I was getting a little tired of how plain the old design looked. It was simple and served its purpose, but this site was definitely in need of a little bit of modernization, and here is the result!

There are still a few small kinks to work out, but I think it's a lot more pleasing to the eye than the previous page, and there's no drop in functionality (that I know of, lol). Please let me know what you all think!

Browns' rookie Cornerback Eric Wright has been nominated for Diet Pepsi's NFL Rookie of the Week for his performance in Cleveland's loss to the Steelers, which included a game-leading 11 solo tackles and a hang-on-for-dear-life sack on Ben Roethlisberger. Big Ben - while listed at 241 - is looking every bit of 255. Compare that to the 195 lb (soaking wet) Wright, and the feat looks even more impressive.

Wright has shown pretty consistent improvement throughout the season so far, and if he continues his progress, he could very well turn out to be one of the premier corners in the league.

Click Here to vote for Eric Wright for Rookie of the Week! You can vote multiple times, so keep punching those ballots.

..is a question I've heard a lot from my readers lately.

Wow...my sincerest apologies for the lapse in coverage over the past several months. To be honest, I've just been working my tail off and haven't had much time to maintain here.

However, I will be back in action here and giving you the same great Cleveland Browns coverage you've grown accustomed to here at the Dawg Pound. Keep coming by, as we'll be updating (as well as backtracking to older news) shortly!

Thanks to you all for your support and understanding

The Browns have released their undrafted free agent signings. Here's what we've got:

BetUS.com has released each team's Super Bowl XLII odds. The favorites are the New England Patriots at 3-to-1. Not a shocker.

The Cleveland Browns, however, are listed at 95-to-1 to win it all. The only team listed below the Browns are the Oakland Raiders at 120-to-1. Invest now!!

So, um...yeah. Here's the new face of our proud organization apparently playing a little grab ass balls with some buddies. I'm not saying that this will make him any worse of a quarterback. I am saying that Hank Fraley is getting a little nervous and LeCharles Bentley just might push back his return date to the day after Quinn's retirement.

Veteran guard Joe Andruzzi has been notified that he will be cut from the Cleveland Browns following a physical, effectively making him an unrestricted free agent. That's right, Screw you, Kevin Shaffer! The Browns have one lineman begging to leave town, and we're booting one who probably wouldn't mind staying.

I'm not sure what's really going on behind the scenes here, to be honest. We learned last year (the very hard way) that depth on the offensive line is absolutely crucial, yet we're cutting back on a vet who, if not with his play, could just as easily contribute by helping the younger guys we have growing into our line such as Fred Matua, Joe Thomas and Isaac Sowells.

Maybe this is Phil Savage's way of giving Shaffer the one-finger salute? "Well, Kevin, we've worked out a deal. Guess who gets to leave...Not you! Kiss my down-home, country ass! You'll play where we decide, and you'll like every damn minute of it."

Andruzzi has had knee problems in the past but was able to tough it out, starting 27 games the '05 and '06 seasons. It is likely that Matua and Sowells will get a good look during training camp, and recent free agent signing Seth McKinney will start at the position. Assuming everyone but Bentley is healthy come game one, here is what the line might look like:

LT - Joe Thomas
LG - Eric Steinbach
C - Hank Fraley
RG - Seth McKinney
RT - Ryan Tucker - coming back from a mental health issue that kept him out for the end of last season

When the Carolina Panthers selected wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett on Saturday, current Panthers receiver Keyshawn Johnson - who was covering the event with ESPN - seemed very excited about the season to come. Here was a young, impressionable, and talented young man from his alma mater whom he would help groom and tutor over the next year or so.

[cue loud buzzer sound]

There was a lot of talk after the close of the 2006 season about whether or not Johnson would come back and play for new offensive coordinator (and former Browns O-line coach) Jeff Davidson and the new system he would bring. Panthers GM Marty Hurney said that he was sure that Johnson would, in fact, play in 2007. And he was lying.

The St Petersburg Times has reported that Keyshawn was cut from the team today, even after paying him a $3 million roster bonus just a month ago. Johnson remained in good spirits, despite having to look for yet another team, however.

"They said they wanted to get younger,'' Johnson said. "That's fine with me. I'd like to go somewhere and help someone win another Super Bowl.''

If he is somehow unable to find a taker, he will likely join the ranks of former players such as Steve Young and Tiki Barber with a career in broadcasting.

I have to say that when I saw reports yesterday that the New York Giants were interested in making a move to acquire Browns tackle Kevin Shaffer, my first thought was "fat chance." We've just spent a big ole hunk of cash on the offensive line, and Shaffer's contract was not a small portion of it.

I was wrong.

After the Browns selected tackle Joe Thomas with their third overall pick, Shaffer's agent said yesterday that they will seek a trade from the Browns. Apparently, he's not happy with the option of competing for the starting right guard slot if he loses his current left tackle position (where he was mediocre at best) to Thomas.

Look, Kev - can I call you Kev? - I'm not here to rain on your parade, but I don't think too many teams are going to be chomping at the bit to grab themselves an overpaid, malcontent, and average tackle. There's just not that large a market for those nowadays. Sorry to disappoint, pal.

If the Browns do end up trading Shaffer, they can expect a pretty hefty $8 million salary cap hit, as they've already paid their bonuses for the year. There have been reports of Cleveland asking for a 4th round pick in exchange for him, but no one's biting.

I happen to think Shaffer would do quite well for himself as a guard (albeit a highly overpaid one, but I digress), but if he's not willing to make the switch, what more can the Browns really do?

Orlando Sentinel writer Jerry Greene, in an apparent attempt to seem witty (trust me gramps, it's not working) took a cheap shot at Browns fans in today's column discussing the NFL Draft.

ESPN's Michael Smith claimed the Chris Berman Dumbest Remark Trophy when he said he'd been told that one reason Quinn was falling was that "he's over-hyped because his name is Brady."

What? Tom Brady turned out to be terrific so we assumed Brady Quinn would be terrific, too? Even Browns fans aren't that dumb.

Yes, you made a valid point, and Michael Smith probably shouldn't be allowed near equipment anywhere close to as complicated as a TV camera. However, what makes you think that makes it okay to take pot-shots at Cleveland fans? Since when did the geriatric capitol of the country become credible when it comes to mental fortitude?

I think it's time to change your depends, cause something smells like bullshit. Write something worth reading, and maybe you'll get some of the attention your assisted living attendee has obviously neglected to give.

Don't look for shock points, everyone already knows not to pay any attention to grandpa when he's sitting in his chair yelling out the N-word to the delivery guy. No one gives a crap what a pudgy Colonel Sanders down in some swamp has to say, and no one wants anything to do with your 5-year plan...and wrinkly balls.

Give 'em hell, boys and girls!