Much Ado About Duncan
March 8, 2012The Realities of Robert Griffin III as a Cleveland Brown
March 8, 2012Browns GM Tom Heckert spoke to media today and said what everyone pretty much already knew. The Browns will not be pursuing Peyton Manning.
“Not really,” said Heckert in an informal meeting with the media today. “That’s probably not a direction we’re going to go.”
While that is about as unsurprising as anything Heckert could have said today to the press, it is nice to hear it out loud. Of course this also ignores the other obvious side of the equation that would indicate that Peyton Manning would also presumably be looking for a different “direction” than the Cleveland Browns.
So the lottery wheel spins, just not in Cleveland. Deadspin pointed out yesterday that pretty much every team in the NFL had some kind of internet talk about “what if” regarding their NFL team and Peyton Manning. I took a slight bit of enjoyment out of the fact that they had to go to the Bleacher Report to find anyone talking “seriously” about the Browns and Peyton Manning.
Even when we discussed it back in January after Adam Schefter uttered “Browns” and “Peyton Manning” in the same sentence it was with a severe level of skepticism that it even had potential worth discussing.
[Related: Peyton Manning, Bernie Kosar and the Ends of Eras]
63 Comments
What, no, say it ain’t so? The Browns already have enough problems at that position besides Manning wants to not only play again but live. I don’t think Cleveland would be high on my list if I was 36 and had 4 neck surgeries.
I never expected the Browns to be in the Peyton Manning conversation, but after this whole thing today, I am much less excited for free agency/the draft.
Not that getting more quality players is a bad thing, but I get this feeling like it’s going to be another vanilla offseason where they get some guys to fit their system and they make no splash.
I’m not asking them to go all out and try to be the 2011 Eagles in Free Agency…but sheesh. Throw us a bone once in a while and do something exciting. Go get an RG3 (within reason), go get a Mario Williams….get someone we can point at and say “Hey, they’re trying in Berea!”
I understand the Front Office has their strategy or game plan or whatever. I just get this feeling we’re another one of these low key off-seasons that we’re seen year after year.
I never expected the Browns to be in the Peyton Manning conversation, but after this whole thing today, I am much less excited for free agency/the draft.
Not that getting more quality players is a bad thing, but I get this feeling like it’s going to be another vanilla offseason where they get some guys to fit their system and they make no splash.
I’m not asking them to go all out and try to be the 2011 Eagles in Free Agency…but sheesh. Throw us a bone once in a while and do something exciting. Go get an RG3 (within reason), go get a Mario Williams….get someone we can point at and say “Hey, they’re trying in Berea!”
I understand the Front Office has their strategy or game plan or whatever. I just get this feeling we’re another one of these low key off-seasons that we’re seen year after year.
we have a better OL than Washington, Seattle, and possibly KC (if we fix the RT spot). Miami has the same issue (poor right-side play).
OL isn’t really a reason for Peyton to go elsewhere.
Now, it’s another story about: offensive philosphy, WR weapons, RB weapons, weather, competitive overall team, division strength, division defensive strength, and did I mention those swirling winds?
we have a better OL than Washington, Seattle, and possibly KC (if we fix the RT spot). Miami has the same issue (poor right-side play).
OL isn’t really a reason for Peyton to go elsewhere.
Now, it’s another story about: offensive philosphy, WR weapons, RB weapons, weather, competitive overall team, division strength, division defensive strength, and did I mention those swirling winds?
I thought we weren’t supposed to take anything anyone said by the Browns as truth at any time of the year, especially pre-draft.
Why should we believe this, then?
Think of the Dolphins will Manning and Reggie Wayne and Brandon Marshall.
What is this strategy you speak of?
Manning must be crushed. However, Heckert did leave the door open. He said this is “probably” not a direction they’re going to go in. Nice to see Tom back at the mic hedging and wafflilng and misdirecting and keeping the rest of the league guessing.
You’re right. It could be mis-direction at any time. Still, I have a tough time seeing what kind of posturing the Browns could be doing here. Trying to keep the price low? Fat chance.
They have to at least ask his people, “What would it take to get him into a Browns uniform today,” used car salesman style. Who knows, maybe there’s enough we could do in FA and the draft to entice him. Probably not, but it would be negligent to not at least ask.
If this is indeed true, it makes me sad. I would understand why you would have no interest in trading for Peyton Manning if he was to cost a bunch of draft picks. I guess I just don’t see why you wouldn’t make an effort when it’s only costing you cap space. I completely understand why Manning wouldn’t be interested in the Browns, but not sure I understand why the Browns aren’t interested in him. Like I’ve said before, if their plan is to draft a QB this year, wouldn’t you want him to sit behind Manning for a couple of years and learn from him before starting anyway? Maybe it says that the Browns like Colt McCoy more than we think they do? Most likely there are reasons that I just can’t envision with my lack of knowledge about front office maneuvers, but man… do SOMETHING productive with that 17 million in cap space. Actually, if they’re not going after Manning because theyr’e going to make a hard run at Mario Williams, I’m fine with that.
^ This.
I think the point of what I was writing is this: maybe its silly and self-serving to always think everything said is a lie or mis-direction. I think everyone knows Manning wouldn’t come to this mess this late in his career with a sub-par team and a horrible, predictable offense. He’d be nuts to do so.
Plus Bush as outlet and Bess in the slot.
Or KC with Bowe, Wayne, Breaston, Moeki, Charles
Those are the 2 likeliest IMO.
Ha-That’s for them to know and us to never find out, apparently.
I only said that I understand they HAVE a strategy. I definitely would never say that I understood what it is.
You know the strategy that brought in Shaq and Antwaan Jamison to the Cavs…That worked great right?
I’d be surprised if we didn’t ask already. After his agent was done laughing, Heckert had probably already hung up.
i would rather have Mario than Peyton as well.
Heckert: Hello Peyton this is Tom…from the Browns. We were just wondering what it would take to get you to play Pittsburgh and Baltimore twice a year outside in the snow?
Peyton: I got a guy on the other line about some white walls, let me call you back. Click.
I assume that they had already, as well. The reports on my morning drive said “12 teams,” with 4 or 5 remaining anonymous. Would make sense that the Browns would be anonymous.
Wouldn’t be surprised if Heckert was laughing himself, as he dialed.
The title might better read “Peyton Manning will not pursue Browns”
Sure, either/or. I see him going to Miami, personally.
Don’t forget Shawn Kemp
26 year old pro bowl stud D-lineman? Do it.
I would imagine that it’s really a simple cost/benefit analysis. Cost: Likely between $12 – $20 million/year. Additional costs – further development of *someone* at the QB position; limiting the fiscal ability to sign other players out of free agency; possibly being forever tied to Peyton Manning’s paralysis/death on the football field. Benefits – Maybe a top-tier QB (provided, of course, he remains on the field) which, in the AFC North, may get you to 9 wins (maybe sneaking into a Wild Card spot) given the rest of your roster construct. I’m just guessing that the Browns see a better need for the cash elsewhere in the organization.
according to Heckert though “there is no Reggie White in this free agent class”
dang.
And here I thought you were just trying to be difficult pointing to the exception that proves the rule. 🙂
When Arizona went after Kurt Warner a couple years ago he took them to a super bowl. Randolf Lerner will fail our city once again. A real owner would see the opportunity that this is and go after it. We have had this attitude that the stars have to be lined up in order for us to win. We’re wrong. This is arguably the best quarterback of all time and you are not even going after him after the 20 years of nothingness in Cleveland. It’s not rocket science people you ride your great quarterbacks for their career. Of course you need talent in areas of your team(the o and d lines for the most part) but it’s all about the qb for the most part. And for the people who think holmgren will get this right your wrong. Holmgren actually fought the Brett Favre trade to Green Bay and Ron Wolf had to talk him into it. If you remember all those bad exchanges Holmgren had with Favre. Have you noticed Brett Favre around Cleveland all the time when he should have an amazing friendship with Holmgren for what they went through together. You can tell Heckert is in charge of the draft which is where we have had success and lerner/holmgren are in charge of free agency. I realize that you can’t make bad moves but this is a unique circumstance. I just hate to see this guy go somewhere like KC or Miami without a fight. There should be billboards in Cleveland telling Peyton to come here. If we signed Reggie Wayne along with Peyton if we got a couple of fast field stretchers in the draft we could do this. I would still draft RG3 in the 4th if he drops to us but nothing is guaranteed. If he isn’t there than take Blackmon and take lamichael james in the 2nd round. Sign Ben Grubbs or draft a tackle. We could still take Brock Osweiler or someone for development to start in a couple years. Reggie Wayne, Blackmon, Cribbs, Lamichael James, Peyton Hillis, and possible a Danny Coale or jarius wright type player. Your saying that this is not his best chance. And this isn’t even considering picking up another free agent wr.
