The ongoing lockout, Stanford's Andrew Luck and the neverending Colt McCoy debate are just some of the topics in this week's mailbag.
View full sizeRoger Goodell and players union head DeMaurice Smith keep talking in "private" meetings -- but Tony Grossi isn't ready to believe that the NFL will avoid starting late this season.Hey, Tony: My heart resides with the players but my brain resides with the owners. Players do not deserve this much money, but at the same time the owners shouldn't cash in without sharing. (With) the NFL stating this lockout could last a year, is it possible for the players to force the hand of the owners by creating a new league? You know people would watch.
People watched the XFL when it first started, except this will be players we actually know! -- Jamie Sbeck, Bowling Green
Hey, Jamie: I've said before that the time is ripe for a rival to the NFL. The problem is finding 10 billionaires to foot the start-up costs, knowing eventually the NFL will put them out of business.
Hey, Tony: If the NFL does not have a 2011 season and decide not to abolish the 2012 draft, how will they determine the draft order? Will it be based on the 2010 final standings? -- Big Dave, Lexington, Ky.
Hey, Big Dave: The NFL has not addressed this situation.
Hey, Tony: I am a huge Browns fan. I live here in South Central Texas. I was wondering if you can tell me when and where Camp Colt will be taking place June 9-11? -- Tim Shafer, New Braunfels, Texas
Hey, Tim: Organizers of Camp Colt have declined to disclose the location somewhere in Austin, Texas.
Hey, Tony: What is your opinion of Jake Delhomme? Do we pay him a lot of money just to mentor a young QB or get rid of him and let Seneca Wallace handle that job? Or is there something im missing about Seneca's leadership and mentoring abilities? -- Justin Coulter, Austintown
Hey, Justin: I believe Delhomme will be replaced by a developmental quarterback who went undrafted and will be signed when the NFL reopens for business. Wallace will be the primary backup. Delhomme probably would have trouble finding another NFL job, so he would be a phone call away if the Browns suffered two major injuries at the position like last year.
Hey, Tony: Do you think the labor deal will happen before July? -- Kevin Sandy, Navarre
Hey, Kevin: I've always assumed that a labor deal will not happen until players miss three or four game checks in September. However, there seems to be real optimism that a new deal could be reached before the end of June.
Hey, Tony: I like the leadership qualities of Colt McCoy, but he really hasn't accomplished anything to lead the Browns to believe he is the QB of the future. I think the great trade of the 2011 draft was to position the Browns with the horse power they will need in 2012 to move up a few spots to acquire Andrew Luck. McCoy will have to throw for 3,000-plus yards and have twice as many TDs as INTs this year to solidify himself as the QB of the future. -- Doug Furtado, Battle Mountain, Nevada.
View full sizeAndrew Luck is certain to be the grand prize of the 2012 draft --- assuming there is one. If Colt McCoy falters in 2011, Browns fans (and Tony) will be clamoring for a big move to get the Stanford QB.Hey, Doug: I wouldn't quantify a successful season for McCoy with personal statistics. If the team wins, it will be the result of his leadership and development. Teams simply cannot win nowadays without top production from the quarterback position. Now, if McCoy plays lights-out and the team loses because of other factors -- defense, etc. -- I would lean more on his personal statistics. I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt. But if the results aren't there in 2011, the team absolutely must do everything in its power to acquire Andrew Luck in the 2012 draft.
Hey, Tony: You said last week that "it was assumed that [Matt] Roth was not enamored playing for [Eric] Mangini." We get that you think you're smarter than Mangini, but aren't reporters supposed to be objective and not assume? -- Mike B., Dover
Hey, Mike: Reporters nowadays are called on to analyze their beats in a variety of media platforms -- Twitter, blogs, videos, podcasts. We're covering a football team here, not strategies of war in Afghanistan. I heard several times last season that Roth was looking forward to free agency. His actions now certainly support the things I heard. Would you prefer that I withhold information like that -- just because you might disagree with it?
Hey, Tony: Do you ever get sick of all the Ohio State questions about mediocre players being signed by the Browns? I realize Columbus is not that far away from Cleveland, but there are plenty of other colleges with players just as good if not better. -- Ralph Reis, Ft. Mitchell, Ky.
Hey, Ralph: I just wish the Browns would get one of the Ohio State players who turn out to be elite NFL players.
Hey, Tony: Before or after -- the lockout is wrapped up by July 15th? -- Michael Spitale, Galena
Hey, Michael: My original guess was after. I'll stick by it and hope I'm wrong.
