What happened this past weekend? What happened to the comparisons to Tom Brady and the label of the most NFL ready quarterback? What happened with Miami praying to the football gods that a certain someone falls in their lap? In essence what the hell happened with one of the most hyped Notre Dame quarterbacks this league has ever seen?
Well this is what happened. It was around 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 28th 2007 and the Cleveland Browns were on the clock for the 3rd overall draft pick. Simply put, the Browns pass on the Charlie Weiss’ protégé for a Wisconsin offensive left tackle named Joe Thomas. So on to the next team who is looking for a formidable quarterback. As for the next picks; Tampa Bay, Arizona and Washington they weren’t interested in spending their 1rst round pick on a quarterback. Minnesota on the other hand is relying on a 2006 2nd round pick out of Alabama State, Tarvaris Jackson. But Minnesota had luck of their own when Adrian Peterson fell to them at the 7th pick, so their 1rst pick of the draft was a pretty simple one. They simply took one of the most talented and most athletic players in the entire draft and probably the best pure running back to come out of college in the past decade in Peterson. So Minnesota was the second team who chose not to take the Notre Dame alum. Atlanta was next at 8, and obviously they have Michael Vick, so they weren’t interested. But old reliable was on the clock next with the 9th overall pick. Miami had been in the same boat as Oakland, Detroit, and Cleveland. They all need a starting franchise quarterback who will be the face of the organization for the next ten years. So Miami was not only a given but, they were incredibly lucky they didn’t have to move up to grab him. But then comes the first curveball of the draft. Miami passed on Quinn. WHAT?! Was the reaction of every expert, fan and analyst Mel Kiper of ESPN was absolutely stunned at the Dolphins and then started to berate them because of their obvious blunder. When the camera panned over to Brady Quinn a picture was worth a thousand words when we saw his reaction the minute Miami passed on him for Ted Ginn Jr. “Wow that was unexpected.”
So now what? Now what is the next move for a quarterback who is obviously dropping faster than a fat kid doing a belly flop? In an unprecedented move by Roger Goodell, the commissioner moved Brady and the rest of his family to an undisclosed room at Radio City Music Hall to shield him and his family from the prying eye of the media and the fans. It worked, not even ESPN or the NFL Network could get to him whenever they please. It was looking bleak for the Heisman Trophy candidate. Until the commissioner had announced another trade, where the Dallas Cowboys were to give up their 1rst round pick (22nd overall) for the Browns’ 2nd round pick (35th overall). Finally the wait was over and the so called “most NFL ready quarterback was off the board” and just in time too, because hadn’t the Browns moved up the Kansas City Chiefs would have certainly made the pick on Brady Quinn.
So was Cleveland the winner of the draft? Five years from now do you think we’ll be saying that the Cleveland Browns stole the 2007 NFL Draft? I certainly do, well at least for right now. Let’s just take a look at what happened from afar. Their 1rst pick was an excellent one, with the selection of a franchise left tackle. That pick was a no brainer. But as for their second 1rst round pick, the #22nd pick, I believe the front office absolutely played the game the way it was supposed to be played. Some television analysts have commented on Scott Pioli pulling this same thing in Baltimore with Ozzie Newsome for Kyle Boller. But if you think about it, when Kyle Boller was coming out of college there wasn’t anywhere near the admiration for him as there was for Brady Quinn. Nobody called Kyle Boller a top 3 pick, nor dared to call him the 1rst pick overall. But with Quinn the Cleveland Browns got two top 5 picks in terms of value. How in the hell couldn’t Cleveland do that? Some fans and analysts have been saying the Browns gave up too much, because let’s be honest the Browns aren’t exactly playoff contenders, especially being in that division with Cincinnati, Baltimore and Pittsburg. Well that’s true but there is no guarantee that the Browns would have a shot at Chad Henne and to be as real as possible the Browns aren’t going to have another top 3 pick to have a shot the #1 QB next year, Brian Brohm. So in essence the Cleveland Browns took the gamble and bet on Quinn and Joe Thomas for their next two draft classes. And you know what? The Browns did great. Think about what they did. Washington gave up a 1rst round pick when they moved up to select Jason Campbell. The Buffalo Bills gave up a 1rst round draft pick when they moved up to select J.P. Losman, and Baltimore, like I mentioned before, gave up a 1rst round draft pick to move up to get Kyle Boller. I don’t know about you, but none of those three have nor had the same kind of ability or potential that Brady Quinn has. That is why Cleveland did the right thing. I know Dallas is praying to the football gods that Cleveland goes 0-16 so they can get a shot at Darren McFadden, but in reality that isn’t going to happen. So, Dog Pound, live it up. You guys stole the 2007 NFL Draft, and you didn’t have to do it by selecting Troy Smith.
Well the Browns have #### up draft after draft and a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in awhile. But make no mistake, this is a failed draft if not for the Dolphins utter stupidity. I never believed any of that #### about the next Tom Brady. For one, Brady actually won big games in college, including a good record against their biggest rival Ohio St. and winning the Orange Bowl his senior year. Quinn, no wins against their biggest rival USC and no bowl wins either. Brady has all of the measurables, thats for sure, but none of the intangibles. The Browns might be better this year because it would be hard for them to get much worse. Their defense is still atrocius to put it nicely, not to mention with the improvements, they are still the worst team in a pretty tough division. They didn't steal the draft, they had it handed to them.
So, 18 teams are idiots for passing on Quinn?
Some of the best QBs out there came after the first round. Short term, I say Dallas made the steal and could be looking at a top 5 pick next year, courtesy of the Browns.
Yes, the Browns were able to get their QB a year early.
Do they have the left tackle to protect Quinn?
I don't know, but am going to love this NFL season unfold. Hoo Rah!
Miami still puzzles me! They drafted a replacement for Welker.
Minnesota actually has a running back tandem.
This draft was filled with generic players who had the same overall ability after the first few picks.
GMs were trading down for more picks as fast as possible.
