Out of complete admiration and respect for Plain Dealer columnist Terry Pluto, I am going to format this blog post like Pluto does with some of his columns, posing some questions to myself and then answering them. Here we go:
Q: Did the Browns get fair compensation for Brady Quinn?
A: Yes and no (sorry to ride the fence, but its the truth).
Q: OK, so why did the Browns get a good deal from Denver?
A: The Browns received Denver's sixth-round pick in 2011, a conditional pick in 2012 and running back/fullback Peyton Hillis. Thanks to a pile of different factors, the Browns got the following out of their supposed "savior quarterback" Brady Quinn: 14 games, 1,902 yards, 10 touchdowns, 9 interceptions, 52.1 completion percentage and 66.8 rating. Oh, and a 3-10 record as a starter. For those terrible stats and not-good production, the Browns did get fair compensation. Hillis is a powerhouse and was beloved in Denver for his toughness and grit. Perfect fit for an Eric Mangini coached team. He'll provide a nice power option to the speed and finesse of Jerome Harrison at the running position. Also, Hillis is a solid goal-line option. And draft picks could be good or bad. We'll have to wait and see there.
Q: So why did the Browns get hosed?
A: Consider that to get Quinn, then-general manager Phil Savage gave up multiple selections in the 2007 draft and the Browns' first-round selection in the 2008 draft to the Cowboys. That is a steep price to pay for a quarterback who was supposed to turn around the franchise and ended up with three total wins. But, despite those ugly statistics he has compiled, he is still a basically an unknown. As I have written about and talked about so many times over the years, Quinn has never played a full season as a starting quarterback. The sample size to judge him is very small. There isn't much game film on him. The offensive weapons he's had to work with have been sub-par (consider Derek Anderson had Kellen Winslow, Braylon Edwards, Joe Jurevicius and a still-running strong Jamal Lewis in his "magical" 2007 season; last season Quinn had Mohammed Massaquoi, Mike Furrey and a long-since-called-it-quits Jamal Lewis). He's had some unfortunate injuries. But he has the pedigree and attitude to succeed in the NFL. ESPN's Ron Jaworski is on record saying he likes Quinn's mechanics. So, could Quinn supplant Kyle Orton as the Broncos starter at QB? Absolutely. Could he be the Broncos new franchise QB? Yes. Could he be nothing but a backup and be out of the league in three years? Yes. The point here is that nobody really knows what Brady Quinn is.
Q: We know he's not accurate, after all doesn't he have a career completion percentage of 52.1?
A: Yes, that is terrible and troubling. He also didn't seem to ever want to throw the ball deep. But in fairness, who was he going to throw deep to? The Browns receiving corps is not very good.
Q: Are you going to continue to defend Quinn and keep writing the same stuff over and over?
A: I guess he's Denver's problem now. I am not a Notre Dame fan. I have no personal crush on Quinn. I was intrigued by him and was excited when the Browns drafted him. I thought at times he didn't get a fair shot from the Phil Savage regime and the Eric Mangini regime. But as hard as this keeps getting, I cheer for the name on the front of the jersey, not the back. My final position on Quinn is that he may be an NFL star. Or he may be another name in the long line of former college stars at quarterback who didn't have the makeup (mental or physical) to make it in the NFL. Only time will tell. I disagree with people who have already written him off. But it's hard to defend him time after time, I will admit.
Q: So that's it? No more on Brady Quinn?
A: From this point on, I am done writing/talking about him. Time to look forward and not backward. Good luck in Denver. Let's all move on.
Q: So where does that leave the Browns at quarterback?
A: Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace. I have written about both of them on this blog, no need to repeat myself too much. In short, I was in favor of acquiring Seneca Wallace for a 2011 seventh-round draft pick. I was not in favor of the Browns paying Jake Delhomme $7 million this season. I think former Jet Bret Ratliff is still on the roster. And all of this means the Browns will probably draft a quarterback in April. Think somewhere between rounds two and five.
Q: Who would they draft?
A: I am still researching the NFL Draft. Read this for some possible names. I will write more about this later, but as of right now, I am intrigued by Colt McCoy of Texas. Google him to read more about him.
Q: How do you feel about going into the 2010 season with Jake Delhomme as the starting QB?
