Cleveland Browns Say Bye Bye Braylon Edwards, Hello ...

In response to Kendall’s piece titled “Cleveland Browns: How Did It Come to This?">Braylon Edwards and the Cleveland Browns: How Did It Come to This?” …

Kendall, I’m not a Browns fan, but I feel your pain.  This is a classic conundrum.  You’ve got an elite talent in Braylon Edwards who should be great and has been at times, but other than one monster breakout season in 2007 has been disappointing and frustrating.

Like others have said Braylon reminds me of Terrell Owens in terms of his mercurial ability and temperament—but minus the psychiatric baggage. In fact, Edwards is actually a more polished receiver. 

The big difference, however, is that TO is a proven performer. He produces EVERY year so you tolerate his antics. Even in a down year like last season, TO delivered 1,052 yards and 10 touchdowns.

At this point Braylon isn’t a consistent producer and he drops way too many passes.  Considering he has good hands and is capable of spectacular catches, this is particularly annoying. Moreover, I don’t like his on-field behavior.

I watched him play a few games last year and my lasting memories of him are all the drops and the public displays of being a bad teammate. Whenever quarterback Derek Anderson failed to connect with him, he’d bark and gesture animatedly in frustration and disgust. 

Granted Anderson was frequently off target last season, but it’s not cool to trash your QB like that.  Braylon needs to be more mature and deal with that stuff behind closed doors.

As I reflect on Chad Johnson last offseason—err, I mean Chad Ocho Cinco—the Bengals screwed up by not dealing him to the Washington Redskins for two first-round draft picks. That deal was actually on the table and Cincy rejected it. 

Now nobody is offering that kind of value because Ocho Cinco’s public perception has taken more hits.  According to ESPN’s John Clayton, the going rate for No. 85 now may be a first and a third.  If I were the Skins, I wouldn’t make that deal now.

There’s no question that Braylon is still capable of fulfilling his huge potential and Browns fans will surely wince and grimace if he puts it all together elsewhere, but one must wonder at this point whether he’ll just tease you for the rest of his time in Cleveland and then bolt for big money in free agency anyway. 

Sure Cleveland can place the franchise tag on him, but that only works if Edwards has another big year.  Should he replicate 2008 in 2009, then you’re looking at a repeat of the Ocho Cinco situation where his value has diminished.

If Cleveland can get something in the ballpark of a first-and a second-round pick for Edwards, I think the Browns should move him. 

Those picks should translate into two high-caliber starters and you shed the headache and heartache of No. 17.

Then the Browns could make a play for Texas Tech wideout Michael Crabtree in the upcoming draft.  His stock seems to be sliding so the Browns might be able to trade down a bit, acquire another draft pick in the process, and then snag Crabtree to fill the wide receiver void.

He’s not as explosive as Edwards, but a lot more reliable and consistent.  In the end, he might not turn the 8-yard slant into a 75-yard touchdown, but he’ll catch everything, keep the chains moving, and be a great red zone target because of his size and athletic ability.  Browns fans will sleep a lot better at night knowing they won’t have to deal with the ups and downs of Edwards.

In basketball terms, Braylon is the kind of guy who may average 20 points per game, but he’ll give you 30 one night and 10 the next—or even worse, 35 then 5.  But Crabtree is more likely to give you 20 points every game and, occasionally, will explode for 30 or more. Browns fans will be able to trust Crabtree a whole lot more.

Also, Crabtree’s makeup suggests he could step right in and produce significantly as a rookie.  You can’t say that about a lot of rookie wideouts. And, of course, having a young stud like Crabtree softens the blow of losing a dynamic talent like Edwards.

All this being said, I don’t want Edwards dealt to the New York Giants or Philadelphia Eagles. As a Redskins fan, I don’t want to see him twice every year.  Because when he’s good, he’s great.

Good luck, Kendall and Browns fans.