Choo’s New Agent – Scott Boras
March 1, 2010Cavaliers Preview Game #61: Knicks at Cavs
March 1, 2010
I have to be honest, I’ve been a one track mind kind of fan lately. I have very little confidence/interest in the Indians right now, which is sad. Spring training is usually one of the most anticipated events of the sports calendar. I haven’t gotten real wrapped up in Browns draft talk either. I’m sure I will at some point, but the Cavaliers have had my full attention. However, one thing caught my eye this weekend while skimming through the twitter feed. It was a statement from new GM Tom Heckert-
Heckert: We like Massaquoi and Robiskie; those guys can be good enough that we don’t need to add a veteran WR
Hmmm. I needed the whole context here, not just a random tweet. So I went to the Browns official site and tracked it down. Here’s the portion that deals with the receivers-
Mangini said he’s excited to see a natural progression from Year One to Year Two from several other young players.
“Typically after first year there’s a jump,” Mangini said. “It’s rare when a young guy come in and lights it up. But in the second year, guys start to settle in on what they have to do, we expect to see strides. We had some young guys at the end of last year that showed potential. Marcus Benard, Brian Schaefering, Evan Moore, Mohamed Massaquoi, David Veikune, Alex, Brian Robsikie, I’m anxious to see all those guys.”
Heckert said he’s impressed by what he’s seen from Massaquoi and Robiskie and doesn’t believe the Browns need to pursue a veteran receiver. That doesn’t preclude them from doing so, but the new GM has high hopes.
“Massaquoi played well last year,” Heckert said. “Robiskie is a good player, too. We really liked him in Philly. Hopefully those guys can keep coming on.”
Ok. I’m probably trying to read into a statement that really doesn’t say anything. First off, throughout the piece Heckert was pretty generic about the Browns’ intentions in the draft and free agency, which you would actuially expect. He mentioned trading up and trading down with their first pick. In the end he said it will basically come down to the wire on whether they sign free agents or what they do with the draft. No kidding. Secondly, you aren’t going to come out and say “wow I think our receiving corps stinks.” I get that.
But he can’t really think that the Browns are in good shape with this group of pass catchers right?
Saying you don’t need to add a veteran reciever seems kind of far fetched. I certainly don’t expect the Browns to go and compete for T. Owens’ services, but I would expect them to add someone with a few years in the league. I mean leaving the unit as is? What would Cleveland Frowns think?
(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
37 Comments
April 1 is April Fool’s Day, Mr. Heckert. You’re one month early.
The Browns don’t need a veteran wideout they need a #1 wideout. I think Mangini’s comments are kind of puzzling, I know that’s shocking news for Browns fans, when it comes to Robiskie because he never even had the kid dress. Perhaps there isn’t much importance on the wide reciever position since it requires a quarterback to get him the ball first. Regardless I’m still of the opinion we stay away from drafting offense until later in the draft and we use draft picks on defense where it is a heck of alot easier, in my opinion, to select talent. Use free agency on offense I would think the right side of the line would be a high priority. From my past readings it sounded like the Browns would be looking to add another RB free agency would be perfect for this after they resign Harrison.
I mean I would tend to agree with Heckert. Is there anyone that you would realistically like to see in Cleveland? Maybe Antonio Bryant, but I dont know if we’d be willing to give him a big payday. Other then that there are not many names that stand out. There are a few RFAs that could potentially help out… but if Im making the final call, Im looking at the young WRs and telling them to step up or find a new job (outside of football… cause lets be honest, if you cant make the browns who will be pickin you up?).
Maybe he thinks the problem isn’t so much the pass catchers as it is the pass throwers.
I swear if we draft a QB…
I agree here, give the kids time to progress. Maybe dress Robiskie a few times (I know that’s silly right?). I just don’t see them needing to shell out money for a vet that’s gonna do nothing more than pat these guys on the back when they do something good. It usually takes these guys about 3 years to mature so why not fast track it by giving them all the playing time? If it was realistic to add a guy like Anquan Boldin though…that’s a whole new can of worms…
“Maybe Antonio Bryant, but I dont know if we’d be willing to give him a big payday.”
