That gets me fired up Bluez!

WOOF!!!!

Browns signed seventh-round TE/FB Brad Smelley to a four-year contract.

Smelley measured 6-foot-2, 237 at his Pro Day, and ran a forty-yard dash in 4.76 and 4.77. His broad jump lacked explosion at 9-foot-4. Smelley is an H-back type with minimal strength and athleticism. We've heard him talked up in draftnik circles, but he's going to be hard pressed to make an NFL impact.

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Browns signed fourth-round LB James-Michael Johnson to a four-year contract.

Johnson was Nevada's starting middle linebacker last season, but Wolfpack coaches always believed his best position was WILL or SAM. With a big training camp, Johnson could push for a starting job. D'Qwell Jackson and Chris Gocong are locked in as starters, but the weak side is wide open in Cleveland.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns have wrapped up two of their draft picks on the eve of rookie camp and are close with most or all of the others.

They agreed to terms on a four-year deal with linebacker James-Michael Johnson, the fourth-rounder from Nevada, and signed tight end fullback Brad Smelley, the seventh-rounder from Alabama, to a four-year contract. Running back Trent Richardson, Smelley's former Alabama teammate, also told 92.3 The Fan Wednesday that he's close to signing his deal and hopes to have it done by Thursday.

Rookie minicamp is Friday through Sunday.

Johnson's deal is worth $2.52 million, a source told The Plain Dealer, and Smelley's deal is worth a maximum of $2.14 million, including a signing bonus of $45,890, according to Scout.com.

Johnson started 50 of 54 games at Nevada, 23 at strongside linebacker and 27 in the middle. He ranks sixth in school history with 299 tackles, including 170 solos. He could play a significant role for the Browns if linebacker Scott Fujita serves his full three-game suspension for his involvement in the Saints' bounty system. Fujita has steadfastly denied any wrongdoing and is appealing the suspension.

"I'm an athletic linebacker," said Johnson on draft day. "I an instinctive linebacker. I come downhill. I can guard man-to-man out of the backfield. I can guard the tight end man-to-man. I'm a competitor. I just love the game of football and I love to play hard. I love making a big play and sparking my defense."

Smelley, 6-2, 230, started 10 games for the Crimson Tide last season. His most notable game was in the BCS Championship victory over LSU when he caught seven passes.

"I was used in a variety of different ways," Smelley said on draft day. "They split me out, put me on the line like a traditional tight end, put me in the backfield and moved me around. [They] did a lot of different things with us."

Heckert on Weeden: GM Tom Heckert told Pro Football Talk Live Wednesday that the idea is for Brandon Weeden to start right away, re-iterating what he and coach Pat Shurmur said on draft day.

"Yeah, that's the overall view," Heckert told Pro Football Talk Live. "That's what we think he's gonna be. We took him there, so we expect him to be the guy. Now if it doesn't work out that way right away, we're not gonna throw him out there just because we took him at 22. We're not in this thing to look good in our draft picks and all that stuff. But obviously when we took him at 22, we expect him to be the guy."

He said the Browns weren't just blowing smoke when they said they were prepared to go with Colt McCoy this season.

"In free agency, we did not talk to anybody, we did not bring anybody in, Colt was our guy," he said. "Then it just so happened that there was a couple guys in this draft that we really liked and if we got them, which we did, then it would be a competition. But we do like Colt McCoy and we do think he's got a chance to be a player in this league."

He added that he believed the Browns can compete with the other teams in the division now that they've upgraded their offense and have another year in the scheme.

Jackson finalist: Browns linebacker D'Qwell Jackson is one of four finalists for the Pro Football Writers of America's Hala Award, for the player or coach who has performed with abandon despite injury or personal problems off the field. The others are Patriots owner Robert Kraft, 49ers quarterback Alex Smith, and Lions quarterback Matt Stafford.

Browns story links

General manager Tom Heckert says the Browns won't hand the starting quarterback job to Brandon Weeden, but they expect him to win it. (By Nate Ulrich, Akron Beacon Journal)

An early look at the Browns' new depth chart on offense. (By Steve Doerschuk, Canton Repository)

Arizona cornerback Trevin Wade, a seventh-round Browns draft pick, has a knack of exceeding others' expectations. (By Stephanie Storm, Akron Beacon Journal)

Did the Browns reach in drafting University of Cincinnati defensive lineman John Hughes in the third round? (By Steve Doerschuk, Canton Repository)

Mini-camp can bring out the best in some of the lesser known players. (By Bernie Kosar, clevelandbrowns.com)

Making Brandon Weeden compete for the starting QB job is the best thing for him. (By Andrea Hangst, Bleacher Report)

That gets me fired up Bluez!

