No Logo Needed

A Quick Word On Guns

By Aaron Ziraks
NoLogoNeeded.com Staff Writer
Twitter: @Z_NoLogoNeeded

It was reported recently that Shaun Rogers is not the only Brown that is having issues with guns in an airport. Turns out Robaire Smith did the exact same thing 5 months prior to Rogers being flagged down. I guess he flew under the radar because he is less of a star, but flying under the radar doesn't make it any less idiotic.

Speaking of idiotic, doesn't this make Rogers seem like he may not be the sharpest tool in the shed. For God's sake, one of your teammates got pinched for the same exact thing 5 months before you thought it would be a good idea to try the same thing. But I digress....

My point of this is that I cannot for the life of me understand the need to have a gun with you at all times, especially when your traveling. I don't know what these guys do, but when I travel I only take essential items. Toiletries, clothes, wallet, Ipod and maybe some reading material are really all I bring when taking a trip. Now I don't want to make this a right to bear arms issue, but you aren't carrying a hand gun for hunting and I doubt you are in the local militia. So really the only thing the gun can be for is to get in trouble or protection. I don't think Smith or Rogers were going to put a hit on someone, so I will make the assumption they carry a gun for protection. I realize that these guys have a ton of money and could be targets of being robbed, but if you have all of that money, why not hire a professional to protect you. It is a long the same lines of hiring a driver so you don't hit and kill someone walking a cross the road. If you have the money, put it to good and smart use.

While I understand protecting yourself and your possessions, as an athlete you also have to protect your image. I'm guessing plenty of NFL players have tons of toys and could be targets for criminal activities. I highly doubt guys like Peyton Manning, Adrian Peterson, or Andre Johnson would decide that carrying a gun is a more effective way at protecting themselves than hiring a trained professional if they felt threatened. 

This isn't a gun control issue, it is a stupidity issue and guys like Rogers and Smith need to wise up.  

Cavs' latest playoff struggles are nothing; Cleveland fans have been through worse

By Don Delco
NoLogoNeeded.com Staff Writer
Twitter: @DonNoLogoNeeded

Please, national media, when it comes to analyzing the woes of the Cleveland sports fan, leave it to the Cleveland sports fan.

After the Cavs were destroyed at home by the Boston Celtics in the fifth and pivotal game of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on Tuesday, national writers took to their laptops to wax poetic on what appears to be the latest Cleveland sports debacle.

Michael Rosenberg of SI.com penned a column entitled, "Is LeBron done with Cleveland?"

Whether that was LeBron James' last game in a Cavs uniform in Cleveland appears to be the topic du jour for the national media. To address that topic, I'll leave that for our friends at WaitingForNextYear, Stepien Rules, The Cleveland Fan, Cavs Kingdom and Cleveland Frowns.

Back to Rosenberg's column where he wrote the following paragraph:

"If James leaves Cleveland -- for New York or anywhere else -- it will be an even darker moment than when the Browns left. At least then, Cleveland got another version of the Browns. How the heck are they going to get another version of LeBron James?"

Sorry, Michael, but you cannot be further from the truth.

Returner debate: Cribbs vs. Metcalf

By Don Delco
NoLogoNeeded.com Staff Writer
Twitter: @DonNoLogoNeeded

With free agency and draft is now behind us and the Browns 2010 roster seemingly set, I've seen the following topic pop up on various sports outlets:

What Browns jersey do you buy?

My unscientific collection of the data revels Josh Cribbs typically leads those polls.

Cribbs, who received a new three-year contract last March, returned three kicks for touchdowns last season bringing his career total to an NFL-record eight.

In addition, Cribbs came to the Browns as an undrafted free agent out of Kent State. A local product comes to Cleveland (thanks to Phil Savage) and does good. Off the field, Cribbs handles himself with class and grace making it that much easier to like the guy.

But is he the best kick returner in Browns history?

Why is football king in Cleveland?

