Written by Mansfield Lucas

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Tomorrow.  Midnight.  NFL free agency will begin.  Will the Browns shoot out of the gates like a cannon as they have in past years, making big splashes with big name signings right when the window opens?  Don't count on it says Mansfield Lucas, who calls this year's crop of unrestricted free agents the most disappointing group ever, at least from the Browns perspective.  Mansfield also hits on a handful of players who will be likely targets, if not game changers.

I've been in slumber mode trying to make it through the snowiest February on record without hanging from the shower rod. This generally happens to me between the end of the season, the college all star games and now. The start of NFL free agency has always brought me back into the fold and gotten me excited and in synch for the upcoming mini-camps and draft. 

You know, I used to geek up beyond freaking belief when NFL free agency would start. I still remember the excitement of signing Corey Fuller, Leslie Shepherd and Orlando and Lomas Brown. Hey, it was all we had. I bought a Chris Spielman jersey, too. Sue me.  I still remember first getting Sirius radio and learning that we'd landed LeChuck early on out of nowhere when everyone had him going to Philly. I used to hit every link and hang on every source, refreshing compulsively like some lab animal trying to make treats come as a product of conditioning. 

And yet I could give a rat's ass about this Friday. What's gonna make me get hyped, the potential return of Andre Davis? 

This has to be the most disappointing unrestricted free agent group ever, at least from the Browns' perspective. The opportunity to improve the team with an impact starter does not appear to exist on paper. Alan Faneca still has some game, but we have Eric Steinbach. Lance Briggs is a 4 - 3 player, as is Jon Vilma even if healthy and we desired a sign-and-trade. What we really need is an impact defensive lineman or legitimate 3 - 4 linebacker for the front seven, and Albert Haynesworth and Terrell Suggs were quickly franchised by their teams. That was a no-brainer. Jared Allen weighs in at 265. This is not a RAC 3 - 4 style defensive end. In the BB Browns' - Jet's - Patriots' style 3 - 4, no one under 295 need apply as a down lineman, and even then you'd better be able to develop up to three and a quarter.     

There's just nothing there sports fans. 

There's a few interesting defensive backs that we don't need, unless Phil is really disappointed in Pool and we don't know it. There are a few older offensive linemen we don't need, even for depth. Most obvious, however, is the abject lack of impact players. When you are a 10 - 6 team and you have to manage your cap to take care of your own like Edwards and Winslow, and probably DA, why bother? 

We could use some veteran receiver help to prepare for life after JJ and deal with his injuries. Come hell or high water we do need bodies to play 3 - 4 defensive end. There are a select few guys to keep an eye out for and here's are mine: 

Jerry Porter - WR - Oaktown Rayduhs

I thought he got a raw deal in Art Shell's dog house. He's been productive, is healthy and just screams "reclamation project!" He might even beat out JJ for the starting job. He could be a beast as a complimentary player. Would Phil and RAC sign a guy with some alleged character issues in the past? I would. 

Calvin Pace - OLB - Zona Cards 

I have no idea how the team feels about Antwan Peek in the wake of Penthouse-to-Outhouse-in-3-months Todd Grantham's demise. I do believe that while it would take an act of God (or roster move by Phil) to take away his PT,  Willie McGinest played his first season in a leather helmet. Pace was a former high draft pick who is another one of those ‘tweener OLB / DE types. He may be the right guy to pair with Cam-Rahn Bay Wimbley. He had almost 100 tackles and 6.5 sacks last season. I think he is one guy who could really help at a position of some need even if he isn't a game changer. 

Marques Douglas - DE - SF 49ers 

With it looking likely that Orpheus Roye will be a cap casualty, even if he could physically go, we have to sign SOMEBODY to play the defensive line. At almost 300 pounds, Douglas may be a guy who can add some two-gap depth. There is also the Kevin Bacon-esque connection with Douglas in that he started his career with Baltimore initially acquired by Phil. He checked us out in 2005 when he was last available.  It could happen. 

Tommy Kelly - DE - Oakland Raiders 

Like the unidentified voice in the back of the room when Larry Kroger's photo showed up in Animal House, "we need the dudes." Or was it "dues?" Who cares. We are hurtin' on the DL. We have Shaun, Robaire and a bunch of developmental guys and below average players on the roster. Kelly is a pretty popular name that comes up on the internet boards from fans, but we have no idea as fans if he can play having severely injured his knee pretty late in the season. Can you really throw much money at that situation? 

Mike Doss - S - Indianapolis Colts 

We need to sign him because he went to Ohio State and we like him. No. Not really. But I promise you that you will see that take a few hundred times on line. I bet Cie Grant is available, too. BK? Are you listening? 

I am getting pretty worried about the defensive line and our ability to compete sooner rather than later. It is a gaping hole the size of Rosie O'Donnell's mouth in what is otherwise a playoff contending team. It will take some creativity, unorthodox draft day focus, and some luck to get us where we need to be on the front seven. But I'm not counting on much from free agency except for some decent veteran depth. 

There are many things to get excited about this coming Friday. It's the weekend (except I work Saturday morning). The weather in NEO is supposed to break and we will flirt with 40 over the weekend and there are rumors of that orange thing re-appearing briefly in the sky. Opening day is one day closer and we see more of the new look Cavs. March Madness is nearly here. But NFL free agency isn't a reason to get hyped. In fact, feel free to continue to snooze.