Edwards Gone: Browns Must Now Embrace Long Term Rebuilding

Well, we've all gotten our wish for Braylon Edwards—and the cancer he has become—to be shipped out of town.

The questions now becomes apparent. Where do the Browns go from here, and who's next out the front door in Berea?

Where do they go? Well, that's a tough one, but I think it's of the utmost importance for the Browns to embrace the rebuilding effort that is sure to carry them through the next several seasons—and it has to be embraced by everyone on that roster, in that locker room and in the organization.

This is a project that is going to take some time, an it's going to require patience on the fans' part, as well as the ownership's part. If Mangini is the guy, (which I, as well as many others, have doubts about) then everyone has to be willing to give him enough rope to either do something good and turn this dismal franchise around, or hang himself with. This trade my be the first tying of the proverbial noose.

There are so many shortcomings with this team right now, and the rebuilding has to include a shift in the cultural paradigm that exists in Berea. The changes that have to be made are very apparent, and need to be addressed immediately. It has to start at the top.

The drafting, scouting, free agent evaluation, contract management, sense of team and most importantly, coaching and leadership have to change for the better.

With the trade of Braylon Edwards, the Browns get rid of a guy that was once considered, as recently as 2007, a true No. 1 WR. A guy that could not only hold that position for some time, but also help develop younger players coming in.  In return they get a guy in Chansi Stuckey, that has "a lot of upside" as exclaimed by Jay Glazer on Dan Patrick's show. 

But the question I have is this: How does that acquisition help us to get closer to the goal of getting better? Is it the picks? Is it Stuckey himself?

I look at the partner for us in this trade, the New York Jets, and all I can think is that they just got exponentially better, and not only improved their WR corps, but also helped Thomas Jones, Leon Washington, and maybe most importantly, Mark Sanchez.

Conversely, as I look at the Browns and sadly, I can't see how they got any better or how they got anything of reciprocal value in this trade. Sure, Stuckey's numbers are better right now than Edwards', but, believe me when I say this: Braylon will be the better WR this season, and will turn around 180 degrees in New York.

I knew the trade of Edwards was coming, but for God's sake, how many former Jets players do the Browns need to have here to make this Mangini's team? In my opinion, he's already put his stamp on this team, that started soon after he was hired.  Remember, he is the one that though Andra Davis wasn't a good enough player to keep around, and elected for Eric Barton (a former Jet) in lieu of Davis. Living in Denver, I get to see how important Davis is to their success every week, and it stings a little bit...I digress though.

Is the only place the man finds his football identity in New York and through his former players?  If so, that's very sad, and very bad for the Browns. Again, I look at this trade, and I'm somewhat perplexed, but I suppose I've become used to that with the  way the offseason went. 

I tend to think that a deal could have been made with Arizona for Anquan Boldin. He wants out, and has for over a year, they may have been willing to negotiate a little, and with him, they would have gotten better. Which, unless I'm mistaken, is the whole idea right? To get better?

It likely would have cost the Browns a little more, but it would have helped for the long term had they worked a contract before the trade, which they would have.  In acquiring Boldin, you not only have a No. 1 WR for now, but you have a guy that answers the long term questions the Browns now have at the WR position as well, and helps your QB, RB, and everyone else. Stuckey doesn't do that for the Browns.

I posed the question earlier: "Who's next out the door in Berea?" Well, I think you look no further than the hometown kid himself, Brady Quinn. There are many people, including notable "football" guys like Marty Schottenheimer, John Gruden, Jimmy Johnson, Bill Parcells and countless others that believe Brady Quinn can be a good QB. I follow that sentiment.

However, Eric Mangini obviously, is not of that school of thought. For what reasons, I'm not sure. But it's likely that he'll be the next player out the door in Berea, and they'll probably get some players and picks for him. Again, they'll get nothing of reciprocal value or anything of great help to this team, which is a problem.

Embracing a rebuild requires you to stick with young assets, develop those assets, make smart acquisitions & draft selections and build the team not around one player, but around the team itself. 

Mangini's perplexing ways started early in his tenure, with all of the trades down in the draft. From fifth to 17th, 17th to 19th, and 19th to 21st.  And when the Browns finally do select, they choose a center, and not even the center ranked highest on most scouts boards in Max Unger (who slipped to 49th in the 2nd round...well after the Browns selected).

I look at that and I can't help but think how nice it would be to see someone like Aaron Maybin, Knowshon Moreno, Brian Orakpo, or Ray Maualuga in a Browns uniform.  Particularly Moreno, especially considering the state of the Browns backfield with Jamal "8.7 second 40" Lewis. Living in Denver, I see him a lot, and he looks very, very good. 

My point is this folks: For the Browns to succeed, they must become a better managed, coached and ran football team, and in order to get to that point, they must embrace the rebuilding process and do it correctly. 

If not, this team will struggle through Mangini's tenure the same way it did with Chris Palmer, Butch Davis, and Romeo Crennel and whomever else Mr. Lerner taps as the next "savior" until someone comes in and does it the right way.