out to be correct.  It seems in the twitter world, sports people will go ahead and make an educated guess and then when they turn out to be correct, they pound their chest.  If they turn out to be wrong, nobody beats them up too bad.  The NBA trade rumor circles are the worst with this.

 

For the record, and to be fair to her, I do believe the reports that the Browns reached out to McDaniels one last time yesterday before finalizing the deal with Pettine.

Yeah, in her defense, it did seem like the Browns were scrambling to interview anyone and everyone they could get a hold of in the last 48 hours. I'm not convinced if McDaniels or Gase came out and said he wanted the job, that the Browns wouldn't just dump Pettine right now and pay his contract.  "Well, we gave him a shot, but he just wasn't the right fit"

Yeah, in her defense, it did seem like the Browns were scrambling to interview anyone and everyone they could get a hold of in the last 48 hours. I'm not convinced if McDaniels or Gase came out and said he wanted the job, that the Browns wouldn't just dump Pettine right now and pay his contract.  "Well, we gave him a shot, but he just wasn't the right fit"

 

I think that's because Pettine gave the Browns an ultimatum because it wasn't fair to him or the Buffalo Bills to have not made a decision yet. It sounds like the Browns made the rounds and said "Anyone else? Anyone? OK, we're going with Pettine."

Cleveland Browns finalizing deal for Kyle Shanahan to be new offensive coordinator

 

NEW YORK -- The Browns offered former Redskins offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan their coordinator position Saturday night, and it's expected to be finalized by Monday, a league source told cleveland.com.

 

Shanahan, 34, is currently on vacation with his family and will sign the contract when he returns, a source said. But both sides are fully on board and expect the negotiations to go smoothly on Monday.

 

Shanahan's interview with the Browns on Wednesday went well and he became a frontrunner from the start. A report on NFL Network Thursday that it didn't go as planned and that the Browns had moved on from him was inaccurate, a source said.

 

Of the candidates known to have interviewed with the Browns, Shanahan has the most experience as a coordinator. He's run offenses for six seasons, including two in Houston under Gary Kubiak and the last four in Washington under his father, Mike. In four of his six seasons as a coordinator, Shanahan's offenses have finished in the top 10. The Browns also interviewed Raiders quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo, who's never been a coordinator in the pros.

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2014/02/cleveland_browns_finalizing_de.html#incart_m-rpt-2

 

Probably the best option out there I'm glad we got him.

Even more exciting news!

 

Kirk Cousins open to being traded

 

With the Washington Redskins making it clear that Robert Griffin III is their starting quarterback, backup Kirk Cousins is open to being traded, league sources told ESPN.

 

Cousins believes he is ready to start and already has had discussions with the Redskins' hierarchy, which declared Griffin as their starter last month.

 

Cousins will not be eligible to be traded until March 11, but the Redskins are expected to receive calls from quarterback-needy teams.

 

One destination could be the Cleveland Browns, who plan to hire Kyle Shanahan as their new offensive coordinator, sources told ESPN on Saturday.

 

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/10391225/kirk-cousins-open-being-traded-washington-redskins

So let's say we trade for Kirk Cousins. Does this automatically mean we use our first-round pick on Sammy Watkins?

 

If so, that's too bad. I'm lukewarm on Cousins. I wanted Blake Bortles as our top pick, assuming he's still there at #4. If we do trade for Cousins, I don't see us using more than a third-rounder on him. He's a back-up, and there's no guarantee he would start for the Browns.

 

EDIT:

 

Washington Redskins: Could Kirk Cousins Follow Kyle Shanahan to the Cleveland Browns?

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/washington-redskins-could-kirk-cousins-kyle-shanahan-cleveland-192600298--nfl.html

 

EDIT2:

 

Here's a list of all unrestricted free agents in 2014. Take note of all the decent Running Backs available.

 

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000316567/article/2014-nfl-unrestricted-free-agents-by-position

 

BTW, I wouldn't be surprised to see Pettine bring a couple of UFA defensive players over from the Bills like FS Jairus Byrd (yes please!) or OLB Arthur Moats. And similarly I expect Shanahan to bring some UFA offensive players over from the Redskins like Santana Moss, in addition to Cousins. After the Davone Bess debacle, Moss could be a stabilizing factor in tutoring our young WRs like Josh Gordon (yes, I think he can be even better), or if we draft another top WR which I think we will. I think the Redskins will let Moss go, considering his age (turns 35 in June).

So let's say we trade for Kirk Cousins. Does this automatically mean we use our first-round pick on Sammy Watkins?

 

If so, that's too bad. I'm lukewarm on Cousins. I wanted Blake Bortles as our top pick, assuming he's still there at #4. If we do trade for Cousins, I don't see us using more than a third-rounder on him. He's a back-up, and there's no guarantee he would start for the Browns.

 

EDIT:

 

Washington Redskins: Could Kirk Cousins Follow Kyle Shanahan to the Cleveland Browns?

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/washington-redskins-could-kirk-cousins-kyle-shanahan-cleveland-192600298--nfl.html

I feel like he has been productive when given the opportunity, even though Manzel is a hard worker I still wouldn't want him, I just don't think he will survive in the NFL. Truthfully those are our two options, so if I had to pick between the two I would choose Cousins.

 

EDIT: I just checked over his stats again, not as impressive as I thought but knowing that Manzel would be our choice I would rather spend a 3rd rounder on cousins and get Watkins, A lineman and a 2nd round RB like Carlos Hyde to give him weapons.

Someone like Toby Gerhart would be a perfect UFA pickup for the Browns at RB. He's never going to be the feature back in Minnesota, and he wants to be one (see below). When he's played, he's produced. This is the kind of UFA you look for!

 

Vikings' Toby Gerhart might be difficult to keep around

http://www.twincities.com/vikings/ci_24629518/vikings-toby-gerhart-might-be-difficult-keep-around

Someone like Toby Gerhart would be a perfect UFA pickup for the Browns at RB. He's never going to be the feature back in Minnesota, and he wants to be one (see below). When he's played, he's produced. This is the kind of UFA you look for!

 

Vikings' Toby Gerhart might be difficult to keep around

http://www.twincities.com/vikings/ci_24629518/vikings-toby-gerhart-might-be-difficult-keep-around

Looking at his stats I wouldn't mind him, he and Dion Lewis would be a nice combination but how likely do you think it is that we get him?

 

On another note I was discouraged though, I looked at the list of FA and saw Darren Mcfadden and got excited, but saw that he has been struggling lately I would have really liked him.

I think Gerhart is going to be in high demand and therefore a tough one to sign. But the Browns have a lot of cap space they can throw at him if they want.

 

I'd be more interested in Felix Jones than Darren McFadden. Some commentators (http://espn.go.com/blog/cleveland-browns/post/_/id/3755/qb-would-be-key-for-shanahan-in-cleveland) think Ben Tate could go to the Browns. Tate might be OK if he could hold on to the ball a little better.

I think Gerhart is going to be in high demand and therefore a tough one to sign. But the Browns have a lot of cap space they can throw at him if they want.

 

I'd be more interested in Felix Jones than Darren McFadden. Some commentators (http://espn.go.com/blog/cleveland-browns/post/_/id/3755/qb-would-be-key-for-shanahan-in-cleveland) think Ben Tate could go to the Browns. Tate might be OK if he could hold on to the ball a little better.

It's funny that you mentioned Ben Tate possibly coming here because I want him the most out of any FA RB but never mentioned him thinking it would be a long shot.

Tate's upcoming free agency was discussed a lot in Browns' circles ever since the Trent Richardson trade.  It was said then that the Browns' front office was very high on him.  I have some concerns about his injury history.  He has never been able to stay healthy as a backup.  I'm not sure how he would do as a featured back.  That said, RB depth is the key and we have none.  I think in today's NFL you need 3 quality RBs to start the season.  You need 2 for any given game and there is no way everyone stays healthy for all 16.  Dion Lewis should fill one of the spots. 

 

I also desperately want to sign a FB.  A real FB.

I also desperately want to sign a FB.  A real FB.

 

Why? Couldn't a back-up OL do just as well in short-yardage sets?

 

BTW, if you do a Google search on Browns and Ben Tate, the news report all seem to have him going to Cleveland.....

https://www.google.com/#q=cleveland+browns+ben+tate

Great, a talented RB with injury issues.  We do well with those guys.

Why? Couldn't a back-up OL do just as well in short-yardage sets?

 

Absolutely not.  You need a FB who the defense has to worry about slipping out into the flat, and you need a FB who doesn't slow up the RB getting through the hole.  Those super big packages are used mainly only in goal line and 4 and inches situations.  I want a FB to be part of the gameplan on 1st and 2nd down.

Great, a talented RB with injury issues.  We do well with those guys.

 

I don't even think he's all that talented. He's better than average. But his production when healthy is only good, not very good and certainly not great. Gerhart, on the other hand, when he plays has been very good. The only reason why Gerhart doesn't play more because the guy ahead of him is a hall-of-famer.

 

Absolutely not.  You need a FB who the defense has to worry about slipping out into the flat, and you need a FB who doesn't slow up the RB getting through the hole.  Those super big packages are used mainly only in goal line and 4 and inches situations.  I want a FB to be part of the gameplan on 1st and 2nd down.

