2010 NFL Draft: Browns plan of attack

click on this link to website draftseason.com for a very well done analysis of the Brown's draft strategy and likely options in the first three rounds.

Ben Roethlisberger will not face criminal charges

There is no need to wait for today's 2PM press conference, because the DA has already leaked his decision to ESPN. As The Brown Log correctly predicted days ago before nearly every source in the traditional media, Ben Roethlisberger will not be prosecuted for sexual assault.

UPDATE LIVE STREAM OF PRESS CONFERENCE
The DA is visibly nervous as he announces his decision live. You can watch the stream below.

2010 NFL Draft: The Browns are trying to move up!

The St. Louis press is speculating that a trade is in the offing that would allow the Browns to move up to the number 1 pick and choose highly touted QB Sam Bradford. If these rumors were not coming out of St. Louis I wouldn't give much weight to them but consider too that the writer of the article is Howard Balzer, a very well connected gentleman....

This might sound like typical pre-draft hyperbole, but consider that Mike Holmgren is really sold on Bradford and the reason is that Bradford has an arm like Elway with Bernie Kosar like accuracy. That is one helluva combination that has Super Bowl written all over it (watch the highlight film below to get a feeling for how far and how accurately Bradford can wing it). The only question mark with Bradford, and it's a major one, is whether or not he will be durable enough for the NFL. Watching the highlight film it's clear that this guy has a Hall of Fame arm, but he lost most of his senior year to an injury and that's not a great sign that the kid can take the beating an NFL quarterback must endure.

The rumor mill should keep getting hotter as 20 April nears, look to The Brown Log to keep yourself well connected to Draft 2010.

Vintage Browns: 1970 Monday Night Football

The first Monday Night Football game ever broadcast, was in 1970 in Cleveland, Ohio's Municipal Stadium.

Here is a classic highlight from that game, the kickoff return at the start of the second half, in which the Browns Homer Jones goes all the way for a touchdown. It's fun to hear Frank Gifford and Don Meredith, "all those years ago"!

Is Eagles Head Coach Andy Reid in the Browns future?

By clicking on this link, you will find a very interesting article by sportswriter Mark Eckel in the Times of Trenton NJ. The article speculates that Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid, will eventually replace Browns head coach Eric Mangini, and it gives quite a reasonable set of rationale to support that hypothesis. Here's an excerpt

All right, let's review our beliefs and speculate a bit on the 2010 season.

The Eagles, with a first-time starter at quarterback, a new-look offensive line (hopefully) and a rebuilt defense, playing in a very-tough NFC East go 8-8 or so and miss the playoffs.

That's not a stretch by any means. Could the Eagles be good next year? Sure, anything is possible. But it is not outlandish to suggest with all the changes the team has made there are going to be struggles.

Cleveland, also undergoing some change, finishes 5-11 or 6-10 and remains mired behind Baltimore, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh in an also very difficult NFC North.

Now, the fun starts.
Holmgren and Heckert decide head coach Eric Mangini, whom they inherited, is not the right man to turn around the Browns' fortunes and fire him.

Again, that is not so hard to imagine.

As Cleveland's brain trust searches for a replacement, their guy is not getting along so well in Philadelphia.

Let's backtrack a bit here for a second.

Reid's mentor and best friend in the league is Holmgren. He gave him his first job in Green Bay, taught him the right way to do things, and the two have remained close in the now 11 years they have been apart.

Anyone who regularly follows The Brown Log knows that this blog has no love lost for Eric Mangini. We think he is simply not capable to lead a team to the Super Bowl. It's also an obvious fact that the Brown Log strongly support our new President Mike Holmgren in spite of the fact that he decided to hang onto Mangini for the time being. While we accept the premise that Mangini, a young coach, might mature under the guidance of Holmgren, it would be a lot easier to digest the idea that Holmgren is simply biding time, waiting for his man.

2010 NFL Draft: Vladimir Ducasse OL UMass

One interesting prospect that the Browns are looking at as a potential 3rd round pick is Vladimir Ducasse, an offensive lineman from Haiti who played tackle at UMass. His personal character is strong and he has the prototype size and strength for a modern offensive tackle. He could anchor the left side of any offensive line for a long time

Here is a well done profile on Ducasse:

Big Ben decision due Monday

The Brown Log has been following the Ben Roethlisberg case very closely and a decision is set to be announced Monday on whether or not criminal charges will be filed in the investigation into sexual assault allegations against Steelers' quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

It doesn't take a large leap in logic to conclude already that Big Ben once again will manage to walk between the raindrops and he will not face a criminal prosecution. The signs all point in that direction. Since the incident took place nearly one month ago, Roetlisberger has hired a top criminal attorney and private eye to work behind the scenes and these highly paid gents are there to produce results. Surely they have not been sitting inactively these last four weeks. Furthermore statements from the DA in Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit in Georgia would indicate that the DA is very carefully trying to position himself politically for the aftermath of a non prosecution. Finally a request for Roethlisberger's DNA was withdrawn and a second interview with the Georgia police never took place which would indicate the DA didn't see any need to try to snare Roethlisberger in any contradictions.

