Win or lose, there's never a shortage of questions posed to the veteran Browns' beat writer.
View full sizeMike Holmgren's last major appearance in public was during the opening of Heritage Hall last month. He has been noticeably quiet as the Browns' season enters the second month of the season.Hey, Tony: It seems that Mike Holmgren has been very quiet lately about the current status of the Browns. What's your take on this? Wasn't one of the earlier objectives to provide a "face" for the Browns and to eliminate the perceived alienation of the fans by Mangini? He can't be all that happy. -- Mike Schmanke, Huntsville, Ala.
Hey, Mike: Holmgren has gone underground since the season started. The official reason articulated by his PR chief is that Holmgren wants Eric Mangini and Tom Heckert to be the official "voices" of the team during the season. Heckert, it turns out, is as unapproachable as Holmgren. My take is that Holmgren wants to say nothing publicly or privately that will be interpreted as a lessening of support for Mangini.
Hey, Tony: Seems as if Buffalo is getting ready to go wholesale with the cutting of Trent Edwards and the trade of Marshawn Lynch. Think maybe the Browns might be able to pry Lee Evans away from them? -- Jimmy DiDago, Louisville by way of Elyria, Ky.
Hey, Jimmy: That is a very credible idea. The problem as I see it is Evans is one of the few remaining quality players on offense the Bills have. I would definitely explore that possibility, however.
Hey, Tony: Were the Jets allowed to punish Braylon Edwards for his DUI arrest or did the CBA prevent them from punishing him? I remember reading that the Jets' hands were tied. A case of beer rides on this. -- Patrick English, Cleveland
Hey, Patrick: Yes, any discipline imposed on Edwards for his DUI arrest lies with the NFL and not the Jets. The owners lost control of these disciplinary issues in the extension of the CBA in 2006, which is one of the reasons they opted out of the agreement last fall and are seeking a new labor deal.
Hey, Tony: I told you back in preseason that Hillis would be our version of Mike Alstott but did you post it?? Noooooooooo ... now others are taking credit for what I already saw. But still a huge fan of yours and want your honest opinion. Do you believe we will be without football in 2011? -- Randy Brown, Huntington, W.Va.
Hey, Randy: No, I think the billionaire owners and the millionaire players will reach an agreement on a new labor deal.
Hey, Tony: We finally have an enforcer in the secondary and the NFL fined him for the Shipley hit. Why? -- Kevin Sandy, Navarre
Hey, Kevin: The NFL has made it clear to players and coaches that receivers and other players in a "defenseless" position may not be hit in the helmet or facemask. Ward clearly did that. It doesn't make him a cheap-shot artist or dirty player. The fine was just.
Safety Larry Asante remains on the Browns' practice squad after failing to make the roster in training camp.Hey, Tony: Are the draft picks that didn't make the team (Larry Asante, Clifton Geathers etc.) still in the league? -- Paul Chase, New London
Hey, Paul: Asante is on the Browns' practice squad. When the Browns waived Geathers, he was claimed and awarded to the Miami Dolphins. He is on their regular roster.
Hey, Tony: Passing game, bad. Rushing game, potentially good. As my brother is fond of saying, "This isn't rocket surgery." They have an entire stable of backs that could be well above average. Why not just bash teams with the ground game, since it seems to work, and lay off the passing? -- Joe Cepec, Dublin
Hey, Joe: It looks as if this is what the Browns will do. We'll see how far it will take them.
Hey, Tony: Did the Browns make a run at Trevor Pryce when the Ravens released him? With so many defensive linemen hurt and missing practices etc., maybe some backup help is needed? -- Dan Pollit, Richmond, Ind.
Hey, Dan: The Browns' answer to their defensive line issues was to trade with Minnesota for Jayme Mitchell.
Hey, Tony: Great to see the Browns get that first win! What are your thoughts on the personal foul penalty T.J. Ward drew in the end zone? The replay shows that Ward clearly did not launch himself and it wasn't a helmet-to-helmet hit. Also, do players have an avenue to appeal fines and are you aware of any successful appeals? -- Tim, Winter Haven, Fla.
Hey, Tim: Ward was penalized and fined $15,000. I believe the penalty and fine were just. The league has emphasized no shots to a "defenseless" player -- at any position. Ward did not launch, but his shoulder and part of his helmet definitely made contact with the player's helmet. Jordan Shipley never saw the shot coming, which made him defenseless.
Hey, Tony: Knowing what we know now, even at 1-3, doesn't it seem odd that Mangini would risk his job, and, probably his last head coaching opportunity, by gambling on Brian Daboll, when he had a chance to get a proven OC? -- Mark Crespo, Houston, Texas
Hey, Mark: Odd? No. Mangini believes in Daboll. I'm not sure what proven offensive coordinator he had a chance to get.
