From the Corner Office of Top Men...

The Need for Greed

A big topic on both the Really Big Show and the Reghi show yesterday was the talk of Shaun Rogers asking the Browns to release him before they pay him his 6 million dollar roster bonus next month. According to Adam Scheffter at NFL.com, there are a couple reasons for Rogers wanting to skip town. Both of them have to do with Eric Mangini not going out of his way to say hello to the big man.

Top Men aren't buying it. The real reason is MONEY. Rogers agreed to come to Cleveland when he found out that the Browns were willing to renegotiate his contract. Last March, the Browns agreed to pay Rogers $42 Million over 6 years, through 2013. In the first 3 years of the contract, Rogers is guaranteed $23 Million. At the time, a great deal. Would Eric Mangini not saying hello really make Big Daddy not want to cash in on another $15 million guaranteed? Probably not. So what are the real reasons?

One, rumors are that Pro-Bowler Albert Haynesworth, the free agent nose tackle from Tennessee, is close to signing a deal for up to $15 million a year. Yes, that's right. $15 million a year. More than double than what he and Rogers made this year. He would be the highest paid Defensive Lineman in the league. Rogers must see that kind of cash out there and want to capitalize on his Pro Bowl season.

And two, the NFL collective bargaining agreement ends at the end of the 2010 season. This brings some uncertainty to free agency and the dollars teams will be able to spend. The threat of Lockout by the Owners is making agents and players approaching their peak earning years very, very nervous. Players are looking to cash in now under the current agreement. Rogers may just be the first in line of players looking to opt out and sign a short term, high guaranteed dollar contract, vs. a long term, high total dollar contract. (notice the Nnamde Asomugha contract. Biggest contract in the NFL. HUGE dollars in the first two years, all guaranteed, with a club option for the third year. If the CBA changes the salary cap structure, the Raiders can opt out of the top contract in the league in year 3)

An interesting note: One of the proposed changes to the CBA is rumored to be a Team's ability to recoup money from players when they do not fulfill their contract. Meaning-when players like Rogers/Winslow try to get out of their current contracts, or hold out demanding a trade, Owners will get some of the money back they paid in signing bonuses.

We can't imagine the Browns new front office taking any action on this. They wont release him. Rogers was obviously the most talented player on the defensive side of the ball last year. And we don't think the Browns want to set the precedent of re-negotiating with disgruntled players. As we all know, Disgruntled Browns players are a dime a dozen these days.


*Top Men frequently take time out of their busy schedule to contribute to Shaver Sports.

Browns: Head Coaches Learn From Experience

PGW posted a list for the Shaver Sports faithful earlier this week pointing out the fact that of the (14) Head Coaches the Browns have hired since 1946 "only one coach (Nick Skorich) had previous NFL head coaching experience... all other coaches received their first NFL head coaching job with the Browns."

This means that 93% of the time, the Cleveland Browns hire a Head Coach who does not have any previous NFL Head Coaching experience. I would call this a trend. The Browns are yet to win a Superbowl by doing this.

In contrast, the Shaver Sports research department found that (8) of the last (10) Superbowls were won by Head Coaches who had previous NFL Head Coaching experience, prior to taking the job as Head Coach of the team they eventually led to the Superbowl. The List is as follows:

2008: Giants - Tom Coughlin (Previoulsy Head Coach of the Jaguars)

2007: Colts - Tony Dungy (Previously Head Coach of the Buccanners)

2006: Steelers - Bill Cowher (Hired by Steelers; was in 10th season)


2005: Patriots - Bill Belichick (Previously Head Coach of the Browns)


2004: Patriots - Bill Belicheck (Previosly Head Coach of the Browns)


2003: Tampa Bay - Jon Gruden (Previously Head Coach of the Raiders)


2002: Patriots - Bill Belichick (Previoulsy Head Coach of the Browns)


2001: Ravens - Brian Billick (Hired by Ravens)


2000: Rams - Dick Vermeil (Previously Head Coach of the Eagles)


1999: Broncos - Mike Shanahan (Previously Head Coach of the Raiders)


So Randy Lerner, if its not Cowher, please hire a Coach with some NFL Head Coaching experience...there is no more time for on the job training. Please.

10 Reasons to Hate Ravens more than Steelers

As Browns fans, I know we hate the Steelers - but I think we should hate the Ravens more. Below are 10 Reasons to boo the birds from Baltimore:

1. They Stole Football from Cleveland.
2. They won the Superbowl after they left.
3. Ray Lewis is on the team.
4. Ray Lewis does that stupid dance still.
5. Baltimore Raven fans have existed as long as Diamondback Fans
6. Their nickname is from an Edgar Allan Poe poem.
7. They used to be the Cleveland Browns
8. Brian Billick...even though he got fired.
9. Gary Baxter was productive when they paid him.
10. Art M----

Lets go Brownies!

Swami Sez Browns Win 19-14

Chris Berman picked the Browns, to beat the Ravens, 19-14 at Cleveland Browns Stadium Sunday, on Sportscenter this morning.

If that happens, with the Week 9 NFL Standings the way they are, the Browns legimately enter the Playoff discussion...just like Wilbon said they would a few weeks ago.

The Wild Card Picture would look this if the season ended today:

The 1st. Wild Card Spot belongs to the Bills at 5-2.
The 2nd Wild Card Spot would belong to the Jets at 4-3 or the Ravens at 4-3.

Sooo...If the new Browns beat the old Browns, then both Browns are 4-4. The Jets play the Bills, and they could certainly lose that game to put them at 4-4 as well, with the Bills at 6-2.

The other 3-4 teams include...the Dolphins, Jags, Colts and Texans.

The Dolphins play the Broncos, the Jags play the Bengals, the Colts play the Patriots, the Texans play the Vikings.

If all (4) of these teams win, and the above happens as per described, you would have the Bills at 6-2 and (7) teams - the Browns, Ravens, Jets, Dolphins, Jags, Colts, and Texans - all log jammed at .500.

With half the season to play, it feels like new life for a season on life support - at best - not more than (3) weeks ago.

Browns Have Staff Infection

Not Staph like the illness Browns Players Catch every time they get a toothache. The Browns Staff is Infected from Randy Lerner, to Phil Savage, to Romeo Crenel with inability to string three good decisions together, in a row.

The Staff's Infection was on display when they decided to tell Kellen Winslow to keep his Staph Infection a secret, and they would release that he had an undisclosed illness...that was until Kellen told Mary Kay Cabot the Browns Brass are a bunch of liars.

The Browns Staff Infection was also on display when Lawrence Vickers 'McFlied' DA upside his grill - in the middle of the field - on Sunday. How many times have you seen a FULLBACK upstage a QB in the middle of the field before? Oh your right, never, because half the teams DON'T EVEN CARRY a Fullback!

The Browns Staff Infection was also on display when Brady didn't get a series in the second half of Sunday's game. You are not helping 'em you are hurting 'em Rome. DA was like 1 for 19 going into halftime for about 8 yards. Give the guy a breather! He stunk yesterday and when a guy stinks, you give him a break. The Browns Brass is over thinking this whole thing. Any team in the world, from Pop Warner to the Pros would have given their back-up a series on Sunday to try to get a spark. Any Spark at all would have won the game going away. But the Browns didn't do that, and the Russel Branyan of Football couldn't string enough plays together to score 15 points.

As a result of this Staff Infection, I find myself in the tumultuous position of for some reason, still believing they can beat the Ravens at home on November 2nd, get to 4-4 and make a season of it. I don't know why I even think that, but I hope its true.