2014 Cleveland Browns Offseason Thread

• IggyPride00

  

  Ousted Cleveland CEO Joe Banner -- who is transitioning out of his role in Cleveland after being not asked back along with GM Mike Lombardi -- had the new offensive and defensive coordinators reporting directly to him, CBS Sports NFL Insider Pat Kirwan reports.
  
  Kirwan spoke to a league source at the NFL combine in Indianapolis who told him Banner was a bit of a control freak and structured the coaching staff so that the new coordinators would answer directly to him.
  
  
  That's atypical of an NFL team, to say the least. Generally speaking coordinators answer directly to the head coach, in this case recently hired Mike Pettine.
  
  Having coordinators circumvent the head coach and GM by reporting to the CEO of the team is just out there. As Kirwan wonders, it's entirely possible that Banner wanted to control what players played and when.
  
  

  http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/24455925/joe-banner-had-new-browns-coordinators-reporting-directly-to-him
  
  
  Thank God Haslam came to his senses finally.
  
  Haven't seen this gem posted yet, but apparently had Banner stayed he yet again reworked the organizational chart so that the Offensive and Defensive coordinators would report to him instead of the head coach or GM.
  
  I knew he had a Napoleon complex, but that is the most absurd thing I have ever heard. I knew it ate at him that he was nothing more than a bean counter and not a football guy, but what he had in mind for this season had Haslam not pulled the plug would have been a blue print for chaos.
  
  There's a good story out there right now about Ray Farmer doing some outreach to season ticket holders just kind of out of the blue, and it is that kind of stuff that the prior regime would have been loath to do.
  
  We knew things were dysfunctional, but the reporting indicates we didn't even know the half of it or how extreme it really was.
• like_that

  

  sleeper;1584150 wrote:Alright guys. I know a QB is more important than a LB. Can we at least find some common ground here? Does anyone really think Manziel or Bridgewater is worth the #4 pick? I want a good QB too, I just don't see anything that makes me go "Yeah that guy will be better than Brandon Weeden!".

  Exactly why I said earlier this argument comes down to personal opinion. You don't think any of the QBs are worth a top pick, some of us do. Simple as that.
• like_that

  

  IggyPride00;1584228 wrote:http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/24455925/joe-banner-had-new-browns-coordinators-reporting-directly-to-him
  
  
  Thank God Haslam came to his senses finally.
  
  Haven't seen this gem posted yet, but apparently had Banner stayed he yet again reworked the organizational chart so that the Offensive and Defensive coordinators would report to him instead of the head coach or GM.
  
  I knew he had a Napoleon complex, but that is the most absurd thing I have ever heard. I knew it ate at him that he was nothing more than a bean counter and not a football guy, but what he had in mind for this season had Haslam not pulled the plug would have been a blue print for chaos.
  
  There's a good story out there right now about Ray Farmer doing some outreach to season ticket holders just kind of out of the blue, and it is that kind of stuff that the prior regime would have been loath to do.
  
  We knew things were dysfunctional, but the reporting indicates we didn't even know the half of it or how extreme it really was.

  He is gone now iggy. Just shut the fuck up, move on, and find something else to bitch about. Thanks.
• SportsAndLady

  

  Lol iggy only posts about banner even when he's not here.
• lhslep134

  

  LOL @ Iggy crying over milk that was spilled weeks ago.
• thavoice

  IggyPride00;1584228 wrote:http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/24455925/joe-banner-had-new-browns-coordinators-reporting-directly-to-him
  
  
  Thank God Haslam came to his senses finally.
  
  Haven't seen this gem posted yet, but apparently had Banner stayed he yet again reworked the organizational chart so that the Offensive and Defensive coordinators would report to him instead of the head coach or GM.
  
  I knew he had a Napoleon complex, but that is the most absurd thing I have ever heard. I knew it ate at him that he was nothing more than a bean counter and not a football guy, but what he had in mind for this season had Haslam not pulled the plug would have been a blue print for chaos.
  
  There's a good story out there right now about Ray Farmer doing some outreach to season ticket holders just kind of out of the blue, and it is that kind of stuff that the prior regime would have been loath to do.
  
  We knew things were dysfunctional, but the reporting indicates we didn't even know the half of it or how extreme it really was.

  Wonder if this was known or rumored and a reason why some of the prospects changed their interests.
  
  Has it come out yet what the niners would have wanted in return for Harbaugh?
  
  More I read and hear about this Pettne guy and Farmer, and getting rid of Banner and Lombardi, the more I think the browns may finally have gotten it right.
• vball10set

  *Pettine
• Dr. KnOiTaLL

  

  thavoice;1584284 wrote:More I read and hear about this Pettne guy and Farmer, and getting rid of Banner and Lombardi, the more I think the browns may finally have gotten it right.

