aaronburr Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 I posted a version of this over on the NFL section of the board, but it feels appropriate here, too.....The Browns' 3rd string center Alonzo Ephraim, who they only signed when Bentley went down, is going to be suspended for the first 4 games of the regular season. All the Browns have left on their depth chart are a journeyman (5 teams in 5 years) and 2 rookies.So with our division rivals in such desperate straits, do we take advantage and accept a trade (say, for a pass-catching TE) or do we sit back and laugh at their predicament?Ben Wilkerson for Steve Heiden. Straight up. Interested? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derekshank Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 I posted a version of this over on the NFL section of the board, but it feels appropriate here, too.....The Browns' 3rd string center Alonzo Ephraim, who they only signed when Bentley went down, is going to be suspended for the first 4 games of the regular season. All the Browns have left on their depth chart are a journeyman (5 teams in 5 years) and 2 rookies.So with our division rivals in such desperate straits, do we take advantage and accept a trade (say, for a pass-catching TE) or do we sit back and laugh at their predicament?Ben Wilkerson for Steve Heiden. Straight up. Interested?First of all I would like to say that I did feel as bad as I could for the Browns (not all that much) when Bentley got hurt. I never root for injuries, and he was a good player, so even though I hate the Browns, I still think it is in poor taste to rejoice over serious injuries.However... the fact that the Browns are down to their 4th string at center only makes me laugh. I think it's great, and laughed out loud with my dad when I saw it on Sportscenter today.Not only do we not trade with them (never trade within the division)... but we certainly don't give them one of our 3 centers. Braham is the best we have, and the other 2 are necessary to our long-term O-Line situation. Besides... we play Cleveland week 2. I imagine a center is going to get cut from another team in the coming weeks, and I would prefer that the Browns go as long as possible without him learning their system. There will be sure to be some fumbles early on with Frye beign a very young QB with a cast-off center from another team starting the season for Cleveland. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Next_Big_Thing Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 Hell no. Seeing the problems at center that Cleveland is having, I look harder at my roster to make sure I don't have to put a center on the practice squad or cut one. I do, however, point out the young inexperienced person who will be snapping the ball to the second year quarterback in Cleveland and tell my defensive tackles and middle linebackers that week 2 starts Charlie Season, and I want to see him hunted viciously right up the middle. I offer Sam Adams a bucket of Ritchie's Chicken to get ready for the game. I tell Peko that his opportunity to set the record for sacks in a game comes week two and pump him up!On the other hand, Jesse Boone might be picked up by Cleveland after we cut our 4th center! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoosierCat Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 Ben Wilkerson for Steve Heiden. Straight up. Interested?I'm not sure it shouldn't be Guy-check for Heiden, but either way, yeah, I'm interested. I doubt highly that Cleveburg bites tho, since Hobson has helpfully declared multiple times that Wilkerson is almost certain to be let go, even tho he appears healthy. Why trade for a guy who'll be on the waiver wire anyhow? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bengalboomer7 Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 Why in the hell would we want to help make a division rival better? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoosierCat Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 Why in the hell would we want to help make a division rival better? Well, which scenario would you prefer:1. Bengals trade Wilkerson to Cleveland for, say, a 7th round pick.2. Bengals cut Wilkerson and Cleveland claims him off waivers for free.May as well get something for him, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrandom42 Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 I posted a version of this over on the NFL section of the board, but it feels appropriate here, too.....The Browns' 3rd string center Alonzo Ephraim, who they only signed when Bentley went down, is going to be suspended for the first 4 games of the regular season. All the Browns have left on their depth chart are a journeyman (5 teams in 5 years) and 2 rookies.So with our division rivals in such desperate straits, do we take advantage and accept a trade (say, for a pass-catching TE) or do we sit back and laugh at their predicament?Ben Wilkerson for Steve Heiden. Straight up. Interested?NO trading within the division!! Let them suffer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJJackson Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 I hold onto all the centers, who each know all the calls in our offensive scheme and could provide those to Cleveland if on their team, until after we play them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArmyBengal Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 The way I see this is, I would entertain the trade IF we truly can afford to trade within the Division and we would get something of value (TE) because I see Cleveland making a trade with SOMEONE anyway around and why miss out if we CAN afford the move and get something in return ??WHODEY !