Collegian

It's baseball season again, but the Indians aren't the talk of the town. After enjoying the most successful free agency period in team history, Cleveland Browns fans are waiting to see who the team will select in the NFL Draft later this month.

 Since their return in 1999, the Browns made the Play-offs once, losing to the Steelers 33-36 in 2002. Their overall record in this time is 35-77.

During these years, the Browns have lacked veterans and people with playoff experience both in the front office and on the field. This might explain why the teams couldn't win.

With the addition of coach Romeo Crennel and General Manager Phil Savage last season, the Browns think they are on track to winning.

Crennel has a total of five Superbowl rings, three that he won recently with the Patriots and two he won with Bill Parcells and the Giants. He is well respected and considered one of the best defensive minds in the game.

The Browns pried Savage from the Ravens where he was an assistant to former Brown and GM Ozzie Newsome. Savage and Newsome drafted stars like Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, and Jonathan Ogden for the Ravens. The Browns hope he continues that success here in Cleveland.

After another losing season, there is hope for the Browns in 2006. Unlike previous years, the team now has legitimate all-pros and players with Superbowl experience.

The team has picked up eight players since free-agency started March 11.

New defensive players include nose tackle Ted Washington and end Willie McGinest. Both have won championships with the Patriots. Offensively, the Browns added left tackle Kevin Shaffer, tight end Darnell Dinkins, wide receiver Joe Jeurivicious, lineman Bob Hallen, and maybe the best available free agent of all, former Ohio State star center LeCharles Bentley. Also signed was punter Dave Zastudil.

Schaffer played left tackle for the Atlanta Falcons, who led the league in rushing in 2005. Jeurivicious has played in three Superbowls, including last season against the Steelers. Bentley, a two time all-pro, came from the Saints, Dinkins and Zastudil from the Ravens, and Hallen from the Chargers.

The signings also bring some hometown boys back to Cleveland. Bentley, Jeurivicious, Zastudil, and Hallen are all from the Cleveland area.

While the team added talent, they also lost players to free agency. Tackle L.J. Shelton, receiver Antoinio Bryant, end Kenard Lang, and tight end Aaron Shea all signed with new teams. Safety Chris Crocker was traded to Atlanta for a fourth round pick in this year's draft. Brodney Pool and Sean Jones will compete for his strong safety position, according to a March 27 Plain Dealer article.

With the NFL Draft coming April 29, Browns fans are waiting to see who the team will take with pick 12. In need of an outside pass rusher, different sources see the Browns taking a defensive end or linebacker.

NFLdraftcountdown.com thinks the team will pick end Kamerion Wimbley from Florida State. Football.about.com sees Iowa linebacker Chad Greenway as being chosen.

LCCC students have their own ideas about who the Browns should select.

"I want an Ohio State linebacker- A.J. Hawk or Bobby Carpenter," said John Keis, 21. Tom Chambers, 20, thinks the team should trade up to get Haloti Ngata, a 6'4'' nose tackle.  "He will own people," said Chambers.

No matter who the Browns choose, the fans will be on their side.

Article Tools