The real problem with the Browns

Steve Nagy
Senior No Name Guy

I relize the media has fueled the rumored firing of 1st year head coach Eric Mangini. They have mentioned many things about his decisions on the QBs and the fact that the Browns are 1 and 7, so on and so forth. Randy Lerner and the mess with George Kokinis have also been other popular topics of the local and national media. Out of all this talk, all these articles, noone has touched on what I believe is the real problem with the team. Phil Savage.

We all know a team does not get fixed over night and that it also does not get destroyed over night. Phil Savage in his first year with the Browns made alot of decisions that I agreed with. Then as the years went on, some of his moves I questioned. The Browns freed up alot of cap space from the previous regime and Savage went on a spending spree. Even though the fans and the local media were happy with him, I had alot of disagreements and worries. Not with the players he signed, but the amount of players and amount of money he was spending. No team from 2004 to 2007 had spent more money on free agents than the Browns. At the same time I felt his sense of urgency. The team was terrible with no talent, they had been bad since they came back into the league in 99 and Clevelanders are not the most patient people when it comes to sports.  Savage felt that putting together a team with free agents was the fastest way to get on top. The problem is he did not look towards the future. It all came crashing down in 08.

The outright releases of high payed players such as Lecharles Bentley, Gary Baxter and Joe Jurevicius, due to career ending injuries, was a huge blow to the organization and the Browns salary cap.  Before that, Savage signed Donte Stallworthe to 8 million dollar a year deal (which even if not suspended was a waste of money)and resigning of Jamal Lewis and Korey Williams to big contract extentions has also contributed to the Browns cap troubles. With little to no impact to the team from these 6 players, plus the fact that only 4 of Savage's draft picks have panned out into worthy NFL starters, the Browns once again have become bottom feeders. With no talent and being nearly at the cap limit, the Browns have lost the ability to maneuver in the free agent market for this year. This is not Mangini's fault.

I read in the Plain Dealer in Feburary that the Browns were 12 million dollars under the cap going into 09.  My friends, Tony Rizzo and people in town were all happy and thought that was a good thing. I was questioning them. Knowing full well bad times were ahead.  Going into 09, a team with little to no talent and a top 5 pick they would have to pay , I saw no possible way they could put even a team on the field. On top of that the loses of starters Andra Davis and Sean Jones, via free agent, did not help the Browns whatsoever. I looked at this team and said to myself "How are they going to replace Davis and Jones, pay the top 5 pick, get a running back, replace Stallworthe and get a center with 12 million dollars" The answer is they didn't. They couldn't.

When Mangini was hired he inherited a mess.  "Savage's Spending Spree" is what every Browns fan should be upset about, not Mangini. The Plain Dealer, WKNR and the national media have not said one word about this. Whether they have no idea how the NFL works or they do not care to tell the truth because it will get them nowhere in their careers, I do not know. Either way, it bothers me that the city of Cleveland and its fans are poisened by the local and national media on this and many other topics about Cleveland sports.

Assuming that my research and my general knowlege of the NFL are correct (Im betting they are). Do you still believe that Mangini is to blame and should be fired after 8 games?

There is a lot to address here.

No team from 2004 to 2007 had spent more money on free agents than the Browns. At the same time I felt his sense of urgency. The team was terrible with no talent, they had been bad since they came back into the league in 99 and Clevelanders are not the most patient people when it comes to sports. It's just as you said, the team was void of talent.

Phil Savage believed, whether right or wrong, that the quickest way to turn the team around was with veterans. That's why the Matt Stewarts and Brian Russells were brought in. Free agency was meant to provide the Browns with a basis for their recovery. From 2004 to 2005, we just needed bodies to fill the void of talent left by the previous regime.

Don't forget, Phil Savage was the former director of pro personnel in Baltimore. His knowledge and comfort zone rested in pro personnel, and his tenure as GM reflected that.

The outright releases of high payed players such as Lecharles Bentley, Gary Baxter and Joe Jurevicius, due to career ending injuries, was a huge blow to the organization and the Browns salary cap. Can you really blame that on Phil Savage?

No one could have forseen the injuries to Baxter, Bentley, or Jurevicius. I'd say that's more bad luck than anything else.

I looked at this team and said to myself "How are they going to replace Davis and Jones, pay the top 5 pick, get a running back, replace Stallworthe and get a center with 12 million dollars" The answer is they didn't. They couldn't. Andra Davis and Sean Jones were replaced with Eric Barton and Abram Elam.

The running back remained the same.

Donte Stallworth was replaced by Brian Robiskie and they signed a center in Alex Mack.

Eric Mangini and the front office personnel did find a way to make all of those replacements.

"Savage's Spending Spree" is what every Browns fan should be upset about, not Mangini. The real problem behind the Browns is they only had one offseason to turn things around.

Here's an idea of Eric Mangini's checklist heading into the 2009 season:

bigbootyjj Reputation: 2 Level: Amateur Since: Nov 25, 2008	Posted on: November 11, 2009 3:27 pm Score: -15 The real problem with the Browns It explains a lot! [ Reply to Comment ]
Mandalay Reputation: 98 Level: Superstar Since: Nov 19, 2006	Posted on: November 12, 2009 5:59 am Score: 95 The real problem with the Browns Savage had his issues, but what truly set this organization back 10 years is the lack of talent drafted by Dwight Clark and then Butch Davis. There was no way the Romeo/Savage team and now Mangini can succeed with the talent left to them from the regimes ahead of them and the decisions they made. Believe it or not, Tim Couch should still be here quarterbacking the Browns. Unfortunately, because of the lack of talent that surrounded him, he's not. The decisions made from 1999 to 2004 have made the Browns what they are today. [ Reply to Comment ]
Nagz48 Reputation: 95 Level: Superstar Since: Mar 8, 2008	Posted on: November 12, 2009 6:35 am Score: 113 The real problem with the Browns I agree and wanted to touch on that as well. Its started with Clark and has been out off control since. The fact is if I would have wrote ALL the reasons why the Browns were so bad NOW, then it would have been so long noone would read it. But the massive cap space cleared in 06 from the previous regime was where I started. What makes a solid organization is hitting on draft picks. Look at the Steelers and the Pats. All of the 1st rounders have panned out in the past 5 or 6 years. [ Reply to Comment ]
BigBoi Reputation: 96 Level: Superstar Since: Sep 20, 2006	Posted on: November 12, 2009 3:40 pm Score: 151 The real problem with the Browns 5 years is a long time. Look at Cincinnati. They drafted Carson Palmer in 2003. Say what you will about their chances long term or in the playoffs, but they their worst finish in the last 6 years was last year at 4-10 and before that 7-9. Heck, they were 8-8 the first year under Lewis. The Browns have definitely made some poor personnel moves, but a good coach gets rid of the people who don't fit and makes things at least managable right away. Mangini didn't do his team any favors by being a jerk through training camp and then not picking a quarterback right away. He lost the team almost right away. The Browns need to blow it up again, as painful as that sounds. [ Reply to Comment ]
Sircheeks Reputation: 97 Level: Superstar Since: Jun 30, 2008	Posted on: November 13, 2009 11:14 am Score: 125 The real problem with the Browns There is a lot to address here. No team from 2004 to 2007 had spent more money on free agents than the Browns. At the same time I felt his sense of urgency. The team was terrible with no talent, they had been bad since they came back into the league in 99 and Clevelanders are not the most patient people when it comes to sports. It's just as you said, the team was void of talent. Phil Savage believed, whether right or wrong, that the quickest way to turn the team around was with veterans. That's why the Matt Stewarts and Brian Russells were brought in. Free agency was meant to provide the Browns with a basis for their recovery. From 2004 to 2005, we just needed bodies to fill the void of talent left by the previous regime. Don't forget, Phil Savage was the former director of pro personnel in Baltimore. His knowledge and comfort zone rested in pro personnel, and his tenure as GM reflected that. The outright releases of high payed players such as Lecharles Bentley, Gary Baxter and Joe Jurevicius, due to career ending injuries, was a huge blow to the organization and the Browns salary cap. Can you really blame that on Phil Savage? No one could have forseen the injuries to Baxter, Bentley, or Jurevicius. I'd say that's more bad luck than anything else. I looked at this team and said to myself "How are they going to replace Davis and Jones, pay the top 5 pick, get a running back, replace Stallworthe and get a center with 12 million dollars" The answer is they didn't. They couldn't. Andra Davis and Sean Jones were replaced with Eric Barton and Abram Elam. The running back remained the same. Donte Stallworth was replaced by Brian Robiskie and they signed a center in Alex Mack. Eric Mangini and the front office personnel did find a way to make all of those replacements. "Savage's Spending Spree" is what every Browns fan should be upset about, not Mangini. The real problem behind the Browns is they only had one offseason to turn things around. Here's an idea of Eric Mangini's checklist heading into the 2009 season: Establish depth at wide receiver Establish depth along the entire defensive line Establish depth in the linebacking corps Establish depth in the secondary Establish depth along the entire offensive line Weed out the malcontents (Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow) Install a new offensive system Install a new defensive system Re-work the salary cap Find a franchise signal caller Assemble a coaching staff Implement a system and schedule of how day-to-day business will be conducted Take a look at that list. It was nearly impossible to address all of those points in one year. Mangini did a good job of getting to as many things as he could, but there is still work that needs to be done. [ Reply to Comment ]
Timbo227 Reputation: 34 Level: Rookie Since: Oct 26, 2009	Posted on: November 13, 2009 1:06 pm Score: 143 The real problem with the Browns I agree with a lot of those points but I can't understand Mangini's thinking on the QB situation. Brady Quinn needs to have been starting all along. Whether he proves himself or not as a franchise QB, he can't prove himself from the sideline. I think Derek Anderson has proven beyond a doubt he is no better than a career backup so you have to assess whether you have a guy in Quinn that can lead the team. Secondly, Jamal Lewis was an over the hill back in '07 when the Browns passed on Adrian Peterson to draft Joe Thomas. While I like Joe Thomas and think he is an outstanding tackle, a franchise running back could have helped this team immensely. I think there is plenty of blame to go around in this organization dating back to Clark and Davis. But I think Mangini will have a hard time ever winning over this locker room. It might be time to open the checkbook for a Shanahan, Cowher or Gruden. Let's bring some respect back to the organization [ Reply to Comment ]
Nagz48 Reputation: 95 Level: Superstar Since: Mar 8, 2008	Posted on: November 15, 2009 10:22 pm Score: 131 The real problem with the Browns Ok maybe I should of rephrased what I was saying. I understand not all of those things I mentioned were Savages fault, but it happened under him. The injures were bad luck, abviously. But after that he just kept spending. Now some people say that Lerner may have had alot to do with who Savage drafted and signed, ok, I will listen to that agruement. Still though, he was the GM. I know for a fact that Ozzie Newsome had many heated agruements with Art Model about who the Ravens were going to draft. Newsome won those agruements. I read that in "Next Man Up", which is a great book. Basically the Browns had to replace average players like Davis and Jones with below average players like Barton and Elam not because they wanted to, but becuase they had to. They needed cheap experienced players to fill a void. The Browns are in cap trouble, just like the 02 and 03 Bengals. Did the Bengals go out on spending spree's to hurry up and get a team on the feild when they got out of cap trouble? No. They took their time and through a couple of years built a solid team through the draft and minor FA signings. [ Reply to Comment ]

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