Miami and Kansas City are the obvious front runners but who knows the relationships that he has behind the scenes with people. I think Tom Moore works for the jets now so I can see him going to the Jets.
Anyone clamoring for this team to spend the time to try and entice Peyton Manning to come here, despite his level of interest, should probably remind themselves that there is a draft coming up.
yeah, I agree that Miami makes the most sense especially if weather is a big part of his decision as has been mentioned.
Heckert could have called his agent and before he even knew who was on the line said: Joe Thomas
if only Miami didn’t have Jake Long I guess.
please tell me how we convince Peyton to sign here. I am interested to know what your sales pitch would be. Keep in mind there are plenty of teams with a boatload more cap space than us, so we can’t outbid everyone. Go.
and Matt Flynn already has his airplane ticket for Cleveland March 13th while Miami is fighting off KC and others for Peyton.
how did heckert look after the illness that kept him away from the draft? does look 100%? just curious and concerned for his health. no dig implied.
So in my dream world, Heckert calls Manning and says, “What will it take to make you a Cleveland Brown?”
Manning says, “Pick up a bona fide #1 receiver in FA or through a trade [perhaps supplying some preferred names], sign Hillis – I like his dual-threat ability, and do whatever it takes to draft Kalil. Let me call my own plays.”
Super Bowl!
Then, I awake, and realize that we’re still talking about Robert Griffin the Third and Colt McCoy.
Yeah, but then we have to talk about the merits of drafting Robert Griffin the Third. This is more fun. It’s so fresh and so clean.
I think he is going to the Jets to be with Tom Moore but the teams that have more cap space than us have nothing more to offer than we do. Our defense was in the top 10 and we sell Peyton on the history of the Browns. We can sign Reggie Wayne, draft a receiver, draft a fast open field running back to pair with hillis, cribbs might be better, and sign and draft offensive linemen for the right side. If he doesn’t come fine but at least give him the opportunity to see what we have to offer. Send him a copy of the original movie Major League in the mail to show what it’s like to play for Cleveland fans. You have no idea how much Cleveland has to offer people. A fan base like no other.
That sounds about right…thanks for the laugh…
what will it take for you to name-drop Matt Flynn from time to time?
Well put. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I think all of the RG3 and Manning hype is just the fans wanting to get excited about someone/something/anything regarding the team. Whether those are the right organizational decisions, well, that is debatable.
KC has more cap space than us. Bowe, Breaston, Charles, Moeki, their defense is arguably better. Flexible on offensive system being the first year w/ Romeo. KC fans are rabid as well.
They also play SD, Denver, Oakland instead of Pitt, Balt, Cinci. Which defenses (and weather) do you think he would rather face?
I’ll never be a predictable troglodyte, you should know that by now.
He would call back and say Pittsburgh and Baltimore are slow and old now. Pittsburgh is really old and Baltimore might lose mcclain and johnson at linebacker and are old too. I would be more worried about Cincinnati in the years to come than Pitt and Balt. In the afc west you got champ bailey and von miller and in the afc east you have revis and brady. We don’t have a chance because Lerner is clueless and holmgren has a big ego where it has to be his guy.
I can do that, I guess. You’ve generally sold me on Flynn – but the price has to be right, particularly if we have any legitimate shot at Mario Williams (a probable pipe dream).
I don’t think people understand that we have a top 10 defense that is young and if we added Peyton into the mix with some right moves through draft and free agency we could be right there. There is so much parody in the league that if you have a top 10 defense and peyton you have a real chance to make the playoffs and anything can happen. I don’t think it is as far fetched as people think.
Whoops. Spoke too soon.
http://www.cantonrep.com/browns/x1644239899/Clear-signals-from-Heckert-Manning-no-Flynn-yes
Looks like I’m “all in on Flynn.”
Maybe the 1st thing we agree on ever except for going after mario williams. I don’t want to spend that kind of money on anyone except for a quarterback unless he is a world beater.
I would much rather have Peyton if he is healthy enough to play.