FanHouse Daven Holly

It was nearly a year ago that then-Browns lost cornerback Daven Holly blew out his knee in organized team activities. He missed the 2008 season, and his absence, along with Gary Baxter never working out in Cleveland, meant the team had to rely on Brandon McDonald and Eric Wright.

Both were second-year players, and although Wright showed promise, McDonald was out his depth from the start. I wouldn't argue that losing Holly opened the flood gates on a four-win season -- Derek Anderson misfiring balls all over the yard gets the blue ribbon for that -- but it didn't help, either.

Because the NFL season never ends, we present our 2009 Offseason Roadmaps for front offices to navigate through the summer.

After 2007 brought the the Browns their first 10-win season in 13 years, expectations were exceedingly high heading into 2008. The team didn't change much, the core group of guys were back and they had a legitimate shot at making the playoffs. However, a quarterback carousel, a coach that never seemed to be the right fit and continued inconsistency on both ends led to a 4-12 season and a lot of "back to the drawing board" talk.

Eric Mangini is now the head honcho for the Browns and with that comes a lot of (warranted or not) expectations from the former Jets guru.

I can't envision how Gary Baxter's career with the Cleveland Browns could've gone more horribly wrong. The former Ravens second-round pick was head coach Romeo Crennel's first big free-agent acquisition after taking the job early in 2005.

In the three seasons since, Baxter played in eight games. Out of a possible 48. He torn the patellar tendons in both knees during Oct., 2006 and hasn't seen the field since. And today, the Browns terminated his contract.

""Last year we were able to hold a roster spot open for Gary as he attempted to make a monumental comeback," said Phil Savage, Cleveland Browns Senior Vice President and General Manager. in the club's press release.

"After he underwent a knee scope last week, we are unfortunately not in a position to hold a roster spot this year. We are releasing Gary today in hopes he will be able to continue his rehab and get back into the NFL, either with another team, or possibly with the Browns. Gary has made tremendous strides thus far and we believe he can play professional football again in the future."

Savage is right in one sense: there will always be a need for cornerbacks in the NFL. Unfortunately, they have to be healthy. As for the Browns, they're down another defensive back after sending Leigh Bodden to Detroit this offseason and losing Daven Holly during minicamp.

If the remaining members of the secondary can stay healthy, that would be splendid, but tackle football being what it is, that's asking a lot. Which is why the offense will need to put up points like it's 2007.

Hey, some good news for the Browns' secondary: Daven Holly, who was lost for the year during OTAs, says he'll be a better player when he returns in 2009. The problem, of course, is that Cleveland has to play an entire season of games without a legit starting cornerback (although, that could change, and, if we're being honest, nobody considered Holly "a legit starting cornerback" in the NFL when Leigh Bodden was still on the team.)

"I know fans have been wondering how serious this is and whether or not I'll be back," said Holly in a phone interview. "But I expect to make a full recovery with no loss of speed or strength. A delay is not a denial. I'll come back better, stronger, faster and more mature than before." ...

"I know I'll be a better person be cause of this injury," he said. "Not only will I be working my butt off to come back as soon as possible, I'll be around to help the younger guys filling my role."

That's encouraging. And while this is the story of the Browns' summer, I'm convinced losing Holly wouldn't be much of a story had it happened during the regular season. Not because Holly isn't a good player, just that he's not so good that he can't be replaced.

Last week, FOXSports.com's Adam Schein suggested Ty Law and the Browns would be a nice fit; a grizzled veteran on the downside of a great career but still crafty enough to play at a high level, and a team in dire need of some depth in the secondary after trading Leigh Bodden and losing his backup, Daven Holly, for the year to a knee injury.

In the yesterday's Boston Globe, Mike Reiss agrees: "the Browns would ... be the perfect landing spot ... but general manager Phil Savage has said the Browns don't have much room in their budget." Of course, that's what front-office types say when a) they're not interested, or b) it's early in the negotiations and you don't want to seem overeager; I'd imagine Cleveland could find some salary-cap room under the right circumstances.

Law has also met with the Jets and spoken to Bill Belichick, yet he waits.

"I have contract offers on the table and could have signed a deal early in free agency," said Law, who after requesting his release from the Chiefs following his second season in Kansas City remains an unrestricted free agent. "There is no rush for me at this point. I'm just going to wait for the right situation and the best fit for both me and the team."

Apparently, Terry Cousin, all by himself, won't save the Browns' Super Bowl aspirations. After Daven Holly suffered a season-ending-before-it-starts knee injury last week, the team has been scrambling to find his replacement.

Brandon McDonald has dibs on the job, but even if he smoothly transitions into the starting lineup, there's not much depth behind him. Which is why general manager Phil Savage is willing to consider just about anybody not named Kenny Wright:

... Buffalo's Ashton Youboty is a possibility. Buffalo has soured on the former Ohio State star, and the Bills have brought in veteran corner Will James and drafted three cornerbacks. So he is available.

Can Youboty help? He's played in only 14 games in two pro seasons, and has not made much of an impact. He had the dreaded high-ankle sprain last season. ... There was a feeling at OSU that he left school a year too early. He played for Browns defensive coordinator Mel Tucker at OSU, so Tucker will have a major say in how hard the Browns pursue him.

If the Bills aren't sold on Youboty why should the Browns be interested? Savage explains: "There is another Daven Holly out there, a guy another team has given up on him and can help us. We just have to find him." That's not to say Youboty's the "next Daven Holly," just to suggest that the Browns have their eyes peeled for such a player.

As long as they're wishing for diamonds in the rough, why not set your sights a little higher. Like, say, Leigh Bodden. You know, the guy Cleveland traded to the Lions earlier this offseason as part of the Shaun Rogers deal.

I don't think this is what Tony Grossi had in mind. After losing Daven Holly for the season with a knee injury, the Browns are right back on track for Destination: Super Bowl! after signing ... Terry Cousin? Wow.

Hmm. Not exactly the Ty Law of over-the-hill free-agent acquisitions. Then again, Cousin realizes that, at 33, he's a role player at this point in his career, a notion Law has yet to fully embrace.

Cousin gives the Browns depth in the secondary but not much else. At this point, though, filling out the depth chart is a good start.

At first glance, Cousin seems to step into the roster hole created by the release of CB Kenny Wright, another journeyman cornerback with considerable (and geographically widespread) NFL experience. Another comparison could be made to smallish CB Ray Mickens, who helped provide depth on the Browns bench several seasons ago.

Maybe the Browns can re-trade for Leigh Bodden. Or, more likely, perhaps they'll work a deal for another, less established cornerback (general manager Phil Savage has ruled out Law and Lito Sheppard; one is a fossil and both would want long-term deals). The latest name: Denver's Domonique Foxworth.

However this ends up, the perception that the Browns' season rests on the health of one mediocre cornerback should tell you all you need to know about the offseason hype machine. Namely, it's the offseason. And there's a lot of hype.