Hey, Tony: I've been away from Cleveland for 15 years but I'm a longtime Browns fan and still a season ticket holder. We all know football teams win games but football organizations win championships. It pains me to point out the obvious but that NFL team in Western Pa., has a heck of an organization. With Mike H. and Tom H. do you think we're finally on our way to building the organizational foundation of a franchise? What are the subtle signs -- other than the obvious Ws vs. Ls -- we're getting there? -- Rick, Arkansas.
Hey, Rick: Pardon me for sounding like a broken record. An elite quarterback would automatically make the Browns a good organization. What did Peyton Manning do for Indianapolis? Drew Brees for New Orleans? Matt Ryan for Atlanta? Those have become championship or -- in Atlanta's case -- championship-competitive organizations simply by getting the most important piece to the puzzle.
I realize this is a simplistic view. Pittsburgh was a great organization before Ben Roethlisberger. But they didn't win the whole thing until they got him. Everything is so much easier once an organization can be relieved of the burden of constantly searching for the QB. Holmgren and Heckert will look much, much smarter when the QB is in place. If McCoy proves to be the guy this year, they are on their way.
Hey, Tony: There is a Mexican dinner riding on the answer to this question. My friend says that former Browns kicker Mark Moseley once came off of the bench and quarterbacked a few plays when all of the regulars were hurt. I say this never happened. He's a kicker. I only know of George Blanda who did that. -- J.B. Cincurak, Akron
Hey, J.B.: Moseley never played quarterback in an NFL game. His claim to fame is being the last full-time straight-on placekicker in the NFL.
Hey, Tony: For once I'd like to see Cleveland management be bold. If the Browns give us another season of losing football with some bright spots, I say get aggressive, take those two first-round picks, Colt McCoy and the kitchen sink and throw it in for Andrew Luck in 2012. Make a bold move Cleveland, and maybe I'll pony up for Sunday Ticket again! -- Doug Shaffer, Orange, Calif.
Hey, Doug: You're preaching to the choir about Luck. I think he's The Truth.
Hey, Tony: Do the major TV networks have any influence on the owners to settle? As they will be losing money by not having games played. Without TV the league would be losing money like everyone else. -- Mike Miskiel, Toledo
Hey, Mike: In their last negotiations with the NFL, the networks all were apprised of the possibility of a work stoppage in 2011 and provisions were made in their contracts. They all agreed to pay their rights fees even if games were canceled. That is the crux of a players association lawsuit against the NFL, which they've already won. Soon, the federal judge will issue a damage award to the players. But the NFL can tie up the case for years through appeal.
Hey, Tony: I recently read that Steve Slaton is on the outs with the Texans due to the emergence of Arian Foster and potential of Ben Tate (I'm sure his injury/fumble issues don't help). Slaton is a small, quick back with great receiving skills. He seems to meet the Browns need for a change of pace back to complement Hillis and Hardesty. Will the Browns have interest? -- Matt S., Hilliard
Hey, Matt: Slaton was a third-round pick in 2008. I would imagine you could get him for a fourth. I'd really examine his fumble problems first, though.
Hey, Tony: Roger Goodell is out and about saying that fans want an 18-game regular season. I don't think that is true. All I see is the downside:
1) Injuries to starters and stars are already high, what does adding two games do?
2) It would be one thing if the NFL would start the season two weeks earlier, but they would add games to the back end. Cities like Cleveland know how bad those cold games are.
3) When a team is out of playoff contention, the games are even worse than pre-season games.
4) Where does adding games stop? 22? 24? -- Matt Santa, Broadview Heights
Hey, Matt: I have been -- and remain -- totally against the 18-2 concept. Absolutely nothing about it makes sense to me. It's all about the money -- more revenue for owners. I would compromise by expanding the playoffs and adding more revenue-producing games that way. I'd love to eliminate two preseason games, but that would take away owners revenue and they won't ever do that.
Hey, Tony: If the league shortens the season to eight games, are the Browns in trouble? I would assume they would play out the final eight weeks of the schedule and the Browns' final eight are tough. -- Chris Zanon, Canton
Hey, Chris: The league has not disclosed the details of a shortened, eight-game schedule -- whether teams would just pick up their final eight games or not. I would suggest the Browns are in trouble either way. This lockout has wiped out the only chance for the new coaching staff to catch up to speed on their team and begin implementing new offensive and defensive systems.
Hey, Tony: Have you heard anything about QB Jarrett Brown, who was added to the roster before the lockout? I assume he may have a shot at competing with Delhomme for the third spot on the roster, is that correct? -- Tom Thomas, Florida
Hey, Tom: I have heard nothing at all about Brown -- except from fans who fantasize that he is going to come in and take the team by storm. The Browns have said nothing about him.
-- Tony
Source: http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2011/06/could_the_nfls_lockout_fuel_an.html
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