Thanks to Steve, we have learned of ESPN’s 2009 Ultimate Team Standings.  After you choke on your morning biscuit seeing the Browns ranked 114th of 122 professional sports teams and 4th from the bottom among NFL teams, you might be wondering how ESPN defines “affordability”.  I sure am.

http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/postedsports/archive/2008/12/06/nfl-toronto-s-bills-ticket-prices-more-expensive-than-any-other-nfl-city.aspx

The above link is just one of many current sources which establish that the Browns have the second lowest average ticket price in the entire NFL - only the Bills are cheaper.  Having been to both stadiums several times (my delusional friend is a Bills season ticket holder and insists on dragging me along to repay me for the Browns games that I take him to only when nobody else wants to go), I can say unequivocally that the prices of other items at Orchard Park (like concessions and merchandise) are similar to Cleveland Browns Stadium.  Thus, common sense would dictate that the Browns would rank close behind the Bills in terms of affordability.

Well…so much for common sense.  The Bills ranked 91st overall and 7th in terms of affordability.  The Browns ranked 95th in affordability.  I have reviewed the methodology and the description of each category used by ESPN, and I am left puzzled at how that can be.  It makes me question the legitimacy of the standings generally. 

In terms of Stallworth, I hear that he also had a Playboy in the back seat of his Bentley.  Maybe Goodell will tack on another year or so for that transgression.  Enough said.

Go Browns! 

-Clayton

Like I said before, I don’t expect to see Stallworth in a Browns uniform ever again.  Not that my heart is breaking or anything, but let’s talk about something else, shall we?  Like the exciting fact that the Browns now rank 114 (down from 64 in 2008) out of 122 teams in the 2009 Ultimate Standings, courtesy of ESPN the Magazine.  You can check out the capsule for the Browns here, which just so happens to include some writing from Dawg Pound Daily.

Is it September yet?

Jurevicius was nothing but a class act while with the Browns, and was even willing to take a pay cut in order to stay on the team this year.  Leave it up to the Browns to force a local product to sue his hometown team for negligence.  I’m not upset with Jurevicius in any way, as the problem with staph infections has been a major problem for the Browns in recent years, most notably the two that TE Kellen Winslow sustained.  The best thing this case will do is try and put an end to this recent trend, as staph infections are really no laughing matter.  For some guys, such as LeCharles Bentley, it became a matter of life and death back in 2006.

Additionally, I cannot see how anyone would be upset at Jurevicius for filing the suit, as the infection could very well have cost him his football career.  There’s a good chance he will not play again, which makes for a sadder end to an already sad story for one of the best guys to put on a Cleveland Browns uniform in a long time.

I never would have guessed that the Browns’ training facility in Berea was something out of a horror movie.  The lack of sterilized equipment makes me wonder if the physicians involved with the team use rusted medical tools from the 1800s “for the heck of it.”

Sorry, Joe.  It’s a shame it had to end like this.

At the risk of getting lynched, I want to point out that the Commissioner’s decision to suspend Cleveland Browns receiver Donte Stallworth for an indefinite period (at least one year) as a result of his DUI manslaughter conviction is inconsistent with prior rulings by Goodell.  It is obviously an attempt to compensate for what he believes (along with many others) was too light of a sentence imposed in Criminal Court (which of course is an improper consideration to begin with).

Take Cincinnati Bengal Odell Thurman as just one example.  In 2006, Odell was suspended for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.  The penalty was four games.  Fair enough.  Strike one.  While the subject of that suspension, Odell was charged with DUI.  Unlike Stallworth, Thurman did not plead guilty to the charge;  he pleaded no contest (there is a material difference in terms of acceptance of responsibility).  Strike two.  In June 2007, Thurman was involved in a skirmish in Georgia which resulted in him being wanted and charged by the police for assault.  The charge was dropped as a civil settlement was reached, however, there was never any doubt that Odell had engaged in conduct that violated the NFL’s policy.  Strike three.  In July 2008, Thurman was indicted for breaking a man’s jaw in Ohio.  The matter was later dismissed because of insufficient evidence.  So we will not call that strike four, however, one has to wonder just how unlucky one person can be.

So, after all of the above, what did the Commish do at the beginning of 2008?  Goodell cleared Odell for reinstatement.  Goodell officially reinstated Thurman in April 2008, although Odell was waived by the Bengals the next month.  In June 2008, Thurman failed another drug test.  Only then did Goodell suspend him “indefinitely”.  As this is being written, Odell can apply for reinstatement again.

So Roger Goodell has imposed upon Donte Stallworth the same penalty (indefinite suspension) that he imposed upon Thurman.  Stallworth hit and killed a man while driving drunk - terrible, criminal conduct.  But it was one incident of violating the NFL conduct policy - one incident for which Stallworth pleaded guilty very early and was sentenced in a Court of law.  Thurman, on the other hand, has violated the League’s substance abuse policy twice, has been convicted of DUI (while on suspension) and has been charged criminally two other times for violent offences (again, while on suspension). 

