2012 NFL Draft: 4 Reasons Robert Griffin III Is Wrong for Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns 2012 NFL draft speculative universe currently is divided amongst those who think that the team should pick Robert Griffin III in the draft, and everyone else.

That quarterback from Baylor, as I like to refer to him, in an attempt to downplay the current belief that he is the quarterbacking fantasy of every Cleveland fans' dreams, is currently an on paper potent commodity, generating endless interest and speculative inquiries leading up to his April 26 IPO.  

However, here are four reasons why it would be a mistake to select him in this year's draft.

Price Too High for an Unproven NFL Commodity

The consensus amongst the prognosticators in the pre-draft aggregation is that the Browns would not be able to obtain "that quarterback from Baylor," simply via their ownership of the first round fourth pick. Rather, they would have to initiate a draft-day trade.

For a team that finished near the bottom of the league in every offensive category, surely one unproven play-caller will not be the catalyst that spurns average parts towards sudden above-average performance. The question then becomes, is a team which has a dire need for improvement at various offensive positions willing to cash in more than one chip, for the supposed big chip?

If there is one position that is historically hyped beyond recognition, it is quarterback. And we are all history majors when it comes to draft day busts at the position. From the Ryan Leafs and Todd Marinovichs of the world to Cleveland's own first-round first-overall pick in the 1999 draft, Tim Couch, there is plenty of historical evidence to suggest that the proclamations of the QB from Baylor's messianic qualities are simply that—unsubstantiated proclamations.

There is more to be gained from utilizing two first-round top-25 picks and potentially improving two offensive positions than from losing an additional pick in the round to score one player who has yet to take an NFL snap.

Of course, every player drafted this coming spring is a bust till they prove otherwise; however, why not level the potential for big-time or bust players, by drafting in volume?

One Player Does Not a Great Team Make

There is no doubt that the quarterback from Baylor has all the intangible facets by which fans, scouts and front offices measure a player whom they think to be potentially worthy of the franchise player label.

He has all the hardware, highlights and statistics that comprise a player who could potentially be labeled as the coming savior of any team looking for a reason to justify renewed faith, which surely the Browns have been for sometime now.

He is even the kind of player whom many believe, specifically NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock, should possess veto rights over the kind of offense that he will inherit once drafted. Of teams such as Carolina, Cincinnati and Minnesota, with their respective quarterbacks, Mayock stated:

“They adapted some of their offenses to suit what the rookie quarterbacks did best. Look at Cam Newton, look at Andy Dalton, look at Ponder. They gave those kids chances to make plays and get comfortable. [Griffin] is too explosive and too much of a playmaker to sit there and have him read the triangle that the West Coast offense is.”

Of course, Browns fans can read into that last line and it's relevance to Cleveland's own use of the west coast offense at their discretion or lack thereof. However, even if the Baylor quarterback was to somehow land in the laps of the Browns, and, even if his impact was immediate, the teams' deficiencies far outweigh the accomplishments of any single individual.

The mere fact that so much intense speculation has already made it's way through the conversational campfire only supports the idea that this draft is a grand opportunity to address many holes, not just potentially putty patching up the one.

If the team's approach come draft day is to trade in all the marbles for supposedly the shiniest one of the bunch, will this not simply replicate the situation of this past year?

By way of sending another quarterback who may or may not prove to be an effective leader, given a legitimate supporting cast, out onto the field with what could only be described as the stand-ins for a legitimate supporting cast.  

Pavlov's Dawgs

Media manipulation is far reaching and a mechanism that, through redundancies and volume of verbiage, urges that what can make an individual, team or even a city better is the only option worth pursuing.

The Baylor quarterback's name is surely the first on the list of potential draftees in the minds of those within the organization and legion of fans. This is not coincidental when a player is somehow aligned with the convergence of an entire team and city towards emergence and long-sought respect.

Even a month prior to this article, the supposed savant of NFL draft predicting, last name Kiper, first name Mel, made no qualms in his assurances towards the Browns draft day destiny when asked if he thought the team would draft that Baylor kid:

"I think they've pretty much resolved themselves to the fact they're going to go that route. They're probably going to kick Colt McCoy to the curb. That's what happens to a lot of young quarterbacks that don't have great physical qualifications."

These not entirely astute analyses from supposedly shrewd or in-the-know manipulators of media will only intensify in the weeks, days and minutes prior to April 26. And they will play prominently in the minds from the front office down to the fans sitting on the front of their couches.

Surely we, as Cleveland fans, should be wary of being sold on a player's potential to be the pot of gold that will make the city a rich and respected sports town once more. Our recent sports past informs us well against such flights of fantasy.

Have We Seen the Real McCoy?

As much as there are those who are for taking the Baylor kid and then everyone else, the same line of reasoning or lack thereof, applies to whether or not Colt McCoy should be replaced.

The thought merchants differentiate themselves on the contentious possibility of whether McCoy is a talented quarterback on a talent-deficient team, or a non-talented quarterback, being given the benefit of the doubt because he has not been allotted much surrounding talent.

What is inarguable is that McCoy was surrounded by a less-than-efficient group on offense, making it easy for his weaknesses to be exposed under the strain.

The problem is that if Cleveland drafts the third Robert Griffin, not only will they not answer the question of what McCoy's "true" abilities could be, but they put the 2011 Heisman Trophy winner in the same spot if they are unable to gather any meaningful pieces following his selection.

Why not give McCoy no excuses by utilizing 2012 picks towards building some legitimate pieces around him and then allow the masses to truly judge his NFL worthiness?