NFL Odds: Cleveland Browns

It's time to introduce the introductory blog of the Cleveland Browns 2012 football squad. Whether the Browns produce a winning or losing season, "The Dawg Pound" is standing strong in the corner of the endzone supporting the historic Browns of Cleveland.

 

 

NFL odds makers seem to believe that the Eagles will have a comeback season as they're listed at +1200 to win the Super Bowl. They're more of a favorite than the defending champion New York Giants and I don't concur with those odds. Prove it on the field. 

Michael Vick will need more protection as he took a beating last season from opposing defenses and the referees.

The Brownies will be starting soon-to-be 29 year old rookie Brandon Weeden and the time for winning is now. I don't know if I believe in Trent Richardson and Weeden turning it around within the 1st week of the season, but I think that they'll make a season opening statement at home and getting 9 points. Take Cleveland in this spot.

Pick: Cleveland Browns +9

 

Out with the old?

Well maybe this isn’t the case with rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden, but quarterback Colt McCoy sure isn't getting the welcome mat as he's been replaced by rookie running back Trent Richardson at a football camp being held in Strongsville, Ohio on July 14th-15. Richardson will be on site to direct camp activities, provide instruction, and autographs, while McCoy should be taking a hint.

Taylor not giving up on 2012 season

Browns defensive tackle Phil Taylor underwent surgery last month to repair a torn chest muscle that he suffered while lifting weights. He was warned by the Browns organization to not rush back to the field, but Taylor is hoping to be back in uniform sometime this season. Taylor was recently on the Browns practice field to meet up with his old friend Robert Griffin III who was there to participate in an NFL sponsored event that supports kids.

Taylor is a mountain of a man at 6 foot 3, 335 pounds and had a good rookie campaign where he earned 59 tackles, 4 sacks, and 1 forced fumble. It will be interesting to see if he can recover in time to face his old college teammate RG3 when the Browns play the Redskins on December 16th. Good luck to this promising player in his recovery.

That's it from Cleveland Browns camp. Stay tuned as I'm sure that they'll be more news as the season draws nearer.

 

Win Now?

You wouldn't expect a "win now" mentality from the Cleveland Browns given where they were at last year, in the AFC Central basement at 4-12. 

I want to briefly revisit the NFL Draft and the direction that the Browns took with their two first round picks as this is the 1st Browns blog. The Browns went with running back Trent Richardson from the defending champions Alabama Crimson Tide with the 3rd pick that they got from Minnesota and with the 22nd pick of the 1st round, the Browns drafted 28 year old quarterback Brandon Weeden out of Oklahoma State.

The pick of Richardson made complete sense. Peyton Hillis was a former 1000 yard runner but he was injury prone and a young bruiser like Richardson showed major upside. The pick of Brandon Weeden is a major dilemma. Although he was a superstar quarterback in college, Weeden will be 29 years old in October. What does this mean? There's little room for growing pains and Weeden needs to play like a 29 year old quarterback should. If you remember Chris Weinke from Florida State, the experiment didn't work out too well.

One thing that I will say for Weeden is that his time in the NFL has already worked out better than his go to receiver Justin Blackmon in college. Blackmon has already gotten in trouble with the law and the draft isn't even 2 months old.

Brandon Weeden did everything right in college. He has the size and also beat number 1 pick Andrew Luck and Stanford in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl throwing for 399 yards and 3 TD en route to a 41-38 win.

Word has it that Weeden will be named the Browns starter.

Not for Sale!!!

Word leaked out that former Philadelphia Eagles president Joe Banner is forming a group to buy the Buffalo Bills. The Philadelphia radio reporter claimed that the Browns and the Rams might also be up for sale. Browns spokesperson Neal Gulkis stated that this is untrue and the Lerner family have no interest in selling.

Fujita 3 game suspension

Not even a member of the New Orleans Saints anymore, Cleveland linebacker Scott Fujita has been suspended for 3 games by the NFL for being in the New Orleans Saints lockeroom when former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams gave out the orders to target some 49'ers players in the playoffs last season.

Fujita is appealing the ruling due to the fact that he was escorting a former Saints teammate, Steve Gleason, who currently has ALS. Fujita didn't initially admit hearing the ordered bounty.

This is a fairly harsh ruling for a guy that's helping out a former teammate. Just a writers opinion but the NFL are off base on this as Fujita was put in a difficult position. Hopefully the initial ruling is overruled.

We'll check back at Cleveland Browns camp next week for a fresh installment of the Cleveland Browns weekly NFL blog.