Several years ago, when the Cleveland Browns were in the playoffs against the Pittsburgh Steelers, I recall CB Hank Poteat getting burned consistently by our receivers. He was a large part of the reason Kelly Holcomb threw for over 400 yards in that game. At that time, I thought to myself, "how could this 'Poteat' guy be on any team?"
Well, now he's not just on any team -- he's on the Cleveland Browns. To be fair, Poteat has proven me wrong the past several years by filling in as a decent role player for the New England Patriots and the New York Jets. Poteat spent three years with Eric Mangini, but I wouldn't say his roster spot is a definite lock. He could inevitably end up being this season's Terry Cousin, if worst comes to worst.
I'd much rather have Daven Holly filling that role. Unfortunately, I haven't heard any reports about the Browns being interested in bringing him back. The latest reports have the Tampa Bay Buccaneers interested in Holly.
I'd have to imagine that under the new regime, signing players coming off injuries is a turnoff (see Sean Jones; Daven Holly). Ryan Tucker, also injury-prone, just had his contract restructured to stay with the team.
Finally, in other former Browns player news, CB Leigh Bodden is nearly going from worst to first after signing a one-year deal with the New England Patriots. Again, thanks for Shaun Rogers, Detroit.
0 recs | 25 comments
I have to think – at least I hope – that Poteat will be better than cousin. I can recall hearing Poteat’s name called in games, but don’t recall whether it was for good coverage or blown coverage.
In other news, Travis Daniels has signed with KC. Maybe we’ll finally get to see what the Browns traded a 7th round pick for when they play KC this year.
JustBob - March 10, 2009
B/c 7th rounders often mean so much to a team.
kwoog - March 11, 2009
True teams aren’t built on 7th-rounders, but a pick is a pick. You don’t just throw it away on a guy that you have no intention of playing, especially when you’ve already given up earlier picks. There were still free agents who could have been signed as 3rd-string backups.
Anyways, that was all the doing of the previous regime and they are gone. I’m just having trouble understanding what the point of the whole thing was.
JustBob - March 11, 2009
Daniels not playing had nothing to do with Savage, in fact he was so frustrated with the playing time decisions that he said as much to the media (the infamous “throw the coach under the bus”).
kwoog - March 11, 2009
Browns signed Jets safety Abram Elam to a tender offer. The Jets have 7 days to match
Roger Dorn - March 11, 2009
Also, Jets OLB David Bowens I believed signed with the Browns
Roger Dorn - March 11, 2009
I am amused by the Rotoworld comment about Bowens at the left on the mainpage. Under 2 mil a year, and who knows how much of that is guarantee and they are acting like we really threw this guy a lot of money
Roger Dorn - March 11, 2009
Ladies and gentleman, your 2009 Cleveland Jets!
JulioBernazard - March 11, 2009
Funny how the New York media portrayed Mangini as Damien from the “Omen”, but a lot of Jets must still like to play for him.
Hey I know the guy can be Belicheck’s evil twin, but there must a core of players that do like the guy.
Grockcubs - March 11, 2009
Good point. For all the complaing about how he treated Shawn Rogers (and who knows what really happened), his players must like playing for him or there wouldn’t be so many former Jets signing here. I think that just shows how overblown the Rogers thing was.
Buckeye Brad - March 11, 2009
The Rogers thing was never about Mangini’s overall rep in the league. It was about the doltishness and audacity it takes to be unaware of how to treat the only superstar on your Defense who comes with a load of easily maintainable yet extremely volatile sensitivities.
kwoog - March 11, 2009
No, it’s not about his rep in the league, it’s about how he treats his players and what they think of him as a coach. I never said anything about his rep in the league, I said that it showed his players like playing for him and respect him as a coach. So all the assumptions that Mangini doesn’t know how to communicate with his players, because of the trife with Rogers, must not be true.
I’m not saying Mangini isn’t partially to blame for how he handled the Rogers situation, but I’m saying the whole situation was blown out of proportion by Rogers.
Buckeye Brad - March 11, 2009
You think.
