The Turk needs a raise.

With the NFL expanding offseason and training-camp rosters to 90 for the first time in league history, there will be even more fat to trim when the time comes to turn in playbooks.

Within the next nine days, teams will move to 75 and then to 53 players.  The first deadline comes Monday at 4:00 p.m. ET.  By Friday, August 31 at 9:00 p.m. ET, all teams must be at 53 players.

This means that 1,184 players who currently are practicing and playing will soon be not practicing or playing.

Well, not all of them.  As an unprecedented throng floods the market, other teams will do the trash-treasure thing, looking for players who can help them out.  The Cowboys will look for wideouts, the Packers will look for quarterbacks, the Raiders will look for running backs, the Giants will look for defensive tackles, the Bears will look for offensive linemen, and the Colts will look for defensive backs.

And that will trigger a second wave of roster cuts, with new arrivals bouncing players who thought they had made it onto the 53-man roster.

The sheer number of players who will be ready to play underscores the need for a real NFL minor league, which would be wholly owned and operated by the league — and which would give players a framework to stay in shape and get live reps via games played on Tuesday and Wednesday nights in cities that don’t have an NFL franchise.

That makes way too much sense to ever get any traction.

i would have liked to have seen them raise the roster limit during last years CBA Talks .there will be quite a bit of talent out there .maybe we can pick up a linebacker off the scrap heap ?


even more proof that the NFL Needs a devolpmental league . play in the Spring like they used to . have the players assigned to NFL Teams but could be signed by other teams at any time to there active roster . make it say a 12 team league  and televise it . i am sure people would watch & attend the games . put them in cities who dont already have pro football .


Akron or Canton comes to mind for example for a B League or whatever you want to call it .

other sports have it why not the NFL ? Does baseball really need all those minor leagues just to play a game that takes half the skill that it takes to play fooball ?

the NBA & NHL Have those minor leagues . NBA Teams are constantly signing players to what they call 10 day contracts . then some get signed for the remainder of the regular season .

thoughts on this topic anyone ?

I think the move to expand the rosters to 90 players is a premeditated one that means the NFL is looking into the viability of a minor league system.  I think they will wait and see how the new USFL does vs the UFL and buy them out to take that fanbase and bring it into the NFL. 

In the past there were "competing" leagues like the USFL and World League Football.  The World League eventually became NFL Europe which became NFL Europa before ceasing operations.  NFL Europa failed because it was less of a minor league and more of a PR move.  With bright colored uniforms and teams half full of international players that were 5'8'' 170lbs,  it was a move to expand the game globally.  This worked.  With talks of expanding the league into Toronto and London in the future, the NFL does need to establish a minor league system of sorts so the talent pool is not watered down.  

We have yet to see about the Vikings or jags moving to LA or Buffalo making the move to Toronto, but we do know the leage has long term plans to have a team or teams in Europe, and a minor league system would definitely supports that.

As the Cleveland Browns quickly approach roster cuts (the team must trim the roster to 75 by Aug. 27 and to 53 by Aug. 31), fans are likely getting their last look at a number of players who may never again put on a Browns uniform.

Most of the players currently on the roster bubble include undrafted free agents, injury fill-ins and other virtual unknowns, who may or may not one day emerge elsewhere in the NFL.

One player who may be battling for a roster spot, however, has become a familiar name over the past three seasons—tight end Evan Moore.

Once a promising prospect for the Green Bay Packers, Moore was signed to the Browns' practice squad in 2009. Promoted to the active roster later that season, the 6'6", 250-pound physical freak quickly made his presence felt, hauling in six passes for 80 yards in his regular season debut.

In the two years since, Moore has become a dynamic, under-utilized weapon in the Browns offense as the former Stanford wide receiver hauled in 50 passes for 646 yards and five touchdowns.

Due to his size and wide receiver speed, Moore has the ability to create mismatches virtually anywhere on the field. However, his development has come at a crawling pace due, in part, to a series of nagging injuries and due to the physical and mental demands of making the position switch from wideout to tight end.

Fortunately, Moore has not been thrust into the starting role too often, due to the presence of former Patriot Benjamin Watson, who has racked up an impressive 105 receptions and 1,173 yards receiving in his two seasons as the Browns' starting tight end.

