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Braylon Edwards: "It's a business."

By Nate Atkins | July 1, 2009 | Browns Bites

Note: It's been a while. Too long of a while, actually, since I last posted here. I wish I could have but life has been busier in the last two months than I can remember for quite a while. For that, I apologize.What many do not understand about the National Football League is that it IS a business. Organization-wide respect and integrity are nice, but in the end moves are made from a business standpoint. Every owner and organization wants to get better. As Browns fans know too well, some just are more successful in their attempts than others.At least Braylon Edwards realizes this and, at least publicly, is not bitter about the organization's grumbles about him over what has been close to a year now. For someone who has dealt with maturity issues for a long time, it's good to see this out of Edwards."I never said I wanted...

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Season Preview 2009 Minnesota Vikings

By Richie Denis | July 1, 2009 | Vikings War Cry

Anthony Chergosky from DailyNorseman.com gives us a look at the 2009 Minnesota Vikings. When you think of the 2009 Minnesota Vikings, two words probably enter your mind: Brett Favre. But when taking a look at the team, its chances of repeating as NFC North champs, and its opportunity to go further in the playoffs than it did last season, Favre is just the tip of the iceberg. All over the field and on both sides of the ball, the Vikings are a team built for success this season. This team's bread and butter is still its ability to run the...

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NFL Top 10: The Best Offseason Moves Not Made

By Greg Trippiedi | June 30, 2009 | MVN Outsider

We tend to judge coaches by how their actions effect games. We tend to judge front office types by their acquisitions. These are fair game of course, but the best offseason moves are often the ones that weren't made.In today's NFL Top 10 column, we'll take a look back at all aspects of the offseason, and narrow down just ten player personnel moves that were not made, and how the discussed party is much better off.10. The Detroit Lions pass on an offensive lineman in the first round of the NFL DraftThis is coming from a man who thinks that Jason Smith should have been the pick at No. 1, the prior Lions regime might have decided that after taking Matthew Stafford at No. 1, the No. 20 pick should have been the best lineman available. And even with OT Michael Oher available, the Lions decided that TE Brandon Pettigrew...Read more

Read more | 2 Comments | Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, NFL Top 10, Oakland Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Washington Redskins

NFL Great Debates: What to Do with Michael Vick?

By Staff Report | May 26, 2009 | MVN Outsider

NFL Outsider's Greg Trippiedi and Anthony Brown debate the issue: Which team is the best spot for Michael Vick if he overcomes the enormous hurdles necessary to get on the field this year?Greg Trippiedi says Vick shouldn't be a starting quarterback:It's pretty clear that Michael Vick is not going to have a job waiting for him when he gets back. He's 29 years old -- too old and too young in different ways. Vick's open field running abilities were already in decline when we last saw him, and that was in 2006. But that doesn't mean he won't stick somewhere. He's still got a good five or six seasons ahead of him as an effective athlete. The question though remains: Where will Michael Vick fit in, and who will take a chance on him? I don't think Vick is a good fit on a team with a clear need...Read more

Read more | 2 Comments | Tags: NFL

NFL Crystal Ball: AFC North will be NFL's Toughest Division

By Greg Trippiedi | May 16, 2009 | MVN Outsider

Running down the preseason NFL projections this year, only one thing about the AFC looks really clear: that the AFC North is not only the strongest division, but might produce 4 of the top 8 teams in the conference. This coming from a division that saw two teams combine for 23 losses last year.The four teams in the division all have a legitimate shot at the title, although, clearly, two teams have a better shot than the other two. The division features the defending World Champs, the Pittsburgh Steelers, who probably aren't even the favorite. It features two teams who have produced 10+ win seasons in the last four years, and appear to be on the way up. And the other team is the one I see as the favorite to win the Super Bowl this year. But enough about vague descriptions, here's how the NFL's toughest division breaks down...Read more

Read more | 2 Comments | Tags: AFC North, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers

NFL Outsider's Draft Winners and Losers

By Greg Trippiedi | April 27, 2009 | MVN Outsider

Tomorrow, we'll take a look at process points to see who had the best draft objectively. Right now, I'm just going to give some off the cuff reaction on some teams that did really well and others who did not so well.Winners1. Arizona CardinalsI was amazed with the quality of player drafted by the Cardinals. They never moved up or down in the draft, but still managed to have great draft position to land great values at positions of need in every single round. Every one of their draft picks, except for RB LaRod Stephens-Howling, an intriguing prospect, was on the MVN Top 150 big board. There should be between 5-6 full time starters in this draft, and the Cardinals figure to be the class of their division in the next few seasons.2. Cleveland BrownsConversely, the Browns traded down three times in round one, and ended up picking four times...Read more

