One of the great things that media relations people do is write up press conference quotes. It's thankless work, really. But for someone like me, there's nothing better than reading through a press conference recap. There are always nuggets of great information.

When Browns head coach Eric Mangini met with the media, most stories were either about Josh Cribbs or new cornerback Rod Hood. However, if you dig deep into recap, there are some great thoughts on new linebacker Eric Barton:

(On what Eric Barton brings) – “Eric is incredibly smart and not just in terms of his ability to pick up the information. He absorbs the installs very quickly but his ability to process information on the field. He can see a formation, anticipate the adjustment, he can see a formation and anticipate the play. He is a good communicator. He has good toughness, but I’ve always respected his natural intelligence and his football intelligence.”

(On how important Barton is in the locker room) – “I think that any of the players that have some familiarity can add value because they can help accelerate the learning process in terms of expectations, in terms of the system and the quicker that we can all move forward and everybody understands exactly what’s expected, what we are looking for, the quicker you make progress.”

(On Barton’s run defense) – “I’d say his forte is getting all 11 guys going in the right direction and making sure they are in the right sports. That has huge value whether it’s run or pass. To me, the reason we improved our run defense last year (in New York) was we got better with our technique, we got better with our fits and we got better with the coordination. That will be the case in anything we do here is, how well can the group do it? The same thing with like the running game offensively, some of those six-yard runs could be 40-yard runs, if the receivers do a nice job of blocking on the perimeter, otherwise it just becomes a nice gain instead of an outstanding one.”

Based on Mangini's assessment, Barton is exactly the kind of player Cleveland's defense needs. It didn't seem like last season the Browns had a player on defense who was all that tough and smart.

The Browns today signed former Arizona cornerback Rod Hood. He started for the Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII but was released a week after the NFL Draft.

Hood's best season came in 2007 when he intercepted five passes and had 54 tackles. The Browns have also signed veteran cornerbacks Hank Poteat and Corey Ivy this offseason.

Hood, 27, will more than likely compete for a spot in the starting lineup. He has started 87 games in his six-year career. He was signed in 2003 by the Eagles as an undrafted free agent from Auburn.

See the complete press release from the Browns after the jump:

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Browns special teams player Josh Cribbs plans on attending this week's minicamp, Mary Kay Cabot of the Plain Dealer is reporting.

Cribbs is in the first half a of a six-year, $6.77 million contract and wants it to be restructured. If its not, he said he would like to be traded.

Update from PFT:

Per a league source, the Browns indicated that, in order to address Cribbs’ contract, they need to examine first-hand his potential value to the team. And so, as a good-faith gesture, Cribbs has decided to participate in the voluntary sessions in order to give the new regime a fair opportunity to determine whether he’s worth significantly more than the long-term deal he signed in 2006. (Apparently, game film from 2007 and 2008 can’t be relied upon.)

That said, we’re sensing some skepticism in Cribbs’ camp regarding whether the Browns will show similar good faith in assessing his skills and deciding whether to increase his pay. And so there’s a chance that Cribbs’ stay will be a short one.

Notes…
There has been no indication either way on whether or not kicker Phil Dawson will attend this week. He also skipped the "voluntary" minicamp last week.

Terry Pluto of the PD had some excellent thoughts on Brady Quinn over the weekend.

A couple people emailed me Michael Silver's rant about the Browns from Yahoo Sports. I'll have some thoughts on that in a separate post later today or sometime tomorrow.

I wanted to spotlight a comment made by Mike Rasor, an Ohio.com blogging cohort. It's on the Cribbs situation. It's after the jump. Just something to think about. And make sure to always check out his Zips blog.

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This came over the Associated Press wire a short time ago. Instead of summarizing it, I thought I'd just make a whole new post about it after the jump.

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James Walker of ESPN.com is reporting that Brady Quinn holds the early lead in the Browns' quarterback competition.

Quinn has been receiving snaps with the first team ahead of former Pro Bowler Derek Anderson at voluntary minicamps that end today.

While head coach Eric Mangini has said the two quarterbacks will receive balanced repetitions, Quinn's performance has earned him the top spot.

"Brady will get the first reps today," Mangini told reporters today. "He started with the first reps on Wednesday, and that's because he's done a really outstanding job in the offseason program. Not that Derek hasn't done well, but [Quinn] gets the first reps."

Last season, Quinn started three games before a finger injury knocked him out for the final five games of the season. Quinn's best performance was his first start, a 34-30 loss to Denver. In the game, Quinn finished with 239 yards passing and two touchdowns.