After Cleveland drafted former USC tight end Jordan Cameron, who has been very impressive during training camp, some speculated that Moore could be on his way out as the Browns' developmental tight end. However, the team inked Moore to a new [two-year extension] last offseason, making it clear that he would still be a part of the franchise's future plans.

Still, Moore is currently listed as the fourth tight end on Cleveland's depth chart and a hamstring injury has limited him to just three receptions through two preseason games, once again prompting some to [question his place on the squad].

Watson, Cameron and blocking tight end Alex Smith are virtual locks to make the final 53-man roster, leaving Moore and Dan Gronkowski battling for the No. 4 spot—if Cleveland decides to carry four tight ends this season.

However, the position Moore finds himself in has done little to dampen his outlook.

"I've chosen not to let anything frustrate me," Moore recently said, [according to the Plain Dealer]. "I'm just going to keep my nose to the grindstone and keep going. If I just go out and play, things will fall into place how they're meant to be and you respond once things happen.

"I'm just going to keep pushing and play well in these last two games and everything will take care of itself," he said.

One thing that Moore has going for him is his immense versatility. As a collegiate wideout, he has the ability to perform both inside and outside in passing situations and along the line as a traditional tight end. Moore is also as sure-handed as they come. While Moore has not been the most-targeted pass-catcher on the Browns' roster, his incredible leaping grabs have been some of the team's most memorable.
Moore also benefits from having plenty of upside. Despite struggling at times in his blocking, Moore's athleticism is unmatched, outside of the league's elite. It is very easy to picture Moore and Cameron as the team's future at the position, giving Cleveland a potent one-two punch at the tight end position and flexibility for its West Coast Offense.
Benjamin s entering the final year of his contract with the Browns, and rather than seek out a new pass-catching option after the season, it makes much more sense for the Browns to hold onto Moore and to continue to develop him for the future. If Moore were to fall victim to roster cuts, it is a safe bet that he would not last long on the open market.
The biggest challenge for Moore over the final two preseason games will be showing that he is fully healthy and ready to contribute in 2012. If so, his versatility and downfield capabilities (he has averaged 13 yards per reception over the past three seasons) should make him a no-brainer for a Browns team in desperate need of reliable pass-catchers.
Cleveland is expected to carry three or four tight ends and six wide receivers this season, and cutting down to those numbers may prove difficult. Fortunately, Moore is capable of playing either position, and if the Browns allow him to become a roster cut casualty, it is a decision that the team will likely come to regret. 

Follow Kris on Twitter: [@Kris_Knox]

Dogside ..good to see ya again . hope all is well with you & yours .

very good point on the USFL . You may be onto something with teams moving to London & possible Toronto . we have been through that and i can feel for any fan base that loses its team . they cant expand as the divisions are set at 4 each which means someone will lose a team . dont forget the league wants a team in LA ..Even though most out there dont support pro football .

i think at some point in the near future the NFL will indeed have a minor league system . what better way to develop a young QB than by giving him reps . you can only learn so much holding a clipboard . most of these guys need live  action to hone there skills .

Rosters will go from 90 to 60 (counting practice squads).  That means that 32 teams are cutting over 900 players that are atleast worthy of a look in an NFL minicamp.


I say we do the dirty work on here and set up the guide lines and franchises for a the new minor league system.  Here are my recomendations.


The new league(s?) will be comprised of 4 - 3 team conferences.  1 play off game, 1 championship game.  Rosters will be set at 60 players with no practice squad.  This will account for 3/4 of those possible players.  It will also help keep fringe NFL players going to the CFL and keeping their NFL dream alive with proper afiliation.  I say there is an 8 game schedule.  One international division.  Here is my divisional layout


International - London, Frankfurt, Barcelona  (I know all NFLE teams, but they are big cities already with facilities)


Northeastern Division - Toronto (if the Bills arent there), Rochester, Montreal

Southwestern Division -  Albequerque, San Antonio, LA

Midwestern Division -  Colombus, Lincoln, Kansas City Kansas


Whatchu say?!?! 

Did I say KC? I meant Des Moines!

Did I say KC? I meant Des Moines!

Des Moines, Kansas ?
       -or-
Kansas City, Iowa ?

That, sir, is why you put the lime in the coconut!

By [Don Delco] OBR Browns Reporter
Posted Aug 23, 2012

The Browns' first preseason home game is against the same team they will open the season against Sept. 9. Expect vanilla to be the flavor du jour and the starters to play a half. Other than that, preseason football comes to Cleveland — Yawn... uh, I mean Yay!

