DRAFT:

1st Matt Tennant (8/7)
2nd Jared Odrick (5.5/7)
3rd Leigh Tiffin (4.5/7)
4th Rashawn Jackson (1.1/4)

TENNANT is a C ranked 77 with strength 98, he will be the fulcrum of our line for years to come.

ODRICK is a DE ranked 70 with incredible strength, 98, and good speed, 68. What a behemoth he will be in a couple of years!

TIFFIN is a K ranked 83 with kicking power 99. He will be a major weapon for us.

JACKSON is a FB ranked 62 but with speed 84, great for a FB.

I think you need to turn the Ridiculous setting down in your game, Torcida. Two last second wins? Teams coming back from almost 30 points down to tie the game? Unreal.

FREE AGENCY:

Ray Lewis (34/7)
Shawn Springs (28/7)
Jonathan Ogden (24/7)
Ken Lucas (16/7)
Rich Moore (2.2/3)
Josh McCown (1.5/1)
Snoop Minnis (2.5/1)
Jonathan Carter (800/1)
Riall Johnson (800/1)
Derrick Blaylock (650/1)

A massive coup for us as we entice RAY LEWIS over from the hated RAVENS - talk about payback! LEWIS is 30 years old, and ranked 99 (speed 85, not too shabby), what an addition to our team.

And not only that - we got JONATHAN OGDEN from them too! They must have been in cap hell! OGDEN is ranked 89 and aged 31, with strength 95. Talk about poetic justice, all of CLEVELAND is going to celebrating these two additions.

SHAWN SPRINGS is a CB ranked 91 and aged 30 with good speed (94) and awareness (90), an excellent addition to our team. He'll be the #2 CB behind SAMARI ROLLE.

LUCAS is ranked 79 and aged 26 with speed 91, he'll be a nickel or dimeback for us.

RICH MOORE is a undrafted FA SS, aged 23 and ranked a mere 63, but with useful speed (89) and acceleration (89) - he might, just might, have a shot to replace ROBERT GRIFFITH down the road.

McCOWN is ranked 66 and aged 26, he will be our #3 QB.

MINNIS is ranked 75 and aged 28, he will be our #4 WR.

CARTER is ranked 62 and aged 26, he has great speed and will be a KR behind NORTHCUTT.

JOHNSON is ranked 60 and aged 27, he has good speed (80) and will be a reserve LB and special teamer.

BLAYLOCK is ranked 56 and aged 26, he will be our #3 RB.

Incandenza wrote:
I think you need to turn the Ridiculous setting down in your game, Torcida. Two last second wins? Teams coming back from almost 30 points down to tie the game? Unreal.

I would if I could. It's being played on exactly the same settings as the LIONS and there weren't too many ridiculous results like that in that game.

There's just something about this team. Truly, they are the Kardiac Kids!

RE-NEGOTIATED:

Mike Gruttadauria (1.6/1)
Ryan Tucker (2.8/1)
Mark Word (2.2/1)

These guys are all bought out of long-term deals and next year will be their last with the team.

PRE-SEASON:

Brown +3 to 75
Jackson +1 to 63
Davis +1 to 92
Asamoah +1 to 66
Tennant +1 to 78
Odrick +1 to 71
Weatherspoon +1 to 79
McClain +1 to 74
Thompson +1 to 80
Moore +2 to 65
Tiffin +2 to 85

YEAR 3 ROSTER

QB

Tim Couch (6) 76
Jarrett Brown (1) 75
Josh McCown (3) 66

HB

William Green (3) 88
Lee Suggs (2) 70
Derrick Blaylock (4) 56

FB

Patrick Pass (5) 70
Rashawn Jackson ® 63

WR

Quincy Morgan (4) 96
Andre Davis (3) 92
Dennis Northcutt (5) 76
Snoop Minnis (4) 75
Jonathan Carter (4) 62

