Written by Chris Hutchison

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The National Media would like you to curb your enthusiasm.

Yes, as each season springs anew in the NFL, every team - even the most repulsive piles of refuse - glows with the hope of rebirth.  Rookie X and Free Agent Y will come in and bring success to Position Z.  Young Veteran Q will make a production leap to the Nth degree.

But these are the hopes and dreams of the locals, the people that are understandably blinded by their own optimism.

Nationally, the pundits aren't so optimistic.

 

Peter King of CNNSI.com names the Browns as one of 4 NFL teams with no chance in 2010.

Clark Judge of CBS Sportsline describes the Browns as an also-ran that will be interesting just to see if Eric Mangini can keep his job.

ESPN has Cleveland ranked 28th and bemoans their vast lack of talent.

And fantasy gurus across the country describe the Browns as "Fantasy Siberia".

They might be right.  This team might be every bit as bad as the 2009 version, destined for another 4 or 5 win season.  They might be able to see things objectively that we cannot possibly see through the trees.

Or they might just be like most national pundits and ignore the Browns almost completely, just regurgitating the opinions of yesteryear in an effort to say "See, look, I mentioned Cleveland."

Personally, I haven't been this optimistic in a long time.

Here's what I perceive to be the Browns strengths:  Offensive Line.  Running Attack.  Defensive Pressure.

If the last 4 games of 2009 are any indication about what this team CAN do once it gels, then I see a run-first assault with many options and an opportunistic Defense that will bring waves of attackers again and again.

Best Case:  The Browns end up Top 12 in Rushing, Turnovers Forced, and Sacks.

Certainly, there are talent deficiencies.  There are areas where the Browns are just flat under-staffed.  But a team that Runs the ball well and makes plays on Defense will be in almost every game they play, and they'll probably win as many as they lose.

Curb your enthusiasm, if you will.  If you're a fan of Cleveland sports, it's probably a smart move regardless of the team or season.

But don't be "shocked" like the rest of the nation when the Browns fail to fail.

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Regarding Predictions

I am not big on record predictions, just because there are so many intangibles in the season that can not be anticipated:  injuries, opponents being better or worse than thought, weather, interest rate fluctuations...  It's just a crapshoot.

I am especially small (not big) on going through the schedule and saying "Win.  Win.  Loss.  Win."  Every fan of the teams the Browns play this year is going down the list and counting the Browns as a "Win", and yet I would be shocked to see Cleveland go 0-16 this season.

But seeing as I think it is an interesting gauge for me to give a prediction now - before the start of camp - and compare it against a prediction I make later - after the Preseason, I'll go ahead and break it down by Division.

Versus AFC North - Baltimore should be really good this year.  Flacco's in his 3rd year, Boldin will help the passing game, and Ray Rice is in his prime.  The Defense is always solid.  However, I am less impressed with the Steelers and Bengals.  The Steelers lost Willie Colon (IR) and Santonio Holmes (trade), and their POS QB will be suspended for the first 4-6.  I think they'll be lucky to go 8-8.  And just because Cincy managed to sign every available ex-felon doesn't mean that they won't underachieve.  Until they prove that last season wasn't a fluke, I'll just keep assuming it was.  So, 3-3.

Versus AFC East - Well, everyone has crowned the Jets' asses, and the Pats are always good.  Miami... I suppose they could be good if Chad Henne isn't a joke (which, according to the Dead Schembechlers, is impossible).  But Buffalo will basically blow baboons.  I'm saying 2-2 against that division.

Versus NFC South - Tampa has been down, but Carolina should be tough, Atlanta's no patsy, and the Saints had a decent 2009 (last time I checked).  The conservative bet is 1-3.

Versus Kansas City and Jacksonville - They could certainly lose to either, or both.  They could certainly win either, or both.  Let's split the difference.

That puts the Browns at 7-9.  Which, as I write it, doesn't seem to reflect the optimism I recently professed.

Not true!  A record is not necessarily a completely accurate depiction of a team's improvement, or lack thereof.  That 2007 team went 10-6, but that was a bit of a mirage.  7-9 against 2010's (perceived) difficult schedule would definitely put the potential for 2011 in a positive light.

If the Browns go 7-9 and stay on the perimeter of the Playoff conversation and end up the season one of those Teams Nobody Wants To Play, then I'll be acceptably satisfied.