  Shhhhhhh!!! Don't jinx us!!!
• like_that

  

  Dr. KnOiTaLL;1584295 wrote:Shhhhhhh!!! Don't jinx us!!!

  That's what he is trying to do...
  
  That's the only purpose for thavoice posting on this thread with his tl;dr gibberish.
• Crimson streak

  

  I'm still thinking garapollo will be our qb pick. He could probably be had with our 2nd rounder too. I would definitely be on board with that
• shook_17

  

  Bill Polian said he expect garapollo to be drafted in the first round. We shall see.
• Footwedge

  Some of the posters are absolutely clueless on Johnny Manziel. His antics at age 19 has nothing to do with his football ability. Graded out by many to be the best football player ever to wear an Aggie uniform.
  
  It would be so easy to land both Manziel and Sammy Wadkins in this draft. The offense would be absolutely loaded and threaten Denver with the most points next year and beyond. Unfortunately, hearing Farmer talking about getting "his quarterback" in the later rounds is enough to make me sick.
• Lovejoy1984

  

  Footwedge;1584649 wrote:Some of the posters are absolutely clueless on Johnny Manziel. His antics at age 19 has nothing to do with his football ability. Graded out by many to be the best football player ever to wear an Aggie uniform.
  
  It would be so easy to land both Manziel and Sammy Wadkins in this draft. The offense would be absolutely loaded and threaten Denver with the most points next year and beyond. Unfortunately, hearing Farmer talking about getting "his quarterback" in the later rounds is enough to make me sick.

  You do realize #26, and next years first isn't enough for the #1, right?
  
  Also WATKINS
• se-alum

  

  FWIW from Walter Football.
  
  Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida:
  In conversations here in Indy it's apparent the quarterbacks stack up 1) Blake Bortles, 2) Teddy Bridgewater, 3) Derek Carr, 4) Johnny Manziel on a number of team boards.
• Footwedge

  HighRoller74;1584650 wrote:You do realize #26, and next years first isn't enough for the #1, right

  You could be right. But that would be my initial offer. Bear in mind the Browns number one next year could very well be a top 10 pick. That would probably give Houston 2 top picks in next years draft.
  
  If the pot isn't sweet enough, then sweeten it even more. Whatever it takes to land Johhny football and slick Sammy needs to get done.
• like_that

  

  Browns released DQ.
• Footwedge

  se-alum;1584661 wrote:FWIW from Walter Football.
  
  Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida:
  In conversations here in Indy it's apparent the quarterbacks stack up 1) Blake Bortles, 2) Teddy Bridgewater, 3) Derek Carr, 4) Johnny Manziel on a number of team boards.

  Don't know who Walter Football is but obviously he/she has absolute shit for brains.
• Commander of Awesome

  

  like_that;1584930 wrote:Browns released DQ.

  SMFH, I would like to personally pwn Farmer for that.
• SportsAndLady

  

  Footwedge;1584931 wrote:Don't know who Walter Football is but obviously he/she has absolute shit for brains.

  You've never heard of Walter football
• Dr. KnOiTaLL

  

  Commander of Awesome;1584938 wrote:SMFH, I would like to personally pwn Farmer for that.

  Except it somewhat makes sense. Due $4.1 M roster bonus on March 16, and was a bottom 6 ILB in the league. He's been awesome for us, but his body is breaking down and his abilities are diminishing. Yes, he had 140 tackles, but most of the were downfield, not stuffs at the LOS. He will be greatly missed, but organizationally, it makes sense.
• se-alum

  

  Footwedge;1584931 wrote:Don't know who Walter Football is but obviously he/she has absolute shit for brains.

  You should learn about Walter Football, they're pretty good at what they do, and don't have big money telling them what they should be saying.
• se-alum

  

  Dr. KnOiTaLL;1584945 wrote:Except it somewhat makes sense. Due $4.1 M roster bonus on March 16, and was a bottom 6 ILB in the league. He's been awesome for us, but his body is breaking down and his abilities are diminishing. Yes, he had 140 tackles, but most of the were downfield, not stuffs at the LOS. He will be greatly missed, but organizationally, it makes sense.

  Agree, really like D'Qwell, but his numbers show he's just not an impact player. It will suck to lose the leadership though.
• like_that

  

  5 million is not worth leadership I guess. At least we added to our cap room. I wonder who they are targeting for FA.
• like_that

  

  Btw, it did seem like he was starting to get old pretty quickly.
• sleeper

  

  This will make plenty of roster space for an impact LB like Mack at #4 since all the QBs in this draft are pure garbage.