Draft Corrections

First, I changed my mind again. I finally heard from Phil Simms, who trumps all other quarterback "experts". Quinn's only problem was deep accuracy, and this is correctable. And there were indeed some issues with his team. While I still feel that Russell is a "Fanchise" and Quinn might not be, I now regret having picked on him.

Now, the trade-down talk is back on the table. Minnesota could attempt a move to number three to pressure Detroit, for instance, who may well be eyeballing Gaines Adams. They might want to trade down to number four or lower, and then snag him. Minnesota could intercept him at the three spot.

This is one of several possible scenarios.

Now for the corrections, some of which are brought on by, of all people, the usually knowlagable and sharp Adam Caplan:

"All the value is in the top five." "Savage would never move out of the top ten".

CORRECTION: Players who could possibly remain available at number eleven include Alan Branch, Amobi Okoye, Levi Brown, Peterson, Adam Carriker, the top two cornerbacks. All of these are Pro-Bowl type players who would have an immediate and significant impact on the Browns.

For a rational mind, a rebuilding team can and should target quantity over quality. Any "Mason-Dixon" talent-line talent-wise is arbitrary and superfluous. No one or two players will change the fortunes for this team. The Browns could draft an insta-starter excellent player even at fifteen, perhaps at twenty, and impact players can b mined out of this draft clear through the fourth round.

A move even from third to seventh could yield second and third (or a deferred second round) picks. And Phil would keep ther door open to trade down further from there.

So you think we need a left tackle and guard? You want Phil to use his top picks on them? Then get a DE, a cornerback, etc.? Well, this is how that could be done. This is how you trun a weak team into a contender overnight--not with one running back and one lineman.

Personally, given an extra second rounder and assuming the other compensation is deferred and no further trades could be worked, I'd take Okoye to cement the D-line first, Staley (if available), Branch (doubt it), or maybe Irons (underrated running back--like Curtis Martin)--

Other guys I would consider: Ryan Kahlil the super-center. It would work for a zone-blocking line. Move people around. Marshawn Lynch: Might be better than Peterson (laugh at me now but believe me later). Micheal Bush OH yeah!

Caplan said they really like Hunt, perhaps in the second. Hunt is a blue-collar big back who is unspectacular but very consistant and reliable for short yardage. Blocks and catches well. A hammer to steadily, gradually, beat a defense to mush with. Can't fault that. But Bush is soft and out of shape. With NFL strength training, he could be awesome. He resembles Jerome Bettis coming out of college, but is a better reciever.

What separated Bettis from other monster backs is the same thing that makes Bush different: Speed and elusiveness. Bettis would avoid contact when possible. People bounced off him more because he deprived them of square angles than that he ran them over. And that's partly why he lasted as long as he did.

Bush's injury partly accounted for his being mushy when examined, but it is true that he didn't care for weight training. If they're confident that he'll do the gym rat stuff (and he IS really smart, and understands the why of it), he'd be a great pick (in the THIRD OR LOWER).

His leg was a fracture. A bone. Not a ligament or a joint. It will heal NEXT!

Somebody tell Any Allemon to get real. Unless Denver or Indi grabs him earlier, he'll still be there for the Browns in the fourth. It won't matter to most other teams that he was the top athlete among the guards except for the mere paltry 30 reps on the bench press he did. He's still not OVERWEIGHT enough, and they don't like that.

Okbye