Droughns a Brown Pending Physicals
Sweet -- the Browns trade away two guys who reportedly weren't fitting into the team's plans in Ekuban and Myers, and pick up a RB in Droughns who can fit into a backfield rotation with Suggs. Is this trade likelly to be a huge win? No, but it picks up a guy the team can use. In that sense, it's a great trade.
I like Droughns, especially since he is cheap and signed for two more years. He's 26 and doesn't have a lot of NFL wear and tear on his body. He can run inside, is a good blocker and receiver, and a solid special teams guy. Seems exactly the type of player the Browns are looking for. While his 1200 yards rushing last season might be inflated due to Denver's history on running the ball, you also can't ignore the fact he had some huge games. Remember when Suggs put up big numbers vs the Bengals at the end of 2003? Droughns had the same type of performance 4 or 5 times last season.
The trade does, obviously, make you wonder just who the heck will play on the DL in 2005. One potentially nice aspect of this deal is that one of the free agents the Browns have been pursuing, Marques Douglas, was last trying to decide between Denver and Cleveland. Since Denver now has a whopping four former Browns DL players, the market for him in Denver just might have dried up. So hopefully a Douglas signing will soon follow.
That would mean Roye, Fisk and Douglas would be penciled in as starters. That isn't an ideal DL, but it's not bad considering it is only March and we've had such huge turnover. The DL needs depth now too. But with the draft and June 1 free agents, hopefully the FO can fill those gaps.
Lastly, I've read a few gripes on bulletin boards that trading for Droughns decreases the Brown's "leverage" in the draft since other teams will know we don't want a RB. I guess, but you have to be nuts to be upset that your team was able to fill a need before the draft. The draft isn't about outsmarting everyone -- it's about getting good players that your team can use. I don't think Savage wants to be clever, just competent. We will be fortunate if the Browns are one of those teams who never get an "A" draft grade cause they don't thrill everyone with their competence.
I like Droughns, especially since he is cheap and signed for two more years. He's 26 and doesn't have a lot of NFL wear and tear on his body. He can run inside, is a good blocker and receiver, and a solid special teams guy. Seems exactly the type of player the Browns are looking for. While his 1200 yards rushing last season might be inflated due to Denver's history on running the ball, you also can't ignore the fact he had some huge games. Remember when Suggs put up big numbers vs the Bengals at the end of 2003? Droughns had the same type of performance 4 or 5 times last season.
The trade does, obviously, make you wonder just who the heck will play on the DL in 2005. One potentially nice aspect of this deal is that one of the free agents the Browns have been pursuing, Marques Douglas, was last trying to decide between Denver and Cleveland. Since Denver now has a whopping four former Browns DL players, the market for him in Denver just might have dried up. So hopefully a Douglas signing will soon follow.
That would mean Roye, Fisk and Douglas would be penciled in as starters. That isn't an ideal DL, but it's not bad considering it is only March and we've had such huge turnover. The DL needs depth now too. But with the draft and June 1 free agents, hopefully the FO can fill those gaps.
Lastly, I've read a few gripes on bulletin boards that trading for Droughns decreases the Brown's "leverage" in the draft since other teams will know we don't want a RB. I guess, but you have to be nuts to be upset that your team was able to fill a need before the draft. The draft isn't about outsmarting everyone -- it's about getting good players that your team can use. I don't think Savage wants to be clever, just competent. We will be fortunate if the Browns are one of those teams who never get an "A" draft grade cause they don't thrill everyone with their competence.
posted by Michael @ 10:01 AM
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