Four Eyes on the 3rd Pick

The Dirty Birds Would Like to Keep CJ in the GA, Texans want AP

According the AJC, the "Keep Calvin at Home" campaign was already under way before Calvin Johnson blazed the 40-yard dash in 4.35 seconds at the last week's NFL scouting combine. The Browns would likely want quarterback Matt Schaub, the 10th pick and at least next season's first rounder. They might even ask for Freddie Falcon and couple of cheerleaders, too.

Hey Shitsburgh, I Faked the Apology

A Browns Fan's Favorite Actress,
Sienna Miller

She is surprisingly laddish, with a wonderful knack of putting her foot in it. Take Pittsburgh. When she returned to the city where she had researched Factory Girl, she told Rolling Stone how much she disliked it and she'd renamed it Shitsburgh. It just slipped out.

Within hours, Miller was all over the Pittsburgh news, there were demonstrations against her, posters screaming, "Sienna the witch" and "Go home, Sienna," and she was forced into a retraction. Why did she apologise? "Because I was halfway through shooting a movie called The Mysteries Of Pittsburgh and the producers were understandably very distressed at the riot I had caused, so it was kind of damage control. Interview

Steinbach Too Pricey?

For anyone concerned that the $49 million contract given to Eric Steinbach is too much for a guard, here is a fantastic thread on the OBR that explains that those concerns aren't really logical.

Not Another Stupid "Deal" Headline

He's not going anywhere, Dielman inked by Bolts

"About an Hour, That's All I Needed."

Ya, OK..that, and $49 Million is all it seems to take to land a big time O-lineman these days. The new guard meets the press - story on the official site.....

Who Wants to Be a (Multi) Millionaire???

With the 49ers signing Clements to the fattest contract for a defensive player in NFL history (cue spit-take), what do the Browns do with all that money they have?

With some quality defensive options still available in free agency, will the Browns swoop in with their briefcases full of money and steal a stud from someone? Some options include Antwan Peek (LB, Houston), Jarret Johnson (DL, Baltimore), Robaire Smith (DL, Tennessee), or the intolerable Joey Porter.

It is clear that Cleveland desperately needs to shore up its run defense, and they may have lucked out by being outbid by San Francisco for the services of Nate Clements. You'd be amazed how much better Cleveland's cornerbacks would look if their front 7 could establish a pass rush and stop the run, and spending some of that bank on some help in that area could go a long way in helping this team crawl back to respectability.

Two Could Help the D-Line: Coleman and Edwards Visit Berea

Said Pat in Saturday's Ohio.com story: Coleman played with the Dallas Cowboys the past four years after being drafted by the Oakland Raiders. He started five games last season. At 6-foot-5 and 295 pounds, he could play end in the 3-4.

Edwards played with the Kansas City Chiefs last season after playing five years with the Bills. He appears to be a possible nose tackle.

Steinbach Tells the PD: "I Have 49 Million Reasons to Live"

uh, no, he really didnt say that.

"We're very excited to have him," said coach Romeo Crennel. "We think he can really help us."

"Obviously I'm excited," Steinbach, 26, said Friday night after having dinner downtown with the Browns coaching staff. "This is my first visit and I kind of had a gut feeling. As soon as I sat down and talked to the coaches and the personnel people up in the front office, I knew this was the right place for me."

Steinbach, a fifth-year pro, passed up a chance to start at left tackle for the Bucs, who were on his schedule for today. Instead, he'll be introduced as a Brown during an 11 a.m. press conference.

"I chose to come here first, I liked what I saw, I liked the feeling and obviously it was an easy decision," said Steinbach (6-6, 290). "We haven't talked yet about whether I'll play guard or tackle here, but I'm open to whatever ideas they have for me."

San Fran Makes Clements the Fattest D-man in NFL History

8 yrs, $80M and $23 million is guran-freaking-teed, as reported by NFL Network - otherwise known on this blog as CH. 212

Steinbach a Brown - $49 million for 7 years

As reported by multiple media outlets, including local Cleveland TV, WTAM, and websites like The OBR and Florio

Peeking on the first day of Free Agency

No, Team Berea isn't peaking, the Browns haven't signed anybody - yet - and it looks doubtfull for Clements and the chances of landing Steinbach are not looking like a slam dunk, to say the least.

After last night's hype when it was rumored we'd get both these guys, today has been a bummer - so far. But have no fear, Sav has time to look down the list and call up the B and C-listers while trying to land the top guys.

According to cleveland.com's fast updating blog, Mary Kay is reporting Houston outside linebacker Antwan Peek also was visiting with the Browns today. Peek is available because he doesn't fit as an end in the Houston 4-3 defense.