By Aaron Ziraks
NoLogoNeeded.com Staff Writer
Twitter: @Z_NoLogoNeeded

It is no secret the major sports teams in Cleveland are not among the most successful in their respective leagues especially when it come to championships. The Browns last title was in 1964. The Indians last hoisted a championship trophy in 1948. As for the Cavs, they have yet to win one. 

I don't know the ages of our readers, but I can guess a majority of us have never seen a championship team in our lifetime. As for me, I was born in 1980. The first teams I remember start with the Browns in 1986. I had a Bernie No. 19 shirt, a Felix Wright towel and a Hanford Dixon football card tacked on my bedroom wall. Most games I made it to halftime before I went outside and played football with my friends.  I didn't know the Xs and Os of what was going on, but I knew the Browns were my team and I wore the orange and brown sweat pants to prove it.

Random Thoughts: Post Draft Edition

By Brandon Rastok
NoLogoNeeded.com Staff Writer

So the 2010 NFL Draft has come and gone leaving the Browns with eight new roster additions. 

Here are my latest ramblings.

•Let me start by saying, I completely understand the Browns selection of Joe Haden in the first round.  All you have to do is turn on the NFL Network to see the continuous running commercial which shows Adrian Peterson slicing up the Browns defense. On that play Brandon McDonald misses him twice. You realize the the Browns need cornerbacks.  Throw in the Ravens added Anquan Boldin, the Bengals added Antonio Bryant and the Steelers are becoming more of a spread offense and it’s no question The Browns needed cornerbacks.  Haden was a solid selection. He is a hard worker, a solid person, and a talented athlete.  I also love that he is a willing tackle against the run.  I've come to terms with this selection more and more every day. 

•Although I have to come to terms with the Browns' first-round selection there were a couple players I would have rather seen the Browns select.  Especially with the depth at the cornerback position, I would have rather had the Browns trade down and still get a quality cornerback.  Haden as a quality cornerback, just not in the Champ Bailey/Darrelle Revis mold.  However, I am excited the Browns have a trio of corners in Haden, Sheldon Brown and Eric Wright.

Is new draft format fan friendly?

By Don Delco
NoLogoNeeded.com Staff Writer
Twitter: @DonNoLogoNeeded

Three agonizingly long days remain until … finally … the 2010 NFL Draft gets underway. Of course, the NFL decided to extend this draft three agonizingly long days to maximize its exposure.

Regardless of whether the new format may or may not work, the fact that we will finally get some idea on what the Browns are thinking will be plenty satisfying. Will they go defense first round? Will they move up or move down? Is a second-round quarterback a possibility on Friday? Which projected first-round players may be there for the taking early in round two?

The past few months of speculation will be behind us. For the last week, I have been away from the daily, even hourly, updates of the news of the NFL. Spending a week down in Mexico with the wife, I only checked NFL news once a day. Before then, my days were spent searching the latest news nuggets regarding the Browns and the NFL draft.

Yet as the first of April arrived that searching, reading and digesting those news nuggets became tiresome.

Sadly, the NFL deemed its two-day format also tiresome. The NFL Draft weekend that we've all come to know and love is no more. Ah, change. Some embrace it. Others avoid it at all cost. In previous years, most were able to spend NFL Draft Saturday gathered with friends and family, the grill was fired up, the beverages were flowing and the topic in the spring air was football. It didn't get much better.

Not this year.

Round one: Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Eastern
Rounds two and three: Friday at 6 p.m.
Rounds four through seven: Saturday at 10 a.m.

Anticipation over the top picks — the Browns included among the lot — will be high and provide must see TV on Thursday night.

By splitting up the rounds, the belief is the momentum of that first round can be carried into the next day (a Friday evening). Finally, rounds four through seven, which were traditionally on Sunday, are moved to Saturday.

I'm withholding judgment the new three-day format until after this weekend. Who knows, it might work. I do know the plans on how we here at No Logo Needed usually watch the draft have changed thanks to the new format.

I'm curious as to your traditional NFL Draft plans. What has the new format done to your draft weekend? Do you like the new format? Do you wish it stayed the same? Are you still planning a big get together for Saturday? Has your weekend now been ruined and instead you're planning to go to Home Depot and maybe Bed, Bath and Beyond, if you have time?

