28. Cleveland Browns
Coach: Eric Mangini (first year)
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Last year: 4-12 (last in AFC North - head coach Romeo Crennel fired and GM Phil Savage replaced by Mangini and George Kokinis, respectively.)
NFL rankings: Offense - 31st in yards and tied for 30th in scoring; Defense - 26th in yards and tied for 16th in scoring.
Additions: LB Eric Barton, S Abram Elam, TE Robert Royal, DE David Bowens, RG Floyd Womack, DE Kenyon Coleman and draft picks C Alex Mack and WR Brian Robiske plus defensive coordinator Rob Ryan and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll.
Substractions: TE Kellen Winslow, LB Andra Davis, OT Kevin Shaffer, LB Willie McGinest, WR Joe Jurevicius.
Overview: Kokinis and Mangini have added as many as nine new starters, but the big issue in training camp will be who starts at quarterback - Derek Anderson or Brady Quinn. Both players’ seasons ended early because of injury in 2008 and Quinn has only three career starts. WR Braylon Edwards needs to have a huge year because the other starter (Brian Robiskie) is a rookie and Donte Stallworth is under suspension. Defensively, the Browns will continue to run a 3-4 and Mangini acquired five of his former Jets players. Expect Cleveland to be more aggressive with its blitz packages.
Fantasy pick: WR Braylon Edwards. He caught only 55 passes last year but the Kellen Winslow (43 catches) has been traded and Donte Stallworth is suspended.
Projected starters
Offense: QB Brady Quinn, FB Lawrence Vickers, RB Jamal Lewis, WR Braylon Edwards, WR Brian Robiskie, TE Robert Royal, LT Joe Thomas, LG Eric Steinbach, C Alex Mack, RG Floyd Womack, RT Ryan Tucker.
Defense: LE Kenyon Coleman, NT Shaun Rogers, RE Robaire Smith, OLB David Bowens, ILB D’Qwell Jackson, ILB Eric Barton, OLB Kamerion Wimbley, CB Brandon McDonald, SS Abram Elam, FS Brodney Pool, CB Eric Wright.
Specialists: K Phil Dawson, P Dave Zastudil, KR/PR Joshua Cribbs.
Projected record: 5-11 (last in AFC North). Playing two games apiece against Pittsburgh and Baltimore doesn’t help the Browns cause and neither does having Minnesota, San Diego and Chicago on the schedule. Mangini will undoubtedly bring a tougher attitude to the Browns but this year will be about meshing all of the new pieces and figuring out who the quarterback will be.
Ryan O’Halloran
