Comments on: Browns have talked to agents for Dannell Ellerbe, Paul Kruger

By: hitdog042

hitdog042 — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 01:00:54 +0000

Coop16 there is no yearly salary floor. It’s a rolling average of 4 years. They can be under the floor as long as they make up for it.

By: tsr3000

tsr3000 — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 23:48:25 +0000

We are gonna score Ellerbe, Avril and Lewis. Then……the division is ours.

By: clebrowns216

clebrowns216 — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 21:30:41 +0000

Don’t know enough about Ellerbe to comment on whether he would stay for less money, but definitely possible.

But depending on the talent that the Browns add, how well we make the switch to 3-4, and whether Horton is as good as advertised, Browns could definitely have best D in the AFC North.

But that’s depending on quite a bit…

By: getyourownname

getyourownname — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 21:05:57 +0000

Ravens drafted Jamal Lewis, but not McGahee who cam(e via trade (draft picks).

Ravens don’t have to outbid Browns, they just have to make reasonable offer if Ellerbe wants a good shot at winning next year. If he signs with Ravens, bet the media reports he turned down a larger offer from Browns.

By: dishepo

dishepo — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 20:05:49 +0000

Browns are accumulating a TON of young defensive talent (Taylor, Sheard, Rubin, Winn, DQJ, Ward, Haden), now have the most cap room and a #6. They’ll add a #2 corner, pass rusher, ILB, and FS easily and at high levels. Based on Steeler/Ravens losses, Browns could easily have best D in AFC North.

By: ppdoc13

ppdoc13 — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 19:05:56 +0000

Miami. Horribillt is a horrific team sign sale is tedv. V

By: clebrowns216

clebrowns216 — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 18:32:21 +0000

Whoever says that the Browns are FAAAR away from being in the playoffs has no clue what they’re talking about. And whoever thinks they are building through Free Agency also has no clue what they are talking about. It couldn’t be further from what the Browns are doing/have done.

The Browns are probably a season away from being a playoff team especially considering the Raven and Steelers are just getting older and going downhill while the Browns are one of the youngest teams and FINALLY on the upswing. The browns were in every single game last season and that was with the sh*ttiest head coach/play caller at the healm.

The Ravens are morons if they don’t re-sign Bolden cuz he is the reason why Flacco looked so good in the playoffs. Bailed him out on countless occasions. They will regret that ridiculous contract they gave Flacco.

But as far as Kruger I don’t want him. I think paying him a lot of money is a huge mistake. I would much rather have Avril and they need a corner or 2 in free agency. And they should draft Dion Jordan at 6.

Browns haters keep hating. I’ll be the first to tell you how sh*tty they have been, I’m not one of those delusional fans. But they are finally going upward. And once we find a QB watch out.

By: egomaniac247

egomaniac247 — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 16:59:39 +0000

LOL at Ravens fans saying “no big loss”

Dude was on fire in the playoffs.

By: polo550

polo550 — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 16:32:59 +0000

The fear that I have for the Ravens or any team that signs Ellerbe is that he tends to be lazy. That’s part of the reason that he went undrafted. He sat on the bench prior to last year because of his bad practice habits and probably wouldn’t have seen much playing time this past year if the LB Corp wasn’t so decimated with injuries. If he’s lazy and lethargic when he doesn’t have the big contract, look out once he gets paid. Plus he’s always injured. As a Ravens fan I would let him get his big payday elsewhere and draft a MLB with the 32nd pick in the draft. As for Kruger he’s definitely gone. The Ravens won’t overpay for a situational pass rusher. Never been their style. He’s awful against the run and he lost his spot to a rookie.

By: billsfan1

billsfan1 — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 16:09:43 +0000

Marv Levy once said, the best Free Agents are your own”. There is some truth to that. Every year there are plenty of free agents swapping teams and in reality, how many are worth the money they get. I am not saying plenty havent worked out but teams really should be aware.

Free Agency is really only effective if you are signing one or two “big time” guys or a few role players.

teams that build through the draft and sign mid level free agents tend to do better than those that over pay for the top guys…

By: dawglb

dawglb — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 16:08:32 +0000

I don’t want either. Drive up the price on both, but please don’t really try to sign them. Kruger is a one-hit wonder, the other guy could be one as well. Let’s get a deal done with Avril in Detroit.. That guy is a stud.

By: jacktheraven

jacktheraven — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 15:27:35 +0000

They’ll both be good for the Browns. The fear is, that they’ll overpay. Kruger was not a 3 down player. Not that great against the run. He’ll probably get 9-10 mil. That’s too much. Ellerbe is very good. He’ll get paid, probably by the Ravens.

By: coop16

coop16 — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 15:17:58 +0000

The Browns are going to sign a player or two to a big-money contract for four reasons:

(1) The NFL salary cap doesn’t just have a ceiling; it also has a floor, and the Browns are way below that floor. They need to spend some money or they’ll be in violation of salary cap rules.

(2) Banner and Lombardi need to show their boss, Jimmy Haslam, that they’re trying.

(3) The Browns need to give a ray of hope to a long-abused fan base before that fan base decides to start rooting for roller derby or pro wrestling instead.

(4) The Browns have so many holes to fill that they can’t fill even half of them through the draft alone.

