Plaxico Out In New York...Braylon In??

With ESPN reporting that Plaxico Burress is officially no longer a Giant, the speculation is heating up that Browns WR Braylon Edwards could be heading to the Big Apple in his stead. Former running mate Kellen Winslow did nothing to stem those rumors this week on Sirius Radio.

This via Browns Gab:

[ The Tampa Bay tight end and former Browns teammate of Braylon Edwards was on Sirius NFL Radio today when host Solomon Wilcots asked him if he thought Edwards would be playing for the Browns in 2009.

“For some reason I don’t,” Winslow said. “I know Braylon would love to go to New York. The Giants would fit him to the T and he would have so much fun up there. I know he loves Cleveland, but New York would be a great fit for him...He would love it there. He’s a city guy and, yeah, I know he would love it there.” ]

If Braylon does go to New York, look for Brian Brennan and Reggie Langhorne to come out of retirement and be the leading candidates to start for the Browns at Wide Receiver this year.

Around the Blogosphere: Bray, Chuck, AV

Braylon:

Profootball talk had a post up yesterday detailing the specifics of the soap opera that is the Cleveland Browns wide-receiving core. While making mention of the Dante Stallworth situation, the signing of David Patten - again - and the release of Joe Jurevicious, they also had the details of the Braylon Edwards trade rumors.

PFT quoted George Kokinis as saying they (Browns) entertained the possibility of trading Braylon, but look forward to having him on their team. PFT had the following interpretation of those comments, and I can' t imagine they are too far off:

"Kokinis also seems to be indirectly suggesting that Edwards remains available if the price is right."

I am not saying the Browns are wrong either way, trade him, don't trade him, I don't care...but they need to decide, and decide now, because if they don't...you think the Jay Cutler thing is getting ugly!

Chuck Barkley:

I appreciate what Waiting For Next Year had to say last week in regards to his most recent comments, and I just have to wonder why TNT still employs this guy. As Frank Caliendo would say, I'm 'tired, tired, tired' of this of this windbag. I would like for him ot just go back to prison for a while, and be reminded of the fact that the only pick he'll end up being right about this year is the one he made on opening night, when hell froze over, and he picked the Cavaliers to win the East...even though he was wrong about the starting five in that same breath.

Aston Villa:

Lastly, its now official, Browns Owner Randy Lerner is the proud owner of (2) teams that are referred to in the national sports world as 'hapless.' This according to The Big Lead...Red Devil Collapse:

"After Liverpool’s 5-0 beating of now hapless Aston Villa, the gap at the top is only one point, pending United’s game in hand."


Click Here for Around the Blogoshpere Part V

Braylon Edwards Starting Trade Rumors

After the Browns embarrassing 30-10 loss last night to the Eagles, where again the Browns O failed to get in the End Zone, Braylon Edwards decided it was time to talk to the media. The NFL Leader in Dropped Passes felt it was time to start his own trade rumors, saying that he was on the trade block. He went on to say that "he has always been unappreciated in Cleveland. Not by the organization, but by the fans and the city." He feels coming out of Michigan he has always had an uphill fight in this city.

Braylon, if I may....We don't care that you played College ball in Michigan. You could put Wolverine stickers on your helmet. We wouldn't care. We just want to see winning football in this town. Your losing attitude and propensity to DROP pass after pass on Sunday is why you have a tough time in this town. Not because of where you went to school.

Keep starting your own trade rumors. Maybe they will come true. We will send Shaver Sports Moving Truck over to help you move. And Braylon, leave the boxes marked "Fragile" for us.....

Braylon is a Go - Not Stay

Don from North Carolina who works for a relocation company called The Really Big Show today, and told him that Braylon should relocate as well. When posed with that question Stay or Go , Don said 17 is a Go, and we agree.

Rizzo then asked the question to his co-host, "what could we get for him," and seemed to be surprised by Josh Sabo's answer... "A 4th Rounder at best."

Shaver Sports also agrees with Josh. Edwards should go, and I would be happy to get a 4th Rounder for him. And if you want to say he is worth more than a 4th Rounder, then talk to Randy "Straight Cash Homey" Moss.

Moss got dealt for a 4th Round pick before last season, and caught more balls (98) for more yards (1,493) and scored more TDs (23) then Edwards did last year, during Braylon's good year. Last year Edwards caught 80 passes, for for 1289 yards and 16 TDs. This year. Moss has had (54) catches, (740) Yards, and (8) TDs, with (5) games to go in the season, while Edwards, (40) catches, for (661), and (3) TDs.

4th Rounder at best, but the addition by subtraction will be like Larry Hughes going to Chicago.

