Metcalf Up the Middle

A friend of mine recently complained that, and I quote, “Anyone else feel like following NFL draft projections in the months leading up to the draft is a little like shopping for a new big screen four years before you plan on buying it? I swear I just heard the 18 th new “first pick by the Browns” projected by the “experts” over the past three months”. My response to him was, GUILTY. And in turn he informed me that he posted that because of my numerous tweets concerning this very same topic. Normally I would be reluctant to point out one of my few flaws as a human being. However I love this time of year. Hockey playoffs are on the horizon, baseball season has just begun, and the NFL Draft is only three weeks away. The majority of Browns fans will not contest why people like myself search the “series of tubes” for sites that find ways to tickle my interest at what NFL teams will do while on the clock on draft weekend. Draft a QB, WR, trade, let the clock run out (2 years in a row...

Well another year has again come and gone.  Nothing notable to really mention about this past Browns season other than Peyton Hillis is a beast and Brady Quinn is working security somewhere at a mall in Colorado.  Well, Joe Haden had a very solid rookie year and TJ Ward wasn't to shabby either (correct me if I am wrong but he may have led the team in tackles). Yes Eric Mangini was fired, so now here we are again looking at a whole new coaching regime. The team is going from a 3-4 defense to what will probably be a 4-3 scheme. Meet our new head coach Pat Shurmur NFL DRAFT 2011 Rd. 1 : Thursday, April 28 Rds. 2-3 : Friday, April 29 Rds. 4-7 : Saturday, April 30 Radio City Music Hall, New York 1st Round Draft Order (Browns Pick 6th) Kiper (Mock 1.0) has Browns picking Georgia WR AJ Green- The Browns need a No.1 wideout and Green has fit the profile since he landed between the hedges at Georgia. Green is a complete package, with size, speed and solid route-runnin...

Some of you may be wondering why I hadn't posted before the Ravens game.   Honestly.......I couldn't muster up any positives for that particular game.  The Brian Robiskie, Shaun Rogers, Jerome Harrison, Jake Delhomme,  and a few others inactive for that game (not to mention @DQ52 being put on the IR, I honestly didn't expect much. After every loss from the Browns over the past 11 years, the local media has tried to put a positive spin on the loss, that we are just on the verge of being competitive, or, we're one more draft away from getting the couple players that we need to make a deep run into the playoffs. Bullshit....... When the Browns came back in '99, I had just turned 20, I was full of optimism and knew that I was young but ten years from now (back then), all us Browns fans could have something to love and watch beat the piss out of the Steelers twice a year. What do we have to show for the past decade: NOTHING Outside of the obvious, this is how we s...

Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini says other trades are in the works. "A little bit of this was done in anticipation of being able to get some other things done that will involve draft picks," Mangini said. (in reference to Kameron Wimbley being traded for a 3rd rd pick to the Oakland Raiders). From ESPN Insider: Earlier, we considered Mike Holmgren's comments relating to the Browns' search for a QB to draft this April, making note of the fact that Holmgren has never drafted a QB higher than the third round during his career. Well, that might change this year. ESPN AFC North blogger James Walker got word from a source that the Browns are interested in Texas QB Colt McCoy, and reported Monday that the team will host him for a two-day visit on April 12-13. Given McCoy's stock, the Browns might have to snag him with their pick near the top of Round 2. There are some size concerns with McCoy, but he had one of the better interviews amongst the QBs at ...

Its that time of year again where players are cut, placed franchise tags upon, arrested for driving through pedestrians, traded, retire, get hurt and go on IR for shooting themselves and so on. Many or us Browns fans look to this time of year as our Superbowl. This is what keeps us content until our coming seasons first loss in week 1. Case in point....RB Ladainian Tomlinson finally got thrown to the curb by the San Diego Chargers on Monday after much speculation. The nine year vet who was a fantasy football God for much of his career became expendable from decreased production and a tough hit against the salary cap. This afternoon we were introduced to the newest member of "I'm an older RB and I need a new team". Hello Brian Westbrook . Another just past there prime back that may offer another 2 years of solid play, but tends to get hurt for at least several games every year. With the Browns letting go of Jamal Lewis and a Browns roster full of inexperienced back, d...

Separated at birth? Lots of stuff to talk about besides the Browns winning a game (because lets face it, lets just shoot for another top 3 pick in next years draft at this point). Fins, Browns almost swapped Brown, Edwards Bills-Browns one-liners Rumors keep swirling, but facts remain murky around Eric Mangini Cleveland Browns coach Mangini will stick with Derek Anderson Words have been able to describe ones love for another, hatred toward an abusive parent, the feelings that one gets on a when looking out on a majestic landscape, but no words am I able to conjure, when thinking of the Cleveland Browns win on Sunday. It's kinda like, "sweet we won our first game, MY GOD WE STILL ARE AWFUL!!" But not as awful as the Buffalo Bills. Lurch was 2 for 17 passing. Why did we bench Brady Quinn again? Lurch was able to amass 23 yards passing. Here are some other numbers for you. Kellen Winslow had 9 catches for 102 yds and 2 TD's. Dennis Northcutt (yes he is still...

