Nov 2, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns head coach Mike Pettine, owner Jimmy Haslam and general manager Ray Farmer before a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports
Cleveland Browns free agency went off with a whimper yesterday just like Jimmy Haslam warned us it might. As fans we got excited about the possibility of addressing big needs with Trent Cole, Dan Williams and even Darrelle Revis. Haslam, GM Ray Farmer and HC Mike Pettine have made it clear that they see free agency as a supplement to building their team. Paying 140% for 70% of production, an apt free agency equation, instead of paying 60% for 100% production, an apt NFL Draft equation, just doesn’t make sense for the Browns.
We also have story after story of teams who “won” free agency regretting their decisions a few years later and having nothing to show for it. The Philadelphia Eagles, the Dream Team a few years back, fell flat on their face. The Washington Redskins, pretty much always since Dan Snyder, have spent big money in free agency and continue to flail. The Miami Dolphins spent a ton of money two years ago on a number of players, almost all of them were released this year so they could make another big splash. They haven’t made the playoffs either.
Even with all of that knowledge, Browns fans are carrying torches to Berea today. Why didn’t we spend money? How did we miss out on Trent Cole? Jimmy Haslam is cheap! They want supplemental picks and don’t want to win! Free agents don’t want to come to Cleveland because the team is dysfunctional! Etc, Etc, Etc.
One of the major media members in Cleveland, Tony Grossi, came out firing as well in his piece this morning:
"It was a gut-wrenching display of a flawed organization incapable of keeping up with the big boys. In only their second season together, the inexperienced tandem of GM Ray Farmer and coach Mike Pettine took on the appearance of lost baby dinosaurs. The NFL entered a new warp speed on Tuesday, leaving the Browns sputtering in place like the same, worn-down treadmill they have personified for 16 years."
His main argument is that the Browns must not be doing their job because they didn’t join the free agency and trade party that seemed to break news every moment for an hour. That action is the only way to do the job of being a General Manager and that inaction is proof that Farmer and Pettine don’t know what they are doing.
He goes on to talk about the Sam Bradford, Nick Foles trade between the Philadelphia Eagles and St. Louis Rams. In Grossi’s world, if Foles or Bradford were available than the Browns should have traded for them instead of signing Josh McCown. What Grossi fails to even mention is that the other teams have to want what the Browns have. To get Bradford the Browns would need a Foles, to get Foles the Browns would need a Bradford. Not to mention the draft pick consideration.
No one is denying that Bradford, when healthy, and Foles are more talented than McCown. That is obvious. The Browns didn’t have a QB to give either team to fill their need there. The only other way they would have acquired either QB was a steep overpay. To get Bradford how does two second round picks and likely a 4th sound? To get Foles how does the 19th pick plus more sound? Due to health (Bradford) or talent (Foles) very few believe either is a long term answer at quarterback, especially in the weather of Cleveland.
Grossi goes on to talk about what the Bills did so far. They traded for LeSean McCoy but the Browns don’t have a young linebacker like Kiko Alonso to trade away, nor do they have a big need for a back who has had a ton of touches. They re-signed Jerry Hughes, most players re-sign with the team they are with if that team wants them back and are willing to pay. (We will hit on that more later.)
But let’s get away from Grossi. Fans on our timeline are still mad that the Browns have not made any big impact signings even though the team warned that they wouldn’t. They are consistent at least, they say what they will do and do it. So we are going to quickly address the questions and statements that we listed above that we have received from fans last night and today, the final page is my most passionate statements:
Next: Won't Spend Money
Jan 27, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; New England Patriots cornerback Darrelle Revis during media day for Super Bowl XLIX at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Why didn’t we spend money?
The Browns decide about how much they believe a player is worth and negotiate around that number. They are flexible but their analysis tells them how much a player is worth and they look to pay those players what they feel they are worth. It is tough to be disciplined to hold to your standards but it is not much different than the NFL Draft. If a player is rated 15th on the Browns board they likely will take him at 12. If he is rated 32nd on their board they will not, even if it fills a need.
Restaurants are the best real life example. Many make decisions to eat at certain places based on the value they believe they receive. You might pay $3 for a burger from Wendy’s but $12 for a burger from B-Spot. The reason behind that is what you value. Others may be willing to pay $20 for a burger from a fancier joint. We make food decisions based on our values, the Browns do the same for free agents. They may have the money to spend, doesn’t mean they feel like they should. You might have the money for a $20 burger but likely are not spending it if you do not value it.
Next: What Happened With Trent Cole?
Dec 7, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles outside linebacker Trent Cole (58) celebrates a tackle against the Seattle Seahawks during the first half at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey G. Pittenger-USA TODAY Sports
How did we miss out on Trent Cole?
Trent Cole is likely the one player that the Browns actually feel like they missed on. After visiting the team for two days, Cole was a man of his word and visited with the Colts. From what we know from different channels, Cole was actually leaning toward the Browns yesterday morning. Then came word that Tom Herremans and Andre Johnson were likely to join Frank Gore in signing with the Colts. That veteran infusion, go for it mentality, helped change his mind. So did a bump of between 1 and 2 million dollars.
The Browns do not have a quarterback to give anyone any comfort that they should go all in. That wouldn’t be different if the team had Bradford or Foles. Until the Browns have the most important position on the field taken care of, the rest of the additions’ impact would be limited. Without that QB it will also “waste” veterans later years. Neither older veterans nor the Browns see a point in that. Cole was impressed by the Browns, the Colts are just on another page ON the field.