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HairOnFire Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 Wow,it seems like only yesterday that I was making fun of Brownie pinheads about that team drafting center after center after center. Good times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dadraftnick Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 We need to find a way to make sure that we keep Wilkerson,he could be a Pro Bowl player for the next 10 years.His bionic knee could fall apart at any time too,thats just football.This is the last year of his contract with us and I am not sure if Girl-check is the C of the future.One thing is for sure,Braham cant play much more so, we need all three.If you do trade one of them,you do it out of the division,you dont want to face a guy that you just told wasn't good enough twice a year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrishcovga Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 We need to find a way to make sure that we keep Wilkerson,he could be a Pro Bowl player for the next 10 years.His bionic knee could fall apart at any time too,thats just football.This is the last year of his contract with us and I am not sure if Girl-check is the C of the future.One thing is for sure,Braham cant play much more so, we need all three.If you do trade one of them,you do it out of the division,you dont want to face a guy that you just told wasn't good enough twice a year.NO FREAKIN WAY !! Braham, Ghiuciuc, and Wilkerson stay. Period. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparky151 Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 Since we're competing with the Browns for the division title, I'd say only make the deal if it helps us more than it helps them. It's hard to imagine them giving us something that meets that standard. If we were talking about an NFC team, make the deal if it helps us, independent of whether or not it helps the other side too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kazkal Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 Why in the hell would we want to help make a division rival better? Well, which scenario would you prefer:1. Bengals trade Wilkerson to Cleveland for, say, a 7th round pick.2. Bengals cut Wilkerson and Cleveland claims him off waivers for free.May as well get something for him, right?who said bengals were cutting him? last time I saw he was getting work at #2 center. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BengalByTheBay Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 My only thought is, regardless of whether we wanted to trade or not, that there's no way the clowns would trade Heiden to us. They can always pick up a waiver-wire center or somebody who just retired perhaps. It will still be a weakness, but I can't see them trading a solid TE to us when the unreliability that is da soldga is the one they would be counting on for that spot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYBengalfan Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 First off, f**k the Browns, f**k their fans and f**k the organization, keep our centers. Never trade with a division rival. ......When an enemy is down , dont help them, f**kin stomp on their face!!!!!!!!! WHO-DEY!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoosierCat Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 who said bengals were cutting him?Hobson. He doesn't think they'll carry three centers this year. He may be wrong, they carried 3 initially last year (Richie, Moore, and Bluto), but they also didn't have Whitworth to slot in. And IIRC Moore is the only offensive lineman they've shed. So if you want to keep Wilkerson you need to find a roster spot. Right now we seem to have one at TE. Will they use it for Wilk? Stay tuned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stripes Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 Meh. The Browns suck. The Browns + Wilkerson would suck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aaronburr Posted August 18, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 Meh. The Browns suck. The Browns + Wilkerson would suck.That's what my thinking was. Obviously you don't want to help a rival, but they're so desperate you could make a ridiculously lopsided deal and improve your own situation at their expense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kazkal Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 trading within division means they pay 10x more so 2nd rounder for one of our backups Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doze4 Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 you guys better hang on to wilkerson.call me an lsu homer or whatever, but once hes fully healthy hes going to be all world for you guys.odell thurman said hes the best lineman he ever faced in his college career.he won the rimmington award even after he was hurt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kazkal Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 you guys better hang on to wilkersonAgreed the board is kinda split on him half think hes a future probowler the rest can't get past he was a udfa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jditty47 Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 all he has to do is beat out guicheck...which in reality doesnt seem that difficult for a future probowler right? guicheck is being tested at other positions...if it works, hes gonna get the nod ober wilkerson. wilkerson needs to play his heart out to win that roster spot over guicheck or another position that is battling for that extra TE spot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kazkal Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 Ya thats it its not like guicheck would be getting beat for the spot sense if he was gonna be starting center next year you'd think theyd want him get as many reps possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurgan74 Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 I would not trade a Center to a division rival. However, I would be on the phone with theJets offering up either Kenny Watson or Chris Perry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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