Cleveland Browns Sign Veteran OG Artis Hicks

by Chris Pokorny on Sep 4, 2011 10:10 PM EDT

The Cleveland Browns signed veteran offensive lineman Artis Hicks on Sunday night, capping off a day in which they added four players off waivers before their first regular season game. Of all four of those signings though, the signing of Hicks might be the most significant one in the immediate future.

Hicks entered the league in 2002 as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles (Tom Heckert connection). Hicks played with the Eagles for four seasons and was a starter in two of them. He then spent four years with the Minnesota Vikings, mostly as a backup, but he did make quite a few starts too. Last year, he played for the Washington Redskins and started ten games.

Hicks has experience at left guard and is a candidate to replace Jason Pinkston as the opening day starter against the Cincinnati Bengals. Granted, Pinkston will probably still get the start, but you could almost view this as the team adding Floyd Womack version 2.0. If he needs to start temporarily, he can. If he doesn't, then you at least have a somewhat reliable backup on the roster.

To make room for Hicks, the Browns waived offensive guard Pat Murray.

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Awesome signing. Exactly the kind of thing we should be doing. Can never be too deep in the O-Line.

We have met the enemy, and they are ours. - O H Perry

by Lisol on Sep 4, 2011 11:32 PM EDT reply actions

Love this signing and the QB. You just have to have some insurance for Pinkston. If interior OL gets overwhelmed – serious issue. Hope Jason does well. On the QB – I just really think we need a 3rd guy studying and developing the entire week. Hope we aren’t done – would luv a 3rd) better than butterfingers.

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

by realmccoy on Sep 5, 2011 12:56 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Excellent addition. Definitely approve, exactly what the doctor ordered.

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

by troy145 on Sep 5, 2011 2:27 AM EDT reply actions

I hate to get into proportions again, but Pinkston and Hicks are tackles physically, just as Steinbach is not really a guard. Is this supposed to become a Browns staple, to field a tackle at left guard?

by mooncamping on Sep 5, 2011 5:24 AM EDT reply actions

I thought Steinbach was a center in moon’s world.

2010 Official DBN League Fantasy Football Champion

by TheDriveStillHurts on Sep 5, 2011 12:09 PM EDT up reply actions

I thought everyone was a fullback.

Even Doug Dieken admits Joe Thomas is the real #73

by Doc's Kid on Sep 5, 2011 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

Maybe everyone would like to be the fullback, if there is no cool linebackers to emulate, that´s usually how it goes, at least through college.

by mooncamping on Sep 6, 2011 4:08 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I thought… …in moon’s world.

That’s where you went wrong.

"I want my unwarranted optimism back." -Dilbert

by Simmsinns on Sep 5, 2011 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions

La la la la, la la la la, Mooncamping’s world, la la la la, la la la la, Mooncamping’s world, Mooncamping loves his fullbacks, hates Madden too, thaaaaaat’s Mooncampiiiiiiiing’s wooooooorld

cautiously realistic

by North Coast Flea on Sep 5, 2011 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Moon’s World! Moon’s World! Excellent! Party Time!

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

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

Station!

by mooncamping on Sep 6, 2011 4:10 AM EDT up reply actions 3 recs

Hahaha awesome.

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

by notthatnoise on Sep 6, 2011 9:52 AM EDT up reply actions

true, with the long strong torso, but he´s versatile. A classic guard he´s not. Like I´m saying they have more square proportions.

by mooncamping on Sep 6, 2011 4:07 AM EDT up reply actions

Well, if the playcalling in place was designed to take advantage of Steinbach’s athleticism on pulls and screens, maybe it makes sense to try to replace him with a more athletic “tackle” type player.

by Vududawg on Sep 5, 2011 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions

All four signings are solid — I especially like the addition of QB Thaddeus Lewis. Let’s bring alittle pressure to Seneca for his lethargic performance in preseason and his leaderless attitude. Lewis is also a 70% completion guy for last 2 years. I still believe this team is going to surprise alot of folks!

by MrDad on Sep 5, 2011 7:16 AM EDT reply actions

We won’t be missing Pat Murray, who was a turnstyle against da Bears backups on thurs, this guy can’t be any worse than that.

by Sdel_Brown on Sep 5, 2011 11:22 AM EDT reply actions

OL is starting to look like a problem. Pashos is injured again, Steinbach is out. Not sure the Browns have a backup RT. Cousins, maybe?

by NM Dawg on Sep 5, 2011 1:19 PM EDT reply actions

Just checked it out and you’re right, Pashos missed practice (again) today and is in a walking boot. Ugh. Shurmur was quoted as saying “don’t read too much into it”. Yeah right. My guess is they’ll play Hicks at RT if Pashos is out (with Pinkston at LG).

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

by burntorangeandbrown on Sep 5, 2011 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Wow – patchwork OL – hope we can hold it together. I never developed a feel for Pashos – but always felt that Steinbach is really underrated and just a nice compliment to JT. What he lacked in size he more than made up for in terms of technique and athleticism. Terrell Davis of Denver may make the HOF on OL talents like Steinbach.

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

by realmccoy on Sep 5, 2011 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Looks like Pashos is ok… (from Cabot / Plain Dealer this evening – article)

Shurmur indicated Pashos, who missed 10 games with a right ankle injury that required surgery last year, will be fine for the opener.
.
“He’s got a sore foot, and we’re just letting it settle down, which is not uncommon,” said Shurmur. “I wouldn’t read into that yet. Those boots are magical sometimes.”

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

by burntorangeandbrown on Sep 5, 2011 7:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Thank Joe Thomas.

"I really don’t really think... -Pat Shurmur

by North Coast Flea on Sep 5, 2011 8:15 PM EDT up reply actions

I’ll believe it when I see it. They’ve said that about everyone.

by HenryDawg on Sep 6, 2011 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions

T'is but a scratch!

"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 6, 2011 8:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Little OT – but I am also worried about Gocong. Sounds like he may have a little nerve damage like Colt had to the shoulder during the MNC. Those things get better whenever they want to.

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

by realmccoy on Sep 5, 2011 2:35 PM EDT reply actions

I think we are better without Gocong

by Bernie19Kosar on Sep 5, 2011 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, this just accelerates life after Gocong. If the right guy is on our team, this may be his best opportunity.

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

by JustPlainBrowns on Sep 5, 2011 9:21 PM EDT up reply actions

I think he’s pretty underrated.

by HenryDawg on Sep 6, 2011 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions

Most scout stuff I read says he is very underrated.

by Roger Dorn on Sep 6, 2011 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m no scout but I thought he played well last year.

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

by notthatnoise on Sep 6, 2011 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions

I just don’t think he was ever any good. Not to mention that Heckert thought he was a better 3-4 LB than a 4-3 LB gives me even less hope that he will ever be good.

I think we are more athletic at LB with Maiava.

by Bernie19Kosar on Sep 6, 2011 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions

I think he’s better in a 3-4 too. More physical than athletic at this point. I think he’s underrated, but that’s because most would rate him as not deserving any PT at all.

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

by rufio on Sep 6, 2011 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions