The release of Joe Jurevicius sounds like one of those occasions when a guy coming off an injury meets a new coaching staff and new front office that wants him to reduce his pay following injury.
It shows why players always cackle when they are criticized for not being loyal or sentimental, because clearly loyalty and sentiment run both ways. Jurevicius was aching to finish his contract with the Browns for the Browns. Evidently the Browns didn't want to pay him $2.4 million – even though he wanted to come back after a hellish year when a staph infection almost ended his career and forced him to have at least six procedures on his knee. It's not like he got hurt; he went in to have his knee cleaned out.
There were risks with Jurevicius playing, yes. Guys who went through what he went through have not been terribly successful getting back on the field. I've talked to a lot of guys, too, who promise they'll play again after a serious injury, then don't. So perhaps the Browns felt it was unfair to the rest of the team to carry a guy they simply did not believe could return.
Jurevicius could have stayed for less money. Ryan Tucker agreed to reduce his pay to the veteran minimum to play one more year in Cleveland. Jurevicius, in a statement released by his agent, said he was willing "to take a steep pay cut." Perhaps "steep" was in the eye of the beholder, and Jurevicius wanted more than the Browns were willing to pay. Or perhaps it wasn't the money that forced him away. Perhaps there was something else.
Put yourself in his shoes. At age 34, you've proven your value and your professionalism. You go through hell to get back, and then you're asked to take a pay cut by a team that is signing guys like Robert Royal and Hank Poteat. This says nothing about the new guys' value, just that if you're Jurevicius you must look and wonder: Why do I have to take this kind of pay cut?
It's interesting that the Browns asked for the pay cut. The salary cap does not seem to be an issue, so in essence the team was telling one of its veterans he had to either prove himself again, or that he wasn't worth the money he was going to make, or that he was too injured to play. In my mind, there doesn't seem to be middle ground. If there is I'm all ears. The team also had the option of bringing Jurevicius in for camp to see how things went, but chose not to follow that course.
The team could help itself with a more thorough explanation – George Kokinis conference call perhaps? – than the one provided in the team's release. All parties involved – the fans, Jurevicius and the team – would seem to benefit from a 15-minute explanation.
Now the question becomes: Who the heck is going to play receiver?
{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
Joe is probably done, and was certainly not going to be around to catch a pass in — God willing — the next Browns playoff game. But if that's the case, it seems there'd have been a better way to do this — play it out for awhile until he comes to the conclusion himself, perhaps. These guys are just tone deaf to the ramifications of what they do (and how they do it). The funny thing, Pat, is that you say Kokinis owed more by way of explanation. But the only reason they said anything at all is that Joe's a hometown kid; Mangini and Kokinis probably viewed their little statement as magnanimous — the equivalent of giving Joe a gold watch at a retirement banquet.
The reality is this: These guys don't care if we like them, or their moves. In fact, Cleveland fans have made it easy for them — they were declared failures before the ink on their own contracts had dried. Really, it's impossible for the fans in this town to think any less of them, so in a weird way, they are free to remake this team however the h*ll they want to with no regard for the fans. Winning is the only thing that will change anyone's views of Mangini and Kokinis, so they might as well focus on that to the exclusion of everything else. Sigh. Only in Cleveland.
I get a sense of the early Belichek years — you know, the ones where he was just a jerk, but didn't win anything. I do hope I'm wrong, but I really don't care for Mangini's style, and I really haven't seen much from him other than remaking things in his image (much like the early Belichek). If he can win, I'll re-assess. Maybe he'll turn out like the later Belichek — a jerk that does win games.
Pat,
Seriously, what's up with all the anger? You have provided some compelling arguments for your thoughts over the last couple months. Maybe you lost a couple good sources from the Club Med at Berea. I usually go to the PD and read Bud Shaw's attempt at humor. Next is your predictable angst here at the ABJ. I usually hope that the Cavs are your subject. But I will ask you this one Browns question. Why do you or any other Browns fans deserve explanations? I don't care if these guys run the Browns like some secret govt. think tank as long as they win. If they don't, then eventually they'll get run out of town too. The Parcells tree, and by extension Belicheck, run their teams this way. Spare me with all the talk about, "all the secrecy and none of the wins…" Mangini has been a head coach for three years. The book isn't long enough to make any definitive statements about Mangini. But I'm sure you and other pissed of journalists will continue to chip away, one snipe at a time. See you for your next Cavs article.