Random Thoughts: 6 Days To Go

 

By Brandon Rastok
NoLogoNeeded.com Staff Writer

 

With all the draft hype, rumor mongering, and excitement about to come to an end, here is an attempt to wade through the smoke and put together some collective thoughts.

 

Are the Browns really considering trading up to get Sam Bradford?  I tend to believe that the Browns would love to get a player of Bradford’s caliber under center.  Who wouldn’t want a Matt Ryan type player under center?  I think they are wise to investigate the option, but that the price will be way too prohibitive to pull the trigger.  I believe they knew this before even asking the question, but they had to ask anyways.  I also believe the Browns are using the speculation of them trading up to hide their true intentions at #7.  Stating they are interested in moving up also allows other teams, who want to move up or down, to know that the Browns are willing to make a deal.

C.J. Spiller has been quietly mentioned as a candidate for the Browns selection at #7.  While I think Spiller is an explosive playmaker, I can’t see this happening.  Spiller is much closer to Reggie Bush than Chris Johnson.  He is not going to be a full time, every down running back.  He will get probably 10-15 touches a game, while the team hopes he can break one of those touches for a long touchdown.  He is a luxury type of pick, a.k.a. a player nice to have, but not a necessity.  I have a hard time believing the Saints again would be willing to spend the #2 overall pick and spend that kind of money on Bush.  Spiller more so fits the Seahawks who can afford to use one of their two first round picks as a luxury and also have Bush’s college coach as their head coach.

Why Not McClain at #7?

 

By Brandon Rastok
NoLogoNeeded.com Staff Writer

 

This year the Browns seem to be in somewhat of a sticky position in the draft as they pick seventh and there seems to only be 5 elite prospects (Bradford, Suh, McCoy, Okung, and Berry).  This means that the Browns could go in any number of directions in trying to improve the talent level on the team, but there just isn’t a consensus “this has to be the guy” type of player.  Sam Bradford and Eric Berry are as close as you can come, but the odds of either player being available to the Browns aren’t very likely.  So the Browns can reach for a defensive lineman like Jared Odrick or Dan Williams, take a cornerback in a deep draft who has fallen out of favor with a lot of draft "experts" in Joe Haden, or gamble on a quarterback who won’t see the field this year in Jimmy Clausen. 

 

Trading back may be Browns best option

By Aaron Ziraks
NoLogoNeeded.com Staff Writer
Twitter - @Z_NoLogoNeeded

Mock drafts have been shuffled around with the recent moves made around the NFL. Some mocks still have the Browns taking Florida cornerback Joe Haden with the seventh pick while others have the Browns selecting a free safety in Tennessee's Eric Berry or Texas' Earl Thomas. Most can agree the Browns are still going to look to bolster the secondary with the seventh pick.

With the addition of Sheldon Brown, it would be foolish to take Haden. It's not that Haden won't be a good pro, but the draft is deep at the cornerback position and the seventh pick should almost certainly yield a starter. The Browns can address the corner position later in the draft. By doing that, they can still land a quality player willing to make a name for himself on special teams and put in the work to be a starter after Brown has lost a step or two.

So that leaves safety as the logical choice with the seventh pick.

Most everyone would love to have Berry fall to the Browns, but certain things need to fall in place for that to happen.

Rogers arrest raises questions

By Aaron Ziraks
NoLogoNeeded.com Staff Writer
Twitter: @Z_NoLogoNeeded

I wish this was an April Fool's joke. As far as I can tell it is not.

Shaun Rogers was arrested earlier today trying to board a plane with a loaded gun. It raises a ton of questions, some of which are not football related.

Rogers "forgot" he was carrying his loaded gun in his bag. If we are to believe this, carrying this gun is commonplace for Rogers. I'm guessing Rogers isn't living off of E. 101st St., so the need for gun is a little perplexing especially when the guy looks like a grizzly bear.

