WFNY on WWE: How’s the state of WWE? Not great, Bob
November 30, 2015Justin Gilbert to start, Haden and Bitonio headline Browns inactives
November 30, 2015For any sports fan out there, Thanksgiving weekend usually provides a great opportunity to chat about your favorite teams. As people everywhere look to avoid the doom and gloom of politics and family drama, the topic of sports provides a comfortable façade. This can continue at the Thanksgiving dinner table and over lots of alcohol with hometown friends throughout the long weekend.
That is what led to this crazy idea below from my two brothers and two of their friends. On the night of Thanksgiving, after our 4 p.m. family meal, my older brothers Adam and Sam went over to the Perge household. Nick and Zak Perge are two of their best friends from Firestone High School. They typically host an evening of euchre and alcohol each Thanksgiving weekend.
Sam and Zak both live in Chicago, while Nick lives in Columbus and Adam lives in Cleveland. Even though they don’t all hang out too often in person, they all talk about sports regularly on Gchat. But in commiserating over the Cleveland Browns in person over hours of cards and drinks, they came up with this incredible late-night idea: An extensive four-person snake draft where they each try to guess the Cleveland Browns quarterback for 2016’s Week 1.
In the end, the draft went 36 people deep. All four participants felt that wasn’t likely enough to completely ensure that somebody had the real winner. But the idea was so much fun, so perfectly descriptive the WaitingForNextYear or WaitingForNextQuarterback mentality, that we at the site felt it would be great to share the results and their post-draft reactions. Here it is:
Round 1
1. Johnny Manziel – Adam
2. Josh McCown – Nick
3. Austin Davis – Zak
4. Paxton Lynch – Sam
Round 2
5. Jared Goff – Sam
6. Matt Stafford – Zak
7. Connor Cook – Nick
8. Cardale Jones — Adam
Round 3
9. Sam Bradford – Adam
10. Drew Brees – Nick
11. Michael Vick — Zak
12. Colin Kaepernick – Sam
Round 4
13. Christian Hackenberg – Sam
14. Ryan Mallett – Zak
15. Peyton Manning – Nick
16. Gunner Kiel – Adam
Round 5
17. Ryan Fitzpatrick – Adam
18. Philip Rivers – Nick
19. Jimmy Garoppolo – Zak
20. Matt Hassellbeck – Sam
Round 6
21. TJ Yates – Sam
22. Geno Smith – Zak
23. Robert Griffin III – Nick
24. Jacoby Brissett – Adam
Round 7
25. Cody Kessler – Adam
26. Nick Foles – Nick
27. EJ Manuel – Zak
28. Matt Schaub – Sam
Round 8
29. Christian Ponder – Sam
30. Matt Flynn – Zak
31. Tyrod Taylor – Nick
32. Kirk Cousins – Adam
Round 9
33. Brandon Weeden – Adam
34. Carson Palmer – Nick
35. Andy Dalton – Zak
36. Case Keenum – Sam
Among the notable undrafted quarterbacks that have been mentioned in various conversations since: Matt Barkley, Jay Cutler, Chase Daniel, Blaine Gabbert, Brian Hoyer, Landry Jones, Thad Lewis, Zach Mettenberger, Matt Moore, etc.
Zak Perge’s picks: Austin Davis, Matt Stafford, Michael Vick, Ryan Mallett, Jimmy Garoppolo, EJ Manuel, Matt Flynn, and Andy Dalton.
Zak Perge: Since it was published, we’re trying to do a supplemental draft because somehow we left off Thad Lewis, Zach Mettenberger, Yo Gabbert Gabbert and Chase Daniel.
I think the biggest reaction was when Nick took RG3. It seems so perfect. Can you imagine the narrative of “The Browns tried to get him in 2012, and how he’s finally coming back to his destiny?” I sure can see that happening.
The first three picks were basically necessary evils, but no one seemed supremely confident in them. I loved the value pick I got in the later rounds with Matt Flynn at No. 30. We’re been staring at Flynn from across the bar for years. Also, we’re on a collision course with Josh McDaniels, so Jimmy Garoppolo seems like a he’s going to be the “first overall pick of the 2016 draft via a trade.”
I don’t know anything about the college dudes outside Cardale Jones, but I guess it’s a pretty weak crop, so I can’t comment on those picks. As Nick and I both agreed when the draft ended: There is no way the actual QB is on this list. I think there is no way if we did this last year that anyone would have picked McCown.
Nick Perge’s picks: Josh McCown, Connor Cook, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Philip Rivers, Robert Griffin III, Nick Foles, Tyrod Taylor, and Carson Palmer.
Nick Perge: The one thing that is for sure is that the QB is not on this list. It could be one of the various clowns that Zak mentioned; it could be someone totally random. To be honest, the No. 1 overall pick here should have just been Brian Hoyer. How did we miss that? He seems like the ultimate Cleveland bad penny.