 

I think a FB is far down on the list of needs for this offense. I'm more worried about getting a QB, another good RB, a reliable WR, and addressing our offensive line, which I think is getting overlooked by many. I think we're going to lose Mack (that bothers me) and Lauvao (that doesn't bother me) in free agency. We need to come out of this postseason no worse on the OL, and I don't know if that's possible -- especially with Mack.

Chud lands on his feet

http://espn.go.com/blog/cleveland-browns/post/_/id/3947/rob-chudzinski-winds-up-in-a-good-place

 

 

And after reading this (http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/5745/vetting-potential-trade-partners-browns), I think the Browns should NOT move up in the draft. We need more players. We're not one big player away from being a playoff team. We need to stock up on talent, and we have three picks in the top 36 selections. I think one of the Big 3 quarterbacks is going to be there at #4. If not, we draft either WR Sammy Watkins or OT Jake Matthews who are probably the two best offensive players at their position in the draft (even better than the top-3 QBs in my opinion). I lean to Watkins, who I thinks looks even better than what I saw in Josh Gordon at Baylor. Plus, there are lots of good offensive linemen in this draft so I don't think we'll hurt ourselves if we don't take Matthews. Our #34 pick might make good tradebait with Washington or New England to get their backup QB or maybe we use it to draft a second-tier QB like Carr, Garoppolo or Mettenberger. But only if the top-3 QBs are off the draft board by the time we pick.

Mary Kay Cabot ‏@MaryKayCabot 6m

 

#Browns blockbuster announcement: Ray Farmer promoted to GM, Joe Banner to step down as CEO, GM Michael Lombardi to leave team.

Not upset about this at all I think Ray Farmer is a good up and coming GM

Not upset about this at all I think Ray Farmer is a good up and coming GM

 

So do I. This could be a good change. Look at Lombardi's draft picks going back through his various teams, including back to the Browns in the late 1980s. There isn't much of a track record of success there.

 

Wow. Big change!

Not upset about this at all I think Ray Farmer is a good up and coming GM

 

So do I. This could be a good change. Look at Lombardi's draft picks going back through his various teams, including back to the Browns in the late 1980s. There isn't much of a track record of success there.

 

Wow. Big change!

My question is will their approach change when it comes to making roster decisions since Joe Banner, one of the people included in that process is stepping down?

Holy cwap.  Bombshell.

 

I was really concerned going into this off-season with Banner given the decisions we have to make with Ward and Mack.  I always got the feeling he was the type to let both walk and think he can replace them with a mid-round pick.

Glad this happened.

 

We will lose one of Ward or Mack.  I'd rather keep Mack if I had to pick one.

 

 

There is a god.  I wonder if there was any movement in Vegas on the Browns Super Bowl chances?

We will lose one of Ward or Mack.  I'd rather keep Mack if I had to pick one.

 

With this move, I think we will end up keeping both.... but I'd much rather keep Ward if we had to pick.  I'm most definitely not the type to undervalue the offensive line, but we have a good bit invested in that unit.  Ward is the leader of our defense and we don't have anyone capable of replacing him.

We will lose one of Ward or Mack.  I'd rather keep Mack if I had to pick one.

 

With this move, I think we will end up keeping both.... but I'd much rather keep Ward if we had to pick.  I'm most definitely not the type to undervalue the offensive line, but we have a good bit invested in that unit.  Ward is the leader of our defense and we don't have anyone capable of replacing him.

 

I think so too. I think Banner would have been penny-wise and pound foolish with these two players. I think Farmer realizes that you can't let either of these guys go. I hope I'm right.

 

BTW, Tom Reed is reporting that Banner/Lombardi almost blew the coaching search by not being able to even agree on what questions to ask the candidates -- in front of the candidates.

 

Also, consider that at the press conference where Pettine was hired, someone asked why Lombardi wasn't there. Banner said he didn't even consider having Lombardi there. WTF??

Well, at least now our GM "was" at the Senior Bowl. Nothing surprises me anymore.

 

I just read one of the articles and forgot Scheiner is president, this could work. Scheiner is know as a money/business guy and Farmer as personnel. Non of that I am smarter than you crap that Banner and Lombardi gave off. Is Scheiner now at the top of the totem pole?

^ Scheiner and Farmer both report to Haslam directly, which is how it should be. In his press conference, Farmer said he had final control over the roster, but the coaching staff would have input.

BREAKING NEWS! New movie "Draft Day" due out in April is withdrawn as real Browns are stranger than fiction. Producers will release a documentary instead.

There is a story out there that Banner was put upon Haslam by the NFL as a condition of his purchase of the team.