The news on the tenders the Cleveland Browns are giving players will be rolling in throughout the day. Early this morning, we have reports on the status of two of our restricted free agents: LB Matt Roth and S Ray Ventrone.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Roth was given a second-round tender by the Browns. Roth started the final six games of the season for Cleveland after being a mid-season pickup from the Miami Dolphins. He recorded four sacks and showed a knack for bull rushing. The second-round tender means that in order for another team to sign Roth, they would have to compensate us with a second round pick.
Meanwhile, according to Adam Caplan, the Browns won't be tendering Ventrone.
Browns won't be tendering RFA S/special teams ace Ray Ventrone, but has interest in re-signing him, source said.
I can't imagine the market will be huge for Ventrone, who contributed to our dominant special teams unit. I'd like to have everyone back on special teams who helped make the unit "click".
0 recs | 108 comments
Everyone worth picking up is pretty much being tendered first round offers by their teams. Free agency wont be as spectacular as once thought, and that makes the draft all more important. Thank God Mangini isn’t solely calling the shots again
The Licensed Pessimist - March 4, 2010
My expectation was that free agency would be weak this year with the high percentage of restricted free agents. TEams are not going to be dishing out draft picks with the uncertainty of the CBA. I would expect the trade market to be more active for non FA’s though.
Roger Dorn - March 4, 2010
Tony Grossi says in the PD today that the Browns won’t be offering a first round tender to any of their restricted free agents, according to a source. That’s a mild surprise because some thought maybe D’Qwell Jackson or Jerome Harrison would get a first round tender. I’m sure Jackson won’t be happy.
Buckeye Brad - March 4, 2010
Interesting…particularly on Harrison. Granted, I don’t think a team will fork over a second rounder for him, but you begin teetering in the territory where someone might jump in.
Chris Pokorny - March 4, 2010
And it might be worthwhile.
danvail - March 4, 2010
that’s fine with me. I actually would prefer that to happen, DQ is expendable
The Licensed Pessimist - March 4, 2010
He was talking about Harrison. No one cares about DQ
SpecialBrownie - March 4, 2010
Wow.
TheRealSlimShady - March 4, 2010
It almost seems like, given the strength of this year’s draft, they are using these 2nd-round tenders as bait
APV - March 4, 2010
Yea, agreed. I think the trend in recent years has been that 2nd rounder are incredibly valuable because of the lower cost but almost similar impact in terms of solid starters. The analysis done by Bernie bears this out.
Roger Dorn - March 4, 2010
Very interesting point.
gahnki - March 4, 2010
yeah, that sounds like a pretty logical conclusion. holmgren’s probably pretty sure that even if these guys get picked up, he could turn those extra picks into solid starters that could more than replace them in the long term.
Dawg Nuts - March 4, 2010
I would be stoked if we could get two second rounders for DQ and Harrison.
Bernie19Kosar - March 4, 2010
Do you really think there are better 2nd round ILBs than DQ and RBs than Harrison?
TheRealSlimShady - March 4, 2010
no doubt, in my mind.
Ryan Kelsey - March 4, 2010
In the 2nd for RBs:
Monterio Hardesty
Maybe ben tate if it is near the end of the 2nd
Anthony Dixon
Ryan Matthews could also drop to the 39th pick.
ILB:
Jamar Chaney
Brandon Spikes
bross09 - March 4, 2010
Chaney? WTF? He is not near as good as DQ.
Tate and hardesty are nowhere near Harrison.
I think we are more likely to find another Veikune in the 2nd than another DQ.
TheRealSlimShady - March 4, 2010
I am not saying that these guys will right away be as good as DQ or Harrison but can easily end up being better. Honestly, I like hardesty and I think coming out he can produce very well. IMO, DQ is not that amazing and might be just about at his ceiling. He is similar to andra davis in a way. both were not overly talented but had great tackling ability and instincts. I do think that DQ has significantly more physical skills than Davis but he will never be that much better than he is now. With chaney, you get a guy with a lot more upside.
bross09 - March 4, 2010
Hardesty has bad injury issues and is somewhat of a “one year wonder”. DQ is probably our best LB and letting him leave is not a good idea
TheRealSlimShady - March 4, 2010
I don’t disagree. He is our best LB but he is not that amazing IMO. I would rather have them stay, but my opinion is that a 2nd rounder is decent compensation for either of these guys.
bross09 - March 4, 2010
I would rather have DQ than a second. That’s what Im saying
TheRealSlimShady - March 4, 2010
well. I guess we will agree to disagree. my opinion is that DQ has played to his draft position at best. he was a second rounder…ergo I wouldn’t mind.
bross09 - March 5, 2010
Well then who from that draft did?
