Nothing is official regarding the Cleveland Browns' progress in free agency 2006, but the initial reports are encouraging. That the team is aggressively pursuing and possibly snatching from the talons of the Eagles the services of the best-available UFA OL, LeCharles Bentley, is suggestive of a front office that gets it, an organization intent on improvement and a team perhaps ready to move assertively in the correct direction.
It's what's up front that counts, after all.
This writer has long advocated for the St. Ignatius/Ohio State product, back to the error-filled (not that the adjective does much to distinguish it from other such processes) 2002 draft, when a reported deal-down from 16 was forsaken and RB William Green was selected over what might have become a package of Ed Reed and the top interior OL prospect in that class. The top nine went between 29 and 45 that year, Bentley among them.
LeCharles was outstanding as a consensus All-American center at OSU the prior fall and has since established himself as one of the sport's elite interior performers, having already been named to two Pro Bowls. Frankly, it is inexplicable that NO is allowing him to leave.
Young, still crossing the threshold of his prime, fiery, combative, physically aggressive, a pile-mover in the run game and able to reinforce a needy roster at either center or guard, Bentley is precisely the type of talent the Cleveland offense needs to inject into its huddle, interior and OL in general. To have passed on an opportunity to secure such an asset would've been negligent on the part of the club.
In fact, such an attitude was expressed by this writer last autumn when the club, through the words of Head Coach Romeo Crennel, articulated a disturbing position of stand-pat complacency relative to its roster/personnel. This writer ripped that non-approach and challenged the organization to instead become proactive, display requisite daring, creativity, resourcefulness and ingenuity---hell, whatever it takes!---to promote its supposed commitment to reconstruction.
With such league allowances as raiding oppositions' DEVs (practice squads) available to it, as well as a yet-to-arrive trade deadline and the potential to exercise its presence near the top of the waiver-claim list, it seemed imperative the team got busy enhancing its defective and deficient talent pool.
By that time, it was already known certain teams would be making certain players available once free agency arrived. The Saints duo of Bentley and DE Darren Howard were two such commodities. What is more, the unfortunate Saints' organization was justifiably concerned it would have difficulties retaining its own free agents, much less enticing anyone else's. Its braintrust felt it would be, due to the uncertainties relative to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, at a competitive disadvantage when it came to securing the talent necessary for viability as an NFL franchise.
It seemed reasonable that someone should approach that team with an offer of compensation for players it was otherwise going to lose/sacrifice for nothing. Not only could both Bentley and Howard contribute significantly here, but acquiring them in October might preclude an expensive and risky bidding war for them. A trade would also bring the additional benefit of having the Franchise tag available to encourage negotiations on longterm extensions. It would send the proper message, too, to both the clubhouse and the fan base, that the organizations was intent upon fulfilling its expressed commitment to winning again as soon as possible.
It seemed to be a no-brainer---a description too literally true of too many of the New Browns' decisions. It would be win-win-win for all involved: the teams and players. Plus, the manuever might have salvaged what was again shaping up as another moribund campaign.
But the Browns did nothing, of course, extending its string of ignoring the DEV loophole as well, though all it requires is the promise of a varsity roster spot to another team's prospect. With all the injured-reserve occassions of recent seasons, we had no spots to offer? With 31 other NFL organizations---most of whom are far more successful than Cleveland's---employing from 5-8 developmental prospects, are we to believe NONE would be good enough to assist this unit? Are we to conclude the 2005 Cleveland Browns controlled so fabulous an assemblage of talent that none could be pushed aside, challenged or motivated by an infusion of additional positional competition?
For those who buy the company line that gems among the DEVs are rarely found, consider starting OTs Anthony Davis (TB) and Jason Peters (Buffalo) are DEV graduates recent Browns' teams could've stolen during seasons replete with IR designations, mentioned because each player lost opened a varsity roster spot. It is well-known Cleveland has, in fact, been among the NFL leaders in IR incidences.
That was then and this is now.
As far as Free Agency 2006 is concerned, the early indicators are encouraging. Nothing more can be said. Nothing is, after all, confirmed or official. But the supposed negotiations relative to Bentley and NE WR David Givens perhaps indicate a more progressive posture will be employed to reestablish one of pro football's legendary franchises among the elite.
What has happened heretofore---by that is meant the procedings since its rebirth in 1999---has been demonstratively uninspiring, unsuccessful, inadequate, defective, deficient, revolting and, in many instances, inexplicably negligent, irresponsible, unprofessional, unconscionable and inept.
Word just came in: Bentley is a Brown. Hooray. Happy Days are here again?