No rumor regarding Josh McCown came from the Browns organization. It is logical to suspect that Sashi Brown and company would accept good trade offer for him, but:
It's irrational to assume that they want to get rid of him simply because RGIII is now on board.
Hue Jackson obviously believes he can salvage Griffin's career, but even if he is certain of it, Sashi and Paul are not. Nor am I. Nor are you.
In addition to being a fantastic mentor for a rookie quarterback, Josh is the bird in the hand: A proven starter; a sure thing.
All this talk about analytics, and nobody else seems to understand it. Because McCown is a geezer, they think Paul will decide he has to go.
Well, Josh might not still be around (except maybe as a coach I hope) by the time this team contends again, but his biggest value is his influence on those who will be.
Real analysts consider abstract values such as this. Because they're hard to quantify and assign numbers to doesn't mean they're not real and meaningful---especially in a leader and a quarterback.
Many assume that if Goff or Wentz is the pick, he has to play as soon as possible. Why? Who told you that? And please define that word you use all the time: "Ready".
Ready to overcome point deficits and all-out blitzes? Ready to cope with a disjointed and weak offensive line? Ready as in he only gets smashed to the turf every third or fourth play? Throws almost as many touchdowns as interceptions? Knows what he's seeing more than half the time?
You have a young boxer. You've drilled him to keep his balance, deliver combinations, jab, cover. You have him spar with pillow gloves and headgear, and he's looking pretty good.
He's ready! Match him up with last year's state golden gloves champion! Hurry up!
After he gets out of the hospital, he doesn't come around the gym any more. I wonder why. Just stop it. McCown and RG are ready. The new kid won't be.
If this team had a strong running game and a good defense, he might be ready. If you need him to carry the team, don't even think about it.
This isn't to say that McCown won't be traded for a draft pick. I rather think he will be. But if they take less than a fourth rounder for him, well---that would be dumb.
Now on NFL Radio, speculation is rampant and all over the map. Some think RGIII will come back strong. Others think he'll fail again.
They all pretty much agree that Hue Jackson will tweak the offense to make best use of this guy's unique skills. Wentz has become the odds-on favorite in the draft derby, because he can execute the same plays. I need to mention here: So can McCown.
Others expect the Browns to trade down, now that they've got their quarterback. Some even manage to interpret this signing as a lack of interest in these draftable quarterbacks.
I still hear callers saying they should trade down and just draft some guy named Joe in the fourth or fifth round or so and work on him for four or five years. Yeah, LOTS of franchise guys start that way good grief.
Next year there might be somebody! Doesn't look like it now, but you never know! They just need to keep losing almost every game is all, and they can just draft one then!
Analysts take calculated risks, but don't gamble. They aren't taking RGIII to the bank just yet. As confident as they are in Hue's quarterback-whispering, they can't regard RG3 as more than a 50/50 proposition. They can let him pick a quarterback, but WILL draft one.
Recently, I've wondered what Hue thinks of Paxton Lynch, or even Cardale Jones. You never know, you know?
They don't have the touch or accuracy of the top two. These can be improved, but only so much. It's not as important in the offense Hue ran in Cincinnati as in a West Coast, though.
In Hue's only previous draft, he wanted Kaepernick bad. Kaepernick was kind of like these two guys, though not as huge. All the same warts: Hadnt proven he could make all the reads or sit in a pocket. Great arm, not great anticipation, touch, or accuracy.
He grabbed Carson Palmer because he was simply the best quarterback he could get, but we know who he wanted first.
While like Hawk said, Hue adapts his offenses to his players, it's quite possible that in his heart of hearts, he wants another Cam Newton.
It's even more likely that he believes he can turn just about anybody with the raw traits into one.
Around Cleveland, Cardale gets more love than he's earned. He seemed to actually regress in his final year. Leading his team to a National Championship can't be denied, and yet...and yet...
Lynch is different. He's progressed steadily. Lots if warts, to be sure, but...
Well, I just wonder.
I suspect that Wentz is the main target. Goff could be just as good, but he's not Hue's "type".
What if Dallas or somebody trades up and nabs Wentz? I'm not so sure they'd just take Goff. They could even trade out of that pick, get another second rounder or so, and grab Lynch.
Really, I have no idea. I just know that it's sheer idiocy to ever pass up a quarterback you feel has franchise potential, because if you're good at your job, you'll probably never get that chance again.
Even a trade UP (probably involving Joe Thomas) is possible in order to make sure of Wentz.
As I wrote a couple months ago, the Titans could get a Hall of Fame left tackle and STILL get anybody else they wanted (or trade down again with somebody chasing Goff).
For that, they'd need to pony up their 2017 first round pick too.
At the time I wrote that, I was talking about Goff. And now I can't get Paxton Lynch out of my head. Hue is a real interesting guy. I hope he's as good as he thinks he is.
Josh Gordon and RG3 redux could do some damage in a wild and crazy offense. Hue just might win more than three games next year!
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