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Regarding Quarterbacks

Players:            Jake Delhomme (17).  12th year, Louisiana-Lafayette

                        Seneca Wallace (6).  8th year, Iowa State

                        Colt McCoy (12).  Rookie, Texas

                        Brett Ratliff (5).  3rd year, Utah

Departed Players: Derek Anderson, Brady Quinn.  If you miss these guys, then you must long for the glory days of Paul McDonald.  Together, they combined to form the Pillars of Suck.  Absolutely no loss whatsoever.

Overview:  Delhomme was awful in 2009.  He was about as bad as DA & BQ, and that's pretty bad.  But that was his only year even close to that bad.  Before that, he had 6 years of very solid play.  So he has a history of success, which is something that neither DA (even with his fluke first half of 2007) nor BQ ever had or will have.  If the Browns can be a strong run-first team, Delhomme will just need to not make stupid mistakes and hit open receivers.  There's a fairly good chance he could manage that.

Not to mention that the leadership that Jake brings is really immeasurable.

If Delhomme does go south, then Seneca is waiting in the wings, and I'm absolutely dead certain that at least he is an upgrade over BQ/DA.  Part of me wishes he had gotten more of a realistic shot at winning the starting job, but the rest of me is just too pleased with a lack of a QB "competition" to care.  I tell myself to shut it.

Besides, I do think Wallace will see the field a couple times per game.  You've only seen the beginning of the Wildcat packages that the Browns will trot out there in 2010.

Fighting for the 3rd QB roster spot are Colt McCoy and Brett Ratliff.  Which isn't a fair fight, even if Ratliff vastly outperforms Colt.  I have very low expectations for the McCoy, but there's no way in Hades the Browns are cutting him, so unless they keep 4 QB's (not completely outside the realm of possibility), Brett is the odd man out.  Which kinda sucks, because I do think Ratliff has some potential.  But we're talking about the 3rd QB here, so I tell myself to shut it.

Most Important Player:  Delhomme.  If he repeats his 2009 non-excellence, then it will be a long and angry year (again) in Northeast Ohio.

Least Important Player:  McCoy.  You'll forget he's even on the team once the season begins.

Better or Worse than 2009:  Better.  The Browns could field Ryan Leaf and the corpse of Michael Jackson and still be no worse off than they were in 2009.  If Delhomme bombs, you just move on to Seneca.

Better or Worse than NFL Average:  Worse.  Sorry, but there's at least 15 other starting QB's out there that I'd rather have than Delhomme at this juncture.  Unfortunately, we're still another year away from finding the Franchise QB.

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Regarding Running Backs

Players:            Jerome Harrison (35).  5th year, Washington State

                        Montario Hardesty (31).  Rookie, Tennessee

                        Peyton Hillis (28).  3rd year, Arkansas

                        James Davis (21).  2nd year, Clemson

                        Chris Jennings (34).  2nd year, Arizona

                        Lawrence Vickers (47).  5th year, Colorado

Departed Players: Jamal Lewis.  I'm not gonna piss on Jamal's grave, but him going on IR last season was a blessed relief.

Overview:  This seems to be the big drama of Training Camp - Who Will Start?

Who cares?

Both guys (Hardesty and Harrison) will get plenty of carries, and certainly in certain situations.  If Hardesty is doing better than Harrison, then he will get more carries in that game than Harrison.  If Harrison is doing better than Hardesty, then he will get more carries in that game than Hardesty.

Because this is a position where both (all) players get their share of carries (usually in proportion to their effectiveness), then I am spectacularly uninterested in who gets the "start".  One of them will emerge as the clear-cut starter as the season progresses.

The much bigger drama will surround Who Will Make The Team?  James Davis or Chris Jennings?  Peyton Hillis will make the team because he brings that "Big Back" option, as well as being a real solid receiver out of the backfield.  So likely one of Davis or Jennings are hitting the bricks, and the fact that they both should be decent options makes it all the more intriguing.  Whichever "wins" should get more carries than you think.

When you take this stable of Running Backs and combine them with the Wildcat artistry of both Wallace and Josh Cribbs and the excellence of the Offensive Line, you have the potential for one of the most dynamic Browns Rushing attacks since Byner & Mack both topped the 1k mark.  After watching what they did in the last 4 games with nary even a hint of Passing support... I can't hide my excitement.

If they're smart and creative, they can unleash a Run game as dynamic as anything we've ever seen.

I know it sounds like I've lost my gourd, and maybe I have.  But just make sure you're the one that takes the flier on the Browns RB's in your fantasy league.

Most Important Player:  Hardesty.  My early vote for Browns Rookie with the biggest impact.  I say that Hardesty is more important than Harrison because we have a pretty good idea what Harrison can bring to the table, and I have my doubts about his ability to carry a load like he did in those last 3 games of 2009.  But if Hardesty can bring every bit of production that Harrison can bring, then Harrison won't have to carry that load, and this two headed monster can be a force to be feared.