I’ve been to that show before, I didn’t care for it. He likes to fight with head coaches, I’m sure that won’t fly here. See Nolan, Mike and Parcells, Bill.
Also, Bryant likes to fail drug tests.
I think along the lines of Bobby here, it’s not that we don’t need a veteran receiver, it’s more that there aren’t any worth getting. Chambers is the only UFA worth anything at this point, and when we’re going to suck, why waste money one him.
Let the Pair of #2’s develop some chemistry w/ that Brady guy and see if any of the 3 of ’em should be around next year.
@boogey I agree with you about drafting Defense at the front end of the draft I think we have more holes on that side of the ball anyways. The only thing I wouldn’t mind seeing addressed if the opportunity was there would be someone to play on the right side of the o-line, it was embarrassing last year.
if there were a WR worth getting, then perhaps they would look into it.
of the names on the UFA and RFA list….Nate Burleson is the only one that pops out at me as someone to go after. And he has had injury concerns the past few years.
also, realize that in a WCO, the WR tend to not be as important because the QB is designed to spread the ball around more than in other systems. Obviously, having the best WRs helps (80’s 49ers), but it is not an absolute (this decade’s Eagles).
Agree there’s little need to get a veteran receiver just to have one, to “influence” the kids. Rather have the coaches schooling them rather than Bryant or another aging, look-at-me peacock.
@ben/#9: “Let the Pair of #2’s develop some chemistry w/ that Brady guy.” Brady guy won’t develop chemistry with anyone, anywhere if he doesn’t stop throwing easy passes into the ground 3 feet in front of open guys. I was really hoping Holmgren was going to see the tapes and say, “we’ve seen a correctable flaw in his throwing motion which we can work on.” He hasn’t said anything like that. Neither of our QBs have the accuracy of an average NFL second stringer, and that won’t cut it in a WCO. RB’s and receivers must catch short passes in stride and fall forward as they are hit. But please, no first round QB.
@12: I’m just holdin on to hope man.
After watching Haden’s highlight tapes, workouts, reading interviews with him and everything else I am pretty set on him at #7. I feel like he has the speed and knowledge to be a great cover corner in the NFL. I think we could compete for TO’s services and we should try to. That doesn’t mean Robo and MoMass won’t be big for us next year.
I really think we need a TE that is a viable option. I can’t see Robert Royal out there again clanking balls off his crooked fingers.
@10 stin4u I’d love to see free agency used to shore up the right side a la what the Browns did in free agency with Erik Steinbach. To me unless you use that #7 pick on an OT (I don’t know who the top offensive lineman are but I don’t think there are alot this draft) I think your just rolling the dice. This is also why I’m a huge proponent of drafting defense especially early. Get some playmaking athletes for this defense which provide some versatility then after that maybe use the extra picks on offensive guys. Like you stin4u the needs on defense far outweigh the offense especially when you don’t even know if you even have a QB. As long as the QB position is a ? why not address the other areas and a year from now after hopefully as many holes have been filled due to the current draft and free agency then go out and get yourself a QB. Just my opinion.
Correction: Like you stin4u I believe the needs on defense….
@Boogey: If you don’t think there are a lot of top O-linemen in this draft then you obviously haven’t paid attention to anything regarding the NFL draft. Every draft expert is calling this the deepest draft, for tackles especially, in a number of years.
i’d like to see more plays to heiden…he never drops a pass.
@boogey I can’t realistically say spend our first round pick on the O-line but maybe a 3rd depending on the talent available. I myself haven’t evaluated O-line talent myself other than Okung so I’m not sure who’s going to be around either.
BTW does anyone think the Bradford hype may be a smoke screen to get Suh/Berry to drop?
edit: drop the second myself (I promise english really is my native language)
Quinn for B. Marshall straight up.
Bradford to Marshall with MoMass at #2 and Robiskie workin the slot. Boom.
