Browns 2015 Offseason Thread

[MoFlo]

It's grossi and florio, are we really surprised?

 

[Phills14]

Tony Grossi since 1986...

 

[macbdog]

Of course it's Grossi being Grossi, but you would think by now that fans of the team where the smoke is 9 times out of 10 indicative of the whole dumpster being on fire would know better.

This Northcutt guy is/was a Farmer guy. Him being gone doesn't mean Farmer suddenly has changed his views on Pettine. Northcutt was an errand boy... sent by grocery clerks. Literally, he was the guy relaying the text messages. Which for some reason fans think was a great idea that Pettine must have loved and in no way might piss him off at Farmer. And if Farmers way of 'clearing the air' is to fire the message runner... Holy hell. Pretty low right there.

I remember years ago when the smoldering 'Collins and Savage don't get along' thing suddenly erupted with Collins getting canned. I could easily see the same going on here- fans ignoring the obvious smoke because the messenger is a muckraker. So be it. This team is a dumpster fire until proven otherwise.

 

[Soda]

This team is a dumpster fire until proven otherwise.

You're more right than wrong.. I'd say the 7-9 record isn't indicative of a "dumpster fire", but I get it. What I don't get is, your opinion of the team's history is enough for you to de-certify anything from the Browns' perspective and accept the negative insinuations from the messenger as fact? Seems kinda lazy.

You've got to look at the content here, in my opinion. Could Northcutt have gotten himself canned? Perhaps Pettine pushed the issue, but there's enough there to justify letting him go. He's meddling where he shouldn't be! I don't absolve inner conflict of some responsibility and I certainly don't let Farmer off the hook here. The things that matter, players, seem to fit Pettine's desires (outside Manziel), so maybe Farmer and Pettine have decided that petty shit isn't as important as winning. Some excerpts:

"Northcutt’s decision to stray beyond his normal job description could help explain why so many young players struggled last year"

"There is a story of Northcutt having a confrontation with defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil during that horrible 23-7 loss to the Houston Texans on Nov. 16, in which nondescript Houston running backs Alfred Blue and Jonathan Grimes combined for 49 carries and 210 yards on the ground. O’Neil did not take kindly to Northcutt’s intrusion during the difficult day, sources said."

"There is also a story of Northcutt having a “conversation” with offensive line coach Andy Moeller concerning the non-use of reserve guard Vinston Painter after the injury to center Alex Mack. According to a source, that was outside the boundaries of Northcutt’s job description."

IMO, the coach has the right to fire this guy. The football games and practices are Pettine's area. Clearly, he's saying he wants it to remain that way and, for now, it looks like he's got the clearance.

 

[macbdog]

How do you know there coach fired him? And where is it written that the coach can fire a member of the front office? And again, if Pettine wants him fired, that means he went after one of Farmers guys. A guy whose responsibilities included passing along Farmers illegal texts to Pettine about how Pettine one should do his job. Thus the accusation of a power struggle.

Also this team has been a dumpster fire for 14 years. Half a good season btw- that 7-9 team lost 6 of their last 7, ended the year with rumblings of a power struggle, saw the OC leave in bizarre fasion, and the team looks like their first round from 2014 was another disaster. I don't get why people can't just acknowledge this. Why does the coach need 'clearance' to be the coach? Oh yeah because the GM just got caught sticking his nose in the coach's shit all year. Browns fans are like the sibling rationalizing that their constantly fighting parents aren't headed for a divorce because Mom still makes Dad breakfast.

 

[DJTJ]

I honestly hate throwing the 2014 first round picks in the trash.

Towards the end of the year, Gilbert played better. Not amazing, but he wasn't a frustrating pass interference penalty waiting to happen. He's got his shit together. He's primed for a much better season.

Johnny was given no real chance to succeed. He wasn't ready. He wasn't mature enough. Everyone thought, when he was drafted, he could use a year or two of seasoning. I'll give him that.

 

[Phills14]

I've been very much impressed with Farmer drafting outside of the 1st round of the 2014 draft. I'm still holding out hope for Gilbert as I think he has the raw talent to be extremely good, however; he needs to get his head on straight.

The Manziel thing was just inexcusable tho.

 

[Soda]

The Browns are maximizing the time they can have with rookies for this year's camp.

Today, the Browns' rookie class will report to Berea, one week before veterans are required to report. While teams can have rookies report to camp at any time within 7 days prior to the veteran report date, many have their rooks come a few days prior. Not the Browns, or the Ravens, this year..

