Browns keep shelling out upfront for free agents

Never let it be said the Browns are not active in free agency. The Browns have added seven players, which ties them with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the most signings in the league.

[Rich]

If Savage did not sign any free agents you would be writing that he was not doing his job and complaining about that...give me a break..

[Ken from Virginia]

Signing free agent linemen is all well and good, but.....they're not drafting to replace them down the road. We need to draft some "O" and "D" linemen in the 1st 3 rounds.
And no more T.O. wanabe's like Edwards.
Ken

[Bob Keegan Akron Ohio]

How about starting a pool for fans to bet on the date Crennel gets the ax? Will it be after the pretend Browns start 0 - 4? How about 0 - 6?

[john]

this article more than shows that the browns consistently try to build a team the wrong way and they just never seem to learn their lesson. is there another team in the nfl that drafts as poorly as cleveland? since they have come back they have not had a single major impact drafted player. not one. keep it up browns. it's what makes you the joke of professional sports.

[StickMcNeil]

What is so unfortunate is that while Randy Lerner is willing to spend the money that the Indians owners won't, freak, and I do mean freak, injuries make it impossible to know how much the signings might have improved the Browns, Most of the injuries, like Bentley and Baxter were to guys who were nearly injury free prior to coming to the Browns.

[Steve]

We finally have a GM that knows what he is doing and articles like this one are what may cause him to tire of this area and leave. The reporters from NE Ohio are a joke. They act like they know what to do and all these injuries are Savage's fault. John, I would say Wimbley made an impact with 12 sacks without any help. Edwards was comming off a severe knee injury, did you expect him to make the pro bowl. Dumb @$$.

[Ken]

Great article, gives much insight to free agency. I still am happy that Savage has tried, we can't blame him for some of these crazy injuries. Hopefully the Browns will be good this year ...I see at least 8-8, could be better if they start decent and start believeing!

[bob from austintown]

if your gm can't evaluate which nfl free agents can play,how can you expect him to draft college players well?

[Browns fan in DC]

i think people overlook the well known and documented fact that people don't WANT to play in Cleveland right now. As a result of the losing and coaching changes, players and agents are demanding more money to come here. Thus, we often end up overpaying for middle of the road guys. I actually commend Lerner fo not raising ticket prices (which other owners are all over him to do) until he has a decent product.

[snoop dogpound dog]

Yo Brownie fans, in case you were wondering, I'm back on tour after a brief problem in Sweden. Currently I'm in England. You gotta love these English blokes with their funny accents and their warm ale.

Anyhow, looks like ole Patrick's gotta point here. The good teams fill their needs through the draft and then supplement in free agency. The Browns, needless to say, are a bit messed up. They screw up the draft and then they overpay in the free agent market. You gotta make the right choices in the draft-- that's how all the good teams got good and stayed good. At least Savage brought Jamal Lewis in to set up the crack ring cause the Savage - Crennel era ain't gonna last too much longer.

[LeThargic -Queen- James]

I can play. I'd be better at football than shooting foul shots.

[No name]

LeThargic -Queen- James wrote:

I can play. I'd be better at football than shooting foul shots.

You just can't help youself, can you?? Let it go. Give it a rest. You are ridiculous!!

[Tinzinious Nicklefritz]

Classic Catch-22...

"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."

And if Savage didn't, would the already-whispered calls for his head diminish one solitary decibel? He's got two choices - make the moves he can to improve a mediocre roster, or pack his bags.

"Nobody can predict injuries like Baxter's and Bentley's, but those injures do highlight the risk of laying out big money. One wrong turn can make the investment nil."

Welcome to the NFL of Y2K and beyond - rent Jerry Maguire.

Savage assumed the helm franchise that was born in a deal that have been prosecuted under Lemon Law statutes, which was driven into the talent wall by the decisions of an Ernest & Julio Gallo wannabe and a coach whose tenuous grip on reality was rescued by a $12mil buyout.

What's Savage supposed to do - wait around until "quality" players develop a conscience?

One more season like 2006, and odds are he'd find himself back in Mobile lickety-split, painting the USS Alabama while waiting around for the phone to ring. He's got no choice - move or die.

"Will this be the year it pays off?"

He's doing what he can - which essentially, is betting his rep as a talent evaluator on it.

"And if it doesn't, how long will Randy Lerner keep signing these checks?"

As long as he wants to remain an NFL owner. What choice does he have?

[WAYNEDAWG]

THIS IS THE YEAR OF "THE DAWGS !"
G O B R O W N S
DIVISION CHAMPS

[WAYNEDAWG]

EVERY DAWG GETS ITS DAY

[alclevelandfan1]

I'm with you Waynedawg!!!

[Ron Faieta]

Sorry fellas (and gals) I realize that good teams are built through the draft but you can't draft 50 players in one year! When Savage came on board name me one player on the roster you would nomonate for the pro bowl. Exactly, not a player in the bunch.You cry if he spends and you cry if he don't spend while the sports writer cries because there's no clocks in the San Diego airport.

[Francisco Quezada]

I would agree that the Cleveland Browns roster is depleted. I pray that Phil Savage will make smart draft choices this year. We need to start building a team and training the players correctly that we do acquire from the draft. THIS won't be the year , but if smart draft choices are made these next 2-3 years and with some veteran leadership we can build a team. I hope Romeo Crennel shows us the coach he can be. AND DONT"T HIRE FRIENDS THAT SUCK. I say he has 2 more years to make significant improvement or he will be gone. Us fans can only support him for so long. I say good luck and GO BROWNS.

[cody garvie]

browns should joe thomas

[DanErie]

Unfortunately, the plan of attack in free agency is dictated by long standing failure in the college drafts, and repeated errors in head coaching hires, and ultimately fires.

Constant upheaval then produces a change in philosophy, making certain players on the roster, although decent, unwanted because they don't fit the new philosophy.

Going to a 3-4 defensive philosophy when we hired Roeo Crennel probably cost us 5 starting caliber players just on the defensive side of the ball ...of which we got almost nothing in return.

The only way we get out of the sure fire trend towards ultimate failure, which living and dying in the free agent pools is, is by outdrafting your competition, and filling your roster up with cost effective kids.

Savage seems to have us on the right course, for the first time since we've returned in '99 ...but, we're still digging out of a deep deep hole that has been dug by our organizational failings ...that quite frankly began at the very beginning with Carmen Policy and the poor organization he put together in '99 ...and then again in the Butch Davis era ...