WOOF!!!!

 

I don't see how that's possible, TD.  I didn't see one single negative comment by a troll in that whole video. 

I don't see how that's possible, TD.  I didn't see one single negative comment by a troll in that whole video. 

The Browns reportedly reached contract agreements with two draft picks -- linebacker James-Michael Johnson, a fourth-round pick, and H-back Brad Smelley, a seventh-round pick.

Johnson's agent Scott Smith announced his signing on his Twitter account. Smelley's signing was reported by Scout.com.

The club announced that linebacker Brian Smith was waived.

Also, the following undrafted free agents have been signed and will attend rookie minicamp this weekend:

DB Mike Allen – Four-year letterman at James Madison University (2008-11) … Began collegiate career as a wide receiver before converting to defense prior to junior season … Totaled 63 tackles, 10 passes defensed, three interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery … Attended Blessed Sacrament Huguenot High School in Powhatan, Va.

OL Jake Anderson – Four year letterman at the University of Akron (2008-11)… Did not miss a game in four years, appearing in all 48… Utilized mostly at right tackle… Attended McDowell High School in Erie Pa.

DB Johnson Bademosi – Appeared in 48 games at Stanford University (2008-11)… Totaled 122 career tackles, two forced fumbles and one interception… Was also a member of the track and field team at Stanford… Attended Gonzaga High School in in Silver Spring, Md.

OL Matt Cleveland – Three year starter at the University of Idaho (2009-11)… Miss the 2008 season due to injury, but went on to start the next 38 games at left tackle… Attended Kentwood High School in Covington, Wash.

WR Josh Cooper – Tallied 161 career receptions, 1,696 receiving yards and 11 receiving touchdowns at Oklahoma State University (2008-11)… As a senior, finished second on the team in receptions (71) and receiving yards (716), while adding three touchdown catches… Attended Mustang (Okla,) High School.

DB Emanuel Davis – Appeared in 49 career games at East Carolina University (2008-11) with 38 starts… Notched 230 career tackles, nine interceptions, four forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and 1.5 sacks… Attended Manteo (N.C.) High School.

LB L.J. Fort – Appeared in 50 games game at the University of Northern Iowa (2008-11) with 34 starts… Finished 2011 as the Division I FCS national leader in total tackles (184) and tackles per game (14.15)… Named the Missouri Valley Football Conference's Defensive Player of the Year and was selected as the FCS National Defensive Player of the Year by both College Sporting News and College Sports Madness… Finished fifth in school history with 356 career stops… Attended Waynesville (Mo.) High School.

OL Garth Gerhart – Started 35 of the 39 games in which he saw action in at Arizona State University (2008-11)… Opened 27 games at center, five at right guard and three at left guard… Brother, Toby, is a running back for the Minnesota Vikings… Attended Norco (Calif.) High School.

DB Tashaun Gipson – Four year starter at the University of Wyoming (2008-11)… Notched nine career interceptions… As a senior, recorded 95 tackles and three interceptions… Attended Kimball High School in Dallas, Texas.

DL William Green – Appeared in 53 contests with four starts at the University of Florida (2008-11)… Totaled 53 tackles and 2.5 sacks… As a senior, saw action in 13 games, notching 21 tackles and half a sack… Attended Spain Park High School in Hoover, Ala.

DB Antwuan Reed – Four year letterman at the University of Pittsburgh (2008-11)… As a senior, totaled 30 tackles, seven passes defensed and three fumble recoveries, including returning one for a touchdown… Named to the All-Big East second team after final season… Attended Greater Johnstown (Pa.) High School.

WR Bert Reed – Four year letterman at Florida State University (2008-11)… Finished career ranked fourth in school history in receptions (170) and 12th in receiving yards (2,022)… Also notched 10 career touchdown receptions, while adding 34 rushing attempts for 243 yards with three scores… As a senior, totaled 29 receptions for 403 yards with five touchdowns… Attended Bay High School in Panama City, Fla.

WR Jermaine Saffold – Four year letterman at Missouri State University (2008-11)… Set the school single-season season (913 in 2011) and career (2,221) records for receiving yardage… As a senior, recorded 45 receptions with eight touchdowns and ranked 25th nationally in receiving yards per game (83.0)… Nine career 100-yard receiving performances were also a school record… Attended Grandview (Mo.) High School.

OL J.B. Shugarts – Four year letterman at Ohio State University (2008-11)… Three year starter at right tackle… Father, Bret, was a defensive end for the Pittsburgh Steelers (1987)… Attended Klein (Texas) High School.

