No Wait--

I haven't changed my mind all the way this time, but thought of some other possibilities:

Joe Banner is cagey.  He said that "at the time" the Browns were not planning on using the #6 pick on a quarterback.  Most other GMs will think the reason he said that is because they intend to draft Smith.  If we were playing poker, this is like Joe looking you right in the eye and saying "I'm bluffing.  Honest!"

Since Alex Smith has taken Kansas City out of contention, none of the teams drafting ahead of the Browns look to draft a quarterback--especially one who many feel isn't worth the pick.

But at number seven, right behind the Browns, Arizona does need a quarterback.

I remember when Butch Davis surrendered his second round pick to move up ONE SLOT to draft Kellen Winslow Jr.  I doubt that Arizona is that dumb, but wait: this is a quarterback.  And while most agree that none of these quarterbacks is like Luck or RG3, they also agree that Smith is the pick of this litter.

Further, he's one of only two who could run the fabulous read-option offense.

If I were Chud sitting at that table as my pick came up, I'd look over at the Arizona table, and smile at them...

Could get a second round pick out of it!

Other teams further down know how likely is is that Arizona would take Smith.  If they think this guy is the best and want him enough, they will now try to deal with the Browns in order to get ahead of them.  There could even be a minor bidding war.

That's not too likely, as while Smith has put himself at the head of the pack, he's not head-and-shoulders above it, and there are other options.  But it's possible, as I believe that a whole bunch of real football people are sandbagging on Smith.  It's that awesome TD-to-INT ratio, and the fact that he called most of his own plays.  He reads defenses like Kosar.  That's unique in this draft.

Other possibilites for a trade-down: I doubt that I'm alone on Anzah being clearly superior to the other OLB (AND DE's) candidates, and despite the many other options, ssomebody might trade up for him, should he last that long.

A longshsot is somebody trading up for Milliner.  In reality, there are THREE other cornerbacks who approximate his skills and talent, but some of these guys fall in love and do dumb stuff.

Why would I first rant about Geno Smith and then hope to sort of trade him?

Because I also still really like EJ Manuel.  He doesn't call his own plays, and he's thrown more interceptions, but damn--5-0 in Bowl games, kicked butt in the Senior Bowl, coming through at the combine?  It's hard to project failure for this guy when he steps up in class, ya know?

With a second round pick, the Browns should be able to get an elite starter of some sort in the first round, and Manuel in the second.

But it's got to be a second rounder, and maybe more, depending on the slot.  Absent a trade (and I'd call it 2:1 against right now), I'd still take Geno Smith at #6.

But I trust.  Not Lombardi, but Chud and Norv.

Could everybody else be wrong about Geno Smith being a star?

Well, most Chiefs fans are bashing the recent trade for Alex Smith.  Like Browns' fans, they're sick of losing.  The fact that this is Andy Reid the quarterback guru, and a West Coast offense, doesn't seem to matter.  They consider Smith just another Matt Cassel.

But this is irrational.  This guy had San Fran on the brink of the Superbowl two seasons ago, and when he was injured last season led the NFL in quarterback rating.

All they know is that Smith sucked for most of his carreer, and Harbaugh benched him.

The two Rodney Smithfields might have something in common, ya know?