Least Important Player:  Jennings.  I'm guessing that he's the odd man out.

Better or Worse than 2009:  Better.  The Browns rushing attack didn't really hit its stride until the end.  That should start much earlier in 2010.  Plus, you throw in Hardesty & Hillis, and it certainly would be vastly disappointing if this corps didn't improve.

Better or Worse than NFL Average:  Better.  Yahoo Sports recently ranked each team's RB corps, and they put the Browns dead last.

Yes, the same Browns which were #8 Rushing last season despite having 11 in the box most of the time.

It's easy to figure out why.  The Browns, you see, don't have any name brands on their team.  Jerome Harrison is known only to fantasy junkies.  Hardesty was the 4th or 5th rated RB in the draft, and therefore was forgotten.  Hillis?  Davis?  Jennings?  Vickers and Cribbs?

That won't be the case after this season.  Not only is this corps young, but it's deep.  I'd be in a vast minority, but I'd take these guys over the groups many of the other teams throw out there.

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Regarding Wide Receivers

Players:            Mohamed Massaquoi (11).  2nd year, Georgia

                        Brian Robiskie (80).  2nd year, Ohio State

                        Josh Cribbs (16).  6th year, Kent State

                        Chansi Stuckey (83).  4th year, Clemson

                        Carlton Mitchell (18).  Rookie, South Florida

                        Johnathan Haggerty (86).  Rookie, Southwestern Oklahoma State

                        Jake Allen (85).  2nd year, Mississippi College

                        Bobby Engram (?).  14th year, Penn State

                        Syndric Steptoe (10).  3rd year, Arizona

Departed Players: Braylon Edwards, Mike Furrey, Paul Hubbard, Donte Stallworth.  As much as I harbor disdain for Braylon, I must admit that he has some qualities that can help a team.  Despite the fact that he can rarely catch it, Braylon was a consistent threat on the deep ball.  And his run blocking was above average (at least, it was when he went to the Jets - man I love players that finally start giving their all when they leave Cleveland).

I still wouldn't want him back, though.

Overview:  Massaquoi was pretty decent last season, and I think he'll only get better in 2010.  You have to remember that he put up the numbers he did with possibly the worst QB tandem of all time throwing the ball behind/over him.

But it's not Mo Mass that the Browns are banking their hopes upon, since they already have a pretty good idea what he can do.  It's Brian Robiskie and Carlton Mitchell.  One of them has to show something - anything - or Cleveland might have to just abandon the forward pass altogether.

Robiskie got a lot of positive publicity in OTA's and Minicamp, but I'll reserve my excitement until I see him do something.  And Mitchell, despite having all the potential in the world, could just be another physical specimen that just can't do it on the NFL level.  Both these guys are huge question marks.

Cribbs is not really a WR, and Stuckey is a slot guy at best.  Undrafted Free Agent Johnathan Haggerty is receiving some fancy talk, but, again... this Wide Receiving corps is a giant Leap of Faith.

Most Important Player:  Robiskie.  Drafted where he was - especially considering the players the Browns eschewed to take him that high - Brian Robiskie absolutely has to deliver.  If he's a non-entity again in 2010, it will be a dire Receiving situation.

Least Important Player:  Steptoe.  Just nothing about this guy interests me at all.

Better or Worse than 2009:  Worse.  Basically, you're replacing Braylon Edwards with Carlton Mitchell.  Maybe that works out.  Who knows? 

Better or Worse than NFL Average:  Oh, worse.  So much worse.  I don’t even want to talk about it.  (Which is word for word what I wrote last year about the position.)

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Regarding Tight Ends

Players:            Ben Watson (82).  7th year, Georgia

                        Evan Moore (89).  2nd year, Stanford

                        Alex Smith (81).  6th year, Stanford

                        Robert Royal (84).  9th year, LSU

                        Joel Gamble (?).  1st Year, Shippensburg

Departed Players: Steve Heiden, Greg Estandia.  I always liked Heiden, but the Heiden of 2009 was proof that he had finally reached his end.  Injuries and age had reduced him to Just Another Guy - at best.

Overview:  Ben Watson is an instant upgrade over Robert Royal as far as pass-catching goes.  He's got deceptive speed and good hands, and should at least double the "production" that Royal "achieved" last year.

Evan Moore returns as a TE/WR hybrid, probably get split out wide more often than not.  If you add him as a de facto WR (which I really should have done), then it makes one feel slightly better about the prospects of the Receiving corps.  Slightly.