[1 Comment]

As if this preseason can’t get any stranger.

On Friday, the [Cleveland Browns] play host to the [Philadelphia Eagles] in the first home preseason game. Typically, the third preseason game means the starters will play into the third quarter. In other words, it is known as “the dress rehearsal.”

Only there is one problem this year, the Browns open the season at home with the Eagles on Sept. 9.

Honestly, this has been one bizarre preseason.

It’s not that plenty of Browns fans haven’t already seen this team practice amid the news of the team selling, injuries to key players like [Trent Richardson] and a looming suspension to [Joe Haden]. This week, the team announced more than 37,000 fans attended the 14 training camp sessions in Berea. This is a team coming off a 4-12 record. You gotta love Brownstown.

Officially, training camp is closed, but the Browns still have camp-like work to do, according to Browns coach Pat Shurmur.

“I still like to think we’re in training camp mode even though they’re moving out of the hotel, but we’re progressing in a way that I visualized,” he said. “I think what’s important now is we play these preseason games with great energy, great passion and try to put a bunch of good plays together. I think the guys in the game are charged with winning the game and if we put enough good plays together that will happen. If we play sloppy or we don’t do the things we need to do as players and coaches then you lose a game. So that’s part of the message as we go forward as well.”

As far as Friday’s game, Eagles starting quarterback [Michael Vick] will be sidelined with an injury. Does it really matter what type of injury? The guy is always dinged up. Unfortunately for the Browns, the Eagles expect Vick to start the regular season opener.

Vanilla will be the flavor of the night as Browns fans will get an up-close look at quarterback [Brandon Weeden] in game action and the rest of the large contingent of rookies, sans Richardson.

Weeden showed that progression Shurmur talked about from preseason game one to two. His numbers improved and so, too, did the Browns offensive output.

“I’m not where I need to be but I’m still making steps in the right direction,” he said. “There’s just a comfort level. There’s a confidence level/comfort level playing quarterback especially in this system, in this league. I think it takes some time. I wasn’t stressing out over what was going to happen. I was going to continue to learn. I think, moving forward in the right direction, I feel pretty good with where I’m at.”

Four days after the Browns’ third preseason game, NFL teams must cut its roster to 80 players. A a day after the Browns wrap up the preseason at home against the [Chicago Bears] on Aug. 30, teams cut down to the mandatory 53.

While you want to see progression from the projected starters, it is the guys playing in the second half Friday and most of the game next week that will need to continue to perform.

Who should you keep an eye on Friday night? Sure, Weeden, Gordon and the first-teamers are important, but so is depth.

Here are some names to look for come the second half on Friday: [Josh Cooper] (WR), [Oniel Cousins] (OL), [L.J. Fort] (LB), Dan Gronkowski (TE), [Brandon Jackson] (RB), [Carlton Mitchell] (WR), [Chris Ogbonnaya] (RB), [Craig Robertson] (RB), [David Sims] (DB), Thomas Adonis (RB), [Owen Marecic] (FB).

And as always, hope and pray for no catastrophic injuries during meaningless practice football.

12/30 game flexed to Sunday night.  Matchup between two 8-7 teams winner gets 6th wild card spot...

Pass the Kool aid..

woof...

Heard another 1-15 prediction on Sirius NFL yesterday....  ughh...

Eagles at Browns - Win - 1-0
Browns at Bengals - Win - 2-0
Bills at Browns - Win  (terminal tower comes down) 3-0
Browns at Ravens Loss - 3-1
Browns at Gianst Loss 3-2
Bengals at Browns - Win 4-2
Browns at Colts - Win 5-2 -  (Euclid Ave Renamed Shurmur Avenue)
Chargers at Browns - Loss 5-3
Ravens at Browns - Loss 5-4
Browns at Cowboys - Loss 5-5
Steelers at Browns - Loss -5-6  (Holmgren Rides His Harley out of town)
Browns at Raiders - Win 6-6
Chiefs at Browns - Win - 7-6
Redskins at Browns Win - 8-6
Browns at Broncos - Loss - 8-7
Browns at Steelers...... 

Heard another 1-15 prediction on Sirius NFL yesterday....  ughh...

