The internet is the place for random ranting and complaining, right?

I am thankful to have great reporters at the PD like Terry Pluto, and reporters decent enough not to suck 100% of the time like Toni Grossi.  But let's be honest; Bud Shaw is terrible.

His jokes are catered to a snooty, upper class-type crowd, and aren't even all that funny.  Meanwhile, you get the impression he thinks he is hilarious.  You can see that graying mustache and those thick glasses giggling like a schoolgirl as he mocks pretty much every athlete in Cleveland.  He likes to talk a lot of shit about athletes because they make so much money, thinking it will somehow endear him to a working class town like Cleveland.  Then he makes beer jokes at the Dawg Pound's expense.  He is worse than an elitist; he is an elitist posing as a working class dude.

I just can't help thinking that this guy is singlehandedly chasing LeBron to Brooklyn.

Poll

Is Terry Pluto better at being a good reporter, or is Bud Shaw better at being a terrible reporter?

• Bud Shaw is more terrible than Pluto is good
• Terry Pluto is more awesome than Shaw is terrible

  65 votes | Results

Ok so the Matt Jones guy has talent.  And JJ might not be ready to start the season/play this year/play ever again.  I thought we could get Jones for next to nothing, and I thought it would be a good idea to bring him in to compete with guys like Wilson and Hubbard.

 

That was before Matt Jones was arrested on felony drug charges.   I don't want that guy anywhere near Cleveland now.  For the record.

This is probably way too soon.  But Lost is done for the season, the Celtics are going to win the Finals in 5-6 games, and I am curious as to how the final roster will look without LCB.  If this has already been done, I apologize.

QB: This is pretty set.

1. DA

2. BQ

3. Ken Dorsey

RB: You have got to think the 3 we had last year can all beat out the likes of Austin Scott.

1. J. Lewis

2. Jason Wright

3. Jerome Harrison

FB: I like Vickers' versatility, will Ali's special teams play get him on the team?  I say no.

1. Lawrence Vickers

TE: K2 is a pro bowler, Heiden is solid in all aspects of the position, we didn't trade up for Rucker to cut him, Dinkins is the odd man out

1. Winslow

2. Heiden

3. Rucker

4. Kolomona Kapanui (practice squad)

WR: Braylon, JJ, Donte', Cribbs...then what?

1. Edwards

2. Stallworth

3. Jurevicious

4. Cribbs

5. Wilson

6.  Hubbard (practice squad)

7. Lance Leggett (practice squad)

OT: Joe Thomas = mancrush.

1. Thomas

2. Shaffer

3. Nat Dorsey

4. Isaac Sowells

OG: Soooo glad we have depth.

1. Eric Steinbach

2. Ryan Tucker

3. Rex Hadnot

4. Lennie Friedman

OC:

1. Hank Fraley

2. Seth McKinney

DL: This looks so much better than last year.  I am ignorant to practice squad rules and regulations, but the 5 and 6 spots are up for grabs between Rubin, Louis, Purcell, and Pitman.  One will have to be on the practice squad.

1. Shaun Rogers

2. Corey Williams

3. Shaun Smith

4. Robaire Smith

5. Ahtyba Rubin

6. Leonard Louis (Practice Squad--is he eligible again?)

7. Chase Ortiz (practice squad)

OLB:

1. Wimbley

2. Peek

3. McGinest

4. David McMillan

5. Alex Hall (Practice Squad)

ILB:

1. D'qwell (p.s. awesome name)

2. Andra Davis

3. Beau Bell

4. Leon WIlliams

5. Shantee Or

S:

1. Pool

2. Jones

3. Adams

4. Baxter

CB: Thin.

1. Eric Wright

2. McDonald

3. Cousin

4. Mil'von James

5. Darnell Terrell

6. Jereme Perry

Special Teams:

1. Dawson

2. Zastudil

3. Pontbriand

 

Once again, I have no idea about practice squad rules, so I used mostly rookies who looked like they had potential.

Does anyone think we should go after this guy?