Royal probably still makes this team because of his blocking prowess (we always seem to have one of those glorified-O-Linemen types), and Alex Smith is probably a cut.

Most Important Player:  Watson.  I don't expect him to be K2, but I expect him to be healthier and a better blocker.  If Watson can throw in 50 receptions and about 650 yards, that would be a huge addition.

Least Important Player:  Royal.  See previous comment about glorified O-Lineman.  I'd rather line Floyd Womack at the spot and have at it.  I'm sure Pork Chop can drop a pass too.

Better or Worse than 2009:  Better.  When Robert Royal is your #1 Tight End, you've got problems. 

Better or Worse than NFL Average:  Worse.  I guess.  I only say this because it seems that about half the teams out there have a really dangerous workhorse Tight End that gets as many looks as a Wide Receiver, and, even with Watson, I don't see the Browns as one of those teams.

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Regarding Offensive Linemen

Players:            Joe Thomas (73).  4th year, Wisconsin

                        Alex Mack (55).  2nd year, Cal

                        Eric Steinbach (65).  8th year, Iowa

                        Tony Pashos (79).  8th year, Illinois

                        Floyd Womack (77).  10th year, Mississippi State

                        Shawn Lauvao (66).  Rookie, Arizona State

                        John St. Clair (78).  11th year, Virginia

                        Joel Reinders (67).  Rookie, Waterloo

                        Casey Bender (72).  Rookie, South Dakota State

                        Paul Fanaika (?).  2nd year, Arizona State

                        Scott Kooistra (74).  8th year, North Carolina State

                        Pat Murray (75).  1st year, Truman State

                        Billy Yates (68).  7th year, Texas A&M

Departed Players: Hank Fraley, Rex Hadnot.  I'm afraid the team will miss a legit backup Center like Fraley at some point, but, let's face it, he wasn't getting any younger.  Hadnot was also a serviceable run-blocking Guard, but hardly irreplaceable.

Overview:  Joe Thomas is about as good as it gets at Left Tackle, and Alex Mack is emerging as a top-end Center.  Eric Steinbach is still decent-to-serviceable at Left Guard, and Tony Pashos looks to be an upgrade at Right Tackle (we hope).  So, that leaves Right Guard, where if Shawn Lauvao isn't ready to start as a rookie, Floyd Womack is still around to be functional.

It's really a pretty good line overall.

Depth is where it gets a little dicey.  John St. Clair is fine as a backup, but then there's a bunch of young whozits.  UDFA Joel Reinders is apparently very large (6'7, 315), but who knows if he can play?  A lot of teams jumped at Paul Fanaika when he hit the waiver wire, but that just makes him the belle of the Reject Ball.

The other guys?  Uhhhhh...

Most Important Player:  Mack.  Obviously, Thomas is the best Offensive Lineman on the team (maybe in the NFL).  But there is no true backup at Center behind Mack, and the position is so important.  Fraley wasn't retained, and the guy they picked up to be the backup - Eric Ghiaciuc - ended up only staying for a cup of tea.

Least Important Player:  St. Clair.  Sure, he's not really the least important player on that OL list.  But picking some guy no one's ever heard of and has a negative percentage shot of actually sticking is too easy.  So I choose former starting RT John St. Clair, because he should never start again.

Better or Worse than 2009:  Better.  Simply because the growing pains should be alleviated for Mack and Pashos should be (better be) an improvement over St. Clair.

Better or Worse than NFL Average:  Better.  Across the starting 5, that is, and that's mainly because you have one of the 3 best linemen in the league at Left Tackle.

As an overall unit, probably average to slightly worse than average.  We must hope some of those young guys pan out.

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Regarding Defensive Linemen

Players:            Shaun Rogers (92).  10th year, Texas

                        Ahtyba Rubin (71).  3rd year, Iowa State

                        Robaire Smith (98).  11th year, Michigan State

                        Kenyon Coleman (90).  9th year, UCLA

                        CJ Mosley (69).  6th year, Missouri

                        Brian Schaefering (91).  1st year, Lindenwood

                        Clifton Geathers (97).  Rookie, South Carolina

                        Kwaku Danso (75).  Rookie, East Carolina

                        Titus Adams (62).  1st year, Nebraska

                        Derreck Robinson (67).  4th year, Iowa

                        Brian Sanford (70).  Rookie, Temple

                        Swanson Miller (95).  Rookie, Oklahoma State

Departed Players: Corey Williams.  Corey had a couple good games (the PIT game at home comes to mind), but was largely a poor fit for a 3-4.  Thank you so much, Phil Savage.

