It’s a stretch way longer than the Oklahoma panhandle to suppose Josh Cooper can be the next Wes Welker.
In Cooper’s last three years at Oklahoma State, he caught 161 passes for 1,695 yards.
In Welker’s last three years with the New England Patriots, he caught 331 balls for 3,805 yards.
Yet, Cooper said after his second day of Browns rookie minicamp he has heard others compare him to Welker a thousand times.
It makes a certain amount of sense.
After four years as a linebacker at Ohio State, Andrew Sweat signed as an undrafted free agent with the Browns. But Sweat, who was an Academic All-American with the Buckeyes, has decided to pick academics over athletics.
Sweat chose not to attend this weekend’s rookie minicamp in Cleveland and not to try to play in the NFL at all. Sweat told the Columbus Dispatch that he has been accepted to five law schools, and that’s what he has decided to make his priority in life.
Browns coach Pat Shurmur told reporters that Sweat had informed the team he decided not to pursue a career in the NFL.
For those of us who love football but never had the physical ability to play it at a high level, it’s difficult to comprehend a man who has the chance to play in the NFL but chooses to do something else instead. But if Sweat will be happier in law school than in an NFL locker room next fall, good for him.
BEREA—The Browns concluded their rookie minicamp with one practice Sunday and Pat Shurmur was pleased with what was accomplished.
“It was a good and productive minicamp,” Shurmur said. “It was a very good start, but we have a long way to go.”
Shurmur said it served as an orientation on what will transpire in the coming days and months.
“Tomorrow, these (rookies) will be in the off-season program with the veterans and we’ll be one team,” he said. “What (the players) learned as a group and now we put the older guys with them. It will be a good foundation on how we work and an orientation for what we’re trying to do.”
Shurmur said he was able to see the players and why the Browns drafted them.
“I think what impresses me the most is a lot that a lot of the guys that we are talking about,” Shurmur said. “I see the reasons why we drafted them. I have not been disappointed in what these guys are based on what we thought they were when we drafted them.”
Shurmur said he is very excited to have a normal off-season after starting his career with the Browns and as a head coach in the middle of a lockout last year.
“In the middle of May last year to the middle of May this year is night and day different,” Shurmur said. “I’m excited most about that. We can have the normal teaching process and it’s easier to visualize (what we’re doing.)”
Shurmur was impressed with some of the team’s top pick, including first-round picks Trent Richardson and Brandon Weeden.
“Wow. He is a very powerful man and he is powerfully built,” Shurmur said of Richardson on Saturday. “Don’t let the 5-9 and a half fool you. He is almost 230 pounds and that is a lot of muscle packed into that body. I think he’s got a very powerful build much like we thought when we drafted him and it shows up on the field.”
Shurmur did say it’s hard to judge a back in a minicamp.
“It’s hard to see a running back do what he does well (in minicamp),” Shurmur said. “He handled the ball well, he showed he has good vision, and he caught the ball well.”
Weeden made his impressions of Richardson known.
“I said he was the real deal on the first day,” Weeden said. “On the third day, I would say he’s a ‘freak’.
Shurmur said Weeden performed well and spent most of his time under center and not in the shotgun.
“He generally operated well,” Shurmur said. “On only a couple of plays he wasn’t under center.
“He was very accurate and he throws a good ball.”
Weeden felt he accomplished what he was hoping to in the minicamp.
“I think I got better every day,” Weeden said. “That was my goal.
“I felt like I had good command of the offense,” Weeden said. “I felt comfortable as the camp went on and felt I could play without thinking.”
Weeden threw the ball very well, hooking up with former teammate at Oklahoma St. Josh Cooper for a touchdown on a tight pass in the corner of the end zone.
“We’re throwing vertical (in the West Coast offense),” Weeden said. “I think I showed I can make those throws and hit the sideline and the corners.”
Weeden threw two interceptions, but one was off Cooper’s hands.
Weeden said he wasn’t uptight coming into his first pro camp.
“I felt completely like myself,” Weeden said. “I’m used to spring practice at this time (in college) and was just anxious to put the helmets on and get back out here (on the field).”
Weeden was asked about joining Colt McCoy and Seneca Wallace in the off-season program on Monday when the real competition begins.
“We’re going to compete, but we’re human beings,” Weeden said. “We’re going to help each other and try to get better.”
Notebook
Benjamin Flashes: Fourth-round draft choice WR Travis Benjamin made a couple of nice catches, including a slant for a touchdown on the minicamp’s last play.
Shurmur was asked if he thought Benjamin would be in the mix to see a lot of action in the offense.
“I would say so,” he said. “I saw a lot of good things from him.”
Benjamin caught the eye of Weeden, as well.
“He can really fly,” Weeden said. “He’ll only get better and we’ll get better chemistry, like I have with (Josh) Cooper (five years at Oklahoma St.)”
Cooper was the recipient of a couple of passes from Weeden, including a touchdown in the corner of the end zone. He also had a pass go off his hands that was intercepted by Antwuan Reed.
Versatile JMJ: LB James-Michael Johnson displayed his versatility playing all three positions as linebacker. Johnson was the Browns’ second fourth-round draft choice from Nevada.
“He played all three positions (at practice),” Shurmur said. “We saw he could learn and forced him to learn and he responded well. He showed up.”
Quick Hits: FA David Sims (Iowa St.) made the play of the day when he tipped a pass from QB Brandon Weeden and then completed the interception in the end zone…Weeden threw a pass into the end zone that went off the hands of WR Josh Cooper and was intercepted by DB Antwuan Reed… Earlier, Cooper caught a touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone…Weeden closed the mini camp with a quick slant to WR Travis Benjamin for a touchdown…The Browns will now have three OTA sessions (May 22-24; May 30-June 1 and June 12-15) and a 3-day full team minicamp June 5-7.
If it makes anyone feel any better, this is the last season of this CBA cycle that will allow the Browns to NOT spend money in free agency, whether it is our own free agents or someone else's...They must spend 90% of the salary cap going forward in 2013 and beyond...Remind me a year from now whether it mattered that they did relatively nothing in free agency this year. The fact that it has taken them two or three years to come anywhere near the cap is a pretty good indicator of their past woes. It shouldn't take a league-wide mandate to make you want to improve your team with a proven viable tool.
Remember he didn'tGive me Plaxico Burress over Braylon Edwards anyday. Braylon quite frankly never impressed me other than his one good year. Then there was all the whining and pouting which made my stomach turn. If he put half as much effort into his game as his media press conferences he might have actually been worth a damn. Now Plaxico on the other hand puts out nice production in the passing game. He is aggressive on 50-50 balls where Edwards often gave minimal effort to become a defender. Burress does a very good job in the blocking game. He is a big target with nice hands. He runs pretty good routes and bottom line is better than anything the Browns have had at the position in ten years, even at his NFL age. How there is any debate or heistancy on the part of the Browns front office has me bewildered. This guy isn't looking to break the bank, but just for a fair contract. And for all those who are big on the mentoring thing, he can teach the young receivers where you don't have anybody already in place. Just don't go asking him for advice as far as local nightlife. I hear he has a slight aversion to dark, public spaces.
leave town because he wanted to, he got traded. He honored his promise to
donate 1 Million dollars to the youth of Cleveland so a bunch of high schoolers
could go to college. I say we take a flier on him since we didn't sign a top notch
free agent WR and we didn't draft a WR in the first 3 rounds. What can it hurt to
give the guy a look. So, what's your thoughts on signing Edwards. Wait a minute, let me put
my bullet proof shields up before you respond. LOL
Amazing the difference actually focusing on coaching can do. No more wanna-be offensive coordinator duties on his horizon? Say it ain't so. I am sure it is much easier for everybody else involved to visualize what they are doing. I think there might actually be an offensive system in place this year by the sounds of it. Some may not like Brad Childress as far as his track record as head coach goes, but he hasn't lasted this long in the NFL in multiple cities not knowing how to come up with some semblance of a game plan. I am sure the guys in the locker room enjoy the separation of their coaches. It is hard to bounce ideas off of one guy who is in charge of everything; there is only so much time in practice for everybody.Shurmur said he is very excited to have a normal off-season after starting his career with the Browns and as a head coach in the middle of a lockout last year.