When he was with the Eagles, Heckart did a great job of getting WR in the draft (Jackson, Avant, Maclin and Celek – we would drop or entire recieving corp for that group) the last few years. I think that’s where they are going with this.
I think the big moves are going to be at QB. I will be very surprised to see Quinn or Anderson start next year. Holmgren has always gone out and gotten his QB (Favre and Hasselbeck) and I dont think this go around will be any different. I expect some draft day wheeling and dealing and a new starting QB by the end of that weekend.
Please stop with the mention of TO as a Brown! When at the top of his game, his value had to weighed against the destructive force he was to team chemistry–regardless of which team he was on. Now, with his skills diminished, all you get for sure is poison.
TO’s no bargain for sure,
Just look at his NFL tour,
No welcome returns
By the cities he burns,
So don’t fall for his phony allure.
I could care less about TO and B. Marshall both those guys are locker room tumors. We need young talent to develop together. Neither one of those guys would be happy to come here and continue losing.
@23/Nikko:
Please read fine print of the “Before You Comment” section. Any attempts at poetry on this site strictly limited to Haiku (classic form, no free styling). All limericks strictly forbidden. Second offense punishable by banishment to Isis Island.
@ 24
I agree Marshall and TO are both negative influences, but where they differ is that Marshall’s still in his prime, while TO is going downhill faster than Lindsey Vonn. That said, I’m with you…No thanks to both of them.
@17 I said I wanted to draft defense so I’ve paid more attention to that side which is what I said or eluded to throughout my post. Taking an OL at #7 isn’t as bad as a QB or WR but I’d still prefer defense. Thanks for your opinion about my opinion though.
The Frownie Challenge was a real eye opener, wasn’t it? Thanks, Rick.
I understand the idea that players are better in their second year than in the first, and that the strides made could be big, but how many people are really comfortable with the notion that either Mass or Rob could be a legit #1? I have to hope this is a smokescreen as well as a public vote of confidence in the youngsters.
It’s funny, because i had a conversation with a friend about this two days ago, and i was on Heckert’s side.
When did we forget that a wide receiver typically hits his stride in year number three? Let’s look at Mo Mass for a second. He gets drafted and has to learn a whole new offense, then watches Braylon leave in Week 5, prompting coverage on him from the top cornerback from every team we faced the rest of the season. Add in the shaky (at best) quarterback situation, and you have a recipe for failure. Mo Mass looked great at times in SPITE of everything he had piled up against him.
Let him get used to the speed, get comfortable with a quarterback, and then let’s rip him apart. Give the man a chance.
People not giving Mo Mass a chance is absurd. It pisses me off SO much.
For those who think Robiskie is not going to be somebody…go and compare his rookie season to Joe J’s. You may like what you see. You may even find a little hope. And Mo Mass is going to do just fine too.
You do not waste a first rounder on a lineman on the right side of the line. You can get a vet in free agency for the right side of the line. We need to draft corner and linebacker. We need to get some big receivers. We could use one of our third rounders to draft a rightside lineman.. That’s about the norm.
Domenik Hixon, come on down!
We’re constantly told to ignore NFL front office statements this time of year because it’s all misdirection and trying to get advantages in trades, FA signings, etc. Then we all freak out when our own front office says something like this. Let’s relax. Heckert’s a smart guy, right? Maybe he’s just trying to lower the cost he has to pay for some other team’s veteran WR in a deal. At least I hope so!
All the posts point out one thing. The Brownies have a lot of holes to fill. Not necessarily in this order: CB, Safety, WR, RT, TE, RB, LB, DE, and QB. The brain trust will work to fill all the holes but if they feel an area can get by for a year, I’m sure they will go with what we’ve got. WR, TE, RB, LB may fit into those categories of fix later.
I think this front office will make better decisions than any we’ve had for awhile. I also think the whole process is like a poker game. Don’t let the other teams see the cards you are holding. I expect smoke screens and diversion tactics will be the norm. Free agency will tell us a lot of what the direction in the draft will be.
GO Brownies!
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