Ryan Leaf says that Sam Darnold should try to avoid being drafted by the Browns.
He dragged out that old "where quarterbacks go to die" line, and was generally irrational about it.
To his credit, Cowherd mentioned the trades and signings Dorsey had already made, but Ryan wasn't listening.
What if Hue Jackson gets fired? Well, that was the only rational thing Leaf said. Yeah, that could be a problem, except Todd Haley is a former Head Coach and runs the offense. If he himself didn't take over for Hue, there's a good chance the new boss would retain him (and his offensive system).
In response to Dorsey, Wolf, etc., Leaf said "It's just the culture there". What the hell is he talking about? A whole new front office and offensive coordinator can't change a culture?
Do Jimmy and Dee Haslam patrol Berea telling everybody how to do their jobs? Do they insist that only depressing music can be played or something?
What Leaf is really saying is that there is this kinda wierd mystical kinda emanation of a penumbra of negative vibes like coming of Lake Erie or something like you know?
I liked Jarvis Landry's hype tape. It was cultural. Upbeat. Optimistic. I love that Tyrod Taylor got together to throw some passes to those guys, and I like that they were having fun.
That's going to be this locker room, Ryan! Everything is NEW here now, including everybody in Landry's video. What's up with you Ryan--you think losing is like a staph virus--with spores clinging to lockers and tackling dummies or something?
Dammit think with your brain!
Speaking of the Landry video, Ricardo Lewis and Njoku joined Landry with Tyrod Taylor. Well, Ricardo Lewis is about as good as any wide receiver Taylor had in Buffalo last season (including that high draft pick).
Ryan Leaf: Do you think Sam Darnold should avoid Josh Gordon, Jarvis Landry, Njoku, and Duke Johnson for uhh...cultural reasons?
Ryan cited Darnold only because he's the odds-on favorite in this race, but he really meant that no quarterback should want to be drafted by the Browns.
I like Ryan Leaf, and he's not stupid. But (like Brian Billick), he gets irrational sometimes. And this isn't like Dorsey signing Drew Stanton: Ryan Leaf is fulla beans.
Martin McDonnell wrote a great article on a certain short quarterback who shall remain nameless. He does make the point that accuracy and leadership matter.
Martin expects the Browns to draft Sam Darnold instead, simply because he is taller. He may be right, but it's still just plain stupid (and yes, I think I am right and Dorsey would be wrong. Let's see where the two quarterbacks concerned are in three years. You'll see!)
The Quenton Nelson at fourth overall rumors seem idiotic on the surface, but I've dug a little deeper and heard from my NFL Radio experts, and have to take a second look.
Nelson played left guard next to Mike McGlinchey, and is listed as a guard because he's just that good there.
However, Pat Kirwan and a few others have suggested that he could play left tackle. Nelson is 6'5" (329 lbs), so he does have the stature, and frankly quicker feet than McGlinchey.
If John Dorsey and his scouts think Nelson could play left tackle, they might just nab him.
It's not a huge gamble, because he's the best guard prospect to come out in several years, and if not left tackle, right tackle might work. Worst case: Dorsey gets to trade Zietler (and his salary).
My rejection of Joel Bitonio at left tackle might also have been too knee-jerk, but at least 40% of the guards in the NFL played left tackle in college, so that doesn't mean so much.
But right now, Joe Thomas himself said he thinks (Sashi Brown draft pick) Shon Coleman can play left tackle, and Joe is one guy you need to listen to on this topic...more than anybody else.
So I think the Quenton Nelson thing is out the window.
Speaking of Joe Thomas, you can't listen to him on every subject. He wanted Kirk Cousins bad, and said they should then use first and fourth overall on position players.
But Cousins is good, but not that good. Tyrod Taylor and a franchise quarterback prospect are a lot cheaper, with more upside.
But you can't blame Big Joe, who at the time was considering returning for one last season. Cousins would certainly have given the Browns their best shot at the playoffs in 2018.
Fortunately, Joe likes Tyrod Taylor a lot too, and Dorsey's trade got his seal of approval.
The Browns need to extend several players, like Duke and Kirksey (btw great move extending Tank Carder! Core special-teamer but looked great at middle linebacker last season too!)
The most interesting guy is Josh Gordon. As the linked article says, the Browns control him through 2019, and his history (and vulnerability to another "indefinite" suspension) deprive him of leverage.
The article suggests an incentive-laden contract (I suggested this awhile ago blush-blush) which would both protect the Browns if he falls off the wagon (or gets maimed), and pay him big money if he kicks ass (again).
Dorsey might be inclined to put this on the back-burner for now, but I hope he doesn't wait too long. If Josh Gordon tears up the NFL like he did before in 2018 (and stays clean), he'll get a lot of his leverage back, and get a lot more expensive.
By the way, every player mentioned in this article is a real football player.
Duke Johnson is THE bigee here: Duke isn't percieved as a "bell-cow" (or short-yardage) running back (Bill Polian calls him a "nice complementary player (yawn)".
But he's a swiss army knife. In addition to lining up at slot or outside receiver and catching passes out of the backfield, and doing a good job in pass-protection, he can run anywhere, including up the middle.
Duke has an exceptional stiff-arm, and is remarkably strong for his size. He epitomizes a "real football player", because he will not go down.
Duke is already kind of the heart and soul of this offense, like Earnest Byner was way back when.
Yes, of course, Dorsey is going to draft at least one big running back high in this exceptionally deep running back class, but Duke probably plays as much or more than the new guy does (all over the place) in Haley's offense.
Dorsey has to keep this guy!!!
THIS JUST IN: Randy Gurzi lets Hue Jackson have it! AMEN brother!
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