@cantonlegend said:

teams rarely overpay for players....thats why teams that are bad dont often land big name free agents whereas teams that are good can land pretty much whoever they want

nobody wants to come to cleveland and they arent going to break the bank for anyone so nobody wants to come play for them

most teams offer pretty comparable contracts to players they want....in the case of scott fujita you are right....money won him over

in the case of guys like shaun rogers....he came to new orleans for less money but hes playing for a winner

Shaun Rogers was let go by the Browns because he became a big fat POS that wasn't good enough even for them...especially at the money he wanted. He didn't go to NO for less money. He went for the only money he could get..

theres only one reason to play for a bad team and thats money....but money isnt the only thing that draws a player and if the money isnt substantially greater, a player is probably going to overlook those offers from bad teams.

Sure, a player will usually go to a better team if the money is substantially the same.

On the other hand....who the hell knows what teams are going to be good or are going to be bad from year to year.

The Niners were a crap team last year, but an elite team this year. All those free agents went to Philly thinking they were going to an elite team. The Eagles turn out being a crap team. The Bengals went from being crap to being a playoff contender. The Colts were supposed to be elite. What are they? One of the worst teams of the last two decades.

And on and on and on. Every year in the NFL a team can go from worst to first.

And in some cases, it just takes that one or two players obtained in FA to turn things around. It has been known to happen.

@the-gipper said:

But, that is ONLY mainly because of the money they can make from local and national endorsements. A douche like Mark Sanchez can get national media ads just because he plays in NYC

And bottom line....that is STILL all about the cash, not the conditions or the team's heritage.

teams rarely overpay for players....thats why teams that are bad dont often land big name free agents whereas teams that are good can land pretty much whoever they want

nobody wants to come to cleveland and they arent going to break the bank for anyone so nobody wants to come play for them

most teams offer pretty comparable contracts to players they want....in the case of scott fujita you are right....money won him over

in the case of guys like shaun rogers....he came to new orleans for less money but hes playing for a winner

theres only one reason to play for a bad team and thats money....but money isnt the only thing that draws a player and if the money isnt substantially greater, a player is probably going to overlook those offers from bad teams

@jnuh said:

IMO money is a HUGE (the biggest in most situations) draw for any free agent, but after the money I think the location is up there in deciding where to go. NYC is more desireable for most athletes then Cleveland or most other cities.

But, that is ONLY mainly because of the money they can make from local and national endorsements. A douche like Mark Sanchez can get national media ads just because he plays in NYC

And bottom line....that is STILL all about the cash, not the conditions or the team's heritage.

@tampadawgs said:

Ok, We all know we are not good, but I am a glass half full guy. I like to look to see what we can do to become a good not great football team next yr. If the Browns do the following we will be much better next yr, and become great the folling years

Free Agents- We all know that everybody here bitches about us not getting free agents. I think Holgrem will be spending a lot money this off season. This off-seson will mae or break our front office. They know what we need. So that being said go get the following

1. Carl Nicks Guard, N.O- only 26 yrs old PRO-BOWL GUARD. We then would have 4 pro-bowlers on our line next yr with seinbach coming back. Huge pick up. Then get some mid-tier O-linemen for depth

2. Dwayne Bowe or Steve Johnson go get one of them!!!! I do not care what you have to do go get one of these guys. I think we could get one of these players

3. Lardarius Webb Corner from Balt. We steal one of theres!!!! Adding depth to the Defense!!!!

4. Mario Manningham - another wide-out we could go after.

FA like Forte and Brees are not going anywhere do for get about it

Coaches:

1. Simple FIRE THE SPECIAL TEAMS COACH. This will be our goat for the year (sorry Goolie it is not Heckert)

2. Bring in a proven O.C. do not care who

3. Shurmer will not get fired even thou he needs to be, but he better work his ass off thid off season to get ready!!!

Draft:

We could have a top 5 pick, at least looks like a top 7-9 pick. If we pick these players I spoke about in the Free agent section then it will change our draft a little.

1/ With our first pick the Cleveland Browns select: Robert Griffin, QB, Baylor- He might be the Best QB in the Draft!!!! with Browns second pick in the first round the Browns select: Manti Te'o, ILB, Notre Dame even thou I love Burfict, I think Burfict is a ESPN player, he will make a huge hit and a great highlight, but Manti is THE BEST LINEBACKER IN THE DRAFT!!!!

in the second round we select Nick Toon, WR, Wisconsin with the addition of either Manningham, Bowe or Johnson adding Nic Toon would be huge

Third Round: LaMichael James, RB, Oregon How would you lie to have another Metcalf back in Cleveland!!!!

4th Tony Jerod-Eddie DT Texas A&M 6' 5" 300 How about more meat on that D-line

Dan Herron- Ohio State little bit of Homer pick, but think he can be a really good back, and would love to play for the Browns

5th Jerry Franklin ILB Arkansas

6th Shea McClellin DE Boise State

So if the Browns do something like this, we will be much better and on our way to becoming really good

Offense

QB- Griffith

RB- James, Herron, Hardesty

WR- Toon, Little, Bowe, Manningham

TE- Cameron, Watson, What hell is name

O-line- Thomas,Mack,Steinbach, Nicks, plus somebody

Defense

DL- Shread, Taylor, Rubin, McClellin,Eddie,

LB- GoCong, DQ, Te'o, Franklin

Sec- Ward, Haden, Webb, Adams

This ALL CAN HAPPEN, its not crazy like getting Brees or Forte because that will not happen. These moves are moves the Browns can make. They have the money. As you see no Hillis, we ned to move away from that mess, and as for Colt he would be either traded or moved to second string. I believe he might be a draft day trade maybe for a 4th round pick.

Cribbs- As much as I love is freeless effort, his mouth might get him out of Cleveland.

So what you think

To make it short and sweet, we need a real head coach and qb

@the-gipper said:

Barely, if at all. These players will go where the money is. Right now they go to the Yankees because that is where the money is.

You don't seen football players flocking to NYC just because the Jets and Giants are in NYC...or because of their history. The same with the Knicks and Nets, the same with the hockey teams in NYC.

IMO money is a HUGE (the biggest in most situations) draw for any free agent, but after the money I think the location is up there in deciding where to go. NYC is more desireable for most athletes then Cleveland or most other cities.

@cantonlegend said:

how many guys went to miami to play with wade, lebron and bosh for less than they would make somewhere else just because they wanted a championship?

NOBODY did, except those 3. It had nothing to do with Miami. It had everything to do with Duane Wade being LeBron and Bosh's daddy because HE was the one that was still under contract there. LeBron and Bosh went to play with HIM...not to play for Miami because they were so enamored with the city or the tradition of the Heat.

dont be that ignorant to believe that. of course money is a huge issue but cleveland isnt going to offer more to carl nicks than another team because cleveland needs a lot more than just one all pro caliber guard.....the team is in trouble and 1 guy isnt going to make a difference

What are you talking about? Sorry if you thought this was about Carl Nicks. I don't give a rat's ass about Carl Nicks. It was about paying $$ to free agents. Yea, Cleveland needs a lot more than an all pro caliber guard, but if the Browns decide they want him, and pay him more money than anyone else...he will likely come to the Browns.

it would be wiser to spread the money around to other positions as well.....not to mention that if the money isnt substantially greater, nicks isnt going to want to play in cleveland 2 years after he won the super bowl in new orleans

fujita only went to cleveland because of money.....not because he loves cleveland but nobody else was offering that much so he had no other choice.

carl nicks is far more valuable to the saints than fujita ever was tho

Then if they want to keep him they better lock him up for more money than anyone else....because if someone else is going to give him more money...he will go there in all likelihood. Sure, occasionally someone will take slightly less money in a "hometown" discount, or because they are someone else's bitch like LeBron is Wade's bitch, but that is rare.

Burfict or Te'o all the same. It is what it is, playmakers we all different ones but they are all the same

@the-gipper said:

Not true. Overall, you just have to give them more money. Don't be such a pollyanna. The Yankees get more better players because they pay much more than anyone else, not because players are interested in wearing pinstripe uniforms or are interested in the glory of the Yankees history.

how many guys went to miami to play with wade, lebron and bosh for less than they would make somewhere else just because they wanted a championship?

dont be that ignorant to believe that. of course money is a huge issue but cleveland isnt going to offer more to carl nicks than another team because cleveland needs a lot more than just one all pro caliber guard.....the team is in trouble and 1 guy isnt going to make a difference

it would be wiser to spread the money around to other positions as well.....not to mention that if the money isnt substantially greater, nicks isnt going to want to play in cleveland 2 years after he won the super bowl in new orleans

fujita only went to cleveland because of money.....not because he loves cleveland but nobody else was offering that much so he had no other choice.

carl nicks is far more valuable to the saints than fujita ever was tho

@dawginit said:

I agree a salary cap would affect the Yankees some but they would still be a good teams because of the history of the team and being in NYC.

