Cleveland Browns Free Agent Review: OG Billy Yates

by Chris Pokorny on May 16, 2011 9:17 PM EDT in General News

We are currently in process of doing brief reviews of all of the free agents on the Cleveland Browns. Today, we take a look at our other free agent offensive lineman.

OG Billy Yates

How and When He Joined the Browns: Yates has been in the league since 2003. He spent his first year with the Miami Dolphins, but played for the Patriots from 2004-2008. Yates ended up starting a few games during his span with New England, filling in for injured players, and also won a Super Bowl ring. When the Patriots let him go at the start of the 2009 season, the Browns scooped him up and released LB Leon Williams and DB DeAngelo Smith (S Ray Ventrone was also signed).

Productivity Level Last Season: I kept on joking for the first half of last season that we would be in big trouble if Yates had to start any games, and I thought it was a given that rookie Shawn Lauvao would be given favoritism over him if an opportunity arose. An opportunity came up last season though and Yates delivered big time. In fact, he started three games at right guard, and those were arguably some of the best games the Browns played all season before he landed on the injured reserve.

Why Keeping Him Could Make Sense: Right now, Alex Mack is the only true center on the team. Last year, the "backups" on the depth chart behind Mack were Yates and Lauvao. Neither of them were very good as backup centers, but Yates probably had the edge over Lauvao. On top of that, Yates played surprisingly well as a starting right guard, and I can't imagine he'll be a coveted free agent for other teams.

What the Browns Should Do: Whether or not the Browns keep Yates will depend on two things related to Floyd Womack, in my opinion. First, if Womack is not re-signed, then Yates should definitely be retained. If Womack is re-signed, if he is a starter, we'll probably need someone besides Yates who can play backup tackle. If Womack ends up being a backup, he can be the backup tackle while Yates can serve as a backup guard again. It seems like a weird situation, but in the likely scenario, I see Yates not being retained. If Lauvao and Jason Pinkston are both backup guards, why would we need a third backup guard? His spot would need to go to a backup tackle.

Now it's your turn -- vote in the poll below on whether or not the team should try to re-sign Billy Yates!

Poll

Should the Cleveland Browns re-sign free agent OG Billy Yates?

Yes

230 votes

No

67 votes

297 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 15 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

i voted yes only for the simple fact that i can’t stress enough how much the Browns need to have solid depth on the O-Line. we’ve proven time and again that without solid depth especially on the right side we hurt our season pretty bad. unless if someone wants to give him a better deal, i suggest keeping him at least through the preseason to make sure Pinkston has what it takes to be an NFL ready backup. i doubt it would require giving him a lot of money so if we have to cut him because of better competition after the preseason then so be it. we won’t be losing that much money.

If we don't resign Phil Dawson until he retires from the league I'm going to cry like a little sissy boy.

by Brownsbacker488 on May 16, 2011 9:28 PM EDT reply actions

Now that’s thinking like an owner.

But, I voted no for the youth movement. Let’s get a bigger, faster, younger hungry guy at half the price.

Trust me, their will be plenty to choose from once the lockout ends.

In theory there is no difference between theory and practice.
In practice there is. -- Yogi Berra

by JustPlainBrowns on May 16, 2011 9:41 PM EDT up reply actions

if something like that is available i’m all for it. but the experience and O-Line chemistry is hard to avoid against the opposite of that even if it is cheaper. i can’t imagine we would give him anymore than the veteran minimum anyway, which shouldn’t be a whole lot more than the rookie minimum. but that’s where i fail as an NFL owner/GM because i have no idea what kind of money he expects to receive and what the Browns expect to pay him.

If we don't resign Phil Dawson until he retires from the league I'm going to cry like a little sissy boy.

by Brownsbacker488 on May 16, 2011 9:46 PM EDT up reply actions

How much do you think Yates will cost? I am guessing it is not very much at all.

"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein

by rufio on May 17, 2011 2:29 AM EDT up reply actions

I agree with you. Cost should play the smallest factor in the decision to keep him.

In theory there is no difference between theory and practice.
In practice there is. -- Yogi Berra

by JustPlainBrowns on May 17, 2011 5:51 AM EDT up reply actions

Let’s get a bigger, faster, younger hungry guy at half the price.

Teams don’t let guys like this hit free agency.

"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools" -Hemingway

by notthatnoise on May 17, 2011 8:41 AM EDT up reply actions

In theory there is no difference between theory and practice.
In practice there is. -- Yogi Berra

by JustPlainBrowns on May 17, 2011 7:56 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree with this. Contrary to popular belief we don’t really know what we have in Pinkston and Lauvau is a question mark as well. Let’s not cut ties with Yates until we know we have better options on the roster.

"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools" -Hemingway

by notthatnoise on May 17, 2011 8:43 AM EDT up reply actions

but you are absolutely right, Chris, that we need to focus more on the RT depth than the RG.

If we don't resign Phil Dawson until he retires from the league I'm going to cry like a little sissy boy.

by Brownsbacker488 on May 16, 2011 9:30 PM EDT reply actions

did anyone watch the any of the games Yates played in last year? He was constantly blowing his man off the line, and i dont know if i have seen a guy his size pull block as well as he did last year when he got the opportunity. Our line really suffered after his injury. I think the Browns would be insane not to resign him unless someone wants to give the guy starters money. Browns have ahistory of injuries (especially on o-line) lets get some solid depth and not just be satisfied with 2 rookies (Lauvao is basically a rookie) to back up our injury prone right side of the line. At least a one year deal, this will also help develope the young guys more too.

by lizardking86 on May 16, 2011 10:30 PM EDT reply actions

I believe he not only destroyed his man off the line, but also stayed with the plays down the field to make additional blocks.

I am effing hurdling you and you can't stop me.

by JustBob on May 17, 2011 6:11 PM EDT up reply actions

I would like to bring Yates back. Quality offensive lineman are always good to keep.

by Bernie19Kosar on May 16, 2011 11:27 PM EDT reply actions

I agree. I remember watching him at the beginning of the season and thinking we should cut him. What a mistake that would have been, he turned out to be much better than in the preseason.

I teach good life choices. That’s why I almost didn’t graduate High School.
Intensive Purposes? I could care less...
your whole argument is a fallacy!

by bross09 on May 20, 2011 4:14 AM EDT up reply actions

who?

by pwndabear on May 18, 2011 10:02 AM EDT reply actions

I remember being impressed by his play in the pre-season and his regular season performances backed that up. How often do you notice outstanding Guard play? He should be our starting RG until someone else proves they are better.

by HenryDawg on May 19, 2011 11:26 AM EDT via mobile reply actions