Sorry I skipped last week’s Browns blog, tax season comes at me fast, especially when I’m behind two weeks because of the ice storm. Now that things have settled down a bit, let’s see where everything stands after the first week of free agency.
I know the first week seems average for the Browns, but GM Andrew Berry said they would be a little more aggressive than last year (they were) and it would be targeted (it was). For all the complaining that Berry never tells the fans and media anything, he told you everything yet there’s still complaining. If you’ve listened to my podcasts, I said the Browns would not make a big splash signing, and yet people are upset there were no big-name signings. At least some things are predicable. As for the players, they’ve acquired, they are versatile and durable. My only concern is left tackle. I can understand not overpaying for LT Rasheed Walker, but I don’t trust Jawand Jones. He was been told again this year to lose weight (30 pounds). I guess they could draft a tackle, and they might, but I would feel better having a dependable veteran already in place prior to the draft.
The other big complaint is Joel Bitonio’s rather large dead cap hit. First of all, dead cap does not represent the negative connotations that those who don’t understand the salary cap try and tell you. Dead cap is money already spent. It’s gone, so actually it’s a positive. You can’t spend money you’ve already spent. The important number to pay attention to is cash spending. The Browns are always top five in cash spending because it doesn’t affect the cap. As I’ve said before, cash spending is like the owner writing a person check to the player. It all depends on the owner and his wealth. Most of these old billionaires want to hold on to their wealth with a death grip and the NFL team they own is a hobby. Not Jimmy Haslam, he’ll spend the money. Odds are it’ll work soon. According to Over The Cap, the Browns are $22.7 million under the cap. Plenty of money to sign or trade for players and sign draft picks.
Speaking of draft picks, Cleveland is in the process of draft player visits. Here’s who’s visited as of this writing: Jordyn Tyson, WR Arizona State, Carnell Tate, WR Ohio State, Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama, Markel Bell, OT Miami(FL), R Mason Thomas, EDGE Oklahoma, Makai Lemon, WR USC, Omar Cooper Jr., WR Indiana, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S Toledo and Chris Bell, WR Louisville. The surprise is R. Mason Thomas, but he was very effective in college rushing the passer. Bell is a day three LT who never allowed a sack for the Hurricanes. Are the Browns interested in any of these players? Yes, or they wouldn’t have them in for a pre-draft visit. Last year they brought in Mason Graham, Carson Schwesinger and Quinshon Judkins. Finally, the big talking point is the Browns will trade down, because they did it last year. Poor reasoning. If there’s a trade down, the deal was started at the combine and we’ll never know if it doesn’t happen. Now there might be a trade for a veteran player prior to or during the draft and it might be a wide receiver. Stay safe and Go Browns.