Verba

The Cleveland Plain Dealer said Verba wants a contract worth $38.5 million over five years. The newspaper quoted the left tackle as saying, ?I played last year for nothing, and I just want to be treated fairly. If not, I?m not coming into camp, and I won?t play the season. I don't want to cause problems, but I had a handshake deal with the Browns, and I upheld my part. I want them to do the same.??
Verba came off the 2004 season indicating he did the Davis regime a favor by restructuring his contract, with the understanding he would be ?taken care of?? after a strong year."

You know, I'd be inclined to agree with the idiot, a$$hole Verba if he wasn't expecting to get a 4 or 5 year contract. I mean, this was a guy the Browns went out on a limb to sign for a few years, then the dude rips a biceps (which, to be clear, was the guy making his money) and follows it up by saying he wasn't sure if he ever wanted to play again. Now he has a good year and expects his old deal to be torn up and replaced by one it is not clear he deserves.

Verba sites promises made by the Butch regime. OK. Well, not to put too fine a point on it, but Butch isn't here anymore. If you want your huge 5-year deal then go talk to him. Otherwise, shut the f#ck up. Or go to the FO and explain the situation, maybe even provide a little second-hand evidence, and ask for a one-year extension with a handsome raise. But don't insult me by saying you played last year for nothing. Seriously, go screw yourself. You played last year (and the years before that) and made as much money as I am liable to make in my entire life. I made 26K the year after I left college. What did you pocket Ross, 1 million+? Get your head out of your ass.

Verba, you have proven you are a good football player. We all like you as a left/right tackle/guard. We love your bad ass attitude when it's targeted at the Browns' opponents. But you've also established you are a grade A dickwad. We've heard about you and your crowd, and we've all met dudes like you. Ask for your next contract. Do what you have to do. But if you are publicly unreasonable you should not expect the public to be reasonable in return.

Speaking for this fan, I'd rather see Greg Randall starting at left tackle than an over-overpaid jock strap who demands he be overpaid some more. You deserve millions of dollars -- which, if I am not mistaken, you are already being paid. And we fans deserve to not hear your whining and crying.

FYI -- If I ever get the pleasure of meeting your face to face, I will be happy to express the same sentiment. You need to hear it.