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Cleveland Browns: What to Take Away from the 2013 Draft

April 29th, 2013 at 10:24 AM
By Jared Luginbill

'NFL Draft' photo (c) 2011, Zennie Abraham - license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/The Cleveland Browns had a very interesting 2013 draft, one that some Browns fans are lauding and one that has some Browns fans lining up at the 480 Bridge. The reality is fans, especially Browns fans, overreact to the NFL draft.  This isn't to slight the importance of the draft, but just to show that it's impossible to grade a draft until 2-3 years after the conclusion  The safest picks in this draft were the offensive tackles, and our Browns didn't need one. All that being said there are a couple of reasons that Browns fans should be encouraged by after this draft.

First the Browns hopefully got 4 quality starters out of this draft, 2 of which could be very good players. Davon Bess is a quality starter at the slot position. Barkevious Mingo and Josh Gordon have ceilings to be elite players in the NFL.  Mingo does have some bust potential, but so did any other player they would have gotten at 6. Leon McFadden has the ability to be a quality corner in the NFL. Most teams usually come into a draft with 7 picks in total, 1 in each round.  The highest probability of finding immediate starters being in rounds 1 and 2. Rounds 3-4 most teams are hoping to find guys that can be groomed to start or quality backups. Rounds 5-7 teams are filling the bottom of the roster. The Browns in the 2013 draft got 4 guys that likely will be starters by game 1, and got themselves additional 3rd and 4th round picks for next year.

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Looking Deeper into the Cleveland Browns Selection of Barkevious Mingo

April 27th, 2013 at 9:54 AM
By Jared Luginbill

'NFL Draft' photo (c) 2011, Zennie Abraham - license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/When it came time for the Cleveland Browns to make a pick, they very nearly sprinted to the podium with their selection. Looking to Bolster a stunted pass rush the Browns used their first round pick (sixth overall) on Barkevious Mingo a defensive end from LSU. "Kiki" as he is know by those close to him, comes into the NFL with a lot of physical tools, but also a level of uncertainty. We look to dispel some of those misconceptions as we take a closer look at Barkevious Mingo.

No one has ever questioned the physical tools of Barkevious Mingo, but the drop off in production (8 sacks to 4.5 sacks) from Mingo's sophomore to junior seasons has some worried. When evaluating Mingo you have look deeper than production. This is what CBS draft analyst Dane Brugler had to say about Mingo with regards to his college production "Look past the production and look at the skill-set. If Browns use him correctly, he'll be a terror off the edge in the NFL". The way that Mingo was used in LSU by head coach Les Miles and staff borderlines on criminal. Many times he lined up over the offensive tackle in the "five technique" and in a containment role. Totally negating Mingo's burst and speed allowing him to beat tackles to the edge. Instead of putting Barkevious in a position to capitalize on his speed and athleticism in space, he was relegated to standing up double teams on the line of scrimmage. Defensive Coordinator Ray Horton has to be slobbering at the mouth to get his hands on this kid and teach him the ropes of his aggressive pass rushing defense. 

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To Trade or not to Trade the Plight of the Cleveland Browns and the 2013 NFL Draft

April 24th, 2013 at 10:32 PM
By Jared Luginbill

'NFL Draft' photo (c) 2011, Zennie Abraham - license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/We are finally on the eve of the NFL draft. The 2013 NFL Draft is set to get underway tomorrow night at 8pm in New York City at the Radio City Music Hall. There will be no kick lines to be seen, but nervous twenty-somethings, and bear hugs by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will be in abundance. Fans of every team hanging on every syllable to come out of Roger Goodell's mouth, waiting for their cue to cheer or boo mercilessly. 

For months the talk by many Browns fans has been that of trading down. With many holes to fill and no elite players likely to be available at the Cleveland Browns sixth spot, a trade down would seem to be a no brainer. The calling card for Cleveland Browns trade down is one of the three top left tackles in the draft. In "Only In Cleveland" style, however, it now looks like all three left tackles will be gone by the sixth pick. The Cleveland Browns lone hope to trade down may now may come in the small 5'8 package of Tavon Austin. Austin may be creeping into the top 10, and the sixth pick would seem to be a good spot to jump ahead of Buffalo and the New York Jets who both could use a dynamic receiver.

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Mock Draft 2.0 Who Will the Cleveland Browns Select with the 6th Pick?

April 22nd, 2013 at 9:33 PM
By Jared Luginbill

The 2013 NFL Draft commences Thursday night at 8pm. This weekend the smoke screens will clear and the questions will be answered as to what what college players will go where. With all of the uncertainty in the top 5 the 2013 should be sure to provide much excitement.

1 Kansas City- Luke Joeckel OT-  While Joeckel may not be a lock here, a left tackle appears to be the position the'll be addressing. Many have Eric Fisher and Joeckel as neck and neck for the best left tackle of the 2013 NFL draft.

2 Jacksonville- Dion Jordan DE/OLB- Jacksonville had an NFL worst 20 sacks in 2012. They'll look to beef up there pass rush and most believe that Dion Jordan is the best pass rush prospect in this draft.

3 Oakland- Sharrif Floyd DT- Oakland's defensive line took a hit in 2013 free agency. They look to build their defensive line back up starting with the big defensive tackle from Florida. Sharrif Floyd was ranked by Scout.com as the #1 defensive tackle in the country in his high school class now aims to become the top defensive tackle taken in the NFL draft.

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Cleveland Browns Owner Jimmy Haslam’s Family Company Being Investigated for Fraud

April 18th, 2013 at 8:43 PM
By Rebecca Pierce

'Flying J gas station, Nephi, Utah' photo (c) 2012, 5of7 - license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

Documents filed in court Thursday claim that Cleveland Browns' owner Jimmy Haslam's company, Pilot Flying J, committed fraud "for many years" by failing to pay back rebates owed to customers. The claims also stated that Haslam knew about the fraud that was occurring in his family business, the largest chain of truck stops and travel centers in the country. The FBI and IRS searched the company's Knoxville headquarters on Monday after obtaining four warrants, Cleveland.com writer, John Caniglia, writes. 

Haslam, who bought the team for just over $1 billion in October, made a statement on Thursday: 

"I've read the affidavits. I now understand more clearly the questions the federal investigators are exploring. I maintain that the foundation of this company is built on its integrity and that any willful wrongdoing by any employee of this company at any time is intolerable. We will continue to cooperate with the federal investigation and continue our own investigation in these allegations."

A 120-page affidavit filed in U.S. District Court in Knoxville, Tennessee, says Pilot Flying J sales employees withheld fuel price rebates and discounts for five to seven years in an attempt to boost the profitability of the company. 

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