[Ice]

Another one bites the dust. The Browns terminated the contract of Taylor today still owing him $5 million. Taylor had flashes of ability with the Browns but his inability to stay healthy likely cost him his job. Taylor played into October last year before going on IR due to a leg injury and there were whispers that he was still not ready for real action. His agent of course claims that he is game ready.

Taylor was the last piece of the trade with the Falcons that sent them Julio Jones and gave the Browns a bunch of players who are no longer on the team.

[MDP Sack Attack]

To me this is really frustrating. When he’s healthy, Taylor dominates the middle of the line and completely changes our defense (as in, we actually have a run defense). Taylor and Shelton could have been an amazing combination, and would be ideal players to spell each other to stay fresh and healthy.

Maybe it works out, but this is another move in our ongoing pattern of “spend a high draft pick on a guy, then let a good player leave to make room for them”. Sheard/Orchard, Hoyer/Manziel, Taylor/Shelton, Skrine/Gilbert, soon Mack/Irving. It’s a big part of why this team never improves, as we are just treading water with these moves. How about a wide receiver? A right tackle? Kick returner? Another wide receiver?

As it stands, with Taylor (and Kitchen) being cut, we’ll probably be using one of our first three picks on another run stuffer next year. Maybe we’ll draft a left tackle with the #1 pick and cut Joe Thomas.

[BillWunkle]

The best ability for any player is availability. Sorry to see Phil go, but life goes on. Terminating Phil’s contract at this time gives him a better opportunity to land with another team, and I think the Browns did this to allow Phil to have more and better options. Good luck, Phil.

Am I going mad, or did the word THINK escape your lips? You were not hired for your brains, you hippopotamic landmass!

[durakbane]

Until we start successfully draft high round draft picks, we will never have a perennial winner. Free Agency is a stop gap measure and/or “put a team over the top” manuever…not a dynasty builder.

If our 2 picks this year turn out to be successful, it will turn around a trend of 1st year bad picks since Joe Haden (2010).

1999 Tim Couch QB Kentucky
2000 Courtney Brown DE Penn State
2001 Gerard Warren DT Florida
2002 William Green RB Boston College [23]
2003 Jeff Faine C Notre Dame
2004 Kellen Winslow II TE Miami (Florida) [24]
2005 Braylon Edwards WR Michigan
2006 Kamerion Wimbley LB Florida State [25]
2007 Joe Thomas OT Wisconsin [26]
22 Brady Quinn QB Notre Dame [27]
2008 — No Pick — — [27]
2009 Alex Mack C California [28]
2010 Joe Haden CB Florida
2011 Phil Taylor DT Baylor
2012 Trent Richardson RB Alabama
22 Bandon Weeden QB Oklahoma State
2013 Barkevious Mingo OLB Louisiana State
2014 Justin Gilbert CB Oklahoma State
22 Johnny Manziel QB Texas A&M
2015 Danny Shelton DT Washington
19 Cameron Erving C Florida State

[Ice]

That’s such an ugly list @durakbane. The sad thing looking at it is if we start from 2014 and go back to 1999 we’ve made 18 first round picks and out of those 18 I would only say 3 of them were good. Joe Thomas, Alex Mack, and Joe Haden are the only 3 on that list that I’d draft again given the chance. That’s a 17% chance success rate with some VERY high 1st round picks.

As far as Taylor is concerned @MDP_sack_attack has every right to be frustrated but it sounds like his leg injury is more serious than some people are letting on.

[MDP Sack Attack]

I hope you guys are right, and I’m sure the team has a gameplan…but we’ve gone from having three options at nose tackle down to one. I like Meder’s hustle, but he is in no way shape or form a true nose tackle. Without a pure nose tackle, you cannot effectively run a 3-4 defense.

Also, Ice, if there was a lingering issue with his injury, would not there have been a settlement? Asking honestly.

[Ice]

MDP Sack Attack wrote:

Also, Ice, if there was a lingering issue with his injury, would not there have been a settlement? Asking honestly.

Because to get an injury settlement he has to show that the injury is career-affecting; he’s trying to get other teams to sign him so that’s the last thing he’d want to say. His agent is going to say he’s never felt better in his life.

[MDP Sack Attack]

Update:

We gave him an injury settlement.

He asked to be released, apparently the Browns were going to put him on the PUP or IR.

The Steelers examined him, and said he needs another surgery.

I can live with this more now, I’m just disappointed to lose one of the few talented players who actually wanted to be here. I suppose, if he doesn’t sign on anywhere, there’s nothing to stop us from bringing him back next season on the cheap.

[Ice]

Injuries suck, no doubt about it. This leaves a bad taste in my mouth though not quite as much as LeCharles Bentley but still along those lines. I would’ve been really pissed if he had joined the Steelers though.

[soup]

MDP Sack Attack wrote:

To me this is really frustrating. When he’s healthy, Taylor dominates the middle of the line and completely changes our defense (as in, we actually have a run defense). Taylor and Shelton could have been an amazing combination, and would be ideal players to spell each other to stay fresh and healthy.
Maybe it works out, but this is another move in our ongoing pattern of “spend a high draft pick on a guy, then let a good player leave to make room for them”. Sheard/Orchard, Hoyer/Manziel, Taylor/Shelton, Skrine/Gilbert, soon Mack/Irving. It’s a big part of why this team never improves, as we are just treading water with these moves. How about a wide receiver? A right tackle? Kick returner? Another wide receiver?
As it stands, with Taylor (and Kitchen) being cut, we’ll probably be using one of our first three picks on another run stuffer next year. Maybe we’ll draft a left tackle with the #1 pick and cut Joe Thomas.

I’ve stated this for years. It’s the “our guy” mentality. Rather than build we tread. Now in this case – I really think he was cut due to not being healthy. We have some DL depth and couldn’t waste a spot on a guy who doesn’t play.

Freedom!!!

[Author]

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