“In the middle of May last year to the middle of May this year is night and day different,” Shurmur said. “I’m excited most about that. We can have the normal teaching process and it’s easier to visualize (what we’re doing.)”
Have a round on the Hound here .
Hangs sign on door .
Gone Racing
play nice in the sandbox
No promises, but if you keep your tab open, it would be more motivational..
Since Bluex left his tab open doubles all day for everybody
Better leave the windows and doors open as well it looks like Poo Boy showed up
Hey GDK... LTNS...
For those of us a tad bummed about Taylor
This Video will put a smile on your face this morning
Goggles on Mini camps season in full swing.
The fact that it has taken them two or three years to come anywhere near the cap is a pretty good indicator of their past woes. It shouldn't take a league-wide mandate to make you want to improve your team with a proven viable tool.They are actually pretty close to the cap every year lbg...the only difference really is that when they make a move, they don't need to make a consequential 2nd move to counteract the salary cap.
Browns go undefeated in Rookie Mini camp...
Brandon Weeden's opinion of fellow first-round pick Trent Richardson skyrocketed as the rookie camp wore on.
"He was the real deal after the first day," Weeden said. "He's a freak after the third. He really is. It's amazing, I played with a lot of good backs at Oklahoma State, obviously, but he's right there. There's a reason he was the third pick overall. You can see why. He's able to catch the ball out of the backfield, he runs hard, he said it himself, he's a different guy when he touches the football."
Weeden could tell even without pads on that Richardson is no ordinary back.
"Just look at him," Weeden said. "Whatever he is, 5-10 [actually 5-91/4], 225 pounds and he's 2 percent body fat. He's got a special ability when the ball's in his hands. You can tell when you hand it to him, he takes it from you. He runs hard, and I'm really anxious to see him when he puts the pads on."
Browns coach Pat Shurmur was equally impressed with Richardson's muscled-up physique.
"Wow, he's a very powerful man and he's powerfully built," Shurmur said. "Don't let the 5-91/2 fool you. He is almost 230 pounds, and that is a lot of muscle packed into that body.
"I think he's got a very powerful build, much like we thought when we drafted him, and it shows up on the field."
He said Richardson used his height to his advantage.
"I think he can hide behind blockers, and we saw him do that at times at Alabama, naturally," Shurmur said. "He's a very patient runner. He's got excellent vision, so when he sees daylight, he can get his foot down and get up in it.
"By the nature of his build, he's sometimes hard to get your arms around and tackle. That natural leverage that he has also gives him great balance and body control."
Richardson was happy with how his camp went. He practiced with a rubber sleeve on his left knee, but it was only precautionary. He said he's 100 percent after undergoing a minor knee scope after the college season.
"It was a good experience being out here with these other guys and just jelling with them and building up a new team and a new family and just making the family stronger," he said. "I've just got to get the different terminology down, and from there, who knows where this program can go as far as all of us being able to play. I think it's going to be a work in progress, and I'll work hard for everything that's in front of me."
He said the scheme is similar to what Nick Saban ran at Alabama but that he just has to adjust to the numbers used in the play calling.
"But I definitely felt comfortable out there," he said.
He said he trained for about six weeks with Weeden in Arizona and wasn't surprised Weeden excelled in camp.
"He was one of the most dominant quarterbacks in college football," Richardson said. "It just carried [over]."
Benjamin to battle: Shurmur said he expects fourth-round receiver Travis Benjamin to challenge for significant playing time, possibly even a starting role, right away.
"I would say so," Shurmur said. "I saw a lot of good stuff from Travis this weekend, and I feel like he'll only continue to get better."
As the camp went along, Weeden and Benjamin developed a chemistry."Absolutely," Weeden said. "The guy can fly. You guys saw that. He can really fly." What's next? The rookies will join the veterans in the off-season program today, which now includes about an hour a day on the field with coaches. Organized team activities, which include full-squad practices, begin May 22.
"The way this is structured is really good," Shurmur said. "We get to orient them on what they need to be doing. Now they can take what little bit they've learned and try to get up to speed with the other guys." Help for Shurmur: One of the biggest differences this year is the help Shurmur is receiving on the offensive side of the ball. New offensive coordinator Brad Childress and senior offensive assistant Nolan Cromwell are so vocal and hands-on, it makes clear just how much Shurmur had on his plate last season in his dual role as head coach and offensive coordinator. Just by virtue of having an off-season this year, Shurmur said, "If you compare the middle of May this year to last year, it's night and day in terms of where we're at, so I'm excited about that." JMJ: Shurmur was encouraged by linebacker James-Michael Johnson's ability to pick up all three linebacker spots.
