So the Browns have signed QB Jake Delhomme to a two-year deal, a contract signed before Delhomme could even meet with the New Orleans Saints. The depth chart now contains Delhomme, Seneca Wallace, and, for the time being, Brady Quinn. The Browns were shopping Quinn even before the signing of Delhomme, so one has to believe that will intensify now.

If you somehow found a way to be excited about this signing, let me know.

It seems that every passing day leading up to the Draft is bringing news to Cleveland Browns fans.  The release of veteran tight-end Steve Heiden and the signing of TE Watson from the New England Patriots are just two of the latest moves that the new front office in Brownstown has made.

My son was going through his videos this morning and pulled out an old one that I had picked up at a garage sale a few years back but never actually watched, until a few hours ago.  NFL Films’ “The Browns are Back” (1999) is worth a watch for the loyal Browns fan.

The video has a nice introduction from Clevelander Drew Carey and begins with a look back at the rich history of the organization.  From the years of Paul Brown and Hall of Fame quarterback, Otto Graham (photo above), to the Jim Brown era, to the Kardiac Kids, to the Bernie Kosar years, the program provides a nostalgic overview of a very proud franchise.

The more interesting part of the video, however, covers the dynamics involved with the transition from Art Modell’s decision to head to Baltimore to the return of the Browns to the NFL in 1999.  There are so many ironies that many of us likely forgot and which make the present situation in Brownstown very interesting.  For example, remember that Mike Holmgren was a leading candidate for the head coaching position in Cleveland in 1999.  Remember that Donovan McNabb was a leading candidate for the number one Draft pick of the Browns in 1999. 

The program provides a unique insight into the Draft selection process.  Cameras follow Dwight Clark and Chris Palmer as they visit and work out with potential number one Draft picks, including QBs Tim Couch and McNabb and running back Ricky Williams.  Because the video was produced in 1999, one watching it now gets the benefit of knowing what has transpired in Cleveland over the last decade.  Everyone seems so positive in the video – Palmer, Clark, Carmen Policy, Art Lerner, Bernie Kosar, and so on.  Getting crushed by the Steelers in our first home game in our brand new Stadium burst the bubble a little, but being back in the League seemed to overshadow everything else. 

One thing that really leaves one scratching his head is the Draft selection of Tim Couch.  Palmer and Clark were clearly not impressed in the video after their first personal workout with Couch.  They expressed serious concerns about his grip and his arm strength.  There was a second workout just prior to the Draft which seems to have caused the front office to take a 180 degree turn.

A very interesting video.  I recommend it. I’m glad that my son dusted it off this morning.  It gets you pumped for the Draft and training camp.  It makes you wonder whether 1999 has something in common with 2010 in the sense that there seems to be more optimism this off-season with the new faces in town.  Let us hope that the next ten years are not like the last decade.

Go Browns!

-Clayton

ESPN’s Adam Schefter has reported that the Browns are trying to shop quarterback Brady Quinn. I’d say that’s a little hard to do that when no one let the guy play.  Schefter says that the team has already spoken to a number of other teams in the league and are just looking for the right deal. That deal better include either a quarterback or some decent draft picks because the quarterback position is about to look pretty thin. I still believe Quinn should be given an actual chance with this team, but that seems doubtful, as it has become obvious that Mike Holmgren wants to bring in his own personnel, evidenced by the acquisition of Seneca Wallace.

In other news, want to know who the Browns are bringing in for a visit on Thursday? The 35-year-old Jake Delhomme! The same Jake Delhomme who has been regressing for the past few seasons and threw a career-high 18 interceptions last season. I don’t care if he was a fan favorite in Carolina, he was released for a reason. The Browns could not be serious going into next season with Seneca Wallace and Jake Delhomme…could they?

By the way, I love that the Plain Dealer article tries to make Delhomme an attractive free agent by calling him a “Pro Bowl quarterback,” an honor he earned for the 2005 season. That was only five years ago!

The Browns have released quarterback Derek Anderson, while making a trade with the Seattle Seahawks for QB Seneca Wallace for a late-round, or possibly conditional, draft pick.  Anderson was due a $2 million roster bonus on March 19th and was going to earn $7.45 million as his base salary in 2010.  It was essentially a foregone conclusion that he would be released, even if it still seems a little late.

What could not have been expected was Anderson’s reaction to Browns fans after learning of his release from the team.  Saying the fans are “ruthless” and “don’t deserve a winner” was harsh, but he goes even further to infuriate fans by saying, “I hope and pray I’m playing when my team comes to town and [we] roll them.”  Strong words from a mediocre quarterback, though he did reference the time the crowd cheered for him being injured back in 2008.

While I do agree that it was wrong of the fans to cheer Anderson’s injury, this wasn’t the classiest thing he could do, and he has most certainly enraged this “ruthless” fan base. Browns fans, in general, are simply a passionate bunch and to throw them all under the bus – those same fans that helped him earn his millions – was wrong.  Doesn’t he realize that this is a perpetually-down-on-its-luck city just hoping for something, anything, good to happen?  He probably should have considered that the cheering was simply all the pent-up frustration being let loose in a season that had such high expectations and not something personal, though he still has a point. Oh, and the fact that Anderson was playing like the worst quarterback in the league at the time of his injury did not help much, either.  The good thing to come out of this is that it is much easier to say good riddance to a guy who had one good season with the Browns.  Peyton Manning, he is not. He might think he got a raw deal here in Cleveland, but after 2007, he was nothing special; in fact, he was, at times, the lowest-rated quarterback in the league and seemingly threw as many interceptions as completed passes.

Wallace, the newcomer to the Browns, believes that he will be fighting for a starting spot with Brady Quinn, so if you thought quarterback competitions were over now that Derek Anderson is gone, think again! Hopefully, this will never happen and the Browns will do one of two things: 1) trade for an established quarterback who will be the clear-cut starter or 2) make the announcement quickly in training camp as to who will be the team’s starter.  It would be wise to do this, as another competition would not sit well with just about anyone, especially since Wallace doesn’t exactly stir up the hopes of Browns fans.

We hope you find a new team, Derek, but something tells me you won’t be on the field when that team comes to play in Cleveland.

The Browns have announced the signings of two new players – linebacker Scott Fujita and right tackle Tony Pashos. The terms of Fujita’s deal were not disclosed, but it was a multi-year contract for the 30-year-old Super Bowl champion. Pashos was signed to a three-year, $10.3 million deal.

Fujita, most likely playing inside linebacker in the Browns’ 3-4 defensive scheme, will probably be much more of a leader and presence in the locker room than a huge difference maker on the field, though he is an upgrade at the position and can still make plenty of plays. He will be invaluable to a young defense that needs a leader, much like Joe Jurevicius was to the receiving corps when he was around.

Pashos will be asked to attempt to shore up the right side of the offensive line, which was mostly a mess last season. He did miss 11 games last season with the San Francisco 49ers, 10 of which were because of a broken left shoulder blade.

It’s nice to see the front office active over the weekend, convincing a player like Fujita to come help turn this team around (though they probably just handed him many cloth sacks with dollar signs on them, which helped his decision). His presence will probably be felt in ways other than just on the field, and that’s important for a team looking for an identity. And Pashos, despite his injuries, can certainly help fix the offensive line. Keep in mind that before his injury last season, Pashos missed only one game in his previous three seasons.