Where are all the injured Cleveland Browns? Hey, Tony!

Another trip through the extensive mailbag of beat writer Tony Grossi.

View full sizeJoshua Gunter / The Plain Dealer Dave Zastudil hasn't been seen much around Berea this fall, as he has spent much of his rehabilitation time at the Cleveland Clinic.

Hey, Tony: When a player lands on IR, especially early in the season like Dave Zastudil and Robaire Smith, do they still have a role with the team? For instance, are they still in Cleveland throughout the season rehabbing and attending meetings or do they just pack their bags and head home? And does the team give them an option to choose whether to stay with the team or head home? I never see guys like Zastudil, Kaluka Maiava or Smith on the sidelines or in the press box during games. -- Anthony Farris, Youngstown

Hey, Anthony: Each player is treated differently. Zastudil, for instance, was instructed to do his rehab at the Cleveland Clinic. Smith has been around sparingly. Maiava, more so. I think it depends on the player, the injury, his contract situation, whether he'll be back the following year, etc.

Hey, Tony: Much is being discussed about the ineffectual Eric Wright in the defensive backfield. However, looking back to the beginning of the season, our safeties have played horribly. TJ Ward's hit on Jordan Shipley notwithstanding, he and Abe Elam are not quality defenders and leave Wright and Sheldon Brown in many compromising situations. What is your take? -- Paul McGuire, Lakewood

Hey, Paul: Ward made some plays early, but has been quiet of late. Elam was quiet early, but has turned in some big plays in recent games. Overall, nobody can be overjoyed by the play of the secondary this year, neither the safeties nor the cornerbacks. They've given up way too many big plays to lose games. Seems like Joe Haden and Elam are playing the best right now.

Hey, Tony: What non-AFC North teams do the Browns play in 2011 and where? -- Kris Kent, Canonsburg, Pa.

Hey, Kris: The home schedule features: Jacksonville, Tennessee, St. Louis, Seattle and an AFC East team based on final standings. The road schedule takes them to play: Houston, Indianapolis, Arizona, San Francisco and an AFC West team.

Hey, Tony: I know it's a long way from now, but do you think Seneca Wallace and or Jake Delhomme will be put on the trading block after the season? -- Brett Shaver, West Park

Hey, Brett: Neither will be put on the trading block. Wallace's contract is up after 2010. Delhomme is scheduled to make a lot of money in the last year of his two-year deal and would be untradeable under those terms. I wouldn't be surprised if Wallace is re-signed to a new contract and Delhomme agrees to an adjustment and both return.

Hey, Tony: It seems we are hurting ourselves, with fumbles or injuries, a lot more than we are helping ourselves when we try to gain a few extra yards. Is this something that can be addressed through coaching or should we live with the results and cheer the "never give up" attitude? -- Eliot Clasen, Cape Coral, Fla.

Hey, Eliot: I agree that the Browns seem to fumble a lot while trying for a few extra yards. Chansi Stuckey and Peyton Hillis, for sure, have a couple of fumbles each in these situations. They've got to learn to just protect the ball better.

View full sizePlain Dealer file photoPeyton Hillis' contract status will likely be connected to the health and performance of Montario Hardesty in 2011.

Hey, Tony: With fans falling in love with Peyton Hillis, I was wondering what his current contract is and when can we expect the Browns to give him a new deal? -- Jeremy Chalfant, Marietta

Hey, Jeremy: Hillis is under contract through 2011. As a feature back, he is considerably underpaid, as he is still playing under his original rookie contract. GM Tom Heckert has said the Browns would consider giving him a new contract. I suppose those talks would take place next year after Hillis' role in 2011 is defined in relation to Montario Hardesty.

Hey, Tony: Eric Wright has been listed as a top-30 free agent for 2011 by Jason Cole of Yahoo sports. I know it's just one opinion, but it makes me wonder ... how bad has this year been for him? Do you see the Browns seeking to resign him? As a fan I see him making big mistakes (minus the Saints game) consistently. Is that not the case? Is he doing more good than bad that we're not seeing? -- Joshua LeGuillon, Biloxi, Miss.

