Better to Have Loved and Have Lost, Trolls, and Waterfalls: While We’re Waiting…
April 30, 2015Ball Played: Finally, an Indians win
April 30, 2015In the continuing saga of silly season, there’s so much information that none of it might mean anything at all. That is until tonight when the actual NFL Draft commences from Chicago. Regardless, it’s a time to dream about rebuilding the Cleveland Browns and making them a contender in the AFC North. The latest way to do that apparently is by getting them Sam Bradford and Melvin Gordon.
Never mind the rumors that Sam Bradford refuses to sign any kind of extension with the Browns. Pay no attention to the rumor that the Browns already tried to secure the services of Bradford in exchange for their No. 19 pick in the 2015 NFL draft.
The possibilities that the Browns end up with Sam Bradford are fueled by the undying speculation that Chip Kelly is going to move heaven and earth to get Marcus Mariota in an Eagles uniform.
To get the second pick in the draft, the Eagles would have to do one of two things: ship Bradford to Tennessee as part of the deal, or ship Bradford to Cleveland to get a first-round pick, which Kelly would then flip to Tennessee as part of a deal for Mariota. It would take two first-round picks plus something significant, most likely, to get the Oregon passer. Would the Eagles be willing to include their 2016 first-round pick? Or more?
And while we’re solving the Browns’ quarterback woes, we might as well give him an additional player to hand the ball to in the nasty midwestern weather of Cleveland.
Melvin Gordon to the Browns at 19? Now there’s a rumor I definitely buy. The Browns are desperate for offense and are unsure whether they’ll be able to get much of a passing game going early in 2015. Gordon, particularly with his experience running in lousy Midwestern weather, would be the kind of chains-mover Mike Pettine would be drawn.
Plenty of fans want to look at the Browns roster including Terrence West and Isaiah Crowell and say that the box is checked already, but I don’t believe that’s the proper way to look at the draft. Much like I also refuse to let Trent Richardson forever nullify the idea that a running back can and should be taken in the first round. If the Browns find a top flight runner available to them when they’re easily the most valuable draft pick left on the board, they can’t let the next great offensive weapon slip through their fingers because they kinda like West and Crowell after interesting rookie seasons.
Don’t worry about any of this folks. Let the visions of sugar plums dance in your heads. It will be time to open presents soon enough.
Closest feeling there is to the morning of Christmas.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 30, 2015
33 Comments
Christmas morning?
Either Adam Schefter isn’t from Cleveland, or he had a TERRIBLE childhood.
Yeah, it’s almost Christmas and I’ve never felt less excited. And we have two first-rounders again. Strange.
I would trade #12 to the Eagles for Sam Bradford and Kiko Alonso. If Chip Kelly really wants Mariota, I’d make Alonso the sticking point.
Let’s do everything we can to grab a guy from the Eagles that CAN’T stay healthy and DOESN’T want to be here!
I’m missing something. Tom Condon, Bradford’s agent, makes it clear that Bradford wouldn’t sign an extension here. So we trade a #1 for a one and done … right.
Aaah, the pungent aroma of silly season.
Grew up in New York and went to Michigan. Childhood all the way through early adulthood was something of a nightmare.
http://www.thegreenhead.com/imgs/ralphies-bunny-suit-pajamas-from-aunt-clara-1.jpg
Got the Beer, Grape soda in bottles for the boy, chips, snacks…life is good.
Ooooh look what Aunt Clara got you! Justin Gilbert!
I’m serious when i say, “i don’t understand what the Browns FO could be thinking.” I know that sounds like a dumb thing to point out, but when you take a step back and think for just ONE moment, you can break down this issue exactly as you have in your comment above. One simple sentence that says it all.
I can’t understand Bradford, either. This guy has as much chance of being out of the league after week 6 as he does of being on a team next season. Why wouldn’t he sign something – regardless of team – that gives him more security? I mean, other than the fact that he has already banked $40 million.
Amazing to think he is actually betting on himself. I hope he breaks every bone in his body – in a painless way – and never plays again.