I love Sirius NFL...but after questions started coming in February about the draft and on more than one occasion I heard multiple Sirius NFL on air personalities(I won't call them prognosticators) tell listeners to not even start talking about the draft until after the Super bowl, because they don't even know where players are ranked nationally....Really? They wait for the rankings to come out before even learning who the better players are?

I think they prepare just as much for EVERY NFL team...which means if they are one of the top 5 in the news reel, they understand where they should be in the following season.

I would think their job would be to get to know every team, but it apparently isn't.

I believe I am just as qualified to make a prediction the Browns go 15-1. At least I follow the team daily and am not going off a colleagues grade of the schedules article to say they can't win this game or that game.


It has just about as good a chance as them going 1-15 as well...

They could have 10 more injuries and still win 2 games...

The record will come down to coaching, and I know not many of you have faith in Shurmur, but I have faith in Jauron and Childress...That is why I think they can win 6-8 games this year and even still be in the talk for a playoff spot going into the end of the season..This is a young hungry team, but being hungry for 17 weeks is a challenge to the coaching staff. That is where we can excel, if they can keep them focused.

To take it one further, I put more merit in the Vegas odds, because it is up to them to keep the casionos profitable...every one balks at 5.5 wins, but I look at it pretty positively.

Outside of Cleveland, there are very few thinking the Browns will win more than 3-4 games...This is plays into the hands of the odds makers.

Posting a 5.5 win total plays to the average fan outside of Cleveland and they will make their money on them...Reality of over 5.5 wins is more likely in this scenario, since the minority will play the over, which is where the Vegas guys more likely have them finishing...6-8 wins...

I truly believe without any stupid mistakes like the several games last year; not being ready on defense, (2) botched FG snaps...etc...

This team will improve not only on the field, but in the win column.

Jake ..pretty good man


i think we beat the Ratbirds at home . we almost got them on there turf last year . i also think we beat the Broncos .


I dont see us winning the opener against the Eagles or the second game against the Bengals .


i smell upset at Dallas ..that would be sweet as i dont like them at all . never have never will .


four teams i hate . always have always will .



Steelers ..respect them .

Bengals..no respect  

Rats ....really really hate


Cowchips ..YUIK

Shurmur seems to be a changed man this summer  . he is showing some fire . some emotion out there . i like that . they say a team takes on a coaches personalty . keep the fire up Shurmur . last year the Browns had no pulse ..NONE .

I will be looking at the discipline tonight . i am hoping for fewer penaltys . if this team doesent shoot itself in the foot like it did last year it has a chance to upset a few teams .

they will be better the second half of the season IMHO after the kids get there NFL Legs under them .


i still have 6- 8 wins in pencil 


 stay healthy tonight and next week ..its key as we still dont have that much depth

 

Open bar till after the Browns game tonight . then everything is double after that


Two more Fri nights of racing left ..then Limaland closes ..way to early


we still have Eldora & Waynesfield on the schedule up through Rocktober

I know everybody says, due to the strangeness of the schedule, tonights game will be extra boring, even by pre-season standards.....I hope that's not the case.  If we went out and just punched Philly right in the face, opened up the offense, and blew them out of the stadium....How would that really hurt us going into the opener in 2 weeks?  I think too much is made of this "dress rehearsal" 3rd pre-season game non-sense....Just go out and execute the plays.  If you have something special that you don't want to show, then fine, keep it in the book....But you still gotta play hard.  The notion that both teams will simply be "going through the motions" is absurd....Jobs are on the line.  I'll be surprised if this is one of those 6-3 yawn fests....With so many young players trying to learn their roles, Cleveland can't afford to just "mail it in" tonight...Let's give these birds something to think about...


just my take....


TD  

fans are likely getting their last look at a number of players who may never again put on a Browns uniform.

Most of the players currently on the roster bubble include undrafted free agents, injury fill-ins and other virtual unknowns, who may or may not one day emerge elsewhere in the NFL.

Am I the only person to catch this??    Do you guys know how long it's been since those terms were ever mentioned in the same sentence?     Well, ALMOST in the same sentence. 

Nobody in their right mind would have ever thought about a player being cut bu the BROWNS, ending-up elsewhere in the NFL.  Just think . . .   we are beginning to emerge as a team having "excess".  WOW, I haven't thought about that since 1985..!!

I like that thought.