TE

Billy Miller (5) 84
Josh Norman (3) 64
James Whalen (5) 54

LT

Jonathan Ogden (9) 89
LT#72 (2) 53

LG

Jon Asamoah (1) 66
Mark Rogers ® 53

C

Mike Gruttadauria (9) 82
Matt Tennant ® 78
Jeff Faine (2) 78

RG

Leon Searcy (13) 78
Jim Castle ® 60

RT

Willie Anderson (9) 88
Ryan Tucker (8) 84

LE

Natrone Turley (1) 55
Robbie Cooper (1) 51

RE

Courtney Brown (5) 90
Mark Word (5) 80
Jared Odrick ® 71

DT

Gerard Warren (4) 95
Orpheus Roye (9) 80
DT#74 (2) 53

LOLB

Sean Weatherspoon (1) 79
Riall Johnson (4) 60

MLB

Ray Lewis (9) 99
Andra Davis (3) 76
Rolando McClain (1) 74

ROLB

Chaun Thompson (2) 80
Anthony Tubbs ® 52

CB

Samari Rolle (7) 92
Shaun Springs (8) 91
Ken Lucas (4) 79
Daylon McCutcheon (6) 79
Anthony Henry (4) 78
Terry Fair (7) 76

FS

Ronnie Bradford (12) 82
Leon Simons (1) 58

SS

Robert Griffith (11) 91
Rich Moore (1) 65

K

Phil Dawson (6) 87
Leigh Tiffin ® 85

P

Chris Gardocki (14) 90

YEAR 3 has been SIMMED and the BROWNS, boosted by their excellent FA class, have stormed to a superb 14-2 record.

YEAR 3 BROWNS PRO BOWLERS:

JARRETT BROWN
PATRICK PASS
QUINCY MORGAN
ANDRE DAVIS
BILLY MILLER
WILLIE ANDERSON
JARED ODRICK
ROLANDO McCLAIN
SAMARI ROLLE
SHAUN SPRINGS

YEAR 3 TOP PERFORMERS:

JARRETT BROWN continued his sensational ascent with 4809 yards passing, 34 TDs and 17 INTs.

WILLIAM GREEN ran for 1290 yards and 12 TDs.

PATRICK PASS added 242 yards and a TD.

QUINCY MORGAN caught 96 balls for 1560 yards and 9 TDs, while ANDRE DAVIS snared 95 balls for 1664 yards and 17 TDs.

BILLY MILLER caught 88 balls for 729 yards and 2 TDs.

JARED ODRICK had 37 tackles and 10 sacks, great performance from the rookie DE.

ROLANDO McCLAIN had 105 tackles, 5 sacks and 2 INTs.

SAMARI ROLLE had 49 tackles and 8 INTs, while SHAUN SPRINGS had 36 tackles and 7 INTs.

YEAR 3 PLAYOFF STARTERS

QB TIM COUCH (76) - In decline, a shot at one last hurrah
Backup QB JARRETT BROWN (75) - Brilliant youngster has strongest arm in the league
HB WILLIAM GREEN (88) - Young power back has moves too
FB PATRICK PASS (70) - Excellent speed for a FB, still pretty raw
WR1 QUINCY MORGAN (96) - Has the speed and the strength
WR2 ANDRE DAVIS (92) - Excellent speed and agility
WR3 DENNIS NORTHCUTT (76) - Return specialist has great speed
WR4 SNOOP MINNIS (75) - Good hands, not the fastest
TE1 BILLY MILLER (84) - Good speed and hands, excellent pass-catcher
TE2 JOSH NORMAN (64) - Speedster is still raw
LT JONATHAN OGDEN (89) - Future Hall of Famer is an accomplished bookend
LG LEON SEARCY (78) - Elderly grinder still has good strength
C MIKE GRUTTADAURIA (82) - Final outing for the brittle veteran has great strength
RG RYAN TUCKER (84) - Pretty good strength, technically accomplished too, in his final year with the team
RT WILLIE ANDERSON (88) - Big, strong and gifted, he is a bookend for us