Overview:  It's difficult to get a great read on this position because we don't know who's going to be suspended, for how long, and when.  Shaun Rogers and Robaire Smith both had airport-gun issues this offseason, and since both are penciled in as starters, it makes it messy.

I'm going to assume that Ahtyba Rubin starts as the Nose Guard.  He's done very well when he's played there, and is better suited to the position than Rogers.  But you don't have a guy as talented as Rogers sitting on the bench, so you move him starting Defensive Tackle, where his penchant for penetration (sounds like a porn star) might better suit him anyway.

To me, that's 2 out of the 3 positions manned by a real solid player.

The last starting position could go to Smith, whose best ball might be behind him, or Kenyon Coleman or CJ Mosley.  One of those 3 (or a combination thereof) needs to be effective enough to hold their own - that's all we really ask.  Double digit sacks ain't comin' from that spot.

Brian Schaefering joined the team late last year and was part of that No Name Defense which performed so admirably in the last 4 (well, not the KC game).  And huge rookies Clifton Geathers (6'7, 299) and Kwaku Danso (6'5, 336) will likely make the cut as developmental projects (Geathers on the team, Danso on the Practice Squad).

The rest of the guys get to be trivia questions.

Most Important Player:  Rubin.  He anchors the line, and he won't be suspended (as far as I know).  If he can continue to improve, it will effect every single other player on the Defensive side of the ball.  And maybe the Browns can finally finish above 30th in Run Defense.

Least Important Player:  None.  Every guy that makes the team will play, and play a lot.  Rob Ryan likes to rotate his D Linemen to keep them fresh, so there are no important dudes at this position.  They all need to be solid.

Better or Worse than 2009:  Push.  It's pretty much the same cast of characters, with Corey Williams swapped out for Schaefering/Geathers.  Which some would argue is a loss, but I have enough hope for those two young 'uns to disagree.

Better or Worse than NFL Average:  Push.  I'd like to say better, but the Browns simply CANNOT continue their lack of success against the run and claim superior talent.  A lot of the previous issues rest on the Linebacking corps, but the D Line earns their share of the blame too. 

If someone put a missile to my head, I'd say worse than average.  But gauging a 3-4 D Line against 4-3 D Lines is just not fair because of the completely different player types/responsibilities.

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Regarding Linebackers

Players:            David Bowens (96).  12th year, Western Illinois

                        Scott Fujita (99).  9th year, Cal

                        Matt Roth (53).  6th year, Iowa

                        Chris Gocong (51).  5th year, Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo

                        D'Qwell Jackson (52).  5th year, Maryland

                        Jason Trusnik (93).  4th year, Ohio Northern

                        David Veikune (57).  2nd year, Hawaii

                        Marcus Benard (58).  2nd year, Jackson State

                        Eric Barton (50).  12th year, Maryland

                        Kaluka Maiava (56).  2nd year, USC

                        Blake Costanzo (54).  4th year, Lafayette

                        Titus Brown (59).  1st year, Mississippi State

Departed Players: No one worth mentioning.

Overview:  Outside of the Running Backs, this is the unit which excites me the most.  Like the RB's, there aren't a lot of big names here, but there is talent, and there's a lot of it.

Look at that list.  Who there isn't making the team?  Maybe Titus Brown?  The rest of them will probably all be there, and they'll all play.  It doesn't really matter who starts, because the Browns will move guys from Inside to the Outside, from the Outside to the Inside, there might be 5 'Backers out there on some plays, there might be 6... hell, there might even be 7.

Here's what I envision for this squad:  Linebackers line up all over the place, attacking in waves, in and out of the lineup to stay fresh, attack and attack and charge the lanes and molest the line of scrimmage.

The Browns racked up 40 sacks last year (tied for 8th), and it's not because they waited for the QB to fall down on his own.

If I had to pick a starting 4, I guess I'd go with Gocong and Roth on the Outside, with Bowens and Fujita in the middle.  But all of those other guys will get plenty of field time.

I don't forsee any of them nailing down double-digit sacks, per se, but I can see 5 or 6 of them picking up 5-8.  If you're getting, say, 30 sacks out of your LB corps, then you ain't doing half bad.  Not half bad at all.

Most Important Player:  Bowens.  Not to further slight D'Qwell Jackson, but when Bowens took over the Middle spot late last season, the communication and leadership he brought made the whole machine run more smoothly.  Consequently, the LB corps as a whole started to make more plays.  He needs to be the Captain of the Ship.

