Category Archives: Cleveland Browns
As a group here, we would prefer the Giants retain the services of Osi Umenyiora. But this labor deal brought out the worst in almost everyone and some fences may be broken beyond repair. Such is the case of Osi, a talented, yet ambiguous figure who put himself ahead of team during this labor strife.
He just may have played himself out of East Rutherford. Or has he? The Giants will simply not give Umenyiora away. He has value, if not to other teams then to them.
Now, we don’t normally swing at pitches in the dirt, nor do we court and/or digest conjecture regularly but this latest prediction we read makes too much sense to ignore. If the Giants want to ditch Osi, the Browns may be interested.
From Brad at NFLsFuture.com….
Osi has made it clear that he is looking to renegotiate his contract with someone. I would be willing to bet it’s not with the New York Giants/Jerry Reese. I know, I know…John Clayton reported yesterday he was looking at the Seattle Seahawks as a possible destination. He’s not a good fit, nor will Seattle be willing to part with another draft pick in 2012 after they cash in a second rounder for Carson Palmer.
Osi is coming off offseason hip surgery, has a history of knee issues, is 29, wants big money, and runs his mouth. Bad combination for a guy looking for one last, big contract. Cleveland definitely needs help at DE and they may be willing to invest cash ($5/6 million per) in a guy coming off 11.5 sacks and 10 forced fumbles.
They are completely devoid of talent at the position minus Jabaal Sheard (unproven rookie) and Holmgren/Heckert favorite Jayme Mitchell (unproven veteran). They are more likely to give up a pick with them picking up a first round pick from Atlanta in the Julio Jones trade.
To Giants fan who inevitably will email me saying Osi will garner a first round pick: No he won’t. He’s productive but see all the reasons above on why a team will not be willing to fork over a 1st or 2nd round pick.
Tagged New York Giants Blogs |
Here are some rumblings around the NFL as we creep closer to that first pick tomorrow:
- Peter King of SI is reporting that the Patriots are trying to move up to the top 10 in the draft in order to land LSU defensive end Tyson Jackson or possibly an offensive player.
- King thinks that the Raiders are seriously considering Darrius Heyward-Bey or Jeremy Maclin at seven, which could explain why the Giants feel the need to trade up to land Bey. They might as well forget Bey if that is the case, since they don’t have the picks to trade up that high.
- The Broncos reportedly checked in with the Browns about Brady Quinn‘s availability, but were told Quinn isn’t available.
- Braylon Edwards has not been showing up to the Browns’ voluntary offseason program, likely drawing the ire of coach Eric Mangini. It is possible the Browns have asked him to stay away to avoid injury in the event he is to be traded.
- There is a report of a “hole” in Percy Harvin‘s foot/ankle area that will require more surgery, according to the NY Daily News. Harvin’s stock has been dropping over character concerns. He alledgedly tested positive for marijuana at the combine. ESPN’s NFC East blogger Matt Mosley reported that, according to a Valley Ranch source, the Cowboys have taken Harvin off their board.
- NFL Network’s Steve Wyche reports that the Jets would try to trade for Jason Campbell if the Redskins move up to draft Matthew Stafford.
- SNY.tv’s Michael Salfino has his Draft Preview up, and I highly suggest you check it out.
- SNY.tv’s Adam Zagoria profiles the local New Jersey players who could find themselves on NFL teams this weekend.
- Ed Valentine at Big Blue View has a good rundown of what the Giants need at the draft besides wide receiver. He lists linebacker, offensive lineman, secondary, and running back in that order in terms of need.
A source close to the Giants reports that the Giants have decided the price for Braylon Edwards is too high and they will not be making a trade for him. The source also said the talks for Anquan Boldin are dead as well. The Giants will look for a receiver in the draft instead.
The Browns, according to sources, want at least a first- and a third-round pick for Edwards and possibly Mathias Kiwanuka The Giants haven’t offered anything more than the second- and fifth-round picks they got in the Jeremy Shockey trade. The Giants seemed unwilling to trade Kiwanuka when that report originally surfaced.
The Arizona Cardinals say they have yet to receive an offer for Anquan Boldin from anyone.
The Giants could be looking at several wide receivers that may be available to them at the draft. Among them are Rutgers’ Kenny Britt, North Carolina’s Hakeem Nicks, Maryland’s Darrius Heyward-Bey, and Ohio State’s Brian Robiskie.
