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HOT TOPIC
This is going to be a make or break season with the Browns for Lee Suggs, one of less than 20 players remaining from the team Romeo Crennel and Phil Savage inherited 18 months ago.
No one is debating whether Suggs has the skill to make it and even start in the NFL. He rushed for more than 100 yards in each of the last three games in 2004. He averaged four yards a carry on 263 carries in his first three seasons, which isn't bad at all considering he was behind an offensive line Savage and Crennel have found necessary to revamp by 80 percent.
On the other hand Suggs has missed 23 of 48 games with various injuries. If it were a knee injury that kept him out one full season, management could look upon that as a hazard of the job. Suggs has had injuries to a toe, an ankle, a neck and his shoulder over three years. When he has been hurt he has proven to be a slow healer.
"This is almost like Lee's first year with us because of injuries and different things that happened last year," Savage, in his second year as general manager, said recently. "Lee Suggs is a talent. We don't want to short-change talent with the Browns. If he can play, then we want him as part of our team, but he has to prove he can do it for more than one game.
"I've gotten emails from people saying not to give up on Lee Suggs. We haven't done that. But what you have to realize is we don't play a one-game season. We play 16 games. Sometimes dependability and durability override pure ability. That's what he has to show us."
For the first time since their return in 1999, the Browns have depth at running back. With one spot going to starter Reuben Droughns -- assuming Droughns escapes league punishment in his domestic violence case -- and another going to rookie Jerome Harrison, either Suggs or William Green is in danger of being cut.
As unproductive as he has been, Green has at least stayed healthy for four years, excluding the shoulder injury that was the start of his troubles in 2003. The Browns view Green more as a first- and second-down player and Suggs as a change of pace back.
Savage and Crennel also like Jason Wright, the running back from Northwestern who last season scored the team's first rushing touchdown of 2005 eight games into the season.
PLAYER NOTES
--The Browns are looking for a receiver to fill the void until Braylon Edwards makes a full recovery from knee surgery. Dennis Northcutt and Frisman Jackson are the leading candidates to start opposite Joe Jurevicius, but second-year players Brandon Rideau and Joshua Cribbs plus rookie Travis Wilson are possibilities.
--Rookie linebacker D'Qwell Jackson is working inside next to Andra Davis at the mandatory minicamp. His battle with Chaun Thompson for a starting job should be one of the best of training camp and the preseason.
--One cornerback that has been impressive is Pete Hunter. He was signed Dec. 6 of last year and though he is not pushing the top three -- Gary Baxter, Daylon McCutcheon or Leigh Bodden -- he is making headway in the fight to be the fourth corner.
--Kicker Phil Dawson is almost fully recovered from an offseason operation for a sports hernia. He expects to be 100 percent before training camp begins in late July.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
The Browns have 18 defensive backs in their minicamp, an indication the secondary is unsettled after the starters. Safety is a particular area of concentration, where Brian Russell is the only sure starter.
Sean Jones, after a disappointing 2005, had a strong offseason, according to general manager Phil Savage. Since Butch Davis, not Savage, drafted Jones, Savage's praise has to be genuine. The Browns thought enough of Jones to trade starter Chris Crocker in the offseason.
Significantly, Jones had major knee surgery in June 2004. He was healthy enough to play last season, but rust from going a year without football might have contributed to his poor play last season. It might be an indication Braylon Edwards won't be 100 percent until 2007. Edwards had major knee surgery in January. The target date for his return is Oct. 1.
FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
--DB Antwan Harris (not tendered June 1).
--P Kyle Richardson (not tendered June 1).
--LB Orlando Ruff (not tendered June 1).
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
--OT Kirk Chambers: ERFA; $425,000/1 yr.
--DE Simon Fraser: ERFA; terms unknown.
--NT Ethan Kelly: RFA; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--DE Orpheus Roye: Potential UFA; 3 yrs, terms unknown.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
--C LeCharles Bentley: UFA Saints; $36M/6 yrs, SB unknown.
--PK Jeff Chandler: FA; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--TE Darnell Dinkins: UFA Ravens; $2.1M/3 yrs, $200,000 SB.
--QB Ken Dorsey: Trade 49ers.
--OG Bob Hallen: UFA Chargers; 2 yrs, terms unknown.
--WR Joe Jurevicius: UFA Seahawks; $10M/4 yrs, SB unknown.
--LB Willie McGinest: FA Patriots; $12M/3 yrs, SB unknown.
--T Kevin Shaffer: UFA Falcons; 6 yrs, terms unknown.
--NT Ted Washington: FA Raiders; $7M/2 yrs, SB unknown.
--P Dave Zastudil: UFA Ravens; $8M/5 yrs, $1.66M SB.
PLAYERS LOST
--WR Antonio Bryant: UFA 49ers; $13.9M/4 yrs, $4M SB.
--S Chris Crocker: Trade Falcons.
--QB Trent Dilfer: Traded 49ers.
--C Jeff Faine: Traded Saints.
--DT Jason Fisk (released).
--TE Keith Heinrich: UFA Dolphins; terms unknown.
--LB Kenard Lang (released).
--C Dwayne Ledford: Not tendered as ERFA/Saints; terms unknown.
--DB Michael Lehan (released).
--CB Ray Mickens: UFA Jets; terms unknown.
--OL Mike Pucillo: UFA Redskins; $465,000/1 yr.
--TE Aaron Shea: UFA Chargers; 3 yrs, terms unknown.
--LT L.J. Shelton: UFA Dolphins; $15M/4 yrs, $3.5M SB.
--LB Ben Taylor: UFA Packers; $665,280/1 yr., $50,000 SB.
MEDICAL WATCH: No updates.
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