This is a bit scary. ESPN.com blogger James Walker reports that Browns special teams ace and budding wide receiver Joshua Cribbs wants to reconstruct his contract. Prior to last season, Cribbs signed a six-year, $6 million contract.

However, this came before Cribbs became arguably the most exciting special teams player in the league and Bears return specialist Devin Hester received a four-year extension worth up $40 million with $15 million guaranteed.

So what are the Browns to do? In June, general manager Phil Savage said the team was pretty much at its budget when tight end Kellen Winslow wanted more money.

It is my (likely stupid) opinion that contracts should be year-to-year performance based (this would probably come with some kind of minimum set by the league).

So, was Cribbs' performance last season worth more than the $997,000 he is scheduled to make this year? Probably.

Is Cribbs worth the possible $5.5 million Hester is expected to receive this year? Absolutely not.

Cribbs' value is probably somewhere in between. Hopefully he, his agent and the Browns front office realize as much.

Notes…
I don't know why this was in the fantasy sports section, but Matt Williamson of ESPN.com ranks the Browns' offensive line as tops in the NFL. This is absolutely crazy to me, given past o-line rankings. That's what having Joe "future president" Thomas and Eric Steinbach on the left side can do for you.

More scrutiny and praise dished about the team's secondary.

Coming Thursday morning will be a preview of the first preseason game against the Jets. Probably no post tomorrow, unless something major comes up or I get bored. Previous circumstances mean I won't be watching the game live Thursday night, so no live blogging. I'll be at the Akron Art Museum seeing my favorite live band, Houseguest. It will be fun (free) times. Nothing from Luke, either. He's in Las Vegas. Upon his return to Ohio, he and I plan on attending training camp Saturday. Come out. Say hello. I'm like 9-foot-12, so I'm not hard to spot.

This is almost unbelievable. Joe Thomas, the Browns' second-year left tackle could be even better this season.

How could that be? As a rookie, Thomas only allowed one sack — a disputed one against Buffalo's Aaron Schobel.

You probably remember that game. It was the one with the blizzard. So, Thomas gives up one sack in a snowstorm and makes the Pro Bowl. Also consider that most of running back Jamal Lewis' 1,300 yards last year came from behind Thomas' side of the line. Or the Browns line only gave up 19 sacks last season. (Point of reference: The Patriots gave up 21, the Colts 23, the Giants 28)

Yet, he could be better. Lunacy!

Thomas has actually spent some time thinking about that singular snow sack.

"It's one of those things where you could have made a better set," he told reporters Wednesday. "The technique could have been better. You probably could have prevented it."

That is completely real. Joe Thomas was really pondering what he could have done during the only mental lapse he had in 2007. Can we vote Joe Thomas for president?

Heck, Willie McGinest, who knows a thing or two, compared Thomas to a young Tony Boselli. High praise, considering Boselli looked to be a future All Pro before injuries ravaged his legs.

Over the offseason, Thomas has bulked up to 310 pounds, and is reportedly even quicker on his feet during training camp. He put that on display at camp Wednesday, shifting and tossing rush linebacker David McMillan to the ground.

Without a doubt, it's just the first of many displays to come.

Aww. What a nice ending. After the jump, a Joe Thomas button I threw together!
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See Marla Ridenour's story here.

This will not adversely affect the Browns in the least. Some Browns fans (like most Cleveland fans are known to do) are probably freaking out right now.

"The Browns will now have a losing season and the line is going to fall apart."

"Derek Anderson is going to get destroyed."

"He's just the first LeClevelander that'll leave town."

Hogwash. (Fine, maybe not that last one)

Face it, Bentley probably wasn't going to be a starter this year. In fact, some doubted he'd even be able to play this season despite passing a physical Monday night.

It's not because he might be good, which is questionable. It's because Hank Fraley is that good. Bentley was never interested in playing guard for the Browns. "Well, I came here as a center. I would like to stay there," Bentley told reporters yesterday.

Wrong. At the end of the day, Bentley came here to make $16 million and not play a down. Not even in the preseason. Sure, getting injured forced the signing of Fraley, which made the line better, but that says nothing about Bentley.

Even after Bentley missed the past two years, fans seemed to rally behind him yesterday. They believed in the former local prep superstar.

All he's done in return is further fuel the paranoia and doubt of Cleveland sports fans.

Update: Make sure to check out Ridenour's latest article following General Manager Phil Savage's comments.

We can all remember where we were when it happened.  It's a turning point for all diehard Browns fans, the day that LeCharles Bentley tore his patella on the first day of Training Camp on July 26th, 2006.  Personally, I was making fun of a Bengals fan at work who then in turn broke the news to me.  For nearly two years we have been waiting for Bentley's return, which occurred yesterday.  And now there is nothing but questions. 

