Friedman, Kevin Mack Back to Brown

From the PD: Lennie Friedman joins center Hank Fraley, who re-signed for four years on the eve of free agency. The Browns also have added veteran guards Eric Steinbach and Seth McKinney in free agency.

The Browns also announced that former running back Kevin Mack will join the organization as assistant director of player programs. Mack served an apprenticeship with the Browns last summer. He will work with Jerry Butler, director of player programs, to facilitate personal development programs to active players.

McKinley the Newest Brownco

From ESPN:

When Mike Shannahan has needs on his defensive line he usually looks to Cleveland, and, believe it or not, he did it again.
McKinley

On Tuesday, the Broncos reached an agreement in principle on a four-year contract with Browns defensive lineman Alvin McKinley. McKinley becomes the eighth former Browns defensive lineman to join the Broncos in the past three offseasons.

K2 Stomps Out PFT's Injury Rumor

Yesterday Profootballtalk.com was once again the bearer of bad news for Cleveland fans. Citing unnamed sources - is there any other kind for his website? - Florio wrote "we've determined that the powers that be in Cleveland are not counting on Winslow to be available for the 2007."

Well Today K2, who also says he's excited to be re-united with new OC Chud, has answered with an interview on the Browns official site.

Of the report, Winslow responded, "I don't even know where that came from - I don't know who said that," he said. "But I love to prove people wrong. That's fuel for me. "I'll be back. People continue to count me out, and that lights my fire."

He said Monday he's been off crutches for nearly two weeks and has been following his rehab program closely.

"I really just started with concentrating on the little things," he said. "I'm following the program that our medical staff laid out for me before we decided to have the surgery. I first need to get the strength back in my leg, then progress from there. It's a step by step process, and my next step is running.

"But I am feeling great. As far as my rehab goes, I am ahead of schedule. I'll be back by training camp, if not before."

Kirwin Mocks Peterson with His Latest Draft Guess List

Pat has AP sliding #12 to Buffalo

(March 19, 2007): It's still early for a mock draft, but with free-agent signings slowing down a bit, it might be a good time to look at a few draft-day trades that could make the 2007 draft very interesting.
With each passing week, the free-agent signings and the latest information coming out of the Pro Day workouts clear up the draft picture. I had nine changes from the first mock draft to the second mock draft, and now with a few hypothetical trades and draft boards adjustments, there are 12 more changes.
Note: Changes from the second mock draft are marked with an asterisk.

1. Oakland: JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU -- The Raiders have a lot of needs, but as long as quarterback is one of them, they have to respond by selecting the guy with the great deep ball. I could see a move down, especially now that Cleveland will not need Adrian Peterson and someone was counting on tackle Joe Thomas or wide receiver Calvin Johnson.

2. **Tampa Bay (after trade with Detroit): Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech -- There is a relationship between Lions head coach Rod Marinelli and Tampa Bay general manager Bruce Allen and Allen loves to make deals. After the great workout by Johnson, it's time to move up to get him but not until the Raiders make their selection. There's no sense to move up if Johnson is already gone. The Lions get Tampa's second- and fourth-round selections to move down.

3. Cleveland: Joe Thomas, OT, Wisconsin -- The signing of Jamal Lewis turned the top of this draft upside down. Thomas reminds me of the year general manager Phil Savage, then with the Ravens, took Jonathan Ogden with the third pick in the draft. Thomas can start for 10 years, but the Browns still need a quarterback.

Kirwin's First Round

Robaire Smith, Ravens O-Line Woes and Kirk Ferentz

Steve Doerschuk gives you the latest on all three right here.

Looking at Things the Browns way - Scouting the Defensive Talent for a 3-4

NFL.com's Pat Kirwin lists Branch, Carriker, Harris and Spencer at the top

(March 17, 2007) -- Draft boards are set up differently around the National Football League. A team that uses a 3-4 defense is going to see talent from a much different perspective than a 4-3 team, for example.

It wasn't too long ago that a team like the Pittsburgh Steelers merely had to figure out which college defensive ends could become 3-4 outside linebackers in order to continue to build their famous 3-4 package.

But over time, things have changed and now the Patriots, Jets, Browns, Chargers, Cowboys and 49ers are all looking for the same players. When you throw in the hybrid defenses that like to jump back and forth from 3-4 to 4-3 packages, there is a much bigger drain on all of the front-seven positions for the 3-4.