Hey, Joshua: It's been a bad season for Wright, any way you cut it. Cole probably included Wright in his list because he plays a position in demand every season and he is healthy, experienced and has the look of a quality cornerback. For these reasons, I would expect Wright to do better than fans might expect on the free agent market. History shows that average cornerbacks can strike it rich in free agency.

Hey, Tony: Weird question, are the Browns ever going to adopt a new alternate jersey? The '02-05 orange jersey was a fun change for a game or two. It seems all other teams are wearing a throwback or alternate jerseys. I think we should experiment with our look a little. Except for the brown pants experiment. -- Kevin Phillips, Cleveland

Hey, Kevin: Most franchises have had several uniform changes in their existences, which gives them a number of throwback options. The Browns, of course, have stayed pretty much the same over the years, with the exception of the orange jerseys and the brown pants. I'm sure some marketing genius will come up with something else.

Hey, Tony: I have loved the way Peyton Hillis has run with the ball. But ... he has become the modern-era Leroy Hoard. I swear he was good for one fumble a game back then. My question is this. Is fumbleitis something that running backs can eventually be cured of, or is this what we can expect out of Hillis? I can't remember how Hoard's career went on after the 94 season as far as fumbles are concerned. -- Jason Lundblad, Apopka, Fla.

Hey, Jason: Yes, fumbleitis can be cured. Tiki Barber overcame fumbles early in his career and became a dependable feature back for the Giants.

Hey, Tony: Thanks for your insight on John Fox last week. Makes me feel better about who should replace Mangini, if needed. Hope you don't mind, but I have two questions this week. With Holmgren "appalled" at the offensive philosophy, seems [Brian] Daboll's all but done. I heard Norv Turner may be on the hot seat in San Diego. If so, would he be an option? Now that you're all but certain that Phil Dawson's a goner, do we still have Leigh Tiffin stashed away somewhere? Heard mostly good things about him in the off-season. -- Jimmy DiDago, Elyria

Hey, Jimmy: I would expect the next offensive coordinator of the Browns to be someone affiliated with Holmgren. As for Tiffin, an Alabama kicker who attended the same high school as Ozzie Newsome, I'm not aware that he's kicking for any professional team. I would expect Dawson's successor to come from the NFL ranks.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz / The Plain DealerMany Browns fans have seen quite enough of offensive coordinator Brian Daboll's game plans.

Hey, Tony: While I'm encouraged by the teams overall improvement I'm not sold on Brian Daboll's play calling. Even with the emergence of Peyton Hillis, we seem to throw a lot on first downs instead of stuffing the ball down the defense's throat. Do you happen to know the percentage of throws vs. pass plays on first down and the success rate? Maybe I'm just seeing things, but I think we'd have a lot more success on first downs running Hillis than trying a pass to our inept receivers. -- Hoa Pham, Los Angeles, Calif.

Hey, Hoa: You're the first to complain about not running on first downs. Usually, most people complain about the predictability of run, run, pass.

Hey, Tony: I, like a lot of Browns fans am tired of seeing Eric Wright get beat for every big or important play in the game. But I do not blame him, I blame Brandon McDonald! McDonald was so bad he made Wright look good last year. It is the only thing that has changed from last year. McDonald is no longer getting picked apart, it is Wright's turn. Was Wright protected because McDonald was so terrible and this really is the true EW, or do you think he is just having a bad year? I find it hard to believe it is just a bad year considering it is his contract year. -- Kevin Naugle, Brunswick

Hey, Kevin: I didn't think Wright had anything close to a Pro Bowl year in 2009. I agree that Wright appeared to play better as a result of the comparison to McDonald, who was horrendous. I don't know the reason, but I believe Wright is having quite probably the worst season of his four years with the Browns.

Hey, Tony: Why aren't more passes thrown to Mohamed Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie? Are they too slow; is it because the plays are not designed for them; are opposing teams double-covering them; is there a problem with their route running? -- FC in LA, Los Angeles, Calif.

Hey, FC: I think the current offensive system accentuates the receivers' weaknesses and does not take advantage of their skill sets. For instance, they should not be constantly running long routes because they don't have that kind of speed. They should be getting the ball quickly off the line of scrimmage on slants and crossing routes, so that they can run with the ball after the catch. I think a complete evaluation of the passing offense will be done after the season.

