Browns Trade Rumors

"Looking at the faces around the table at a bowling alley nestled inside of a local GameWorks, Willie McGinest's decision seems natural, if not easy. Sitting with his father, Willie McGinest Sr.; mother, Joyce; sisters, Lisa and Tanisha; fiancé, Gloriana; and daughters, Rylie, 3, and Halie, 1, celebrating the third annual Willie McGinest Day in his hometown of Long Beach, the veteran linebacker concedes this will likely be the last time he'll enjoy this day as an active player. "

" Longevity issues with Kellen Winslow and a potential contract dispute factored into the Browns making a surprise trade in the fourth round of the draft Sunday. They gave up their 2009 third-round pick to select pass-catching tight end Martin Rucker of Missouri. "

"They added an All-American tight end in Rucker, who set the career record for receptions at the same university that produced Hall of Famer Kellen Winslow Sr. And they found valuable insurance in case offseason surgeries delay the return of tight ends Kellen Winslow Jr. and Steve Heiden or if Winslow stages a training-camp holdout while seeking a renegotiated contract."

" The Browns are hesitant to part with any of their 2009 picks, but they know that's the only way they could trade into the third round. The likeliest potential partner for a trade could be one of nine teams with multiple picks in the third round. Four teams have three picks in the round - Atlanta, New England, Baltimore and Kansas City. Teams with two picks in the round are Detroit, Carolina, Chicago, Cincinnati and Houston. "

"If you're a Cleveland Browns fan, do you have a feeling — or maybe fear — creeping in the back of your mind that the front office will suddenly decide to be clever on draft day and trade one of its young quarterbacks, Derek Anderson or Brady Quinn, to move up in the draft?"

"The Browns have a few options in dealing with defensive back Kenny Wright, jailed Thursday on charges of unlawful restraint, evading arrest and possession of marijuana in Pearland, Texas. But cutting him must be near the top of the list."

" A new contract for tight end Kellen Winslow is on the team's radar. General Manager Phil Savage said he will meet with Drew Rosenhaus, Winslow's agent, this week at league meetings. "

"Linebacker Clark Haggans, a mainstay pass rusher for the Pittsburgh Steelers the past four seasons, is the latest free agent to visit the Browns."

"Oakland restricted free agent cornerback and kick returner Chris Carr has visited Tennessee and Cleveland in addition to Carolina. He has yet to be signed to an offer sheet."

"Browns General Manager Phil Savage, whose aggressive moves helped the Browns finish 10-6 last season, is close to receiving a multiyear contract extension, team owner Randy Lerner said Tuesday."

"Continuing their quest to improve their defensive core, the Cleveland Browns visited Tuesday with former Broncos middle linebacker Al Wilson. Cleared to play last month, Wilson also has met with the Detroit Lions."

"Linebacker Darryl Blackstock, a three-year veteran of the Arizona Cardinals who was not tendered by the team, will visit the Browns today and work out Wednesday, a source said."

"Miami Dolphins free-agent guard/center Rex Hadnot told the Houston Chronicle on Saturday he was visiting the Browns over the weekend."

"The Cleveland Browns have quarterback Derek Anderson signed to start but have no picks in the first three rounds of April's NFL draft. That has to make Browns backup QB Brady Quinn, above, an intriguing possibility for the Vikings, who might be able to get Quinn by trading their first-round pick (No. 17 overall)."

"The second day of the free agency signing period passed Saturday without a big-splash signing by the Carolina Panthers, but the team was steadily active as promised. The Panthers neared agreement on a two-year, $4 million deal with Cleveland cornerback/kick returner Ricardo Colclough, a former second-round pick."

"According to league sources, cornerback/kick returner Ricardo Colclough is close to signing a two-year deal with the Panthers that could pay him around $4 million. There are still a few items that need to be worked out in the contract before the deal becomes official. Barring any snags, look for an official announcement sometime next week."

"Shaun Rogers' career as a Lion headed to a bizarre ending, with roller-coaster trade proposals Friday that spanned from one corner of Ohio to the other. A deal that would have sent Rogers to the Bengals fell through, prompting the Lions to turn to the Browns as a trade partner for the 370-pound nose tackle. The Lions and Browns centered their talks on a deal late Friday that would give the Lions cornerback Leigh Bodden and a third-round pick in the April draft."

" Savage also confirmed the team hosted visits Friday by New England receiver Donte Stallworth and Tennessee defensive end/linebacker Travis LaBoy. More players are expected to visit over the weekend, including Baltimore linebacker Nick Greisen. The Browns also are trying to line up a visit with Pittsburgh outside linebacker Clark Haggans. "

" Browns quarterback Derek Anderson hit the market as a restricted free agent at 12:01 this morning after declining to accept the Browns' three-year offer. Anderson, who received the high one-year tender of $2.562 million, can now field offers from other teams and the Browns have the right to match. "

"Browns General Manager Phil Savage didn't wave goodbye to quarterback Derek Anderson on Thursday, but he sounded as if he had. When Anderson failed to agree to terms on the Browns' reported offer of a three-year, $20 million deal with $10 million guaranteed, Savage seemed ready to move on to the Brady Quinn era."

"Other linemen of interest could include Tennessee's Randy Starks and Chicago's Antonio Garay (a former Browns draft choice). Also, former Raven Marques Douglas, who defected to San Francisco three years ago, has played inside though he is 20 pounds lighter than preferred."

"Randy Starks, Tennessee... This backup to Albert Haynesworth has had some off-the-field issues and underwent anger management counseling in 2006. "

"Minnesota Vikings owner Zygi Wilf sent his personal jet to California to retrieve Berrian, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. The sides will meet today at the club's facility and potentially work on a huge contract... A source linked Briggs, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, to Tampa Bay, San Francisco and Cleveland, with Denver called a ''dark horse.''"