DE COURTNEY BROWN (90) - Young stud DE with plenty of upside
DE MARK WORD (80) - Pass-rushing end with surprising strength, in his final year for us
DT GERARD WARREN (95) - Explosive tackle is already one of the finest in the league
DT ORPHEUS ROYE (80) - Veteran grinder stops the run
LOLB ANDRA DAVIS (76) - Good acceleration, in his final year with the team
MLB RAY LEWIS (99) - Finest LB in the game with killer instinct
ROLB CHAUN THOMPSON (80) - Rapidly improving, good athleticism
CB1 SAMARI ROLLE (92) - Extremely smart and aware veteran is our #1
CB2 SHAUN SPRINGS (91) - Starter on the other side also has great awareness and speed
CB3 TERRY FAIR (76) - Has great speed and some smarts
CB4 KEN LUCAS (79) - Solid speed, good all-rounder
FS RONNIE BRADFORD (82) - Cagey, smart vet who can make the INT, final year before retirement
SS ROBERT GRIFFITH (91) - Gamer who has the smarts if not the speed

K PHIL DAWSON (87) - Doesn't have the biggest leg, in his final year with the team
P CHRIS GARDOCKI (90) - Cunning veteran can really place it

Because this is the defending SUPER BOWL champs, I'm going to give starters from last year a chance to defend their crown before our brilliant youngsters take over.

That means that the youngsters dubbed the MAGNIFICENT SEVEN by the press locally will stay on the bench -

QB JARRETT BROWN (75)
G JON ASAMOAH (66)
C MATT TENNANT (78)
DE JARED ODRICK (71)
LB SEAN WEATHERSPOON (79)
LB ROLANDO McCLAIN (74)
K LEIGH TIFFIN (85)

In their places, TIM COUCH, RYAN TUCKER, MIKE GRUTTADAURIA, MARK WORD, ANDRA DAVIS, CHAUN THOMPSON and PHIL DAWSON start for one last time.

But come next year, watch out, because the MAGNIFICANT SEVEN are an incredible group - the LBs have amazing speed, ODRICK has amazing strength, TIFFIN has amazing kicking power, the offensive linemen have amazing strength, and BROWN has got the strongest arm in the league.

YEAR 3 TEAM NOTES:

TIM COUCH continues to start at QB, although his decline and the rise of JARRETT BROWN means only a point now separates their overall rankings - 76 to 75. Next year BROWN is the man for the BROWNS. JOSH McCOWN is the #3.

WILLIAM GREEN's backup is now LEE SUGGS.

MORGAN, DAVIS and NORTHCUTT remain the top 3 WRs, SNOOP MINNIS comes in as #4.

JOSH NORMAN will backup BILLY MILLER.

JONATHAN OGDEN steps in at LT (JAMES WILLIAMS having retired).

LEON SEARCY moves over to LG (WALLY WILLIAMS is no longer on the team).

MIKE GRUTTADAURIA is in his final year at C with the BROWNS - from next year young MATT TENNANT will take over.

RYAN TUCKER continues at RG but is also in his final year with the BROWNS - young JON ASAMOAH is primed to take over at G.

MARK WORD is in his final year at RE with the BROWNS - young JARED ODRICK will take over next year.

LOLB ANDRA DAVIS is in his final year with the BROWNS - next year SEAN WEATHERSPOON will take over.

MLB RAY LEWIS steps straight in as starter (RANDALL GODFREY having left the team).

ROLB CHAUN THOMPSON will start for the final time this year, next year young ROLANDO McCLAIN will take over.

SHAUN SPRINGS steps in as CB#2, TERRY FAIR moves to nickelback, and KEN LUCAS steps in as the dimeback.

This will be RONNIE BRADFORD's final season before retiring.

This will be PHIL DAWSON's final season as a BROWN, next year young LEIGH TIFFIN will take over.

DENNIS NORTHCUTT remains the #1 KR, JONATHAN CARTER will be the #2.

Sunshine is forecast for the first matchup of the playoffs as the 11-5 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS and PEYTON MANNING, EDGERRIN JAMES, MARVIN HARRISON, REGGIE WAYNE and DWIGHT FREENEY come to town!