Rogers has already bumped heads with Eric Mangini once. My guess is this kind of thing rubs Mangini the wrong way. The Browns are looking for character guys and Rogers getting popped with a loaded gun at the airport shows a lack of character.

Since little has come out about what exactly the chargers or punishment were I visited the TSA Web site to see what the rules are. Basically, if you bring a gun on a plane, it has to be declared, unloaded, in a locked hard-sided container ... to name a few things. We know Rogers didn't declare it. We know it was loaded. Unless he carries it around all the time in a locked hard-sided container it probably wasn't in one since he "forgot" he had the gun in the first place.

Speaking of "forgetting," I also came across this article from The Colorado Springs Gazette. Here is an interesting snippet about two passengers "forgetting" they had a gun in their luggage.

Because (the) weapon was loaded, he was charged with a felony and booked into the Criminal Justice Center before going back to Washington.

"It can be a felony or a misdemeanor," Colorado Springs police Sgt. Matt Harrell said.

"We look at every situation on its own merit. There is not a cut- and-dried answer. It's the totality of the circumstances."

This much is certain: Anyone caught with a gun is photographed and fingerprinted, and the incident goes on his or her permanent criminal record as an arrest.

There's also a good chance of missing the plane, a fate that also may befall those unlucky enough to be in line behind a gun-toter.

The article is from 2006, but I can only imagine security has gotten tighter since then. In that case Rogers would be charged with a felony. This means two things: One he will be suspended, and two, he lost almost all trade value.

I truly hope Rogers was not in the grand scheme for Mike Holmgren this offseason. When you take a snap shot of the Browns, Rogers is one of the commodities that are expendable and could actually yield a return. If Holmgren was hanging onto Rogers to be his trump card on draft day that just went right out the window.

There is still a chance that this is a giant misunderstanding and Rogers will get the benefit of the doubt, but I think we need to prepare ourselves for an outright release of Shaun Rogers based on character issues and now other teams not even offering a seventh-round pick for him.

Can the Browns wait to find "the guy"?

By Brandon Rastok
NoLogoNeeded.com Staff Writer

The Browns are in need of a quarterback of the future.  Mike Holmgren seems confident in his recently acquired players Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace.  However, I have witnessed too many times in Cleveland, a veteran transition player fall apart while keeping the seat warm for a developing rookie. 

The list includes: Ty Detmer, Kelly Holcomb, Jeff Garcia, Trent Dilfer, and Charlie Frye/Derek Anderson. 

It’s also worth mentioning Delhomme fell apart last season in an offense that included two running backs who each ran for more than 1,100 yards (each averaged more than five yards per carry), two solid offensive tackles, a solid center and an elite wide receiver. 

The hope is that the Browns can get one to two years of serviceable play out of Delhomme.  The question that Don Delco posed yesterday remains, do the Browns go after “their guy” this year or can they wait to bring in the guy until next year?

The Browns brass has said they will take a quarterback this year.  However, that could mean a developmental player who may not develop into anything more than a career back up.  This means they may still need to find “the guy” next year at this time.

One very good argument has been brought up that with 12 draft picks, the Browns need to improve the overall team talent level before bringing in a quarterback.  This argument makes a lot of sense as even the most elite quarterback would struggle on a very poor team. 

However, consider the following.

Is NOT drafting a quarterback an option?

By Don Delco
NoLogoNeeded.com Staff Writer
Twitter: @DonNoLogoNeeded

On Monday, Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford established himself as the top-rated quarterback in April's draft. Bradford's pro day impressed coaches, scouts and front office types in attendance. Browns president Mike Holmgren was there and his beliefs were reaffirmed — Bradford is the real deal.

Holmgren also has said he wants to draft a quarterback. But is that quarterback in this draft?

Bradford won't be available when the Browns pick at No. 7. Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen also will probably be gone by the Browns' turn. In the later rounds, quarterbacks with names like McCoy, Tebow, LeFevour and Skelton, to name a few, come into play.

What if the Browns decide to wait? Do they necessarily have to draft a quarterback this season?

McNabb's suitors may be many

By Aaron Ziraks
NoLogoNeeded.com Staff Writer
Twitter - Z_NoLogoNeeded

As with almost everything ProFootballTalk.com's Mike Florio writes, you have to take it with a grain of salt. His latest article in The Sporting News sheds some speculation in regards to where Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb may be traded. The Cleveland Browns are one of the teams mentioned.

I can see where Florio is going with this. There is the Tom Heckert link and the Browns need a legitimate quarterback. Wouldn't it be just a little ironic if McNabb ended up in Cleveland after the Browns passed on him in the 1999 draft for Tim Couch?

I can also see why it seems like a really good idea to some people. McNabb would give the Browns a legitimate starter for the first time since Bernie Kosar. McNabb certainly has a few more good years remaining. He would give the Browns a good, stable base to build around for a couple of years while they develop a quarterback to take the reigns. It also shows Holmgren is thinking about winning now, which would be nice for a change.

So, I don't know why I am not excited about the possibility to get a top-tier quarterback. Maybe I have waited so long for a winner, I figure what is waiting a couple more years doing it "the right way" going to hurt?

Trading for McNabb seems like a get rich quick scheme and that doesn't sit well with me. It is almost like buying your way out of a problem instead of doing it through hard work. It just seems a little off.

I also question whether McNabb would come here and be motivated. I don't see the Browns winning the Super Bowl in the next couple of years even with McNabb playing at a high level. The Browns need a leader and someone that is hungry. I'm not saying Jake Delhomme is the guy who will lead us to the promise land, but I like him more than McNabb as a cheap stop gap. By having Delhomme, instead of McNabb, is it going to cost us a couple wins a year? Probably. Will it be the difference between making the playoffs and AFC Championship games? I doubt it.

Regardless, these next couple of weeks before the draft are going to be very interesting.

As far as McNabb, do you think he is a good fit, even if it costs us a couple of much needed picks?   

Interpreting Mike Holmgren's M.O. (so far)

By Don Delco
NoLogoNeeded.com Staff Writer
Twitter: @DonNoLogoNeeded

First, Mike Holmgren addressed the Brady Quinn issue.

"[Quinn has] only played 12 games. That's not enough time."

Quinn was traded to Denver on March 15.

Next up, Holmgren addressed Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen.

"I wish I liked him more. "You know how you have a type of player that you like? It's not scientific. People like him a lot. He'll go high," Holmgren said. "But it would be hard for me [to take him]."

Clausen will visit Berea sometime before the NFL Draft April 22-24 in New York.

In the months immediately following the Super Bowl, misdirection is prevalent among NFL owners, general managers and coaches. They say one thing while they mean another.

Has Holmgren become just like the other GMs and coaches?

QB Conundrum: Scouting Colt McCoy

By Aaron Ziraks
NoLogoNeeded.com Staff Writer
Twitter: @Z_NoLogoNeeded

The Browns are currently preparing to enter the "strategy phase" of their offseason. At No Logo Needed, we have to first figure out exactly what that means. My best guess is strategy (or stra-TEE-gery as we like to say) has a lot to do with the 12 picks the Browns have for the April draft and where those picks will be spent.

Until more definitive information is released on which players the Browns brass are bringing in to Berea for face-to-face interviews, NLN has decided to preview the following quarterbacks.

•Colt McCoy, Texas
•Tony Pike, Cincinnati
•Jarrett Brown, West Virginia
•Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan
•John Skelton, Fordham
•Mike Kafka, Northwestern
•Tim Hiller, Western Michigan

We are going to start with McCoy. He has been linked to Cleveland a couple of times in the past few weeks. Once the smoke clears, the Browns may have their quarterback of the future with McCoy. He should be available in the second round.

Below are five reason the Browns should draft McCoy followed by five reasons why they should have some reservations.

Reasons To Draft McCoy
1. Accuracy - In 1,645 attempts, McCoy completed 70.3 percent of his passes at Texas. He also was 1-for-1 in his career as a beach-side quarterback.

2. Leadership - At the NFL Combine McCoy answered a question about leadership. He had one of the best responses I heard that weekend.

"When I got in the huddle as a freshman I was calling plays to five guys that just started on National Championship team who just played with Vince Young," McCoy said. "I gained their respect through playing at a high level and there is no reason I couldn't do that again."

Not to mention, McCoy was a four-year starter at one of the best football programs in the country.

3. Chip on his Shoulder - After suffering an injury in the first series of the National Championship game, McCoy cited everything happens for a reason. That experience has made him more determined than ever to win a title at the next level.

4. High Praise - This week, long time NFL executive and NFL.com personnel guru Gil Brandt said:

"To me, Colt is Drew Brees on the field and Drew Brees off the field. But he's about two and a half inches taller and he's faster"

He also mentioned something specific regarding the Browns:

“The guy who retired from coaching and heads the Cleveland Browns now asked me who I’d take… I told him if you draft Colt McCoy and run the West Coast Offense, you’re going to forget about Joe Montana”.

Strong words from a respected NFL guru.

5. Not Top Ten Money - This is also a concern. Drafting No. 7 is not exactly a privileged anymore because of that financial burden. In addition, the Browns will have to move up to draft either Sam Bradford or Jimmy Clausen. However, McCoy will be there in the second round. The Browns will be able to position themselves to target McCoy thanks to their high number of picks.

Reasons For Reservations
1. Size - McCoy is not as tall as the average NFL quarterback. At the NFL Combine, McCoy measured in at 6-feet, 1 1/4-inches.

2. Gimmick Offense - McCoy didn't play much under center at Texas and that could be a concern for some clubs. It's especially a concern to a team that will employ a lot of play action, which requires quick decisions from under center.

3. Interceptions - He didn't throw a lot of interceptions, but he did throw enough to give pause. Two seasons with double-digit interception totals might be cause for a bit of concern.

4. Nerve Injury - McCoy has been cleared and the injury in the National Championship game was said to not cause any structural damage, but for a guy that has never had a major injury there might be concerns about how he handles it mentally.

5. Can He Be a Cold Weather Guy? - McCoy is a Texas guy with Texas blood. That blood is thin. The weather will affect him if he allows it. If he is the guy Cleveland picks, the brass have to be convinced he is capable of playing in Cleveland Browns Stadium in December.

New Browns player leads NFL in ability to take written tests. Hey, it's something.

By Don Delco
NoLogoNeeded.com Staff Writer
Twitter: @DonNoLogoNeeded

It is funny the information you can come across on your travels throughout the Internet. In the coming days, No Logo Needed will be examining the quarterbacks in this year's draft class. Most agree, as does No Logo Needed, that the Browns will draft a quarterback.

At Monday's press conference, Browns president Mike Holmgren was asked specifically if they would think about trading up to select Oklahoma's Sam Bradford.

"Anything is possible," Holmgren said.

So, we decided to begin our look at the quarterbacks with Bradford. As I began my research, I came across Bradford's Wonderlic score. He scored a 36, which was one of the highest scores from this year's NFL Combine. A perfect score is 50. After that I got slightly derailed once I came across the following piece of info. Maybe it is only interesting to me, but I'm going to share it anyway.

Delhomme, Quinn moves only part of plan

By Aaron Ziraks
NoLogoNeeded.com Staff Writer
Twitter: @Z_NoLogoNeeded
 
To those in the national media, the Browns move to sign Jake Delhomme didn’t seem right. I am severely confused. The last time I checked those same media members were calling the Browns quarterback situation a train wreck. Now the train wreck is no more and those same media types are saying it was an awful move.
 
After Mike Holmgren, Tom Heckert and Eric Mangini spoke at the NFL Combine, the Browns brass came off as not being sold on Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson. Since most believed the choice was Quinn or Anderson, they never stopped to think, “Hey, maybe the choice had been made and Quinn AND Anderson would be shown the door.”
 
When you break it down, how is Delhomme going to hurt the team anymore than Anderson or Quinn? He's not.