Those of us who pay attention realize that signing a big-name free agent or two is most about P.R.; we aren’t foolish enough to think that the signings will make the Browns contenders. We’re just foolish enough to root for the Browns.

By: willbrownimaging

willbrownimaging — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 15:14:42 +0000

I don’t like the Browns, but at least they are identifying young players that are heading into their prime.

I agree that Kruger is much better rushing the passer than against the run, and is better with another quality rusher across from him (who isn’t?)…but I think Jabaal Sheard is a nice young player who will be better in the 34 than he was at DE in the 4-3.

We’ll see how it goes. It’s not like the Browns are the only team in the market for those two guys, but if Cleveland WAS to sign them, they would have spent their money wisely in my opinion.

By: stephenolszewski

stephenolszewski — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 14:53:19 +0000

In Cleveland Jamal wasn’t the same player he was in Baltimore but the first two years there he had over 1,000 yards and 9 TDs in 07. So he was better than any RB they had there since 99 which isn’t too hard to beat considering they had guys like Terry Kirby, Lee Suggs, and William Green

By: philahitman

philahitman — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 14:37:06 +0000

Since half of the Browns FO worked for Philadelphia recently you would think they learned what happens building a roster on free agents.

By: 216ty

216ty — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 14:28:20 +0000

Sounds like the haters r getting an early start. U sign players to get better. I love when teams lose key players that fans cry how they don’t need them or that they r overrated. Lol

By: rocketcrab

rocketcrab — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 14:20:02 +0000

I’ll give you Willis, but Jamal didn’t do much in Cleveland.

By: scoobies05

scoobies05 — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 14:11:24 +0000

the ravens rarely go after the so called big name free agents. they prefer to do things smartly….keep their own when they can and look for bargains after all the other teams have spent their money. and looking at this years free agency with a cap thats not moving there will be lots of bargains. and joe’s cap number is 6.8 million this year…this in no way inhibits them. go ravens

By: poesports

poesports — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 14:09:15 +0000

Ever hear of Jamal Lewis or Willis McGahee?

I believe he was referring to players that the Ravens have drafted. In that case he would be correct. Players who leave dont usually do as well. I would add Bart Scott to the list as well. I will miss Kruger but he has no logical choice. He has a ring and he wants money now. I would argue however that he goes to an organization that clearly has not been competitive in years. Could he be a piece of the puzzle? We shall see.

By: barbasol11111111

barbasol11111111 — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 13:49:34 +0000

So the browns plan to throw 60m at a guy who didn’t play every down for the ravens last year, does so because he’s only a situational pass rusher at best, and it’s because he had 1/2 of a good year?

LOL

I thought Lombardi was supposed to be a smart GM

By: bkh405

bkh405 — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 13:49:00 +0000

Sure they’ll enjoy a payday. Mayne they also have confidence in their skill though and think they can help the Browns become contenders? You guys just thrashing the Browms are chumps.

By: stevez51

stevez51 — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 13:46:17 +0000

Jamal was never the same after going to Cleve. McGahee was hurt most of the year in Denver.

FA is only good if you need that 1 piece to complete your team. Signing 4-5 players each year doesn’t help your TEAM…

By: cowboys4203

cowboys4203 — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 13:41:27 +0000

Bmoresabres, I think you meant Dawan Landry not Laron Landry, but you are right most of the Ravens free agents have done nothing after leaving the team.

By: R3D

R3D — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 13:33:31 +0000

As a browns fan I would take ellerbe but not Kruger. Kruger in my eyes is a decent pass rusher and that’s it he was terrible against the run and needs Suggs on the other side to be effective. He is not a number 1 pass rusher which we need.

By: audient

audient — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 13:13:25 +0000

>Teams that sign Ravens free agents rarely get anything out of them. Here a short list: Adalius Thomas, Duane Starks, Kim Herring, Ed Hartwell, Jarrett Johnson, Laron Landry, et al. These aforementioned players all made more money playing for their respective new teams, but provide no major impact.

—

Ever hear of Jamal Lewis or Willis McGahee?

By: wryly1

wryly1 — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 13:11:28 +0000

Between retirements, age and free agency, Ravens will be a very different team next year that may not even make the playoffs.

By: logast

logast — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 13:10:20 +0000

The contract signed by Flacco will haunt Baltimore in a few years. Much like Drew Brees’ will do to the Saints.

Good luck fielding a competitive team when you cannot afford the better free agents.

By: gorwr12

gorwr12 — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 12:56:24 +0000

I think you meant Dawan Landry. Did Ben Grubbs have another pro bowl year? I never heard his name either.

By: bmoresabres

bmoresabres — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 12:39:07 +0000

Bye, bye Kruger. As a Ravens fan, Kruger will be no big lost. He’s a one dimensional player and lacks versatility. I remembered when Gary Baxter went to the clowns. How did that turn out? Teams that sign Ravens free agents rarely get anything out of them. Here a short list: Adalius Thomas, Duane Starks, Kim Herring, Ed Hartwell, Jarrett Johnson, Laron Landry, et al. These aforementioned players all made more money playing for their respective new teams, but provide no major impact. Priest Holmes is the only former Ravens player to produce for the Chiefs as a Ravens free agent, so buyer beware.