Ray Farmer Pretrial Summation by Judge Mental

The defendant Raymond Farmer stands accused of incompetence.

First of all, I had to throw out some of the evidence the prosecutor tried to use.  Ray Farmer has only been in charge of personnel here for a little over one year.  He is only responsible for decisions which he made.

It then follows that, given the duration of that tenure, all references to the Browns' history at quarterback situation are irrelevant, except in the narrow context of Johnny Manziel, Josh McCown, and Brian Hoyer.

Fortunately for the Prosecution, Mister Twelvpak, I find some of his evidence compelling and relevant.

Mister Farmer has had four first round picks.  Justin Gilbert has, thus far, been a major disappointment.  The fact that a Sammy Watkins or other receiver could have been the pick instead also applies, as does Rays refusal to address this position in the draft.

Mitigating against this, however, is the fact that Sammy Watkins has not thus far met expectations himself, and the fact that it is not at all uncommon for cornerbacks to struggle early in their careers.

While it is valid to question the logic of a pick, thus the judgement of the picker, it is not valid to assume any result this early.  On the Gilbert issue, I must lean against Mister Farmer, but cannot make a ruling.

This goes double for Mister Manziel, who is a quarterback.

I refuse to consider the two first round picks from the most recent draft, of course.  Neither the Prosecutor nor I are qualified to make those calls this early, and one of us knows it.

Both sides brought in expert witnesses.  On balance, this weighed against Gilbert, but for Manziel.  I found Mister Staubach's testimony especially informative.

I of course find the aggregate of this insufficient to warrant a trial.  With all due respect to the Grand Jury at the Greenwich Tavern, they are patently in error.

The Prosecution based it's case almost exclusively on these first round picks and the wide receiver position.

Mister Coyote, speaking for the defendant, rightly points out that a General Manager must be evaluated on the sum total of his moves.

Indeed, the draft is one part of this, and the first round, in turn, only one part of that.

The defense is also correct that no draft can be accurately evaluated until after the end of the third season following it.

The decisions which can be judged here are the veteran free agents.

A cursory scan of those players who left, and those who were signed, shows a solid competence, except in the glaring case of Dwayne Bowe.

While I am tempted to recommend a trial on this basis alone, it hardly outweighs the many other signings or non-signings or trades (notably the trade with Indianapolis) which went well.

I leave this matter open.  If, after the end of the 2016 season, Mister Twelvpak wishes to refile, I will hear this matter again.

For now, I find that a trial would amount to vigilanteism, and refuse to allow it.

Case closed.  For now.