Compensatory picks are fools gold.

Pyrite

NOTE: Tonight on NNR we talk linebackers in the 2015 NFL Draft with College Football Insider Kelron Sykes. The show will be up after 8 PM.

The Browns have avoided signing true free agents despite having as much money available as any team. They have passed on some guys that could have really helped the team. They seem to be focused on getting compensatory picks but those are fools gold aka Pyrite.

The problem with compensatory picks it that the highest pick will be after the 3rd round and the Browns did not lose a player that will garner that high a pick. The Browns will have 4 extra picks most of which will be after round 6 or 7. While there is some value in those rounds, I doubt that a team that blew two first round picks can find potential starters or key backups that late in the 2016 draft.

When the team is desperate for help at some critical positions, they have to try to sign the best guys they can find and not be limited to just those guys that were released.

I am pleased with the signing of WR Dwayne Bowe and TE Rod Read more at FryingPanSports

2015 NFL Draft – QB

NFL Draft (2)

Note: On NNR today Samantha Bunten of NBC Sports & I previewed the NFC East.  The podcast is on https://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/.

Bill Smith

1. Brett Hundley QB UCLA rJr 6-3 227

Hundley could have been the 1st pick in the 2014 draft but decided to stay in school. He suffered this year from a lack of quality receivers and a bad line.

Strengths:

He has played in a pro style system in terms of pass patterns although has not worked much under center. He has an NFL arm and anticipates throws fairly well. He reads college defenses well but will need work to adjust to NFL coverages. He is athletic and can run when necessary. He will be a value and be taken in the middle of the 2nd round.

Weaknesses:

Like almost all QB’s coming out of college, he needs to improve his drop back footwork. He also has not seen many complex defenses in the Pac-12.

2. Marcus Mariota QB Oregon rJr 6-4 215

Mariota will likely be the 2nd QB off the board. There is a concern if he can adapt to the NFL pocket style passer.

Strengths:

He is a winner. He led his team to … Read more at FryingPanSports

If the Broncos hire Gary Kubiak Peyton will not be back.

P Manning

Note: On NNR now Samantha Bunten of NBC Sports & I previewed the AFC and NFC Championship games including my picks against the spread. Then College Insider Kelron Sykes and I discussed the NCAA Championship game and some of the NFL news. The podcasts are on https://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/.

Former Texans HC Gary Kubiak is with the Ravens and had said he was not willing to interview for a HC job. But things changed when he got a call from the Broncos. Now he reportedly will take an interview.

The problem is that the one team that Peyton Manning wanted to go to when he left Indy was the Texans with Kubiak as HC. Frankly they said “thanks but no thanks.”

Peyton does not fit at all in the roll out passing game of Kubiak. That and the fact that Kubiak rebuffed Peyton’s request to come tell me that if Kubiak is the choice, Peyton will move on.

The only chance that Denver has to keep Peyton is to promote the OC Adam Gase to the HC spot. Peyton and Gase have a very good relationship. If the Broncos select Kubiak, then that tells me that they do not want Peyton Read more at FryingPanSports

Are the Browns looking to draft Cardale Jones next year?

C Jones

Note: On NNR today Samantha Bunten of NBC Sports & I previewed the AFC and NFC Championship games including my picks against the spread. Also today College Insider Kelron Sykes and I discussed the NCAA Championship game and some of the NFL news. The podcasts are both on https://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/.

As I said a couple of weeks ago the Browns are between a Rock (Brian Hoyer leaving) and a hard space (Johnny Manziel) at QB. Manziel’s start against the Bengals made the first trip of the Titanic look like a nice cruise. While it gave the front office huge doubts about the QB, it was also an indictment of both the previous OC and QB coach.

It is not good news for Johnny when the season wrapup on sportsxchange.com listed undrafted rookie free agent Connor Shaw as the starter over the 1st round pick. Frankly, Shaw looked like he was much more NFL ready in his start against a better defense than Manziel did.

As I said many times, if the player is not willing to put in the work necessary to be successful, it doesn’t matter how good the QB coach is. I have no faith in Read more at FryingPanSports

The Browns will struggle to fill the OC position.

Manziel Money

Note: On NNR today College Insider Kelron Sykes and I previewed the NCAA Championship game. We also talked about Kyle Shanahan leaving the Browns. The podcast is on https://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/.

The Browns struggles to fill the OC & QB coach positions have nothing to do with perceived “dysfunction” of the franchise. But make no mistake, the Browns will have to beg an experienced OC to come to Cleveland.

I am glad to see Kyle Shanahan and his joined at the hip QB coach Dowell Loggains out of the picture. My problem with Shanahan was the total lack of in game adjustments and the lack of creativity. Rather than developing a game plan focused on his experience at Texas A&M for Johnny Manziel’s first start, Shanahan just plugged in the RG3 game plan. Manziel never had any experience with the read option. So why would Shanahan try to use a plan that did not relevant to Manziel’s experience?

I had a much bigger issue with Loggains’ performance. My question is how can a qualified QB coach watch as starter Brian Hoyer’s mechanics deteriorated and not do everything possible to correct them? In addition, Loggains had no impact on developing and Read more at FryingPanSports

Thank you LeBron

LeBron (2)

Note: On NNR today Kelron Sykes, College Fooball Insider & I discussed the NFL and college football. The podcast is on https://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/.

I am a suffering Cleveland sports fan and a former owner of the Cavs. I bought stock in the Cavs when they were pubically owned. I was there in the old old downtown arena when the Cavs beat the Lakers for the first time.

LeBron, you have given this old Cavs fan the best gift possible—A chance to win. Whatever happens this year, the fans owe you a great deal of thanks. You and the other Cavs will give us a chance to cheer for a winning team. I loved the way you played the first time you were here. You and the Cavs came close to winning it all. Now you have the kind of supporting roster that would never have come to Cleveland without you being here first.

Like all Cavs fans I hope for the team is that they win the title. But whatever happens we support you and the team. Thanks again for bring an old man hope.

That is what I think. Tell us what you think by commenting here or tweeting me Read more at FryingPanSports