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Topic: Browns Offseason Report (Read 1178 times) |
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Tony_O
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Re: Browns Offseason Report
« Reply #6 on: Mar 15th, 2006, 6:37pm » |
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McGinest to reunite with old coach, sign with BrownsBy Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com
Unrestricted free agent linebacker Willie McGinest has found a new home with an old friend.
The former New England Patriots linebacker, released last week for salary cap reasons after 12 years with the team, reached a contract agreement with the Cleveland Browns on Wednesday afternoon, ESPN.com has learned. He will be reunited in Cleveland with Browns head coach Romeo Crennel, an assistant in New England for seven of McGinest's 12 seasons there.
McGinest, who visited with Browns coaches and team officials on Tuesday as his first stop in free agency, will sign a three-year, $12 million contract that includes $6 million in bonuses and guarantees.
The two-time Pro Bowl performer and three-time Super Bowl champion should provide the Browns with the outside pass rush dimension the team sorely lacked in 2005. His familiarity with the 3-4 defense, the scheme in which he enjoyed so much of his success in New England, is also a huge plus. McGinest told ESPN.com last weekend that while he felt he could play in a 4-3, he hoped to sign with a 3-4 team.
McGinest, 34, has 78 career sacks and his six sacks in 2005 were one more than any Cleveland player managed in Crennel's first season, as the Browns struggled to create pressure. As a team, the Browns registered just 23 sacks, the fewest in the NFL. Crennel and general manager Phil Savage had publicly reiterated the need to improve the Cleveland pass rush. McGinest also had 4½ sacks in the postseason, all of them coming in a wild-card round victory over Jacksonville (he had eight tackles in all).
Cleveland officials were negotiating earlier this week with unrestricted free agent Kalimba Edwwards, a defensive end with the Detroit Lions who would have moved to linebacker in a 3-4 scheme. The Browns felt he could fill a McGinest-type role for them. But when Edwards re-signed with the Lions, the Browns turned their attention to McGinest, and it didn't take long to strike a deal.
Several other teams had contacted agent Gary Uberstine to inquire about McGinest. It is unknown how many other teams would have met with McGinest had he not completed an agreement with the Browns. Among the interested teams were the Miami Dolphins, Dallas Cowboys and the New York Jets.
It is certainly no coincidence, though, that his initial trip was to Cleveland. Along with the presence of Crennel, the Browns have been among the league's most aggressive teams in the opening days of the free agency period. McGinest becomes the seventh player acquired by Cleveland since Saturday morning. He is the second new defensive starter, joining nose tackle Ted Washington.
McGinest was scheduled to make $7 million in 2006 with the Patriots between his base salary and a roster bonus. But the Patriots felt that compensation was a bit too rich for them. Although there was speculation the Patriots might contact McGinest about signing a more palatable deal, there were no such discussions after he was released.
The Browns, who have posted just one winning season since returning to the league in 1999, and who were 6-10 under Crennel in 2005, certainly present the kind of challenge McGinest seems to be seeking at this late juncture of his career.
"That's part of what excites me, really, is the chance to maybe help a team and help other players achieve some of their goals," McGinest said during a Saturday interview. "You name it and I've pretty much been there and done that. At this point in my career, the individual [accomplishments] aren't as important, not any more. I'm developed. I'm primed. I'm a team guy who knows his role. If that role is with a new team, well, so be it."
Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.
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Philosopher King
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Re: Browns Offseason Report
« Reply #7 on: Mar 30th, 2006, 1:48pm » |
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Here are some must reads for owners of or those thinking about picking up/drafting QB's Charlie Frye or Trent Dilfer, WR Braylon Edwards, or TE Kellen Winslow from LOCAL sources on "the Gridiron Newsstand":
"Frye not a lock to start for Browns"
"Winslow could be cleared for camp, but not Edwards"
My thoughts...
Regarding the quarterback situation, this is just early offseason rhetoric to keep them both working hard. I mean... while they are believed to have made a lot of fantastic improvements this offseason through free-agency, it's either Frye or Dilfer who is going to carry them from the QB position. They don't want either of them getting comfortable yet. In the end, the job will be Frye's. The time is right to hand over the reigns, not go backwards.
Regarding Edwards, while I believe he still has a very bright future, I don't think he'll be campaigning for much time on the fantasy gridiron as he will be limited on the real gridiron. He could be worth keeping an eye on right at the end of the season when your making your championship push and he's as healthy as he's going to be. I could see his ending the season with a bit of a bang.
Regarding Winslow, I fear that he will never be the player he could have been. Two years out of the game right off the bat doesn't usually make for a happy ending. From what I read about that motorcycle accident, he's lucky to even be alive. I just think his innards were quite ravages and that he won't be close to being the same. Mind you, I was a BIG fan of his when he came out in '05. I even drafted him in the GBRFL where we don't even have a tight-end category (TE's are just consider receivers), so there is no bias here.
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| « Last Edit: Mar 30th, 2006, 1:49pm by Stegfucius » |
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Gridiron Great
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Re: Browns Offseason Report
« Reply #15 on: May 26th, 2006, 9:34am » |
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on May 26th, 2006, 2:16am, StegRock wrote:
If Droughns goes down becuase of the law, who is his successor? The three back ups basically got no carries last season, but here they are:
Willie Green? Given the opportunity and never did anything.
Lee Suggs? He can play about 2 games until he gets hurt. Too bad cause he has the talent.....
Jason Wright? Out of Northwestern, hasn't played much.
THen there is Jerome Harrison out of Washington State who was drafted in the fifth round. He was a bargain.... Will he be given the chance?
Either way, this is not good news for the Browns!!!
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Philosopher King
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Re: Browns Offseason Report
« Reply #16 on: May 29th, 2006, 3:41pm » |
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DD,... all,... here's my sliver of a take... I've, from Day 1, not been a fan of William Green (as those old-timers around here and those close to me know very well), and while I, for sure, meant from both an NFL perspective and fantasy-wise, my thinking always leans towards the fantasy side of things, and while I, heretofore, have been right, I must admit that I wonder, like I do about Tim Couch, who I don't think received a fair shake with/by going to the Browns, if Green has gotten a fair shake. I don't think he has. Head Coach Romeo Crennel was coaching up in New England when Green was tearing it up at Boston College. If Droughns ends up not being an option for the Browns this year, I think Crennell gives the once-heralded New England product his one (last/real) chance to make it in the NFL. Whether he succeeds or not, that I am not sure of. But, I think he'd be the "one" given the opportunity.
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starter... as per "The REAL Feed": 
From "The REAL Feed": 
This is not good news for Frye and Droughns (and their respective fantasy owners).