LB Andrew Sweat – Appeared in 49 career games at Ohio State University (2008-11)… Totaled 201 career tackles, three interceptions, three forced fumbles and one sack… As a senior, finished second on the team with 72 tackles, while adding one interception and one forced fumble… Attended Trinity High School in Washington, Pa.

I Look for a couple of these undrafted free agents to make either the final 53 or the practice squad . Cooper alreday has a rapport with Weeden that gives him a leg up at a postion of need .

the same with Bert Reed . he can fly as well .

LB Andrew Sweat i hope makes it . can't you see him standing next to Smelly on the Sidelines with Matt Cleveland on the other end


" Smelley Cleveland Sweat "


DB Bademosi has a pretty good shot as well . i think that Safety ..never should have let Adams leave  is a postion of need . Young stunk it up last year . 

I look for fourth round pick Johnson ..he really needs to shorten his name to start the opener in place of Fugita . i wish Fugita was 7 years younger .

the Browns are on the right track  . it may not show up in the win loss  record this season with the brutal schedule . just knowing that better daze are ahead for us to long suffering fans is comforting .

i have 7-9 wins pencilled in with the needle pointing up!

WOOF WOOF WOOF !!!!

i have 7-9 wins pencilled in with the needle pointing up!

WOOF WOOF WOOF !!!!

Morning Bluez.  But weren't you griping about another 4-5 win season awhile ago after the schedule was released and after the first couple rounds of the draft?  Seems to me that you been dipping into the Kool-Aid something fierce in the last week or two.   



(Pokes the bear one more time before hitting the "post" button )

Morning Duff .yes i was after i first saw the schedule


tired of being negative . my only gripe is the inactivity in free agency & the fact that we really dont have any WR that scares anyone ..still .

no matter what h&h say about them i am still verry skeptical

Keep the Kool - Aid comming Duff ..that stuff is powerful!

time to go look for some gems in FBB .. in a couple leagues my starters are SUCKING

Keep the Kool - Aid comming Duff ..that stuff is powerful!

Slides a Duff "I'll have what the gentleman on the floor is having" Kool-Aid down the bar to Bluez

..........................(_)>


Oops, forgot one for your other hand
.........................<(_)   (it's a left-handed mug )

Happy Holmgren said the other day they still might be looking at a veteran WR...


and the ones still out there kinda scare me...

 
tired of being negative . my only gripe is the inactivity in free agency & the fact that we really dont have any WR that scares anyone ..still .

tired of being negative . my only gripe is the inactivity in free agency & the fact that we really dont have any WR that scares anyone ..still .

If it makes anyone feel any better, this is the last season of this CBA cycle that will allow the Browns to NOT spend money in free agency, whether it is our own free agents or someone else's...They must spend 90% of the salary cap going forward in 2013 and beyond...

Irish i wouldnt want them to sign a free agent just for the sake of signing one . there is no way in hell that anybody can convince me that this WR Group is up to NFL Standards . i dont care if they think that Weeden will make them all of a sudden catch the ball . run better routes . get seperation .

 its not going to happen.
 
my one and only issue and its a big one is that they are i say it again depending to much on the draft . in this day & age of quick turnarounds h&h are taking there sweet..err  fat ass time getting it done !

Weeden will struggle this season . he is a rookie . its expected . all rookies struggle at some point and time during a season espcially rookie QB . 

with that said i know that they are all on the same page and the right track ..just speed this deal up some will ya . i about threw out my arm tossing chit at my TV . i invented new cuss words last season .. all of that before apathy set in

Browns head coach Pat Shurmur held a conference call with local media Thursday regarding the weekend's festivities.

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Pat Shurmur held a 15-minute pre-rookie minicamp conference call with local reporters Thursday to discuss this weekend’s camp. Shurmur said he expected 37 players to attend, including all 11 of the team’s recent draft choices and 15 undrafted free agent signings. Shurmur said the rest of the players would be young players still classified as rookies.

Shurmur said the players would have physicals on Thursday evening and then have an orientation before practices on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. He also said the reason the camp is this weekend is so the player’s wouldn’t have any graduation or school obligations and could stay over Monday for offseason workouts.

Shurmur said he expects top choice Trent Richardson to take part in practice, despite having an off-season arthroscopic surgery on his knee. He said he also is excited to see Brandon Weeden take snaps under center.

He also talked about the perception of Weeden earning the starting quarterback spot.

“You draft players for a reason, but you have to see them perform,” he said. “I can see the quarterback discussion is going to be interesting.”