Read more | 3 Comments | Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, New England Patriots, NFL, NFL Draft, Oakland Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, Washington Redskins

Derrick Williams, Jarron Gilbert, Jared Cook Lead Round 3 Recap

By Greg Trippiedi | April 26, 2009 | MVN Outsider

Process points become negligible after the first day, so lets look at round three and the players that each team got in the middle of the draft.65. New York Jets -- Shonn Green, RB, IowaThe Jets traded up for this pick, so the Green pick was really disappointing. I didn't think he was anywhere near the best available, and with this being the first pick of the day, I expected a great pick here.66. St. Louis Rams -- Bradley Fletcher, CB, Iowa67. Kansas City Chiefs -- Alex Magee, DE, PurdueThe Chiefs pick their second 3-4 DE of the draft. So what does this mean for Glenn Dorsey? Will he split time with Magee and Tyson Jackson, or is he already on his way out?68. Chicago Bears -- Jarron Gilbert, DE, San Jose StateChicago moves forward looking for best player available, while making sure to add a defensive lineman every year. ...Read more

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Alphonzo Smith Trade, Rey Maualuga, Pat White Highlight NFL Draft's Second Round

By Greg Trippiedi | April 26, 2009 | MVN Outsider

The second round of the 2009 NFL draft was fronted by some high profile trades. Both the Panthers and the Broncos traded first round picks in 2010 for players they had first round grades on, but drafted in the second round. Pat White ended up getting drafted by the consummate "Wildcat" offense, which seems like a good fit, if not a reach. Inside linebackers Rey Maualuga and James Laurinaitis slipped through the first round, but got drafted by teams in the second with defensive issues. They'll step in right away and help those situations.However, it was some lesser known prospects who will be the story of the second round in a few years.33. Detroit Lions -- Louis Delmas, S, Western MichiganDelmas is a local product who was clearly head and shoulders above all the other safeties in this draft. After going with the QB with a steep developmental curve in...Read more

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Cleveland (Finally) Selects Mack, Minnesota Adds Harvin

By Greg Trippiedi | April 25, 2009 | MVN Outsider

Pick 21, Cleveland Browns (from Philadelphia) -- Alex Mack, C, CaliforniaGreat work by the Browns who have accumulated 4 points for trading down 3 times, and then landing a guy who they had much higher than anyone on their board. Once they got the deal done with the Jets for Sanchez, Mack became a realistic target, and he's an instant impact guy for a team with a need at the position, and a need that was correctly identified by the Browns.Cleveland Browns: 8 pointsPick 22, Minnesota Vikings -- Percy Harvin, WR, FloridaI don't know. The Vikings have issues on the right side of the offensive line and in the middle. Alex Mack just went, but Michael Oher is still out there. The word "explosive" is popular around Harvin, but that's not going to fit will in Minnesota, a team that has plenty of playmakers and no one to get them...Read more

Read more | 1 Comment | Tags: Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, NFL, NFL Draft

Matthew Stafford Highlights Top Five Picks

By Greg Trippiedi | April 25, 2009 | MVN Outsider

The NFL Draft is under way.Pick 1, Detroit Lions -- Matthew Stafford, QB, GeorgiaThe Lions get their franchise Quarterback. Supposedly. What is more promising is how well they performed the process. The Lions had a deal in principle agreed to with LB Aaron Curry. It was reportedly for $30 million in guaranteed money. But the Lions spent $41 million on the guy they believe will be the next great passer. The Lions are making a stand: they are not going to waste the best years of Calvin Johnson's career with below expectation QB play.How the Lions develop Stafford is more important than who he is coming out of Georgia. He's not a very solid prospect right now, but he's "toolzy" and loaded with potential. The Lions are getting all the process points.Detroit Lions: 5 pointsPick 2, St. Louis Rams -- Jason Smith, OT, BaylorThe best OL player in the draft...Read more

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets, NFL, NFL Draft, Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams

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