Positives:

6'4", 266 lbs (prototypical 3-4 OLB size)

His game is/was built on speed and getting to the QB

First-round talent

We could use someone to line up opposite Wimbley

 

Negatives:

2 Knee injuries; ACL tear, another injury to the same knee, recently failed a physical

No experience (at least while a pro) in the 3-4; can he cover?  Can he play without a hand on the ground?  Can he learn the system?

He isn't a CB.

Poll

Should the Browns sign Erasmus James?

• Yes, but only if he is cheap.
• Yes, and the CBA is expiring anyway, so he might be worth some guaranteed money.
• No, we don't need another questionable knee.
• No, we don't need another new face in our front 7 who might not live up to expectations.

  44 votes | Results

Even though we don't have games to play at this point in the season, the NFL never sleeps.  Free Agency and the Draft will soon be upon us, and frankly, I am bored.  What positions do you think we need to improve upon either through FA or the draft?  Who are some guys you would like to see us go after to fill those needs?

My thoughts:

Positions where the Browns need help:
1. D line
Our D line is old and hurt all the time and the weak point of the team even when it is healthy.  Shaun Smith was a good pickup, Robaire Smith might have a couple of good years left in him, but that's about all we got.

2. OLB
Willie McGinest is a great person for our locker room and a good player certain situations, but he obviously doesn't have the pass rushing skills he once had.  If we get someone who can put pressure on a QB opposite Wimbley, it could do for our D what Thomas and a solidified Oline did for our O.

3. Safety Depth
I am not sold on Sean Jones and Pool, but I'm not giving up on them yet either.  Having Mike Adams in on passing situations, however, killed us (why did we cut Justin Hamilton, again?).

4. CB
Eric Wright looks the part, and McDonald showed some flashes last year, but Bodden is never healthy and is in legal trouble.  With as many WRs as some teams put out these days, we need more guys to cover them even if Bodden is healthy.

5. 3rd WR
Imagine our offense and the nightmares we could give D coordinators with a smaller, quicker Steve-Smith/Wes-Welker-type WR.  This is a make-or-break year for Travis Wilson, Tim Carter is not good, and Jurevicious is thinking retirement after this year.

6. Backup RB
Jamal Lewis is a beast.  We should give him a 2 year deal, which would take him to age 30.  We all know what happens to RBs around then.  We could even keep Lewis on as a short yardage guy, but we need a bigger backup in case he goes down.  I don't trust Wright to carry the load, and although Harrison was REALLY under-utilized this year, he isn't going to be an every down back in the NFL ever.

Guys I like:
FA:
Karlos Dansby: 6'4" 250
A fast LB who excels at rushing the passer.  We need that.
Asante Samuel:
A CB with good hands and a knack for making INTs.  He will probably demand way too much in the free agent market.

Draft:
Frank Okam: DT, Texas. 6'4" 325.
A big, powerful, D lineman, only with a questionable motor.
Red Bryant: DT, Texas A&M. 6'4", 325
Big, 2 gap lineman.
Shawn Crable: OLB, Mighig@n. 6'4" 243.
An OLB who can play in the 3-4 and get to the passer (which pains me to say, as much as I hate UM).
Donnie Avery: WR, Houston.  5'11, 190.
4.31 40, agile and quick in and out of his cuts.  Could be seen as a system guy and fall to us in the 3rd or 4th.
Dorien Bryant: WR, Purdue. 5'10" 172
Also fast, quick, and undersized, but size is more of a concern here.
Kendall Langford: DE, Hampton.  6'5", 290
A big, powerful DE who can play the pass and the run.  Small school prospect might drop to lower rounds.
Matt Forte: RB, Tulane.  6'2", 225.
A big back who works his tail off.
Tommy Blake: OLB, TCU. 6'2", 252
Terrorizes QBs, but there are some injury or character concerns.
Matt Malele: DT, Cal.  6'1", 335.
Big 'ol dude.

Thoughts?  I don't know much about the free agents this year yet, anyone know of anyone coming out that could help out the Browns?