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By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 08:58 p.m. EDT, Oct 08, 2009
BEREA: Gone are quarterback Derek Anderson's top targets from 2007, the high-maintenance, play-making duo of tight end Kellen Winslow and wide receiver Braylon Edwards. And with them their combined 162 receptions, 2,395 yards and 21 touchdowns that sent all three to their first Pro Bowl.
When Browns coach Eric Mangini traded away his two biggest headaches — Winslow in February to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Edwards on Wednesday to the New York Jets — he also appeared to send packing the team's last offensive threats.
So much for the Browns' high-octane offense that ranked eighth in the league in total offense and points in '07. Also departed are wide receiver Joe Jurevicius and offensive linemen Ryan Tucker, Kevin Shaffer and Seth McKinney.
''We've got me and Jamal and Joe,'' Anderson jokingly said, mentioning running back Jamal Lewis and left tackle Joe Thomas. ''We've got the linemen. It is [different]. I guess there's times where you just move forward. The 11 guys who are put out there, we've got to find a way to execute the plays no matter who those guys are.''
With apologies to Pro Bowl special teamer Joshua Cribbs, the Browns' receivers are now a no-name corps with rookies Mohamed Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie, Cribbs, Mike Furrey, and just-arrived Chansi Stuckey. That's just fine with Mangini.
''What I'm looking for is a group of receivers that get open and catch the ball, whether it's the one, the two, the three,'' Mangini said Thursday. ''Same things with the quarterback's reads. I think Tom [Brady] used to say, 'The receiver I like best is the open one.'
''Just be able to run the routes, be able to have the spacing in the routes, being able to provide the quarterback options. It's not always going to be one guy. I want them all to be able to do that.''
Furrey, who split his first six years in the league with the St. Louis Rams and Detroit Lions, was even more emphatic than Mangini. Leading the Browns' receivers with 13 catches for 107 yards, Furrey doesn't believe a team needs a superstar to be successful.
''New England did it for a long time,'' Furrey said. ''[With] guys who go out there and do what they're supposed to do, be where they're supposed to be, keep their mouths shut and catch footballs and make plays and win games.
''That's what it's about. It's great to have big names in the paper and in the public, but it's about winning ballgames and that's what we're going to start trying to do.''
Furrey knows his Patriots. In 2003, they won the Super Bowl with Deion Branch, Troy Brown and David Givens as their top three receivers. In 2004, the Pats repeated as champions with Givens, Branch and David Patten.
None was a high draft choice except Branch, a second-rounder in 2002. Givens was taken in the seventh round (2002), Brown in the eighth (1993) and Patten made the New York Giants as an undrafted rookie (1997). The only receiver selected in the first round to win a Super Bowl with the Patriots was former Ohio State star Terry Glenn (1996), and he caught only 14 passes for the 2001 team.
With the departure of Edwards, Massaquoi might inherit the No. 1 spot. He's coming off a breakout game against the Cincinnati Bengals, when he caught eight passes for 148 yards and was the target on 13 throws. Some of that could be attributed to double coverage on Edwards, but that wasn't the case for the entire game.
Massaquoi doesn't fit the role of the flamboyant star receiver, which is likely one reason Mangini selected him 50th overall out of Georgia. In the Browns' media guide, he lists the Bible as his favorite book. He's not media-shy, but he seems like the anti-Edwards when it comes to being the center of attention.
''You don't have to take on a different personality or change the way you approach things,'' Massaquoi said. ''I just want to be a guy who can be called on to make plays. Your persona, your aura doesn't have to change. There's a lot of guys who are laid back and just go about their own business. Hopefully I can be one of those guys who continues to make plays and it doesn't come with all the extras.''
How the trade of Edwards goes over with the veterans remains to be seen, especially in a winnable game like Sunday's against the Bills in Buffalo. He might be struggling to accept that his friend is gone, but Cribbs believes there might be one plus.
''I feel like we won't be double-covered now. That will give us an opportunity,'' Cribbs said. ''We're going to go into this game with no respect.
''The team won't over-emphasize our receivers, so we can go out there and just play. Catch the ball without double-coverage. We just have to earn our respect.''