After making the Pro Bowl in 2007, Anderson struggled last season. In 10 games, he had 1,615 yards passing, nine touchdowns and eight interceptions.

The Browns acquired quarterback Brett Ratliff from the Jets during a trade on the first day of the NFL Draft. Ronald Bartel is also on the roster.

Notes…
Tip of the hat to commentator Scott for pointing out this story. Matt Bowen of National Football Post says special teams star Josh Cribbs isn't worth a new contract.

Talks between Cribbs and Mangini have taken place, according to Beacon Journal beat writer Marla Ridenour.

The latest word out of Berea is that if Josh Cribbs isn't given a new contract he'll ask for a trade.

No surprise. That's how contract negotiations in professional sports work. However, when you start thinking more about the latest Browns nightmare, it's apparent how much the franchise has sunken.

Cribbs is an incredible special teams player. He has the ability to give the offense a new wrinkle. He's supposed to play on defense this year at strong safety or nickel cornerback. Heck, on the surface, he seems like a good guy who works hard.

But when you get right down to the facts, Cribbs is just a guy who excels on special teams. He flashes the ability to do more, but right now he's completely unproven as anything else.

So should Cribbs be in a position to ask for big-time money? Everyone would probably agree that the $620,000 Cribbs is scheduled to make in 2009 is a deal (relatively speaking). But what is the right number? Certainly it's not four years and $40 million like Devin Hester received from Chicago.

More importantly, should a special teams stalwart set contract renegotiation precedent for new regime?

Browns special teams ace Josh Cribbs is expected to skip (in)voluntary full-team minicamps beginning Tuesday. That is according to John Taylor of the Orange & Brown Report.

Cribbs' displeasure stems from the team not restructuring his contract after telling him all offseason it would be redone. Cribbs is set to make $620,000 in 2009, $635,000 in 2010, $650,000 in 2011, and $790,000 in 2012. Those numbers are from a six-year contract Cribbs signed prior to the 2007 season.

Mary Kay-Cabot of the Plain Dealer reports that Cribbs wants a deal similar to the Bears' Devin Hester. Last year he signed a four-year, $40 million with $15 million guaranteed.

While Cribbs has become the better special teams player, Hester caught 51 passes for 665 yards last season. Cribbs caught just two passes for 18 yards in 2008. He did figure in Cleveland's "Wildcat" scheme and rushed for 167 yards on 29 attempts. Cribbs, a good tackler on special teams, is also getting some consideration to play defense for the Browns this season.

Update – The Browns issued the following statement earlier:

Contrary to published reports this morning, no one from the current Browns organization, including Owner Randy Lerner, has ever made any promises to Josh Cribbs with regard to his contract status.

He's loud, he's obnoxious, he is none other than Drew Rosenhaus!

Pro: He'll probably leak some Browns dirt. This is good considering how tight-lipped the Mangini/Kokinis regime is going to be.

Con: Kellen Winslow Jr. and Terrell Owens are among Rosenhaus' clients.

Pro: If Rosenhaus is his agent, Elam's potential to be a star is there.

Con: No agent gets their players to hold out more than Rosenhaus. Not only do they hold out, but they workout topless in their driveways while doing so.

I don't want to steal his thunder, so make sure to check out Steve Doerschuk's Canton Repository story.

He raises some issues about season ticket sales.

In his weekly Monday Morning Quarterback column for SI.com, NFL writer Peter King ranks all 32 NFL teams. He says the Browns are the worst team in the league:

32. Cleveland
Hey, thank me, all you Brownaholics. Two years ago in a column like this one, I wrote that Cleveland was the worst team in the league. The Browns went 10-6. This year I'm saying they're the worst team again — and I can guarantee you they're not going 10-6, unless Brady Quinn morphs into Tom Brady. Too many holes, too tough a division; write them down for 0-4 against the Steelers and Ravens.

Brownaholics?

Cincinnati is 28th, Baltimore is eighth and Pittsburgh is second. Pete Prisco of CBS Sports ranks the Browns 30th. Wonderful.

Notes…
A league source tells the Plain Dealer's Tony Grossi that not will Brady Quinn be the team's starting quarterback, but two teams inquired about a trade for the signal caller.

Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram profiles sixth-round pick Coye Francies.

Not done with the NFL Draft? Terry Pluto of the PD breaks it down even more.