doug johnson signed by the browns

mk455 · Post by **mk455** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 4:22 pm

this could be bad news for harris... but lets hope he does well. what do u all think?

pardonfan · Post by **pardonfan** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 5:00 pm

Doug Johnson is one of the worst journeyman quarterbacks there ever is or was. If the browns cut J5 in favor of this stiff I will refuse to watch the Browns for a long long time.

NY-BG-FAN · Post by **NY-BG-FAN** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 6:56 pm

I love Harris as much as the next fan, but honestly, can you blame the Browns for going out and getting a veteran backup? Dilfer is ancient, Frye is a rookie, and Harris is a experienced as a rookie. Doug Johnson is no Frank Reich in the world of backup QB's, but he is more than capable.

kdog27 · Post by **kdog27** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 7:47 pm

NY-BG-FAN wrote:I love Harris as much as the next fan, but honestly, can you blame the Browns for going out and getting a veteran backup? Dilfer is ancient, Frye is a rookie, and Harris is a experienced as a rookie. Doug Johnson is no Frank Reich in the world of backup QB's, but he is more than capable.

Yeah I am surprised it took this long to happen. I hope Josh kicks some butt out there. From little I hear it sounds like he is doing pretty good. I would love for him to stay in Cleveland, maybe I would even like the Browns again. Maybe.

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 9:25 pm

Harris will have to outplay Johnson in camp & in the preseason games. Charlie & Dilfer are locks for the roster, so it is an open battle for the 3rd spot. Unfortunately Josh would have to seriously outplay Johnson for them to not keep the veteran. I was hoping the brass would be true to their word and not pursue a vet, but with rumblings that both J5 & Frye looked bad in minicamp I'm not surprised.

I'm not sure about the practice squad either. There are rules for practice squad eligibility based on your experience, etc. One of the qualifications is how long a player has been on an active roster. When Cleveland signed him away from Baltimore they had to put him on the active roster. I'm not sure if he was on it long enough to disqualify him for practice squad duties. If it did his NFL career could be waning.

Bleeding Orange · Post by **Bleeding Orange** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 9:39 pm

The Plain Dealer recently had an article in which it said that Harris was the early favorite for the backup spot, straight from Crennel's mouth. This was no more than a few days ago.

Something tells me that those of you saying Frye is a lock for the active roster are talking out of a hole other than your mouths...

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 9:44 pm

Bleeding Orange wrote:The Plain Dealer recently had an article in which it said that Harris was the early favorite for the backup spot, straight from Crennel's mouth. This was no more than a few days ago.

Something tells me that those of you saying Frye is a lock for the active roster are talking out of a hole other than your mouths...

You don't cut a 3rd round draft choice. You don't. I don't care if he was the worst 3rd round pick ever you do NOT cut him before his rookie year. I'd venture that it has happened less than 10 times in the history of the NFL.

It's entirely possible that Charlie Frye is out of the league in 3 years and Josh goes on to win 10 superbowls. Still Charlie would make the roster this year.

Crennel said Josh was the backup because Frye is a rookie & Johnson was not yet in the picture.

I'm sorry but I'd bet you anything, you name the terms, that Frye will make the roster this year.

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 9:54 pm

Here is the excerpt from the BerniesInsiders Insider article:

THE NEWS: The Browns announced today that they have signed quarterback Doug Johnson and released five young players: 2004 seventh-round choice Adimchinobe Echemandu and undrafted rookies Larry Burt, Charles Byrd, Bradly Chavez, Bill Flowers, and Justin Fraley.

SURPRISE FACTOR: Very low. Bernie's Insiders reported in Ask the Insiders nearly a month ago that the Browns had tried out Johnson. The team's interest in Johnson had also been reported in the Nashville City Paper and Plain Dealer over the last two weeks. The Browns looked at twelve veterans in May and have signed two (Johnson, Marcus Spears). Other names we are aware who tried out are OG Kerry Jenkins, T Marcus Price, DT Eric Downing, and LB Jason Glenn.

