OBR News-o-rama |
| Posted: 03 Jan 2008 09:44 AM CST ROSTER TRANSACTIONS: NFL clubs have a week following the conclusion of their season to sign players on their practice squad to the active roster. These are usually referred to as "Reserve/Future" free agents in NFL transaction parlance. As one would expect from an organization which is self-confident that they've got some decent players on their practice squad, the Browns have acted quickly to lock up those players this week. Officially signed are RB Kory Chapman, TE Brad Cieslak, DB A.J. Davis, OL Humongous Cliff Louis, DE Chase Pittman, WR Syndric Steptoe, and DE Zach West. We've dutifully moved those players to the active roster page from the vast wasteland that is the practice squad / IR page. There's one name, however, that remains - lonely and undoubtedly scared - all by itself on the Practice Squad page. It's one Steve Sanders, a well-regarded wide receiver who nonetheless couldn't displace depth chart heavyweights Tim Carter and "Inactive" Travis Wilson during the course of the season. We're trying to find out why Sanders hasn't been signed, because we're nosey like that. It could be that he wants to pursue opportunities with other teams, or that they're just haggling over contract numbers. Or perhaps the Browns have seen enough. Or perhaps he took to sneaking up behind Tim Carter and making loud noises, in the hopes of getting him to drop dead of a heart attack. We just don't know. But we will, oh yes. Yes.
Still no word on the whereabouts of DL Bill Duff.
THE BLOODLETTING CONTINUES: The Miami Dolphins surprised no one this morning as Tuna canned Cam Cameron after one year as head coach of the Dolphins. Chuckle of the day is that Mo Carthon is on Miami's list of possible head coaches. He does have the Dallas connection, and satisfies the Rooney Rule for the Dolphins, but I can't imagine him having a real shot. Cameron is just the latest in a growing list of the newly unemployed: BALTIMORE - Dec. 31: Resigned: Offensive coordinator/QB coach Rick Neuheisel (UCLA). Fired: Head coach Brian Billick; assistant QB coach Jedd Fisch; assistant head coach/OL coach Chris Foerster; assistant OL coach Greg Roman; TE/assistant OL coach Wade Harman; RB coach Tony Nathan; WR coach Mike Johnson; assistant to the head coach/defense Vic Fangio; defensive coordinator Rex Ryan; DL coach Clarence Brooks; LB coach Jeff FitzGerald; OLB coach Mike Pettine; DB coach Dennis Thurman; DB coach Mark Carrier; special teams coordinator Frank Gansz Jr.; special teams assistant John Fassel. BUFFALO - Jan. 2: Resigned: General manager Marv Levy; offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild (Colorado State). CINCINNATI - Jan. 2: Fired: Defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan; LB coach Ricky Hunley. DALLAS - Jan. 2: Resigned: Vice president of college and pro scouting Jeff Ireland (Dolphins). DETROIT - Jan. 2: Named: OL coach Jim Colletto, offensive coordinator/OL coach; WR coach Kippy Brown, assistant head coach/passing game coordinator/RB coach; offensive assistant Shawn Jefferson, WR coach. Fired: Offensive coordinator Mike Martz; offensive assistant Tim Martz. HOUSTON - Dec. 31: Resigned: Assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Mike Sherman (Texas A&M). KANSAS CITY - Jan. 2: Fired: Offensive coordinator Mike Solari; OL coach John Matsko; WR coach Charlie Joiner; RB coach James Saxon. MIAMI - Dec. 31: Fired: General manager Randy Mueller; assistant director of player personnel Mike Baugh; college scouting coordinator Rick Thompson. Jan. 2: Named: Jeff Ireland (Cowboys '07), general manager. N.Y. JETS - Dec. 31: Resigned: DB coach Mike MacIntyre (Duke). SAN FRANCISCO - Jan. 2: Named: Vice president/player personnel Scot McCloughan, general manager. Fired: Offensive coordinator Jim Hostler.