Joe J. has always been a refreshing change in the new NFL. Unlike Vick, Pacman Jones, Carruthers, T.O., etc, Joe has class, heart, maturity, loyality, talent and great character. After all he has proven over the years and done for the Browns and he is willing to take a pay cut from a modest salary to begin with, Mangini/Kokinis instead cut him. Pat, please do all of us powerless fans a favor and keep Mangini/Kokini's feet squarely in the fire every chance you get. On the positive side, at least my addiction to support a dysfunctional team like the Browns has been greatly reduced due to the cold fish Mangini.
Remember people, Mangini and Kokinis have a plan. Because they say they do.
what a great organization.
give the guy a potentially career ending staph infection.
then cut him loose when he's about ready to give it a shot.
why not wait to see what he can do? if his career is over it's on the browns not joe.
i'm surprised the concession stands at the stadium don't pass out ebola in the hotdogs during the standard home loss. i'm sure the fans would pledge undying loyalty to mangini and lerner while their lifesblood leaks out of every orifice of their body.
and we have guys like zach. who only care if the browns win. there's only one problem…..THEY DON'T F'ING WIN!!!! mangini is a stay-puft marshmallow man sub-.500 loser! this guy should be giving foot massages and caviar to each and every browns fan yet some fans are willing to bend over with no vaseline for him. the cleveland inferiority complex is so strong that randy lerner can hang out in england and watch soccer while the jokers infiltrate the deck back in cleveland with empty promises of success. hank poteat??? you've got to be kdding me. he made dennis northcutt and kelly holcomb look like bradshaw and lynn swann. but noooooo….joe must go……never mind that berea makes a prison bathroom look sterile in comparison.
oh yeah…tom, nice post. i suspect you are right. the best fans in the nfl are the sycophantic, self loathing ones with an open wallet. just ask randy.
Six or more knee procedures in the last year or so on a 34 year old receiver who's been injury prone his entire career. The Browns might be doing Joe a favor if he wants to be able to walk when he's into his forties.
In any case, it's tough to call him dependable with his injury history and it is best to move on in a rebuilding situation.
Appears to be the same senario played out with Bentley last year. Do we see Bentley playing some where else? Sometimes these guys just hate to give it up. I wish Joe the best.
it's an extremely myopic view to only look at actual production on the field regarding this move.
imagine yourself as a free agent (who isn't scraping the bottom of the barrel for a contract). a team wants you but you know that even stepping foot in the complex might give you staph, gangrene or the bubonic plague. not only is it a huge risk to let some lackey put a band-aid on your arm but if you do contract a career ending staph infection your contract will be terminated and you will never play again.
sound good to you?
that's what the browns look like to most of the nfl. a shoddy organization with a third world medical team. i know browns fans are desensitized by failure and losing but people who haven't had to breathe putrid c.e.i. fly ash their whole lives place a little more value on themselves.
Private businesses operated substantially on public funds should give the public a little more than "this is the way it is, screw you." Never mind the lousy way an organization treats its employees, both on and off the field.
If the Browns are actually a private business, as technically Lerner's play toy is, doesn't the Beacon Journal and the Plain Dealer indeed provide the Browns with free advertising of their product every time a word is printed about them?
Although I agree that Jurevicius is done and should get out while he can still walk to his car, that's not the point.
On a related note, I just finished reading that, through the end of February, Lerner has brought in a whopping $49.8 million from the county's sin taxes alone. Buy a Marlboro, a Bud Light or a bottle of vodka in Cuyahoga County, and you're proudly paying for another pair of Lerner's gag underpants that say on the baggy fly, "I've got soccer balls." Not a bad gig if you can get born into it.
I absolutely love the fact that the Cleveland media is getting upset because the Browns are getting rid of overrated and overpaid players. Um, does anybody remember the product the Browns put on the field last year? If so, then why are you complaining again?
No offense Pat, but winning organizations don't hold press conferences when they cut backup possession receivers. I love Joe J as much as the next guy but……the Browns are in the midst of a major makeover and need to cut the fat as efficiently as possible. They don't have the time, money, or patience from fans to watch let old vets go out on their terms. If you don't like the moves and the attitude coming from Berea, then don't buy the tickets and don't write about the team.