"It's unknown how much room the Bears have to improve that offer for Berrian, who is expected to be courted by the Minnesota Vikings. It's also unclear whether Berrian and agent Drew Rosenhaus will be able to get another team -- the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49ers also are thought to be interested -- to meet his asking price, which probably would require a signing bonus of more than $12 million."

" It's coming down to the wire in the off-again, on-again contract negotiations between the Browns and Derek Anderson. The Browns are trying to lock up the quarterback to a three-year contract before the start of free agency on Friday. "

"The Browns met again briefly in Indianapolis with representatives of quarterback Derek Anderson. But nothing much changed from where things stood at the end of their Thursday night meeting. "

"The Cleveland Browns lured Cincinnati Bengals prized OL Eric Steinbach away from the club last year during free agency with a lucrative contact and could be at it again this year when Bengals DE Justin Smith hits the free agent market."

"Kellen Winslow's agent Drew Rosenhaus said Saturday at the Scouting Combine he met with Browns General Manager Phil Savage here about re-negotiating Winslow's contract and that talks are underway."

"Drew Rosenhaus, agent for Browns tight end Kellen Winslow, said he met with Browns General Manager Phil Savage and director of football administration Trip MacCracken to discuss renegotiating Winslow's contract. Rosenhaus called the talks ''positive and ongoing.''"

"Bears deep-threat receiver Bernard Berrian will be on the Browns radar screen if he becomes a free agent next week, a source at the NFL Scouting Combine said Saturday."

"Following a meeting with Derek Anderson's agents here Thursday night, Browns General Manager Phil Savage sounded a little less certain Friday that he can get Anderson signed before he becomes a restricted free agent next week."

"In a perfect world, the Browns will sign quarterback Derek Anderson to a multiyear contract before Thursday. But General Manager Phil Savage knows nirvana is as rare in Cleveland as a sports championship. "

"Defensive end Orpheus Roye might not be back next season, Savage said. Roye, who has battled knee injuries the past two seasons, is set to make $3 million next season, the last year of his contract. "

"Defensive end Orpheus Roye, defensive lineman Ethan Kelley and linebacker Chaun Thompson could be among those whose days are numbered in Cleveland. Kelley and Thompson will become unrestricted free agents Friday, while Roye, 35, is signed through this season at $3 million."

"Teams believed to have expressed interest in Williamson include Cleveland, Jacksonville, Miami, Oakland, San Francisco, Seattle and Tennessee. Mike Tice, the Vikings' head coach when Williamson was drafted, is a member of the Jaguars' coaching staff."

"Browns General Manager Phil Savage met Thursday evening with the agents for quarterback Derek Anderson, but didn't reach an agreement. With running back Jamal Lewis under contract, the Browns can now turn their attention to their other priority this off-season - getting Anderson signed before he becomes a restricted free agent next Thursday. "

"The Browns can still acquire a first-round pick in a trade for quarterback Derek Anderson. Although Savage said he's optimistic the Browns can sign Anderson to a three-year deal before he becomes a restricted free agent at the end of next week, the two sides must close the gap on the money."

"Phil Savage thinks a deal with quarter back Derek Anderson will get done. If so, it's a good indication Anderson got hit on the head in a good way by something at the Pro Bowl, and it wasn't a pineapple. "

"Browns General Manager Phil Savage said Tuesday he's optimistic the Browns will sign quarterback Derek Anderson to a three-year deal before he becomes a restricted free agent on Feb. 28."

"I was the first person in the media to suggest Baltimore could have an interest in Anderson. However, the Ravens will not part with Suggs. So don't expect to see a trade involving Suggs."

"Cleveland's Derek Anderson, who did much more than keep the Browns' quarterback seat warm for 2007 first-round pick Brady Quinn, is a restricted free agent whose negotiations with the Browns reportedly have stalled. Depending on Cleveland's qualifying offer to Anderson, it could cost the Dolphins upward of first- and third-round picks to go after him."

" Available players who have experience playing in the middle of a 3-4 defensive system are few: Cleveland’s Chaun Thompson, 27, has played for former Patriots defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel, and was moved from inside to outside during training camp last season. "

"I think it's imperative the Browns trade Derek Anderson this off-season. Would you [or General Manager Phil Savage] accept a second- or third-rounder this year with a first-rounder in 2009?"

"Negotiations with Browns quarterback Derek Anderson have not reached a standstill, a team source said Friday, refuting an Internet report by the Columbus Dispatch. Anderson will be a restricted free agent, and the Browns have until Feb. 28 to submit a tender offer."

" Browns tight end Kellen Winslow told Sirius NFL Radio on Thursday that he wants to renegotiate his contract. "When I got hurt [in 2005], the contract got renegotiated, so some things changed, but I think I've proven these past two years that I'm one of the elite tight ends," Winslow said from the Pro Bowl in Hawaii. "

"Given what his representatives seem to be pursuing in contract talks with the Browns, it seems fitting Anderson's Super Bowl week itinerary also included acceptance of a fantasy league Sleeper of the Year award."

"During the 2007 season, running back Jamal Lewis may have sent some mixed signals about his future with the Browns. But the message his agent is delivering now seems clear. Lewis wants to stay in Cleveland."

"Running back Jamal Lewis would like to sign a multi-year deal with the Browns that would enable him to finish his career in Cleveland, Lewis' agent Mitch Frankel said Monday."

"Whether the Browns sign Lewis or not they have a need for running back and Forte could be the heir apparent."

"The Browns confirmed on Friday that they have sent formal proposals to the agents of quarterback Derek Anderson and running back Jamal Lewis in hopes of keeping both players from entering the free-agent market."