A: Terrible. Terrible. I am hoping that this is a one-year thing. My prediction is that Delhomme may not even make it through the whole season, eventually giving way to Wallace or whichever QB the Browns may draft.
Q: So you are rooting against Delhomme? What about what you just said regarding 'Root for the name on the front and not the back'?
A: No, I am not rooting against Delhomme. I want to see him do well because in order for the Browns to win, he needs to play well. But, I am a realist before anything else. I will not be sucked in by the Browns PR staff or whatever glowing things Mike Holmgren says about Jake Delhomme. I know what I see and read. Delhomme's best and productive years are far behind him and it was a mistake for the Browns to sign him. Period. I hope I am wrong.
Q: So that's it? Is there any good that comes out of this QB sitation?
A: Yes. For one, the "Derek Anderson or Brady Quinn or neither?" dark cloud is finally gone from above Berea. I will admit that it will be refreshing to not have to think about that debate any longer. Both guys are gone in what may have been the frustrating, puzzling and ultimately worthless QB competition ever. The long-term answer for the Browns at the QB position is not on the roster. At least we know that much.
Q: Let's move on. We all knew Brady Quinn would get dealt. What about Kameron Wimbley?
A: I had no idea the Browns were even shopping the linebacker, their first-round pick from the 2006 draft. Apprently there were multiple offers out there for Wimbley, and the Browns sent him to the Raiders for a third-round pick in this year's draft. Here's Wimbley's career stats. I don't need to recap his entire career, but here's the basics: After playing defense end at Florida State, the Browns converted Wimbley to outside linebacker to fit their 3-4 scheme, a common practice in the NFL. Wimbley had a fantastic rookie year, posting 11 sacks. But in the following two seasons, he posted just five and four, respectively, and had 6.5 this past season (which led the team). Wimbley is a durable player who was the Browns' best pass rusher, period. That's what you need to know.
Q: Why did the Browns trade Wimbley? And was it a good trade?
A: It's hard to say, and I am not sure. Wimbley is a free agent after this season. Maybe they didn't want to pay him. Or maybe Mike Holmgren wants to purge the Browns roster, much like Eric Mangini did last offseason. Getting a third-round pick is not bad compensation, but the question is how are the Browns going to replace arguably their second most-talented defensive player?
Q: OK. So that's a new question. How will they replace Wimbley? And what are they left with at outside linebacker?
A: The Browns are still relatively deep at outside linebacker with undrafted free agent Marcus Benard (who looked pretty good in spots this past season), Matt Roth, Jason Trusnic and new addition Scott Fujita. Assume they'll draft a linebacker, or multiple linebackers in April.
Q: OK...so they traded their best pass rusher for a third round pick...I still don't get it. Why?
A: Like I said, I am unsure. My best guess is what I said earlier...Mike Holmgren wants to gut the team. That's how it goes in the NFL when someone new takes over. Cleveland fans should be used to it. Butch Davis gutted the team Dwight Clark put together. Phil Savage gutted the team Butch Davis put together. Eric Mangini gutted the team Phil Savage put together. And now Mike Holmgren is gutting the team Eric Mangini put together. I see no other logical explanation unless something happened behind the scenes with Wimbley.
Q: You keep mentioning the draft. So what exactly do the Browns have now in terms of picks?
A: Great question. Here's what the Browns have in April's NFL Draft:
Through several trades and dealings, the Browns currently own 12 picks (there are seven rounds). Those picks are:
- 1 first round
- 1 second round
- 3 third round
- 1 fourth round
- 4 fifth round
- 2 sixth round
- 0 seventh round
Expect that number to change during the weekend of the draft. Surely, some of these picks will be package to facilitate other moves the team will make. And I expect a lot of moves. But to go into the draft with 12 picks is a good thing.
Q: Wow. This is an entirely too long blog post. Is there anything else, assuming there is anyone still reading?
A: Haha. I make myself laugh. In closing, I'll say that Mike Holmgren, Tom Heckert and Eric Mangin better hit a home run in the draft. Several home runs, actually. Make that a couple grand slams. Because, if not, fans and the media (national and local) are going to write off this new version of the Browns, very, very quickly. And rightfully so.
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