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Browns fans won’t miss Braylon Edwards

By TheDarkHorse

We’ve all heard about the trade by now. Braylon Edwards to the New York Jets for Chansi Stuckey, Jason Trusnik, as well as 3rd- and 5th-round draft choices (the 3rd-rounder is conditional, and could turn into a 2nd-rounder).

I think this trade works for Cleveland. This is a young team looking to purify the roster, dump “issue” players, and build a cohesive core roster–in other words, short-term fixes don’t mean much here. “But,” you ask, “hasn’t this ‘new’ Browns team been rebuilding since Bill Clinton was in office?” Yes, they have, and they have sucked thoroughly from A to Z; but Eric Mangini can’t be fired after a few games–as some demanded–based on the frustrations of a decade he didn’t ruin. There is no quick fix.

Lots of flash, lots of talking, lots of potential--very little production. Most Browns fans won't miss Braylon. (Photo from Deadspin.com)

Getting rid of Braylon makes sense for a number of reasons.

(1) Braylon–in the fifth year of a five-year contract–was going to be an expensive issue to solve in the offseason. It’s very unlikely he’d be with the team next year. No way the team was about to resign this headache for huge money, or tag him as their franchise player, etc. They just did wonders for the cap. Even if we head into this “uncapped” year–he’s not worth a pay raise.

(2) Turning a blind eye to Braylon’s knack for big drops–something that Jets fans will disdain immediately–he’s been average since that dazzling 2007 season. Part of reason, of course, is the Browns terrible offensive drought of 2008-2009. Still, Braylon hasn’t been a “gamer” on this team. He’s got all the talent in the world, theoretically, but something’s missing.

(3) Mohamed Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie are coming up. The Browns have two talented rookie wideouts who are under contract until Planet Nibiru hits in 2012–so we’re fine.

(3a) Some are ripping on the Browns for not pulling the trigger on a deal this past offseason, when they could have gotten “more” for him. Really? In the end, the New York Giants (a very smart football team) decided they didn’t want to give up a flood of #1 picks for a faulty, mouthy wideout. The Roy Williams deal aside, most teams have learned not to sell the farm for an inconsistent wide receiver. Chansi Stuckey has more receptions than Braylon this season, and less bar fights. The Browns also got a promising young linebacker and two draft picks. It’s a solid deal.

(4) Eric Mangini and the Browns are an easy target right now. Sitting at 0-4, Mangini has taken a lot of heat. People will say the lovable New York Jets won this deal, but the truth is that most Browns fans–and certainly the team itself–realize that the Braylon experiment had run its course. Mangini shouldn’t be killed for weeding out the bad apples on the roster. He wants players who love the game and play for team first. We’re four games into his tenure, and things have been rough. Still, many coaches endure tough starts in reshaping NFL teams to fit a system. The problem is that we fans, and the media, have no patience. When the Browns are 0-4, it’s easy to rip on Mangini, the front office, the players, the stadium–everything. If this purification of the organization yields a team that plays tough–and wins–you’ll see everyone get on the bandwagon soon enough.

(5) Browns fans weren’t high on Edwards–he’s a Michigan player who goes out clubbing after a loss and gets in a brawl with LeBron’s friends. Is this the guy who blue-collar Browns fans identify with and want to pay money to see? No. Again, it’s easy to take shots at the Browns right now, but their fans are long-suffering. The fanbase is at an epic lowpoint. You have to wonder how many 10-year-old Browns fans there are right now–kids don’t like losers. Young people gravitate toward success–they’re Pats fans, Giants fans (youth who love style over substance are Cowboys fans). These are glowing, big-market teams who either (a) win playoff games and Super Bowls, or (b) are treated like they did by a fawning media. Cleveland plays 15 of its games at 1 p.m. EST. There isn’t a player on the team my mom could name. Nobody on the Browns is dating Giselle; being paid to promote their hair for Head & Shoulders; or dumping Jessica Simpson to focus on football, only to suck four times worse. This is a LOSING team, with a LONG way to go. Browns fans are still talking about Bernie Kosar, Webster Slaughter–and wondering if Marty Schottenheimer might decide to come back. Nothing in 25 years has come along to replace these old players and teams–frankly, it’s sad. It’s pathetic. With all that said, there is tremendous pride and love for the game in C-Town. They want a winning team, and they want it now. Everyone will say the Jets won this deal. Rexy and the Jets are a media-darling squad who “just got their deep threat.” Fine by me–have a nice day.

(6) Let’s see what people are saying about Eric Mangini at the end of the season. People have ripped him to shreds–some were calling him the worst coaching hire in the history of the NFL–after an 0-2 start. That’s ridiculous.

(6a) Mangini is stockpiling draft picks: This April, the Browns enter the draft with all of their picks. In addition, they will get the Jets 3rd-round pick (which could wind up as a 2nd-round pick); two 5th-round picks (from the Jets and Tampa Bay); and a 7th-rounder from Carolina.

(7) The 0-4 Cleveland Browns are going to SHRED the Buffalo Bills this Sunday. SHRED THEM UP. You heard it here first.

Eric Mangini is cleansing the roster of headcases. (Photo by richswerb)