Tom Heckert: Browns Have One of the Best Starting LB Groups in NFL

by Chris Pokorny on Aug 5, 2011 10:15 PM EDT in General News

Cleveland Browns general manager Tom Heckert addressed a group of Browns Backers and other guests after Friday's training camp session, according to Steve Doerschuk of the Canton Repository. Doerschuk must have been one of the people listening to Heckert, and it was a refreshing-sounding dialogue. Heckert spoke more freely to the fans versus how people usually talk to the media.

One comment had me pretty surprised though, even for a general manager who is trying to paint his team in a positive light:

"I think we have one of the best starting groups in the NFL," stated Heckert when asked about the team's linebackers corps.

I haven't brought out the infamous "Huh?" monkey in awhile. In fact, it's been over two years if I remember correctly, as he was able to avoid the Eric Mangini era after being used quite often during the Romeo Crennel era. [Editor's note: here are a few examples of when it was used, for those who are unfamiliar with him -- Link 1 | Link 2 | Link 3]

It's fine for Heckert to be confident, but I'd like to know if anyone really believes this team is even close to having of the best starting groups in the NFL? I'm just hoping the group can be average and take advantage of the two big defensive tackles up front.

Anyway, I'm not trying to pick on Heckert for too long. He provided some other good information to Browns Backers. He said that the team will be looking to extend the contracts of Joe Thomas and Ahtyba Rubin, and that they want to make Phil Dawson a Brown for the rest of his career.

Other notes from Heckert included the following: he wouldn't rule out Dave Zastudil as an option if needed down the stretch, the team does not need to acquire a new receiver, the team WILL get the ball to their receivers this year, and Shawn Lauvao is having a great camp and will be, "an excellent player."

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Comments

Que the media fiascoe.

by lightninmcqueen on Aug 5, 2011 10:27 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Alcohol abuse and Cleveland sports fans: hand-in-hand since 1955.

by Clevsports on Aug 5, 2011 10:38 PM EDT reply actions

In related news Joe Thomas has been declared the starting WLB, MLB, SLB, for opening day.

Alcohol abuse and Cleveland sports fans: hand-in-hand since 1955.

by Clevsports on Aug 5, 2011 10:39 PM EDT reply actions 8 recs

this must be what Heckert was dreaming of - a LB corp full of JTs!

Yvan Eht Nioj.

by Brownsbacker488 on Aug 6, 2011 1:09 AM EDT up reply actions 8 recs

lol… good stuff

If I hear "wait til next year!" one more time... "&*&^$%#@()*%*&()%#$^*()%$"

by elee62652 on Aug 6, 2011 7:53 AM EDT up reply actions

I think we need to have a new DBN shoops contest to see who can come up with the best picture with Joe Thomas photoshopped into it.

Resident Tim Couch Apologist.

by Dawg Nuts on Aug 7, 2011 12:13 AM EDT up reply actions

The Scream with Joe Thomas in a three point stance in front of and facing “the screamer”.

cautiously realistic

by North Coast Flea on Aug 7, 2011 1:08 AM EDT up reply actions

Spending our cap room locking up Thomas, Rubin, Hillis, and Dawson will be much better than if we had over-payed for Ray Edwards and Eric Weddle.

by Bumblyjack on Aug 5, 2011 10:42 PM EDT reply actions

Phil Savage disagrees.

2010 Official DBN League Fantasy Football Champion

by TheDriveStillHurts on Aug 6, 2011 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I don’t want to give Hillis a long-term deal worth any kind of big money.

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

by notthatnoise on Aug 6, 2011 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I’m in this camp.

by Bernie19Kosar on Aug 6, 2011 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions

if he stays healthy there’s sort of no reason not to. we could use him sparingly like Pittsburgh started to do with Bettis as he got older assuming we can find a younger back that can carry more of the workload. plus if we’re using him more in the flats as a receiving RB he probably won’t get beat up as often.

Yvan Eht Nioj.

by Brownsbacker488 on Aug 6, 2011 4:32 PM EDT up reply actions

if he stays healthy there’s sort of no reason not to

Yes there is. Running backs are a temporary commodity, let alone a RB who uses his body to ram through people. No need to waste money on a RB when you can grab a guy off the street.

Spend your money on offensive line instead.

by Bernie19Kosar on Aug 6, 2011 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Normally I would agree completely but if he can stop fumbling a Hillis is not that easy to find – a huge guy with some speed and great footwork. Plus he’s a fan favorite. Usually those giant contracts are half vapor so I wouldn’t mind it.

by HenryDawg on Aug 6, 2011 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions

I would bet that Jason Snelling would put up better numbers than Hillis if he came here, and would be a fan favorite as well.

RB’s are a dime a dozen, you don’t pay premium prices for exchangeable parts.

by Bernie19Kosar on Aug 6, 2011 11:02 PM EDT up reply actions

So who would you use as that exchangable part? I dont see a current RB that actually fits PH’s mold.

"They kept throwing it at me. I don’t know why. They just kept trying, and I just kept knocking it down." - Joe Haden, Cleveland Browns.

by J. W. on Aug 8, 2011 9:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Jason Snelling. Dude couldn’t find a job.

Peyton Hillis is a fantastic example himself. 7th round draft pick and came from nowhere. Happens every year.

James Starks, Arian Foster, Jamaal Charles, etc. The list goes on and on.

by Bernie19Kosar on Aug 8, 2011 11:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Esp in this type of offense.

"It is unlikely that anyone has ever read Nietzsche or Derrida and has been inspired to open a soup kitchen"

by troy145 on Aug 6, 2011 7:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Brian Regan said it best when he said, “The epitome of hyperbole.”

"I want my unwarranted optimism back." -Dilbert

by Simmsinns on Aug 5, 2011 10:48 PM EDT reply actions

The “Huh?” was before my time. I got a particular kick out of that fact that it’s titled rubbish.png

"I want my unwarranted optimism back." -Dilbert

by Simmsinns on Aug 5, 2011 10:54 PM EDT reply actions

Is there drug testing for front office employees in the new CBA?

by DontCallMeJoey on Aug 5, 2011 10:55 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

It’s worth checking Andy Reid for PEDs! Maybe he’s on that whatever that drug in Limitless is.

"I want my unwarranted optimism back." -Dilbert

by Simmsinns on Aug 5, 2011 11:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Heckert thought he was popping diet pills, but they turned out to be placebos. his 3 buffets a day diet isn’t working out how he planned. he could have a clogged artery by the beginning of the next off-season.

Yvan Eht Nioj.

by Brownsbacker488 on Aug 6, 2011 1:12 AM EDT up reply actions

Haha! Rec.

Go, I say go away boy, you bother me.

by burntorangeandbrown on Aug 6, 2011 9:06 AM EDT up reply actions

I actually like the team that heckert and MH are putting together

I think greg little is going to be a big time stud,they are building through the draft. Last years draft could give us plenty of future great players in haden,ward,hardesty,mccoy, and lauavo. I hope this years draft picks produce as well.

Also taking fliers on young talents like usama young and dmitri patterson, they fail then no big deal we can address it next years draft

A-rod's salary? 30 Million, Evan Longoria's? 1M, god i love life as a rays fan

by RaysOfHope on Aug 5, 2011 11:55 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Last years draft could give us plenty of future great players…

Please don’t say “us” when you’re a Vikings fan.

My dog is a badass. His name is Kosar.

by Brownie's Year on Aug 6, 2011 1:11 AM EDT up reply actions

I see no problem with having and AFC favorite and an NFC favorite. Mine is sadly the 49ers (F*%$ you Braylon!)

cautiously realistic

by North Coast Flea on Aug 6, 2011 1:28 AM EDT up reply actions

I was born and raised in the Bay Area. Hate the Niners and Raiders. How do you like the Niners? My cousin in Columbus loves the Niners and isn’t a Browns fan. I don’t get it.

My dog is a badass. His name is Kosar.

by Brownie's Year on Aug 6, 2011 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Probably because they were really good when I was little and I hated the Cowboys.

cautiously realistic

by North Coast Flea on Aug 6, 2011 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions

REC on hating the Cowgirls. The 80’s 49’rs were fun to watch.

"They kept throwing it at me. I don’t know why. They just kept trying, and I just kept knocking it down." - Joe Haden, Cleveland Browns.

by J. W. on Aug 8, 2011 9:06 PM EDT up reply actions

They are also Ruf’s favorite NFC team. I’m a little Saints fan myself.

Pittsburgh is just jealous. We got Cudi and they have Wiz.

by SpecialBrownie on Aug 6, 2011 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m with you, probably because until recently they were the Browns of the NFC.

Alcohol abuse and Cleveland sports fans: hand-in-hand since 1955.

by Clevsports on Aug 6, 2011 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Lions all the way.

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

by notthatnoise on Aug 6, 2011 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah the Lions and Browns have a pretty similar history. both had the two best RBs in league history and have had slumps with winning and deal with the same cultural issues.

Yvan Eht Nioj.

by Brownsbacker488 on Aug 6, 2011 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Except the Lions have never been as good as the Browns used to be.

cautiously realistic

by North Coast Flea on Aug 6, 2011 6:25 PM EDT up reply actions

close…the Lions of the 50s were one of the few teams that could truly challenge the Browns from that era.

