<![CDATA[Upward or merely lateral moves?]]>Here is an article from Patrick McManamon. It poses an appropriate question:

Upgrades, replacement parts or both?

Did the Cleveland Browns take a step forward on the first day of free agency with their three signings, or did they merely bring in replacements for guys who left?

Maybe it depends on point of view.

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{C}{C}The Browns lost an inside linebacker and receiver this offseason when they released D'Qwell Jackson and Davone Bess. They lost a safety when T.J. Ward signed with Denver as a free agent.

In free agency, they agreed with an inside linebacker in Karlos Dansby, agreed to an offer sheet with receiver Andrew Hawkins and agreed with safety Donte Whitner.

Out goes one, in comes another.

All the new guys are good players. Whitner and Dansby are aggressive guys who are not afraid to lead. Both are older than the guys they replaced, but both can play. Hawkins is younger than Bess, and (assuming the Bengals do not match the offer) is faster, more explosive and more dependable than Bess, who developed a good case of the dropsies in Cleveland.

Are the Browns better than they were on Tuesday? The team would say yes, that they have added explosive, aggressive players who can make impact plays on defense, in the passing game and on special teams. Too, the players signed -- while not "big-ticket" guys -- are good, dependable players. They are far better than just "guys" who fill the roster. They can play, and that's good.

But the argument can be made that because the Browns lost players at each of the positions, the team merely has filled holes. The players may be better, but it's not like upgrading from a college backup to Tom Brady. The two defensive guys lost contributed to the Browns the past few years. The new guys may be better, but they are better by degrees, not leaps and bounds. Still, by that measurement, the Browns improved. But they won't make significant steps forward until they add players to the mix, not remake the mix.

If the Browns take what they've done and add another good player or two, they will have taken a step forward. The draft awaits, and the Browns have more picks than some teams do in two years.

The first day of free agency was a start. It wasn't merely treading water. But it also wasn't a huge splash. It was a start.

But for a team that has a bunch of false starts the past few years, a start is something.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/topic/28712/upward-or-merely-lateral-movesRSS for NodeThu, 01 Oct 2026 16:46:01 GMTWed, 12 Mar 2014 15:03:44 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Upward or merely lateral moves? on Mon, 17 Mar 2014 17:46:04 GMT]]>

@bbedward said:

I thought Dansbys and Hitners were front loaded and would have a bigger impact.

Anyway, let's do this thing :-p.

We do have Haden and Cameron to worry about still.

Together they have a cap hit of $9.25m this year, I believe. Hawkins would impact the overall figure, bear in mind. But yeah, we have loads of space to get Haden, Cameron and maybe even Gordon locked up this season.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/393904https://brownsboard.com/post/393904Mon, 17 Mar 2014 17:46:04 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Upward or merely lateral moves? on Mon, 17 Mar 2014 17:11:55 GMT]]>

@gftchris said:

Check the site - his is there.

I thought Dansbys and Hitners were front loaded and would have a bigger impact.

Anyway, let's do this thing :-p.

We do have Haden and Cameron to worry about still.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/393888https://brownsboard.com/post/393888Mon, 17 Mar 2014 17:11:55 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Upward or merely lateral moves? on Mon, 17 Mar 2014 17:09:47 GMT]]>

@bbedward said:

That can't be right. It must not include Mack's.

Check the site - his is there.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/393886https://brownsboard.com/post/393886Mon, 17 Mar 2014 17:09:47 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Upward or merely lateral moves? on Mon, 17 Mar 2014 16:50:47 GMT]]>

@gftchris said:

We're apparently almost $40m under the cap - including Mack's $10m contract. Somehow.

That can't be right. It must not include Mack's.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/393878https://brownsboard.com/post/393878Mon, 17 Mar 2014 16:50:47 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Upward or merely lateral moves? on Mon, 17 Mar 2014 16:46:35 GMT]]>We're apparently almost $40m under the cap - including Mack's $10m contract. Somehow.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/393876https://brownsboard.com/post/393876Mon, 17 Mar 2014 16:46:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Upward or merely lateral moves? on Mon, 17 Mar 2014 16:43:48 GMT]]>

@ballpeen said:

I think we are starting to slow down because we really want to lock up Haden and Mack this year and need to reserve about 20 mil to do so.

that numbers wrong. Haden is already counting 10 mill or so towards the cap. If we lock him up, it may go up 2 mill at most. Mack's cap number would probably be 7 or 8 mill. So we need 10 or so.]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/393875https://brownsboard.com/post/393875Mon, 17 Mar 2014 16:43:48 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Upward or merely lateral moves? on Mon, 17 Mar 2014 15:03:59 GMT]]>I think we are starting to slow down because we really want to lock up Haden and Mack this year and need to reserve about 20 mil to do so.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/393830https://brownsboard.com/post/393830Mon, 17 Mar 2014 15:03:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Upward or merely lateral moves? on Mon, 17 Mar 2014 14:32:28 GMT]]>

@mr.-make-believe said:

Anyone have some options at CB that could be realistic? Or is the draft a better place to fill this position?

We lost one option: Tarell Browns signed by the Raiders.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/393817https://brownsboard.com/post/393817Mon, 17 Mar 2014 14:32:28 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Upward or merely lateral moves? on Mon, 17 Mar 2014 02:07:32 GMT]]>

@erie-dawg said:

after a few days to let the FA digest a bit I would say we made we slightly upward moves. What makes me wonder is why the 9'ers didnt try to retain whitner? Seems they didn't try very hard to keep him.

@erie-dawg said:

Yes but do you just let a good player walk?

After a quick search it appears the 49'ers we not willing to pay him over 4 mill per year.

That was exactly it. The Niners have very little cap room, and wanted Whitner on the cheap.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/393760https://brownsboard.com/post/393760Mon, 17 Mar 2014 02:07:32 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Upward or merely lateral moves? on Sun, 16 Mar 2014 21:20:24 GMT]]>it very well could be. with ward I think the losing had more to do with him leaving. so he left while the gettin was good and went to a playoff team. without looking im guessing that ward had played in more different types of defenses that the other two.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/393730https://brownsboard.com/post/393730Sun, 16 Mar 2014 21:20:24 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Upward or merely lateral moves? on Sun, 16 Mar 2014 16:39:21 GMT]]>

@erie-dawg said:

Yeah I know all that happened was 3 teams just swapped safety's. We'll see how this plays out.

There's a little more to it ... When schemes change with coaches, some players just don't fit well. Just because players both have a position label of free or strong safety or whatever, it doesn't necessarily mean they're interchangeable. At least, that's how I see it.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/393684https://brownsboard.com/post/393684Sun, 16 Mar 2014 16:39:21 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Upward or merely lateral moves? on Sun, 16 Mar 2014 14:47:37 GMT]]>

@mr.-make-believe said:

Anyone have some options at CB that could be realistic? Or is the draft a better place to fill this position?

Get one in the draft, probably get Roby in the 3rd any of the top 4 CB's are an upgrade for us

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/393662https://brownsboard.com/post/393662Sun, 16 Mar 2014 14:47:37 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Upward or merely lateral moves? on Sun, 16 Mar 2014 14:44:45 GMT]]>

Zombo said:

Dansby had 6.5 sacks and 4 ints

Jackson had 1.5 sacks and 1 int

What do you consider playmaking? Tackles seven yards downfield? Cause DQ was the master of that.

Zombo

Finally someone else saw the same DQ I saw. Seemed more like 10 yards downfield not 7. I think we as fans get too caught up in the good browns players with longevity and overvalue them to the point of thinking it's treason when someone says something bad about them.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/393661https://brownsboard.com/post/393661Sun, 16 Mar 2014 14:44:45 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Upward or merely lateral moves? on Sun, 16 Mar 2014 14:39:18 GMT]]>

@cambridgeho said:

The Niners didnt want to pay to much for him yet they spent on another safety. Every team does it, lets guy walk and then spends what they wanted anyway. The Niners still have to pay Kap.