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/. Follow the Browns on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ABJ_Browns.
BEREA: Gone are quarterback Derek Anderson's top targets from 2007, the high-maintenance, play-making duo of tight end Kellen Winslow and wide receiver Braylon Edwards. And with them their combined 162 receptions, 2,395 yards and 21 touchdowns that sent all three to their first Pro Bowl.
When Browns coach Eric Mangini traded away his two biggest headaches — Winslow in February to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Edwards on Wednesday to the New York Jets — he also appeared to send packing the team's last offensive threats.
So much for the Browns' high-octane offense that ranked eighth in the league in total offense and points in '07. Also departed are wide receiver Joe Jurevicius and offensive linemen Ryan Tucker, Kevin Shaffer and Seth McKinney.
''We've got me and Jamal and Joe,'' Anderson jokingly said, mentioning running back Jamal Lewis and left tackle Joe Thomas. ''We've got the linemen. It is [different]. I guess there's times where you just move forward. The 11 guys who are put out there, we've got to find a way to execute the plays no matter who those guys are.''
With apologies to Pro Bowl special teamer Joshua Cribbs, the Browns' receivers are now a no-name corps with rookies Mohamed Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie, Cribbs, Mike Furrey, and just-arrived Chansi Stuckey. That's just fine with Mangini.
''What I'm looking for is a group of receivers that get open and catch the ball, whether it's the one, the two, the three,'' Mangini said Thursday. ''Same things with the quarterback's reads. I think Tom [Brady] used to say, 'The receiver I like best is the open one.'
''Just be able to run the routes, be able to have the spacing in the routes, being able to provide the quarterback options. It's not always going to be one guy. I want them all to be able to do that.''
Furrey, who split his first six years in the league with the St. Louis Rams and Detroit Lions, was even more emphatic than Mangini. Leading the Browns' receivers with 13 catches for 107 yards, Furrey doesn't believe a team needs a superstar to be successful.
''New England did it for a long time,'' Furrey said. ''[With] guys who go out there and do what they're supposed to do, be where they're supposed to be, keep their mouths shut and catch footballs and make plays and win games.
''That's what it's about. It's great to have big names in the paper and in the public, but it's about winning ballgames and that's what we're going to start trying to do.''
Furrey knows his Patriots. In 2003, they won the Super Bowl with Deion Branch, Troy Brown and David Givens as their top three receivers. In 2004, the Pats repeated as champions with Givens, Branch and David Patten.
None was a high draft choice except Branch, a second-rounder in 2002. Givens was taken in the seventh round (2002), Brown in the eighth (1993) and Patten made the New York Giants as an undrafted rookie (1997). The only receiver selected in the first round to win a Super Bowl with the Patriots was former Ohio State star Terry Glenn (1996), and he caught only 14 passes for the 2001 team.
With the departure of Edwards, Massaquoi might inherit the No. 1 spot. He's coming off a breakout game against the Cincinnati Bengals, when he caught eight passes for 148 yards and was the target on 13 throws. Some of that could be attributed to double coverage on Edwards, but that wasn't the case for the entire game.
Massaquoi doesn't fit the role of the flamboyant star receiver, which is likely one reason Mangini selected him 50th overall out of Georgia. In the Browns' media guide, he lists the Bible as his favorite book. He's not media-shy, but he seems like the anti-Edwards when it comes to being the center of attention.
''You don't have to take on a different personality or change the way you approach things,'' Massaquoi said. ''I just want to be a guy who can be called on to make plays. Your persona, your aura doesn't have to change. There's a lot of guys who are laid back and just go about their own business. Hopefully I can be one of those guys who continues to make plays and it doesn't come with all the extras.''
How the trade of Edwards goes over with the veterans remains to be seen, especially in a winnable game like Sunday's against the Bills in Buffalo. He might be struggling to accept that his friend is gone, but Cribbs believes there might be one plus.
''I feel like we won't be double-covered now. That will give us an opportunity,'' Cribbs said. ''We're going to go into this game with no respect.
''The team won't over-emphasize our receivers, so we can go out there and just play. Catch the ball without double-coverage. We just have to earn our respect.''