TheRealSlimShady - March 5, 2010
Runningbacks, easy. Linebackers will probably depend on demand in the first round.
gahnki - March 4, 2010
Honestly, I think Vickers is the guy I’d most hate to lose
APV - March 4, 2010
I agree. I hate to say it but he might be the least replacable out of the 3. I like DQ but he is not that irreplacable. neither is harrison and he is good, but there are guys in the 2nd round that could quite possibly turn into better players.
bross09 - March 4, 2010
Yes, totally agree. I’d say Roth as well.
Roger Dorn - March 4, 2010
Just because we get two picks for those two players doesn’t mean that we need to use those picks to replace them.
We can fill those positions rather easily (later picks or cheap free agents). After all, Harrison was a late draft choice and the best ILB we had this season was a cheap FA (Bowens).
ILB and RB are easy positions to fill. I would kill for two second rounders for them.
Bernie19Kosar - March 4, 2010
Just because we hit on a late draft pick doesn’t mean we will again.
TheRealSlimShady - March 4, 2010
If it was any other position, I would agree.
But RB’s can be found anywhere.
Bernie19Kosar - March 4, 2010
And I think our offense isn’t good enough to let our best skill player walk.
TheRealSlimShady - March 4, 2010
Gosh guys. Don´t revel in suckitude.
mooncamping - March 5, 2010
this is tony grossi…so who knows…
If this was pluto I would trust his inside info more…
bross09 - March 4, 2010
In fairness to Grossi, I actually think he has better sources within the Browns. He tends to break more news than Pluto. I like Pluto’s analysis better.
Roger Dorn - March 4, 2010
Right. Pluto isn’t around the team every day like Grossi is so he doesn’t really give “inside” information like Grossi does. Pluto’s writing and analysis is certainly better, as you said, but that doesn’t mean he’s got better sources within the team.
Buckeye Brad - March 4, 2010
true…
bross09 - March 4, 2010
Grossi does appear to have some decent sources; he just comes off as a gigantic douche.
gahnki - March 4, 2010
agreed.
bross09 - March 4, 2010
It´s audacious to claim we´re throwing fake tenders out there, to merely designate who should stay. There is no justification to disengage from true evaluations towards talent based monetary embursement.
mooncamping - March 4, 2010
If this says what I think it does, then it’s completely wrong. You don’t get paid what you deserve, you get paid as little as possible to keep you on board, if the employer wants to keep you.
danvail - March 4, 2010
Don’t where else to put this, but the Cards are asking for a 3rd rounder for Boldin
Any thoughts on this?
jsneides - March 4, 2010
I’ve been a huge fan of Boldin playing for the Browns for a while now. Brandon Marshall? Not so much. If all it takes is a 3rd round pick, then shoot! Let’s git it! Plus, if I understand correctly, we have 2 third round picks. I would be less of a fan if it require us to trade out of the third round, but since we have 2 picks… I’d say go for it. I’d deal with the threat of injury for a 3rd round pick.
shep615 - March 4, 2010
Hell yeah. If someone said Braylon for Boldin straight up a few months ago, we would have jumped on it. Now, we can use the draft pick we got for Braylon for Boldin. (I am not sure I see this happening, however.)
TheDriveStillHurts - March 4, 2010
Boldin is going to want a new contract though.
Not saying that I wouldn’t want Boldin, but it is going to be a 3rd and a boatload of money.
Bernie19Kosar - March 4, 2010
So how much money is too much money for Boldin’s services? If he’s still looking for what he was a few years ago (around Fitzgeralds contract of $10 million a year), then that’s likely too steep, but if it were down closer to $7 million a year, I would be ok with that.
Browns town - March 4, 2010
I have a question that I can’t find an answer on about contracts this offseason.
What is stopping teams from front loading deals?
For example, if the Browns signed Julius Peppers for 4 years, 52 million but we gave Peppers 40 of that million up front in year one. Not as a bonus, but as salary.
If the cap returned after a year hiatus, wouldn’t the Peppers deal then just be a 3 year 12 million dollar deal? Wouldn’t that be the only part (since the balloon payment wasn’t a bonus) that would count against the cap going forward?
Granted it would cost Lerner a ton of cash up front, but it could be way we see some teams throw around some money and cover their ass on the back end if the cap comes back.
In theory, wouldn’t this work?