As Harv said, silly season. I am absolutely convinced that the FO is NOT thinking this, mostly because everyone says they are.
….but I asked Santa for a Choo Choo Train
http://derryx.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/5-pounds-of-veal-574×367.jpg
Sam Bradford = http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view/518441/glass-joe-knockout-o.gif
would the 1st round be considered successful if the browns net bradford & gordon ?? … i think so. i just don’t want to see us trade both the 12th & 19th pick (or more) to move up.
good luck ray !!
… i would only caution browns fans not to judge the draft after the 1st , or even the 2nd day … let’s let it play-out. ray will do just fine … relax !!
Let me fix this a little bit for you so CPS doesn’t hound you:
Got the Beer. Grape soda in bottles for the boy, chips, snacks…life is good.
40 seconds in. Classic
Looks like Brandon Weeden. Andy Dalton?
i am predicting DT m.brown at #12 & S shaq thompson at #19 … so , that means we won’t end-up with either one of these guys.
http://media.giphy.com/media/q9HHyHPISNZD2/giphy.gif
To me, the more pertinent question is: would the Browns seriously offer Bradford an extension?
And if the answer to that is “yes” sight unseen, we’re in deeper trouble than I thought.
At least Glass Joe gets up a couple of times…
The Trent Richardson argument has two prongs. The first is that he was a bust, perhaps showing it is difficult to evaluate running backs. Therefore, teams should not waste super valuable picks on running backs, whose outcomes are less certain than other positions. I agree that this does not rule out picking any running back in the first round ever.
The second prong is that if you can get better running backs late in the draft, why get them early? I.e. the return on value is not as great with running backs as with other players. Maybe there is more talent at that position; or maybe success is more dependent on line performance than college success; or any of a hundred other reasons. I think it’s probably empirically true that the success rate for running backs correlates less with draft position than does the success rates of other positions. Richardson is just a glaring example of that. And that is a valid reason to not draft a running back in the first round.
You’d think no player, certainly no QB, gets a formal extension offer before an extensive physical. Just means the threshold inquiry from the Browns is: are you interested in our money? If the answer is negative, any trade talk is theoretical and an irrevocable trade can’t occur on the eve of the draft, right? (Right?!)
One rumor I haven’t heard (but makes sense from a needs point of view): The Bears are supposedly looking to trade Martellus Bennett, who is looking to get paid.
The Cavs did it with Kevin Love! Ouch…Too soon?
I love the idea that the Browns are looking to get Sam Bradford instead of Marcus Mariota, because I like Sam Bradford and think behind a good offensive line he can be a very effective passer, and because I’m not convinced of the same for Mariota.
BUT, if the scenario is that we’re trading the #12 pick in the draft straight up for a QB who has torn his ACL each of the last two seasons and has a career rating of 79.2 AND is in the last year of his deal, then it’s ludicrous. Seriously, it’s like Brandon Weeden, except with a higher pick, and he’s been out of action for most of the last 20 months, and we can only guarantee we’ll have him for one season. Maybe we trade down from 12 to 20 for him and it’s less insane, but Philly needs multiple first round picks to trade up. There would have to be other moving parts. This makes me think that most of these reports are just silly season speculation. Lots of teams have called lots of other teams about lots of picks, and lots of those discussions never lead anywhere.
I really like Melvin Gordon, but if it were me I probably don’t draft a RB at #19 no matter how good they look. There’s no such thing as a feature back in the NFL anymore, they are notoriously hard to evaluate, good ones show up later in drafts all the time, and there are a couple of backs on the roster that showed a lot of promise last season. It just doesn’t seem like the value matches up. But, my rule is if you are convinced somebody will be really good you take them. If they do, I’ll assume that’s what they think.
I was thinking about that too. I’m not sure if it really makes sense now that they signed Housler and already have Barnidge on the roster though.
“would the 1st round be considered successful if the browns net bradford & gordon?”
No.
short , sweet & to-the-point …
good post WOOF …
hi WHO … i would agree. but gurley looks like one of those special talents worthy of a 1st round pick.