Sashi and Paul's Backup Plans

I agree with about 91.4% of what Doug Lesmerisis says, which of course makes him almost perfect.  Here, he once again shows cold-blooded, pragmatic logic in explaining why he thinks the Browns don't need Carson Wentz.

There was never a deliberate plan to tank the 2016 season, ok?  Hue Jackson is on board with the moves the front office has made, and intends to make the most of what he has and start winning as soon as possible.

If you call replacing older veterans with very, very talented rookies "tanking", you need to explain that to the Head Coach, because he doesn't seem to get it.

However, it is true that this team is in for a long season.  With whole new staffs, systems, and players (57% of the roster less than two years experience, 17 rookies, etc) and now no RG3 for a good ten weeks anyway, and (oh yeah) in the AFC North, well...

While there is no conflict between Hue and the squints, it is true that Sashi and Depodesta would happily lose thirteen or more games this season to get that first overall pick.

Doug raises one monkey wrench issue: Josh McCown.  I agree with Doug that Josh could screw everything up by winning too many games.  

Look, they are hoping to rehabilitate and develop RG3, but he was not, in reality, the best quarterback on this team.  The Ravens would have preferred to play RG3.  

And yes, Hue was starting the second best guy on purpose, because he has his eye on the future as well.  Sashi says the plan was for RG3 to become the man.  Stop making a big deal out of that.  There is a Plan B and a Plan C.

Drafting a quarterback first overall is only the most obvious alternative, but by no means the only one.

Jimmy Garopollo could be another.

This could be a hallucination, since Bill Belichick isn't as dumb as most pundits, and can count.  In the past, he has drafted a project quarterback every couple years, and then traded him for draft picks.

Everybody assumes he will do the same thing with Jimmy, but in reality Tom Brady CAN NOT last much longer, and Bill knows this, even if you don't.  Garopollo could finally, at long last, be the true understudy.

However, like Sashi, Bill will pick up the phone and listen.  Since he probably wants to keep him anyway, his asking price will be "rediculous".  Take it or leave it.

A first and a third round pick...if they are high ones...at the very least.  Maybe more.  You'll have to pry this kid out of Bill's cold, dead hand, unless....

You offer him Joe Thomas, a third rounder, and some more stuff.

Why would Bill do this?  Well, because Big Joe's expiration date should match or post-date Tom Brady's, for one thing.  Bill has no critical need for a left tackle, but he does upgrade that position.  The guy he replaces moves to another position, and upgrades that.  In a chain, Thomas could upgrade the Pats' whole offensive line, and dramaticly improve his chances of winning a couple more rings before Brady's time runs out.

Why would the Browns do this?  Because Garopollo was a second round pick who has understudied probably the best quarterback and strongest leader in the NFL.  This guy, taken by most other teams, might have started as a rookie.  As it is, he was brought along slowly, and is ready.

I was hoping the Browns would draft this guy.  He's not another third or fourth rounder who other teams want merely because he was Brady's backup for awhile.  He was projected as a low first or high second round pick, and considered an eventual starter with nice upside.

That could be plan B or plan C for Sashi.  Plan A might be to draft the next quarterback, but Josh and Hue might screw that up.

Hmm...maybe Hogan or Kessler could be part of this deal...