Don't get me wrong -- great players can play in any scheme, but building a front-seven unit is much different. more

Grossi Has the Answers

Long-time PD Reporter Tony Grossi answers a bunch of readers questions here.

Packers GM Says He "Never" Talked Moss-for-Rodgers

Move that could shake up top of the draft not on the table, according to the Green Bay Press Gazette:

Rumors persist that Packers backup quarterback Aaron Rodgers is on the trading block in a possible deal for Oakland Raiders receiver Randy Moss. General Manager Ted Thompson, who should know better than anyone, doesn't put a lot of stock in such speculation.

"It's never been discussed inside the building or outside the building," said Thompson when asked about a possible Rodgers trade.

Keep Waiting for Millen to Make Up His Mind - IF He Has One

Writes Mike O'Hara in the Detroit News: Does Lions president Matt Millen keep the second pick overall or trade it? Don’t expect an immediate answer. Speculation won’t end until Millen makes a move.

History indicates that Millen will decide later — much, much later — rather than sooner. The first pick overall has been traded twice since 2001, both times by the San Diego Chargers. In 2001, they traded rights to the first pick to Atlanta on the day before the draft. The Falcons drafted quarterback Michael Vick. And in 2004, the Chargers actually drafted Eli Manning first overall. Some 45 minutes later, they traded the rights to Manning to the Giants.

Florio says/asks/theorizes/blows smoke for his agent friends with - RAIDERS FOCUSED ON JOHNSON?

There's increasing talk in league circles that the Oakland Raiders are planning to select receiver Calvin Johnson with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.

Johnson is the best prospect that we've ever seen. He's big, he's strong, he can jump, he's blazing fast, he has soft hands, and he's not a butthole.

Beyond the fact that Calvin is everything that Randy Moss ever was, and at least one key thing Moss isn't, the simple reality is that the Raiders surely want to turn it around sooner rather than later, given the advancing age and declining health of owner Al Davis.

And Johnson is in a much better position to make an instant impact than quarterback JaMarcus Russell.

Of course, Johnson can't be added until Moss is long gone. And, preferably, Jerry Porter, too. Why risk letting either of these malcontents infect a guy who is, for now, the rare exception to
the rule that receivers generally are pains in ass.

Shopping Season: With 7 Signed, Browns tied with Tampa for Most

Writes the ABJ's PacMac: In a market considered mediocre, the Browns have added two offensive linemen, two defensive linemen, a running back, a linebacker and a cornerback.

This activity continues a trend in the Phil Savage era. The Browns have spent and spent and spent on players from other teams in a frantic attempt to patch holes and to improve.

The spending has reached hefty proportions -- especially in terms of signing bonuses and guaranteed money.

Smoke, Trade Down Scenarios Highlight Silly Season

In his weekly column, Tony Grossi checks out the Adam Schefter Rumors, talks about double-dipping and names a possible back up QB for Cleveland.

...But if Russell and Quinn go 1-2 and the Browns don't make an effort to move up for one, they will have interesting options at No. 3.

The most desirable players left for them would be Wisconsin left tackle Joe Thomas, Georgia Tech receiver Calvin Johnson and Peterson.

Tampa Bay (No. 4) and Minnesota (No. 7) are said to be salivating over Johnson, Arizona (No. 5) is considered desirous of Thomas and Houston (No. 8) has eyes for, reportedly, Peterson.

Double dipping:

The act of signing a player in free agency away from a division rival was termed "double dipping" by former Browns President Carmen Policy. This year, no team has double dipped more than the Browns.

They have signed three players from division rivals - left guard Eric Steinbach and nose tackle Shaun Smith from Cincinnati, and running back Jamal Lewis from Baltimore.

Anthony Wright:

If the Browns do add a veteran quarterback in free agency, a name to keep in mind is Anthony Wright. He broke into the league with Pittsburgh, played five years in Baltimore and ended last season with Cincinnati. The Browns are the only team in the AFC North for which Wright has not played.

Millen Wants to Trade Down and Down and Down....

Lions looking at a complete rebuild...

MLive.com's Tom Kowalski reports: Lions are looking to trade right now -- and then again later

The Lions are being flooded with trade offers and there's been some speculation out there that president Matt Millen is going to be patient because the price can only go up. But that's not true.

According to my sources, the Lions already know what they want out of that No. 2 pick and, if a team steps up to the plate right now, the Lions will pull the trigger.What's interesting is that there are believed to be several different targets for that No. 2 pick, from Calvin Johnson to JaMarcus Russell to Adrian Peterson to Joe Thomas. The Lions don't have a pressing need for any of those positions so they're willing to drop down.

And here's the kicker: the Lions, depending on how far they fall, will be willing to trade down again.The Lions would like to land Clemson DE Gaines Adams but if they can continue to stockpile picks, they'd be just as happy to fall a little lower and fill some desperate needs like middle linebacker and the secondary.The point is this: Millen plans on wheeling and dealing for the next six weeks and the ultimate goal is to fill as many needs with as many "Marinelli types'' as possible.

A few weeks ago, I said the Lions roster could see a 40 percent turnover going into next season. I now believe -- especially if Millen pulls the trigger on a trade or two -- that that number could exceed 50 percent.

Mare Wants the Boot

Unhappy Dolphins kicker asks to be released or traded - Cleveland in the running.

From the Miami Herald - The problem for Miami is that it plans a mini-camp before the draft in April and doesn't want Mare there along with Jay Feely, who was signed to take Mare's place. The Dolphins also don't want to risk having Mare injure himself during the camp.

That could lead the team to ask Mare not to attend the camp, which might cause the NFL Player's Association to become involved on Mare's behalf. So the Dolphins almost certainly will either trade or release Mare by the time that camp begins.
The team last week paid Mare a $250,000 roster bonus so it could have more time to trade him.

Coach Cam Cameron has met with outgoing kicker Olindo Mare to explain why the Dolphins are trying to trade him.

But despite the efforts to appease Mare, a 10-year pro, Mare is said to be unhappy that he has not been either traded or released. The longer the Dolphins hold on to Mare, the less likely he is of landing with a team that will redo his contract.

Second Smith Signed

It's official, second Bengal of offseason now a Brown.

Next Man Up: Bengals Won't Match Shaun Smith's Offer

Hey, who's to argue when the Bengals official site reports: "It sure looks like the Bengals and Browns are about to complete their first-ever transaction when Cincinnati figures to do what everybody else in the NFL thinks they’re going to do Friday and not match Cleveland’s $8 million plus offer sheet on backup defensive tackle Shaun Smith."

CJ's Turn - The #1 Athlete has His Pro Day

Can a team burned so many times pass on the safest bet?

From ESPN: Johnson dazzles during awesome pro day display

ATLANTA -- He still isn't likely to be the first player selected overall, but Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson did nothing here Thursday during his "pro day" workout to dispel the notion that he is the premier prospect in this year's NFL draft class.

Calvin Johnson did nothing to depreciate his draft value at the Georgia Tech pro day Thursday.
Auditioning in front of about 75 league scouts and coaches assembled on the Georgia Tech campus, a group that included head coaches Lane Kiffin of the Oakland Raiders and the Washington Redskins' Joe Gibbs, Johnson dazzled the crowd with a rare combination of raw athleticism and polished receiving skills.

"Whatever they wanted to see," said Johnson, "I think I showed them."

No Surpise: Savage Impressed

GM travels from AP's workout to watch JR today.

"I don't think what he did was very surprising to those of us who've really studied him and have watched him," Sav told NFL Total Access. "The expectation is that he was going to throw the ball extremely well and he did that. I smile because I've known JaMarcus for a long time and what he did today came as no surprise."

Titans DE Robaire Smith Signed

Former Texan reunited with Browns DC Todd Grantham. From the OBR:

Browns, Smith Reach Contract Agreement
Adam Caplan, reporting for Scout.com, has informed the OBR that Robaire Smith has reach an agreement for a four-year deal with the Cleveland Browns.

Ranked #13, Smith is the third of ESPN's Top 20 Free Agents to be signed by the Browns so far. The others are Jamal Lewis, #19, and Eric Steinbach, #3.

McShay: JR's Passing Best He's Ever Seen

JR Pro Day Video Here

Ya gotta wonder, are we all to young to remember Jeff George?

Says ESPN's Todd McShay:

"His passing session was the most impressive of all the pro days I've been to," McShay said. "His footwork for such a big quarterback was surprising. He was nimble in his dropbacks and when he's rolling out and throwing on the run.

We all knew coming in that his arm strength is extraordinary. The ball just explodes out of his hands. His 73rd, 74th and 75th throws, he was flicking the ball 60 yards with his wrist and putting it right on the numbers."

Other notable measurements for Russell were his arm length of 34½ inches -- "Left tackle size," McShay said -- and his hand size of 9½ inches -- "Big, but not the biggest," McShay said. "Just above the average for a quarterback."