I'm not surprised to see Pettine require rookies to get in the mix early; the tumultuous beginnings for Manziel, Gilbert and West served as a necessary learning experience for the first-year coach. What Pettine's focus will be is having these rookies ready enough to not bog down the camp with poor understanding of plays, formations and jobs. This time might also be Pettine's chance to instill his vision of a culture upon these players who will call Cleveland home for at least the next four seasons. If all goes according to plan, this class of rookies will be better equipped to not only help set the tone in camp, but help our coach usher in a new standard around the facility.

For Browns fans coming off of a first-round duo of Johnny Manziel and Justin Gilbert in 2014, preparedness of the 2015 rookies will be a welcomed and desired change of pace.

 

[Soda]

What a joke this shit is...

 

[SixPACK]

Joe Haden is the fuckin' man...

One word, three syllables, eight letters, so much baggage.

Once meant as a way to classify people who needed help, the R-word became something else entirely, something mean -- like a schoolyard bully picking on outcasts and not letting them up. Then it became a code word to make fun of others while making ourselves feel superior. Why, the favorite athlete of millions used it not just once, but twice, to put down reporters he felt were asking dumb questions.

"Open up your vocabulary, people," says Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden. "The R-word is hurtful, hateful and ignorant. Like the N-word, it should not be part of our language."

Haden is the first NFL player to be named a Special Olympics Global Ambassador, and the 26-year-old worked Radio Row at the Super Bowl this year to help the movement called Spread The Word To End The Word. Created in February 2009 in conjunction with the World Winter Games, Spread The Word can now count more than 500,000 online pledges to end the use of the slur and its variants. Millions more have signed the pledge on banners and petitions around the world.

Haden's involvement in the Special Olympics began because of his relationship with his brother Jacob, who is five years younger and has a cognitive disorder that limits his language and speech. "He's just a really cool kid, a blessing to me and my family," says Haden. "I play for him, and I would do anything for him."


Then there's the matter of LeBron James' unfortunate choice of language. Twice, in 2011 and 2014, he deployed the word to dismiss questions he thought were stupid. But it's a measure of progress that the reactions were much stronger the second time. Back in 2011, an article about his slip on CBSSports.com was greeted with such comments as, "The heck with political correctness," "Get over it" and "This article and this issue is 'retarded.'" When he threw the word out there again in January 2014, though, the reaction was so vociferous that he felt the need to issue this apology: "I used the word 'retarded' before. Obviously, it had nothing to do with kids that are underprivileged. There's no knock on them. It's a word that's been around for a long time where I grew [up]. It's a bad habit, so I try to break it. If I use it again, I'm going to try to do my best not to. I mean no disrespect."

Though Haden and James both play in Cleveland, Haden says he hasn't talked to James about his use of the word. "I think he's learned that lesson," says Haden. "Besides, there are other lessons to learn. I would encourage him, or anyone, to go to a Special Olympics event. That's where you'll see the pure joy of competition, a joy we should all remember, no matter how big we get."

There is more to the article, only put stuff relevant to Haden.

 

[Soda]

Remember when Joe Haden was dubbed "too slow" by Mike Lombardi?

According to coaches around the league, Browns first-round pick Joe Haden has not been very impressive in camps and might not have enough speed to play corner. Maybe all that talk about some in the organization wanted to take Kyle Wilson over Haden was true.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000...elf-to-blame-for-his-struggles-finding-a-team

Passing on Haden for Kyle Wilson would have been a fireable offense. Glad Lombardi is gone; now we just have to endure his feeding of crap like this to his pals.

 

[Soda]

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[SixPACK]

 

[elcheato]

Well, they walked right into that

 

[Binkster]

I've been very much impressed with Farmer drafting outside of the 1st round of the 2014 draft. I'm still holding out hope for Gilbert as I think he has the raw talent to be extremely good, however; he needs to get his head on straight.

The Manziel thing was just inexcusable tho.

This.

The fire Farmer camp is extremely quick to point to the Manziel/Gilbert draft selections as well as textgate (yawn).

They just so happen to gloss over:

• 2nd round in 2014 - Bitonio: a bonafide future Pro Bowler with fantastic versatility
• 3rd round in 2014 - Christan Kirksey: Started 8/16 games, played in all 16. Accumulated 81 tackles as a rookie.

Undrafted Acquisitions:

• K'Waun Williams - 8 PDs in 13 games as a rookie. A legitimate nickel corner who has risen quickly.
• Isaiah Crowell - 4.1 ypc, 8 TDs in his rookie season splitting snaps. Need I say more?

Signed: Whitner, Dansby, Hawkins (arguably a top 3 slot receiver), Tramon Williams, Starks, Hartline

I am loving the 2015 draft selections. Extremely high ceiling for those guys.

Also, the book is not closed on guys like Gilbert or Desir.

He's built a damn fine roster around the QB and receiving corps. Plug in at those positions and we will be a well oiled machine (I realize QB is easier said than done).