Hey, Tony: What is up with the city of Jacksonville? They have a winning team yet during the Browns game, I noticed an incredible amount of empty seats at EverBank Field. -- Richard Hart, Concord

Hey, Richard: Jacksonville is not a rabid NFL market. The sporting passion in that region lies with college football, NASCAR racing and PGA golf. Expanding to Jacksonville in 1995 was a mistake by the NFL. Not only has the market been cool, but putting a team in Jacksonville left NFL-starved Baltimore open to raid a team to fill its void. That void would be filled by Art Modell.

Hey, Tony: I wonder what the loss to Jacksonville does for Mangini's chances of being retained? I understand the continuity argument, but don't understand retaining a coach who thinks he's won against a team like Jacksonville when he's only up by one touchdown. Jacksonville has won every close game they've been in all year, and with six turnovers, we have to put a team like that away. That was some of the most conservative play-calling and worst adjustments that I've ever seen against a team with a questionable secondary. Throw in that Rob Ryan will most likely be head coach somewhere else in the next few years, and you can consider me one fan who is ready to see Holgrem shed the suit and don the headset before he too leaves to coach at greener pastures. -- Justin McHenry, Stow

Hey, Justin: Your scenario is not out of the question.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz / The Plain DealerEvan Moore has bee productive when he's been on the field -- which has been too seldom for many fans -- and Tony, too.

Hey, Tony: Why isn't Evan Moore used more, especially since Robiskie appears to be a non-factor most of the time? All Moore does is catch the ball. And with his height, he would be great in the red zone. -- Daniel Kopp, Mansfield

Hey, Daniel: The under-utilization of Moore in general is one of the great mysteries of the Browns. The under-use of him in the red zone is beyond explanation.

Hey, Tony: Do you think the Browns have given Robiskie enough to show he hasn't got what it takes to play in the NFL? I loved the kid when he played at OSU, but I think it's time to see what Carlton Mitchell or the kid from Oregon has to offer. -- Jerry Vrabel, Sebring, Fla.

Hey, Jerry: You can line up Jerry Rice in this offense and not see him get five passes a game.

Hey, Tony: With over two minutes left to play, could the Browns have "let" Jacksonville score quickly from the 2-yard-line since we had no timeouts left and we had no success all day stopping them on short yardage? -- Tom Kocinski, North Royalton

Hey, Tom: Sure. Conceding a touchdown is a strategy seldom seen in the NFL, but it has its place. That would have been the time to do it.

Hey, Tony: I keep hearing that the Browns are better than a year ago. That's not saying much. Last year's team might be one of the worst in a while. Other teams play to win but the Browns play not to lose. They have an offensive coordinator who is horrible. A defense that gives up to many game-changing plays late and a coach that cant manage the clock. What improvement? -- Ralph Reis, Ft. Mitchell, Ky.

Hey, Ralph: The epitaph of this season may well be: At least they beat New Orleans and New England.

Hey, Tony: A Browns quarterback hobbled with an ankle injury; a close loss in a game where the Browns led late; an IR list expanding by the week; a season and fan base slip sliding away with every gut-wrenching defeat. Mangini helped himself with two bigs wins, and the losses have been close, but we are still a 3-7 team. Isn't Mangini right back to where he started, needing several more wins (I would think at least three) to save his job? When will stop talking about a "process" and start talking about the need to actually win games? -- Matt Alsip, Towson, Md.

Hey, Matt: I think the loss in Jacksonville was damning enough to eradicate the gains made by the wins over New Orleans and New England. The record of 8-18 over two years is what it is.

Hey, Tony: This past week I asked about revoking Daboll's duties. You replied by saying: "Daboll's had some good games this year" and that he game plans based on what he thinks would be tough to defend. Other than New England, what games has he done well in? New Orleans is the result of trick plays, two by special teams, and we only have three wins. It doesn't say much about him as a defensive coach if he thinks our predictable offense is tough to defend! It's time the media put the pressure on Mangini and Holmgren to remove him of his play-calling duties. Why do you defend this bum? -- Sean Samuels, Chandler, Ariz.

Hey, Sean: I was giving him his due at the time. It's obvious that a change in offensive direction is needed. You don't need to resort to name-calling to make your point.

Hey, Tony: I'd like to see Eric Mangini and his staff return with the exception of Gil Haskell replacing Brian Daboll, but I think you said that was unlikely. Why is that unlikely and what do you think Mike Holmgren should do? -- Daniel Protas, Vernon, Conn.

Hey, Daniel: I don't think Haskell would serve as coordinator under any coach other than Holmgren. A Holmgren-Haskell reunion on the sidelines is not out of the question.

Hey, Tony: When is the last time an NFL team forced six turnovers (+5 turnover differential) and still lost? Surely the Browns set a record. -- Greg Stelz, Durango, Colo.

Hey, Greg: The immortal Buffalo Bills turned the trick in 2007, losing to the Dallas Cowboys, 25-24, despite six turnovers and a plus-5 margin. Nice company.

Hey, Tony: I may be the only person on earth sticking up for Daboll, but this guy gets blamed for everything under the sun on this team. He has had to game plan for five QBs in 11/2 years. Last year, everyone blamed him for Quinn not being a Pro Bowler and this year Quinn is barely in the league. Delhomme is a 6-6 pocket passer, Wallace is a short guy and a scrambler and McCoy combines both of those things. Daboll's job is not easy and he still has no good receivers to work with. Too easy to always blame coaches for tough losses rather than give them credit for being in every single game. -- Michael Spitale, Galena

Hey, Michael: Delhomme is 6-2, not 6-6. But your points are quite valid. I think that's why I have tried to refrain from dumping on Daboll. At the same time, there are a number of things going on with the offense that I disagree with.

Hey, Tony: Two questions for you. First, how many wins is it going to take for Mangini's job to be safe? Second, would you say is the biggest reason for the poor WR play is a) they are just not that good, b) poor development by the coaching staff, or c) bad play calling that does not utilize them. -- Gary B, Philadelphia, Pa.

Hey, Gary: 1. With seven games left, I would guess that Mangini needs to win at least four of them, but even that number would not make his job "safe." 2. C.

Hey, Tony: In a situation such as the one against the Jags where Colt McCoy had to burn a timeout because he took too long to get back to the huddle, is there any reason not to send the trainers out, take the injury timeout, and bring McCoy back in on second down? -- Deymond Lashley, New York, N.Y.

Hey, Deymond: Maybe the coaches thought taking McCoy out for a play would disrupt the rhythm of the drive. As things turned out, with McCoy probably sidelined a minimum of a few weeks with a high ankle sprain, you can argue that he might have worsened the injury by playing the entire game.

Hey, Tony: At what point does Mangini put his pride aside and give Carlton Mitchell more reps? His production can't be worse than Robiskie, as you can't do less than nothing. Also, do you think the days of keeping 5-7 guys that only play special teams (Ventrone, Trusnik, Sorenson, etc...) are over after this season? Watching Ventrone get worked by Marcedes Lewis was painful. -- Justin Zawaly, Mariemont, Ohio

Hey, Justin: I'm not sure what's keeping Mitchell from getting some passes in games. Mangini has talked him up, but he's not been thrown to when he's been active. Your question about loading up the roster with special teams specialists is germane. It's obvious the team needs more playmakers on offense and defense.

Hey, Tony: I know you won't respond, but Bruce Drennan constantly slams you guys in the media for either not asking the right questions, or asking soft ball questions. Your response? -- Bobby Meyer, Elyria

Hey, Bobby: Be kind to Drennan. He has a terrible affliction -- the incurable yips.

Hey, Tony: I am the guy who complained about you referring Florida as bug-infested. Your podcast analysis of the Browns' loss to Jacksonville including the general state of the team was excellent. Spot-on in every regard. Do you care to speculate how this loss and the current state of affairs will affect the future employment status of the head coach and both coordinators? -- Robert Simone, St. Petersburg, Fla.

Hey, Robert: I think the historic loss in bug-infested Florida might very well be looked upon as the watershed game of Mangini's tenure.

Hey, Tony: What is the likelihood that Gil Haskell becomes the offensive play caller by the end of the season? -- Brandon Walker, Delaware, Ohio

Hey, Brandon: I don't think it will happen.