Indians Off Day House Cleaning
June 9, 2009Andre Rison is the best WR to ever play the game
June 9, 2009As we bridge the gap between Organized Team Activities and the mandatory training camp – that hopefully has a mandatory shoe requirement – we get to mull through the news and notes about specific players that may or may not have made an impact over the last few months.
One player of note, that will likely have one of the more watchful eyes cast upon him is wide receiver Braylon Edwards. There is no denying that 2008 was a huge fall from grace. Forget the fact that he was obliterated in his bet with Michael Phelps. Last season was just plain brutal, ultimately resulting in No. 17’s name getting tossed in to trade rumors.
We often wondered how Edwards would respond when things were not as rosey as they were during a 10-6 seasons. And if the latest report from The OBR is any indication, fans of the four-win Browns may actually have something to look forward to.
People in the organization who have been around since Braylon Edwards was drafted with the third-overall pick of the 2005 draft say he’s in the best shape physically and, perhaps most importantly, mentally he’s been in the last four years. “It’s almost like he used this offseason to take a big deep breath and regroup,” one source said. Perhaps most importantly was how Edwards responded to the trade rumors that swirled around him throughout the course of the offseason; he didn’t. Rather, he’s of the mindset to prove the Browns correct in not jumping at the myriad deals that were on the table in the months leading up to the draft.
Perhaps this explains his ability to put one in the left field bleachers and throw down windmill dunks on other celebrities?
Now, anyone who is a fan of the NFL (or NBA for that matter) hear about how players are in the “best shape of their career” more often than not. Typically, this timing is aligned with a contract status – and in this case, it is not the exception.
The key here may be that Edwards’ “shape” is not only physically, as we know that he is a very gifted athlete, but also mentally. There was undoubtedly something missing last season; from dropped passes to blaming fan displeasure on his alma mater.
If any one player on this organization needs to get back on track for the Browns to have remote success, it is Edwards. As of right now, we are looking at David Patten, Mike Furrey and Brian Robiske as possible No. 2 wide receivers. Edwards drawing double-teams will be very instrumental in the success of not only the route-runners on the other side of the field, but the run game that Eric Mangini has been stressing since his arrival in Cleveland.
There will be only one way to find out if this report comes true to form. But as of right now, even mental progress is a step in the right direction.
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John Taylor’s “Rumor Has It” (S/R) [The OBR]
20 Comments
Dont care what anyone says… Braylon Edwards is a top 5 WR in the league. If we traded him there is no WAY we would have got a player of equal value in return.
Now… no one can deny how annoying his dropped passes are and how childish he can be at times, but you have to remember hes a young player and has been coached for 4 years by terrible coaches who let their players run around in bare feet with 54 guys wearing spikes… sort of like a parent who lets their kids run around in bare feet with broken glass on the ground.
I am DYING to see the new Braylon Edwards as I truly believe if the QB play is steady and the running game is par that BE can have a bigger year than he had in 2007… especially since Winslow is gone as an escape goat for the QBs underneath.
The real question is… do we even have the slightest chance of retaining Edwards past this season? I believe around trade talks I heard people say if the league doesnt renew the CBA a team will owe us a 1st and 3rd to sign him as a RFA which would be nice… or we could just franchise him.
I just read some sad news. My favorite-named Browns player of all time just died unexepectedly. Pio Sagapoluetele, RIP.
http://cle.scout.com/2/870759.html
#1 – Did you watch Braylon last year? He wasn’t top 50 – let alone top 5.
So he may be in great mental condition BUT 2 weeks ago he was at EMH in Avon playing some basketball and twisted his ankle, it may just be a precaution but he was then at the movie theater on Saturday in an air cast when I saw him so yet another little injury for him….. He was a really nice dude but it just pissed me off he twisted his ankle in a pickup game when we are paying him millions, wear ankle braces or something!!
NickPapa –
What would you be basing that statement on? His first productive year with us? Then I’m assuming you’re disregarding last year’s performance in which case, the reverse can be true. Maybe his first productive year was a fluke and last year was the real BE.
I’m not saying I agree with what I said, but to say he’s top 5, with one single year of production and nothing else to back it up, isn’t fair or true. And then saying you think he’ll have a bigger year than ’07 is amazing to me considering what we saw last year. Not sure where all of this is coming from, but I’m assuming it’s “hope”…
Does being in the “best shape of your career” mean that he somehow discovered the ability to catch the actual ball or does it mean he’s just going to drop passes he was even MORE wide open for? Because I’ll take a fat Braylon Edwards if it means that he’s going to catch passes tossed directly into his hands.
“I’m assuming it’s “hope”…”
Do we have much more than that at this point?
No – we don’t have much more than that at this point, but “hope” doesn’t qualify production statements.
Hey Braylon,
Just read that you worked really hard this offseason and are dedicating yourself to catching balls and not blaming the fans for your missteps. Cool. SHOULDN’T YOU HAVE BEEN DOING THIS ALL ALONG?
Sincerely,
Everyone
“Man, I hope I’m good enough for the NFL”
– Tony Mandarich
Un-shun.
Braylon’s maybe ready to shut his mouth and have himself a year so that he can sign a decent second contract elsewhere? If that happens, what with the easy schedule, the Browns might actually rise to mediocre for a year, just like ’07! I’m cuddling with my brown and orange nerf and rocking back and forth with excitement.
Re-shun.
I may be 1 of 5 Braylon Edwards fans left in Cleveland, or the world for that matter. I believe #17 will be back and track and have a huge year for us. I’m excited about this years team. I’d like to see a WR tandem of Edwards and Robiskie, with Patten/Cribbs/Whoever in the slot.
I’m glad you’re excited Jay. I just read your last sentence and I’m ready to kill myself.
Contract year…of course he’s going to do or say whatever it takes to get that huge contract next year.
I’m still an Edwards fan, though my fan-lationship with him has been a bit murky of late (well-documented both in Scott’s link, as well as here. I want to see him succeed, and I hope these aren’t just platitudes. The best thing that could have happened for him though, in my estimation, is a coach that doesn’t take any crap.
a bit off topic, but what about masaqui(spelling?). I thought that most people thought he would be better than Robo. I could be wrong….and i still dont put #17 in the top 5 or even 10.
Sorry Clown Baby. I guess I’m just a delusional Browns fan. I’m always expecting them to do well. I’m an optimist like that. Oh well.
This means he’ll be able to run-block the best of his career.
Two words: Contract Year. At least he’s smart enough to realize beinig a prima donna isn’t going to help him get the big money (Bolden, TO, Plax, Ocho Cinco)
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