Mary Cay Kabot of the Plain Dealer writes that inside linebacker Andra Davis is looking to bounce back from an off season.

The problem? It's been more than just one off season for Davis. He just doesn't seem to be a natural fit for the 3-4. Davis handled the off year admirably and got his pay cut significantly. Too bad this can't happen with more players.

Steve Doerschuk of the Canton Repository so well. On Sunday, he did an in-depth analysis of the moves made by general manager Phil Savage. It's a good read and a little difficult to sum up here, so check it out.

He starts discussing the trades of draft picks this year. Although these trades will cost the Browns a lot of money, they were sound moves. How many teams will come out of the draft this year with two guaranteed starters and a possible future star at a skill position? Not many.

From the Associated Press:

CLEVELAND Browns General Manager Phil Savage won't have many picks on draft day. He will, however, have a contract extension.

Savage and Cleveland owner Randy Lerner recently met and made progress toward an extension, which is expected to be completed before the April 26-27 draft.

As for the draft, the Browns don't have a pick until Sunday's fourth round. During a radio interview Thursday, Savage said it was unlikely that he would trade a player to move up in the draft.

"To go up and try to get into the first day, it would have to be a player who would be very attractive to us," Savage said. "I don't think it would involve certainly any players we have on our current roster. It would probably involve more picks for next year, something in the future."

Savage has earned an extension based solely on how he handled this offseason.

Following January knee surgery, wide receiver Joe Jurevicius apparently has contracted a staph infection. Yikes. That makes six Browns in four years.

Most notably, staph infections hit Braylon Edwards and LeCharles Bentley in the past. To learn exactly what a staph is, go here. It's pretty nasty stuff.

Browns beat writer Marla Ridenour has more on this story here.

When the Cleveland Gladiators play the Colorado Crush Friday night, the rivalry between former Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar and former Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway will be rekindled. See a Denver Post preview here.

The two classically matched up several times in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The Browns lost consecutive AFC Championship games to the Broncos in 1987 and 1988.

Both a are presidents of Arena League teams now and Kosar is finally getting the better of Elway. The Gladiators are selling more tickets than the Crush, so at least Kosar has that.

ESPN.com has a video interview with Elway and Kosar for the time being on their Browns page. The Plain Dealer also previewed the game here. I like the lede to that one a lot.

Update: See a game preview from George Thomas of the Akron Beacon Journal.

Notes…

Browns General Manager Phil Savage has again reiterated it is unlikely the Browns will trade into the first day of the draft. He told WTAM (1100-AM) today that the team will probably take the best player available with its first pick, No. 122.

The Sporting News bravely attempted a full seven-round mock draft. Generally, SN is a little radical in its thinking about the draft. (For instance, they have Michigan's Jake Long as the third-best offensive tackle behind Ryan Clady of Boise State and Chris Williams of Vanderbilt)

Here is who they expect the Browns to select:

4th Round: Frank Okam, DT, Texas
My thought: Good pick. Okam would likely slide over to end for the Browns and provide depth with Corey Williams, Robaire Smith and Shaun Smith.

5th Round: Orlando Scandrick, CB, Boise State
My thought: Good pick. The Browns need cornerback depth and have shown interest in Scandrick. He's a little undersized and raw, but is a decent developmental player due to his speed and athleticism.

6th Round: Shawn Crable, OLB, Michigan
My thought: Very good pick. If Crable, an Ohio native, is there in the sixth round, it will be a surprise. He'd be an excellent player in the 3-4 where he can concentrate on blitzing. Heck, if he's available in the fourth round I'd be surprised.

7th Round: Mike Humpal, ILB, Iowa
My thought: Good pick. Much like Purdue, Iowa has some good linebackers in this year's draft. Humpal is a solid run stopper and could start at some point in his career.

If this is how the draft ended up, I'd somehow figure out a way to do cartwheels, back flips or some other athletic endeavor. This is about as ideal as things could be, given the picks Cleveland owns. Sure, a running back or defensive back would be nice, but there should be some decent rookie free agents.

