Its that time of year again where players are cut, placed franchise tags upon, arrested for driving through pedestrians, traded, retire, get hurt and go on IR for shooting themselves and so on.
Many or us Browns fans look to this time of year as our Superbowl. This is what keeps us content until our coming seasons first loss in week 1.
Case in point....RB Ladainian Tomlinson finally got thrown to the curb by the San Diego Chargers on Monday after much speculation. The nine year vet who was a fantasy football God for much of his career became expendable from decreased production and a tough hit against the salary cap.
This afternoon we were introduced to the newest member of "I'm an older RB and I need a new team". Hello Brian Westbrook. Another just past there prime back that may offer another 2 years of solid play, but tends to get hurt for at least several games every year.
With the Browns letting go of Jamal Lewis and a Browns roster full of inexperienced back, do we go after an LT or a Westbrook.
I say sure, but for only the right price. That's the easy part. The hard part you ask? How do you get a once top tier player to come to a team with so much transition and uncertainty?
Lets look closer.....
Again who will be leading the offense for the Browns in 2010?
DA? I don't think so. He'd be lucky to back up a 3rd string Charlie Frye in Oakland.
Brady Quinn? Rumors have it that Mangini has seen enough and Holmgren is undecided. With the 7th overall pick in this years draft we have seen everything from us drafting Tebow, a CB, a SS, a RB, and a Long Snapper. Ok not a LS but with our history in the draft would you be completely shocked?
Our defense was last or damn close to it in every statistical category last year. A RB looking to make a strong push to the playoffs wont sign with a team that can't keep the ball out of the other teams offense hands.
What might help.....
How bout a Karlos Dansby or a Julius Peppers? Sure its a long shot, but getting a couple key free agents to fill in some huge holes in our defense could look good in courting another free agent. Browns owner Randy Lerner has in these past few months shown that he seems to be coming around on what an NFL owner needs to do to put a winning organization together. We may get a glimpse of how motivated he is on what is done in free agency this offseason (more in terms of how much are we willing to spend to get a big name in town). Hell, in another week we could see our number 16 with a sweet new contract (from which I've gathered a new 3 year deal between 8-9 million).
So if we were to take a shot and landing LT or Westbrook, who do we want?
My opinion is that Westbrook still has some juice left in the tank. I think he is more of a duel threat than LT. I think that he could be cheaper than landing LT. I think that pairing a Westbrook with Josh Cribbs could create some interesting football games. Finally, in a utopian society, what if the QB we should have drafted back in '99 came to Cleveland in a draft day trade.
What would you think of a Westbrook in your backfield and McNabb under center?
It's pretty obvious that in Philly no matter what Donovan does is good enough. So why not give him a breath of semi-fresh air on the shores of Lake Erie?
Again this is all just wishing upon a star. But what else are Browns fans supposed to do this time of year?
Links of interest:
Browns to address QB Sooner than later?: Hot News for QB Sam Bradford
Bears looking to pick up Peppers
Holmgren on Combine: "We'll Be Watching the QBs.": Browns may focus on QB at Combine - Canton…
Browns as possible suitors for Chester Taylor
Sproles won't be back on one-year deal
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