Bernie's Insiders has suggested for weeks, primarily on the radio program, that signing a veteran quarterback was a need given concerns about Josh Harris' experience and ability. Charlie Frye needs time to develop and needs to be insulated against being thrown into a starting role in 2005.

There are two elements to today's news which are worth noting.

Timing: We previously suspected that the Browns would wait until training camp was underway prior to making a move, primarily because we felt that they needed to get a better assessment of Josh Harris' performance. The decision to move forward with the signing of Johnson today suggests possible competition for his services (mid-low probability) or a high level of disappointment with Josh Harris' performance in the recent full-squad mini-camp (mid-high probability). We were not impressed with Harris' performance during the recent full-squad mini-camp, but only had the ability to view a portion of the activities. Harris was inconsistent with his throws, often missing receivers.

BGALUMNI · Post by **BGALUMNI** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 11:09 pm

hammb...there have been times, when only the 6th round pick has been the only player to make the team.

It happens more often than you think.

St. Louis Rams have had a couple of 3 rd rounders not make it in the past 10 years or so alone.

Teams make keep them, but on the practice squad or IR doesn't count as the active roster. It isn't common, but it isn't unheard of to not have a 3rd round pick get cut or not make the active roster.

Warthog · Post by **Warthog** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 11:39 pm

While that may be true, I would make a large wager that zero, zip, nil, nada, none of them were QBs. Any team that takes a QB knows they have to give them a chance to develop. No one would ever think a QB was good enough to draft in the first three rounds and then cut them in training camp if they performed badly. Unless of course they were other reasons for the release, i.e, coaching/front office change, off-field issues, etc.

BGFalcons232 · Post by **BGFalcons232** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 2:00 am

harris is all but done in cleveland. it sucks, but it isn't in the browns' best interest to keep two QBs behind dilfer who haven't seen a single snap of NFL experience.

the johnson signing has moved the harris cutting to all but a formality now. frye ISN'T going anywhere. you just don't cut a third round QB who was projected as a second rounder.

BGALUMNI · Post by **BGALUMNI** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 8:12 am

BGFalcons232 wrote:harris is all but done in cleveland. it sucks, but it isn't in the browns' best interest to keep two QBs behind dilfer who haven't seen a single snap of NFL experience.

the johnson signing has moved the harris cutting to all but a formality now. frye ISN'T going anywhere. you just don't cut a third round QB who was projected as a second rounder.

Be realistic?

In that case we stay away from the prognosticating and such and just wait and see what happens.

My guess is that Harris had wished he stayed with the Ravens at some point in all of this. It is hard to pass up the chance to sign on with the team you always wanted to play for growing up though. He would of had a better shot in Baltimore and I would have been happier because I would not of had to follow the Browns.

NY-BG-FAN · Post by **NY-BG-FAN** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 10:06 am

When was it said he always wanted to play for the Browns? He probably now wishes he stayed with the Ravens I agree, but there was a substantial pay raise moving from their practice squad to Cleveland's active roster, and it was probably more than worth it even though he was with them for just a few games. Although the Johnson signing isn't good news, remember the Phil Savage factor here. He drafted him in Baltimore, so he may see something he really likes in Harris to keep him around. At one point Harris was behind Luke McCown too, and he isn't around anymore so although Johnson is probably the favorite to make the roster, let's not jump to any conclusions.

fredthefalcon · Post by **fredthefalcon** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 10:36 am

BGALUMNI wrote:hammb...there have been times, when only the 6th round pick has been the only player to make the team.

It happens more often than you think.

When has this happened and what teams? Was it when they had no draft picks in the first three rounds. I cannot remember a 1st or 2nd round draft choice that has been cut before the 1st season unless there were legal issues. Even then, I think teams wait it out. Granted I follow the Lions more closely and it is rare that they ever cut a draft choice in the initial season and it is usually a late rounder that goes.

04forheisman · Post by **04forheisman** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 11:11 am

Josh need to go play for the Columbus Destroyers, he would make a great Arena QB, and the experience would help him to get back in the NFL someday. He needs to play.

doug johnson signed by the browns

doug johnson signed by the browns

be realistic people

Re: be realistic people