Lost amidst the calf density readings and 40-yard dash false starts of the past days is a story of some consequence….although it may feel like an afterthought.  The release of Hank Fraley may not register more than a quick blip on the collective radar of Browns Nation, but it’s worth re-telling the story of how the veteran center nearly saved the team from suffering an even more complete catastrophe in 2006. 

Fraley ‘Shocked’ to Learn of Release

After losing newly acquired LeCharles Bentley in a freak practice accident that can pretty much only happen in Berea, the Browns turned to local favorite Bob Hallen, who then realized that playing professional football wasn’t really his thing.  Or, in other words, the Browns – already featuring one of the weakest offensive lines in the league, remember, this was pre-Joe Thomas and Eric Steinbach – were essentially stuck.

Enter Fraley to the rescue.

While the Browns still suffered through a miserable 2006 campaign, Fraley helped to solidify the team’s line – or keep it from falling into complete oblivion – depending on your perspective.

A year later, Fraley was the unsung part of the Browns’ offensive revival, as he continued his solid play at center, finally flanked by some competent talent around him in Thomas and Steinbach.  Even last year, Fraley helped usher in the Alex Mack era during training camp, and later filled in at right guard and tight end, of all places.

While never dominating, Fraley was usually the type of blocker accountable enough to assume a variety of roles.  Clearly, a Fraley-Casey Hampton matchup was never going to be in the Browns’ favor, but having a consistent player to plug in at right guard or elsewhere in case of injury was a nice luxury to have. 

Or, a comforting sort of safety net.

Or, at least that rare type of player – the one who looks like an ordinary guy – that gives us all the still-false illusion that it could be us out there on a Sunday. 

I guess we’ll always have Rex Hadnot…right?

Hadnot to Test Free Agency

“We had some preliminary talks, but it looks like he’s going to be testing the market to see if he can get better value from another team,” said Rickert, who represents Hadnot as well as Cribbs. “He’s enjoyed his two years in Cleveland but he would like to see if he can get the opportunity to start full time somewhere.” 

If the Browns are willing to let Hadnot go it must mean they have another guard or tackle lined up in free agency.

They could play Floyd Womack at right guard, but it believed they would like an upgrade over John St. Clair at right tackle.

Then again…

It’s apparent that Mike Holmgren and Tom Heckert’s ideas regarding how to rebuild/revamp a team are a little different than Eric Mangini’s.

Last year at this time, Mangini was going bargain-hunting in an attempt to bolster the team’s porous offensive line depth.  Dollar store variety linemen, such as John St. Clair and Floyd Womack were brought in to plug up the damage created by years of draft day neglect.  And while neither player delivered the impact that Fraley did a few years back, at least they….stayed healthy? 

Didn’t forget their helmets?

Manage not to kill any innocent pedestrians?

Now, it appears that Holmgren and Heckert have some different plans.  If Fraley and Hadnot are the first to go, then who’s next?  More importantly, who replaces these bodies along the line?

If history is any indicator, then the Browns will continue to ignore the offensive line on draft day.  However, if Tom Heckert’s history is significant in any measure, then it’s likely that the Browns have a plan to bolster the line through the draft.  If you point to Andy Reid’s Eagles teams of the past – which Heckert grew up in – then it’s obvious that strengthening the core of the franchise was an annual priority.

As it stands now, we don’t seem to have any other options.  Speaking of which…

Cribbs to Hold Press Conference

A Browns spokesman said they were not aware of the press conference.

A league source told The Plain Dealer on Tuesday that Cribbs and the Browns were very close to completing the new deal, with only the guaranteed money still to be determined. Cribbs had been seeking $10 million over the next three seasons and the Browns have been offering $5 million guaranteed.

Cribbs’ new deal would be a restructuring of his remaining three years, which are worth just over $1 million a year.

Cribbs’ agent, J.R. Rickert, wouldn’t say Wednesday if a deal had been completed.

Is this kind of like planning the victory parade before the game is finished?  For the sake of Cribbs, let’s hope not.  Or, in the case of J.R. Rickert, let’s hope that this “press conference” isn’t part of a negotiating ploy.

Otherwise, it would be most depressing to hear Cribbs take questions about torque and off-road features. 

Depending on whom you read, a new Cribbs deal is already finished or solidly stuck in the negotiation phase.  It appears that local print media reporters have been trumping this for seemingly weeks now.  However, other reputable sources, including TheOBR.com, are not painting such a concrete prospect. 

After all, haggling over guaranteed money is anything but easy, especially considering that estimates of Cribbs’ base pay are not going to be much different in a new contract, compared to his current one.  In Cribbs’ unique case – being such a specialized type of player, yet one who cannot easily be placed into one specific category – his future earnings are going to be dictated by any “bonus” money.

Which means that a conclusion to these negotiations could be far from realized.

So, how about that new Chevy Volt?

Speaking of efficiency…really?

Lombardi on Gradkowski

Many teams are looking for potential starters at quarterbacks, and for a second-round pick, Bruce Gradkowski of the Raiders might be tempting for some teams to pursue. The question that must be asked is very simple: Is Gradkowski as good as any of the quarterback prospects in the draft?

Let’s go back in our Browns Time Machine some 15 months ago when Bruce Gradkowski closed out one of the most miserable seasons in team history.  Gradkowski, he of the 26 yard passing performance and 2.7 QB Rating, pretty much represented the lowest point in the offensive existence of the Browns. 

Of course, then the first three months of 2009 happened.  It was like Gradkowski never left.

And now, after a string of successful starts with the Raiders, Gradkowski is suddenly worth a second-round pick?

Jesus.  Does this mean Michael Vick is now worthy of a Herschel Walker type of trade?

Is this how bad things have gotten lately?

As for Lombardi’s question, at first, it seems laughable….at least until you examine his “competition.”  Is there any projected second-round QB that is better than Gradkowski at this point in the game?  Given a choice between Gradkowski and Colt McCoy, who would you invest in? 

What about the alleged first-rounders?  Or, how much separation is there between Sam Bradford and Gradkowski? 

This is where the media hype machine comes in. 

Much like a Championship game or series is determined to be more relevant if a big-market city is involved, an NFL Draft certainly benefits from having the prestige of an overall Number One QB.  Such is the narrative currently being constructed around the league, as a post-combine, newly-bulked up Sam Bradford now appears to be firmly entrenched as the league’s next franchise savior – as opposed to a brittle and skinny kid who rarely took a snap from under center.

Certainly, I’m not suggesting that Gradkowski is worthy of a second-round pick.  And if he is, then I wonder what we could have received for the big brain of Ken Dorsey.  Gradkowski is not physically impressive, and doesn’t have the arm strength requisite of the league’s elite quarterbacks.

Also, for the record – I would not want the Browns to spend a Number Two on a player they plucked off the scrap heap two years ago. 

But then again, I should research his Combine numbers.

In the end, here’s a better question…which is the bigger investment – or perhaps, bigger gamble? 

A second-rounder lands you a QB with a tiny sample of real experience, while a first sets you back about 30 million dollars – and even further if you miss on what is nothing more than a projection. 

This is why it can’t hurt to stick with corners and linebackers.