Insane Trade Scenario

This from Pat Kirwin (former defensive back/position coach/scout/personel director/general manager NY Jets-Sirius NFL Radio):

In a pre-arranged trade, the Raiders could possibly draft Jamarcus Russell, then let Cleveland draft Quinn, then trade the two and extort the Browns 2008 first round pick.

You may have reacted as I did when I first heard it. But in a few seconds, I calmed down and achieved emotional detatchment in order to check it out:

Essentially it would be extortion: A first round pick? To a team which is still rebuilding, and NEEDS those guys? On the other hand, if Russell IS "all that", and Quinn aint, you'd have to consider it. Regardless of what Rich Passen and some other knuckleheads say, the most important single player on any team is the quarterback.

Well, what about Quinn vs. Russell? Well, Personnel Pros around the league, as crunch time approaches, have been going over ALL of Quinn's game-tapes with a fine-tooth comb. His critics are not know-nothing columnists--they are professionals.

As you may or may not know, I haven't even seen either of these guys play myself. What I do is read and listen to people who have seen and studied them, and who actually know what they were looking at. I get an even deeper insight when they disagree with eachother; deriving much from the point/counterpoint. After processing, I'm usually correct. That's what a true analyst does.

Now: Quinn's losses and bad throws were not his teammates' faults. He is a lethal short and intermediate passer, but sometimes misses those throws. He's more inconsistant deep. I'm sure that with practice, he will improve. But it doesn't answer for his losses in big games. Intelligent, decisive, a leader, yes. He'll probably be a very good NFL quarterback.

But with the third pick overall (or with that plus another first round pick, for that matter) you don't just grab the second-best available quarterback unless he's Philip Rivers...and not really second best, either.

Russell: "All they're going on is that one game".

CORRECTION: Russell was made the starting quarterback at his highschool before he attended it. While he was in eighth grade. He was...uh...like 24-4 as a starter at LSU against top level competition. He has a whole bunch of come-from behind wins. He won all the big games. He saved his best til he faced Quinn.

He not only has a historicly strong arm, but perfect touch, and deadly accuracy at any range. He hits tight windows, lobs it over linebackers, and gets it to his recievers in stride. He made all his line calls, and was always allowed to check off--and demonstrated good judgement in doing so. (Disagree? Go argue with his head coach or shut up.)

"But we need to win NOW! Russell can't do that! He needs to sit on the bench for a couple years."

CORRECTIONS: Ground control to Virginia: We CAN'T win now. Tough division, youth, toughest schedule concievable, remember? Man, grow up willya? "Are we there yet?" Don't make me come back there!

Two years my butt. Try ONE. He's not as polished as Quinn, but he's not some kid from Akron running a shotgun, either. Smith came out and kicked ass as a rookie after his team was mathematicly eliminated, and Russell is better-prepared than he was.

One expert--this guy named Marino (not Dan)--said that he didn't see any Mannings or Elways in this draft. But I heard other stuff: that Russell was the best QB prospect to come along in like 3 years. It's hard to find one damn thing wrong with him. Nary an interception. Comes from behind. Strength, accuracy, touch, leadership, brains---if he aint the real thing, what is?

Oh yeah. Up to 300 lbs. at one time. BIG DEAL!

But a first round pick? Is it worth it?

In my opinion, yes. If he's "all that", yes. How long has it been since the Browns had a real stud QB? Not since Bernie. Before him, SIPE--believe it or not. And Bernie would lose a race with a glacier, and Sipe needed a ladder to see downfield and had a pop-gun arm. Imagine what it would be like to have that critical position all settled. And when you need to come from behind...when the chips are down and it's for all the marbles....yeah, you see?

And that's the hugest factor here: Not the arm, or the size, or the other stuff. It's his heart.

Yeah, I'd do it. Pick up Irons or Pittman in the second, or Bush in the third or fourth. Allemon in the fourth, or another guard. Wright in the third or fourth. The players are still there in this draft.

Take the guy and let Frye and Anderson feel the heat. Could be that one of them is pretty good by late in the season. Good enough to trade, and get us back at least a third round pick...

Okay okay I'm getting optimistic. Anyway in the real world, the Browns will be much-improved in every area, but winning even seven or eight games would be a major achievement. Russell could, as I mentioned, play some games that don't matter anymore late, and take that experience to the offseason with him.

It would save Crennell (and the TEAM) from the lynch-mob, and in 2008, all the young punks are all growed up, and we're ready for the majors...see?

OR...man, with THIS guy, we could sure trade down---oh well I'm all thunk out.

Okbye.