As I'd feared, Ray Farmer has waited for some bargains and is now raiding the retirement home. But these two players--well it's not as bad as I'd feared.
Niether is going to kick a young, talented player to the curb, as Mike Pettine will be holding onto a lot of players in both these position groups. Both players played well last season.
Tramon Williams is the most troublesome to me. A (press/man) cornerback relies heavily on recovery speed and explosive changes of direction. 32 is very old for one of these guys, and the erosion of these traits happens fast.
But for sure, Tramon has enough left to force Gilbert to fight like hell for playing time. He will offer leadership, and be a good example. He does have the size to play safety, and move around in situational defenses. He should be fine in zone and off-man coverages.
I'd feel differently had the Browns retained Buster Skrine, but with the current roster, this particular geezer makes sense.
By the way, Buster: Now that the Jets signed Cromartie and you're going to the slot again...how does that make you feel?
Randy Starks was a good signing. He is over 30, but will be rotated in and out, and can still definitely play really well for at least another year.
Starks is a pro's pro who will likewise be a good example and offer leadership. I said before that he was solid, but he's more than that. In the Browns' scheme, he can play any position.
I'm not sure what happened to Rubin, but something sure did, and Starks is a definite upgrade to what the Browns had.
More on the quarterbacks:
In this article by Jonathan Webb, a lot of guessing and assuming went on. Fotunately, you have me here to make the corrections:
First off, the Browns haven't "decided to move on" from Johnny Manziel. What they've seen so far was discouraging, and they know they can't count on him.
I have almost zero doubt that the Browns did offer a first round pick for Sam Bradford, and that book may not be closed. They may well make a push for Mariota as well.
But this is just common sense. This is just trying to make sure. How one can take these efforts as a sign that they have no hope for Manziel, I don't understand.
And with all due respect to Terry Pluto, there is little concern about Manziel's physical ability to play quarterback in the NFL. Not with Wilson and Brees around. The only concerns with Johnny are mental.
In one over-the-top, atrocious Bleacher Report article, this Freeman person declared Manziel DOA based on zero talent among the recievers.
This clown actually lists the whole TE and WR corps, and implies that it's the worst in the NFL. Hawkins, Gabriel, and Hartline all suck now? Really?
He goes on to cite Ray Farmer's refusal to draft a wide reciever last year as conclusive proof that he NEVER WILL!
For that matter, even Barnidge and Dray, far from sucking, are pretty good chain-movers--I guess for this guy anybody who doesn't make annual trips to Hawaii can't play.
The current corps has a very good possession reciever, excellent slot recievers, and average pass-catching tight ends, and obviously Ray Farmer will soon add to that.
If this goober had called the current recievers below average, I wouldn't have bothered with this steaming pile of LaCanfora. Why do you have to go overboard like this? There has to be something wrong with you when you dump Gabriel/Hawkins/Hartline out with the bathwater oh puh-leez!
I was gone for awhile but I'm back now:
While I'm at it, it is irrational to want to cut Josh Gordon. In what concievable way could you benefit? Retainng him is zero risk, high reward, and free. So just stop it.
I see Travis Benjamin as low man on the wide reciever totem pole, and rather expect his departure after the draft. But to pro-actively cut him...I swear I just don't get the logic here.
Listen to me: Travis Benjamin, if not injured, will be in the NFL for a long time, and play a lot of football. The only reason his days are numbered here is the fact that the Browns have two superior slot recievers ahead of him.
This is one slot the Browns have no need to fill. You shouldn't lump slot recievers and X/Y recievers together the way a lot of people do. They're different types of player.
The Browns need an X (number one) wide reciever, and I suppose more depth. Not another smurf DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
I wouldn't mind taking a risk on Sam Bradford (for number nineteen, should that come up), but it IS a risk with his injury history.
I also hate the fact that he has refused to renegotiate his way-too-fat contract. I hope Ray doesn't do this without a new contract already in place.
I can just see this guy sure enough staying healthy all season and kicking butt...then LEAVING in 2016. If, after missing about half his games since he was drafted, he refused to renegotiate--this guy seems to have zero loyalty to anything but the dollar.
Oh, you can't sign or retain players because of me? Tough. GIMME.
Terry Pluto points out that the one year remaining in his current contract is a kind of insurance. Should he once again get hurt and crap out, the cap-hit is limited to the 2015 season.
I suppose, but we want this quarterback thing fixed long-term, don't we?
Between Bradford and Mariota, I'd prefer the much cheaper, signed for five years Mariota.
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