Hey Roger:  a little consistency, please.   

-Clayton

Rob - you should have kept your hair that same length.

Mangini’s coordinators spoke with the media last week.  All three, Brad Seely (special teams), Rob Ryan (defense) and Brian Daboll (offense) seemed genuinely committed to excellence, however, we took special fondness to the remarks of Ryan.

You can definitely see the “Buddy charm” in Ryan.  “Im not here to farm anybody else’s land” was a great opening line.  What sets him apart from Seely and Daboll is that Ryan more openly wears his emotions on his sleeve, and instead of talking in mere platitudes and riddles, Ryan focusses more on substance.

His overall goal is clear:  change the look of the defense more frequently from down to down to create more confusion for the opposing offense.  Here here.  It was not too hard to predict what would happen last season - the same linemen playing the same spots doing the same thing with largely the same result except for a few surprises by Rogers:  enough time in the pocket for the opposing QB to fry a couple of eggs before deciding on a target downfield.   

Ryan’s committment to rushing the quarterback is strong and reminds me of the look that a kid gets in a candy store.  Pressure and turnovers are the treats for Ryan.  And he explicity referred to the importance of getting Wimbley more involved.  Ryan plans to move Kamerion around more often to get him more chances to “bull rush” the QB (his words).  Ryan spoke highly of Shaun Rogers and D’Qwell Jackson, again emphasizing the need for pressure and aggression rather than simply being comfortable giving up a few yards per down but preventing the long ball.

This kind of talk is refreshing.  Sure, it’s just talk.  But that is all we can look to right now.  Ryan is the type of guy who would cherish the thought that his defense frightens opponents.  He would be loathe to coordinate a group of linemen and linebackers that could not get a single player in the top 40 sack leaders last season;  a team that nearly lost the sack contest against the Chiefs!  A more nasty attitude is right up our alley.

We hope that Ryan’s comments serve to  inspire the defense this season.  Go Browns!

-Clayton

This decision comes after many people were fairly dumbfounded as to how Stallworth could only receive 30 days in jail.  Sure, there are a number of other aspects to his sentence, but I think true jail time is just a tad worse than house arrest and a suspended license.  This ruling by Goodell should also demolish any doubt about Stallworth’s future with the Browns.  Not only would Eric Mangini not want a player like Stallworth corrupting his locker room, but the timetable of Stallworth’s return will be long, and rightfully so.

So this ends the short-lived and very much forgettable year of Donte Stallworth in a Browns uniform.  Or, maybe not, I honestly can’t remember seeing him on the field.  Of course, there is a picture of Stallworth next to this that is of him in a Browns uniform.  I’m still not convinced it isn’t a fake, though.

Donte Stallworth has just pleaded guilty to DUI manslaughter in a Miami Courtroom.  He has been sentenced to 30 days in Jail to be followed by two years of house arrest plus eight years of probation including a term that Donte perform 1000 community service hours and a term that he undergo alcohol and drug testing.  A lifetime driver’s license suspension was imposed, although that can be shortened upon application by Stallworth after five years to drive for employment purposes.

Stallworth must be elated to say the least.  He has a life sentence with the burden of having killed a man, however, he could have faced as many as 15 years in prison.  Further, the sentence will allow Donte to resume his NFL career in relatively short order.  In addition, the plea agreement was coupled with a financial settlement with the family of the deceased which will avoid a civil lawsuit that would undoubtedly have been filed immediately after the guilty plea. 

The NFL will now review the matter to determine if disciplinary action is called for.  Donte will get credit in the eyes of the League for the same mitigating factors that influenced the plea agreement with the Miami DA’s office:    his guilty plea and remorse;  his lack of any prior criminal record;  his cooperation with the police from the outset;  and that there were extenuating circumstances such as the fact that the tragedy occurred outside of a legal crosswalk.  The family of the deceased supported the plea agreement.

Although Donte’s blood alcohol content when he struck and killed Mr. Reyes was 0.046 above the legal limit, he was barely speeding at the time of the incident and did try to warn the victim by flashing his lights.

Make no mistake;  Stallworth is lucky to escape with this result.  There were false reports at the time that he was charged that there was a mandatory minimum prison sentence in Florida for DUI manslaughter well in excess of 30 days in jail - a lesson that we should be wary of believing some of these crap media reports.

We do think, however, that Stallworth deserves recognition for not stringing this out and making a mockery of the criminal justice system.  The likes of Plaxico have been far less honourable. 

Donte Stallworth will play for the Browns again.  And any disciplinary action from the NFL will be mild.