Brad D - March 11, 2009
Congrats on the Chlesea win, by the way… though I’m a pretty bitter Juve fan right now.
Ryan Kelsey - March 11, 2009
I can imagine. That game had me worried until Belletti found Drogba. All in all, much better viewing than the Inter-Man U matches were.
Brad D - March 12, 2009
I agree. Blown out of proportion by a desperate media that is running dry on stories
Roger Dorn - March 11, 2009
I was responding to your mistaken connection between two unrelated things: how much his players like him and whether or not the Rogers thing was overblown.
If every single player in the entire NFL loved Mangini except for Shaun Rogers, he still would be guilty of handling it terribly. Everyone knows that Rogers is the irrational one here, I’m not debating that. But everyone also knows that’s part of his personality, and by all accounts it sounds like the smallest amount of attention or receptiveness would have diffused the issue immediately. I don’t think it was blown out of proportion one bit. When one of the 3 best DT on the planet doesn’t want to play for your team after one wildly successful (individual) year, it’s a big deal.
kwoog - March 11, 2009
Which means we’re talking about two different things…
1) I agree that any attempt to paint Mangini as a coach players don’t like is bogus, whether pre or post Rogers episode.
2) The Rogers thing is, if the reports are accurate, not overblown because they could have easily been avoided by a coach with a modicum of sensibility.
kwoog - March 11, 2009
Do you not buy that Mangini didn’t see him? I tend to believe Mangini, I don’t see any reason for him to ignore Rogers intentionally
Roger Dorn - March 11, 2009
I believe Mangini for that incident, but I also think that was just one minor thing that peeved Rogers. I think he was much more irked that after the two “snubs” Mangini dismissed his request for a one on one meeting and/or phone call, and then the impersonal weight edict was the last 15 straws that broke the (albeit sensitive) camel’s back.
kwoog - March 11, 2009
There were two incidents, weren’t there? I heard at the Cleveland area sports awards or whatever that Mangini was actually talking to Eric Wedge and Rogers walked behind him—easy to believe he didn’t see him. The second time, I dunno.
rufio - March 13, 2009
conceptually, i agree with you, of course. this rogers blow up was so easily avoidable it’s silly to even think that this happened. however, i’m starting to develop a theory about mangini’s style, and the more i think about it, the more i like it.
the theory goes something like: he’s creating a professional business organization here. the purpose of this organization is to win football games, pure and simple. it’s not babysitting, it’s not middle school, this is an organization of adults who are supposed to pursue the goal of maximizing wins (think of it as profit for a typical business) with singular focus and drive. for mangini’s part, he’s going about it as dispassionately as possible—witness the jurevicius release…a local hero who wanted to stay here—treating each employee equally, and judging each solely on his merits. no favoritism, no special treatment. each player is an equal cog in the winning machine (in his mind), and is treated as such. so, a one-on-one meeting with shaun rogers, or a special dispensation for joe j coming back from injury, or giving winslow another chance to prove he’s not a distraction—all of these things are out of the question. the goal is simply to put together a capable group of employees who will chase the mission of winning without deviation.
now, there are holes here, clearly. with highly-paid, prima donna athletes this philosophy is bound to have issues (as with highly-paid, prima donna employees anywhere). but i think i’m coming around to the idea that mangini treats everyone alike, and in so doing creates an atmosphere of complete professionalism and “togetherness” amongst the so called rank and file.
maybe that should have been a post all its own.
DontCallMeJoey - March 12, 2009
I hope you’re right. If you are, I’ll be the first to applaud him for it. However, if that is the case this probably is going to be a total overhaul, not just a renovation project.
kwoog - March 12, 2009
I would have to think that Mangini would want to change a bit in all fronts. From coaching stragety, to dealing with players and dealing with coaches. If he fails here, what are the chances he gets another shot as a head coach in this league?
Him and Rogers will work it out, it is best for both of them. Well, I sure hope the hell they do.
Grockcubs - March 11, 2009
If history is any indication
Poteat will be cut in camp, resigned before Week 1, cut after Week 5, resigned after Week 7, and spend the rest of the year as a solid nickel.
John B - March 14, 2009
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