2012 preseason
Okay, the team has reached a pretty consistently high level – but we haven’t yet been able to break through. Some decisions lie ahead this season, that might help us do just that. Here’s the team’s history under my watch:
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GM Performance for QuikSand of the Cleveland Browns
Year Team Eval Perf Diff Proft FrVal Record Playoffs
2011 CLE 79 66 77 97 44 13-6-0 Conference Final
2010 CLE 80 83 78 91 37 12-5-0 Division Final
2009 CLE 83 83 79 99 31 12-5-0 Division Final
2008 CLE 73 69 79 90 22 9-8-0 Wild Card Round
2007 CLE 66 28 79 100 17 7-9-0 None
2006 CLE 58 2 77 100 20 3-13-0 None
2005 CLE 57 17 74 86 28 5-11-0 None
2004 CLE 61 5 71 100 33 4-12-0 None
Transitions and League Observations
We again avoid any retirements – so our personnel decisions will all be based on contracts, rather than departures.
Bobby Silvers has retired. After last season, when we had yet another QB crisis in the postseason and felt like we couldn’t use him, I suspect he realized that his number was up. He doesn’t even make the transactions list, but he is out of the free agent pool.
DT Harvey Gustafson is seriously injured – he will miss this entire season, and probably won’t be worth a damn after his recovery. Shame – he has been pretty solid for us, when he could play. (I’m sensing a trend here… many of these players I’m getting as bargains in free agency seem to have innate injury tendencies – it’s like the other teams know this and I don’t)
Front Office Decisions
We re-up with DC Ted Keith for three more years – very little to argue with there:
Def Coord: Ted Keith, 57
EX: DL
VG: LB,DB
GD: PK
AV: Young Talent
Roster Review
This season, I will do the position-by-position analysis again, but we’ll show the salary information – since that will be driving us in part this season.
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Player # Pos Start OnTm EndCnt Exp Cap Cost Save if Rls
Clancy, Marco 8 QB 2009 2012 4 $750,000 $580,000
Houston, James 7 QB 2011 2013 2 $550,000 $380,000
Gordon, Howie 3 QB 2011 2012 2 $300,000 $300,000
Glover, Tyrone 2 QB 2008 UFA 9 $0 $0
Tyrone Glover is back from his knee injury, but is no longer a candidate to lead this team or any other – he’s lost a lot in the injury transition.
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Player # Pos Start OnTm EndCnt Exp Cap Cost Save if Rls
Aguilera, Danny 30 RB 2011 2012 2 $300,000 $300,000
Arsenault, Roderick 33 RB 2008 UFA 9 $0 $0
Ramsey, Archie 29 RB 2009 UFA 7 $0 $0
Ramsey, Kendrick 32 RB 2006 UFA 7 $0 $0
Only our third-string rookie from last season is signed – and we have decisions to make. Archie Ramsey is a shell after his own serious leg injury, so we will have layers of decisions to make. Retaining Arsenault won’t cost us nearly as much as we had been paying him, I’m pretty certain. And Kendrick Ramsey still has potential, I think.
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Player # Pos Start OnTm EndCnt Exp Cap Cost Save if Rls
Woodson, Mickey 36 FB 2006 UFA 9 $0 $0
Goodwin, Ian 23 FB 2009 ---- 4 $0 $0
Holmes, Jonathan 18 TE 2010 2012 7 $880,000 $660,000
Pariso, Wade 82 TE 2010 2013 3 $640,000 $470,000
I’ve made my support for Mickey Woodson very clear, and it’s not likely to change any time soon. Goodwin is solid and versatile, but not that essential. Holmes emerged as our top receiving target last season, and will again be a main part of our attack.
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Player # Pos Start OnTm EndCnt Exp Cap Cost Save if Rls
Blair, Zach 81 FL 2009 2012 4 $2,070,000 $1,290,000
Ellard, Jimmy 87 FL 2011 UFA 7 $0 $0
Sasser, Marlon 85 SE 2010 2012 7 $950,000 $850,000
Rose, Mickey 89 SE 2007 2012 6 $730,000 $670,000
Causey, Marvin 86 SE 2010 2012 3 $470,000 $470,000
Goodwin, Oscar 80 SE 2009 ---- 4 $0 $0
Zach Blair had his best season with us, and Marvin Causey stepped into a starting role well. We’re deep here, with speedy Marlon Sasser and Mickey Rose both capable players in reserve. Jimmy Ellard is also pretty decent, and played a big role with team chemistry – we’ll try to get him to return for another go-round. Oscar Goodwin is not essential, but if he’ll return cheaply, that would be fine.
