Analysts everywhere seem to be falling over themselves to praise the Browns signing of Eric Steinbach, but I just have to wonder when it became smart to sign a guard for that kind of money? I'm guessing the Browns see him as a center or left tackle, but that's a little bit of a risk to take for seven-year, $49.5 million contract, with $17 million in guaranteed money on a guy who's mostly played guard in his four year career.Steinbach is good, and maybe I still have a grudge against the guy for blowing the play where Kimo Von Fatass fell on Carson Palmer's knee, but I'm not terribly sorry to see him go, and I'm glad the Bengals didn't spend that kind of money to keep him around. I'm not exaggerating when I say that I would have preferred keeping Justin Smith to Eric Steinbach and that I'm glad it turned out that way.
Andrew Whitworth is going to fill in for Eric Steinbach very well, and the Bengals line is deep enough overall to absorb a loss like this. Cleveland is rebuilding the right way, by being obsessed with their offensive line, but I can't help but be surprised by the money here.
More: Browns, Steinbach Agree to Seven-Year Deal - AP