Fujita signing helps illustrate Browns' philosophy on linebackers

By Brandon Rastok
NoLogoNeeded.com Staff Writer

Constantly, I am reminding myself about the Browns new offseason philosophy. The Scott Fujita signing is a perfect example of the team upgrading the overall talent level.

Fujita is a solid player and probably an even better person.  He should add depth and possibly be an upgrade over what the Browns currently have.  My only disappointment stems from having to wait for more than a decade for the Browns to bring in a stud linebacker as either a pass rusher or run stuffer.  Fujita is a solid player, but he doesn’t quite fit the mold I was looking for like Rolando McClain would have. 

I have always enjoyed watching attacking defenses and I love the 3-4.  The key to the best 3-4 defenses, though, is the linebacking unit.  Those teams with the best 3-4 defense have invested heavily in their linebacking corps.  The Ravens, at their best, boasted Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, (both first-round picks), Adalius Thomas and Bart Scott.  The Steelers have, for years, seen the likes of Greg Lloyd, Kevin Greene, Hardy Nickerson, Levon Kirkland, Joey Porter, James Harrison and Lamarr Woodley. 

The Browns linebacking corps is taking on a different look.  The Browns linebacking unit resembles the old Patriots units.  Let’s break it down.

Random Thoughts: One week into the Fujita, Pashos and Watson era

By Brandon Rastok
NoLogoNeeded.com Staff Writer

With the Browns signing three new players, trading for one more, and with most of the big-name free agents now off the board, here is a look at where the Browns may go from here.

•While it seemed like the Browns had 19 tight ends on the roster last season, I like the Ben Watson signing.  If last season proved anything, it would be that this team desperately needed a receiving tight end.  Quinn tried many times early in the season to check down to his safety valve, but Robert Royal just couldn’t answer the call.  While Royal is a solid blocker, which should help in the running game, he simply doesn’t help the passing attack.

•Yes, while Evan Moore appears to be an excellent receiving tight end, it is way too early to proclaim him the next Kellen Winslow.  Moore came out of nowhere to have a big first game with six receptions for 80 yards.  However, once opposing defenses knew about him his production fell off.  His encore included games with two catches for 34 yards, one catch for 7 yards, one catch for 19 yards, and two catches for 18 yards with a grand total of zero touchdowns.  Those are all very average stats.  While I hope for the best with Moore and expect improvement as well, the team is better off with a solid veteran at that position.

Seneca Wallace is a Brown. Now what?

By Aaron Ziraks
NoLogoNeeded.com Staff Writer

Welcome to Cleveland, Ohio Seneca Wallace.

Let's look at the facts of the Browns' current quarterback situation:

1. The Browns have been non-committal when asked about the quarterback situation.

2. Team president Mike Holmgren said there would not be a quarterback competition come August.

3. Derek Anderson is due a $2.45 million bonus March 19.

4. Neither Anderson nor Brady Quinn have played well the last two seasons.

5. Seneca Wallace is now a Cleveland Brown.

6. The Browns need a starting quarterback

Taking all this information into account, there are only a couple of directions the Browns could be going. Bringing Wallace into the fold sheds some light, but also it added a couple of questions. It is obvious that the current Quinn/Anderson dichotomy was not going to work. So what are the Browns options?

Random Thoughts: Combine, Free Agency

By Brandon Rastok
NoLogoNeeded.com Staff Writer

Below are my random thoughts regarding the 2010 NFL Combine and the state of the Browns as free agency begins today.

•If it’s true that the Arizona Cardinals only want a third-round pick for Anquan Boldin, where do I sign up?  Last year at this time I asked the Browns to deal a Braylon Edwards package to the Cardinals for Boldin.  Now the Browns might just need to send the third-round pick they received for Edwards to Arizona for Boldin.  Yes, Boldin wants a large stack of money in a new deal, but what he would bring to the table would be worth it.  In an uncapped season, the Browns should not be worried about front loading a deal this year for an offensive playmaker.  Boldin is an elite receiver that could add some toughness and experience to a young receiving corps that lacks both.  It also might give whoever the quarterback is a legitimate target.

