More of Why Fans Shouldn't Run Teams

Ignorance is bliss, and Cleveland is paradise.

After Ray Farmer moved down five slots and got a '15 first and fourth rounder out of it, then took the best cornerback in this draft, reactions varied.

I was pleased by some of the intelligent comments, but these were far outnumbered by idiotic ones.

Justin Gilbert satisfied possibly the biggest need on the team, and did it in spades.  Instead of a one and two cornerback on the outside, the Browns have two number one shut-down corners.

"Could have got him in the middle of the second".  Bullcrap.  The guy's a human blanket with 4.31 speed, six interceptions, and six touchdowns on returns.  He's a game-changer and a play-maker.  If this guy had played baseball, he'd be Deion freaking Sanders you moron!

"I'm done with the Browns."  SEE YA!

"Don't worry they'll just blow that pick in '15 too."  Who?  Ray Farmer, who just took over the job?  What makes you think the new guy will blow it?  That's either stupid or superstitious.  And by the way, you're drinking the same water.

The majority of fans wanted Manziel.  They've been talked into this "urgent need at QB" crap by the Hoyer-haters.  The need was never there.

Regardless of what Ray says, Manziel was only a contingency target.  It was entirely possible that any one of a half dozen teams would draft him, and Ray was good with that.

Only when he slid to 22 did Ray see the risk as justified, so he rolled the dice.

And that IS what he did!  Most of you who were clamoring for him are clueless about how certain defenses shut him down by trapping him in the pocket and forcing him to throw from there.  All you saw were his (yes awesome) highlight plays.

He'll be a franchise quarterback, or a bust.

With apologies to my pal Bub, I didn't hate this move much--not that low in the first round.

Bortles was the one with the prototypical size and stuff, but needed a lot of mechanical work, and hasn't yet proved he can run through pro progressions and process things quickly.  Bridgewater is ready to go and will kick butt from day one, but is smallish and lacks an ideal arm for the North.

Bridgewater was nonetheless my personal favorite.

Carr chokes.  The others have a lot to prove, and historically the odds against them are daunting.

Manziel is possibly the most intelligent, the best athlete, and, despite his stature, might have the best arm.  He is fearless and almost psychotically competitive and determined.  He has this, and an uncanny ability to come through in the clutch in common with Bridgewater.

These traits are what franchise quarterbacks have in common.

Kirwan or Miller or Mayock or somebody, when comparing Bridgewater and Manziel said these things:

1: Manziel is not really small.  He's barrel-chested and solidly/compactly built.

2: Bridgewater has little upside.  He will get stronger, but has otherwise become about as good as he'll get.  Already makes the reads, processes information, has worked out mechanics, etc.
Manziel is far less experienced (and younger), and has room for impovement in all these areas.

(Note: Parcells pointed out that for Manziel to come out early was a no-brainer.  He wasn't going to get any better in college).

3: Manziel blew all the coaches away on the white board and in the film room.  They kept setting traps for him and trying to mislead him, and failed.  Manziel has a brain like Peyton Manning.

I would not have made this move, but I'm not Ray Farmer.  I've never met Johnny Manziel.  I was never drafted, never played linebacker in the NFL, and haven't spent half my life climbing the ladder in football.  I am qualified to be Mel Kiper.  Not a General Manager.  It's different.

That's why of all the pundits, Mayock is my favorite.  Mayock played the game, see?

Value:  Gil Brandt had Manziel rated as his first overall player.  Here's another guy that knows his stuff.  Very few of those who were former coaches, players, or GMs had Manziel ranked lower than 20.

And he's a quarterback with certain franchise potential.  With all the other guys, including Bortles, you just don't know.  Bortles doesn't have a Flacco or Roethsenberger arm, even if he does perfect his mechanics and learn to read the field under fire.

Manziel can throw accurately off-balance, from any angle, and out of a dead sprint.  That's rare and unique.

And he plays the most important position in football.  #22 was cheap if he pans out.

My glass is half-full.  The kid's a scrapper and indomitable.  He could flop, but I don't think so.

Hoyer-hater Pat Kirwan assured everybody that Manziel will be the day one starter.  I sure hope Mike Pettine isn't buying what he's selling, because it's based on an inexplicably biased assumption.

This should be Hoyer's team unless and until Manziel beats him out fair and square.  Hoyer should get the majority of the first team reps.  Hoyer should keep his job as long as he wins, period.  Johnny needs to make his money the old fashioned way.

If it's a fair fight, Hoyer will keep his job.  Manziel didn't run a pro style offense, and only started for two years.

Now it's Day 2.  Jordan Matthews.  Maybe Lattimer.  Hope Ray can peddle those picks below 4 to move up.