Entertaining Read on how Clowns Blundered 2004 Draft/Big Ben

http://espn.go.com/nfl/draft2016/story/_/id/15232563/the-day-browns-passed-big-ben

I always enjoy hearing what those directly involved have to say. Found this to be an entertaining read.

 

God bless those Brownies. I'm sure going to miss them. Seems like their a normal franchise again.

 

That's a great read! Thanks for posting it.

 

hindsight is always 20/20

 

"Yeah, he's a big guy, a strong guy, but will he get too big, and he comes from such a small system and such a small program, it's questionable whether or not he'll be able to compete in the NFL."

 

Phil Simms.

 

My perspective will always be that if Ben didn't lose the early Iowa game during his Jr. year then he would have been nominated as the Heisman Trophy winner and there was no way he would have fell to us. Thank you Hawkeyes! I do love your colors and will always be a fan.

 

A few days ago, the NFL Channel had the very interesting story of the 2004 draft. It is really lucky how Ben fell to us. It looked like the Giants were going to happily draft Ben, but the deal between them and S.D. finally worked out. Getting by the two teams eager to draft a QB then the others picking in the top 10 and Ben falling to us is an amazing and unlikely story. We were very lucky.

In the story, Ben`s agent was right on the money telling Ben once the Giants and Chargers didn`t pick him, we were the next possible stop for him. You could see and understand the disappointment of falling in the draft on his face. It was a very interesting program.

 

Now Ben wouldnt trade where he ended up getting drafted for anything, and that 45 million$ rookie contract he signed put a smile where that frown was, the browns made a common mistake that happens to some teams leading up to draft day, they over evaluated Ben to the point they were scared to draft him....

 

I want to return to those Brown teams. I don't like what I'm seeing out of the Browns front office right now.

 

I said on another topic I expected them to trade out of the two spot, they have 13 picks now, they can draft a 1st round pick at 8, and trade back up into the 1st round and pick another player, and they have another 1st round pick from the eagles next year, they can still get paxton lynch later in the 1st round after they make their 8 pick by trading back into the 1st round, and Lynch just might be as good as the top two QBs drafted when the dust settles and he becomes their starter, I think getting 5 picks 3 this year and two next year, to move from 2 to 8 is a smart move for them, and dont be surprised if the chargers dont trade out of the 3 spot....

 

If someone trades with the Chargers, is it because they want Ramsey?

 

Most likely a team with a glaring need for a pass rusher like Bosa or an otackle like tunsil along with ramsey or any number of positions they covet.....

 

Us Hawks appreciate that! And I appreciate that Ben had a lousy game that day (watched it). Personally, I didn't think he played as bad as the 4 interceptions would lead you to believe. Funny, Iowa was concerned about Ben coming into that game. Was a lot of talk about it around this state.

 

My prediction is that all the pundits will claim the Browns have had the best draft day ever, and grade them A+ all around.

The Browns will then finish bottom of the North again, and most of their draft picks will be elsewhere in 2-3 years.

Just a hunch.

 

similar to all the steeler fans grading our draft an A
every year its, 'we got the steal of the round, steal of the draft, future pro bowler, hof, instant starter, future starter with instant depth'...its the same with every fan base

 

Appropriate for today...

This is what it sounds like when Cleveland fans cry

 

I'm not sure that's entirely true - some fans are optimistic, some are enthusiastic, some are critical. For example, I seem to recall people being unsure of the Mendenhall pick, as we already had an RB and had defensive needs. Certainly around here, the draft doesn't always get an A.

I was thinking more of the NFL.com writers, though, who seem to base their grades on "they had more than one pick in the first round, therefore it's an A".

 

That was my first instinct too. My perception is that fans complain about our draft picks more than praise them. "Running back?? What's wrong with Willie Parker?? We need a cornerback!!" (Mendenahll) "ANOTHER outside linebacker?? We need a cornerback!!" (Jarvis Jones) "ANOTHER outside linebacker?? We need a cornerback!!" (Bud Dupree)