In listening to sports talk in Cleveland one can't help but, to highlight and point out the contradictions of the Cleveland fans and media in how to build the Browns back up so, they can eventually become a championship team. I've listened long enough to the point where I need to point out these contradictions and I do go with the theory that Cleveland fans AND media don't want to see a Black QB with the Browns!!!
Contradiction#1
You build a team around the QB: I don't subscribe to this theory because I have seen it work both ways, however, most GM's in the NFL would say this is how you build a team. With the unfair rules that clearly favor the offense and the NFL wanting to generate more revenue by getting more high scoring games and making the game more exciting to the average fan, getting offensive players and namely a QB is the way to go.
Carmen Policy who was the CEO of the Browns in 99' let it be known from day one that you build a team a round a QB. SUPPOSEDLY, the QB is the most important person in the Franchise and that he was going to indeed keep up with conventional wisdom and choose a QB with the first pick in the draft. During the process Chris Palmer was hired because of his experience in picking out , developing and handling QB's. As the draft got closer it was obvious that the Browns had the choice of clearly the better player in Ricky Williams and and QB's Akili Smith and Tim Couch. Palmer wanted Akili Smith but, was overruled by Policy and the Lerner because of... Well, they could never give us a reason why they overruled him.
To those that weren't fooled such as BSK, Rich Passon and myself we knew that it had everything to do with Tim Couch being white and Smith being black and that marketing toward the fan base played a role in why Tim Couch was selected. Tim Couch went on to have a very bad career exhibiting zero arm strength and very mediocre skills as I predicted throughout the entire process(BTW, Donovan McNabb and Daunte Culpepper were in that draft and weren't considered).
Fast forward to 11': Clearly anyone that knows anything about football can clearly see that the Browns need a QB. Colt McCoy can't get the job done. He can only throw two yard dink and dunks and simply doesn't possess the physical skills to be able to handle the position going forward. The Browns by the end of Sunday could very well have the 3rd pick in the 12' draft coming up.
Witht the third pick in the draft it's a good chance that Robert Griffin III will be there, however, you have a large segment of fans and media who say that the Browns should wait and fill other needs before filling the QB position. WAIT!!! Yes, these were the same fans who twelve years ago , WITH AN EXPANSION TEAM said that the Browns should build a team around a QB and that taking a RB that high will not improve the team because a RB will not make it past five years because of the beating he will take behind a porous OL.
I ask these fans and media people which one is it?? Do you build a team around a QB or don't you ?? This wreaks of a double standard especially when you consider the fact that the Browns have an established team with pieces in place as opposed to an expansion team and considering how desperate the team and city is for a Franchise QB. Robert Griffin III is the best QB prospect I've ever scouted in terms of the total package and the fans and media want to pass on this opportunity, WOW!!!
Contradiction #2:
Browns have to many holes to fill: Expanding on the theory that you build a team around a QB. The fans and media say the Browns have other holes to fill and should concentrate on filling them, however, these are the same fans and media people who ask if the Browns should take the few precious resources the have to get the pieces they need and try to get Andrew Luck!!!
I ask if you have some many needs and need all your resources then why would you use all those resources to get one guy who IMHO, is more polished at this point but, long term won't be as good??!!!! It absolutely "ZERO" sense considering the holes on your team, the strong possibility that you could get a better player, and the asking price that it will take to get this player(last reported if Indy get the pick will be a minimum of six first round picks). Do you, or don't have the resources and how much better is Luck over Griffin. None in my opinion but, it points to a contradiction of how the people use excuses to push their agendas.
Contradiciton #3:
RG3 played in a conference that didn't play defense: This is true but, people forget that Mike Holmgren tried desperately to get up to #1 in the 10' draft to get Sam Bradford. Where did Sam Bradford come from ?? You got it: the same exact conference that RG3 is coming from. Where was the media and fans to raise objection to Holmgren trying to get Bradford?? I listen alot to Cleveland Sports talk and didn't hear ONE OBJECTION TO Mike Holmgren trying to get Bradford and not one saying that he played in a conference that played no defense.
Oh yeah BTW, where are these same individuals when they talk about Andrew Luck not playing in conference that doesn't play defense?? Any given Saturday the Pac 10 is known to have scores well within the 40's and 50's!!! This is yet another contradiction by the fans and media.
Contradiction #4:
We need a QB that played in a pro style offense: Again on the Sam Bradford Comparison: Not only did Sam Bradford play in the same conference as RG3 but, he played in the same style offense of RG3. Why weren't these concerns brought up when Mike Holmgren tried to get Bradford in10'?? Why is this being Brought up now?? Again, it shows that the media and fans have personal agendas in their contradictions of what they want and don't want.
In my opinion, this shows that Cleveland is a very hypocritical region with bigots and racists abound who simply don't want to see a Black QB running the show in this region. It shows that the region still hasn't grown up and doesn't deserve a winner until they not only acknowledge these things but, take meaningful steps to correct these shortcomings and until they do they will find it increasingly to get start athletes to get them out of the funk of losing and ignorance that so much plagues the region!!!!
Since returning the Browns have made many poor decisions. Almost every first round draft pick was a bust. Some were white some were black. Anyone who thinks they made the pick of Couch because of race is as much of a fool as anyone who would claim they drafted Braylon Edwards because he was black. That is as stupid as Edwards claiming he was booed because of which college he attended. Some of these matters you are calling a contradiction are just a matter of different people having different opinions. One idiot calling into a radio show saying trade up for Luck doesn't contradict a different person who suggests we trade down in the draft and improve the team in more areas.
ReplyDeleteI was opposed to drafting Couch (or any QB) early in the process of building a team realizing any QB on a new franchise will be a tackling dummy until the O-line is built. My opposition to drafting Couch or McNabb was NOT because I don't like white or black people.
People can have different opinions about which player would have a successful career and race play no part in their evaluation. It is sad that in 2011 there are people still throwing nonsense like that out there. There are several attributes that should be evaluated when choosing a QB - arm strength, height, legs, escape-ability, decision making, intelligence, leadership and so on. None of those are based on race. Different coaches and scouts will rate different factors as more important than others. I thought Drew Brees was a little short for an NFL QB. Eli Manning didn't seem to have the same type leadership his brother exhibited. Tom Brady was passed over by every team multiple times. All of them have won Super Bowls. However, their wins don't mean those concerns were invalid. Nope, just means they developed and overcame those concerns. It also shows the draft process is not perfect. There are no guarantees. Luck, RGIII and other QB's in next Aprils draft could have lengthy successful NFL careers and any or all of them will could be busts or get injured. That is why I advocate trading down every year. I'd much rather populate the roster with lots of late first and second rounders than give away picks to get one guy at top of draft and have him try to win on his own.
Please drop the race nonsense. You're fairly well-informed about sports, but I can't take you seriously when you continue to see racial issues where they don't exist.