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Three games into the season, it became apparent to anyone who did not already know that the Cleveland Browns were not going to the playoffs. To even that casual observer who watched the disasters against the Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens, the Browns were completely overmatched.
With the trading of Braylon Edwards to the New York Jets, the team is now even more devoid of talent.
As a result, I have been paying even closer attention to the college football scene to see if there is anyone out there that could potentially help this organization in the near future.
To the frustration of my spouse, the television set has been on picture-to-picture from noon to past midnight the last three Saturdays. And my internet has been on overdrive as I scour the scouting reports for potential free agents, college seniors, and college juniors who may choose to leave their college experience behind.
Conventional wisdom says that the Cleveland organization should scrap the Derek Anderson and/or Brady Quinn experiments and look to use the top pick (which seems assured to be top seven) on a big name quarterback. I say “conventional wisdom” is wrong.
The Cleveland Browns section of B/R has been lighting up with calls for Jimmy Clausen, Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy, Sam Bradford or Tony Pike.
In the same breath, many are saying that Eric Mangini has “ruined” Brady Quinn or that DA “is not the future of this franchise.” All that may or may not be true, but there is one axiom that I have heard from a number of general managers who are considered to be the top of their craft:
“NEVER DRAFT FOR NEED!”
The fact is, not one of the aforementioned quarterback prospects is a sure thing. Each has his strengths, but all have question marks.
The truth is, if you look at the most successful franchises over the past ten years – aside from one (the Indianapolis Colts), they all built their teams with solid talent BEFORE settling on a quarterback.
The Pittsburg Steelers,New York Giants, New England Patriots,Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Ravens, and St. Louis Rams (nine of the last 10 NFL Champions) all forged ahead by building superior defenses, accumulating numerous playmakers on offense, or both - before picking the quarterback that would lead them to the promised land.
The Steelers first Super Bowl with Ben Roethlisberger at the helm was largely won behind the strength of a power running game and a stingy defense.
The Patriots first Super Bowl with Tom Brady was the result of a playmaking, opportunistic defense. And on top of that, Brady was a sixth round pick.
Eli Manning had a terrific run down the stretch for the Giants, but it was the Giants ferocious defense and solid run game that kept them afloat for most of the season.
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