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/. Follow the Browns on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ABJ_Browns.
Comments
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Posted 10:16 PM, 10/08/2009
Getting rid of our last headaches should make for a better team. We don't need big names like Winslow,Edwards because we have names like Cribbs, Anderson, Joe Thomas,Massaquoi,Furrey,Poole,Wimbely and so on and so on. Those other headaches that we got rid of our ancient history as far as I'm concerned and the Browns fans can sleep better knowing that we have players that have integrity and want to play hard-nosed football. We'll see what happens in the future. Adios to the idiots. Go Browns!
naples, fl
Posted 11:05 PM, 10/08/2009
Daniel:
Anderson could be a big part of the attitude problem with the team !! He is always trying to be funny but says the stupidest things. He should act like the leader he is supposed to be and create, motivate a positive can do attitude. he acts like a real a## hole.
Hey Anderson take a look at Furrey, Massoquoi and grow up.
Naples, FL
Posted 06:32 AM, 10/09/2009
Big names? Big heads is more like it! Both KW2 and BE were in the headlines far more for negative issues, motorcycle crashes, screaming and arguing on the sidelines, dropping balls and punching guys half their size than anything they ever did positively on the field.
Posted 08:54 AM, 10/09/2009
Mangini is right to rid the team of the bad apples. It's sad his plan really seems to amount to improvisation. Most fans realized Edwards needed to go a long time ago, nonetheless a step in the right direction for the clowns.
Leesburg, Fl
Posted 10:02 AM, 10/09/2009
All I can say is that Tampa Bay is very happy with K2 and he seems to be happy there where he has been low key and very productive. The change was good for him. I really believe that BE will prosper in NY and will go on to big things there. The change will be good for him, as well. Cleveland is no worse off without BE nad a bit worse off without K2. Overall all parties are happy and life in Cleveland will go on without these guys.
Kent, Ohio
Posted 11:06 AM, 10/09/2009
The fact is Winslow is not doing well in TB. In fact his coach has complained about his lack of effort. A good team can often overcome some bad influences on a team, but one such as the Browns who have many young players, only seem to get worse around players like Winslow and Edwards and often pick up their bad attitudes. Make no mistake....the Browns are many years away from respectabilty.
akron, oh
Posted 12:04 PM, 10/09/2009
Good!! Perhaps the Browns can now start winning their games. I am glad Winslow and Edward gone. I wish them the best in their careers. Now Mangini needs to step it up.
highland lakes, nj
Posted 12:15 PM, 10/09/2009
Thank goodness Cleveland has finally rid themselves of the reason they continully have losing teams. Now who will be the bad seed after you lose on Sunday? It has nothing to do with the two you complain about,it's the whole package!!!
Tallmadge, Oh
Posted 12:33 PM, 10/09/2009
Those big names were big problems which MUST have been a detriment to the team.
I recall reading something last year about a technician or producer from a nationally televised game who stated that "you wouldn't believe some of the stuff that was being said in the Browns' huddle".
Babies must play. Let them play in someone else's yard!
I wonder what BE's excuses and complaints will be while with the Jets.
I feel sorry for Sanchez. He's about to have his career stunted by Edwards.
akron, oh
Posted 12:58 PM, 10/09/2009
Let's be honest here. Those two were only big names in Cleveland. They are nobody in the league.
uniontown, oh
Posted 01:04 PM, 10/09/2009
Which way to go on Sunday? Browns or Bills? Now would be time for a win but I just can't call this one. Good Luck.
Kookville, Oh
Posted 01:16 PM, 10/09/2009
See what you get when you drop a ball in Cleveland?? Can't wait to see him drop balls in the Big Apple.
Leesburg, Fl
Posted 01:21 PM, 10/09/2009
@jcs3768
Yes, Morris was critical of Winslow's effort on one play during the first series against the Giants when he didn't turn upfield soon enough to get a first down. Other than that one time there have been no problems and Winslow is doing fine. I'm hre and I watch them every week..Winslow has been a bright spot in an otherwise lackluster offense. Watching TB is like watching a Browns clone.
Canton, OH
Posted 08:42 PM, 10/09/2009
The Bills will roll us up. . .
