Editor's note: Tony Grossi covers the Cleveland Browns for ESPN 850 WKNR.

Hey Tony: Now that Brian Hartline is gone, which other vets may be on the chopping block?

-- Derek, Chicago, IL

Hey Derek: You have to look to the roster at where the potential replacements are. Age-wise, punter Andy Lee should be vulnerable, but there is no suitable replacement on hand. Following my theory, I would cite these veterans are vulnerable due to the following potential replacements: quarterback Josh McCown (Cody Kessler, Austin Davis, Connor Shaw), linebacker Barkevious Mingo (Emmanuel Ogbah, Nate Orchard), and cornerback Justin Gilbert (Jamar Taylor, Trey Caldwell, Charles Gaines). You might say cornerback Tramon Williams could be in trouble. He’s 33 and has a $7 million cap charge in 2016 -- fifth-highest on the team. Here is what’s saving Williams right now: Joe Haden’s surprise ankle surgery in March and the fact that no other cornerback – at present – has proved capable of holding down a starting job.

Hey Tony: Brian Hartline has been shown the door. What veterans in the receiving corps are also on notice?

-- Nate, Granville, OH

Hey Nate: Andrew Hawkins is 30 and is coming off a two-concussion season in 2015. But Hawkins’ four-year contract was structured to take a major dip in 2016. His base salary sinks from $4 million in 2015 to $1 million this year. It increases to $1.8 million in 2017. Whatever -- and whomever -- was responsible for the weird third-year reduction, it just may save Hawkins a roster spot.

Hey Tony: With the Browns having +$40m in cap space, who do you want to see get long-term extensions besides [Joel] Bitonio & [Chris] Kirksey?

-- Tom, Athens, AL

Hey Tom: Isaiah Crowell can be a restricted free agent when his contract expires after 2016. So if he would get off to great start, the Browns might want to tie him up. Otherwise, I don’t think there are any compelling contract issues right now. Players whose deals expire after 2017 include Robert Griffin III, Paul Kruger, Desmond Bryant, Tramon Williams, Josh Mccown, Justin Gilbert, John Greco and Pierre Desir.

Hey Tony: Do you think Hue Jackson knows why Cincy can’t win in playoffs & not let that happen here?

-- Chris, Wooster, OH

Hey Chris: I’m sure Jackson would never say, “If I were head coach, the Bengals would have won by now.” The Bengals did look on their way to breaking their playoff losing skein last year. They were ahead of the Steelers, 16-15, when running back Jeremy Hill lost a fumble with 1:30 to go. Then back-to-back personal fouls on linebacker Vontaze Burfict and cornerback Adam Jones accelerated their implosion.

Hey Tony: I'm pulling for Mike Matthews to make the team. What are his chances? There seems to be a lot of offensive linemen ahead of him. Could [John] Greco be the odd man out by moving one of these new tackles to guard? I always thought Greco got pushed around against a strong four-man front. Does Hue favor the zone blocking utilized by Shanahan?

-- Rick, Shreveport, LA

Hey Rick: Mike’s father, Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews, told me that Mike’s realistic expectations are to stick on the Browns’ practice squad and then graduate from there to a full roster spot when needed. I don’t think Matthews affects Greco’s roster spot in any way.

Hey Tony: From what I have read, [Cody] Kessler seems comparable with Andy Dalton. While a “Dalton” would be an upgrade over what we have had of late, is a “Dalton” good enough? Would it stop a search for a “franchise” QB?

-- Gerard, Cork, Ireland

Hey Gerard: I don’t think even a Dalton family member would classify him as a “franchise quarterback.” A franchise QB wins in the playoffs. Dalton is 0-4. So my answer is no, it’s not good enough.

Hey Tony: I have heard a lot of talk about the challenges of players making the switch to a 3-4 from college to NFL. However, I would like to point out that in 2015 NFL teams were in a nickel/dime package 66 percent of the time. Meaning, these players are going to be in a 4-man front the majority of the time anyway, utilizing their strenghts. Besides, Horton has stressed he would play to his players strengths -- the anti-O'Neil. I really don’t think it’s as big of an issue as some make it out to be. How does that help with the transition?

-- Dan, Minneapolis, MN

Hey Dan: Let’s assume your data is correct. If NFL teams were in a four-man front 66 percent of the time, then why even utilize a 3-4 alignment as your base defense? Nothing about the 3-4 defense makes sense to me.

Hey Tony: I was wondering, after watching "BelieveLand" the old feelings for Art raised their ugly head. I am curious, has anyone ever looked into how Art was coincidentally on the expansion committee that surprised the nation by bypassing Baltimore and awarding a 3rd team to a small market in Florida? And that team began play in1995, the same year Art is on the tarmac in Baltimore. It seems an influential owner could easily swing his compatriots in a time of financial desperation. How fortuitous for Art that a true NFL city that was already committed to building a state of the art stadium and has a strong NFL history in its fan base. Along with a nice $50 million signing bonus.

-- Ken, Pinehurst, NC

Hey Ken: Yes, Modell’s position on the expansion committee in 1993 has been duly noted. At the time, Modell had no idea he would move the Browns to Baltimore three years later. He wasn’t facing bankruptcy and the Indians had not yet moved into the new Gateway stadium. In truth, the decision to expand to virgin NFL markets Jacksonville and Carolina in 1993 was mainly the idea of then-Commissioner Paul Tagliabue. The unintended consequences were that they empowered Baltimore and St. Louis to lure away the Browns and Rams, who had stadium problems in their old cities.