Ralph Vacchiano appeared on SNY’s Daily News Live this afternoon and reminds folks that shortly before the 2004 draft many folks were saying that the deal between the Giants and the Chargers for Eli Manning was dead as well.
Vacchiano sees Hakeem Nicks as a likely pick for the Giants in the draft.
I’m not certain this is etched in stone. We have seen this kind of subterfuge and misinformation strategically placed before. We will know soon enough.
According to a report in the Cleveland Plain-Dealer, the Cleveland Browns are not sold on taking Texas Tech receiver Michael Crabtree with their number 5 pick.
The report states that the Browns were not impressed with Crabtree’s attitude while visiting Cleveland last week, and as we reported yesterday, have scheduled visits with Rutgers’ Kenny Britt, North Carolina’s Hakeem Nicks, and Georgia’s Mohamed Massaquoi, all of whom would appear to be available when the Giants were set to pick in the first round. It should be noted that any of them could also be available for the Browns when their 36th overall pick comes around.
Sources have told Ralph Vacchiano that the type of player available in the draft would effect their decision to keep or trade Braylon Edwards. Vacchiano states on his blog for the New York Daily News:
Meanwhile, amid the reports and speculation that the Edwards-to-the-Giants deal is all-but done, two NFL sources have told me it’s “absolutely absurd” (and yes, both used the same language) to think that a deal involving a player of Edwards’ caliber would hinge on who would be available for the Browns to take in the draft. Neither source had direct knowledge of any Browns-Giants talks, but they insisted that if a deal was done, it would be done. There would be no “ifs” based on how the first four picks of the draft go.
Vacchiano brings up the scenario in the 2004 draft where the Chargers waited until draft day to make their deal with the Giants that brought Eli Manning to New York, even though the parameters of the deal had been already laid out before the draft.
The Browns, according to sources, want at least a first- and a third-round pick for Edwards and possibly Mathias Kiwanuka. The Giants haven’t offered anything more than the second- and fifth-round picks they got in the Jeremy Shockey trade. The Giants seemed unwilling to trade Kiwanuka when that report originally surfaced.
Ralph Vacchiano on his blog for the New York Daily News reports that it looks less and less likely that Anquan Boldin or Chad Johnson will be moved.
Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said yesterday that they’re not trading Ocho Cinco.
“I don’t know why people continue with the speculation of moving Chad,” Lewis said. “Many times we’ve reiterated … I don’t know if we’re keeping count on this … Chad’s not getting moved.”
Cardinals GM Rod Graves said they have received no offers for Boldin since they announced they were willing to listen.
“Quite a few teams have called but we have no offers. I don’t know if that’s any indication of the way the rest of the league sees Anquan, I just think that there is time between now and draft day. Many teams have been finishing up the draft boards.”
Gil Brandt, Vacchiano’s Sirius NFL Radio co-host, said in an online chat today that there is a “100 percent” chance that Braylon Edwards will be dealt by draft day.
Ernie Palladino, on his blog for the Journal News, relays news that the Cleveland Browns have invited Rutgers receiver Kenny Britt in for a visit Friday, just 24 hours before the draft. In addition, Browns officials are heading to Athens, Ga. tomorrow to watch a work out for Mohamed Massaquoi of Georgia.
While the Browns look at possible replacements for Braylon Edwards, Palladino thinks a trade will come down at the draft.
…don’t be surprised if, shortly after the Browns make their pick at No. 5, they announce they’ve traded Edwards to the Giants. The question is, will the Giants have to give up a veteran? And how good of a vet? As always, stay tuned.
Should be a drama filled first round. I can hardly wait.
The NY Post is reporting that Kellen Winslow’s undisclosed injury, that kept him in the hospital for 2 days, is “swollen testes.” Winslow has been reported out for tonight’s game.
At MVN, I represented Giants bloggers, answering three questions about Eli Manning becoming the best Manning quarterback, a Super Bowl repeat, and my prediction for tonight’s Monday Night match up against the Cleveland Browns. You’ll also get a chance to get the Browns perspective from Nick at Browns Bites.
Head over to MVN to read my comments.