Yet, the Browns will sellout every game and the Indians (who supposedly do things the right way) will struggle to get to 2 million in attendance this summer. Funny how things work out.
It's almost impossible to get an in depth report on the Tribe from the Cleveland media these days and opening day is a month away. Perhaps you could give us some thoughts on the Tribe possibly signing Pedro? Nope, we get a bunch of cranky writers who would prefer to talk about murals and such. No wonder newspapers are going out of business.
To make matters worse the best team in the NBA can barley get a word of publicity in this town. We have freakin' Lebron James for crying out loud! A gutty team that is battling for the #1 seed in the East! Can we please get more coverage of the Cavaliers? Nope, the C-town media is staking our Berea to get a hot tip on Hank Poteat and complaining when they don't get a heads up that a washed up receiver who didn't play a down last year gets cut.
realist, you must have missed the danny ferry circle jerk articles in the peedee the last week. trust me, there is plenty of gushing cavs coverage. but if you want meat and potatoes you're going to have to wait until the playoffs when it counts. not sure what's going on here at the abj regarding the cavs. the coverage is very inconsistent.
as alan pointed out, this team lives on public funds. so your "shut up if you don't like it" view doesn't hold water. if you ever bought a beer in cuyahoga county then you have paid into the sham that is the cleveland browns and you have effectively signed up to state your piece, good or bad.
and realist, why do you neglect to address the very real issue of the poor medical care of jj (and bentley among others) shredding his knee and making him expendable? let's be REAL realist. if your idea of a good time is getting your career ending by the mismanagement of your boss i can substitute and you can come visit me. i'll be happy to take a louisville slugger to your knee and ship you back on the dirty dog (greyhound for the uninitiated). then you can feel like a real member of the cleveland browns.
Realist, I couldn't have said it better myself, though I did post something similar on the PD site.
This article is just one more reason I find myself less and less interested in Pat McManamon's articles. I used to visit Ohio.com a few times a day looking for sports news. Now, if I go a few days and miss a few articles, I don't even go back and read them. I'm sick of reading the same old "living in the past" anger that caused me to leave Cleveland twice – the second time for good (literally – jobs, cost of living, weather – North Georgia is awesome).
Does a 4-12 season really JUSTIFY getting upset with a roster purge??? I think not, whether the guy is a "hometown" guy or not.
My PD post from earlier today:
Homer, homers, homers. God forbid the Browns management release a fan favorite! Geez, the response sounds like Kosar all over again. How pathetic. Jurevicius was/is damaged goods, will NEVER again play as well as his last good season, but some fans act like this move is going to make the team WORSE than 4-12??? He did not play last year, and this move somehow makes this year doomed already??? Did the Browns not beat the Giants without Winslow and Jurevicius on the field last season? Some of you homers make me want to puke. QUIT LIVING IN THE PAST. That's why Cleveland ISN'T a viable "major" city anymore. The city can't ever pave a road into the future because people are too wrapped around the axle living in the past.
Terje – a baseball bat to the knee sounds painful. I'll pass on that. Thanks for the offer though. I haven't bought a beer in cuyahoga county in awhile, but if I did I am guessing the proceeds would help the Indians & Cavaliers as well whom I am more than happy to support. As for the Browns they can do as they please until September when the games are played. Until then, it is not worth our time to get fired up about a bunch of overrated NFL retreads. The Browns are a work in progress, it is going to take years before we can compete with the Steelers & Patriots of the world. In the meantime save yourself some time & some Maalox and start enjoying our winning franchises.
i'll pass on the indians. getting to the alcs just doesn't cut it when you have 2 players in the cy young voting. as long as eric wedge is around i wouldn't expect the indians to be hoisting any ws championship banners.
"the browns are a work in progress"—-that should be the team slogan.
All these silly comments and personal attacks, yet I have yet to read one that even bothers trying to answer the question, "Why are they cutting this guy, and yet they just signed somebody like Hank Poteat?"
I don't understand the concept of getting rid of a bad secondary guy, and then replacing him with yet another bad secondary guy. Isn't Poteat just another tired example of replacing stale vomit with fresh vomit? Is Mangini seriously considering using this guy as a starter?
