The bet is on

Since gambling is so damn fun, let’s bet what our favorite new FO is doing right now.

First, we need dates. Hard facts that can’t be disputed.

Whallah! The Calendar! (gotta love the internet)

Feb. 18-24: Scouting Combine — to do list: First, they must deal with the current scouting staff. If moves are to be made, new scouts must be entrenched by the scouting combine. Therefore, its safe to assume the new FO has been meeting with each scout to determine their loyalties and commitment to the team. Out with the old, in with the new. Do you think the old scouts get to keep their Browns gear and official Browns whistles? I don’t either.

Bet? 3 new scouts.

Feb. 19: Deadline to designate franchise and transition players. – to do: It’s a safe bet that Rob Ryan and Co. have moved their favorite recliner into the Browns filmroom. You know those old Dracula movies where the dudes melt when the sun hits their skin? That’ll be effect when Mangini finally lets Ryan out of his cave. The one question I have? Does the film room actually still make the old ‘tick,tick,tick’ sound of the film running through the old camera? Darn digital-era. Watching film just doesn’t feel the same without it. After 6 non-stop days of film, I’ll bet Ryan hooks up his i-pod to the A/V equipment and rocks out to Zepplin. Love the hair!

Bet? No franchise or transition on Sean Jones. Mike Adams should be pursued. Travis Daniels! Way to go, brother! What a steal for a draft pick, eh, Savage?


Feb. 26: Deadline for club to make qualifying offers to restricted free agents. - Good news? Louis Leonard is the only guy on the list! Great news, fellas! He seems to be a decent player, especially considering his salary, but I’m just a good typer (lousy speller), nothing more.

The bet? Ryan never leaves the film room, forgetting to make a suggestion one way or the other.

Feb. 27: Veteran free agency period begins; trading period begins. - Ah, the good stuff! Think really freakin’ great garage sale with loads of money in your pocket. Problem is, the other dudes have bigger pockets (salary cap reference, no slight to your pocket, Mr. Lerner) and more expensive running shoes. They’ll be much more nimble, swift and probably make some dumb decisions. “Look at that shiny lamp! I gotta have it,” says Jerry Jones. Not to be outdone, a suddenly wise Daniel Snyder mumbles “That one, right there. I want that one and I’ll pay double what anyone else will.”

Taking in the whole sale will be our trusted new FO tandem. I can hear the press and fans now, “We’re 8 days into free agency and the Browns have yet to sign anyone.”

Don’t fret, I say! Mangini and Co. have a plan. Wait it out and get the guys with a chip on their shoulder (hey, isn’t that a good draft strategy as well?) at a reduced cost. Get them on a 1 or 2 year deal so they are already playing for their next deal. Get the Sunday-warrior guys that want to do nothing else, not the pretty boys wary of their post-football stardom.

They’ll quickly move from table to table, “Middle-linebacker, defensive end, corner, wide receiver, maybe 2, running back. That’ll do it.” They’ll pile their stash into Mangini’s Suburban and be off with a puff of smoke, back to Berea.

The bet? Browns field calls for DA, Braylon, K2, but publically deny it. They’ll trade DA but not the others unless they get a stellar offer. After all, Braylon is in his contract year. He’s going to be playing for the next deal and will only drop 5 balls all season! Wow! What an upgrade. Stallworth will be cut (if he hasn’t been already).

April 17: Signing period for RFA ends. - um, signing another teams RFAs means losing draft picks. Considering we don’t have many, I’d say this little nuggest is off the table.

April 24: Deadline for old club to exercise first right of refusal for RFAs who have been offered contracts by other teams. - Hmm. Leonard? That’s ok, you can have him.

April 25-26: NFL Draft – should be lots of fun. We’ll hit this in depth down the road.

June 1: Deadline for old clubs to tender offer to unsigned unrestricted free agents to receive exclusive negotiating rights for rest of season if player is not signed by another club by July 22; deadline for old clubs to tender offer to unsigned restricted free agents or to extend qualifying offer to retain exclusive negotiating rights. -- Man, that’s a lot of crap, there. Um, I’m tired of typing all this so I refuse to think about it.

June 15: Deadline for old clubs to withdraw qualifying offer to unsigned restricted free agents and substitute offer of 110% of previous year's salary in order to retain exclusive negotiating rights. - See answer above.

Mid/Late July: Training camp. Date TBD.

July 22: Signing period ends for UFAs who received qualifying offer.

Sep. 1: Rosters cut to 75 players.

Sep. 5: Rosters cut to 53 players.

Jan. 30: Browns win Super Bowl (ok so I added this one)