As much as I hate to admit it, I think Zak has it. Between Mike Vick, Austin Davis, Jimmy G, and Ryan Mallett, he’s got the best odds. He also has the worst pick with Andy Dalton, mainly because Mike Brown and Andy Dalton are going look across the bar at the end of the night and realize that neither one can do any better than the other and they’ll just crawl back into bed again.
RG3 seems too perfect. I can see Jimmy Haslam sidling over to whichever lackey he gets to replace Farmer and saying “Dude, he was AWESOME in NCAA ’12! That dude is a BEAST.” I also liked my Peyton Manning pick since Haslam seems to have had his eyes on him for decades.
This is overall the grossest exercise I have ever participated in, but I can say that there are several players on this list that I legitimately believe could be had that would suddenly make this team approach relevance (i.e. Stafford, Rivers, Brees). This is the only thing that is keeping me from abandoning the Browns entirely.
Adam Rosen’s picks: Johnny Manziel, Cardale Jones, Sam Bradford, Gunner Kiel, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jacoby Brissett, Cody Kessler, Kirk Cousins, and Brandon Weeden.
Adam Rosen: First and foremost, Johnny is my guy. I’m in camp Gruden that says you can’t write this guy off just yet. He just oozes with talent and big playmaking ability. I think more so than his immaturity, he doesn’t get along with the current coaching staff. I’m willing to wager with anyone that JFF survives the offseason while Pettine and Farmer get axed.
I had to select Cardale with my second pick at No. 8. I’m not convinced the Browns can suck enough to nab the top overall draft spot (and likely Paxton Lynch), so I think they shoot for a QB in a later round. That means the hometown hero could end up in the Orange and Brown. Of course, nothing derails a career more than playing in Cleveland, but maybe ‘Dale is different. I’d expect him to return to the form that won OSU the championship last year. I used a later pick on another Ohio college QB, Gunner Kiel, who has put up big numbers over his college career.
There is no way Sam Bradford returns to Philly, so I could see him as a potential signing. And he could come at a bargain. Same goes for Ryan Fitzpatrick who could be out if the Jets decide to draft a QB this offseason.
My favorite pick has to be Brandon Weeden. This guy was awful at the helm of the Cowboys offense this season and was cut so that Matt Cassel could start. Ouch. Honestly, it would be so Cleveland to give him another shot with the Browns. Hey, we did it with Mike Brown. …
A few thoughts on the other picks. There is ZERO chance Mike Vick plays in Cleveland. The Dawg Pound-political correctness just wouldn’t jive. Drew Brees would only leave New Orleans for greener pastures and the grass in Cleveland ain’t green. Zak’s picks of Mallet and Garopollo have Josh McDaniels all over them. If we land him as coach, I wouldn’t be surprised to see these guys in Cleveland. RG3 would be ironic, wouldn’t it? Andy Dalton and Philip Rivers aren’t going anywhere after signing huge deals. Overall, this is a solid list but there’s a good chance the QB to start Week 1 somehow isn’t on it.
Sam Rosen’s picks: Paxton Lynch, Jared Goff, Colin Kaepernick, Christian Hackernberg, TJ Yates, Geno Smith, Matt Schaub, Christian Ponder, and Case Keenum.
Sam Rosen: I agree with Adam, Johnny should be the guy. It’s not his fault he was saddled with the most incompetent coaching staff/front office in the league, treating him like a child who must be in bed by 9 p.m. or he’s grounded.
I went rookie/rookie with my first two picks, because nothing says Browns quite like taking a rookie from a mediocre team and a weak conference and handing him the keys to an offense with no talent.
I do love my selection of Colin Kaepernick, as it seems extremely unlikely he stays with the Niners next year, and the Browns will be licking their chops to give him loads of guaranteed money. Also, I went with guys like TJ Yates, Matt Hasselbeck, Matt Schaub, Christian Ponder and Case Keenum just so I could cover as much of the “washed-up backup who the coaching staff will praise for their poise and professionalism” guy as possible.
I’m sure whoever ends up at QB, on this list or not, will wind up having a “great camp” and blowing away the coaching staff, only to lead us to a 4-12 record and another blown early first round pick. But at least this draft can become an annual Thanksgiving tradition, supported by lots and lots of alcohol.
Go Cavs.
8 Comments
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no way on vick … no freakin’ way !
down , boy !! … *smile*
I have no idea who Gunner Kiel is but he already looks like a Browns QB:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ymW03yoX14g/Tuzbz00K92I/AAAAAAAABug/VNJNqvebarY/s1600/gunner+kiel.jpg
http://www.thesportsbank.net/core/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/gunner-kiel.jpg
Not that anyone really cares, but my top 3 picks would have been:
1. Manziel
2. Goff
3. Cutler