Well at least this week it was a game (almost 4 hours long) Here are who I think should get game balls: Brodney Pool....... After 4 long years thank you for finally showing up to a game and participating instead of blowing coverages and making Sean Jones look retarded. Your head was in the game and you seemed to know where all the plays were. Jerome Harrison...... Congrats on your first 100yd game. And if I am not mistaken, our first of the year. You stepped up when we needed you to and we thank you for that. Mike Furrey...... As I said many posts ago, you are our poor mans Wes Welker. Now you are also our white mans Troy Brown. With your 3rd down heroics on 3rd downs and pass break-ups on defense, you truly are an unsung hero for this organization. Josh Cribbs...... Not only should you get a game ball each week, but if the Browns don't get there head out of there ass, you will make a fine addition to any team of your choosing in the future. You play like a man possessed, I o...

So that you are able to follow the posting below, I will refer to Derek Anderson as Lurch and Eric Mangini as Mantarded. Mantarded, why would you let Lurch be the Browns Starting QB? Lurch has already thrown as many interceptions as Quinn has. Mantarded, Please review the following: Brady Quinn + 10 quarters = 3 int's Lurch + 2 quarters = 3 int's Quinn 2009 completion percentage: 60.8 Lurch 2008 completion percentage: 50.2 Even in his Pro-Bowl season his high was 56.5%. My question to you Head Coach Mantarded is this: What happens when Lurch fires 6 int's in the next two weeks? I mean really lets face it, Lurch's decision making is about as strong as Britney Spears. Remember when she drove with her baby in her lap? When this happens (and even Al Davis can foresee this) what do you do then? Brett Ratliff ?!?!?!? I think I speak for all of us when I say this, that you received a hell of a wake-up call during the preseason watching him show the world that he is the only q...

Caution The following thoughts and evaluations you are about to read are in no particular order as I was too upset to put my feeling into an exact order. The Bengals, Lions, and the Raiders. These are teams that should be in worse shape than the Cleveland Browns. And here we are again.....looking up from the basement in nearly every statistical category. Out of the 26 coaches that the Browns have had over the last ten years, I hate Mangini and his staff more than any other in the league. At let me tell you, I made quite a few Dick Lebeau jokes while he was running the show in Cincy. Not to mention my continuing hatred for Al Davis and his black hole organization. But Eric Mangini you take the cake. You have managed to take a organization and make them worse than what they were the year before. Even Chris Palmer had more team continuity with a roster of men playing together for the first time. You traded down in this past years draft to your FORMER team, to draft a center that so f...

I came across a story earlier today that involved a tale of Browns head coach Eric Mangini fining a player over $1k for not paying for a $3 bottle of water at a hotel. Read More . No big deal, he's just trying to install his message to the players. Then the Denver 27 Browns 6 game ended. Eric Mangini will be fired at seasons end in 2010. Outside of Joe Thomas, Josh Cribbs, and Shaun Rodgers, this team has no talent on it whatsoever. "Core Quality" players are what Mangini is looking for. For what?!?!?!? So when you get killed again next week you don't sound like Kanye West during the post game interview?!?!?!? What was the deal with Brady Quinn today... Have you never dropped back in the pocket before? Do you not feel the snarling hot breath of 260lb men getting ready to drop your ass to the turf? IT'S CALLED POCKET PRESENCE AND YOU DON'T SEEM TO HAVE IT! Maybe you should spend less time in the weight room and more time working on the little things that other...

First and foremost I would like to apologize for my lack of communication to the world during the past week. I recently started a new job and my work schedule has consisted of 12 hr days with 120 miles of driving per day. So please bear with me. Transcript of Brady Quinn press conference, Sept. 16, .. ( read more ) Broncos' McDaniels says Brady Quinn was never part of Jay Cutler trade talks: Browns Insider Braylon Edwards, Brady Quinn working to 'stay on the same page' for Cleveland Browns this season.....( read more ) Cleveland Browns: Wednesday quotes from Braylon Edwards, Jamal Lewis and Brandon McDonald: Jamal Lewis...( read more ) When Eric Mangini was asked about not reporting Brett Favre's injury last season while with the New York Jets: Eric Mangini - "I have worked with the league on this matter & now consider it closed. My focus is on our preparations for the Broncos." Cleveland Browns: Eric Mangini Wednesday press conference: Transcript of hea...

Well either this is just another stunt to keep the Vikings guessing or this is actually how its going to play out. Via All-Pro WR Terrell Owens , he leaked a tweet stating that Quinn won the starting job here in Cleveland. Congrats 2 Brady Quinn 4 starting job w/Cleveland Browns!! about 5 hours ago from UberTwitter (his Twitter account is terrellowens) While taking a closer look at some of the "tweets" on T.O's account, I noticed Donte Stallworth conversing with him. Who knows, maybe T.O. does have the inside track. More from The Plain Dealers Mary-Kay Cabot ( read on ) But for anyone who follows the Browns this is not a earth shattering announcement. I think for the most part we all anticipated this. Now if we can trade Derek Anderson for a draft pick or something that would be the cherry on the sunday. Here was Eric Mangini's press conference from earlier stating that he sat down with both QB's and told them who won. But did not say to the press who it wa...