Least Important Player:  Barton.  Aging, coming off a bad injury, one of the few guys that can't really play both Inside and Out... Barton will likely be relegated to backup duty and less field time than almost everyone else on that list.

Better or Worse than 2009:  Better.  Everyone is back and healthy (for now), Roth will be around for a full season, and Gocong & Fujita are very solid acquisitions.  Yes yes... me eager to see 'em in action.

Better or Worse than NFL Average:  Push.  I betcha Joe Average National Pundit ranks 'em real low (just like they did with the Browns RB unit) just because there is a dearth of "names" out there.  But, again, the squad is young and deep.  We'll just see.

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Regarding Cornerbacks

Players:            Eric Wright (21).  4th year, UNLV

                        Sheldon Brown (24).  9th year, South Carolina

                        Joe Haden (23).  Rookie, Florida

                        Coye Francies (25).  2nd year, San Jose State

                        Brandon McDonald (22).  4th Year, Memphis

                        Gerard Lawson (30).  3rd year, Oregon State

                        Chris Chancellor (49).  Rookie, Clemson

                        Chris Roberson (37).  4th Year, Eastern Michigan

                        DeAngelo Smith (39).  2nd Year, Cincinnati

Departed Players: Hank Poteat, Ramzee Robinson.  The very definition of addition by subtraction.

Overview:  Eric Wright is solid if unspectacular.  I'm not worried about him.  What I was worried about was the other Corner, and that looks to be filled by former Eagle Sheldon Brown.  At least for now, because that position will eventually belong to rookie Joe Haden, who was taken #7 overall in the draft.

So he better be damn good.

However, I don't expect him to be damn good from the gun.  Haden will have growing pains as he learns the speed and physicality of the NFL.  Now, unlike some spastic individuals out there, I'm not gonna freak out and declare that Haden is a bust before Training Camp even starts.  I'm not gonna say "Eeeeek!  He's too slow to play in the NFL!" until I see that he's indeed too slow to play in the NFL.

If you're a rookie, things don't usually come naturally.  You have to think.  Where do I go?  Where do I line up?  What are this guy's tendencies?  Who's my Safety?  And if you're doing more thinking than playing... you're gonna look slow.

His 4.42 at Florida's Pro Day tells me he's fast enough.  Give him time.  He'll be fine. 

I hope.

Haden will battle it out for the Nickel position with Brandon McDonald and Coye Francies, all of which will make the team (much to the chagrin of the McD haters).  I think Brandon can do just fine at the Nickel spot, and I think that everyone overlooks Francies (who I liked a lot in limited play last year).  Watching these 3 war for PT will be one of the more interesting parts of the Preseason.

Most Important Player:  Brown.  He's shown nothing but quality throughout his career, but that career is getting up there for a CB.  Whispers have it that he's lost a step, and that step is all a Corner needs to go from effective to defective.  He needs to last one more season where he is, then can move to Safety in 2011.

Least Important Player:  McDonald.  Probably not gonna win that Nickel spot, which means that he'll be a Dime back - at best.  Pretty far to fall from being a starter in '09.

Better or Worse than 2009:  Better.  Oh so much better.  Why?  Hank.  Poteat.  Is.  Gone.

Better or Worse than NFL Average:  Push.  Really, this could be one of the deeper and more talented groups in the league, but there are too many question marks at this point, and there isn't anyone that could realistically be considered a "shutdown" Corner, at least not at this juncture.  So, with that, it's better than it was, but it's still pretty Meh.

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Regarding Safeties

Players:            Abe Elam (21).  5th year, Kent State

                        Mike Adams (24).  7th year, Delaware

                        TJ Ward (23).  Rookie, Oregon

                        Larry Asante (25).  Rookie, Nebraska

                        Nick Sorensen (22).  10th Year, Virginia Tech

                        Ray Ventrone (30).  5th year, Villanova

Departed Players: Brodney Pool.  Pool would occasionally pull off a big play, but he was injured so often - and invisible so often even when he was playing - that I have a hard time believing that the Browns are gonna miss him at all.

Overview:  Abe Elam wasn't underwhelming last year, but he certainly wasn't overwhelming either.  I guess he was just "whelming".  He's Just Another Guy, decent, functional, but hardly life-changing. 

Take what I just said about Elam and repeat it for Mike Adams.

So there's a lot resting on the shoulders of 2nd Round pick TJ Ward (and, to a lesser extent, Larry Asante) to come in and be an impact player.  Immediately.

Safety was arguably the weakest position on the team last year (although Wide Receiver would beg to differ), and 2 rookies are the lifeblood of any improvement.  It will definitely be interesting to watch.

Ward is a huge hitter that could certainly be a force if he stays healthy and knows where he's supposed to be.  I'd have to imagine that he immediately assists the Run D, and probably picks up some sacks on Safety blitzes.  But if he's turning around and getting burned on deep routes - that's a problem.

Same goes for Asante, who, by all accounts, is kind of a carbon copy of Ward.

There is no ball-hawking Ed Reed guys at Safety for this team.  If they're to be effective, they'd better bring the wood and bring it hard.

Most Important Player:  Ward.  I just told you why.  He was a high pick at a position of great need.  Lots of pressure on this guy.

Least Important Player:  Sorensen.  But at least you have to respect the player who just keeps making the team and doing what they ask him to do.

Better or Worse than 2009:  Gotta go with better.  If that's incrementally better or incredibly better is a mystery wrapped in an enigma wrapped in a burrito.

Better or Worse than NFL Average:  Worse.  Until the 2 kids prove their merit, this is still a Bottom 5 unit.

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Regarding Special Teams

Players:            Josh Cribbs (16).  6th year, Kent State

                        Phil Dawson (4).  12th year, Texas

                        Ryan Pontbriand (64).  8th year, Rice

                        Dave Zastudil (15).  9th year, Ohio

                        Reggie Hodges (2).  4th year, Ball State

Departed Players: Shaun Suisham.  Har har.

Overview:  The only constant on the Cleveland Browns (other than losing and continuous change) would be the Special Teamers, and God bless their hearts for being there for us.

Dawson remains one of the best bad weather Kickers in the game.  Zastudil is plenty fine at Punter.  Ryan Pontbriand remains Butch Davis' best draft pick (and they all mocked poor Butch), and Cribbs is simply the best at what he does in the entirety of the NFL.

Most Important Player:  Cribbs.  He changes field position, he changes momentum, and he provides Cleveland with the one Nationally Recognized Name.  All Hail The New King.

Least Important Player:  Hodges.  Who are they trying to fool?

Better or Worse than 2009:  Push.  They were really good in 2009, so being the same is fine with me.

Better or Worse than NFL Average:  Better.  With Cribbs and Dawson, Top 5 for sure.

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Regarding The CBA

As anyone who has read this column before knows, it's a cold day in Hell before I start defending the Players versus the League.

Well, it's snowing in Miami.

There are certain provisions that necessitate a new CBA.  Status quo isn't good enough.  First, a salary scale has to be slapped on rookies to prevent the bulldeuce contract squabbles that occur each and every July and August.  And please spare me the whining about the new OT structure.  What'll it add to the average NFL player's time on the field for the entire season?  5 minutes?  It's annoying bargaining tactics.

But the NFL has made some proposals that make me scratch my head.  What's with having players pay into a pool that helps fund stadium building/renovation?  Is this like stock?  Do they become part owners of the stadium once they pay in?  Or are you really trying to make your employees pay for the building they work in?

And adding 2 games to the schedule?  Is this really necessary?  I love football as much as anyone else, and if they move to 18 games then que sera sera, but the current system is fine.  18 games means a whole mess 'o injuries, and probably more meaningless drek at the end of the season.  And how can you ask the players to play 2 extra games and not increase their pay accordingly?

Yes, the 4 Preseason games aren't thrillers - but they're pretty important to the teams playing in them.  If the League can't abide them, they should just do away with 2 of them (making it one less practice game which is foisted upon the season ticket holders). 

'Course, that'll never happen, because that means lost revenue from the one less home game played.  So the owners and the League just want to magically turn that into a Regular Season game while not having to compensate per scale.  Unfair.

And while I think it's important that a hard salary cap remains in place along with the Franchise and Transition tags, I also think that equipment research (especially helmet technology) and retired player health care and pension should become bigger NFL priorities.  If you expect the players to act as your partners, then you need to treat them with respect.  It does nothing but help the game and the image of the League to take care of your employees.

In the end, I guess the only thing that is vital to me personally is that they 1) get a rookie salary scale and 2) get the thing worked out as soon as possible.

And do it right so we don't have to do this again in another 5 years.

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Regarding The Big Three

Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, and Tom Brady are all entering the last year of their contracts.

Word has it that they have been secretly talking (summit-ing), and have decided to join forces in 2011 and take their talents to... somewhere (destination TBD).

NFL foundation... QUAKE WITH FEAR!!!

Of course, even this pact of top football talent will still pale in comparison to the Browns' Big Three:  Ryan Pontbriand, Dave Zastudil, and Phil Dawson.

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Regarding A Cold Weather Super Bowl

You know, I've heard a lot of whining on this topic.  Mostly from media members who look forward to some warm climates and bikini-laden parties come February.

The classic argument is that the Super Bowl - the tantamount of NFL entertainment - should be played in "neutral" conditions - aka a dome or a warm weather destination.

You know, where any team that plays a majority of their home games - especially their important late season games - in cold, shitty weather, a team designed to be successful in said conditions, gets to jump on the rug with the little quick team of gnats designed to play on precipitation-free green rubber...

And that's supposed to be neutral.

Hey, it would be silly of me to say there's a natural Super Bowl advantage (or BCS bowl game advantage, for that matter) for the teams of the Wussy Climates.  Usually, the best team wins, period, end of story.

However, there can be no denying that there is some validity to the concept that a team in, say, Cleveland, might be more disposed to a power running game in the mud and slush than say, a team from Atlanta.  And if the Super Bowl is and always will be held in a locale such as, say, Atlanta, then the mudder team from Cleveland is at an immediate disadvantage due to the fact that they have played (for the last 8 games) a brand of football which is completely non-conducive to them playing on carpet.

Let's say that the 2009 Browns team that won their last 4 games also won 8 others in happier conditions and earned the chance to host their playoff games in crappy weather.  Why is it that they must be automatically penalized once they go all the way?

They can't get to the Big Dance without playing the type of game which will ensure they are at a major disadvantage once they get there.

The counter-argument is:  Sure, you've got a point, but who gives a squirt?

Last I checked, Pittsburgh's won a bunch of Rings.  Green Bay too (but only one since TV was black and white).  New England has done just fine outside of their comfort zone, and the Giants of NY have taken home 3.

Still, it's not even about competitive advantage.  Let's say for a moment that you belong to a poker league.  Each week, you and 11 of your closest friends play a nice game of Texas Hold 'Em, and, at the end of the season, there is a Super Fantastic Crazy-Ass Showdown between the two best players, and the game is held at one person's house, and that person gets thousands of dollars just for hosting the event.

Oh, but if you are one of the unfortunate 6 who live north of the county line, well, sorry, but that part of town is just too shitty in the winter for this "elite" league to hold its Super Awesome Balls-To-Da-Wall Finale.  So the other 6 guys from Pleasant County get the dough year after year, while you will never ever get a shot.

If you were one of the Shitty County citizens who paid their dues and played their poker just like the dudes from Pleasant... well, your reaction to this deal (blatant screwjob) would probably be a hearty "Intercourse You".

Neutral site my ass.

"Sorry dude, but we can't have the shindig at your house because, well... your neighborhood doesn't have a Mercedes dealer."

In the past, the NFL has awarded the Super Bowl to party cities that would emphasize how "awesome" the league is, or to bergs that ponied up the cash to build a huge new stadium.  Ah, the humanity.

Let's just surmise for a moment that any city that harbors an NFL team deserves the cash cow that is a Super Bowl extravaganza as much as any other city.  Let's just throw out the silly idea that this league is supposed to be about competitive balance, and that the cities in the North don't pay any less in "club membership" than any other city.

Wouldn't it be most fair to just rotate the Super Bowl amongst all the NFL towns?

Yes, it's 2018, and Holy Spanks, the rotation falls to Kansas City.  Well, you know it in advance.  You know that you might have to deal with inclement weather.  You prepare ahead of time.

Just imagine the Green Bay Super Bowl.  All of the sporting world descends upon coastal Wisconsin, and, oh no!  They can still somehow manage their pre-game parties and hype!  Even with the cold weather!

How do people live here?  Oh!  Beer!  That's how!  Woooooooo!

It's a very simple proposition I, uh... propose here:  If you are an NFL city and you have an NFL team, then you get your turn at the big fat Super Bowl pie.

So maybe your Championship Game takes place in inclement weather.  Oh no!  The American public will never stand to see a game of such magnitude played in such conditions!

(Cough cough Ice Bowl cough cough.)

Please don't be foolish enough to tell me that playing a Championship Game in less than perfect conditions reduces the validity of the contest.  There are two teams, and they both have to play in the elements, whatever they might be:  Heat, carpet, sun, snow, rain, humidity, locusts.

May the best team win.

End the favoritism bullshit for all those southern cities that consider 50 degrees a social apocalypse.

Force the Masses to migrate to a Cleveland Super Bowl. 

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Person That I Dislike More Than Aaron Goldhammer

Ming the Merciless.

He's just mean.