11-5 COLTS at 14-2 BROWNS

BROWNS win 44-41

0-3 Vanderjagt 27 yard FG
7-3 Davis 31 yard TD reception
7-10 Andersen 21 yard TD reception
10-10 Dawson 47 yard FG
17-10 Northcutt 76 yard punt return
20-10 Dawson 49 yard FG
20-17 Harrison 1 yard TD reception
20-20 Vanderjagt 54 yard FG
27-20 Minnis 13 yard TD reception
27-27 Wayne 1 yard TD reception
34-27 Davis 71 yard TD reception
34-34 James 25 yard TD run
37-34 Dawson 32 yard FG
37-41 Harrison 66 yard TD reception
44-41 Miller 5 yard TD reception

A wonderful, old-school 1980s-style shoot-out (think KOSAR vs ELWAY or KELLY), won by the BROWNS after TIM COUCH hit BILLY MILLER for the go-ahead score with 9 seconds in the ball-game after a brilliant last-minute drive.

COUCH would go on to be named MVP of the contest for completing 25 of 42 for 415 yards and 4 TDs, but his opposite number PEYTON MANNING put up very similar numbers too, completing 29 of 45 for 416 yards and 4 TDs.

ANDRE DAVIS was on fire with 7 catches for 166 yards and 2 TDs for the BROWNS, while QUINCY MORGAN added 4 catches for 83 yards and SNOOP MINNIS added another 4 catches for 42 yards and a TD.

CHAUN THOMPSON and COURTNEY BROWN got sacks for MANNING, although the BROWNS D had trouble stopping the COLTS' star-studded attack.

It doesn't get any easier for the defending SUPER BOWL CHAMPION BROWNS as they head to FOXBORO and the 14-2 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS.

First PEYTON MANNING, now TOM BRADY!

Veteran BROWNS watchers will recall that the BROWNS only squeezed by the PATRIOTS on a miraculous last-second kickoff return last season en route to the LOMBARDI TROPHY, so NEW ENGLAND is sure to be out for payback...

RAIN is forecast for the AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME in FOXBORO...

14-2 BROWNS at 14-2 PATRIOTS

BROWNS win 32-29

0-7 Graham 14 yard TD reception
7-7 Green 4 yard TD run
14-7 Northcutt 54 yard punt return
17-7 Dawson 38 yard FG
20-7 Dawson 37 yard FG
20-14 Nystrom 4 yard TD run
26-14 Green 80 yard TD run
(2 point conversion failed)
26-21 Brown 20 yard TD reception
26-29 Milloy 69 yard fumble return
(Nystrom 2 point conversion run)
29-29 Dawson 19 yard FG
32-29 Dawson 32 yard FG

A wonderful victory for the BROWNS as they out-classed a superb PATRIOTS team, outgaining them on their own turf by 472 yards to 287 yards.

It didn't look like a BROWNS victory was on the cards when TIM COUCH threw an INT on the first possession and NEW ENGLAND scored to make it 7-0, but the BROWNS rallied and began to take control.

NEW ENGLAND has a brilliant D but many of the players are a little on the slow side (BRUSCHI, JOHNSON and HARRISON for example) and the BROWNS mercilessly attacked that weakness by sending their backs and receivers on countless little hitches, slants and crossing patterns with MORGAN, DAVIS, MILLER, NORTHCUTT, GREEN and PASS spinning and weaving in out of their secondary.

And then with NEW ENGLAND's D tiring the BROWNS applied the coup de grace by sending WILLIAM GREEN crashing through gaping holes and through to daylight.

COUCH would go on to complete 32 of 46 for 344 yards and the INT, while GREEN hammered 13 times for a magisterial 145 yards and 2 TDs.

NORTHCUTT was the leading WR with 7 grabs for 102 yards.

The BROWNS D was outstanding with GERARD WARREN getting three sacks (with CHAUN THOMPSON and ORPHEUS ROYE grabbing two more) and veteran safeties RONNIE BRADFORD and ROBERT GRIFFITH each grabbing an INT of BRADY.

The PATS actually took the lead late in the game on a freak fumble return but the BROWNS quickly tied the game up and then went on to win it in overtime.

BRADY was held to 229 yards (23 of 31) with 2 TDs and those 2 INTs. Their rookie RB GEORGE NYSTROM looked good, running 13 times for 82 yards and a TD.

So the 14-2 BROWNS will play JEFF GARCIA, TERRELL OWENS and the 12-4 SAN FRANCISCO 49ers in the SUPER BOWL in the Motor City, DETROIT!