Not exactly good news for Steve Sanders

1987alum · Post by **1987alum** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 2:45 pm

Plain Dealer article

Of particular interest is the analysis of the WR position...

"Third receiver: This should have been the year that 2006 third-round pick Travis Wilson stepped up as - at least - the team's third receiver. But the self-proclaimed best receiver in last year's draft can't hang on to the ball. He's dropped one in each of the past two games despite being wide open. He also drops a lot of balls in practice. But the Browns don't seem ready to give up on him yet."

The most troubling is this line ...

"The Browns will probably keep an eye on the waiver wire for another experienced, sure-handed receiver."

The bit mentions Edwards, Carter, Wilson and Cribbs, but not Steptoe (though he is mentioned later as a possibility with Cribbs at punt returner). Or Sanders ... the fact that the Sandman's name doesn't come up at all makes it seems like a foregone conclusion that he won't make the active roster.

JohnnySwoop '85 · Post by **JohnnySwoop '85** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 4:50 pm

Come on man! Where's the faith?

Falconboy · Post by **Falconboy** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 4:59 pm

As much as it pains me , Sanders is likely to be cut. I'm of course holding out hope by a thread that there is a miracle.

1987alum · Post by **1987alum** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 12:35 pm

Well, I didn't see the Browns-Bears game, but from what I'm reading, Travis Wilson stepped up and Cribbs looked good. So it's playing out as expected ...

Edwards - in
JJ - in
Wilson - in
Cribbs - in
Steptoe - in (wouldn't cut a draft choice that quickly)

So it looks like the Sandman's best bet is to get placed on the practice squad. Disappointing.

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 1:25 pm

1987alum wrote:Well, I didn't see the Browns-Bears game, but from what I'm reading, Travis Wilson stepped up and Cribbs looked good. So it's playing out as expected ...

Edwards - in
JJ - in
Wilson - in
Cribbs - in
Steptoe - in (wouldn't cut a draft choice that quickly)

So it looks like the Sandman's best bet is to get placed on the practice squad. Disappointing.

I don't think Steptoe makes the roster.

He was drafted in the 7th and it's not uncommon for 7th round rookies to not make their team. His main value was as a PR. Cribbs has been returning punts, and doing a decent job (had a TD last night) so I look for him to be the guy in that role. Steptoe doesn't have much value as an actual WR (not as much as Sanders anyway), so I don't think he'll make the roster since he isn't winning the KR/PR duties.

1987alum · Post by **1987alum** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 1:39 pm

So do you see Sanders making the roster, then?

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 2:06 pm

My guess is it's between Sanders & Tim Carter for the final slot. They love Carter's speed, but his hands have been horrendous all throughout camp.

Personally I would prefer (as a Browns fan, not a BG homer) to keep Sanders. Wilson & Edwards give them big play ability without consistent hands. We don't need more of the same in Tim Carter as well...

I will say though that it wouldn't shock me in the least to see them go out and sign somebody that gets cut from some other team's camp, and have them take that 5th WR slot. Not sure they're real enamored with any of these guys.

Class of 61 · Post by **Class of 61** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 5:24 pm

hammb wrote:My guess is it's between Sanders & Tim Carter for the final slot. They love Carter's speed, but his hands have been horrendous all throughout camp.

Personally I would prefer (as a Browns fan, not a BG homer) to keep Sanders. Wilson & Edwards give them big play ability without consistent hands. We don't need more of the same in Tim Carter as well...

I will say though that it wouldn't shock me in the least to see them go out and sign somebody that gets cut from some other team's camp, and have them take that 5th WR slot. Not sure they're real enamored with any of these guys.

Hambb,
Good point about them scouring the waiver wires for other WR's...but in the meantime, which CURRENT WR is better on Special Teams, Sanders, Steptoe or Carter?

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 5:44 pm

Living in the BG area we haven't been able to get any of the preseason games, so I really cannot say for sure. From what I've been reading it sounds as though Steptoe has been the only one of the three that they've even tried as a return man. I'm not sure if any of the others are used in any other capacity (gunners, cover men, etc.).

So I'm really not sure. Like I said, though, Cribbs has a lock on both the KR & PR duties, so I don't think special teams is really going to be the deciding factor here. Given that Cribbs is already basically a dedicated STs guy I think they'll keep whichever of those 3 guys can be the best at WR. Sanders has the best hands & size of the group. Carter is the fastest. Steptoe really isn't much of a WR, even on draft day the only reason he was drafted was to compete as a PR.

Personally I hope they keep Sanders. They don't need speed as much as they need somebody who will actually catch the ball.

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Sat Sep 01, 2007 1:07 pm

The Browns kept Carter.

Sanders & Steptoe were both cut this afternoon

I'd look for Sandman to hit the practice squad.

TG1996 · Post by **TG1996** » Sat Sep 01, 2007 4:10 pm

hammb wrote:Sanders & Steptoe were both cut this afternoon

Booooo!
I'd like to think Steve showed a thing or two to other teams, but the Browns did a pretty good job keeping him under wraps the last two preseason games.

GoFalcons118 · Post by **GoFalcons118** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 11:33 am

Steve Sanders was placed on the Browns practice squad. This was in the article about it on clevelandbrowns.com:

Sanders, a Cleveland native and Bowling Green alum, joined the Browns practice squad late in the '06 season and also played for Berlin in NFL Europa in '07. Sanders has an ideal receivers body, standing at 6-feet-3 and weighing 201 pounds.

San Diego Falcon · Post by **San Diego Falcon** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 11:38 am

That's great. He's a few dropped passes away from being put on the roster.