The “Ace” Wins Another
August 12, 2009Carlos Carrasco Tosses a Gem; Clips top Indy 4-2
August 12, 2009Chris Rock has a bit where he throws digs at people who want to be rewarded for things that they’re supposed to do. He uses lines like “I take care of my kids,” or “I ain’t never been in jail.” I always think of that bit when I talk about how the Browns should be given a pat on the back for having all of their rookies in camp before August 1st.
But the more and more I look at it, having Alex Mack, Brian Robiske and Mohamed Massaquoi all in camp by day one was quite the feat. Look around the league. If the Browns would have stuck with their fifth-overall pick, sure they may have wound up with a player that has more potential (and star power) than Mack, but would said player be in camp as we near the first week of the preseason?
One of the players that were frequently pegged to land on the Browns during mock drafts was wide receiver Michael Crabtree. His status has been all over the news as of late, as he has been rumored to be going as far as sitting out the entire season and re-entering the draft next year if he isn’t paid as the top wideout. Forget that he was actually selected second, (it’s all Mangini’s fault!) mock drafts apparently slot players – not where they were actually selected. Crabtree went 10th overall, yet is looking for a contract like Darius Heyward-Bey, who signed for $38 million.
Going sixth overall, one spot behind where the Browns would have picked was offensive tackle Andre Smith. Yes, the same player that showed up at the combine out of shape, went through a handful of agent swaps, and somehow still went sixth overall. While everyone but the Bengals saw this coming, Smith continues to hold out as well. He’s now second on the depth chart and is drawing the ire of Bengals fans everywhere. The Heyward-Bey contract is reportedly messing things up as Cincy claims that Oakland overpaid and are offering Smith less that the player selected immediately after. The team claims that the two sides are nowhere near a deal and that this holdout could last in to the start of the regular season.
Boston College’s BJ Raji was a name that was being thrown around by Browns fans heading into the draft. He ended up going ninth overall to Green Bay, but he too remains unsigned. Latest news is that Raji is not even in Green Bay as he recently departed for Chicago. The Packers have claimed that talks between the team and Raji have not resulted in any sort of progress, and like Smith, the player has been moved down the depth chart as teams head in to the first week of preseason action. Browns fans would have had the chance to catch Raji this weekend had he been signed by this point.
The Bills have yet to sign defensive end Aaron Maybin (11th overall), but Maybin’s camp is placing the blame on Crabtree. Apparently, they cannot agree to terms – and you know, actually help their team – and risk the chance of not being paid close enough to the guy selected immediately before.
Meanwhile, the Browns selected Mack 21st overall and rid themselves of all drama. The $12 million (approximately $9 million guaranteed) is a fraction of what the Jets had to pay Mark Sanchez at the fifth spot at $60 million, $28 million of which is guaranteed. Sure, Sanchez is getting the spots in GQ, but the Browns now have more financial flexibility for the future.
As things currently stand, no player mentioned in this post has played a down in the NFL. Some of them may be Pro Bowlers at their respective position. We can debate who the Browns selected and if it was a good move or not ad nauseum. Fact of the matter is that they got the guy they wanted, at a respectable price, and he’s in camp. Other teams wish they could say the same about their first-round selections.
24 Comments
That’s the problem you’ll run into until the draft system is reformed and an actual salary slot is assigned to each pick (I think this will be a priority in the new labor agreement).
All parties will know going in what salary they’ll get at what selection, and presumably it would be less-crippling to franchises with high picks as the salaries would be more reasonable for teams (but probably shorter, too, to compensate the players who would like to hit restricted FA quicker and attempt to cash in).
You know that if existing players can help to line their pockets a little more, they’ll stick it to new rookie classes, so I see this as a win-win for most parties.
I still reserve overall judgement on Mangini and Co., but much like Hyman Roth, Mangini played this one beautifully.
Agents, however, like the current system because they get big pay-days for their players at the beginning of their careers. It will be interesting to see how much influence they have in the labor negotiations…
Agents shouldnt have any influence at all… To me it seems like the owners versus the NFLPA.
Luckily the new NFLPA President seems dead-set on making the NFL the new MLB.
Somewhere, Danny Snyder is salivating (OFFSEASON CHAMPS!!!)
IMHO there was no one worth this drama in the Top 5 of this year’s class as it was. I supported trading down then, and I certainly support it now.
And thanks for the Andre Smith pic. I just about chucked my breakfast all over my desk.
brian cushing has a knee injury to add the to plusses of trading down
Whether they picked any of the right guys will be up for debate until they prove anything on the field. I stand whole-heartedly behind the philosophy though. It is almost never worth it to pick up there in the top 10 financially.
Well, it’s a little early to be congratulating anybody. The main test for draft success is whether the players you picked help your team, not whether they miss summer camp practices. If memory serves, Kameron Wimbley came in right on time. That summer camp proved crucial to his development, right? At the end of the day, Tommy Vardell is Tommy Vardell.
Everyone surely agrees with that Harv. Still it is multi-tiered. You have to pick the right guys, but you also have to put yourself in the right positions financially. Not committing gobs of cash to unproven talent is a good strategy in and of itself and the regime should be congratulated for at least getting that part of it right.
That photo makes me want to gouge mt eyes out.
I felt dirty after seeing that. The photo looks like something out of National Geographic.
Still a fan of trading down, even though during draft day it got a bit ridiculous after trading down 3 times, but well worth it in the end.
I had to stare at the pic of that Evony babe for 10 minutes just to get that image of Andre Smith out of my head.
“draft day it got a bit ridiculous after trading down 3 times”
just ask the guy who was on weekend duty that day 🙂
Yea thanks for reminding me guys.
I thought I finally had repressed that memory. Im’a go curl up in a corner for a while now.
It was all for the better, I think. Although, my judgement is still out on drafting 2 WR in the 2nd Rd instead of a RB or LB. Although we may have gotten a steal in James Davis.
Let’s see what we end up with and what we passed on for moving down twice. What will Brett Ratliff, Kenyon somebody, and Abe Elam mean? Will Alex Mack warrant being a center picked #1 when they are almost always slotted by teams beyond round 1-and, will the likes of Beanie Wells flourish as someone in need who was passed on.
Considering Beanie is already injured, I am pretty sure the Browns were wise in not drafting him
That picture of Andre Smith is just proof that OTs should be required to wear shirts during combines.
what was Oprah Winfrey’s time in the 40?
Not sure of Oprah’s, but I ran a 4.8 as a freshman in high school.
Figured that was pertinent information.
yeah all that’s true … but as usual we did not get a difference maker … so talk to me in 5 years when some of these guys are pro bowlers and stars .. and we have a ‘nice’ center … no risk, no gain … the story of the Browns
@ #23 – yeah, but when they swing and miss you’d be pissed off, too. So, they can’t win either way. I would rather have a “nice” center than a BUST DE, LB, or WR. We’ve had too many of those.