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Player # Pos Start OnTm EndCnt Exp Cap Cost Save if Rls
Owens, O.J. 51 C 2011 2013 6 $1,200,000 $900,000
Pond, Ellis 57 C 2011 2013 2 $840,000 $490,000
Thornton, Mickey 53 LG 2011 2015 2 $2,180,000 $980,000
Hampton, Todd 67 RG 2007 2012 6 $660,000 $660,000
Gruber, Lincoln 63 RG 2009 UFA 8 $0 $0
Norton, Danny 68 LT 2010 2012 3 $990,000 $640,000
Heinlein, Bennie 71 LT 2005 UFA 8 $0 $0
Thornton, Donnie 73 RT 2011 2012 6 $1,630,000 $1,220,000
Owens was fine as our starter last season, but Pond is developing toward taking the role. LG Mickey Thornton will start again, and his pass blocking skills developed a lot last year – now we need him to develop his power for the up front job. Re-signing Lincoln Gruber is important – he’s pretty solid, and is our OL leader – building chemistry boosts all start with him. T Bennie Heinlein has been solid for us for seven years as a starter, and we’ll try to bring him back as well. RT Donnie Thornton is mostly a pass blocker, but has put up solid numbers and is a welcome returning starter.
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Player # Pos Start OnTm EndCnt Exp Cap Cost Save if Rls
Creighton, Lamont 9 P 2011 2013 2 $460,000 $380,000
Vallejo, Jeremy 19 K 2009 2012 4 $640,000 $600,000
I’m pleased with both guys’ performances here. Creighton is solid, and Vallejo is over 75% with FGs on his career, including a clutch 5 for 5 in the playoff game last year.
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Player # Pos Start OnTm EndCnt Exp Cap Cost Save if Rls
Moseley, Cris 94 LDE 2011 2012 7 $1,500,000 $1,130,000
Fox, Jimmy 93 LDE 2007 2013 6 $1,200,000 $900,000
Holton, Butch 97 LDE 2009 UFA 9 $0 $0
Hendrix, Tim 99 RDE 2011 2013 6 $1,250,000 $900,000
Oliveira, Willie 76 LDT 2007 2012 8 $700,000 $700,000
Gibson, Kris 95 LDT 2006 UFA 7 $0 $0
Cascadden, Gary 72 LDT 2007 UFA 6 $0 $0
**Gustafson, Harvey 75 RDT 2010 2012 6 $1,200,000 $900,000
Hicks, Ben 74 RDT 2011 2013 2 $400,000 $360,000
Depth is obviously key here, as we have just cycled through players at the DL positions with impunity. Fox is a mentor and decent player, while Moseley and Hendrix are solid, but unstable. Retaining Holton would be great – he has been a rock of stability for us.
Inside, Cascadden has been exceptional, the centerpiece of our solid run defense for years. His return is a top priority, period. Kris Gibson comes off an injury, but looks like he might be okay – and probably will be cheap to sign. Oliveira has been a spot-starter, but has always been pretty productive and pretty flexible. We’ll keep him around, as our positional leader and anchor for team unity here, too.
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Player # Pos Start OnTm EndCnt Exp Cap Cost Save if Rls
Carlson, Kirk 77 WILB 2011 2012 2 $300,000 $300,000
Casey, Rick 90 MLB 2008 2012 9 $1,300,000 $1,000,000
Goodwin, Cedric 92 MLB 2004 2013 9 $1,020,000 $790,000
Perez, K.C. 56 MLB 2011 2012 6 $810,000 $760,000
Frederick, Clarence 58 SLB 2010 2012 3 $990,000 $640,000
Benjdya, Sherman 62 SLB 2011 2013 2 $380,000 $360,000
DiGiacomo, Ricky 91 WLB 2008 2012 5 $3,100,000 $1,870,000
Holmes, Warren 50 WLB 2011 2012 6 $880,000 $850,000
Fisk, Stanley 98 WLB 2007 UFA 6 $0 $0
Regalado, Darrin 52 WLB 2009 ---- 4 $0 $0
Cedric Goodwin is our long-time middle man, but is clearly an injury-prone problem for us. Rick Casey is solid and cheap, while K.C. Perez can play anywhere and has balanced skills. These three keep us stable both at MLB and elsewhere.
Ricky DiGiacomo plays thee weak side well – we have tried to boost his playing time, but he just fills the spot that takes the most time off, it seems. Clarence Frederick had a solid season last year in the strong side, and projects to return for another year there. Regalado backs up both OLB spots, and can even step in to fill in at DE if needed – I’d like to re-sign him, if it’s affordable to do so.
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Player # Pos Start OnTm EndCnt Exp Cap Cost Save if Rls
Freeman, Jamie 44 LCB 2011 2015 2 $1,470,000 $830,000
Gomez, Craig 27 LCB 2005 UFA 8 $0 $0
Richmond, Deon 43 RCB 2006 2013 7 $1,170,000 $1,100,000
Callens, Zack 39 RCB 2009 UFA 9 $0 $0
Weed, Kirk 24 SS 2009 2012 4 $2,100,000 $1,430,000
Ellery, Deron 46 FS 2008 2012 5 $2,800,000 $1,860,000
Specter, Rex 41 FS 2011 2013 2 $1,050,000 $630,000
Deon Richmond has developed into a solid man-coverage specialist, and after two years beside him, Zack Callens has done much the same. If we can re-sign Callens, I won’t have a problem starting those two again and for some time. Jamie Freeman might have to wait his turn – as he currently is a ways behind in terms of pure skills.
SS Kirk Weed continues to improve, and looks like a pretty solid starter. Ellery is holding on to his job, while Specter looks like a bit of a disappointment. None are true stars – we might look for another complementary player for back here, though.
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Players Under Contract: 37
On Active Roster: 37
Salary Cap: $75,000,000
Cap Room: $35,050,000
Maximum for New Player: $30,220,000
Cap Room Lost (to old contracts): $90,000
There’s our main status – we have more money to spend than in previous years, but we do have many spots that need to be filled.
Free Agency
My top re-signing target is DT Gary Cascadden, and I decided to use the franchise tag for the first time. I plan to work out a long term deal with him, but I don’t want to run the risk of losing him – so we put the $5 million offer out there as a placeholder.
That leaves us with $25 million or so to spend on free agents in the open market.
RB Roderick Arsenault is seeking over $5 million per season – I didn’t think his demands would be so high, honestly. DE Butch Holton, also, is seeking over $5 million a year – which is just a lot to pay for a pretty good complementary player, I think.
So, my first round of re-signing offers go to FB Woodson, WR Ellard, G Gruber, T Heinlein, and CB Callens – all three year offers, all pretty cheap. I’d like to bring that whole group back – and it would cost us about $8 million this year to do so – which seems quite reasonable.
Looking through the FA market, I really don’t see any particular standouts that I’d pay top dollar to come join our team. The closest I can find is CB Brett Maxwell, who as played for Washington and Seattle – two typically poor teams. I think he could flourish in our system, and I put in an offer for a one year deal (I don’t want to be locked up long term).
DE Skip Bromley is a cheap addition – not very durable, but seemingly pretty effective when he does play. But bodies on the D-line are just too important to pass up a solid fill-in, especially as cheap as he is.
As I contemplate the defensive line, I also need to think about a trade offer we have received – a 2nd round pick for DE Tim Hendrix. Hendrix only was able to play in four games last season, and I suspect he’s an injury problem. So, a second rounder sounds pretty good. However, he is very strong – and effective when he plays. Tough call – having a good rotation guy cheaply for two years might be better than what we can get in round two of a rookie draft.
Right away, DE Butch Holton accepts an offer from Chicago, and signs there for $5 million per season. I might have been able to match that, but instead wanted to wait him out – and we end up losing a steady producer.
There are multiple suitors for CB Brett Maxwell, so if we’re going to get him, we probably need to make a bona fide multi-year offer. It looks like Callens will re-sign, so maybe we don’t need to expend huge money there, after all. I leave my one-year offer up for Maxwell, but also put in another offer – a three year deal for Calvin Wickliff, who played a few years for us but last year for Seattle.
I am shocked in week five, when not only does CB Wickliff sign with us, but so does CB Brett Maxwell. Maxwell immediately projects to be a starter, and that pushes Callens into an unknown zone. We’ll be much deeper there, though – that much is certain.
We sign DE Lincoln Limon, who played a season for us a long time ago, and will now return to our DE rotation. My hope is to field five playable defensive ends this year, and try to mix up playing time so nobody gets too work out. Limon would land near the bottom of that list (I hope).
We get to the end of the 20-stage period, and I still don’t have a starting running backs signed. Roderick Arsenault has priced himself out of his market, so he’ll have to rethink that strategy – and I hope he lands at a place where we can make a move to re-up with him for another year or two. I don’t know how long he has left, but if he could continue at his current clip he’d be solid.