FanHouse MikeAdams

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.

Footprints in the Snow is FanHouse's look at the paths to be forged by MLB teams this winter as they look ahead to 2009.

After clinging to contender-ship for the past few years, it seems as though last season was a wake-up call to San Diego Padres GM Kevin Towers. Trevor Hoffman will not be the closer this year, Khalil Greene is likely to be traded, and Jake Peavy is definitely going to be traded. Let's examine what triggered this.

The Padres can't hit, and they are not in position to develop an offense any time soon. They had been able to survive with little offense the previous three seasons because their pitching and defense -- teamed with their home-field advantage in spacious Petco Park -- was able to churn out those 3-2 and 2-1 victories enough times to stay competitive. That all went by the wayside in 2008, as significant time was missed by Peavy and Chris Young atop the rotation (they made only 45 combined starts after making 64 in 2007) and the rest of the starters were shaky all season. In turn, the team ERA ballooned from 3.70 to 4.41.

Troubles continue for the Browns safety Sean Jones, who will be forced to have arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, but will not be placed on the injured reserve.

Jones recorded five tackles in the Browns debut against the Cowboys, but couldn't push aside the swelling in his knee that has plagued him all preseason.

Coach Romeo Crennel made the announcement today and said that Jones will not be placed on injured reserve and that the Browns plan to have him back this season.

Jones first suffered swelling in the knee in the preseason opener against the Jets and experienced it again the following week against the Giants. Jones sat out the final two preseason games, but suffered the swelling again after Sunday's 28-10 loss to the Cowboys.

The Browns are already shopping for another option at safety, with Jones out and Brodney Pool still recovering from a nasty concussion.

Fellow safety Pool might return from a concussion this week, meaning Mike Adams would start in place of Jones. If Pool is still out, Adams and Nick Sorensen would be the starting safeties.

The Browns will have to get some things together fast as they play face a team that some consider the AFC favorite after the Tom Brady injury, the Pittsburgh Steelers, on Sunday night.