Clements to '9ers

According to ESPN, it looks like the Browns lost out on the Buckeye.

Hope for the DT's - Bengal Shaun Smith to Berea Sat.

SMITH TO VISIT: Steinbach isn't the only Bengal coming to town. Reserve defensive tackle Shaun Smith, a restricted free agent, will visit the Browns on Saturday, his first official visit. The Bengals can match a Browns offer, but Cleveland would not have to compensate Cincinnati with a draft pick because Smith was undrafted out of South Carolina. - cleveland.com blog

Going, Going.........Steinbach will visit Tampa

Mary Kay just broke a report he'll goto Tampa to talk about being a left tackle.

A source said it's possible the Browns could sign Steinbach today, but that he's interested in what the Bucs have to say first. The Seahawks are also interested.

Here's one way the Browns could prevent Steinbach from leaving without a deal: make him the left tackle, pay him the left tackle money and move Kevin Shaffer to the right side. There was some sentiment in the Browns organization last season that Shaffer, signed to a 6-year, $36.5 million contract last offseason, wasn't cutting it on the left side.

Romeo "Interested" in Porter

...so he says from the Cleveland auto show

"Well, of course [we're interested]," said Crennel. "Everybody should be interested in Joey, particularly 3-4 [defensive] teams. But along with that, you also have to look at what it's going to cost for some of these guys, and Joey's coming out late [in the free-agent sweepstakes]. He's into it late, so we'll have to see how that plays out and see how he would fit with the team."
SOURCE: CLEVELAND.COM

Clements to '49ers?!

Problem is, the source mentioned on this site isnt confirming anything, so it looks like were still in the running...
http://www.49erswebzone.com/content/news/view.php?id=8896

Sav Targeted O'Hara, Fraley is Plan B

According to Today's PD:

It appeared the Browns would seek to replace Fraley with former Browns center Shaun O'Hara. But after O'Hara agreed to a five-year deal to stay with the New York Giants later in the evening, the Browns went into desperation mode to keep Fraley

Steinbach Positions Him$elf as a Left Tackle, Schedules Bucs Visit

Isn't it a good time of year to declare yourself a left tackle? Various outlets are reporting he'll visit Tampa later today if a deal isnt worked out in Berea. Too bad Chris Sims is a lefty so he wouldnt be guarding his blind side.

From profootballtalk' rumor mill:

POSTED 6:57 a.m. EST, March 2, 2007

STEINBACH TO VISIT BUCS ON SATURDAY

Our friends at PewterReport.com report that free-agent offensive lineman Eric Steinbach will visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday, after his visit with the Browns and before his visit with the Seahawks.

And as we guessed in the wee hours of Friday morning, the Bucs are interested in playing Steinbach at left tackle instead of left guard, which was his primary position in Cincinnati.

On the surface, the notion of Steinbach playing left tackle would drive up his value, since left tackle is regarded as the most important position on the offensive line. If, however, the Bucs' starting quarterback in 2007 will be the left-handed Chris Simms, Steinbach won't be protecting the blind side, making Steinbach no different than a right tackle on a team with a right-handed passer.

http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm

The OBR Pulls Story that Steinbach Was Signed

As stated on an OBR thread by head honcho Barry McBride: We had to pull it because, while our initial sources were firm in saying a deal had been done, we reached Steinbach's agent and he denied it.

Steinbach will be in Cleveland tomorrow, and there are reasonable expectations that he won't leave town without it being done, but we would rather make absolutely sure we're right. Our story said "expected to sign", but we felt even that verbage was too strong, so we would rather say nothing for now. The blow-by-blow is in ATI, but we pulled that story instantly when we got the denial from Steinbach's camp.

I really, really, really hope that we didn't get hopes up just to have them dashed tomorrow. Things can change continually until pen is put to paper. Hang tight and we'll lock this down.

Steinbach to Visit Today.....

According to Mary Kay Cabot's Cleveland.com blog: Bengals free agent guard Eric Steinbach will make his first free agent visit to Cleveland as early as Friday, a source close to Steinbach said.

Barring weather problems in Chicago, he will fly to Cleveland on Friday for his scheduled visit. The Seahawks are also interested, but the Browns hope to sign Steinbach before he visits other teams. Another NFC team wants him to play left tackle.

Steinbach is one of two top free agents targeted by the Browns. The other is Bills free agent cornerback Nate Clements, a Shaker Heights native.

Link: http://blog.cleveland.com/sports/2007/03/steinbach_to_visit_browns.html