Barely, if at all. These players will go where the money is. Right now they go to the Yankees because that is where the money is.

You don't seen football players flocking to NYC just because the Jets and Giants are in NYC...or because of their history. The same with the Knicks and Nets, the same with the hockey teams in NYC.

@tampadawgs said:

3. Lardarius Webb Corner from Balt. We steal one of theres!!!! Adding depth to the Defense!!!!

Webb is a restricted free agent and not a chance the Ravens will let him go. If the Browns want him prepare to give up a first round offer. And Webb will be getting a long term deal over the summer

@tampadawgs said:

with Browns second pick in the first round the Browns select: Manti Te'o, ILB, Notre Dame even thou I love Burfict, I think Burfict is a ESPN player, he will make a huge hit and a great highlight, but Manti is THE BEST LINEBACKER IN THE DRAFT!!!!

I watch the Notre Dame games, GO IRISH.

Honestly I think you are giving him too much credit

Dont'a Hightower from Alabama is the player I rate and would be a great signing for most teams

@the-gipper said:

DOH! The Yankees are a good team year in and year out BECAUSE they pay to get the best players. If they had a salary cap system in place in MLB like the ones in place in the NBA or NHL, the Yankees would be no better than any other run of the mill team because they wouldn't have the ability to pay more than anyone else the way they can now.

I agree a salary cap would affect the Yankees some but they would still be a good teams because of the history of the team and being in NYC.

@usfbrown said:

This is true in the most sense. But they also know the Yankees are a good team year in and year out. Why not go to a team that will pay you the most and you have one of the best chances to get a championship? And new york is a pretty cool place from what I hear.

DOH! The Yankees are a good team year in and year out BECAUSE they pay to get the best players. If they had a salary cap system in place in MLB like the ones in place in the NBA or NHL, the Yankees would be no better than any other run of the mill team because they wouldn't have the ability to pay more than anyone else the way they can now.

@the-gipper said:

Not true. Overall, you just have to give them more money. Don't be such a pollyanna. The Yankees get more better players because they pay much more than anyone else, not because players are interested in wearing pinstripe uniforms or are interested in the glory of the Yankees history.

This is true in the most sense. But they also know the Yankees are a good team year in and year out. Why not go to a team that will pay you the most and you have one of the best chances to get a championship? And new york is a pretty cool place from what I hear.

Chickenwang said:

I am a huge ND fan and watch every game. Te'o is not that good and will never make it in the NFL

How about Michael Floyd?

@cantonlegend said:

Carl nicks isn't going anywhere. He's considered the best guard in the league and the saints will lock him up long term.

Of course every team in the league is going to look at all these guys and the browns aren't very enticing to anyone. You gotta build a team that can win BEFORE free agents will look at you as a possibility

Not true. Overall, you just have to give them more money. Don't be such a pollyanna. The Yankees get more better players because they pay much more than anyone else, not because players are interested in wearing pinstripe uniforms or are interested in the glory of the Yankees history.

Chickenwang said:

I am a huge ND fan and watch every game. Te'o is not that good and will never make it in the NFL

I'm not a big fan of Te'o either. And Toon reminds me too much of Robiskie. I'd rather take Wright (WR from Baylor) over Robiskie 2.0.

In the past we have got big time o-lineman to come here..Shit Steinbach was a big time FA that came here. As far as the wide-outs, we might have to over pay for one of them, but there is A LOT that we can choose from.

Of course every team in the league is going to look at all these guys and the browns aren't very enticing to anyone. You gotta build a team that can win BEFORE free agents will look at you as a possibility

I'm not completely sold on Colt, but would much rather draft OLBs over a QB, even a WR.

Saying that, if Heckert & Holmgren truly believe that Griffin is the guy, get him. One thing to keep in mind is that the Big 12 doesn't play defense very well, so these college stats are misleading. Look at Crabtree, Dez Bryant, Graham Harrell..even Colt- I'm not sure the Big 12 is a good gauge of pro success right now.

The FA WRs you mention are solid. Steve Johnson might be a head case, but who cares anymore, take a chance.