There have been league reports that DL John Hughes and DB Trevin Wade have agreed to terms to go along with FB/TE Brad Smelley and LB James Michael-Johnson.

Browns GM Tom Heckert confirmed on PFT Live that he envisions No. 3 overall pick Trent Richardson as a workhorse back.

Richardson will dominate early-down carries in Cleveland, and should rarely if ever come off the field on passing downs. He's a legitimate candidate to lead the NFL in touches as a rookie. "I think it’s pretty safe to say we draft a guy third overall, he’s going to be the guy," said Heckert. "... We thought he was such a special player, we thought it outweighed any, you know, hesitations about whether the running backs, how long they last, and all that stuff. He scores a lot of touchdowns. We think he’s going to score a lot of touchdowns for us

woe is us!

 

CLEVELAND -- Browns defensive tackle Phil Taylor is undergoing an MRI for a possible torn pectoral muscle, his agent Peter Schaffer confirmed for the Plain Dealer today.

 Fox 8's John Telich first reported the MRI.

"We're awaiting results of the MRI,'' Schaffer. "He's staying positive. He's got a great attitude. He'll either be 100% or come back 100%.

Schaffer said Taylor suffered the injury during his workout today in Berea as part of the offseason program.''  

The Browns released the following statement: Browns defensive tackle Phil Taylor injured his left pectoral today lifting weights as part of the club's offseason program.  He will be further evaluated on Monday to determine a course of treatment.

STILLWATER — Josh Cooper was at his family's home in Mustang on April 28 watching the NFL Draft and hoping his name would be called in the late rounds.

 

Oklahoma State Cowboys wide receiver Josh Cooper (25) makes a catch in front of Texas Tech Red Raiders safety Terrance Bullitt (1) during the college football game between the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) and Texas Tech University Red Raiders (TTU) at Jones AT&T Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011. in Lubbock, Texas. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman ORG XMIT: KOD

Near the beginning of the seventh round, the former Oklahoma State receiver got a text message. It was from Brandon Weeden and contained a forwarded message from page/CLE">Browns&CATEGORY=ORGANIZATION">Cleveland Browns' general manager Tom Heckert that asked Weeden to try to convince Cooper to sign with the Browns if he did not get drafted.

“It was good news,” Cooper said. “That's kind of where I wanted to be if (Brandon) was going there, to have a familiar face. It was pretty much a done deal.”

This week, Cooper will join Weeden in Cleveland's rookie minicamp as both of their NFL journeys officially begin. Nine other former Cowboys are following similar paths as Cooper after going undrafted but agreeing to terms with an NFL team as a rookie free agent.

It's a road with virtually no guarantee. For every undrafted success story — page/NE">Patriots&CATEGORY=ORGANIZATION">New England Patriots receiver and OKC product Wes Welker and page/HOU">Texans&CATEGORY=ORGANIZATION">Houston Texans running back Arian Foster are current prominent examples — there are countless others who don't make it.

The uncertainty usually starts in the hours immediately following the draft, with a flurry of teams vying for the services of several players who did not have their name called.

But that wasn't true with Cooper. The Browns were the first team to contact him. Done and done.

“Once I signed with them, I'm sure everybody talks to each other and knows who's going where,” Cooper said. “It really wasn't anything for me. I talked to the team, and then I hung out with the family and had a good time that night. No frenzy at my house.”

And the Browns essentially used Weeden as the middle man in this deal. He was playing golf in Oklahoma City when Heckert first sent him the text he forwarded onto Cooper. Browns coach Pat Shurmur sent a message soon after. Then when Weeden didn't respond right away, Shurmur called and left a voicemail.

“I got a call from the head coach and the GM just kind of pushing me to do what I could to get (Cooper) on board,” Weeden said.

Cleveland's interest in Cooper stemmed from his extremely productive yet often underrated OSU career because he played alongside superstar Justin Blackmon. But Cooper was the perfect complement as an inside receiver and finished his career with the fifth-most catches (161) and eighth-most receiving yards (1,695) in school history.

Cooper was always considered a borderline NFL prospect, however, because he doesn't possess prototypical NFL size — his frame is 5-11 and 195 pounds — or blazing vertical speed. An injury that prevented him from working out at the NFL Combine in February didn't help his chances, either.

Yet Cooper, understandably around these parts, often draws comparisons to Welker because of his build and skill set as a slot receiver who runs sharp routes and has good hands. Even in switching from OSU's spread offense to Cleveland's West Coast system, Cooper doesn't see his role changing too much.

“You just have to find holes and you just have to create separation on your routes,” Cooper said. “It's the same concept. It's just a lot of different terminology.”

The Browns still have receivers Greg Little (61 catches, 709 yards, two touchdowns in 2011) and Josh Cribbs (41 catches, 518 yards, four touchdowns) on the roster and took Miami wide receiver Travis Benjamin in the fourth round of the draft. They also added Florida State's Bert Reed and Missouri State's Jermaine Saffold as rookie free agents.

What none of those receivers have, though, is already-established chemistry with Weeden built from five years together in the OSU program. The page/IND">Colts&CATEGORY=ORGANIZATION">Indianapolis Colts used a similar strategy when they drafted Stanford tight end Coby Fleener and signed receiver Griff Whalen as a rookie free agent to give Andrew Luck two familiar pass-catchers.

“That's probably the toughest part is going up there and getting used to a quarterback, and I've already got that,” Cooper said. “Hopefully that gives me a step up and we can just go out and perform and do well.”

Said Weeden: “I've always said (Cooper's) one of my favorite guys to throw to, because you know he's going to run the right route, you know he's going to be in the right spot. I've always had a lot of comfort throwing to Josh.”

Thursday morning, Weeden fired balls to Cooper during a 30-minute throwing session at Boone Pickens Stadium. Out routes. In routes. Corner routes. This has been the theme every day since both players knew they would be going to Cleveland.

In some ways, that's where the similarities between Weeden's and Cooper's situation end. Weeden is preparing to be the Browns' franchise quarterback and will begin to settle into his new home of Cleveland. Cooper is just trying to make the team.

But in other ways, they'll still be connected. They'll continue to be throwing pals before and after workouts and help each other learn the offense.

Cooper is even going to live with Weeden and his wife, Melanie, during minicamp, since he hasn't even thought about getting his own place yet.

“I still gotta make the team,” Cooper said. “Once I do, I'll figure stuff out. I really don't know. I'm just thinking about camp right now, trying to get through it and perform well and stay healthy.”

That's the life of a rookie free agent.

But Weeden saw the Browns' interest in Cooper first-hand last weekend. And he believes he could be throwing to his fellow Cowboy in the NFL.

“He's been a great player for us and he's a good buddy,” Weeden said. “If he can work out and find a way to get on board with us, I think he's got a real chance to compete.

“I was extremely excited (when he signed with Cleveland), not only as a friend but for his career. He's got a chance to play in that league.”

CLEVELAND -- Browns defensive tackle Phil Taylor is undergoing an MRI for a possible torn pectoral muscle, his agent Peter Schaffer confirmed for the Plain Dealer today.

 Fox 8's John Telich first reported the MRI.

"We're awaiting results of the MRI,'' Schaffer. "He's staying positive. He's got a great attitude. He'll either be 100% or come back 100%.

Schaffer said Taylor suffered the injury during his workout today in Berea as part of the offseason program.''  

The Browns released the following statement: Browns defensive tackle Phil Taylor injured his left pectoral today lifting weights as part of the club's offseason program.  He will be further evaluated on Monday to determine a course of treatment.

If it makes anyone feel any better, this is the last season of this CBA cycle that will allow the Browns to NOT spend money in free agency, whether it is our own free agents or someone else's...They must spend 90% of the salary cap going forward in 2013 and beyond...

Remind me a year from now whether it mattered that they did relatively nothing in free agency this year.  The fact that it has taken them two or three years to come anywhere near the cap is a pretty good indicator of their past woes.  It shouldn't take a league-wide mandate to make you want to improve your team with a proven viable tool. 

The fact that it has taken them two or three years to come anywhere near the cap is a pretty good indicator of their past woes.  It shouldn't take a league-wide mandate to make you want to improve your team with a proven viable tool. 

They are actually pretty close to the cap every year lbg...the only difference really is that when they make a move, they don't need to make a consequential 2nd move to counteract the salary cap.
If I'm not mistaken, once the rookies are signed they will be approximately $12-14M under the slary cap...Even with the new rules, you only need to be above a salary of floor of around $20M under the cap, which the Browns are in currently...the new rules won't actually affect them at all...I was merely stating that no matter what happens, that money will need to be spent.

The bigger picture here thought is that the Browns can if they so choose, use the money they didn't use this offseason and actually go over the cap next season by that amount...

This could come into play in a scenario where the Browns end up competing at a much higher level than most give them the ability to, yet need maybe two guys that can't be found in the draft to make a deep playoff run. They could use this extra money to add a couple of veterans in order to get over that hump in 2013.