Eric Wright, Brandon McDonald, Sean Jones and Brodney Pool you have been fairly warned. Corey Williams, your own teammate, does not like you, in fact he may loathe you. On Tuesday Williams may have inadvertently put a contract out on their heads when he said this:
“Once you go to putting that wood on him, go to really hitting him, not letting him run wild like he wants to do, he’s a totally different running back. He’ll start tiptoeing, shutting it down. (If our defense can) come out and hit (Jacobs) in the mouth from the jump, he tends to slow down and do some tiptoeing.”
Brandon Jacobs is a Ginormous man (A Scientific term referring to a man who is 6’4” 264 pounds) who feasts on corners and safeties for a living, or maybe just for fun, or maybe just because he gets hungry out there. You would think Corey Williams of all people would remember this. After all, It was Williams who witnessed first hand one of Jacobs most famous sit down dinners. On the first play from scrimmage in the NFC championship game, Jacobs broke right, whipped out his beloved Kraft ranch dressing, drizzled some on Charles Woodson, and then devoured him whole. In case you didn’t see it, think of Jon Voigt getting swallowed in Anaconda, and if you didn’t see that, well then, you’re just not trying are you? In the Superbowl, Jacobs thought better of chomping on safety Brandon Merriweather, and instead flicked him five feet in the air with his pinkie finger. On opening night of 08, Jacobs took out a bottle of Franks Red Hot, poured it on Leron Landry, and finished him off with some fava beans and a nice Chianti. Imagine playing football and suddenly you realize a Giant amongst men is pouring hot sauce on you, that has to be disturbing. Perhaps when Williams refers to “tip toeing” or “shutting it down,” he means hitting a guy so bone – crunchingly hard that an entire stadium of 60,000 fans reacts with a synchronized “oooooooooohhhhhh my god, that guy may be dead.”
Defensive tackles are rarely in the flat, one on one with a running back, but you can be sure that between Jones, Wright, Pool and McDonald (maybe Adams as well) one of them will have to answer for Williams’s comments. My advice, go low, or you will end up becoming a permanent part of Cleveland Browns stadium.
We need to come up with a new stat for every time Jacobs makes a defensive player look as though he is a new born, being tossed in the air by daddy. Wait a minute, didn’t Micheal Jackson toss his baby before dangling him out a window…yep that seems equivalent, the “blanket” it is. My guess is Williams’s comments leads to at least 2 “blankets. (I am taking suggestions if anyone has something better)”
The Browns offense has been treated like a green – horn aboard the deck of the Cornelia Marie, why? What happened to the Browns offense of 07′? They were 8th in total yards from scrimmage. Well, here is one answer, the schedule has been rough. They have faced the Cowboys, Steelers, Ravens and Bengals. Alright the latter is not so rough, but Baltimore boast the NFL’s number one rated defense and the Steelers clock in at number 2. This week the Giants bring the third rated defense to town.
Another reason is personnel. Without, newly acquired Donte Stallworth (back this week), teams are doubling Braylon Edwards, who seems to have dropped more passes then he has caught. Just when the Browns get a weapon back, another goes down. Kellen Winslow has been in the hospital for 2 straight nights with an undisclosed illness and is in danger of missing this weeks game.
This week we will get an upclose look at the strange phenomenon that is ex Patriot coaches who appear to be storing fat for the winter. Charlie Weis definitely has the upper hand. He keeps his strange storage unit right above his groin, but slightly below his stomach. No doubt, Weis learnt his fat storing strategey from his mentor Bill Parcells who also rocks the stuffed mango’s in the pants look. Romeo Crennel goes with the more classic all over look. Although he seems to store much of his weight in his face, where it appears as if he has wedged two Mcgriddles in both his cheeks. It is also worth noting that Charlie Manuel seems to be lobbying for a job on the Pats coaching staff. Manuel goes with the most classic look, pregnancy, or keg in the stomach. Alright back to actual football.
Perhaps Williams was just trying to fire up his teammates, but I am guessing they wish he hadn’t, because the guy he did fire up…well we went over this…he’s insanely large. While the Browns have revamped their passing defense, allowing only 187 yards per game, their run defense is still a weakness, despite adding Joba the hut to nose tackle. Joba also goes by Big Baby or Sean Rogers. If Brandon doesn’t run well “that kid Bradshaw,” as Williams refers to him, will. Does anyone realize just how fresh Plaxico Burress should be. Due to a bye week, and his suspension, he has been off for nearly three weeks. I expect him to welcome himself back with a monster day, tip toeing all over Cleavland’s secondary. Giants 24 Browns 17