Can't wait till tonight. . . . . . . .. WOOF  -  WOOF !!

The Morning Kickoff …

What: Browns (2-0) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (2-0), 7:30 p.m., in Cleveland Browns Stadium.

TV: WKYC-TV 3 with Jim Donovan, Bernie Kosar and Dave Chudowsky.

The set-up: The Eagles have become the Browns’ farm team. In the past three years, the following former Eagles have matriculated to Cleveland: GM Tom Heckert; director of player personnel Jon Sandusky; director of college scouting John Spytek; coach Pat Shurmur; coordinators Brad Childress and Dick Jauron; assistant coaches Tim Hauck, Mark Whipple and Ray Rhodes; and players Sheldon Brown, Chris Gocong, Reggie Hodges, Jordan Norwood, Juqua Parker, Dimitri Patterson and Alex Smith. Now, they may send the Browns another key executive – Joe Banner, who is strongly rumored to be new owner Jimmy Haslam’s choice as club president. The teams play each other for real 15 days from now in the regular-season opener. For the first time in 365 days, the Browns will wear their brown jerseys.

Series history: The Eagles have won three of four in preseason meetings since 1999 and three of three in regular season in that time. Prior to expansion, the Browns dominated the Eagles and lead in overall regular-season games, 31-15-1. The Eagles lead in preseason, 6-4.

Eagles update: Having played the Patriots on Monday night, the Eagles are using this game as a primer on how to prepare in a short week. They have a short turnaround in Weeks 14 and 15. Coach Andy Reid will not play quarterback Michael Vick, who suffered bruised ribs on a hit on Monday night. Rookie training camp phenom Nick Foles (118.4 passer rating), a third-round pick from Arizona, will start at quarterback. Reid intends to lift his starters on offense and defense after the first quarter. That means playmakers LeSean McCoy, DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin will give way early to the likes of Bryce Brown, Riley Cooper and Marvin McNutt. Defensively, the Eagles’ “wide nine” defensive front will tax Mitchell Schwartz and measure how much the rookie right tackle has improved from Game 1 against Detroit, which posed a similar challenge.

Browns update: Shurmur intends to play his regulars a full half, but he said he will call the game conservatively and conceal his true intentions for the season opener. Shurmur wants to exercise quarterback Brandon Weeden’s arm to hone timing and familiarity with receivers, particularly Mohamed Massaquoi, Travis Benjamin and Jordan Cameron, who did not play last week in Green Bay, and Josh Gordon, who may have turned the corner in his fast-track development this week in practice. Players making their first preseason game appearances on defense include tackle Ahtyba Rubin and end Frostee Rucker. The Browns also want to continue to fine-tune tackles John Hughes, Billy Winn and Ronnie Cameron; linebacker James-Michael Johnson; cornerbacks Trevin Wade and Buster Skrine; and safeties Eric Hagg and David Sims.

Our take: Shurmur was an offensive assistant under Reid for 10 years in Philadelphia, and Childress for seven. They know how Reid approaches preseason games. You get the feeling these coaches will be playing a version of keep away, with neither showing anything other than basic plays each team has in its offense. Shurmur sees some value in exposing his team to the Eagles’ speed on offense and defense in preparation of the season opener. The game is an important opportunity for the following players on the roster bubble: tight end Evan Moore, wide receivers Carlton Mitchell and Josh Cooper, fullback Brad Smelley, defensive end Marcus Benard, and safety Sims.

Nobody in their right mind would have ever thought about a player being cut bu the Browns, ending-up elsewhere in the NFL.  Just think . . .   we are beginning to emerge as a team having "excess".  WOW, I haven't thought about that since 1985..!!

I like that thought.

Can't wait till tonight. . . . . . . .. WOOF  -  WOOF !!

Gotta love it DG, sure signs that good things are coming the Browns way. 

Woof!! Woof!!!

 

TGIF LOUNGE HOUNDZ!!!
Goggles On
It’s GAME DAY

Keeper Floored TD so far so good.

Pass the Kool aid

Sure thing Jake
(_)>============

Heck, why not, It's game day.  ONE for everyone

This round is on me.

(  )
(_)>=========

Make Irish’s a tall double

Bark Loud and Proud it's GAMEDAY
We're still tied for first place.

Here we go Brownies Here we Go!!

WOOF! WOOF!