Hey, Tony: How did the Denver trade go down? Did they throw in Hillis or did the Browns ask for him? -- Frank, Boardman
Hey, Frank: It is my understanding that the Browns did ask for Peyton Hillis. The deal also included Denver's seventh-round pick in 2011 and a conditional pick in 2012.
Hey, Tony: Do you think the Browns should make a play for Vincent Jackson seeing we can't get the ball to our receivers? -- Melvin Coker Jr., Cleveland
Hey, Melvin: What makes you think they would get the ball to Jackson? Anyway, there are some disincentives to trading for Jackson. 1. The Chargers reportedly are asking for second- and third-round draft picks. 2. Jackson's contract is up after this year, so any team trading for him would have to consider a new deal, which could cost up to $30 million guaranteed. 3. Jackson is suspended through the sixth week. 4. Another violation of the league's substance abuse policy could result in another suspension for up to one year.
Hey, Tony: General NFL question, but what are your thoughts on the numerous concussions occurring throughout the league? Last week, four players sustained them in one day. -- Bob Frankish, Northfield Center
Hey, Bob: Concussion injuries appear to be increasing for two reasons: 1. There is far greater awareness today about head injuries and the league has imposed specific guidelines in dealing with them. 2. Players are bigger and faster than ever, creating more collisions that result in concussions.
Hey, Tony: I keep hearing people say "you need a passing game to win in the NFL." However, the Steelers are 31st in passing and seventh in rushing and only one play from being 4-0. We are much more balanced than most realize being 22nd in passing yards and 14th in rushing. Who cares what Holmgren used to do in Green Bay? We don't have Favre and we are doing what we do best in order to stay in games. -- Michael Spitale, Galena
Hey, Michael: I would submit that if the Browns had even an average passing game they would be 3-1, maybe even 4-0.
Hey, Tony: I think so many people want instant success and it is not happening. But I will say without too much hyperbole that the drive that put the Bengals away is something I have dreamed about for years, maybe decades, of watching the Browns. It was done to us so many times over the years. Mark the drive down as when this franchise turned around. Are you a believer? -- Cliff Kessler, Des Moines, Iowa
Shaun Rogers' inability to regularly practice and prove he's in good physical shape has likely damaged his standing with the Browns' front office.Hey, Cliff: When the Browns were good in the late 1980s, they would routinely ice games with their running game. Same thing when they made the playoffs under Bill Belichick in 1994. It's the mark of a strong team when a team can do it consistently -- not just once.
Hey, Tony: You stated earlier that you believe the Browns organization has "turned the page" regarding Shaun Rogers. While Rogers has been out with injuries for substantial periods, when healthy, he was a force. This team needs quality DLs. So, why would they "turn the page" this early in a season -- when he has some years left on his contract? -- Dennis Thompson, Akron
Hey, Dennis: Rogers' immense talent does the team little good when he 1. seldom practices, and 2. does not keep himself in the absolute best playing shape possible. I believe the torch has been passed to Ahtyba Rubin as the starting nose tackle. Rogers had a Pro Bowl season two years ago. His career in Cleveland has been a carbon copy of his career in Detroit -- periods of fabulous play followed by periods of spotty play. The new regime of Holmgren and Heckert certainly have not seen Rogers at his best.
Hey, Tony: Sam Rutigliano's and Bernie's comments in various articles have offered interesting insights into specific games as well as their perspective on the team. Is there any way to make this a regular or semi-regular column? Put them in a room and write up a fly-on-the-wall report of the conversation. -- David King, Nashville, Tenn.
Hey, David: You can see and hear Rutigliano on two regular programs -- "The Point After" on WKYC Channel 3 on Monday night and "Sunday Strategy" on SportsTimeOhio cable on Thursday night (and replayed on Friday and Saturday).
Hey, Tony: Why don't the Browns call aggressive plays in second and short scenarios? It seems, over the last few seasons, the Browns are satisfied to run standard up the middle plays in advantageous situations. How about taking a shot downfield? I believe, last Sunday, that the Browns had a second and one opportunity on the Bengals' side of the field, and they ran Hillis up the middle. It would seem to me that this represented a perfect opportunity to stretch the field a bit or take a shot at the end zone. Is there something strategic that I'm missing, or are the Browns just painfully conservative? -- Kevin Robison, Cleveland
Hey, Kevin: You're not missing anything. The Browns frequently squander those "gravy" opportunities for potential big plays.
Hey, Tony: I have this sense Jerome Harrison is being shopped around the league in a possible trade. Philly seems like the perfect destination for many reasons. As you said before, this team needs speed ... and [James] Davis brings this. What are the chances of a trade actually happening? Who could we get from the Eagles in return for Jerome and what do you think the Browns still need to improve this team? Last, is Harrison happy with his contract and being with the Browns? -- Michael G, Japan
Hey, Michael: I don't get a sense the Browns are shopping Harrison. Davis has not proved capable of staying on the field for more than a couple of games in a row. He got a few carries in Baltimore and suffered a thigh injury. The year before, it was his shoulder. Trading Harrison put the Browns in a precarious position at running back. Unless they jointly re-signed Chris Jennings.
