Browns Inherit Gold Through Mike Furrey Signing

How does one go from 98 catches to 18 in just two seasons?

Just look at Mike Furrey's career, and you'll understand how.

Despite having good size for the position, great hands, and exceptional versatility, Furrey has been overlooked or knocked on his entire career.

Quite obviously, he went undrafted coming out of college. All hope was lost for Furrey, that is, until he ran into a wonderful piece of fortune in the shape of Mike Martz.

Martz gave Furrey his first real shot with the Rams, and eventually moved him to safety due to injuries, but even more-so due to his versatility.

Furrey responded with over 45 tackles and five interceptions, including a game-clincher, as well as another for a touchdown.

Instead of giving Furrey a chance at a future as a safety in the league, they cut their ties with him. Once again, Furrey was being overlooked, despite actually proving himself.

Once Martz landed a job in Detroit as offensive coordinator, however, Furrey saw his chance at stardom.

Martz pulled a few strings, landed Furrey, and put the guy most familiar with his offense, outside of teammate Shaun McDonald, in the starting lineup.

Furrey proved to be durable and reliable, as he and the Lions offense brought excitement to Detroit despite the Lions going 3-13.

The next season, Furrey was again rewarded for his accomplishments (over 1,000 yards, 98 catches, and six TD) with a demotion.

The Lions, who already had Roy Williams and had just found a tremendous talent in Furrey, put it all together and figured out that, for the third season in a row, a wide receiver would solve their problems.

While drafting Calvin Johnson ultimately paid off, one can only wonder what would have been if Furrey stayed as a starter and the Lions had drafted an impact player on defense.

Regardless, Furrey was cut this offseason after a controversial debate with management over his placement on the injured reserve list last season.

Furrey contested that he wouldn't have to miss the rest of the season—that his injury wasn't as severe as Detroit led people to believe. There is some beef to his argument, too, as quarterback Jon Kitna faced the same treatment and had the same allegations.

Fast forward to 2009, and the Cleveland Browns are taking a shot in the dark—albeit an accurate one.

What they're probably hoping for is, at worst, a solid replacement for Joe Jurevicius, who is no longer with the team.

And whether we want to admit it or not, a corps of Braylon Edwards and Mike Furrey isn't half-bad. One is the big-play threat with terrible hands, while the other is the refined route runner with reliable hands.

It seems like a good match, even if Furrey doesn't rise back to stardom.

At least he'll get that chance.