[Lefty Noob]

Cleveland inked LB Willie McGinest to a three-year, $12 million deal yesterday, reuniting the former Patriots defensive star with his old defensive coordinator, Browns head coach Romeo Crennel.

"He's a big reason why I came," McGinest told the Associated Press. "He's like a father. He makes you feel comfortable and gives you that family atmosphere."

"I didn't want to go to a team to sign a contract and get some money," he added. "I wanted to be a part of a family. They made me feel like family. They made me feel needed, like I could come in and help them."

The Browns also signed DT Ted Washington to help plug some holes in the middle. Excellent offseason so far for Cleveland, adding C Bentley, WR Jurevicius, and now McGinest and Washington on D. Definitely, along with the Titans, one of the surprise winners during the free agency period so far.

[Who Dey]

Gerrard "Big Money" Warren is a free agent again. I think if they signed him the Browns would be a lock for the forty first super bowl.

[Mid-depth_Reporter]

The Browns are only a few players away from turning that 6-10 2005 record into a 9-7 to 10-6 record in 2006. They'll still have the Steelers and Bengals to contend with, but for once in quite some time, the Browns may have a playoff buzz that lasts past week 12 - or even into week 12.

[EmpireWF]

Romeo Crennel is now in his 2nd year as coach and will be bringing in more players who are "his kind of players" a la McGinest. There's no doubt that within the next two years, the Browns will be serious playoff contenders.

[Who Dey]

Originally Posted by EmpireWF

Romeo Crennel is now in his 2nd year as coach and will be bringing in more players who are "his kind of players" a la McGinest. There's no doubt that within the next two years, the Browns will be serious playoff contenders.

As long as their name is the Browns, there will always be doubts.

[cjg11582]

As a citizen of Ohio I am concerned of what Browns fans will do if they win a Superbowl. Anyone ever seen the episode of South Park in which the citizens re-enact some civil war battle. Then for reasons I won't delve into the people playing the part of the confederacy get liquored up and steam roll through the country claiming a bunch of towns. Well, I wouldn't sell Browns fans short of doing something similar. We need to discourage these acquisitions, because they are really, really practical. And I don't want my town be rampaged by a gaggle of drunk northeastern Ohioans.