Dateline - The Padded Cell: While the 2007 NFL season is still a work in progress, it’s not too early for football fans to start thinking ahead to 2008 and different personnel moves that can be made. As it currently stands, the Browns will need to make decisions concerning at least seventeen players on their roster – most of which are potential free agents. Let’s start on the offensive side of the football.

QUARTERBACK: Derek Anderson survived the scrutiny of being underneath the microscope of a quarterback controversy, losing out to Charlie Frye, only to see Frye jettisoned to Seattle after game one. Since then, the Browns have gone 7-4 over the next eleven games. And while Anderson’s play isn’t the only reason for Cleveland’s newly found success, it is one of them. After seeing this franchise squander draft picks upon draft picks in an effort to raise the talent level on the roster, it would be nothing short of a travesty to see this player not wearing brown and orange next season. Anderson is a restricted free agent at the end of this season, and already a number of fans are trying to figure out what combination of draft picks the Browns could get in exchange for him. To those people I have only one thing to say - Are you out of your freaking minds?! We finally get a quarterback with the tools to run Rob Chudzinski’s offense and put points on the board, and you can’t wait to get him out of here? Did you wake up this morning and take a handful of stupid pills, or what? Nearly half of the teams in this league don’t have a legitimate starting quarterback. Quality depth at the skilled positions is only one ingredient to a team’s success. If you package this guy in a trade and Brady Quinn becomes the starter, what do you do if Quinn (God forbid) were to suffer a season ending injury? I understand that the Browns gave up a first round pick in 2008 for the rights to draft him, but with the way things are going, don’t be so quick to feed him to the wolves. If Quinn ends up being the player that Phil Savage thinks he’ll become, then it will all work itself out. As for now, don’t upset the apple cart. In summary, let’s get this kid signed.

Ken Dorsey is an unrestricted free agent after this season. His contribution towards helping both Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson learn Rob Chudzinski’s offense may never be fully measured. That being said, and considering that he’s the third string quarterback, he may have to take a substantial pay cut to stay in Cleveland. I’m not sure whether or not he’s comfortable with that idea. It would be good to have him on the sidelines, but not at the salary of a starting NFL quarterback.

RUNNING BACK: Jamal Lewis has had a mixed bag type of season thus far. While injuries have kept him out of a couple games, he has given the rushing game some credibility. This is a contract year for Lewis and I suspect that he’s looking for a multi-year deal in 2008. That being said, I wouldn’t want to put all of my eggs into his basket because of his injury history. I’d like to see Lewis return, but only if the length and dollars of the contract make sense for both parties.

OFFENSIVE LINE: Lennie Friedman has been the ultimate team player for Cleveland. He’s great in the locker room and he brings his lunch pail to work every day. While he’s not necessarily what I’d like to see in a starting guard, he’s more than adequate as a reserve player. Unless the guy you bring in to replace him is significantly better, I think that the Browns really need to re-sign Friedman.

Seth McKinney went on injured reserve about halfway through the season. He, like Friedman, signed a one-year deal. And while I’ve never been overly impressed with McKinney at right guard, he does seem to help the o-line’s chemistry. If he’s healthy and isn’t going to cost you a lot of money, then re-signing Seth McKinney certainly wouldn’t be a bad move.

What can we say about Nat Dorsey since the Browns traded Melvin Fowler to Minnesota in order to get him? He’s big, (6’8”) and he’s wide (330 lbs.), and that’s about it. There’s a reason why Phil Savage drafted Joe Thomas with the third overall pick this year and it’s because Nat Dorsey isn’t ready to start at left tackle. Remember, it was his man that blocked Phil Dawson’s field goal attempt that would’ve won the game in Oakland. How much better can we expect him to get? That’s for the front office to decide.

Greg Eslinger was claimed off the Broncos practice squad shortly after Seth McKinney went on the injured reserve list. Facing the possibility that Lennie Friedman may need to be inserted into the starting lineup at guard, the Browns needed to find a viable alternative at the backup center position. Eslinger’s collegiate career was fairly well decorated, but has yet to show his stuff in real game conditions. He may be looked upon as either insurance or a developmental project. Either way, I believe that Cleveland may have found a diamond in the rough. Unfortunately for Eslinger, I also believe that the only place he’ll be allowed to show his metal is on the practice field. It’s likely that he’ll be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.

