Roye will be back. This is awesome news. As I mentioned a few days ago (and a couple commenters disagreed with me), I really didn’t get the feeling Savage was high on Roye and didn’t think he’d be back. I was obvioisly (and thankfully) quite wrong and Roye has resigned with a three-year deal. Roye has easily been the best defensive lineman of the "new era" and should be able to perform at a high level for at least a couple more years. I haven’t seen financials for this year, but the fact that the Browns were able to sign him before the start of free agency suggests both sides were happy with the numbers.
Of course, keeping Roye doesn’t really solve many problems along the defensive line. The Browns desperately need a presence at nosetackle and could stand an upgrade at the other end too. Also in the above article was mention that the Browns are talking with LJ Shelton about coming back. This too would be great news, especially if it happens in the next two days.
Reading Peter King’s latest column, it sounds like if there is not an agreement on a new CBA before March 3rd and free agency opens, the Browns would be in a nice position since they have a lot of cap space. Also worth considering is that they may have lessened competition for linebackers and defensive linemen agreeable to the 3-4. But even if free agency opens with a new CBA (as still seems more likely) the Browns ought to have little trouble signing 2-3 defensive starters.
With free agency mere days away, expect the Browns to move quickly on a nosetackle, an offensive lineman (LeCharles Bentley?), and a wide receiver (Jurevicous, Givens?). You could throw linebacker in there too, but other than bilking the Ravens out of a player or two it’s a little hard to tell who the Browns might be targeting there. Anyway, at OL and WR I am rooting hard for a 1992 Ignatius vs. Lake Catholic reunion on the Browns offense.
The Vince Young slide appears to be beginning. There’s no way IMO he slips out of the top 10, but some of the quesstion marks being thrown up do seem valid -- if he has never played from under center and never had to go through his progressions, well, you can see how that might be a problem in the NFL. And the latest criticism -- that he’s just not very smart -- is the most damning. But I don’t buy others like the fact that his throwing motion is weird (who cares if he completes passes?) or that his elusiveness won’t play so well on the NFL level (that’s BS -- I think Lou Holtz said that faster players are great, but they also get further out of position...). The guy has a lot of holes, but he’s a great football player. We’re not talking about Aaron Rodgers here, we’re talking about a guy with unique talent. Maybe he’s dumb as a rock and maybe I wouldn’t choose him on my team, but there’s no way 10 teams take a pass on a guy with his physical talent.
Why would the Redskins pursue Antwaan Randle El? He’s a good player, but don’t they need a bigger, more physical guy to play opposite Santana Moss?
If the
Cardinals really don’t pursue an established running back, the market for guys is going to be very favorable to NFL teams. I wonder at what point the Browns decide they can do better than Droughns or, at least, that Droughns price ought not to be too high. I feel bad for Ruben though -- he could be on the verge of being the best NFL running back for the money. Which isn’t the best deal for him.