Browns GM Tom Heckert: 'We want to win now'

[BernietheKid]

Browns GM Tom Heckert: 'We want to win now'

Published: Sunday, July 24, 2011

By Jeff Schudel
JSchudel@News-Herald.com



Maribeth Joeright/MJoeright@News-Herald.com
Browns General Manager Tom Heckert.


Exactly when the NFL players and owners will approve the same version of a collective bargaining agreement is uncertain, but what is certain is the Browns team that emerges from the preseason will be much younger than the one that creaked like an old rocking chair at the end of 2010.

Soon after the Browns finished 5-11 for the second straight season, Mike Holmgren fired Eric Mangini as head coach, and then General Manager Tom Heckert lopped linebackers David Bowens and Eric Barton, offensive lineman John St. Clair, defensive lineman Shaun Rogers, defensive end Kenyon Coleman and tight end Robert Royal. Each player in the group with the exception of Royal had been in the league a minimum of nine years.

"It's my job to make sure we get enough players to win," Heckert said in an interview last week. "We're going to be younger than some teams, but that's OK. I guarantee we're not going to use that as an excuse.

"If we have young guys and put them in there, they have to beat out whoever played there last year or whoever we sign as veteran free agents. We can't just say we're young and rebuilding. We want to win now."

Second-year quarterback Colt McCoy is replacing 13-year veteran Jake Delhomme. Second-year offensive lineman Shaun Lauvao is a likely starter at right guard or right tackle, replacing either St. Clair, 34, or, 32. Womack is one of 17 Browns from 201 who are free agents.

The biggest part of the youth movement will be on the defensive line. Coleman, 32, and Rogers, also 32, are already gone. Robaire Smith, 33, is hoping the Browns give him a chance to play tackle in the 4-3 defense the Browns plan to play. That position is stacked with young players – Ahtyba Rubin (he turns 25 on Tuesday), Brian Schaefering (27) and rookie Phil Taylor.

Last year, the ends were Coleman and Smith. In 2011, they are likely to be rookie Jabaal Sheard and Jayme Mitchell, 27, if the Browns re-sign Mitchell.

"I think we've done that through the draft and we are younger, but we're not going to be satisfied with five or six wins," Heckert said. "That isn't the case at all."

The Browns haven't had a winning season since 2007, when they finished 10-6. They haven't been to the playoffs since 2002 when they finished 9-7.

Browns GM Tom Heckert: 'We want to win now' - news-herald.com

[Brown Warrior]

"...or whoever we sign as veteran free agents."

Wait, I thought Heckert was gonna make up 50 mill without signing any of those "free agent" thangies?

[Sez.EJ]

If he does not say that (win now)..he's fired...party line of every GM in the league.

[mikeyP]

They're gonna pick up 1 or 2 big name guys (hopefully DE and LB) and some quality depth in F/A.

Heckert knows what he's doing, I trust him to make the right decisions.

[YtownBacker]

Originally Posted by mikeyP

They're gonna pick up 1 or 2 big name guys (hopefully DE and LB) and some quality depth in F/A.

Heckert knows what he's doing, I trust him to make the right decisions.

I agree, I see about 8 to 10 guys mostly depth type guys but hopefully a starting FS, DE and LB. I also think they will resign more guys then most think because of this years situation. When you look at our list and you think about bringing in depth guys there isn't much difference. I think we resign at least 10 of our own FAs to go along with about 10 league FAs.

[mikeyP]

I agree ^^


Here's my take on Browns F/A's..


Matt Roth, DE/OLB, Browns. Age: 28. - Does not want to sign.

D'Qwell Jackson, ILB, Browns. Age: 27. - Re-signed with Browns.

Eric Wright, CB, Browns. Age: 26. - I'd like to resign him, but he has the "Essence" of Braylon Edwards and will likely bail for a bigger market. Do not sign.

Kenyon Coleman, DE/DT, Browns. Age: 32. - Hit the road jack.

Lawrence Vickers, FB, Browns. Age: 28. - Do not sign. Hillis and Marecic can play both FB/RB. Much of our formations are going to be split back. Not much room for a purely 1 dimensional blocking back in the new system. He was a great proponent of our running game the past few seasons and will be missed.