Bernie19Kosar - March 4, 2010
Woody paige said this on around the horn, nobody seemed to understand what he was talking about so there was no discussion about it, but I was also wondering if this was a possible scenario.
Villeslgr - March 4, 2010
another example of the secret genius of woody paige.
bross09 - March 4, 2010
Well, consider the intelligence of most of the participants of Around the Horn. Most of them couldn’t spell CAT if you spotted them the C and the A.
Buckeye Brad - March 4, 2010
Haha nice.
emily522 - March 5, 2010
That’s interesting to think about. If I were a GM, I would be scared of doing this for the following reason:
Who’s to say that Peppers won’t then come around in year 3 or 4 and complain about only getting 4 million a year? Thomas Jones was upset with his contract this year despite making 13 million over the first two years of his contract. Not that the situations are even close to comparable in money, but the idea is the same. It wouldn’t surprise me to see a star play have such a short memory in terms of the contract.
Browns town - March 4, 2010
I would expect a holdout in year 2 of the contract if we tried this.
North Coast Flea - March 4, 2010
Exactly. The last thing I would want is to pay an absorbent amount of $ for a year or two of service and then have a distraction to the team.
Browns town - March 4, 2010
The Cards are my second favorite team, and if they are going to lose Boldin, I would love for it to be to the Browns. The guy has wanted a new contract for years now but has always been a professional about it, never sitting out, etc. like some of the other bigger name WRs out there. He is a great locker room leader and a damn good receiver to boot. At 30 years old, for any other WR of that age, I would say he’s not worth a 4 or 5 year contract, but for Boldin, I wouldn’t have an issue giving one to him.
For any other team, he would have received an extension already, but the Bidwills are some of the cheapest owners in football and they’re gonna let him get away.
Browns town - March 4, 2010
Yea I mean the guy fractured his face and was playing the same season. And I agree with the whole contract thing. He is an amazing player. If all it takes is a 3rd rounder, I would love to have him on the team.
jsneides - March 4, 2010
I don’t like it, especially with the depth of this draft. Safety is a position you can find guys in throughout the draft.
gahnki - March 4, 2010
Whoops, confused Boldin with Antrel Rolle.
gahnki - March 4, 2010
i would be a huge fan of this. i see him as easily worth a 3rd rounder; and agree with shep above, that it’s even more appealling since we have 2 third round picks.
Dawg Nuts - March 4, 2010
The hang-up won’t be trade compensation but rather a contract for Boldin.
Roger Dorn - March 4, 2010
yes, excellent point. i would be okay with spending a decent amount of money on him though.
Dawg Nuts - March 4, 2010
Troy Smith was only tendered a 5th round choice today.
gahnki - March 4, 2010
Count me in on this.
Bernie19Kosar - March 4, 2010
Hell yeah!
Buckeye Brad - March 4, 2010
careful, you’ll probably draw a “homer” dart from someone…
Dawg Nuts - March 4, 2010
Screw the wolves who cry wolf about liking OSU, (That’s right, maybe those crying “Homer” should look at their own bias before crying foul") a 5th rounder for Smith seems like the Ravens will get hosed there.
North Coast Flea - March 4, 2010
don’t be mistaken, i’m a penn state grad, grew up 25 miles from PSU, and hate ohio state deeply. i just think the homer thing gets a little blown out of proportion around here. i don’t recall ever seeing someone comment “we should draft him because he’s a buckeye.” everyone who trumpets OSU players has a sound, football based argument for it. we may not all agree with it, but at least it’s based on football and not college allegiances. this site is full of intelligent football fans who want the browns to get better; despite our differences on the college level, we’re all brothers in brown and orange. if drafting ohio state players wins us a superbowl, sign me up immediately. and if none of the PSU players coming out this year could help us (though i think some of them could), i’d avoid them like the plague. it all about the brownies, baby.
Dawg Nuts - March 4, 2010
rec
North Coast Flea - March 4, 2010
and i agree that the ravens would lose out on a deal that exchanges smith for a 5th rounder.
Dawg Nuts - March 4, 2010
I only say Homer when people act like Kurt Coleman is a 2nd rounder and Thad Gibson is a 1st rounder.
TheRealSlimShady - March 4, 2010
I agree. I like OSU but if someone says that, I have no problem calling them a homer.
bross09 - March 4, 2010
didn’t really mean you specifically, it gets thrown around a lot.
Dawg Nuts - March 4, 2010
I agree it gets thrown around too much.
bross09 - March 4, 2010
I meant him specifically.
gahnki - March 4, 2010
Someone is acting like a douche.
