From The Greatest

Jim Brown talks to Steve Doerschuk of the Canton Rep about the latest offseason moves.

I liked the way Jim Brown put it during a phone conversation after Jamal Lewis ran Reuben Droughns out of Cleveland.

The Hall of Fame running back, now a team consultant, was weighing the pieces added - including guard Eric Steinbach - and the ones still in the mist.

"This is a major chess game going on right now," Brown said. "All these pieces have to be developed. Those two individuals will definitely add something positive."

Brown made it clear he isn't hinting Savage should endorse Charlie Frye, nor discounts the possibility another quarterback will be brought in. "I like Charlie as quarterback and a human being," Brown said. "Charlie Frye is a fine quarterback and a fine young man. He has worked hard, he will work hard and he can play."

Is it time for Lewis, a first-round pick in 2000, to start wearing down? Lewis has made 1,822 career carries. Jim Brown logged 2,359 carries before retiring at age 29. Hall of Famer Leroy Kelly was washed up before he made the last of his 1,727 carries. LaDainian Tomlinson, who is two months older than Lewis, has carried 2,050 times. Shaun Alexander, drafted the same year as Lewis but two years older, has carried 1,969 times and is coming off a bad year.

Two of Brown's favorites were Earl Campbell and John Riggins. When healthy, Brown said, Lewis has run with their kind off power. "(Lewis) will run over you, and he'll run around you," Brown said, emphasizing, "if he's healthy."

Fools Lie Ahead

Steve Doerschuk outlines the Raiders and Lions draft plans.

Who will be the Browns Pick?

One educated guess: Savage is warming up to Quinn, not erasing Peterson just because he has Jamal Lewis, and wishing Joe Thomas oozed more "great" than "really good," given what he will cost. To a large extent, I think, Savage himself is still heavily engaged in guessing.

Savage has a clue who the Raiders and Lions will pick ahead of him, but everyone knows those are two teams whose ideas can be odd. The top of the draft is thick with intrigue for teams needing juice on offense, where the best talent in the draft is pooled. Quarterbacks JaMarcus Russell and Brady Quinn, wideout Calvin Johnson, left tackle Joe Thomas and running back Adrian Peterson could be the top five picks.

Unpredictability is Raider czar Al Davis' favorite sport, his 31-year-old head coach being the latest case in point. This old dude once picked Sebastian Janikowski one spot before he could have had Shaun Alexander. The crazy Lions spent No. 2, No. 7 and No. 10 overall picks on wideouts in consecutive years.

Matt Millen obviously likes receivers. Everybody loves Calvin. Some mock drafts, including nfldraftscout.com, have Russell and Quinn going to Oakland and Detroit. But there are as many combinations of things that could happen at the top of the draft as in a lotto "pick three." Bottom line: Savage must monitor all five players listed above, unable to be sure which one might drop in his lap.

Grossi Answers Lots of Your Questions

PD Reporter tackles the draft and free agency
"At present, I still think they are leaning to Adrian Peterson."

PatMac: Lewis Still Has It, He thinks the Pick is Quinn

In this mornings Ohio.com column, Pat McManamon, offers his take on the guards, Jamal Lewis and the draft, as well as free agency.

One NFL front-office type, who was told his insights would be used but without his name, shared his opinion. (We'll call him Mr. Front Office, 'cuz that always seems to add an air of mystery and intrigue to a guy's opinions.)

Lewis and Droughns ``are probably comparable,'' he said. ``Reuben, at his best, did good things. He's a hard runner. Reuben can do a little more on the outside. Inside, Jamal can be as good or better.''

If there is any difference between the Lewis of today and the Lewis of 2003, it's the inability to turn 5-yard runs into 50-yarders, Mr. Front Office said.

One scout said Lewis had gone from being a freak with size who could run to more like Stephen Davis, a hard-running, powerful inside back. Mr. Front Office did not disagree.
Lewis is ``a horse,'' he said. ``There's not the huge explosion plays like he once had, but he can be a consistent pounder for you.''

He also said, however, that Lewis had a better year in 2006, when he played with bone spurs, than in 2004 and 2005.

``If he's back on the upswing, I don't know,'' Mr. Front Office said. ``Sometimes backs have a resurgence. He's not done by any means.''

An Open Letter To Browns Fans from Jamal Lewis

I plan to do everything I can to help the team win and entertain the fans, and hopefully -- despite the past - you will all welcome me with open arms.

A big part of me coming to the Browns had to do with my prior relationship with Phil Savage.
I first met Phil when I talked to him at the NFL Combine in 2000. At the time he was the director of college scouting for the Ravens.

What impressed me off the bat about Phil is that he's a people person. During my time with the Ravens, he'd ask me what I needed and what I wanted. He really wanted to get my input on how to make the team better. A player likes when a GM shows he's really interested in our opinions. It made an impression on me.

'99 Brown Daylon McCutcheon Released

Kicker Phil Dawson is now the last player left from the 1999 expansion team.

The Browns have released long-time cornerback Daylon McCutcheon, the team announced Friday.

One of the two remaining players from the club's inaugural team in 1999, McCutcheon was a '99 third-round pick out of USC.

Daylon told the ABJ he wont forget 2002, the only playoff season.

As for the Browns, McCutcheon conceded that things got tough as the losing wore on.
``Every season I started optimistic, but by the end, it was the same old stuff,'' he said.
He cited as the high point the playoff appearance after the 2002 season, but he still wonders why the team was dismantled after that close loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
``Everyone on that team was like, `Man!' '' he said of the decision to release several veterans. `

`You go to the playoffs and figure if you make some moves the next year, that the team will compete and maybe go deeper in the playoffs. It seemed like just the exact opposite. We were back to square one.''

During his eight-year tenure with the club, McCutcheon played in 103 games with 96 starts and marked 463 tackles, 7 sacks, 12 interceptions, 63 pass breakups and 8 forced fumbles.

"Daylon is one of the original Browns from 1999 and we appreciate everything he did here in Cleveland both on and off the field over the last eight seasons," Savage said. "Daylon is a true professional and we wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors."

Droughns traded for Giants WR Carter

Cleveland.com reports Browns running back Reuben Droughns has been traded to the New York Giants for receiver/returner Tim Carter.

Droughns' fate was sealed when the Browns signed former Ravens running back Jamal Lewis on Wednesday to a one-year contract worth $3.5 million. Droughns was due a $1.75 million roster bonus next week and the Browns decided to unload him instead.

Carter (5-11, 190) was a third receiver for the Giants and is under contract in 2007 for $1 million. Last season, he caught 22 passes for 253 yards and two TDs.

Bengal DT Smith Signed to Offer Sheet

The Browns signed Cincinnati backup defensive tackle Shaun Smith to an offer sheet Friday, forcing the Bengals to either match the offer or lose the fourth year player to their division rivals. Smith, a 6 foot, 325 pound tackle out of South Carolina, would provide sorely-needed depth for the Browns on their defensive line. Smith was an undrafted free agent out of South Carolina, so the Browns will not be forced to compensate the Bengals if Cincinnati decides not to match the offer.


After the whining Marvin Lewis did recently about how the Browns are building their team, Phil might just be sending a shot across the warden's bow. "Just STFU, Warden, or we'll take more of your players. If you want to keep them, you'll have to pay them more."


Some more signings along the D line should be expected in the coming weeks before the draft.

Total Smoke - Schefter Speculates on No. 3

On NFL Network's Total Access tonight, Adam Schefter sent some smoke signals for Sav.

He said Ohio-native Brady Quinn "would play very well" in Cleveland and said of OK's AP, "I do not think he is a lock to goto Cleveland at No. 3."

As for other options, One of Sav's scouts told Schefter CJ is "Randy Moss without the attitude." Schefter speculated that it would be a tough call for Sav to pass on him, too.

Eight more weeks of guesswork.....

NFLN: Droughns Drop - Packer Pick Up?

Adam Schefter of CH 212 reports Droughns will be cut and the Green Bay Packers could sign him.

Pluto Likes RB Deal

The ABJ's Terry Pluto likes what he sees
What's not to like about the Browns bringing in Jamal Lewis?
Is he an elite back? No.
Is he still a good back? Is he a tough guy? Can he find the end zone? Is he better than Reuben Droughns?
You should know the answers to all those questions.
Jamal Lewis ran for nine touchdowns last season, compared with seven by the entire Browns team -- and three of those were by quarterback Charlie Frye. Lewis played all 16 games, bulled his way to 1,132 yards and lost only two fumbles in 314 carries.

Lewis Likes what he $ees

Jamal talks to the PD

Jamal Lewis said he left the Baltimore Ravens for the Browns because the Browns have a greater commitment to running the ball.

Lewis said he would not be disappointed if the Browns used their top draft pick on Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson, as speculated by numerous draftniks. But he would be surprised.
"Honestly, I would be surprised if they wouldn't spend that money somewhere else," Lewis said.

"The Browns have made some good additions to the offensive line and they are committed to making more," Lewis said. "I think they're going to give me the carries I need. I knew it wasn't going to happen in Baltimore. Their profile seems to be they're wanting to be a passing team."

REP: Gazing into the Smoke

The $50 million question: Is Brady Quinn's talent seen as nearly peerless, or is he a promising project too close to the Kyle Boller line? The answer is a secret Phil Savage will hold from now until April 28.

New Browns line coach Steve Marshall put it this way after guard Eric Steinbach signed: "You've got to protect your biggest commodity, and that's your quarterback."

Some teams will wonder if the Browns are up to another elaborate smokescreen. Just days before the 2004 draft, word leaked that Butch Davis made a last-minute scouting run to Oxford, presumably out of serious interest in Miami of Ohio's Roethlisberger.

Actually, Davis was so infatuated with tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. of Miami (Fla.) that he sacrificed a second-round draft pick to move up from No. 7 to No. 6 overall.

ESPN: Browns Talking Trade for Droughns

And the player most likely to be traded next is Reuben Droughns of Clevelend, who has been made expendable by the Browns' signing of unrestricted free agent Jamal Lewis to a one-year contract Wednesday night.
League and team sources confirmed to ESPN.com that the Browns are actively shopping Droughns, their starter the past two seasons, in trade talks.
If Cleveland is unable to reach a trade accommodation, Droughns could be released.

Up to $5M for Lewis

A Lewis-Droughns pairing seems least likely, though the team does have the salary cap space to keep both.

From the Akron Beacon Journal: Pre-draft scuttlebutt has had the Browns greatly interested in Peterson, but the addition of Lewis could open the door for a quarterback with the third pick. Team owner Randy Lerner was among those who attended the workout of Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn last Sunday.

The Ravens released Lewis eight days ago. He was due a $5 million roster bonus, and the Ravens' intent was to re-sign Lewis to a more salary-cap friendly contract.

But Lewis balked at the Ravens' offer -- a league source said it was about $1.2 million and up to $2 million with incentives -- and the Browns swooped in. According to ESPN.com, Lewis will get $3.5 million and could make $5 million with incentives.

Lewis seemed to build his career on tormenting the Browns.

His 295-yard game in 2003 remains the NFL single-game record, and in the second game against the Browns that year he ran for 205 yards. His 2,066-yard season in '03 is the second best in NFL history.

Lewis Signs One-Year Deal

It's Official - C-Town grabs another player from a division rival as the 27-year-old pro bowler is now a Brown. And now it looks like Rueben may be on the hot seat as the Browns could say they have 1.75 Million reasons to cut him soon. According to the OBR Lewis signed a one year contract. Sav must feel this expands his draft options with the no. 3 pick. Tony Grossi has all the details right here.

Pat reports in the ABJ: Lewis played part of last season with bone spurs in his ankle and took shots the final seven games to ease the pain.
He recently had surgery to repair the problem.
``He is a proven NFL back who brings a toughness and demeanor to the game that his teammates and our fans will appreciate,'' General Manager Phil Savage said in a statement.

CH3: Looks Like Lewis at RB

WKYC-TV 3 Anchor Jim Donovan reports Jamal Lewis is still in Berea, is talking numbers and could be signed as soon as tonight. Lewis also took a physical. The debate rages here.

Ravens Guard Mulitalo Available

The Baltimore Sun reports 8-year pro Edwin Mulitalo has been released for some reason almost a full week after free agency started. "When you release a player like Edwin, it gives you pause," Ravens coach Brian Billick said in a release.

"This is the cold side of the business. All he did was everything we asked him to do and more. He gave us stability at left guard. He was always an example to his teammates as to how a professional should conduct himself."

Pluto: IF THE BROWNS DON'T FIX THE OFFENSIVE LINE RIGHT, NOTHING ELSE ON OFFENSE MATTERS.

Terry Pluto writes the focus should be on the big uglies, not whether they should draft CJ, BQ or JR.

Jamal Lewis' First Visit: Berea

Ravens RB will talk to the Browns as Baltimore eyes Willis McGahee, Reports The Baltimore Sun.

From the PD: That (first stop in Berea) is significant because the majority of free agents have been signing with the first team they visit.

It also could impact Reuben Droughns' future in Cleveland. Droughns is due a $1.75 million bonus next week, and if the Browns find a suitable replacement, there's a chance he could be gone.
Lewis holds the NFL record with a 295-yard rushing performance against the Browns in September 2003.

Browns coach Romeo Crennel, asked specifically about Lewis at the Greater Cleveland Auto Show last week, said he wouldn't rule out interest in him or anyone else that could help the team.

"Everybody is on the radar screen," said Crennel. "Even though Reuben is on our team, and he's done a good job for us, and we're not looking to replace him, we're looking for competition. We're trying to get the best players and put them on the team."