"He played all three positions," Shurmur said. "We saw that he could learn because there's a lot of different learning when you play the Sam, the Mike or the Will [positions]. He functioned well. We're excited that, as we give him more and more and you add the physical nature to playing linebacker . . . he's going to show up."
BEREA, Ohio -- Browns rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden wrapped up rookie minicamp Sunday and will leap right into his much-hyped battle for the starting job with Colt McCoy and Seneca Wallace Monday in the off-season program.
"Absolutely, I think we're just going to compete," said Weeden at the close of rookie camp. "Nothing will change. I know Colt [is] a good guy. I know Seneca is a good guy. I met Seneca, so I'm looking forward to just being part of the other quarterbacks."
He said the nature of a quarterback competition is misinterpreted.
"Obviously, we're all here and we're going to help each other," he said. "We're human beings. That's really what it comes down to. I'm going to be asking questions to those guys. They've been doing it for a couple years. Seneca for 10."
The Browns are currently in Phase 2 of the off-season program in which players are permitted to work on the field with coaches for about an hour a day. The next phase is organized team activities, full-squad practices that begin May 22.
Weeden, 28, said his five years in minor-league baseball have prepared him for the competition.
"It's obviously going to be different because it's new guys, but we're going to go out and we're a team now," he said. "We're all playing for the name on the front of the jersey, and we're all going to compete to have the best team and win as many games as possible. I'm just going to go about my business. Obviously, it's my first time out, but I'm not going to act any other way than myself."
Shurmur said the Browns are excited about what they saw of Weeden in the five rookie camp practices.
"I think he generally operated well," Shurmur said. "Other than a couple of plays, we did almost everything under center. And I think he handled that extremely well because he's very accurate, he throws a good ball and we can see that he's got a chance to be a very good player."
Weeden's innate throwing ability has impressed the Browns. He threw a tight, fast spiral, launched an effortless deep ball and displayed nice touch on shorter passes.
"I think he's a very smooth thrower," Shurmur said. "He throws the ball easy, and I think a guy that can throw the ball with a smooth motion, the ball presents itself to the receivers well. I think that helps them be more efficient catching it. I like what I've seen from him just in terms of throwing the football, for sure."
Weeden said his experience as a pitcher in the minor leagues has helped him with ball placement.
"For the backs especially, when they're on the little check-downs, trying to lead them up field away from the defender," he said. "I take a lot of pride in doing that, and I think a little bit of that comes from baseball. It's obviously just a comfort in throwing those balls."
Weeden's former Oklahoma State receiver, Josh Cooper, who had an impressive camp as an undrafted free agent, can attest to the quality of Weeden's arm.
"He can either fire it in there or put some touch on it," Cooper said. "He's that kind of quarterback. He knows what to do with the ball. It's a tight spiral, it's coming fast and it's usually right on the money."
But even Cooper had to adjust. As a sophomore, he dislocated two fingers in practice trying to field a Weeden ball.
"It happens," Cooper said. "It's coming so fast, it was just bad luck for me."
Weeden believes he accomplished his goal of getting better each day of camp. By Day 2, his improved grasp of the scheme was evident. It helped that he stayed up late cramming with Cooper the night before camp opened.
Weeden was pleasantly surprised by how much the coaches let him air it out.
"That's one of the misconceptions of the West Coast offense is that we don't really throw the ball down the field," he said. "But we did. We're throwing verticals, throwing corners, which I really like. I think I proved I can throw that ball on the sideline, the corners and the comebacks, so that's the funnest part of my game for me."
His footwork also looked surprisingly good for a quarterback used to playing out of the shotgun.
"For how old he is," joked Cooper, "he's a very mobile quarterback."
And smart, too, according to fullback/tight end Brad Smelley.
"That's what you need in this league," Smelley said.
Got my Duff Kool-Aid goggles on and hope still remains...
(Taylor) 