WIDE RECEIVER: Tim Carter came to Cleveland from the New York Giants in a trade involving running back Reuben Droughns. The label on Carter was that he’s the fastest guy on the team, but can come down with a case of the drops when it matters the most. While it’s true that he’s made some plays here and there, I’m not totally convinced that we need to have him return next year. I suppose that the jury may still be out on Tim Carter – depending upon what he’s looking for in a contract.

We’re all aware of the Browns defensive woes statistically. However, in the game against the Texans, I for one saw a bit of a transformation take place. Actually, I started noticing it in the game at Pittsburgh. The front seven is actually starting to put some pressure on the opposing quarterback. Even earlier in the season, the defense has shown some ability to make the big defensive stop – especially on critical fourth down plays late in the game. One key ingredient that they’re lacking is consistency. Some of this is from lackluster performance is injury related, and other players not meeting the team’s expectations. Here are the Browns defensive free agents and my own commentaries on them.

NOSE TACKLE: At the beginning of the season, veteran NT Ted Washington was the starter in the middle. Underachievement and injuries have landed Ted on the injured reserve list. Ted’s been a great guy in the locker room, but I believe that the end of the 2007 season will be the perfect time for him to step aside and retire. Shawn Smith has finally moved inside and is in the rotation with Ethan Kelley. Ethan finally appears to be comfortable in his role and is starting to turn the corner in terms of his overall performance. Nose tackles are really hard to find, and as long as he isn’t asking for a king’s ransom, I see no reason to not re-sign him as a player to fit into the D-line’s rotation.

DEFENSIVE END: The maturation process of one Simon Fraser has been an interesting one to watch. This young man came into Cleveland a couple years ago as an undrafted free agent with a national championship under his belt and has had to learn a totally new defensive system. Now in his third year, Fraser is still growing as a player – thanks primarily to a work ethic that would kill the regular every day Joe-Bagga-Donuts. I see no reason why the Browns wouldn’t re-sign him.

LINEBACKER: Butch Davis made Chaun Thompson a second round selection in 2003. Ever since, he’s been trying to live up to the expectations of where he was drafted. A workout warrior, Thompson has also worked hard at his craft. Although he’s no longer a starter at linebacker, he has the versatility to play either inside or outside. Where Chaun really excels is on special teams and that more than anything else is why I believe that the Browns will re-sign this unrestricted free agent.

Matt Stewart came to Cleveland in 2005 as an unrestricted free agent because of his familiarity with playing in a 3-4 alignment. While Stewart can play either inside or outside, he doesn’t excel at either. Currently on IR, Matt Stewart is likely not going to be re-signed by the Browns in the opinion of this sports writer.

Kris Griffin was brought on board this season primarily because of his work on special teams, and he’s performed well in that role. And since he is a restricted free agent, I suspect that he’ll return in 2008.

DEFENSIVE BACKS: Gary Baxter came to the Browns with high expectations, but has unfortunately missed significant playing time due to injuries. His most recent encounter had him tear the patellar tendons in both of his knees. Baxter reworked his contract in such a way that 2007 will be his last season under the current agreement. That being said, it’s hard to predict where Gary will be playing next season – if at all. My guess is that any contract he signs would have to be incentive laden for him to come back from such a terrible injury. Regardless of what happens to Gary, I wish him well in whatever his future endeavors may be.

Daven Holly played his College football at the University of Cincinnati and came to Cleveland as a free agent last season. Basically Holly is a nice third CB for your nickel package. He also seems to have a nose for the football. Since he’s a restricted free agent, I see no reason to not re-sign him.

Ricardo Colclough was a second round draft pick for the Steelers and was picked up off of waivers this season. His primary contribution as a Steeler was as a kickoff return specialist. Coming out of Tusculum, Colclough was fairly highly rated as a cornerback, but hasn’t been able to crack the starting lineup. I suspect that he was brought in here for a look-see and make a determination from there. Other than that, it’s hard to say at this juncture whether or not he’ll remain a Cleveland Brown.

Nick Sorensen was brought in to provide depth at the safety position and contribute on special teams. So far his biggest contributions have been his recovery of an onside kick against the Texans and punt coverage. The seven-year veteran may or may not be brought back depending upon how big a priority the front office places on it. Fortunately for Sorensen, he has the rest of the season to make his case for staying in Cleveland.

If you have any questions or comments, I’d love to hear from you. Please contact me at billwunkle@hotmail.com. I’m looking forward to hearing from you, so keep those e-mails coming. Thanks again for your support of dawgbones.com.

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