Yeah I know all that happened was 3 teams just swapped safety's. We'll see how this plays out.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/393659https://brownsboard.com/post/393659Sun, 16 Mar 2014 14:39:18 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Upward or merely lateral moves? on Sat, 15 Mar 2014 15:49:01 GMT]]>

@erie-dawg said:

Yes but do you just let a good player walk?

After a quick search it appears the 49'ers we not willing to pay him over 4 mill per year.

The Niners didnt want to pay to much for him yet they spent on another safety. Every team does it, lets guy walk and then spends what they wanted anyway. The Niners still have to pay Kap.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/393525https://brownsboard.com/post/393525Sat, 15 Mar 2014 15:49:01 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Upward or merely lateral moves? on Sat, 15 Mar 2014 15:38:42 GMT]]>

@john.r.brown1968 said:

Steve Smith to the fucking Ratbirds. 3 year deal.

Good. That guy's lost a few steps over the past year, and he's not the threat he once was. The only thing I worry about is that he might take Haden out of the game with a sucker punch.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/393523https://brownsboard.com/post/393523Sat, 15 Mar 2014 15:38:42 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Upward or merely lateral moves? on Sat, 15 Mar 2014 14:56:30 GMT]]>

@cambridgeho said:

Gilbert would be a great pick in the 20's for DB

I concur.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/393519https://brownsboard.com/post/393519Sat, 15 Mar 2014 14:56:30 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Upward or merely lateral moves? on Sat, 15 Mar 2014 14:53:33 GMT]]>They had a back up plan with Bethea from the Colts.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/393517https://brownsboard.com/post/393517Sat, 15 Mar 2014 14:53:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Upward or merely lateral moves? on Sat, 15 Mar 2014 14:55:59 GMT]]>

@cambridgeho said:

We dont know if they for sure didnt offer him any thing. he says he wanted to come here from the start.

Yes but do you just let a good player walk?

After a quick search it appears the 49'ers we not willing to pay him over 4 mill per year.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/393516https://brownsboard.com/post/393516Sat, 15 Mar 2014 14:55:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Upward or merely lateral moves? on Sat, 15 Mar 2014 14:39:01 GMT]]>

@erie-dawg said:

after a few days to let the FA digest a bit I would say we made we slightly upward moves. What makes me wonder is why the 9'ers didnt try to retain Dansby? Seems they didn't try very hard to keep him.

We dont know if they for sure didnt offer him any thing. he says he wanted to come here from the start.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/393515https://brownsboard.com/post/393515Sat, 15 Mar 2014 14:39:01 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Upward or merely lateral moves? on Sat, 15 Mar 2014 14:50:22 GMT]]>after a few days to let the FA digest a bit I would say we made we slightly upward moves. What makes me wonder is why the 9'ers didnt try to retain whitner? Seems they didn't try very hard to keep him.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/393510https://brownsboard.com/post/393510Sat, 15 Mar 2014 14:50:22 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Upward or merely lateral moves? on Sat, 15 Mar 2014 14:13:25 GMT]]>Gilbert would be a great pick in the 20's for DB

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/393508https://brownsboard.com/post/393508Sat, 15 Mar 2014 14:13:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Upward or merely lateral moves? on Sat, 15 Mar 2014 00:28:18 GMT]]>

XxDaBuckeyexX said:

Namely CB^

Anyone have some options at CB that could be realistic? Or is the draft a better place to fill this position?

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/393456https://brownsboard.com/post/393456Sat, 15 Mar 2014 00:28:18 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Upward or merely lateral moves? on Sat, 15 Mar 2014 00:20:22 GMT]]>Namely CB^

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/393454https://brownsboard.com/post/393454Sat, 15 Mar 2014 00:20:22 GMT