-Clayton

We are saddened to report the passing of former Cleveland Browns defensive lineman Pio Sagapolutele.  Pio was just 39 years young.  He died in Arizona of a massive stroke and heart attack.   

Sag was drafted by the Browns from San Diego State in the fourth round in 1991.  Belichick was drawn to his massive size (6 and a half feet tall).  Pio played in Brownstown through to the end of the 1995 season.  He then played one year in New England with Belichick in 1996, for whom he started at right defensive tackle against Green Bay in Super Bowl XXX.  Pio started 13 games that year for the Pats.

Over five years with the Browns, Pio played in 63 games (11 starts) and tallied 56 tackles and 2 sacks. 

Sag always kept a warm spot in his heart for the Browns.  In 2005, 8 years after his career was ended by a devastating elbow injury, Pio said in an interview that his best memory over his professional playing days was being out on the field for his first game with Cleveland.  Pio reflected on how far he had come from his roots in American Samoa through to high school football in Honolulu.

Our condolensces go out to Pio’s wife and his four children in Arizona.  39 years is not nearly enough time on this Earth.  What we remember about Pio more than anything was his emotion and passion on the field.

Pio’s untimely death comes on the heels of more action in the trenches that Sag once was a part of.  The Browns just signed offensive tackle George Foster after he was released by the Lions on June 1.  Foster is a very big guy at nearly 340 pounds and 6.5 feet tall.  He is 29 years old and entering his seventh year in the NFL.  Foster played his college football at Georgia and four years in Denver (2003-2006; drafted by the Broncos in the first round in 2003, 20th overall) followed by two seasons for the Lions (2007-2008).  George is fairly durable, having played in 15 or 16 games in four of his six seasons in the NFL.  He started three games last year in Detroit.       

In 2004, Foster never missed an offensive snap with the Broncos.  He was an integral part of an offensive line that broke the franchise record by allowing only 15 sacks.  Further, that year Denver had three running backs who posted at least one 100-yard game.  In 2005, Foster helped the Broncos gain more than 2500 yards on the ground (the second most in team history and the second most in the NFL that season).

Meanwhile, on the other side of the football, the Browns continue to change the priorities of the defensive line.  There is now much more emphasis on pass rush.  That is music to our ears.  Last year was pathetic for the Browns’ pass rush.  We had 17 total sacks - second worst in the NFL.  Not a single Brown was in the top 40 in sacks in the League.  But the statistics do not reveal the whole picture.  Any fan who watched the games last season will attest to the frustrating trend of very few blitzes which led to opposing quarterbacks having enough time to mix lemonade in the pocket before throwing the football.  It does not matter who you have in the secondary, in today’s game, passes WILL be completed if there is enough time to do so.  Coverage cannot hold forever. 

About one week ago, linebacker David Bowens confirmed the focus on aggressive defense.  Eric Barton seconded that.  Bowens and Barton both played under Mangini before, thus, they have a feel for his defensive strategy.  Linebacker D’Qwell Jackson, for whom Mangini is new and a stark contrast to Romeo Crennel, stated that there was more emphasis on attack, pressure and blitzes.  That must be refreshing for Jackson as he had to endure years of poor defensive rankings in Cleveland;   including 26th, 27th and 30th in the NFL in the last few seasons.

Mangini is not the only person responsible for a rejuvenated defensive mentality in Cleveland.  Defensive Coordinator Rob Ryan was expected to bring an aggressive focus to the Team. For example, in 2007, Ryan coached two players in Oakland, DE Derrick Burgess and LB Chris Clemons, who were each in the top 10 in the Conference in sacks.  In 2007, the Raiders’ defense under Ryan ranked better than middle of the pack in the NFL in sacks.  Going all the way back to his college coaching days, Ryan emphasized pass rush.  In 1998, while Ryan was Oklahoma State’s defensive coordinator, the Cowboys were second in the entire nation in sacks (41).

Bring back the emphasis on trench football in Cleveland.  Goodbye Pio.

Go Browns!

-Clayton

Cleveland Browns Left Guard, Eric Steinbach, will likely retain his starting position this season, however, it is also likely that he will see less snaps throughout the year.

Very little can be gleaned from the ongoing minicamp at this early juncture, but it is one piece of the puzzle.  Steinbach has not been seeing much action at on-field workouts thus far.  Instead, the reps at the left guard position have largely been taken by Rex Hadnot and Floyd “Pork Chop” Womack.  Further, Mangini has made no secret that he wants to increase the size of the offensive line.  Eric has made some jokes publicly about Steinbach needing to eat some more pasta, for example. 