TheRealSlimShady - March 4, 2010
Takes one to accuse one.
SpecialBrownie - March 5, 2010
I’m just joking.
gahnki - March 5, 2010
ok nevamind then.
TheRealSlimShady - March 5, 2010
I didn’t mean you in particular either, I hear that about anything I like that remotely has anything to do with Ohio in general.
North Coast Flea - March 4, 2010
And we have 3 of those if I’m not mistaken. Why not go for him? He can’t be that expensive and as he said a few weeks back, he would love to play for the Browns
Browns town - March 4, 2010
what pick do they get out of the 3 if got him?
The Brown Note - March 4, 2010
I’m pretty sure they get the one we originally had. I might be mistaken but I think you can only give up a pick you originally had when getting a RFA.
bross09 - March 4, 2010
That’s correct.
gahnki - March 4, 2010
Careful with that. I’m in too.
Villeslgr - March 4, 2010
wow, I’m all over this.
Ryan Kelsey - March 4, 2010
I have no doubt Smith will be a Brown this season…
SpecialBrownie - March 4, 2010
ah, so we’re talking about it here.
if the Ravens only placed a 5th round tender on him, I’m going to assume he had no value in the trade market, and basically are throwing out a 5th round take-it-or-leave-it deal to 31 potential trade partners.
rolub - March 4, 2010
Which implies that Smith really isn’t that good.
Roger Dorn - March 4, 2010
just pray we get eric berry and don’t overpay for dunta robinson. Oh and find a way to get Sergio Kindle with our second round pick.
Problem with Boldin is that he is really just a very good #2 reciever, Fitzgerald has been the #1 there for the recent success. We already have a #2 guy (Massaquoi) we need a real #1 guy. Whether Boldin fits the bill remains to be seen.
jaws. - March 4, 2010
I agree.
bross09 - March 4, 2010
Rumor is that Robinson will be a Falcon. Soon.
Bernie19Kosar - March 4, 2010
I think that whatever happens, the Browns future is surprisingly bright for the first time in a long time.
gahnki - March 4, 2010
Cromartie to the Jets for a 3rd pick, possibly a 2nd based on performance.
Schefter tweet.
rolub - March 4, 2010
a 2011 pick, for the record.
rolub - March 4, 2010
Wow. Revis and Cromartie. Yikes.
danvail - March 4, 2010
That was my first thought too.
North Coast Flea - March 5, 2010
i bet our current QBs would do a nice job against that…
Dawg Nuts - March 5, 2010
Yea, it’s easy. Pump fake at Cromartie he tries to jump the route, send MoMass deep to the end zone, TD Browns.
Roger Dorn - March 5, 2010
D'Qwell and Harrison
D’Qwell is awesome and you could tell the difference on defense when he was injured. I’m worried that a smart team will pick him up. The Browns have a history of letting their great defensive players go and then those players light it up on other teams.
Regarding Harrison, with JLewis gone, he’s all we have. I think if our blocking gets better Harrison will rock it.
attychelle - March 5, 2010
Who in particular are you referring to?
Roger Dorn - March 5, 2010
Leigh Bodden.
rolub - March 5, 2010
Brian Russell
SpecialBrownie - March 5, 2010
Russell was good for the Browns but only had one more productive season.
Roger Dorn - March 5, 2010
Bodden was bad for Detroit, pretty good for NEw England and we got Shaun Rogers in return for him.
Roger Dorn - March 5, 2010
We’re joking man.
SpecialBrownie - March 5, 2010
Yea, the original point is there, I am wondering what defensive players we have lost that have gone on to great things. Anthony Henry is probably the best example Ic an come up with off the top of my head.
Roger Dorn - March 5, 2010
Abe Elam is our strong safety. Right? At quite a price, if you assume they averaged out on those other second round tenders. That´s my assumption.
These are tasty free agents:
My very favorite player, Ryan Clark, Steelers.
Once awesome, Mike Brown, Chiefs.
And wreaking ball, Marquand Manuel, Detroit Lions.
What´s your preference Mr. Dorn?
Then we have David Carr, and Rex Grossman and Chad Pennington.
Do your own math, regarding how that will affect our draft preferences.
mooncamping - March 6, 2010
I would also like Ryan Clark. I am with you on that. Mike Brown is too injury prone and old at this point.
Roger Dorn - March 6, 2010
Ryan Clark is a luxury pick, it would mean to acquire, shall I say Ernie Sims for example, becomes less likely.
Mike Brown has been unlucky, he might come at a bargain?
mooncamping - March 7, 2010
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