WR Matt Jones - Browns Interested?

by Chris Pokorny on Jun 21, 2008 3:30 PM EDT in General News

What in the world is with this sudden wave of interest in the Browns acquiring another wide receiver? After yesterday's rumor regarding veteran Chargers WR Eric Parker, there are reports today that the Browns might be one of the teams interested in WR Matt Jones of the Jacksonville Jaguars:

Jacksonville "appears to be ready to cut ties" with Matt Jones, according to beat writer Michael C. Wright.

Jones is low on the depth chart and has missed some practices with his typical nagging injuries. He would be an intriguing waiver claim because Jones' base salaries are only $625,000 and $565,000 in 2008 and 2009, respectively. The Cowboys, Dolphins, and Browns might have some interest.

Link

Between Jones and Parker, I'd probably prefer Parker. While Jones definitely had more projected upside when he was drafted a few years ago, he's never lived up to his potential, and would represent another "project" (i.e. Travis Wilson). Since we already have Wilson, Parker, a more-established veteran, would be my preferred choice.

Still, in the end, I don't want either guy if Joe Jurevicius is perfectly fine. On the same note again though, Jones' low base salary in 2009 is very intriguing if Jurevicius does decide to hang it up.

Another thing to consider: the rumor that the Jaguars are interested in cutting ties with Jones came from beat writer Michael C. Wright. In his piece, he never mentioned specific teams that would be interested. Rotoworld was the site that mentioned the Browns, Dolphins, and Cowboys as teams that might have interest. If those are just wild guesses made by Rotoworld, then perhaps you can consider the Parker rumor more serious than the Jones rumor.

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I am happy with our WRs but,

I’d actually be more interested in Jones. He does have a few drawbacks—injuries, his inability to become a playmaker in the NFL, etc.

But, we don’t have to trade draft picks for him! Jacksonville could just cut/waive him, so all we would have to do is give him a deal or successfully sign him off of waivers. The Browns LOVE big receivers, and Jones was picked in the first round for a reason. I wouldn’t mind giving him a shot if it meant spending some of Randy Learner’s money and cutting, say, Chase Pittman.

by rufio on Jun 21, 2008 9:00 PM EDT reply actions

The more I think about it, I guess it would be “okay” if we acquired Jones. Jurevicius may leave next year, and that would really be when Jones would get a shot. Also, I can’t be too quick to jump into the hype around Travis Wilson. The guy still hasn’t produced during games for us, so saying that he is a better option than Jones is probably jumping the gun a bit on my part.

Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.

by Chris Pokorny on Jun 21, 2008 11:31 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t think there is a “may” in it. Joe has pretty much said that he is retiring at the end of the year, barring a dramatic shift in his mind. The pick of Hubbard was to hopefully lessen that hit next year. I would have significantly more confidence in Jones, even with his play thus far in his career, than I do in Hubbard.

by Fundamentals on Jun 22, 2008 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Playoffs this year + possible super bowl run = dramatic shift in retirement date

It is waaaayyyyyyyy too early to talk about predicting this sort of thing, but it isn’t nearly as improbable as it was, say, 1 year ago. If Jurevicious feels like he has a chance to be a part of a super bowl winner with us, I think that would motivate him to stick around one more year.

by rufio on Jun 22, 2008 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions

I think a few weeks back, Jurevicius hinted that he would consider playing next year too if the Browns contended for the Super Bowl. Granted, he didn’t come right out and say that verbatim, but it was how it got translated. (Personally, I’m still leaning towards the fact that J.J. will retire following this season).

Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.

by Chris Pokorny on Jun 22, 2008 7:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Jones reminds me of when Sean Salisbury went nuts as Jacksonville took him in the draft. “The Jags got an absolute steal here at 22!”

by Roger Dorn on Jun 22, 2008 11:22 AM EDT reply actions

Where would Jones fit in with Browns. Realize Juriviciouz is aging but just do not see a fit here with them also drafting a tight end that line up on the outside in the passing game.

by justin3007 on Jun 22, 2008 2:37 PM EDT reply actions

I appreciate that you’re not just going to every SBN site and posting your link only—you’re at least trying to add some insight. However, if you’re going to pimp your site with that many comments across different sites, maybe you should have made sure you were formatting the links correctly. All of your attempts just go to a 404 SB Nation page :p

Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.

by Chris Pokorny on Jun 22, 2008 7:07 PM EDT up reply actions

i can see us getting joes, but i would not be a huge fan of it.

by kjc on Jun 22, 2008 5:33 PM EDT reply actions

I think people are missing my point about Jones

There is nothing to lose by acquiring him! Nothing! A roster spot and a couple hundred thousand are worth first round talent. The guy has no substance abuse/legal issues, and while he probably doesn’t work as hard as he should, he isn’t going to be a TO-like locker room destroyer.

The Browns already have one talented FA who was previously out of shape and unmotivated in Shaun Rodgers. He’s down 40 lbs from the weight he played at last year, and on all accounts appears to be in much better shape. So it IS possible for us to bring in a guy like that and motivate him.

The Patriots found ways to use Lawrence Maroney, Ben Watson, Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Jabaar Gaffney, Donte’ Stallworth, Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulk, and still had time to bring in LBs to catch touchdowns last year. You can put as many as 5 WR on the field at once (which would be a tremendous Josh Cribbs formation) do the Browns really have 5 WR better than Jones? Maybe. Is it worth signing the guy after he gets cut to find out? Absolutely.

by rufio on Jun 22, 2008 6:04 PM EDT reply actions

You make some good points. My main reason for being against it is that we’d probably have to give up another draft pick next season, something I’d still rather use on acquiring a defensive back if we need to.

Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.

by Chris Pokorny on Jun 22, 2008 7:02 PM EDT up reply actions

I am totally with you. We can’t afford to give up ANY draft picks next year unless we get something absolutely ridiculous for them. Like Champ Bailey for a 7th rounder. Won’t happen though, so we can’t afford to give up any picks next year.

I know we (Browns fans) are used to being a little neurotic, pessimistic, etc. but I find it interesting that a lot of great NFL teams feel totally fine without good CBs. Indy let theirs go after winning the super bowl a couple of years ago, didn’t they? I know they play a Cover 2 scheme and their corners are replaceable, but New England just let Asante Samuel go, and I don’t know if I can name someone in their DB corps other than Randall Gay. The super bowl champion New York Giants have a talented youngster in Aaron Ross at CB, a couple of older vets in McQuarters and Sam Madison, another over-30 guy at safety in Sammy Knight, and they just won it all. NYG obviously recognized this as a weakness and nabbed CB Thomas and S Phillips, but still. Hey Tony averages 1 CB question a week worthy of Rubbish Post of the Week consideration. I am glad there are some people that realize we still need to build through the draft and that we aren’t a really old team that is running out of time.

by rufio on Jun 23, 2008 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions

I’d be fine with signing him if he gets cut, but he aint worth draft picks.

Still, its an intriguing possibility. If we acquired him and he managed to fulfill some of his potential, he could be a steal.

Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.

by BringBackKosar on Jun 22, 2008 7:17 PM EDT reply actions

Is the same true for Travis Wilson if we cut him (from another team’s eyes)? He’s supposed to be the best receiver of his class ;)

Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.

by Chris Pokorny on Jun 22, 2008 9:57 PM EDT up reply actions

who is the source?

Why are we considering this, we need dbs not wrs. It makes no sense to trade whatever bait we have left on a position that isn’t of dire need. Unless, there is interest from somebody else for a second trade involving a wr. This all sounds far fetched though.

by bellar on Jun 23, 2008 10:29 AM EDT reply actions

The Cowboys, Dolphins, and Browns might have some interest.

The Browns “might” have some interest.

I “might” eat ice cream for dinner.

Regardless, I’m sure this was enough for Florio to pick up on this “rumor” and write a 500-word piece on how Savage blew the Quinn trade/D.A. signing.

You know Selig? Ombudsman.

by rolub on Jun 23, 2008 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions