Browns Jettison Braylon Edwards: Five Reasons Why I Don't Like This Trade

(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

I realize that my opinion is probably going to be extremely unpopular around the majority of Cleveland fans, but I have to say it:

The Browns are not a better team without Braylon Edwards.

That’s because now that Edwards is a New York Jet, the Browns (with apologies to the Oakland Raiders) probably have the weakest offense in the NFL. Combine that with the curious timing of the trade and the way it was handled, and this fan is left to worry that the Browns might be in more disarray than anyone realizes.

Now, before you decide to throw me into Lake Erie, let me explain my rationale.

Here are five reasons why I don’t like this trade:

1. With Kellen Winslow Now a Buccaneer and Braylon Edwards Now a Jet, the Browns Are Left with No Big-Play Receivers.

Yes, during his tenure in Cleveland, Edwards at times has looked like he was allergic to catching the football. But he commanded double teams, blocked well downfield, and could stretch a defense with his speed and play-making potential.

No matter how many passes he dropped, sideline tantrums he threw, or out patterns he rounded off, Edwards was always a threat to do something spectacular on the field. At this stage of the season, there’s no one to take his place on the Browns' roster.

2. New Faces on Offense Means Little Chemistry between the Receivers and Quarterbacks

Cleveland fans need only to look back at the 1999 season to be reminded of what an offense with no chemistry looks like.

As of now, the Browns wide receiving corps consists of Mike Furrey, Josh Cribbs, rookies Mohamed Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie, and ex-Jet Chansi Stuckey. None of these players has really had more than a full year to gel with any of the Cleveland quarterbacks. In fact, the only quarterback/receiver tandem that might have chemistry together are ex-Jets Brett Ratliff and Chansi Stuckey.

One might try to make the case that since Cribbs has been a Brown the longest, he might have some chemistry with Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn. But judging from the first four games I’m not so sure that’s true.

3. The Browns Are Relying on Their Rookie Wide Receivers Too Much

Mohamed Massaquoi had an excellent game last week against the Bengals, however that brings his number of great NFL performances to a grand total of one. Sorry Browns fans, but expecting Massaquoi to play like he’s the second coming of Dante Lavelli from this point forward is setting yourselves up for disappointment and for Massaquoi to fail.

It’s generally accepted that the transition from college football to the NFL as a wide receiver is one of the hardest to make, so there’s reason to believe that there will be a steep learning curve ahead for these young players. Without a doubt, both Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie have the potential to become excellent NFL receivers, but it’s not going to happen overnight. There will be growing pains.

4. The Timing of the Trade Is Horrible

My overall biggest problem with the trade is the timing of it. As much as I don’t like the way the offense looks without Edwards, what I don’t like even more is the decision to trade him at this point in the season.

No, he wasn’t going to re-sign with Cleveland at the end of the year, but why did they pull the trigger after Week Four?

Why not earlier? Rumor has it that the Browns didn't trade him after they found out that Donte Stallworth would not be playing this year. Is that true? Because if it is, that's ridiculous. With or without Stallworth on the team, logic dictates that Braylon would have brought more trade value before the season, and they had to have known he would be testing the free-agent waters after the season.

The Browns certainly did not maximize Edwards’ trade value after he had zero catches against Cincinnati. This tells me that the Browns don’t have a plan except to have no plan, and this is not good.

Also, what does this trade do for team morale? It can’t help but spell out the fact that the season is lost. Sure, fans might not have had very high expectations this year, but believe it or not, the guys in the locker room weren’t playing to lose, at least up to this point.

That might change.

5. I Don’t Like How Little the Front Office Has Had To Say about the Trade

From an organizational standpoint, where was George Kokinis during the trade?

In every report immediately following the trade, Eric Mangini was the only one making a statement. Usually after a trade, especially one involving a big-name player for two players and two draft picks, the general manager has something to say. Apparently he didn't feel the need to say anything.

I can't help it—the more I think about it, the more I have this awful feeling that Browns fans will have plenty of field goal attempts, goose eggs on the scoreboard and front-office chaos to look forward to in the weeks ahead.

Many optimistic Browns fans are saying that trading Braylon Edwards is addition by subtraction. Maybe that’s true, but I’m afraid the plus side of the minus won’t be seen for quite some time.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?