The Franchise Quarterback: An unconventional approach to conventional wisdom
April 20, 2015Watch Craig on “All In” on WKYC – Cavs Playoff Game 1
April 20, 2015The Cleveland Browns have signed two of their restricted free agents, linebacker Craig Robertson and safety Johnson Bademosi, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN. As the deadline looms for the Browns to come to agreement with their restricted free agents, it is big for the team to get two of them done and off their plate. In this instance, both players signed their respective tenders, Robertson for $2.36 million, and Bademosi for $1.54 million.
RFAs S Johnson Bademosi and ILB Craig Roberson re-signed with the #Browns.
— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) April 20, 2015
Caplan goes on to re-iterate the timeline for which teams can get their restricted free agents on deals.
Friday is the last day for RFAs to sign offer sheets.
— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) April 20, 2015
That tweet might as well have had Tashaun Gipson’s name in it as far as the Browns are concerned. That’s not to underestimate the importance of getting Robertson and Bademosi signed. Robertson really came into his own in Mike Pettine’s defense and showed himself to be more than capable when Browns free agent signee Karlos Dansby missed four games due to injury. In Bademosi, the Browns lock up a key reserve and special teamer who picked up as a gunner, where Josh Cribbs left off for the Browns.
The elephant in the room is Gipson, who chose to skip the first day of off-season training. The stakes are especially high for Gipson considering just how much safeties are getting paid in this “passing league” we’ve all come to know in the past decade. His stats demand serious compensation, but it still might seem risky and unproven to a Browns organization that faces putting a rich deal on a guy who was un-drafted and has only started for two seasons.
In the end, this is supposed to be one of those “good problems.” Finding un-drafted players to join your team and eventually make Pro Bowl appearances is a front office’s dream come true. If they can’t find some common ground with Gipson on a contract, it might turn into a nightmare.
5 Comments
Get er done.
“His stats demand serious compensation, but it still might seem risky and unproven to a Browns organization that faces putting a rich deal on a guy who was un-drafted and has only started for two seasons.”
So you’re saying he’s started the past two years, including one with Pro Bowl consideration, and with solid production…makes him a risk? There would be risk but tied to his injury, that’s it. There’s risk to not signing him as well.
I should clarify. With regard to making Gipson comparisons to Devin McCourty for a contract comp, McCourty has a longer track record. I left some things unsaid that I was thinking about when I was writing this.
Fair enough, I’m sure there’s plenty of time this season for that. Regardless, this will come to a head if he doesn’t sign by the deadline.
I like the Browns new philosophy. If you don’t have a reputation for being a competent team, why not go all in on building a reputation for being cheap?