Let’s face it;  the days of offensive linemen under 300 pounds are virtually over.  Speed and footwork are still important, but the trend in the NFL is to favour raw brute strength and size up front.  There are only a handful of starting offensive linemen in the entire League who are under 300 LBs.  Steinbach is one of them.  Eric was well under that weight until he began a regiment recently to gain some pounds.  He is currently listed at 295, however, that may be a stretch as he was 285 not that long ago.  In any event, 295 pounds when you are around 6 feet tall is one thing, but Eric is 6 feet 6 inches.  Spreading 295 pounds over that frame makes him down right skinny for a guard.   

Hadnot, on the other hand, who took the starting reps at minicamp before Womack, is 320 pounds and 6 feet 2 inches tall.  He does not have Eric’s quickness and footwork, but on third down and short yardage, he would be preferred to Steinbach.  The same goes for Womack (acquired as a free agent from the Seahawks), who is a hefty 6 feet 4 inches tall and almost 330 pounds.  Journeyman John St. Clair, signed as a free agent from the Bears, is 315 pounds and 6 feet 5 inches tall.  What Hadnot, Womack and St. Clair lack in terms of dexterity they make up for with their power, particularly in situations like 3rd down and 3.

All of these guys are experienced;  for that we are fortunate.  Steinbach is entering his 7th pro season;  Hadnot his 6th;  and Womack and St. Clair are seasoned veterans.  And they all remain durable.  Steinbach played in 14 games last season for the Browns;  Hadnot in 15 games for the Browns;  Womack in 15 games for the Seahawks;  and St. Clair in 16 games for the Bears.  Womack and St. Clair are especially versatile in that they can play more than one position on the offensive line (in fact, Womack could play every position except Center).  It should not be assumed that Womack will play most snaps on the right side because of the loss of Kevin Shaffer to the Bears.  Besides, “loss” is a misnomer when it comes to Shaffer.  He played badly last season as we got creamed on the right side.

We are not advocating for Steinbach to be moved.  We cannot do so financially in any event because of his massive 7 year, $50 million contract from two seasons ago.  That number makes Hadnot (with his two- year deal from March 2008 after playing with the Dolphins) and Womack and St. Clair (with their short-term contracts) look like garage sale specials.

We hope that Steinbach maintains his Pro Bowl form, but he will likely do so with less playing time under Mangini.  We get the impression that Mangini’s number one priority is to strengthen the offensive line in order to better protect our quarterbacks who were easy targets last season for blitzing defenders and to return to a more ”smash-mouth” running game with Lewis and Harrison, and to a lesser extent while he gets his feet wet, Davis.  Size seems to be Mangini’s foremost criterion in evaluating how best to achieve that priority.  Not the best news for Steinbach.  Only time will tell if it is the best news for the Browns.  Looking at the great offensive lines of the past, including the Cowboys of the 1990s, we are not complaining.

-Clayton

The Browns made a smart signing yesterday.  The Team acquired cornerback Rod Hood who had been released by the Arizona Cardinals.

ProFootballTalk reports that Hood was a hot commodity throughout the League with strong interest from the Rams, Lions, Bengals, Bears and the Browns.  The Rams reportedly offered a deal that was declined by Hood.  And the Lions thought for sure that Rod would sign with them, according to the Detroit Free Press.

It is reported to be a one-year deal.  A short-term contract that will not break the piggy bank is refreshing. 

Hood is entering his seventh year in pro football.  He spent four seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles with whom he played in Super Bowl XXXIX and the last two years with the Cards with whom he played in February’s Championship.

Hood is a durable guy.  In his two seasons in Arizona, he started in all but one regular season game.  He has been a starter in about half of his pro career playing days.  In six years, Hood has tallied 11 interceptions, 5 fumble recoveries, one sack and 201 tackles.  In 2007, Rod returned two ITs for touchdowns (one of those against our Browns).

In 2008, Hood had 40 tackles, 1 forced fumble and 1 interception.

Rod is 27 years old.  He has pretty good size at nearly six feet tall and 200 pounds.  He could be a little taller to combat the wide receivers, but he plays tough in traffic.

In addition to his durability, Rod is versatile in that he could be used to return kicks if necessary.  He did some of that with the Eagles, and in fact, one season he had an average kick return of nearly 24 yards over 38 returns.

Rod will compete for a starting position with the Browns.  The only reason that he was released by the Cards was to save cap space.  If he does not earn a starting position, he will at the very least provide some experience and depth in our secondary.

The Browns are quickly developing quite a mix of players in the secondary.  There are currently 17 defensive backs on the roster including Hood and the two draftees, Don Carey and Coye Francies.  There is a real variety of experience from Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald with two years right up to Hank Poteat with 10 years.  We have returning players, guys acquired in trades (like Abram Elam from the Jets) and free agent signings (like Corey Ivy).

We certainly have not agreed with all of the signings this off-season, but Hood appears to be a solid one.  Go Browns!

-Clayton