Re-signing Hank Fraley. It's a good sign to have resigning Fraley because the Browns have been backed into a corner needing a minimum of two other new starters on the offensive line. Keeping Fraley just means the team can focus on the guard position. The contract is reportedly for four years. Presumably it's more like a two year deal where the Browns can release Fraley after that for a modest salary cap hit. I think Fraley played pretty well last season. He's in the middle class as far as NFL starting centers go. Fraley can be a piece of a good line, and keeping him means other signings will make or break the OL in 2007.
Signing Eric Steinbach. Sweet. This is a great signing. The best way to improve a bad o-line is to improve the interior. Steinbach isn't a kick-ass road grader type, but he's among the top guards in the NFL anyway. He could play tackle if needed too, and the Browns may need him to before all is said and done. Regardless, this signing is only slightly less promising than last year's Bentley signing was -- and I thought that would have been huge. If there was one position I wanted the Browns to fill, this was it. But I'd caution that the Browns really need at least one more quality OL to truly take advantage of this signing.
Antwaan Peek. This is an intriguing signing. By all accounts Peek is a speedy pass rusher. He'll play OLB in the 3-4, though he's played some DE in the Texan's 4-3. The Browns desperately need to upgrade their LB depth, especially when it comes to rushing the passer, so this is potentially a perfect below-the-radar signing.
Kenny Wright. Well, he's a veteran guy, sort of like picking up Ray Mickens. Wright doesn't solve any problems at corner, but I assume this signing is to get some depth an avoid having to grab the Ralph Browns of the world if injuries strike. And I'd rather Savage gets the guys he's comfortable with now while they are on the street. Wright formerly played for Grantham, so hopefully that is a good sign. The Browns often play soft in the defensive backfield so I'm not that alarmed about Wright's dearth of impressive stats. If he fits in the scheme then that's all that is required. [Note: I've been reading that Wright is okay in man coverage and not so good in zone... if so, then this is a real headscratcher.]
Jamal Lewis. This is a joke, right? I guess this could be a great deal if the contract numbers are reasonable and Lewis is hungry for a big payday next year at this time, and that somehow motivates him to play like it's 2003. But with all the other running backs available in FA or trade I find it hard to believe Jamal Lewis was the best choice. I'm big on character and Lewis always struck me as kind of a shady dude even before spending time in prison. And I'm questioning Savage's commitment to building a team with high-character guys. It's unrealistic to expect any decent NFL roster not to have its share of shady guys, but that doesn't mean you have to pursue and sign these people off the street when lots of decent alternatives are available. I don't like the move. Savage is gambling, and Lewis will have to have a great year to justify the move. Or he gets cut in training camp, which wouldn't bother me in the least. I don't even care if he plays well.
Seth McKinney. I'm pleased with this signing for a number of reasons, the first of which is this is very much a low-risk/high-reward type of signing. McKinney, injured all of last year, gets only a one-year deal and the opportunity to play a significant role. If he's healthy, and with a year off he's probably as healthy as he can get, McKinney is fully capable at G/C and could be a capable starter if called upon. It will all hinge on his health. I wouldn't pencil him in for anything more than depth and if he provides that it should go a long way. It also makes me think the Browns really need to draft an OG early in the draft and get him working with what should be an experienced stable of veterans on the roster.
Robaire Smith. This is a good move, and perhaps a "great" move when you consider the extent to which the Browns _needed_ to sign Smith. Perhaps the last starter-caliber free agent the Browns would be looking at, Smith will take Alvin McKinley's spot at DE and should be an upgrade. I liked McKinley but the fact was the Browns got kiled against the run when he was the starter. He won't be a stat machine and shouldn't be. He'll engage offensive linemen and on third down he might move inside. He's been durable too. From what I can tell the Browns signed him for far less than Smith was reportedly asking too. Overall, this seems to be a very good "quiet" signing where the Browns don't make the headline but we get a solid starter. And _not_ signing
Signing Shaun Smith. Very promising move. The value of Smith to the Browns' 3-4 is higher than to the Bengals 4-3, but it's not like a 4 year/8 mil contract is extravagent. Smith is a little like Peer where Savage is betting that a guy was miscast on a 4-3 defense and will blossom in the 3-4. Only time will tell if Savage is right about them, but I like the approach. And Smith in particular sounds very promising as a NT if the Bengals bulletin boards are to be believed.
Acquiring Tim Carter. Not that high on this move. It's cool to get _something_ for Droughns, but Droughns is a much better player than Carter. That aside, Carter should fill a roster spot and his speed should provide the team with a burner than opposing safeties have to respect. Carter has proven himself to be only a marginal NFL WR. Savage obviously likes that guy though, this being the second time he's pursued him. Hopefully Savage is right. At worst, though, Drougns was slated to be released and instead the Browns get a free look/see at Tim Carter. Not such a bad thing, but quite possibly no different than just cutting Droughns loose.
Losing Brian Russell. I'm a little bummed Russell is gone to Seattle. Russell played above my expectations these past two seasons. Sure, he wasn't even going to take over a game. But he hit hard, he tackled pretty well, and he rarely got toasted in coverage (though he did get beat -- which is something different). I suppose this means Pool is slated to be a starter? That's good news if he's up for it, bad news if he's not ready.
Trading Ruben Droughns. Bummer, sort of. I liked rooting for Ruben, but 2006 was very unsatisfactory. I thought I lot had to do with injury, but even on his best days Droughns was only so good. He ran hard when healthy and had a lot of fight in him. It's funny that guys like that don't fetch much of anything in trade value. Droughns problem was a lack of speed and I can see the logic here. I'm annoyed that I'll be rooting for Jamal Lewis, though anyone can see that Lewis is the better back even at this stage in their careers. But I would have been okay taking our chances with Droughns for another year.
Cutting Terrell Smith. Smith's time in Cleveland had run its course. You knew it after all those 3rd+short plays the Browns got stuffed. Letting Smith go is fune, but who will replace him is another matter. Can Vickers become a good enough blocker? Why not keep Droughns around at FB? This move makes obvious some questions that have to be answered this offseason anyway.