FROM THE NEWSWIRE: The situation on the OBR Newswire has quickly gone from overflowing to grim as the season has ended and scheduled media times are drying up. Here are some of the recent articles. There's not even enough for me to get snarky about here, and you know how much I love my snark. Youngstown Vindicator - Tougher schedule awaits Browns Dayton Daily News - Browns fan mellow, but he blames Sorgi ESPN - What's next for the non-playoff teams? Official Site - 10 reasons to feel good about the Browns USA Today - Peterson named USA TODAY's top NFL rookie Columbus Dispatch Blog - Brownie Awards Canton Repository - Could Browns have another Jim Brown in Jamal Lewis? Canton Repository - Browns' season is over, but QB talk is just beginning We've been cranking out stuff, though, because we're apparently too stupid to realize the season ended. There will be a couple free and a couple subscriber-only articles today. Here are some of our articles from the last 24 hours: Orange Bowl: NFL Draft Prospects Adam Caplan on Lewis, Anderson, Crennel Best Available Free Agents: Offense
It's been a couple days since I surfed the blogosphere for posts of interest, so here's a healthy sampling: RB Jamaal Charles Declares - OBR News-o-Rama On the DolphinWatch - OBR News-o-Rama Joe Thomas Finishes Distant 2nd in NFL ROY Voting - Kid Cleveland Spinning the QB Situation - Vinny and the Hornless Rhino Say It Ain't So, Joe - John Taylor's Berea Chronicles Tens anyone? - Ace Davis Is That All There Is? - Maggie May - tdc (Video) A meaningless win, a devastating loss, a great sendoff - J-Beanie Not So Fast, A.P. - First and 10 Inches Before 08 Moves by Position - Browns Gab New Year For The Browns Too - Cleveland Sports Authority This Bye Week is Just What the Team Needed - KSK (Cowboys Abuse) Is the Big Ten Inferior? - Cleveland Sports Perspective (NCAA) Cavs top Hawks, LeBron goes off - Halftime Adjustments (Cavs) January 2, 2008 Show |
| Posted: 02 Jan 2008 09:57 PM CST
Here are Chris Steuber's thoughts on Charles: Texas RB Jamaal Charles declared for the draft today, foregoing his senior season with the Longhorns. Charles rushed for 1,619 yards on 258 carries and 18 touchdowns. Charles is a former track star at UT and has exceptional speed. He also has good hands and had 17 receptions for 199 yards. Charles, with his announcement today, figures to be a second round selection in April. Photo: Brian Bahr/Getty Images |
| Posted: 02 Jan 2008 09:52 PM CST In most cities. concern about the Miami Dolphins has centered around any members of the 1972 team will leap off of skyscraper windows when the Patriots win the Super Bowl. Here in Cleveland, though, we've had to keep a closer eye on events in Miami. Ever since rumors started percolating about Romeo Crennel and the Miami Dolphins, the activities of Bill Parcells and the gang have seemed more intriguing. Click here and here for the latest on RAC and the Dolphins from Adam Caplan and John Taylor, respectively. Earlier today, though, we got this press release from the Dolphins organization: DOLPHINS NAME JEFF IRELAND GENERAL MANAGER MIAMI – The Miami Dolphins today named Jeff Ireland as their new general manager, effective immediately, the team announced. Ireland joins the Dolphins after a seven-year stint with the Dallas Cowboys, including the past three as the team's Vice President of College and Pro Scouting. In fact, of the 53 players on the current Cowboys team, which went 13-3 and won the NFC East in 2007, 38 were acquired over the last three years, including 12 of the club's 22 starters. "I am excited about joining the Dolphins as their general manager," Ireland said. "I know the great tradition of the team, and in my mind they are one of the flagship franchises in the NFL. They have a great owner in Wayne Huizenga, who I know is committed to making the Dolphins into winners once again. I am looking forward to working with him and everyone else in Miami to achieve that goal. "I also want to thank Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys organization. I enjoyed my tenure with the team, and I would not be where I am today without the help of so many people there." Prior to being elevated to his most recent role with the Cowboys in 2005, Ireland had served as national scout with Dallas since 2001, during which time he evaluated the top collegiate talent in the country. In his four years in that post, the Cowboys drafted four Pro Bowl performers in safety Roy Williams (D1, 2002), center Andre Gurode (D2a, 2002), cornerback Terence Newman (D1, 2003) and tight end Jason Witten (D3, 2003). Ireland got his start in the NFL as a scout with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he spent the 1997-2000 seasons. He also was a scout for the National Football Scouting combine from 1994-96. Before becoming an NFL scout, Ireland coached the special teams at the University of North Texas from 1992-93. This followed his playing career at Baylor University, where he was a kicker from 1988-91. A native of Abilene, Texas, Ireland is the stepson of Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame linebacker/center E.J. Holub and the grandson of former Philadelphia Eagles player and longtime Chicago Bears personnel man Jim Parmer.
To me, this screams "Sparano". I'm not sure if Ireland is a big fan of Tony Sparano, but if he is, this could be an early indicator that Sparano, not Crennel, will be the candidate of first choice in Miami. While the Browns took on a mutated look of the Patriots, Giants, and Ravens organization due to the influences of Lerner, Crennel, and Savage, the new Dolphins org could very well look like Dallas East. Bringing in Ireland is a first step, but the second could be lifting their head coach from the Dallas organization as well. |
The Browns may be looking for running back help in the draft this year - it's one of several needs - and a potential feature back might be available to them in the second round.| You are subscribed to email updates from OBR News-o-rama To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email Delivery powered by FeedBurner |
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