During Bentley's first practice yesterday, he was mostly talked about playing right guard, writes Steve Doerschuk of the Canton Repository.  It's a position he's familiar with, Bentley came into the league and played right guard for a season in New Orleans before moving to center, replacing Jerry Fontenot.  It's clear that Bentley intends on remaining a center, as he said that "I came here as a center. I would like to stay there, but whatever happens as far as getting the best five guys on the field … it doesn't really matter to me."  Given the tone of the conversation, it seems clear that Bentley in his mind is still a center, and there is a tone of dissent.  At least it's going to be in Cleveland, right?  Well…

"Absolutely, I will be playing somewhere, starting, in '09."

Oh boy…here we go. 

What's clear is that while Bentley's return is a plus, especially given Ryan Tucker's hip injury and Seth McKinney's injury history, why does it feel like Bentley is already a foot out of the door?  Bentley's latent dissatisfaction with the Browns can be felt in his comments, dating back to last summer.  He then goes on to say, per Tony Grossi, "So whatever happens, I want to see the team do well."

In the article, Bentley talks about how he could have played in October 2007, and was even in full pads and contact, but the team shut him down because of his mechanics and his running.  Bentley also makes a point of saying how he physically was ready for the Browns test, as he did the same thing several times over in Arizona while recovering.  Feel the heat? 

It sounds to me like the fan inside, the kid who earned his nasty reputation at St. Ignatius High School and then Ohio State, and the player who understands the business side of the NFL, are at war.  Bentley knows he doesn't have a clear path back to a starting job in Cleveland, but he sounds confident about his health. 

After two years of waiting, are we the fans just setting ourselves up for a heartbreak with Bentley?  Only time will tell. 

Browns cornerback Daven Holly sustained what is being referred to as a "serious" knee injury at practice Tuesday. While the coaches said Holly was competing with Brandon McDonald for the second starting cornerback spot, I imagine it was his job to lose in camp.

This is the one position where the Browns can't afford to get hit at. More on this as it develops, but hopefully nothing is torn.

UPDATE: Well, shucks. Holly is out for the year. Not good. The spin: Hey, if you like high-scoring games, watch the Browns this year!

There's a good bit of information in the link directly above this paragraph. A few things of note:

-The injury to Holly took place in a collision with Braylon Edwards, who is now suffering from a hip pointer as a result.

-Rex Hadnot has assumed Ryan Tucker's starting spot at right guard and backup Isaac Sowells will shift from guard to tackle to be the third stringer (a spot held by Tucker).

Not much going on lately with the Cleveland Browns. This is probably the slowest time of the year for football news.

However, that doesn't mean the Browns are safe from injuries. You probably know by now about starting right guard Ryan Tucker breaking his right hip last week. That just sounds painful. It will cost him two months, during which he's been told by doctors to not sit down too much. Seriously, I know it's a physical sport, what on a football field during practice leads to a broken hip? It's not like Ted Washington is still around.

Anyway, this shouldn't be much of a concern for the team. Tucker was a nice little bonus last season moving over from tackle. The job will now go to either Seth McKinney or Rex Hadnot, who was signed in the offseason. I loved the signing of Hadnot. He was arguably the best player on the Dolphins' offense last season, and it was a surprising to see him come here to be a backup.

Notes…
Former star cornerback Hanford Dixon was busted Saturday for drunk driving. It's his second drunk driving charge since October. Dixon refused a Breathalyzer test, so his license was suspended immediately, which could last one to five years. In his October arrest, Dixon blew a .17. The legal limit is .08. That's quite a bit of booze.

Phil Savage recently spoke at a Little League Football foundation and answered questions about scouting. Some interesting stuff if you're like hearing about the scouting life.

That seems to be what head coach Romeo Crennel was intimating at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Luncheon Club Monday. Bentley has missed the last two seasons with a serious patellar tendon injury he suffered in the Browns' first 11-on-11 practice during training camp in 2006. I was at camp that day and it was clear Bentley was in big trouble. However, I never expected him to miss quite this much time.

Whether or not he can return to being the Pro Bowl player he was for the Saints in 2005 is tough to say. The Browns don't require current center Hank Fraley to move around much, so maybe Bentley can fit back in.

Notes…
The headline "Chudzinski looking for better results in 2008" from this article in the Plain Dealer caught my eye. The Browns had one of the better offenses last season and it say a lot about the offensive coordinator that he didn't think it was good enough.

ESPN.com recently released its first set of NFL power rankings for the 2008 season. They rank the Browns ninth, which is great. That translates into the team being sixth best in the AFC, but just behind the Steelers (7th). James Walker writes about the Browns: The 2007 darlings face high expectations. The offense will score. Can the D, anchored by additions Shaun Rogers and Corey Williams, hold up its end?

Troubles for defensive back Kenny Wright continue. If one of the undrafted rookies looks good this offseason, there is no reason Wright should remain on the team. Character should always supersede average depth.

Still don't know much about fourth round pick Beau Bell? Here's a video of the linebacker: