Browns Waive Ben Jacobs, Auston English, and Derreck Robinson; Practice Squad Announced

by Chris Pokorny on Sep 4, 2011 5:29 PM EDT

The Cleveland Browns signed defensive end Emmanuel Stephens off waivers from the Atlanta Falcons. Stephens, an undrafted free agent from the 2010 season, had seven tackles, one sack, one quarterback hit, and one tackle for a loss in the preseason. He was on Atlanta's practice squad all of last season. The signing of Stephens was the third of the day. The first two involved QB Thaddeus Lewis and LB Quinton Spears.

To make room for the three new players, the Browns waived the following three players:

I'm not overly surprised to see Robinson go. It shows the team has faith in Scott Paxson and Brian Schaefering stepping up their games to be in the defensive end rotation. As far as English and Jacobs go, they are both probably practice squad bound. If that is the case, they will join the following six players, who were already signed to the team's practice squad:

CLEVELAND BROWNS PRACTICE SQUAD

FB Tyler Clutts
RB Quinn Porter
WR Rod Windsor
OG Dominic Alford
OG Jarrod Shaw
DL Brian Sanford

It looks like QB Jarrett Brown, LB Brian Smith, CB Coye Francies, and S DeAngelo Smith, among others, will not make the practice squad.

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Really hoping English and Jacobs make it. How many can we have on the squad? Not surprised by who made it so far.

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

by SpecialBrownie on Sep 4, 2011 5:35 PM EDT reply actions

We can have 8 on the practice squad

by BornAKardiacKid on Sep 4, 2011 7:14 PM EDT up reply actions

That’s a nice little pay day for each of these guys who make it.

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

by JustPlainBrowns on Sep 4, 2011 8:14 PM EDT up reply actions

really hoping English does. I liked him in 2010 and thought he had some nice skills and he looked great 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 Sep 4, 2011 8:52 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m surprised we don’t want Brian Smith on the practice squad.

by crazyL80 on Sep 4, 2011 5:46 PM EDT reply actions

I’m not surprised about Brown with the signing of Lewis. As for Francies and Smith, they had a few chances in the past to show they were legit and could reach their potential. Smith is the only one I’m surprised didn’t make it, particularly with Clutts on the practice squad.. I wasn’t expecting that one.

Even Doug Dieken admits Joe Thomas is the real #73

by Doc's Kid on Sep 4, 2011 5:58 PM EDT reply actions

Kind of surprising that we are keeping a FB on the practice squad.

by Bernie19Kosar on Sep 4, 2011 7:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Sign that we’re not sold on Marecic.

That draft pick could’ve gone to a position of need. Still think both our 4th rd picks were odd.

2010 Official DBN League Fantasy Football Champion

by TheDriveStillHurts on Sep 4, 2011 8:01 PM EDT via iPhone app up reply actions

Sign that we’re not sold on Marecic.

Or, sign that Clutts showed some good things in preseason.

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

by JustPlainBrowns on Sep 4, 2011 8:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Maybe a little of both.

by HenryDawg on Sep 4, 2011 8:38 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I’m really curious what pans out with Tyler since he did actually end up on the practice squad. He’s HS buddies w/ a good friend of mine and I’ve heard good things about it (well, as a person in the very least).

by themadlibs on Sep 5, 2011 2:28 AM EDT up reply actions

I’ve heard good things

But what about great thib?

Resident Tim Couch Apologist.

by Dawg Nuts on Sep 6, 2011 1:18 AM EDT up reply actions

I never really saw Clutts play that much, but could he be a similar back as Hillis? People thought (and moon still does) that Hillis would be a FB. HBs don’t last long and Hillis’ style makes him likely to have a shorter career. I could be way off but Hillis-in-training was just something I thought of.

Even Doug Dieken admits Joe Thomas is the real #73

by Doc's Kid on Sep 5, 2011 9:58 AM EDT up reply actions

Agree drive – but Heckert is very talented at evaluating players.

Change isn't good or bad it just "is". Don Draper of Madmen

by realmccoy on Sep 4, 2011 8:56 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Then why did we draft Marecic(or however his name is spelled) and let Vickers leave??

by WarbVIII on Sep 5, 2011 12:05 AM EDT up reply actions

I think it is too early to say that this “swap” was a poor move.

by Bernie19Kosar on Sep 5, 2011 1:27 AM EDT up reply actions

Concur

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

by JustPlainBrowns on Sep 5, 2011 7:34 AM EDT up reply actions

“Sign that we’re not sold on Marecic.”

I think it is more likely that we know that we have a rookie starting FB who could get dinged up. I’m pretty sure they love Maercic and we fans will too very soon.

by Erie's Scribe on Sep 5, 2011 4:48 AM EDT up reply actions

Brown is a bit surprising, but I think the bottom line is he showed beyond a shadow of a doubt in preseason he was simply not cut out to stand in the pocket and make good decisions when faced with a strong 1st or even 2nd string defense.

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

by burntorangeandbrown on Sep 4, 2011 7:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Only in the first game. After that he looked better than seneca.

by HenryDawg on Sep 5, 2011 1:13 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

he looked better than seneca

That ain’t sayin much.

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

by burntorangeandbrown on Sep 5, 2011 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions

True. I think he played well, more importantly is that when he wasn’t looking confused he threw accurately and hit receivers in stride. For a guy who’s only spent a year on the PS that’s pretty impressive. I guess the new guy they brought in is really good too. Shurmur would know.

by HenryDawg on Sep 5, 2011 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah, that’s almost an insult.

Resident Tim Couch Apologist.

by Dawg Nuts on Sep 6, 2011 1:20 AM EDT up reply actions

Browns signed veteran OL Artis Hicks.

No report yet on who will be cut, but I’d guess Pat Murray.

by Bumblyjack on Sep 4, 2011 8:04 PM EDT reply actions

Not bad. A guy who has almost 60 starts in his career is a welcome addition to the bench.

by Bernie19Kosar on Sep 4, 2011 8:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Cabot over at the Plain Dealer (link) speculates he may start at left guard next week.

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

by burntorangeandbrown on Sep 4, 2011 8:31 PM EDT up reply actions

I hope we give Pinkston the nod. Let’s see what the kid has, if he struggles, then go with the vet. Just my opinion.

by Bernie19Kosar on Sep 4, 2011 8:36 PM EDT up reply actions

No. Give the job to the best guy. I am much more concerned with making sure Colt McCoy gets a fair chance than our 5th round rookie. If that rook can’t protect the QB as well as the vet then the vet should start. I don’t favor “figuring out what the kid has” at the expense of our QB. If he’s the best guy for the job, fine. If he’s not ready yet, go with the best guy you have. End of story.

2010 Official DBN League Fantasy Football Champion

by TheDriveStillHurts on Sep 5, 2011 1:47 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

I think they’ll probably go with Pinkston for Week 1 regardless. I don’t think you want the put the protection of your starting QB in the hands of a guy who doesn’t yet know the plays calls and has no familiarity with the guys on either side of him.

"Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened."
— Winston S. Churchill

by JustBob on Sep 5, 2011 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions

I would agree if we were discussing the right side of the line.

But between Mack and Thomas, I think we can gamble to see what we have with Pinkston.

by Bernie19Kosar on Sep 5, 2011 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions

It’s good we brought in competition for Pinkston at LG.

by Bumblyjack on Sep 4, 2011 8:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Glad to see any quality additions to our depth at OL, DL, LB / safety at this point.

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

by burntorangeandbrown on Sep 4, 2011 8:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Great!

Worst case, Thomas and Mack will cover the left side and Hicks gets Hillis cleat marks up his ass when he doesn’t come off the ball and hit somebody.

Who cares if he knows our playbook yet? What’s the snap count?

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

by JustPlainBrowns on Sep 4, 2011 8:44 PM EDT up reply actions

4 sacks in preseason how does English not make the final 53?

by HenryDawg on Sep 4, 2011 8:41 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

preseason

by APV on Sep 4, 2011 9:06 PM EDT up reply actions 7 recs

Still, he showed enough that I’m surprised he didn’t make the team as a back-up. Obviously the coaches saw some flaws I missed.

Come on Marecic, get in front of the damn ball! Don't give me this "olé" bullsht!

by Clevsports on Sep 4, 2011 10:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Well how else are you going to evaluate the guy? Also while pre-season scores and wins/losses are meaningless, the way guys play is not. Most of those guys trying to make a team play harder than they would in the regular season. Also while it may have been against backups, it shows that he has potential. A lot of those backups are other young guys who eventually will be made starters too.

by HenryDawg on Sep 5, 2011 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Maybe it comes down to what else he did – or didn’t – do. How was he on containing plays? (That may be an unfair question since, if he is compared to the rest of our D he would be at worst average.) Did he show enough hustle in doing anything other than going after the QB?

"Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened."
— Winston S. Churchill

by JustBob on Sep 5, 2011 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Those are reasonable questions.

by HenryDawg on Sep 5, 2011 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Pleased that Clutts made the practice squad at least, he´s my classic fullback. Alford, also might work out given a chance. Paxson and Schaefering are good challengers, until or unless they can crack the starting line-up.

by mooncamping on Sep 5, 2011 5:21 AM EDT reply actions