With less than a week until the Browns battle the Vikings to kick off the '09 season, we still have no idea who is starting at QB......or do we? From the Mangini press conference on 9-7-09. “In terms of the quarterbacks, I’ll just say that I will be talking to those guys. I have made a decision. I’ll clearly explain what the decision was based on, why I made the decision that I did and what my expectations are. My expectations will be, clearly, that they support each other at all times, they support the team at all times and they both prepare as if they were the number one quarterback. In terms of announcing it publicly, that’s not something that I plan to do. It will be internal. I understand everybody has a different opinion on it, I respect that. I understand the excitement in relationship to that and I respect that as well. That will be something that will be internal. Being on the other side of this, as a defensive coordinator, it is more difficult to plan for two th...

With 7 days to go until the Browns kickoff the '09 season there are still lots of players being traded, released, and being picked up. The Browns were very active today. Browns add four players ( read more ) The Lerner Ownership, 10 yrs of unimaginable bliss ( read more ) Finally if you were wondering if....... Mangini has not announced if the starting quarterback will be Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson . Let me put the shocked look on my face....

Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn Pro's and Con's Derek Anderson Pros --------- He's tall Has a friend that posed in Playboy Went to a Pro Bowl Decesnt golfer. Big arm. DA's Cons --------- Doesnt seem to give off leadership qualities Looks retard strong Can throw a 50 yrd bomb but cant hit a 5 yd screen to the FB Went to a high school named Scappoose. Has a 54.6 career passing completion %. A right-handed passer, but writes left-handed (who does that?!?) Derek’s ashamed to say he watches “Laguna Beach” (OK THAT DOES IT) Was drafted by Baltimore when all there QB's sucked and he still got cut. Brady Quinn Pros ---------- Played for a big school that played in big games. Started all 4 years in college. Wore a Kosar jersey when he was a kid. As an ugle sister who married a Buckeye.* Completely dedicated to his profession. BQ's Cons ---------- Went to Notre Dame. Is not a big arm threat. Has one ugly sister.* Looks like a...

BEREA, Ohio -- The Browns continued to rework the bottom of the roster. On Thursday, they signed guard Patrick Murray and linebacker Robert McCune. Murray was buried on the Denver Broncos' depth chart and was waived by the team on Wednesday. McCune was a fifth-round pick of Washington in 2005 and last played for the Baltimore Ravens. To make room, the Browns waived offensive lineman Branndon Braxton, a Youngstown native, and receiver Edward Williams. In other news, coach Eric Mangini declined again to name his starting quarterback for Saturday's preseason game against Detroit. by Tony Grossi/Plain Dealer Reporter Thursday August 20, 2009, 1:20 PM Not to much to talk about here, the Mang Man may be looking to add depth or he already know who will be getting cut after Saturday's game.

By no real shock, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has suspended Cleveland Browns WR Donte Stallworth. "Your conduct endangered yourself and others, leading to the death of an innocent man," The NFL and NFL players must live with the stain that you have placed on their reputations." From Stallworth: "Commissioner Goodell called me this morning," the statement read. "Obviously, I am disappointed, but, as I said previously, I accept the Commissioner’s decision. Regardless of the length of my suspension, I will carry the burden of Mr. Reyes’ death for the rest of my life. I urge NFL fans not to judge NFL players or me based on my tragic lapse in judgment. I am a good person who did a bad thing. I will use the period of my suspension to reflect, fulfill my obligations, and use this experience to make a positive impact on the lives of those who look up to NFL players." Goodell held a hearing with Stallworth, his representatives and union officials Aug. 5. H...

While searching for noteworthy news from the Browns I fell upon the following note from ESPN's AFC North Blogger James Walker: I really question whether the Browns can pound the ball up the middle as much as they would like this season. Cleveland's running game hasn't looked stout so far in the trenches. In fact, most of the team's best runs in camp are coming on the outside. The push from the offensive line inside just doesn't seem to be there consistently and starting tailback Jamal Lewis often is stopped a couple of yards or less into his runs. I have to caution not to read too much from practice. But this will certainly be something to monitor in preseason games. Yes this is only preseason, but when Mangini wants to install a clock consuming run first mentality, its going to be hard to keep the chains moving when you are getting 2 and 3 yards per rush (if that is the case) and going for third and longs on each possession. Sound familiar? In the last three...

The Cleveland Browns released veteran defensive lineman Shaun Smith Saturday morning, the AFC North blog has learned. The move represents the first significant cut of training camp under new coach Eric Mangini, as Smith has been a solid contributor in the defensive line rotation in Cleveland for the past two seasons. Smith signed a four-year deal with the Browns in 2007. He had his best year in Cleveland two years ago, when he recorded 62 tackles and two sacks while helping the Browns to a 10-6 record. Last season Smith recorded 36 tackles for the Browns. by ESPN.com's James Walker Nothing really shocking here, as you can see by his lack of production for '07 to '08. Only a matter of time now when not only the Browns but other teams start sharpening there blades for the chopping block.