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 Aug 6, 2011 6:57 PM EDT up reply actions

i became a Packers fan when the devil moved the Browns out of Cleveland. i was so happy to see Favre beat the Broncos in the Super Bowl.

Yvan Eht Nioj.

by Brownsbacker488 on Aug 6, 2011 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions

I was a Bucs fan during our time in the Wilderness.

"It is unlikely that anyone has ever read Nietzsche or Derrida and has been inspired to open a soup kitchen"

by troy145 on Aug 6, 2011 7:54 PM EDT up reply actions

I became a Seahawks fan during our wilderness. Somehow Holmgren keeps following me around. LOL. I would love to have John Kitna as a backup QB, the guys been through hell and back and keeps on ticking (Bengals & Lions).

"They kept throwing it at me. I don’t know why. They just kept trying, and I just kept knocking it down." - Joe Haden, Cleveland Browns.

by J. W. on Aug 8, 2011 9:09 PM EDT up reply actions

i was so happy to see Favre beat the Broncos in the Super Bowl.

Then you may be puzzled to learn it didn’t actually happen.

Resident Tim Couch Apologist.

by Dawg Nuts on Aug 7, 2011 12:19 AM EDT up reply actions 3 recs

hahahahahaaha

My dog is a badass. His name is Kosar.

by Brownie's Year on Aug 7, 2011 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions

I officially became a Jags fan but my heart was never in it.

I only discovered the Browns had reformed in 2003….. :-(

This Space available for Rent!!!

by LondonBrown on Aug 7, 2011 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions

Other than the Browns there are only teams I either don’t mind or despise.

by johnnyphoenix on Aug 6, 2011 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

rec.

A blonde texts her blonde friend, "Last night, I had a brazilian".
The other Blonde replies, "You slut. How many's a Brazilian"?

by DawgsNHawgs on Aug 8, 2011 10:14 AM EDT up reply actions

Mine too. Their personnel decisions of late have been puzzling.

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

by rufio on Aug 6, 2011 8:44 PM EDT up reply actions

i tend to agree with your sentiments.

Yvan Eht Nioj.

by Brownsbacker488 on Aug 6, 2011 1:12 AM EDT up reply actions

Rumors already that Hardesty is experiencing knee set backs…

by DontCallMeJoey on Aug 6, 2011 1:30 AM EDT up reply actions

i like ’em too. a good start. better starts than in the past… (did i just say that???… ohhh nooo… lol)

If I hear "wait til next year!" one more time... "&*&^$%#@()*%*&()%#$^*()%$"

by elee62652 on Aug 6, 2011 7:57 AM EDT up reply actions

I mean… its not that bad.

"It is unlikely that anyone has ever read Nietzsche or Derrida and has been inspired to open a soup kitchen"

by troy145 on Aug 6, 2011 12:03 AM EDT reply actions

for collapsing

Well maybe that explains all the Jamie Mitchell fellating, he’s just unnaturally high on average players. One thing I will say though:

and that they want to make Phil Dawson a Brown for the rest of his career.

cautiously realistic

by North Coast Flea on Aug 6, 2011 1:26 AM EDT reply actions 4 recs

Okay, two things:

1) What kind of turkey does Heckert have on that sandwhich?

2) Where can I get some?

Only thing manlier than football? Ponies.

by BrownDawg1409 on Aug 6, 2011 3:50 AM EDT reply actions

Eric Gordon is awesome, nuff said. Work around that. Quite pleased with your assertion, that despite Heckert´s claim, we are far from having one of the best LB units in the NFL, if Gocong and Fujita are slated at this point. Establish, proceed?

by mooncamping on Aug 6, 2011 7:25 AM EDT reply actions

"Huh?" monkey

i kinda like this critter… reminds me of my ex-mother in law… (just kidding, she was a great lady!)… keep ’im coming back, ’eh Chris???

If I hear "wait til next year!" one more time... "&*&^$%#@()*%*&()%#$^*()%$"

by elee62652 on Aug 6, 2011 8:05 AM EDT reply actions

Crennel Flashback

First off, I’d like to say thank you for a great site. This site has been my main place for getting Browns information for the past couple of years.

Best linebacker group in the NFL? Who knew? While I’d like to take Heckert’s word for it, I think I’ll need to see them actually show something on the field first. Can’t help but to dream how awesome it would be to have the best linebacker group in the NFL…

The huh? monkey and the links to some Crennel classics gave me a flashback. Anybody remember this one?
“If our offense was a little better, and our defense was a little better, and our special teams was a little better, we’d be a little better team.”

