More Ranting and Corrections

First off, why am I the only one on the planet outside the team who has noticed fourth-year ILB Chris Griffin making a lot of plays?

Fourth-year. Had to repeat that. Griffin was an undrafted free agent from a Little League school (like Alex Hall's) signed by the Redskins. He wasn't ready to do much then, but quickly became a special teams ace.

For most of you MM's, that's the end of it. But let me tell you something: It is extremely common for players to emerge in their third or fourth seasons. Their first season is a blur. Their second, they're still competing for a roster spot.

Coaches and systems change. But they learn. Now, Griffin appears to be more than a special teamer. He gets to the ball on defense, and makes plays.

I wouldn't rate him with the other four guys just yet, but that's some great depth at ILB. Makes me feel even better about maybe trading AndrA Davis.

I read some more about Alex Hall. They said he actually looked comfortable in coverage. I hadn't known that--reporting being what it is. I'm officially moving up his timetable: He should be in the rotation in the first quarter of the season, and will play more and more throughout the season, until he is the starter at SOLB in fact, if not in name. (Willie will get his props for sentimental reasons.)

NICE JOB AGAIN, PHIL! I'm writing you in for President.

Joe Horn? Oh, so now we're desperate for a third wide reciever too. Jeez, are we spoiled, or what? In my last blog, I patiently explained how Wilson's non-appearance from Edwards' spot didn't mean that much, but I obviously have to go further.

The third reciever lines up in the slot, much closer to the quarterback inside. The guy trying to cover him can't use the sidelines as an extra defender, and can't really force him one way or another, since he has gobs of room. The nickel back trying to cover him gets no help. He is never double-covered.

We might not want Wilson replacing an injured Braylon Edwards at this point, but when he has played in the slot, he has done well, and it is ignorant and stupid to disregard what he did from the slot.

Steve Sanders also did what he did from the slot, and was not asked to play from the X-spot. I like the guy, but like Wilson better.

Steptoe is my new favorite, however. Lance Legget has a bright future in the NFL, and Paul Hubbard could be a huge, huge player as early as next season. And Kasper was looking great when he went down, then there's JJ. They're pretty old, by the way--so if you think old guys are critical, there you go!

So the Browns feel they need/want a 36 year old player, so they get to get rid of one MORE of these guys? THINK WITH YOUR BRAIN.

I think a deal or deals are imminant after this game. It won't be Phil makeing the calls. It will be Phil answering the phone. A lot of teams are now faced with the final roster cuts, and will be trying to get whatever they can for players they have to get rid of anyway. Like Ashton Youbote.

Contrary to popular hallucinations, the Browns are overloaded at wide reciever, inside linebacker, fullback, and tight end. Teams are poised to scoop up those the Browns released.

The problem with both sides of that is that it's a feeding-frenzy, and the odds are pretty good that a given team won't get the player they want. Greedy agents queer a lot of deals, too.

Chicken Little hallucinations aside, Phil would like to upgrade depth at safety and cornerback. Yes, it's true, but it's not the urgent emergency that Chicken Little is announcing, and AJ Davis is going to have something to say about the pecking order even with the new guy.

Phil is not dealing from a position of weakness, except in that Twilight Zone episode too many of you are living in.

For an AndrA Davis, Steve Heiden, or Charles Ali, Phil could get good draft picks or a good backup safety and/or cornerback.

By this time next week, just watch and see how this roster changes.

Da Bearss will come after Quinn big-time. If he can handle it, he's ready.

YOU STAND CORRECTED.