Hey, Tony: Does Mangini out give game balls after wins? If so, to whom did he give them this week? If he didn't, why not? -- Dennis Brooks, Pepper Pike
Hey, Dennis: You point out what appears to be an oversight on the part of us in the media for not asking/reporting his game balls. Mangini surely gave out game balls after wins last season.
Hey, Tony: What is the definition of a Pass Defensed (PD) in the NFL? For example, against the Ravens, T.J. Ward made at least two plays on passes that directly resulted in an incomplete, but he only got credit for 1 PD for the whole game. The two plays I can remember, is the one play at the beginning of the game, where he almost intercepted the ball and the other play where he almost interfered with Boldin in the end zone but did get a hand on the ball and knocked it away. -- Dale Micklos, Massillon
Hey, Dale: Good observations about the Baltimore game. The pass defensed statistic is not really an official stat. Like tackles, it is a subjective statistic. Passes defensed are tabulated by the stat crew in each stadium paid by the home team. The coaches then adjust the statistics after film review. Ward's numbers were thusly adjusted by the Browns' coaches. The point is, there is no official league leader in passes defensed because those stats are subject to individual team film review. The same is true of tackles.
Hey, Tony: Do you think the Browns have any interest in the new free agent Julius Jones? There is a Holmgren connection and Jerome Harrison seems to be in Mangini's doghouse. -- Jason Blankenship, Medina
Hey, Jason: No apparent interest, but I would figure Jones to be near the top of GM Tom Heckert's "ready list" if the need for another back arises.
Hey, Tony: When Phil Dawson is about to kick a field goal or extra point, the holder points the ball at almost a 45-degree angle toward the goal post. During the game on Sunday, I suggested that that was to give the ball more lift once kicked, since it would have more reverse spin. My son thought it might be because it creates a larger "sweet spot" through the middle of the ball, thereby making better use of the tension inside the ball. Do you know; either, neither or both? -- Seren Hrachian, Athens, N.Y.
Hey, Seren: I will have to consult with Dawson on this question before providing an intelligent answer.
Hey, Tony: Have you decided Colt McCoy (a) is not the QB of the future! (b) probably is not, (c) Could be -- but we will have to have a QB contest with a 2011 draft choice in order to decide (arggghhh)? -- Tom Thomas, Fla.
Hey, Tom: Very good multiple choice question. I would choose C. My very amateurish, unscientific observation about McCoy is that he can be a respectable backup quarterback. I'm sure I will be proved wrong now that I'm on record saying that.
Hey, Tony: Is it to early for the Browns to start thinking about the 2011 draft. How about Stanford's Andrew Luck? He's got a strong accurate arm and he's mobile. Only competition so far are the Bills and Raiders. Can't wait till next year. -- Jim Markart, Sunnyvale, Calif.
Hey, Jim: You're preaching to the choir about Luck. I have concluded after meticulous film study and countless hours of observation that Luck is the NFL's next great quarterback. (OK, I'm exaggerating about the film study and observation.)
Hey, Tony: Any chance Cleveland sends Harrison to a team that needs a RB? His contract is up at the end of the season and we have depth with Hillis, Davis and Hardesty at the end of the season. If we did, what could we get in return? -- Jared Evans, Urbana
Hey, Jared: Considering 1. Harrison was a fifth-round draft choice and 2. can be a free agent after the season, I would submit the Browns could not get much more than a late-round draft pick for him. Trading Harrison would also leave the Browns shorthanded at running back for the remainder of the 2010 season. Davis' durability issue is another disincentive.
Hey, Tony: What has made Josh Cribbs less ineffective in the kicking game this year? Are they kicking differently to him? Do you feel as though they have used him enough in the game plans thus far? Also, have you ever been to a Saints game in New Orleans? What is your impression of the fans? I'm stationed down here on the Gulf Coast and got tickets for the Saints game. I want to rock my Browns gear but I don't want to get crap thrown at me and my family the whole game. -- Josh LeGuillon, Biloxi, Miss.
Hey, Josh: Cribbs and the Browns' special teams are victims of their own success. Every opponent puts a great deal of effort into game-planning the Browns' kick and punt teams. As for Cribbs' use in the offense, I believe he should be thrown to more often on shorter routes. On the Saints' fans, they are very rabid and loyal, but don't be intimidated. They are nice, polite people down there. Wear your Browns colors and I'm sure the New Orleans fans will respect your right to do so.
-- Tony