Defining Day for Browns

What a day! The first day of the draft was a day that will determine the fate of the Browns for years to come. It will also define the career of Phil Savage & possibly coach Romeo Crennel.

As everyone now knows, the Browns drafted OT Joe Thomas at #3. I love this pick. Addressed a huge need that has thus far been neglected in the draft. He was the first tackle drafted by the Browns in the first 3 rounds since 1979, and the first drafted in the 1st round since 1970. A solid player, with very little downside.

All the speculation of trades among the top 10 teams drafting never occurred, and when the Dolphins surprisingly passed on Brady Quinn at #9, Phil Savage went to work, trading the Browns 2nd round pick this year, and 1st rounder next year to Dallas to move back into round one to grab Quinn! I don't know if Quinn will be the answer, but I like the gutsiness and aggressiveness that the Browns showed to improve the team.

"Five years from now we'll be saying, 'That was the day the Browns turned around,' " Savage said on Saturday night. "Either that, or 'Boy, that was the day Savage screwed up the whole thing.' "

Amen.

Green to Browns?

The latest news coming out of the NFL meetings in Phoenix is that Cleveland GM Phil Savage has talked to the Kansas City Chiefs' GM about acquiring QB Trent Green. This comes just days after Savage proclaimed that the team had no plans to bring in a veteran QB, and were comfortable with either Charlie Frye or Derek Anderson.

I don't see this happening for a couple of reasons. First, Green can veto any trades. He has already expressed his desire to play for the Dolphins and head coach Cam Cameron, who coached him in Washington. Also, the guy is coming off of a major head injury. The last place he's going to want to be is behind the Browns offensive line, until the unit can prove that it is finally functional.

Second, Green is owed $7.2 million next season. Unless he takes a pay cut, I can't see the Browns picking up that tab.

If the Browns do go after a veteran QB, I think it would be a younger player who needs a change of scenery or a chance to start. Joey Harrington & David Carr come to mind. The Browns could sign them to a 1 year contract and if they don't work out, could let them go with no long-term damage done. The only reason I can think of to bring in someone like a Trent Green and not a younger QB, is if you plan to draft a QB early and want a veteran presence to mentor him...but I hope that's not what the Browns plan on doing.