Ben's not going to have to face a trial, that's pretty clear, but in assessing his character just look at what people close to him say (these bold quotes have been excerpted from an article in the Toronto Star, the complete article which you can read by clicking on this link:

Some who made the bar scene that night described Roethlisberger as a "good guy," although at least one woman found his attitude distasteful, telling a Pittsburgh newspaper he referred to her and her friends as "bitches." (That language doesn't make him a rarity. But, sadly, sexual assaults are hardly rare, either.)

One long-time member of the Pittsburgh media, John Steigerwald, wrote in Sunday's editions of The Valley News Dispatch: "Ben's a bad guy. I don't know him and he's never done anything to me to make me dislike him, but there are just too many stories out there about how he mistreats people and expects special treatment himself.

"In 33 years of covering (Pittsburgh) sports, I've never come across a player who generated more unsolicited, `Why is that guy such a jackass' questions. No player comes close. I've seen his teammates roll their eyes at the mention of his name.

"I had one guy, who covers the team on a daily basis, tell me that his teammates `despise' him. And he used capital letters. That was the summer before he led them to their last Super Bowl win. So, he may be a little more popular in the locker room now."

Something is wrong with this guy.
in any event, Let's see what happens Monday.

Vintage Browns: 1979 OT win vs Jets

This 3 play sequence in 1979 vs the New York Jets is fun to watch. With only 34 seconds left on the clock in OT and the Jets with the ball on 3rd down in their own territory, the game is almost over and it seems that the best the Browns can hope for is a tie but in a matter of a few seconds, everything changes:

1. A terrible pass by the Jet's Matt Robinson is intercepted by Oliver Davis who makes a nice return.
2. A calm and cool Brian Sipe steps up and hits Dave Logan at the Jets 10
3. Don Cockroft punches the ball through the uprights for the game winning field goal

Eric Berry visits the Browns today!

Eric Berry came to Cleveland to visit the Browns brass today. The idea that Berry will be on the board by the time the Browns pick comes up at number 7 in round 1 to me is pure fantasy, but what the hell, let's dream a bit....

Berry is generally regarded as the best defensive back in the upcoming NFL draft. He has all the scouts drooling over his speed and strength but what really convinces me about Berry is his attitude. All you have to do is watch this guy on the field to see he loves to play football and that he is a great leader. Every team needs a guy in the huddle who is fearless and confident. Football players are human beings and football is a very emotional game. Players like Eric Berry make everyone else raise their game, simply because confidence is contagious! Think Chris Spielman, think Ronnie Lott and you have the same kind of intangibles Eric Berry brings to a team. Berry is a winner. If the Browns have Eric Berry in the free safety spot next year, they become an immediate playoff contender.

2010 NFL Draft: Carlton Mitchell WR USF

Mike Holmgren has been delightfully methodical in analyzing, quantifying and resolving the talent issues faced by the Cleveland Browns. First he cleaned up the quarterback position, then he set his sights on the defense and now it appears he is looking for solutions to the lack of talent at the wide receiver position. Rumor has it that the Browns are studying USF wide receiver Carlton Mitchell as a possible second round choice. Mitchell possesses blazing speed and would help the Browns open up the field, benefitting all aspects of our offense.

Have a look at some highlights of Mitchell from the 2010 NFL Draft combine



Here is one of Mitchell's highlight reel plays at USF

I forgot....

In another bit of excellent news, our political prisoner, Shaun Rogers was finally released from the big house today. We are still waiting on the NRA to release a statement in support of this great warrior but in the meantime his lawyer is busily setting the path to defend Rogers by use of an incredibly innovative and sophisticated legal manoevre. Get this, Roger's lawyer has declared his client is not guilty because....."he forgot he packed his loaded gun". Whilst I still favor that Roger's defender uses a more direct constitutional confrontation, fighting for his right to bear arms, I must confess that the "I forgot" strategy is nothing short of pure genius.

Browns shore up their defense

Mike Holmgren continues to move the Browns in the right direction with a trade today that moves the Browns one more step towards having a very improved team in 2010. Today's trade with the Eagles. brings two experienced and talented veterans, LB Chris Cocong and DB Sheldon Brown. This trade would indicate the Brownies are not sold on Florida CB Joe Haden and wanted therefore to solidify the defensive cornerback position with a veteran. What does that mean in terms of the probable first round selection in April's upcoming draft? I am still hoping that a miracle takes place and Tennessee free safety Eric Berry drops into our hands.

Shaun Rogers: Political Prisoner

In a nation in which school shootings don't make the front page news anymore, but it IS front page news in Newark, NJ that for the first month in 44 months there wasn't a murder, who can blame Browns nose tackle Shaun Rogers (pictured below) for packing a little heat?

I only hope the National Rifle Association will stand up and defend this great American hero and patriot, so that he will be free during the entire 2010 NFL season to shoot first and ask questions later for our Cleveland Browns.