Hypothetical Trade Machine: Greg Olsen

By Brandon Rastok
NoLogoNeeded.com Staff Writer

Chicago Bears new offensive coordinator Mike Martz recently said that tight ends were meant for blocking, as he spoke of having an interest in acquiring Brandon Manumaleuna.  Manumaleuna, at 6-foot-2, 295 pounds, is, of course, a blocking tight end.  It then comes as no surprise that the Bears’ current tight end, Greg Olsen, has asked his agent to request that the Bears trade him.  Olsen, 24, is a former first-round pick with three years in the league. Last season, he caught 60 passes for 612 yards and eight touchdowns.  As  Pro Football Talk reports, Olsen is unhappy with Martz and wants a trade. The Browns should call to find out the cost to acquire Olsen.

Olsen is by no means a game changer or difference maker in the form of a breakaway receiver.  However, ask Peyton Manning the importance of having Dallas Clark in his offense and you will understand why the Colts gave Clark such a big payday a few years ago.  Having a tight end like Olsen in Cleveland would provide the offense with a much needed boost. 

Drawing up Browns' offseason blueprint

By Aaron Ziraks
NoLogoNeeded.com Staff Writer
Twitter: @Z_NoLogoNeeded

Many NFL insiders say free agency is going to be quick and easy. For the Browns, news broke Wednesday night they may be very active, not so much in the free agent market, but in the trade market. Obviously, the Browns are open to doing anything that can improve the team. The more I break down possible scenarios, the more excited I get about the direction this offseason might go.

Let's first start with free agency. There is a good chance the Browns go after Thomas Jones (RB) and Dunta Robinson (CB), who are both unrestricted free agents. With more than 200 restricted free agents being tendered for high draft picks, chances are many of the RFA's simply stay with their current teams.

So how do teams, like the Browns, go about obtaining their serious needs?

Browns brass must succeed in new roles

By Don Delco
NoLogoNeeded.com Staff Writer

During the 2010 NFL Combine, Cleveland Browns spokesman Neal Gulkis accompanied the team's president, general manager and head coach into the press room at Lucas Oil Stadium for interviews. It didn't create the buzz like the announcement of Tim Tebow or Rex Ryan, but the Browns brass' attracted a crowd.

It was especially impressive when you consider the other end of the spectrum: Jacksonville Jaguars general manager, Gene Smith, wasn't even announced to the press room and could be seen talking to a couple of local reporters in the corner of the room.

In the span of one year, the Browns have gone from one to three figure heads at the top of its organization. Of course, the buck stops with president Mike Holmgren.

"Coach Holmgren is going to be the voice of the team," Heckert said. "He leaves all the personnel stuff up to me. That's something I wanted to do."

Heckert's title for President Holmgren prompted a follow up from a Philadelphia-area reporter.

"Coach Holmgren, is there something we should know?"

"No," Heckert said, laughing. "I still call him 'coach.'"

At the bottom of that three-man totem poll is coach Eric Mangini.

"He's been great," said Heckert, referring to Mangini accepting his new role. "Mike said it right from the beginning. It's going to be an organizational decision right from the beginning in what we do. Eric's involved in it. I'm involved in it. Mike's involved in it. I don't know why he wouldn't be happy in that situation?"

Coaches always preach about players needing to know their roles. Will the Browns' brass follow that same philosophy?

Don’t buy into media's draft hype

By Brandon Rastok
NoLogoNeeded.com Staff Writer
 
After watching the 2009 season, it became painfully obvious the Browns need a talented cornerback to start opposite Eric Wright.  The weaknesses in the secondary stuck out after watching Brandon McDonald’s lack of effort in tackling and Hank Poteat’s inability to cover anyone.
 
It’s no wonder when the national pundits rolled out their mock drafts, they had the Browns taking the best available cornerback — Florida’s Joe Haden.  Then, like it always happens, people are unable to express their own opinions, so 90 percent of mock drafts that have followed have the Browns taking Joe Haden.  Fans then begin to buy into this selection and automatically think he is the player the team desperately needs.  Is Haden truly the best option for the Browns to improve themselves?