Next: Haslam is Cheap
Oct 26, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Jimmy Haslam is cheap!
There has been zero reports that this is actually true. Haslam, with his Jerry Jones like mentality, is far more likely to try to make a big splash in free agency than to play the conservative role. He has been aggressive in spending money since taking over the team. He has spent on coaches, front office, remodeled office and practice spaces as well as some of the stadium renovations (though much of that was paid through the city.)
Browns fans should actually be cheering Haslam that he has shown restraint that Jones and Snyder rarely show. He hasn’t stepped in to try to force them to overpay, beyond the value they have placed on players. He is trusting the people he hired to actually do their jobs.
Next: They Want Supplemental Picks Not Wins
Feb 18, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh who has ash on his forehead for Ash Wednesday speaks to the media during the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
They want supplemental picks and don’t want to win!
The second part is ridiculous. Farmer and Pettine realize that their time in Cleveland could be even shorter than in other cities. The Browns have defined Not For Long of the NFL. Winning is the only priority. The real question is how to win. One of the worst things that happened for the Browns was their 10 – 6 record under Derek Anderson. That team had an easy schedule but since they won they felt like they needed to keep Anderson and tried to win with a roster not prepared to win.
Last year the Browns were a respectable 7 – 9 but still have a flawed team. Besides not having a quarterback, number one by a lot, they don’t have a defensive line that can stop the run and need a ton of depth across the board. The roster is very talented but thin. The Browns want to build a team that can win for years to come, with a foundation of their own players.
The supplemental picks, a Grossi theory, is an interesting one. Smart teams, like the Ravens, have been conscious of those picks for years. They draft replacements for players a year or two before they hit free agency then reap the reward of another pick when their aged player signs a big contract elsewhere. Grossi is saying the Browns are not signing players because of this.
In fact, it may be quite the opposite. The Browns are trying to build a team where they CAN let players leave via free agency by building a roster that replenishes itself. Teams like the Ravens do that through drafting players and being smart in planning ahead. If splitting hairs is required, getting another draft pick will be factored in but that is just smart business.
Next: Browns Are Dysfunctional
Feb 18, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Cleveland Browns coach Mike Pettine speaks to the media during the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Free agents don’t want to come to Cleveland because the team is dysfunctional!
This last one is the most interesting one. Have the Browns been dysfunctional? Depends on your definition but we can all agree that the Browns have not been stable. Could that impact a free agents decision to come to Cleveland? Sure but that does not mean that is the cause of the problem, it is a symptom.
Much the way that sneezing is not the problem of having allergies in Spring, the constant transition is caused by losing. In some order free agents make decisions, historically, based on four factors: Winning, money, location and comfort. Will address those in backward order as we consider winning most important and comfort last, but still important.
By comfort we mean simply this: Players tend to stay with the teams they are with if the team wants them and the money is similar. The other factors play an important role but all things being equal comfort helps players make decisions. Jerry Hughes chose to stay in Buffalo partially based on comfort, as the other factors were similar with the Browns and other teams interested in him.
Location is not something the Browns can do anything about. Cleveland is what it is but if players are choosing between similar teams a team in New York, Miami or soon to be LA will win out. State tax laws also play a role in that. Florida and Texas do not have them, where California’s is huge and Ohio is somewhere in the middle. Location can play a role.
Most would say money is #1 and we would agree to a certain extent. Players are going to go where the most money is most of the time but the teams that are likely to “overpay” for free agents are not likely to, down the road, fill the factor of winning. Players will go where the money is but that tends to build a bad culture and often a bad team on the field. The Browns want to build a winning team and do not believe in paying far more than a player is worth.
Winning is simple. Players are not coming to Cleveland until the team is a winner. Also, when the Browns are a winner they will have players on their team that they want to keep. If the Browns can put together two straight winning seasons the team will start to become a destination place. If we are honest with ourselves, Green Bay and New England were not destinations until they started winning. Reggie White when to the Packers because “God told me to go to Green Bay.” Unless that happens, the Browns will need to start to win before players “want” to come to Cleveland.
For those multi-sport fans I give you the Cleveland Cavaliers as an example. LeBron James wasn’t committed to Cleveland, and didn’t recruit other players, his first time in Cleveland. Now that he is doing both Shawn Marion, Mike Miller, James Jones and Kevin Love all wanted to come to Cleveland. In the NFL, the quarterback is that guy who helps make sure the team is winning. Once the Browns show that they can win consistently, they will be a player for a number of players.
The funny thing about winning is that winning teams rarely touch free agency and if they do they are very picky. The Patriots have re-signed one of their own free agents but haven’t done much, and never have. The Ravens are similar, generally finding a bargain veteran free agent at the right price. The Bengals haven’t been a player in free agency for years but are limited by their quarterback in how far they go. The Seahawks were aggressive in the trade market to get Jimmy Graham but gave up a Top 3 center (we can’t lose Alex Mack again) and a 1st round pick to get him. They are rarely aggressive in free agency.
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Who is the last team to build a consistent winner via free agency? Do you want a Derek Anderson led 10 – 6 team that falls off quickly? Do you want to be the Eagles, Redskins and Dolphins of recent years? Last week the media and fans were laughing at teams like the Dolphins who were cutting bait on free agent signings from the past few years. This week the same people are lauding spend even more money. The Dolphins (repeat offenders) and the Jets are “winners” but are both seriously flawed teams.
Looking forward to the discussions we are going to have in the comment sections, on Facebook and on Twitter. I know it may not be pretty but very much okay with it. Let’s talk!