BROWNS BYTES
With a pair of second-round picks—including one of general manger Phil
Savage's own—waiting in the wings, hindsight says it was only a matter of
when, not if, safety Chris Crocker was moved.
Contrary to popular belief, though, the Browns were not shopping Crocker.
According to a team source, it was the Falcons calling the Browns regarding
the availability of Crocker, not vice versa. While the three-year veteran was
not technically on the market, the Browns were more than willing to listen to
what Atlanta had to offer.
With the presence of Brodney Pool and Sean Jones on the roster,
Crocker became expendable and Savage was able to fleece a high second-day pick
out of his counterpart in Atlanta.
And why do we say fleece? The Falcons were initially looking to give up a
fifth- or sixth-rounder and Savage was able to talk the club into a
fourth-rounder for a player who has “nice, solid journeyman” written all over
him.
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According to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer,
the
Browns have signed free-agent tight end Darnell Dinkins to a
three-year contract. The deal is said to be worth $2.1 million and includes a
$200,000 signing bonus.
(Editor's Note: This helps to confirm a
report posted on the
OBR last Friday)
The Browns had been in the market for another TE after Aaron Shea, who
signed with the Chargers on Friday, made it clear to the club that he would not
return. Shea was looking for an expanded role, which would not have happened in
Cleveland with the return of Kellen Winslow.
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The Plain Dealer speculates that while a
trade up in the draft to grab a player such as A.J. Hawk is highly
unlikely, a case can be made for four other defensive players who could be
sitting there and be the Browns' pick at #12.
All signs, the paper says, point to the Browns going defense with their
first-round pick.
In a related story, all signs point to the sun rising in the east tomorrow
and the day after.
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Steve Doerschuk of the Canton Repository, on the other
hand, opines that the Browns shouldn't completely shut the door on
grabbing an offensive player with their first pick, especially at the
running back position.
While stating that Reuben Droughns is “functional-plus”, the paper
argues that “A-minus” prospects such as LenDale White and DeAngelo Williams should not be overlooked.
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The four highest-rated free agents left on the market--linebackers Julian Peterson and LaVar Arrington, and defensive backs Charles Woodson and
Ty Law—are all represented by the Poston brothers.
What are the odds?
Peterson and Arrington, of course, have been linked to the Browns throughout
the week-old free-agent signing season.
AFC NORTH NOTES
One of the early surprises of this free-agent signing period is the Ravens'
failure to address the quarterback position. According to the Baltimore
Sun, the inactivity may be related to Steve McNair.
The Titans QB has long been rumored to be a potential cap casualty at some
point after the April draft. The Ravens' thinking, the paper says, may be to
wait and see exactly what the Titans do with McNair.
That strategy
could come back and bite Baltimore, however, as the interest in McNair could
cause them to lose out on Kerry Collins (did I just type that?) or
another veteran QB of interest.
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Despite the fact that they lost three of their own free agents--quarterback
Jon Kitna, tight end Matt Schobel and wide receiver Kevin Walter—while getting only safety Dexter Jackson, head coach Marvin Lewis is happy with how the Bengals off-season has unfolded.
“I think
we did more than I anticipated doing,” Lewis said.
“With as many players as we have under contract, I didn't think we'd do a
lot. We're sitting here with a roster of 60 guys.”
The coach was also upbeat about the progress QB Carson Palmer has made
in rehabbing his injured knee, but cautioned reporters “please don't run too
hard with that one”.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I think it's important, but if we think some player from Wisconsin can
help us, we'd be interested in him, too. I think it's important for us to have
an identity, and guys from here can help bring that back. But if we don't go out
there and win, it's not going to matter."
---Phil Savage, on the signing of former Cleveland-area high schoolers