OK Let's Do This

Cold Beer. Salty Snacks. Past 11 PM. A Need For Escape.

Kurt Warner. You have to think his impending release June 1st affects any possible market for Tim Couch. It's my personal opinion that Couch is a much better QB/prospect than Warner is at this point, but it's realistic to think many NFL teams feel differently. But whatever, what it comes down to now is that every team in the NFL knows Couch will be released after June 1 unless a trade happens. Does the free agent presence of Warner make teams more likely to wait? Does Warner and the likeliehood that this NFL MVP will be a backup suddenly encourage Couc and Condon to agree to a two-year deal with good backup money? I have no idea, and I admit that I like Couch enough that it seems a no brainer for somebody to trade a 4th rounder for him. It still surpises me that Condon is pushing for a one-year deal though, and it seems stupid. Couch is a young man. Why not take a properly structured two year deal? Say, modest money in 2004, with a team option for 2005 with a 750K or so raise. If Couch reaches some incentives in 2004 (a certain number of plays + a certain level of performance), then he can either be a free agent or take a somewhat better raise and stay the second year. Done. It's hard to tell through news reports if it's really Condon or prospective trading partners who are the obstacle to getting a deal like this done. A Couch trade goes down on or before draft day -- 50%. A trade in the weeks after the draft -- 20%. Couch is released June 1st or later -- 5025%. Couch somehow renegotiates with the Browns - 5% (OK, the odds are high on that one).

Browns trading up. I get the feeling it is at least possible such a deal could happen without giving up the farm, which would be losing its 2004 second rounder. And I still think Northcutt could be part of such a deal since 1) he's a good player, and 2) his current salary cap number is so low.

If the price is right (#7, a third, and a 2nd/3rd in 2005) the Browns have to move up to get Gallery.

There is no point in moving up more than a spot or two if Gallery is off the board.

I wonder about the Giants. All speculation has been with them selecting Manning or Gallery. Who they pick will be a pretty big wildcard. Why not a wide out? Especially if they deal Hilliard.

Wow, I got tired fast.