Man, Crennel was a nightmare.

by Happybluebird on Aug 6, 2011 8:58 AM EDT reply actions

I thought of this Tommy Boy Exchange immediately….

Here’s the way I see it, Ted. Guy puts a fancy guarantee on a box ’cause he wants you to feel all warm and toasty inside.

Yeah, makes a man feel good.

‘Course it does. Why shouldn’t it? Ya figure you put that little box under your pillow at night, the Guarantee Fairy might come by and leave a quarter, am I right, Ted?

What’s your point?

The point is, how do you know the fairy isn’t a crazy glue sniffer? “Building model airplanes” says the little fairy; well, we’re not buying it. He sneaks into your house once, that’s all it takes. The next thing you know, there’s money missing off the dresser, and your daughter’s knocked up. I seen it a hundred times.

by SBP on Aug 6, 2011 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

“Hey, I’ll tell you what. You can get a good look at a butcher’s ass by sticking your head up there. But, wouldn’t you rather to take his word for it?”
" What? I’m failing to make the connection here."
“No, I mean is, you can get a good look at a T-bone by sticking your head up a butcher’s ass… No, wait. It’s gotta be your bull.”

cautiously realistic

by North Coast Flea on Aug 6, 2011 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Quit playin’ with your dingies.

Alcohol abuse and Cleveland sports fans: hand-in-hand since 1955.

by Clevsports on Aug 6, 2011 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Even with my limited football knowledge, when I read that article today and hit the part about the linebackers my immediate reaction was a "Wait what?"

Normally I’d have to assume he had a way better recognition of the quality of players than I would, but I’m struggling to convince myself of that in this instance and it appears I’m not the only one.

by Scenery on Aug 6, 2011 2:10 PM EDT reply actions

“I think we have one of the best starting groups in the NFL” -Heckert = “There are not enough Indians in the world to defeat the Seventh Cavalry” – Custer

by johnnyphoenix on Aug 6, 2011 3:22 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Well… Maybe not exactly the same.

"It is unlikely that anyone has ever read Nietzsche or Derrida and has been inspired to open a soup kitchen"

by troy145 on Aug 6, 2011 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Let’s hope at least.

cautiously realistic

by North Coast Flea on Aug 6, 2011 6:25 PM EDT up reply actions

If they shoot JT with an arrow I swear to you I’m storming the field and laying my body across the altar.

"It is unlikely that anyone has ever read Nietzsche or Derrida and has been inspired to open a soup kitchen"

by troy145 on Aug 6, 2011 7:55 PM EDT up reply actions

1. No one would have the balls to try to shoot Joe Thomas with an arrow.

2. If they did, he would sense it coming at him and catch it out of the air.

3. Alternatively, he may ignore it because it couldn’t pierce his titanium-like skin anyway.

Therefore, I’m sure you’re safe.

Resident Tim Couch Apologist.

by Dawg Nuts on Aug 7, 2011 12:33 AM EDT up reply actions

I was going to say that it would just bounce off.

cautiously realistic

by North Coast Flea on Aug 7, 2011 1:09 AM EDT up reply actions

And later…

“We need to make LB a priority in next year’s draft” – Heckert

“Holy Mackerel, look at all those f#@%in’ Indians!” – Custer

Resident Tim Couch Apologist.

by Dawg Nuts on Aug 7, 2011 12:28 AM EDT up reply actions 3 recs

so who had a bigger media flop: Heckert suggesting we have one of the best LB groups in the league, or Rob Ryan saying his Dallas defense will be the best this year?

Yvan Eht Nioj.

by Brownsbacker488 on Aug 6, 2011 4:38 PM EDT reply actions

Ah, the huh!? monkey. I’ve missed that little guy.

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

by rufio on Aug 6, 2011 8:46 PM EDT reply actions

what?

My Seton Hall blog: http://thesetonhallblog.blogspot.com/
My Steelers blog: thenewsteelcurtain.blogspot.com
My Draft Blog: draftdatabase.wordpress.com

by seton hall and steelers on Aug 6, 2011 10:13 PM EDT reply actions

Huh?

by Bernie19Kosar on Aug 6, 2011 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Where?

cautiously realistic

by North Coast Flea on Aug 7, 2011 1:10 AM EDT up reply actions

Thank you for providing your blog addresses in your signature, I’ll be sure to avoid them like the plague.

Resident Tim Couch Apologist.

by Dawg Nuts on Aug 7, 2011 12:36 AM EDT up reply actions

I have a silly question…who is our starting ROLB? We have Fujita on LOLB and Jackson at MLB, but with Roth probably going elsewhere and Benard moving up to the line, I’m not sure who we have there anymore. Is it Gocong?

by Bodacious43 on Aug 7, 2011 3:08 PM EDT reply actions