Marcus Benard (ERFA), DE/OLB, Browns. Age: 26. - EMPHATIC RESIGN!

Eric Barton, ILB, Browns. Age: 33. - Later alligator.

Abram Elam, SS, Browns. Age: 26. - Elam wasn't too great in pass defense or run support but did make some good plays last season. I'd like to see him back, whether in a support role with Mike Adams or as the starting FS if we don't make a big move in F/A.

Evan Moore (ERFA), TE, Browns. Age: 29. - Already tendered by Browns. Does that Tender hold with the new CBA? I don't know. If not, EMPHATIC RESIGN!

Robaire Smith, DE/DT, Browns. Age: 33. - Leader on defense. Injury case. Sign cheap, there will likely not be a huge demand for his services league wide.

Jayme Mitchell, DE, Browns. Age: 27. - Resign. It might be worth actually letting him play this season to see what he's got, though.

Pork Chop Womack, G, Browns. Age: 32. - Resign for depth and versatility.

Robert Royal, TE, Browns. Age: 32. - Kick rocks Royal, you bum.

Jason Trusnik, ILB, Browns. Age: 27. - Resign for depth. Will be interesting to see how he works in the 4-3.

John St. Clair, OT, Browns. Age: 34. - HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH. LATER !

David Bowens, DE/OLB, Browns. Age: 34. - I'd like to keep him cheap. He's a good leader but where does he fit in, in the 4-3? Do not sign.

Chansi Stuckey, WR, Browns. Age: 27. - With Mangini gone I think its safe to say the Chansi Stuckey experiment is over. Do not sign.

Nick Sorensen, S, Browns. Age: 33. - With the drafting of Hagg and likely F/A pick up to come, there does not seem to be room left on the roster for Nick Sorenson. Do not sign.

Brian Schaefering, DE/DT, Browns. Age: 28. - Sign for depth.

Derreck Robinson, DE/DT, Browns. Age: 29. - Do not sign.

Blake Costanzo (RFA), ILB, Browns. Age: 27. - Resign cheap for depth.

Titus Brown (RFA), DE/OLB, Browns. Age: 25. - Do not sign.

Sabby Piscitelli, S, Browns. Age: 28. - Do not sign.

Mike Bell, RB, Browns. Age: 28. - We need a security blanket in-case Hardesty goes down. If we have a F/A plan, then good because Mike Bell is not an explosive back. Do not sign.

Steve Vallos, G, Browns. Age: 27. - Do not sign.

[Brown Warrior]

On some podcast, Heckert reminded fans not to panic about any position areas because free agency is coming and the team feels good about its efforts there.

Sounds like somebody told him, "Dude... we have to spend like $50 mill."

[YtownBacker]

Originally Posted by mikeyP

I agree ^^


Here's my take on Browns F/A's..


Matt Roth, DE/OLB, Browns. Age: 28. - Does not want to sign.

D'Qwell Jackson, ILB, Browns. Age: 27. - Re-signed with Browns.

Eric Wright, CB, Browns. Age: 26. - I'd like to resign him, but he has the "Essence" of Braylon Edwards and will likely bail for a bigger market. Do not sign.

Kenyon Coleman, DE/DT, Browns. Age: 32. - Hit the road jack.

Lawrence Vickers, FB, Browns. Age: 28. - Do not sign. Hillis and Marecic can play both FB/RB. Much of our formations are going to be split back. Not much room for a purely 1 dimensional blocking back in the new system. He was a great proponent of our running game the past few seasons and will be missed.

Marcus Benard (ERFA), DE/OLB, Browns. Age: 26. - EMPHATIC RESIGN!

Eric Barton, ILB, Browns. Age: 33. - Later alligator.

Abram Elam, SS, Browns. Age: 26. - Elam wasn't too great in pass defense or run support but did make some good plays last season. I'd like to see him back, whether in a support role with Mike Adams or as the starting FS if we don't make a big move in F/A.

