The Browns may pull a surprise or two yet. But I think they will just be picking up pieces and parts come draft day. Sure could use a linebacker........or two.
Yeah, I'm taking a look at things here as far as The Brownies go...
As for The Hawks -- they really don't have any 'glaring needs'. However, I would suggest them going DEFENSE and perhaps OFFENSIVE LINE. ( The OL is adequate, but getting a little 'age on it'...)
Who gives a damn about any of those guys and their favorite teams, let's keep the attention focused where it belongs on my Bears ;)
BTW: What's everyone think of the new Rule Changes I saw the other day? No forceout on a Wide Receiver, he has to come down with two feet inbounds regardless of being knocked out or not. Also the 5 yrd incedental facemask is gone, it's only 15 yds now. I hope that means it's called more conservatively and we don't see that long mark off for just when a guys hand happens to get tied up in the face bar.
Also, the Defense will be allowed Communications capablity with one of their players, similar to the Helmet Mic the QB's have had for years now. It's about time on that one.
Murph - I had to draw the line somewhere, and low and behold...mentioning the 'lowly' NFC rival Bears and there mediocre QB "Hex Gross-man" is where I drew it!
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!! *falls off chair and starts having seizure!*
"Hey, Bizzack 'drew the line-in-the-sand' -- and proceeded to blast Murphy like Sanderline Williams!"
Oh, as for the rule changes? I LIKE the defensive communication one, and I agree it's overdue. The face mask one? Ooh...that one makes me a little leary Murph. I don't think I like that one...
Murph - I had to draw the line somewhere, and low and behold...mentioning the 'lowly' NFC rival Bears and there mediocre QB "Hex Gross-man" is where I drew it!
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!! *falls off chair and starts having seizure!*
"Hey, Bizzack 'drew the line-in-the-sand' -- and proceeded to blast Murphy like Sanderline Williams!"
Oh, as for the rule changes? I LIKE the defensive communication one, and I agree it's overdue. The face mask one? Ooh...that one makes me a little leary Murph. I don't think I like that one...
;-(
Bizzy- A team can still win with a Rex Grossman at QB....... it just means that everything under the friggin sun has to fall into place perfectly, kind of like Peace on Earth ;) As for your Defense doesn't win Championships, I can only hope we prove you wrong, it's our only hope ;)
You mentioned the other two, the communication and face mask (we agree there that axing the 5 yarder might be a mistake) but what did you think of the two feet down and no forceout rule. I think we might be seeing some teams shortening their sideline routes rather than risk their wideouts too close to the line when they go up. We will see.
One other possibility for the Hawks is a young TE. ( Jerramy Stevens had a shitload of talent and potential, but as Kenny Weldon would say -- the cup had a hole in it. ) Deacons Cowboys and Murphs Bears seem poised to select a RB in the 1st.
Fitchers Browns actually don't have a 1st-round pick this year, but...there could be some surprises there. Chances are they just go for depth and value though I think.
Murph - Let me think about that one (two-feet/forceout) I wasn't aware of that one...
BTW - There was some talk a few months back of The Bears possibly going after Donovan Mcnabb in a trade, or maybe signing Daunte Culpepper. Has there been any talk in recent days of that??? ( If they were to get MCNABB, whew...that might just make them NFC favorites...)
Also, "Hex" is OKAY...but unlike the mediocre Dilfer a few years back, he doesn't "manage the game" to well. They could have a real "QB controversy" with him and the "greasy one" i.e, Brian "the grease-ball" Griese.
Murph - Let me think about that one (two-feet/forceout) I wasn't aware of that one...
BTW - There was some talk a few months back of The Bears possibly going after Donovan Mcnabb in a trade, or maybe signing Daunte Culpepper. Has there been any talk in recent days of that??? ( If they were to get MCNABB, whew...that might just make them NFC favorites...)
Also, "Hex" is OKAY...but unlike the mediocre Dilfer a few years back, he doesn't "manage the game" to well. They could have a real "QB controversy" with him and the "greasy one" i.e, Brian "the grease-ball" Griese.
Bizz- I've heard the rumors about Culpepper, but I think the Bears management is still pretty skeptical of taking one of those "seasoned vet" QB's after the Kordell Stewart fiasco a couple seasons ago. I like the idea of going after McNabb, but I've only heard it from Fans and not from anyone who might be able to get it done.
Murph - By god, Culpepper MIGHT still have some 'play' in him...he's still relatively young for a QB (30 or 31?) and while he had the MAJOR knee-surgery awhile back and will never be the same in that regard, it has now been 2 or 3 years, and hopefully he's about as recovered from it as possible.
Is this something I would stake my job/reputation on if I were a GM? NO. But if they could get him on a short-term contract 'on the cheap'...(???)
From 'the gossip mill'...
Our very own T.O Ondrizek went to school with Culpepper at Central Florida (T.O was a few years behind him) according to T.O?
"The fellow was just not very bright".
Also...
Kordell Stewart?
I heard from a pretty good source (sportswriter friend) that you might just be seeing a kind of interesting book from Stewart a few years from now...
Murph - By god, Culpepper MIGHT still have some 'play' in him...he's still relatively young for a QB (30 or 31?) and while he had the MAJOR knee-surgery awhile back and will never be the same in that regard, it has now been 2 or 3 years, and hopefully he's about as recovered from it as possible.
Is this something I would stake my job/reputation on if I were a GM? NO. But if they could get him on a short-term contract 'on the cheap'...(???)
From 'the gossip mill'...
Our very own T.O Ondrizek went to school with Culpepper at Central Florida (T.O was a few years behind him) according to T.O?
"The fellow was just not very bright".
Well, if he's not very bright then maybe he's just the guy for Ron Turner's draw the plays in the dirt system ;) Right now, the focus seems to be on re-signing Tommie Harris and keeping Uhrlacher happy, even though he's under contract for TWO MORE SEASONS from his 2003 Deal, which he's now unhappy with. I guess the Bears Offense is so solid, that Defensive concerns that precedence.....Ugh,I need a Drink.
Ehh...Urlacher...you almost "HAVE to re-sign him", BUT...
As for the other, in hindsight I'm not sure how much of an 'upgrade' a 1 1/2 legged Culpepper would be over Grossman and Griese. While I don't really even count last year's part-time stint as a Raiders QB, obviously Daunte is going to have to make a sort of transition to a mobile QB to a more conventional drop-back 'pocket-passer'.
This requires smarts (amongst a few other things), and I'm not sure if he was blessed with a whole lot of that...(???)
According to one of his part-time tutors -- evidently he wasn't! ( No signs of a learning disability either, from what I hear. Incidentally he 'bombed' on the not-at-all-infallible "Wonderlic" test as well as a rookie. Not saying he's "dumb", not saying what I'm saying is absolute concrete "fact" either, etc, etc...)
Brian...I really haven't kept up on the Browns recent news. I'm still seething over them passing on RB Adrian Petersen in the last draft. I agree Joe Thomas could very well anchor our offensive line for years to come BUT...Petersen was a blue chip prospect. When you have a potential franchise type RB you don't pass him up.Look at what Petersen did in Minn. No I wouldn't trade a bunch of future draft picks like Mike Ditka did to get a shot at Ricky Williams, but the Browns had a shot at Petersen and they blew it. At least they were lucky that a possible franchise QB ( Brady Quinn ) was still available.
Bizz- When I was watching Memphis play in the NCAA Tournament, I was reminded of what a similar high level educational facility that glorified Jr. High School is....kind of a UNLV without the stringent academic requirements :)
Jamaal Lewis had a solid season last year and the Browns are leaning heavily on him for 2008. Lewis can't last forever and the Browns really don't have anyone special they are grooming for the future. I thought Kordell Stewart was great in the role of " Slash " when he was with Pittsburgh. The Browns have a young fellow who reminds me a lot of Stewart in that regard. His name is Josh Cribbs and the Browns have him signed to a lengthy contract. Josh was a QB at Kent St. ( Ohio ). He is thriling to watch as a punt and kickoff returner. By the way great pic of my all time favorite football player, Jim Brown. To me he is still the best pure RB to ever play the game. Payton was probably better overall because he was a good blocker and receiver out of the backfield. He also had a good arm. Barry Sanders was the closest I've ever seen to Brown. Gale Sayers before he blew his knee out was the most shifty, stop on a dime and cut RB I remember. Marcus Allen wasn't too bad at that either. For a power back my favorite was Larry Csonka. John Riggins and Jim Taylor would be right up there too. There were so many great backs. Like him or not O.J. Simpson was one of the best. Eric Dickerson had some great seasons. Another great all around back in the mold of Payton was Marshall Faulk. Hell the Browns were very lucky when Jim Brown decided to rtire abruptly. Leroy Kelly stepped in and had a Hall Of Fame career. There are so many other great backs I could mention...Emmitt Smith, etc...
Boy...I think you about nailed them all there Jim! That's some list of names...Okoye and Campbell were absolute beasts -- but not a ton of longevity. And you are absolutely right: He might be a sad and sorry case for a human being, but O.J was without-a-doubt one of the best ever. As far as "freaky" athleticism -- Barry Sanders without-a-doubt. ( A bit too many carries for minus yardage for my liking though...yes, he more than 'made up for that', but still...) All-around/all-purpose back? Marshall Faulk I think. 'Intangibles'? Payton or Smith. Pure RB? Probably Brown, although Simpson and a (healthy) Sayers pretty close. Dickerson as well...
BTW - The Browns may have slightly 'blown it' in not taking Peterson, but I really wouldn't be that upset. They needed help bad at the OL, and they got a potential franchise/all-pro (who knows -- maybe even H.O.F) player, and they picked up a promising young QB as well. They had a good draft last year, or all signs are pointing to that at least.
( Man...OKOYE was just a MONSTER, wasn't he??? About 6'4" 250? Good grief that guy was something else for a few years...! )
Murph - I had to draw the line somewhere, and low and behold...mentioning the 'lowly' NFC rival Bears and there mediocre QB "Hex Gross-man" is where I drew it! 
