The “Wedge Watch” – Officially On
May 11, 2009China Digs LeBron’s MVP Season
May 11, 2009Call it anticlimactic, or call it all a ruse. Either way, I would officially be surprised if Braylon Edwards is traded between now and the beginning of the 2009 football season.
First we had all of this talk with the Giants. Eli Manning and Justin Tuck were lobbying for their team to acquire the perceived malcontent, but both teams would not budge from their bid-ask spread.
However, the Giants landed a top-tier wide receiver in the most recent draft. And then running back Brandon Jacobs went on record to say that he didn’t want Edwards playing for his team. On ESPN 1050, Jacobs proclaimed that while Edwards can be “great,” he felt that Braylon would do nothing for team chemistry. “We don’t need to add a new veteran to the group,” said Jacobs.
Then we had Tony Grossi’s “you heard it here first” remark about a trade to the Jets for Thomas Jones and (hopefully) some additional draft selections. While most fans gave this a once-over and said “no thanks,” Lane Adkins’ latest claims that the team has not only not discussed Edwards with the Jets, but that the Jets have also not put Thomas Jones on the trading block.
So where does this leave us? If we keep adding rookie and veteran wide receivers, doesn’t this show that the team is looking to move Edwards – he with one season left on his rookie contract? Not quite. At least not yet.
Remember all of those times last season where we would discuss the possibility of benching Edwards for his excruciatingly poor play? The biggest issue was, if No. 17 was benched, who would we play? There was absolutely zero depth. Donte Stallworth was hurt. Joe Jurevicius was on the PUP/IR. Josh Cribbs was only being used in a Wildcat formation or in the flat. There were no other options than to just keep throwing Edwards the ball and hope that he would catch said pass.
Now, this isn’t the case. I’m not saying that the team will look to bench Edwards at any stage of this season. But I am saying that they are officially out of excuses to do so if he goes on to have another season like he did in 2008. Two second-round rookie wide receivers could be given a chance to flourish. David Patten and Mike Furrey have the leadership skills and experience to prove effective when called upon.
We can sit back and hope that Braylon Edwards will capitalize on his contract status. In the last year of his deal, he can ill afford to have a year like last year as teams will tend to remember the last two seasons of production opposed to the fact that he showed huge flashes of brilliance in 2007. Dropped passes would most definitely be used as leverage against Edwards in any bargaining, so you can bet that he’ll be out to prove that last season was more of an aberration than anything.
It is somewhat of a win-win for the Browns in that sense. If Edwards reverts back to 2007 form, excellent. We get the production that hopefully leads to wins. Given the contract status, we would then get the chance to match any offer he were to receive next year – allowing for the Browns front office to make a calculated decision on the direction that they would choose to go. If they opt against extending Edwards, they have two second-year wide receivers in Brian Robiske and Mohamed Massaquoi whom will lean on as the future of the receiving corps.
If Edwards chooses to go the other way, it won’t be pretty on or off of the field. However, the team has options with which to replace Edwards, allowing for some early chances at getting the rookies up to the next level; having two solid veterans helping lead the way.
23 Comments
B.E. and the Browns is going to be like Steve Carlton and the Phillies (fans). We’re not going to get along most of the time but he’s too talented to trade and we are stuck with each other.
Get used to it everybody.
Peter King has the Browns dead last in his first power rankings. Dead last? I don’t think we’re going to the SB but last seems a little over the top.
Yeah that won’t last. Just look at the number of games last year that Romeo lost for us, then look at our easier schedule this year, and hopefully a healthy Brady Quinn, along with some new faces…I’d bet all kinds of money that we don’t end up as the worst team in football.
But would you bet the over on the 6.5 wins that Vegas has us set at?
Absolutely not.
“Hopefully a healthy Brady Quinn” – I swear you folks and your unabashed BQ love. Tom Brady couldn’t do well with this team, the way the O-line has been. How is BQ going to save the world? What are you going to do if he flat out sucks?
Because I’m going to laugh at all of you.
BQ isn’t going to save the world. Alex Mack is. Secret world, brother.
I am actually hitting the over 6.5… They won 4 games with Romeo. Shocking as it is, having a coach that makes solid in-game decisions improves your chances of winning.
I would definitely go under, I would say about 5, but that might just be me being optimistic. I see a split w/ Cin. and I can see wins over Det., Den or KC (not sure which one), Oak, and then a surprise victory somewhere in there.
Not sure what anyone else thinks.
@ Scott – but BQ will be sticking his hands up Mack’s jock every play. Won’t Mack’s super powers rub off to BQ somehow?
Not touching that one…
Personal opinion is that Braylon will play out the year and regardless (unless someone steps up who is ridiculously good) he gets franchised. it’s the smart play to make. The funny thing is the Browns have never really had a recent player make it to free agency that is that great of a player so there was never a need for a transition or franchise tag.
If anyone can think of someone let me know. Since most of our guys have been busts or not good enough for max-type deals after their 3 year honeymoon / tryout, Edwards might get to be the first.
I’m sure he’ll play well – BQ under center should move the chains more effectively and keep teams from loading up against the run and blitzing DA as much (he had a slow release last year and struggled to identify the pressure) so in theory Quinn will be an upgrade and if Edwards can catch the ball while moving, he can help us win some ballgames.
So, assuming he plays well – and (likely) won’t get an extension, he’ll be franchised then traded or traded in 2 years when he has verbage written in that we can’t franchise him twice.
Something along those lines…. you heard it here first
I wouldnt automatically put BQ in at starter. I would guess that right now Mangini is trying to play a free for all with DA BQ and Ratliff. He wouldnt be in the draft day deal for nothing. Im not going to say hes good, but he’ll get a chance if DA or BQ falter. I just hope someone becomes the clear cut #1, and really could care less who it is.
As to the over under, Im taking over. This team will be have much improved coaching and discipline, along with more depth if anything else at positions. We really didnt lose anyone that significant, and someone we brought in has to do right?
I’m going over the 6.5, my guess was 7-8 wins for the season. And as for Brady Quinn, I just included his name because Anderson isn’t a smart quarterback and if he’s starting we’ll be well under 6.5. I’m not calling Quinn the savior of the Browns by any means, but he’s looked good when he’s played and deserves a chance.
More importantly…Alex Mack just needed to be in contact with someone else when using that mercury puddle “superpower” for it to rub off. If Quinn and Mack can perfect it, and just puddle to the end zone I don’t see how we wont win the superbowl…unless our defense really is that bad.
Put me down for the over camp with 8 wins.
I was thinking 7-9 this year, assuming the entire team doesn’t get hurt again.
(and by 7-9, I mean 7 wins, 9 losses; not 7-to-9 wins)
14-2 Baby! Because you know we won’t beat the Steelers.
I would say 8-8 give or take a game. so really, I can see 7-9 wins.
I say 6-10, 7-9 if we are lucky
I think the biggest unknown with Edwards will be his attitude. We haven’t heard squat from him since all the trade rumors started, so I will be very curious to see what type of ‘tude he’ll be sporting when he reports to the mandatory work outs … assuming he will report.
The Browns really do have him by the short-hairs, so if he does try to pull any tomfoolery by not showing up, he’ll only hurt his rep with other teams when he tries to fly solo next year.
Braylon must step up, most players do in a contarct year. Also, lets hold off on making win-loss predictions until we see a starting lineup, alot can change 5 months
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