Is Eric Steinbach Going Somewhere? I Doubt It...

by Chris Pokorny on May 5, 2009 2:49 PM EDT in General News

I just caught this story now, even though it was released Sunday afternoon. Chuck Ludwig of the Dayton Daily News decided to talk about (or rather, "trash") the Cleveland Browns on his blog.

Past the part where he disses our owner, head coach, and quarterbacks, he has a tidbit on offensive lineman Eric Steinbach:

And my sources in Cleveland tell me that Eric Steinbach is in deep trouble. Eric Mangini likes big, bruising maulers on the offensive line.

Steinbach doesn’t fit the mold. He’s more finesse. I look for Steinbach to get released after the 2009 season. If fact, with his fat contract, he’ll be fortunate to make the 53-man roster. Don’t be shocked if he gets terminated before the ‘09 opener.

Link

So, because Mangini likes big, bruising maulers on the offensive line, he's just going to throw away one of the league's better guards? I don't think so. There were some moves that were questionable, but understandable (trading Winslow, releasing Kevin Shaffer) -- ditching Steinbach would just be -- out there.

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Is Mangini trying to look like Crenel because he looks to be putting on some weight

Eric Berry Bandwagon

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 5, 2009 4:56 PM EDT reply actions

he’s been this heavy for a few years now. I actually think it looks like he has slimmed down a bit

by Roger Dorn on May 5, 2009 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions

He used to play NT somewhere, didn’t he? Some small college?

by rufio on May 5, 2009 8:29 PM EDT up reply actions

wesleyan (in CT)

by DontCallMeJoey on May 12, 2009 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Steinbach might not be a mauler, but he is a baller. I think Mangini cares more about getting “football players” than getting “athletes”. Steinbach can block with the best of them, regardless of how powerful he is or isn’t.

by rufio on May 5, 2009 8:32 PM EDT reply actions

what is the difference between football players and athletes

Eric Berry Bandwagon

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 5, 2009 9:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Mangini and a lot of media people term the kinds of guys he likes “football players”. You will often hear announcers say “that kid isn’t exceptionally big/fast/etc. but he is just flat out a football player” or something like that. Matt Roth, Aaron Kampman, and maybe Justin Smith are the prototypes.

Mangini seems to like guys who are:
tough
smart
hard working
and love to play the game of football

Conversely, you might hear an announcer say “that kid is just a flat out athlete” or sometimes “Ah-thuh-leeete”. These guys are the Vernon Davis freaks of nature out there; they are bigger, stronger, faster.

Clearly, both of those terms have multiple meanings, which is why I put them in quotes.

Now of course, ideally, you get guys who both have the freakish natural ability and the love of the game, work ethic, etc. But there are only so many of those dudes on the planet. At some point, you are forced to fill out your roster and probably even start guys who are either one or the other. In that situation, I think Mangini would choose the “football player”, which is why I don’t see him salvating over some massive guard who isn’t going to be as good as Steinbach, even though Steinbach isn’t a monster.

by rufio on May 5, 2009 11:47 PM EDT up reply actions

You will often hear announcers say "that kid isn’t exceptionally big/fast/etc. but he is just flat out a football player

And 95% of the time it is a white guy.

by Bernie19Kosar on May 7, 2009 12:58 AM EDT up reply actions

I’m not going to say that you are incorrect about that percentage or if/where any causality would lie there, but let’s make sure we stay away DeBerry territory.

by rufio on May 7, 2009 1:50 AM EDT up reply actions

Ill be honest. If i see a succesful white Running back i usually like him(just because there are pretty much none and its pretty cool how hard they must have worked to get this far.) i mean, the only one i know is hillis.

Eric Berry Bandwagon

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 7, 2009 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Alstott was okay back when he was around.

by tjk_doc on May 11, 2009 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions

more of a FB

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 11, 2009 6:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Your right. Than yeah Hillis is all I got to.

by tjk_doc on May 12, 2009 10:10 AM EDT up reply actions

Alstott still ran the rock. He wasn’t “just” a blocker.

by rufio on May 13, 2009 7:34 PM EDT up reply actions

He did put up good numbers in both rushing (5,088 yds/ 58 TD) and recieving (2,228yds/ 13 TD). I do recall seeing him in some games playing special teams as well.

by tjk_doc on May 14, 2009 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions

I remember before i found this site when i read these articles i beleived them. And i also had to endure the terrible yahoo! forums which were just people commenting things like:
“Mangini is fat and stupid” or “IT DOESNT MATTER WHAT THE BROWNS DO THEY WONT WIN!!!!” but most of all people saying"1st"even when they werent.

Im glad i found this place.

Eric Berry Bandwagon

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 6, 2009 9:00 PM EDT reply actions