What say you? Let me know who you think of this draft and who the Browns should (realistically) select in the draft.

Not having NFL Network kind of stinks. Fortunately, Canton Repository Browns writer Steve Doerschuk was able to tune in to catch an interview with quarterback Derek Anderson. Read Doerschuk's story here.

Anderson mostly talked about training camp last season when he had to beat out Charlie Frye and battle for snaps in camp with Brady Quinn. It's a good read, but nothing really new.

Notes…

Anyone worried about whether or not new defensive tackle Shaun Rogers will maintain a solid weight, realize he's not too fat to play basketball. He hooped it up for a charity event run by Michael Huff of the Oakland Raiders. Prior to the game he even managed to dunk the ball.

Sadly, Browns defensive back Kenny Wright has yet to make the Smoking Gun's mugshot index for his hilarious post-arrest head shot. If you haven't seen it, it is after the jump.

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The fine folks over at Draft Tek always have an unusual way of trying to figure out who teams will draft. More than most draft sites, they use something of a scientific method. Their home page can explain it better than I can.

What matters is who they think the Browns will select. Here's how they see it:

4th Round: Steve Slaton, RB, West Virginia
My thought: Average pick. The Browns already have a Slaton-like running back with Jerome Harrison, who rarely sees the field.

- 5th Round: DJ Hall, WR, Alabama
My thought: Poor pick. He's terrible. One of the most overrated players in the draft. The Browns don't really need another small wide receiver, anyway.

6th Round: Stanford Keglar, ILB, Purdue
My thought: Solid pick. Purdue has several quality linebackers in this year's draft and Keglar is a solid inside linebacker. The Browns have shown interest in Keglar as well.

7th Round: Jonathan Zenon, CB, LSU
My thought: Good pick. Zenon would be a value here. He's a much better cornerback than his bad workout numbers indicate.

Overall, this would be a below-average draft for the Browns. Only Keglar would probably see playing time and that would likely be on special teams. Doing a seven-round mock draft is extremely difficult, though. That's why I plan on doing one in about a week or so!

You're probably aware of the passing of former Browns radio announcer Gib Shanley. He was the voice of the Browns from 1961 to 1984. Being born in 1982, he was a bit before my time.

However, it is impossible not to recognize and remember Shanley. I'll leave that to the professionals, though.

Terry Pluto discusses Shanley with a couple of his friends.

Steve King of ClevelandBrowns.com offers a career retrospective.

Jeff Schudel of the News-Herald says Shanley had a colorful career.

Mike McClain of the Chronicle Tribune paints a picture of Shanley with words.

George Thomas of the Beacon Journal writes how Shanley's life has been remember on television.

Beacon Journal columnist Patrick McManamon covered that question in his Sunday column. The problem begins with the question. What the team has arrived at seems to be a point of contention. Have they merely arrived as a solid football team or have they arrived as a true playoff threat?

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin seems to think so. He says the Browns will win the division (do you see Bill Cowher ever saying that?). New Ravens coach John Harbaugh also raved about the Browns.

They did so with good reason. The Browns addressed their biggest needs this offseason — the defensive line and depth along the offensive line. The addition of wide receiver Donte Stallworth was also important considering neither Travis Wilson or Joshua Cribbs have had trouble at receiver.

So what level of arrival does all that put Cleveland? It's a little tough to say. The team has to figure out if cornerbacks Daven Holly or Brandon McDonald can emerge as a solid starter. Free safety Brodney Pool also needs to show he deserves to be a starter. Another solid running back could be helpful and linebacker always seems to be an issue for teams that run the 3-4 defense.

All this points toward the NFL Draft at the end of the month. Although the Browns have no first day picks and only four overall this year, it's not out of the question all these questions could be easily answered on draft day.

Be sure to check in here at the Browns Bulletin the next several days for a discussion on exactly what positions and players the Browns may be targeting in the draft.

A solid draft could mean the Browns arrive as a true playoff threat and not just a one-season wonder.