Dawgbeat 06/11/2007
Getting behind the 8-ball?
by Eric Brown
06/11/2007
By all accounts the 2007 season is an extremely important season for Randy Lerner, Phil Savage, and Romeo Crennel. The entire Cleveland Browns organization must show vast improvement to make the fans, the NFL, and most of all, themselves believe that they are headed in the right direction. Why then, the delay in the signing of draft picks. I scour the various NFL websites and see several teams signing key members of their draft class. The Browns must step up and get their picks signed, soon.
The NFL learning curve is tough enough to get through without having to worry about a contract situation. Learning playbooks, daily NFL routines, meeting the veteran players and fitting in are just some of the obstacles a rookie must face in his initial season. The Browns rookies, some of who may be able to make a huge impact in the 2007 season, along with their agents should be signed by now. Your team is looking to make a change and become a competetive winning football team in 2007. The front office, Savage, T.J.McCreight, and Trip McCracken should give these rookies their best chance at competing for starting positions by having their contacts completed. I understand the semantics and the "pay by the slot" mentality, but this team has the money to make it happen. The Browns need to set a precedent for their 2007 draft class and future draft classes by having them signed by mini-camp. I am not saying to go and pay an exorbitant amount of money to get these players signed. Give a contact offer that compares to what the player in 2006's slot received, plus the annual percentage raise, and a little bonus. In Brady Quinn's situation, give the kid what he deserves, we all know the Brown's had him rated in the top fifteen players in this years draft. If he wasn't the Brown's wouldn't have started making trade overtures in that area. If this was my team, and I gave up the amount I did to get him, I would have him signed before mini-camp. Give Quinn all the tools he needs to compete for the starting job by having him in camp early and learning Rob Chudzinski's offense.
I along with the rest of the Brown's fans are tired of showing up for training camp's first week without our top pick being there. We did an excellent job with Kamerion Wimbley last season and he showed the benefits of being in camp on time on the playing field with 11 sacks. The Brown's need to continue to work diligently and give their future the best chance of competing in the present. Phil Savage and company would do well to follow the Chicago Bears lead and have their draft class signed early. Jerry Angelo, Chicago's general manager, has annually made it a habit to have his draft picks signed in time for each team activity. Last year especially it definitely proved beneficial as Danieal Manning, Devin Hester, and Mark Anderson all played key roles in Chicago's defensive resurgence.
I urge the 2007 Cleveland Browns front office to get out from behind the eight ball and get their draft class signed and ready to play football. Put each player in a position to compete in 2007 not 2009. Joe Thomas, Brady Quinn, and Eric Wright are all players that have the talent and ability to start in the NFL and make an impact, now. Don't let a contract issue impede their progress and risk setting back the franchise another season. Brandon McDonald is another player that has shown some "flashes" thus far in OTA's, do you think a contract situation will help him, definitely not. Each one of these players must be given full opportunity to make the most of their rookie season. If a contract situation sets their progress back, the 2007 season could be over quickly, just like a game of pool when your stuck behind the eight ball.