Evan Moore (ERFA), TE, Browns. Age: 29. - Already tendered by Browns. Does that Tender hold with the new CBA? I don't know. If not, EMPHATIC RESIGN!

Robaire Smith, DE/DT, Browns. Age: 33. - Leader on defense. Injury case. Sign cheap, there will likely not be a huge demand for his services league wide.

Jayme Mitchell, DE, Browns. Age: 27. - Resign. It might be worth actually letting him play this season to see what he's got, though.

Pork Chop Womack, G, Browns. Age: 32. - Resign for depth and versatility.

Robert Royal, TE, Browns. Age: 32. - Kick rocks Royal, you bum.

Jason Trusnik, ILB, Browns. Age: 27. - Resign for depth. Will be interesting to see how he works in the 4-3.

John St. Clair, OT, Browns. Age: 34. - HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH. LATER !

David Bowens, DE/OLB, Browns. Age: 34. - I'd like to keep him cheap. He's a good leader but where does he fit in, in the 4-3? Do not sign.

Chansi Stuckey, WR, Browns. Age: 27. - With Mangini gone I think its safe to say the Chansi Stuckey experiment is over. Do not sign.

Nick Sorensen, S, Browns. Age: 33. - With the drafting of Hagg and likely F/A pick up to come, there does not seem to be room left on the roster for Nick Sorenson. Do not sign.

Brian Schaefering, DE/DT, Browns. Age: 28. - Sign for depth.

Derreck Robinson, DE/DT, Browns. Age: 29. - Do not sign.

Blake Costanzo (RFA), ILB, Browns. Age: 27. - Resign cheap for depth.

Titus Brown (RFA), DE/OLB, Browns. Age: 25. - Do not sign.

Sabby Piscitelli, S, Browns. Age: 28. - Do not sign.

Mike Bell, RB, Browns. Age: 28. - We need a security blanket in-case Hardesty goes down. If we have a F/A plan, then good because Mike Bell is not an explosive back. Do not sign.

Steve Vallos, G, Browns. Age: 27. - Do not sign.

The Browns put a 2rd round tender on Trusnik, Eric Wright, Evan Moore and Abe Elam. The tenders most likely won't be any good with the new CBA, but............... I'd suppose they would be interested in retaining them. Elam most likely would be insurance as a backup to Ward and I'd give him backup money only.

I'd also look at signing Phil Dawson (of course) Jayme Mitchell. Derrick Robinson, Alex Smith, Floyd Womack, Billy Yates, Robaire Smith, Steve Vallos and Blake Constanzo. All have some value and might be as good as you can get if you are looking for depth in FA.

There are 3 or 4 no brainers there. The others would be based on what's out there that they can sign.

Vallos, Yates and Womack are insurance for a very thin OL especially at tackle. It's worth resigning Womack because of Pashos's health and Vallos can play G and T. Not really bad for a minimum salary signee. He actually has some upside. It's hard to find backups that know they are backups but will come out and play hard every practice and be good scout team players. That's Vallos.

[Brown Warrior]

Yeah, if the worst case is Lauvao, Yates, Pashos, and Womack on the right side... that ain't all that bad. Best to have your best two OL at LT and C... and they're Pro Bowlers. Adkins from OBR jokes that Browns fans are so OL-centric they won't be happy until there are first round picks at all five spots... but that ain't true of the Pats, Packers, Steelers, the good Denver teams, etc.

The Browns are either missing on the 4s and 5s other teams hit... or just not playing them. Not sure. Or maybe we're blaming them for bad QBs, etc.

[Brown Warrior]

BTW, Nick Barnett is on the block. He was just a spectacular linebacker for about 6 years, like 120 tackles a year... but hurt last year. Hardly old, just turned 30... might be an interesting add.

[nickers]

I would still like to resign Vickers if we could...as promising as Owen Marecic sounds ,he hasnt proved he can make the jump to the NFL game yet.

[Bronx Cheer]

Count me out on Vickers, nickers.

Dude couldn't catch a cold jumping bare butt into Lake Eerie in December. Soooo NOT a fit for the West Coast O.

Great character, great blocker, horrible fit. Watch him sign with Miami.