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Inside Slant

In a contrast from the recent past, when the Browns would grab headlines signing high-priced free agents in the first and second day and consequently overpay at times, coach Eric Mangini says the Browns will not be making a big, early splash this year.

In fact, the big splash was unloading a player, with tight end Kellen Winslow, Jr. traded to Tampa Bay.

The Browns were $14.5 million under the $123 million salary cap. That includes allocating a guaranteed bonus of $5 million to Derek Anderson next month, a $6 million bonus to Shaun Rogers and a $4.875 million bonus to Donte Stallworth. The Browns have more cap room than some teams, but not as much as they have had in the past.

“I’m not going to rule it out, but I don’t foresee us being as active in the short term,” Mangini said. “I’ve done it both ways. I’ve done it where we’ve had some guys sign in the first weekend and I’ve done it where we’ve waited a while, let the market settle and then gotten more involved. The key is just finding the right guys.”

A dozen Browns became free agents Friday, including safety Sean Jones. Mangini’s plan is to let them all go free and see what the demand is for them before the Browns try to re-sign them.

Mangini said the Browns will have to sign a safety in free agency or draft one if they do not re-sign Jones. Among the safeties who became free agents are Jermaine Phillips of Tampa Bay and James Sanders of New England.

Sanders isn’t as big as Jones—5-10, 207 pounds compared to 6-1, 220—but Mangini knows him well from coaching against him the last three years.. Sanders is 25.

Another free agent who could be on the Browns radar include running back Derrick Ward from the Giants.

Mangini said how active the Browns are in free agency will depend on how deep they conclude the draft is in areas of need. For example, the draft is deeper in outside linebackers than quality offensive tackles. The Browns need help at both spots.

“Money is kind of comparable to draft picks,” Mangini said. “If you spend big in free agency it could be like a high (first-round pick), like a low (first-round pick), like a mid-round. Try to use those resources and figure out, hey, how do we want to distribute that? How can we balance those two ways to build the team?”

Also factoring in is the Browns do not have a third, fifth or seventh-round draft choice because of trades made last year.

Notes, Quotes

TE Kellen Winslow has been traded to the Bucs for undisclosed draft picks.

“Cleveland was great to me,” he said. “I had a great time playing with Braylon Edwards, Brady Quinn. I’m going to miss those guys. But it’s also a new opportunity. I’ve played with some of the guys on this team - Jeff Faine, Antonio Bryant, Luke McCown. I’m as happy as can be. I’m healthy.” In five years in Cleveland, Winslow caught 219 passes for 2,459 yards and 11 touchdowns.

• Patriots coach Bill Belichick reminisced recently about past associates he worked with while coaching the Browns from 1991-95. One of them was George Kokinis, who was named Browns general manager last month. But back in 1991, Kokinis was an intern in the operations department.

“I came this close to firing him,” said Belichick, smiling and holding the thumb and index finger on his right hand about an inch apart. “One of his jobs was driving guys to the airport. He got in an accident. I wasn’t too happy about that. But George has done a tremendous job and I’m really happy for him.”

Kokinis was the Pro Personnel Director of the Ravens for six years before the Browns hired him.

• The Browns announced hiring Matt Eberflus as linebackers coach Sunday. Eberflus has coached at the University of Missouri the last eight years, most recently as defensive coordinator. He has been a college coach since 1992. The Browns are still looking for a receivers coach.

• The Browns strength of schedule in 2009 ranks 25th based on opponents records in 2008. The Browns’ 2009 opponents were 114-139 last season. The Ravens rank 27th and the Steelers 28th. That hardly seems fair since they competed in the AFC championship and the Browns were 4-12, but the reason their schedules are easier on paper is they play the Browns twice.

• Coach Eric Mangini is toying with the idea of testing Josh Cribbs as a safety or cornerback, but he plans to keep Cribbs primarily as a return specialist and a wide receiver.

Quote To Note: “I think the college process is something I’m very familiar with, it’s not foreign to me. I’ve been part of 17 draft rooms, draft strategy, I’ve been in all the meetings, and I know how they work.”—Browns general manager George Kokinis on being prepared for the draft.

Strategy And Personnel

TEAM NEEDS/OFFSEASON STRATEGY

Two veteran players who missed 2008 with injuries might have to agree to contract reductions to keep their jobs with the Browns in 2009.

Mangini was asked whether Joe Jurevicius and Ryan Tucker will be back. Jurevicius, 34, missed all of 2008 battling staph infection in his right knee. He is healthy now. Tucker, 33, missed four games recovering from hip surgery, played against the Giants and then missed 11 games recovering from knee surgery.

“I talked to both those guys.” Mangini said. “I like their toughness. I always admired, not just the way Joe caught the ball, but the way he blocked, his consistent competitiveness. The same thing with Tuck. It’s consistent throughout the course of the game.”

But will they be back? That might depend on whether each is open to a contract adjustment. Tucker is due to make $3.25 million and Jurevicius $2.4 million in 2009.

“We’re talking to them and we’ll talk to their agents,” Mangini said. “We’ll see how things go. We’re evaluating all the different contracts and evaluating all the situations. That’s part of it.”

TEAM NEEDS

1. Outside linebacker: Finding a game-changing outside linebacker in free agency isn’t likely. Picking fifth, though, the Browns could have their choice of outside linebackers. They might also choose to trade down and still get a starting outside linebacker, according to virtually every mock draft. Last year the Browns had 17 sacks. The Bengals also had 17. Only the Chiefs with 10 had fewer. In 2007 the Browns had 28 sacks and that was considered inadequate by former general manager Phil Savage and Coach Romeo Crennel.

2. Cornerback: Even if the Browns do not find an upgrade for starters Eric Wright or Brandon McDonald they have to develop a nickel back. They tried Terry Cousin last season, and that did not work. Cousin was one of seven players released on Feb. 9. Daven Holly could be the nickel back, but he is a free agent and is coming off major knee surgery performed in May of last year. If Kokinis doesn’t re-sign Holly or determines he isn’t the answer he’ll have to find a corner elsewhere.

3. Running back: Jerome Harrison improved from 2007 to 2008, but he is not an every down back. The Browns could probably get another year out of Jamal Lewis if they limit his carries to 200 or 20 and give Harrison the ball 100 times, but Lewis is one of those backs that get stronger as the game progresses. Regardless, the Browns have to start developing a running back for the future.

Medical Watch: Running back Jamal Lewis had a clean-up surgery on his ankle and is rehabbing. Defensive end Corey Williams had arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder.

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think by getting that 2nd 2nd round pick, made it more feasible to take Jenkins at #5. We could still get a LB at 36 and a good OL at 50.

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What Kiwanuka trade?

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http://news-herald.com/articles/2009/03/03/sports/nh560747.txt

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Tuck has excepted a reduced contract from $3.25mil to $850K Go Brownies!!!