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Thursday, April 24, 2008
Draft day is all about the food
Back in 1999, when the franchise was just rising from the expansion ashes and co-owners Al Lerner and Carmen Policy were hoping to ingratiate themselves, draft day brought more than just Tim Couch.
There was dinner, served to the media at our work stations.
I think I recall prime rib or chicken being the options. Maybe not. It’s been a while. But I do remember thinking they went to an awful lot of fuss, and appreciating it with every bite.
Nine years later, the food remains a highlight, but it’s cafeteria-style these days. No waiters taking orders. But there’s ice cream, which is important.
And with the Browns not expected to do much of anything Saturday because they don’t pick until Sunday, I’m thinking there will be more time for eating and schmoozing, which are the two constants at any draft.
Distractions were more important in those early years anyhow, especially with the picks the Browns were making, although we didn’t know exactly how abysmal some of them actually would turn out to be.
You don’t have to be Mel Kiper (or Todd McShay for that matter) to know the Browns did not draft well from 1999 through 2003. Three of their first four first-round draft choices (QB Couch, DE Courtney Brown and RB William Green) have been out of the league for two years and the other, defensive tackle Gerard Warren, is with his third team, hanging on by a thread.
It helps to remember the past so we don’t repeat it, right? So, to review: Dwight Clark and Chris Palmer passed up Donovan McNab to take Couch. Later, Butch Davis passed on LaDainian Tomlinson and Richard Seymour to take Warren, then passed on Clinton Portis to take Green, then passed on Eric Steinbach to take Jeff Faine
Is it any wonder the Browns have made the playoffs just once in nine seasons?
With the exception of 2004, when Davis drafted Kellen Winslow and Sean Jones, draft day in those early years was nothing but heartburn and heartache for Browns fans.
Then Phil Savage showed up.
Since taking over as general manager in 2005, Savage’s first-rounders have been Braylon Edwards, Kamerion Wimbley and Joe Thomas.
Edwards and Thomas already have made the Pro Bowl and Wimbley’s been more than solid.
That’s a pretty good batting average for a guy who had never been a GM.
Now the challenge is to hit on some of the lower-round picks because that’s all the Browns have this year after trading away their top three.
It’ll be interesting to watch what happens. Between trips to the cafeteria, of course.