If you're "purging" a roster, then you don't purge like an anorexic Olsen twin, and then lap it right back up like you're a fat Shar-Pei. What does Poteat actually bring him except a Jets ID tag on his Samsonite luggage? Five teams in nine years of sitting his ass on a long wood bench. Wow, that's talent!
He's relatively cheap, so what. I'm guessing so was the transvestite hooker I saw after leaving one of the night games.
Are any of the other new coaches/GMs in the league bringing in truckloads of their old familiar goofs? No, they aren't. Gee, I wonder why not.
terje, nothing to do with Jurevicius, but since I avoid the PD like the plague, I'm curious about this Ferry circle-jerkfest they had last week. Tell me more. I'm guessing if it involves Ferry and jerking, Windhorst and Pluto must have been involved in some way, shape or form. If they weren't writing, then they were certainly watching.
if i remember right it was bud shaw and t-bone pluto. they both published articles on the wonders of danny ferry. they didn't gloss over the faults but it was two syrupy, love notes published almost back to back. like two lovers serenading the same girl outside the window simultaneously.
surprisingly, like michael curry here at the abj, windhorst has been a little down on mike brown's coaching. especially after the boston game. correct me if i'm wrong on this one, i didn't see it or even read much about it but mike brown gave up down by 10 with over 2 minutes left in boston? i guess reggie miller was a better player than lebron will ever be in his mind.
I believe Terje is referring to two pieces in the PD that ran on an off day – perhaps a Sunday even – one by Windhorst was a fact-based recap of the moves made since Ferry became GM. Best move, worst move, etc.. The other was a companion piece by Pluto pretty much saying what a great job Ferry has done. At 50-13 I think throwing a little praise on Ferry is fine.
I think Brown is doing fine but I do agree that Smith should probably start. It's just that the team is winning so it's tough to change the starters. And Wally doesn't have to play the 4 if he replaces Z, it could be LeBron.
However, these are minor things. The playoff rotation will be different and adjustments will come from game to game. Mike Brown is still the best coach the team has ever had. He knows what he's doing.
Windhorst did a "worst move?" I'm surprised they didn't make it a two-part special feature, there must have been some heavy editing, they probably ran out of column space.
All moves lousy. The sole good move which changed everything? The Williams trade. All anybody has to do is go back and review the games when Snow scored. That was the entire difference.
Windy and Pluto. I love what larry d. once wrote, that Ferry had waterboarded both of those human pacifiers into submission. Any reference to Dick Cheney always gets a big thumbs-up from me.
Now, back to Pat's question. Who the hell is going to play receiver? If he's still available and they still don't draft Crabtree, somebody in Downtown Cleveland should be shot. Not only do they need a receiver, but in case they've forgotten, it's also supposed to be entertainment. Admit it, when Edwards doesn't drop something after he perpetually breaks free, it's far more fun than watching some white guy "possession receiver" trudging along, even if the end result is the same.
It seems like ManKok is set on Edwards (unless they get an offer they can't resist), Stallworth, and Cribbs will get more playing time at #3. 3rd and 4th guys aren't hard to come by, even in the late rounds of the draft and free agency left overs. We have a New England/NY guy so I'm sure he's favoring Stallworth despite and unwarranted, ridiculous contract inherited from Savage and Co.. I would certainly be more concerned about our secondary than the wide receiver position. Especially if they can't get Favre into the playoffs in a division they competed well in last year. The big question is whether or not Stallworth can be a number 2 guy.
i think stallworth answered that question himself last year.
he's not even a number 3 receiver.
Well I hope they really do have a plan because its discouraging seeing them cast people aside and then sign a bunch of reserves and guys who have been in the league for years and bounced around from team to team. They were idiots to let S. Jones go to Philly, and why didn't anyone jump on the chance to re-sign L. Bodden at a discounted rate. The Patriots certainly did, whether they needed him or not. Stallworth has proven to be unreliable and should be considered a thief for getting paid all those millions last year and not doing squat for this team. I hope if Beanie Wells falls to the end of the 1st rd or top of the 2nd that ManKok makes the move up to move up a couple spots to snatch up a possible HOF RB.