The Fixed Variable Is Edwards

In the Algebraic Equation that is QB + WR = Completion, we often look to change the value of the the Quarterback when our answer does not match that in the back of the book. However, it is more and more obvious every week that Braylon Edwards is the real reason the completions are not adding up in Cleveland. Number 17 appears on a quest to derail the careers of two, once seemingly promising, young QB's.

With the 'Cowher - Cowher' chants raining down in the 4th quarter Sunday, Braylon Edwards dropped one pass after another in embarrassing fashion. Brady Quinn wasn't great, but he might not have been benched if his No. 1 receiver would have ran out his slant pattern earlier in the 3rd quarter, instead of giving up, and getting the ball picked off. But Edwards did quit on the ball, like so many others this year, and with that, Brady was back to the clipboard without even breaking an NFL sweat.

Derek Anderson, came in and looked pretty bad himself. But in his defense, he would have looked a lot better if Braylon didn't drop the TD pass Derek threw him. Moreover, DA may never have been benched in the first place if Edwards didn't start by dropping his 60- yard TD pass in game one vs Dallas, and go on to lead the league in drops from there.

Whoever the QB, Braylon Edwards certainly doesn't look like a receiver that should have been drafted 3rd overall. If you don't believe me, ask the 3rd overall pick from 2004 - Larry Fitzgerald. While Braylon is hopefully on his way out of town, Larry Fitz is on his way to Canton.

Edwards Drops the Ball...Again.

Luckily for Bray Bray, the news of Brady Quinn starting has taken a lot of focus off of a bad trend for #17. Braylon Edwards leads the league in Drops, according to Elias Sports Bureau. They have the number at 14. (a generous 14. We counted at least 3 more in the Shaver Sports Film room) A league high 14 Drops this year and we are only half way through the season? (2007 NFL Stats show Braylon was tied for league lead with Dallas Clark at 12.)

Just as bothersome as the drops is the lack of accountability that BE has shown. After last weeks embarassment, Edwards made himself unavailable again to the media, and according to ESPN Cleveland's Michael Reghi, that is 3 Games now that Edwards has had nothing to say. This is the same Braylon Edwards who was seen talking all off-season, promoting Yahoo! Fantasy Football, his own aspiring career in Hollywood, and making wagers with Olympic Gold Medalist Michael Phelps (He would have been a lot better off if he bet Phelps he would have 2x more Drops than he had Gold medals). I guess Braylon only talks when the Going Is Good. Think we will hear from Braylon this week? I guess it depends if he scores a TD or not..

Either way, this kid has a lot of growing up to do, both On and Off the field.

Say it Ain't So Joe.....

The Browns overall are getting and staying healthy. DA has seemingly shaken off all the cobwebs from his preseason concussion, Tucker getting back in there will help the O-Line, and Shaun Smith coming back soon will be able to give Shaun Rogers more of a chance to catch his breath. But the one guy NOT coming back that really would've helped this squad tremendously is Cleveland's own, Joe Jurevicious. Could you imagine if the Browns were able to get a healthy Edwards, Stallworth, Jurevicious and Winslow on the field at the same time?

Jurevicious led the Browns in receptions for 1st Downs last year and was 2nd in the NFL. His 50 catches for 600+ yards was good for 3rd on the team. So far, the Browns closest option to a Clutch Receiver has been Steve Heiden, who for some reason has been in Chud's doghouse. If this team is going to make a run this year, they need to find their Go-To Guy on 3rd Down quickly. With the 3 of the next 4 games at home, the Browns are in a prime position to make that run.

DA leads Browns to Win over Jags

In the Browns win yesterday against the Jags, Cleveland did just enough to win (thanks for bobbling the winning TD pass Matt Jones, who? Matt Jones).

DA did just enought to win, and I guess, lived to play another day as the Browns head signal caller.

With that said, Shaver Sports' mic'd up department picked up this Fake Conversation between Braylon and Brady - pictured above:

BRAYLON: "You are never going to start bro. Your boy DA just bought himself at least 3 more weeks with the win today."

BRADY: I am well aware Bray...if you had just dropped a couple more balls...

BRAYLON: I was dropping 'em for you BQ, but if I dropped 2 more today, I would have dropped as many as I did all of last year (12)

BRADY: You only dropped (10) balls coming into today? Seems like more. I had you charted for (10) drops against the Skins.

BRAYLON: Naw, I only had (4) drops against Washington.

BRADY: Oh, gotcha, my bad.

BRAYLON: No prob...Brady, why do you think Savage traded a first rounder for you bro, seeing as how he is not planning on playing you?

BRADY: Not sure, usually first rounders get in the game...I am just wanting him to pull the trigger on one of these trades I keep hearing about.

BRAYLON: Maybe they will package you with Kellen for a linebacker with speed, when they unload him.

BRADY: Yeah thanks dude,I just hope he trades me to somewhere warm.

Adams and Edwards Exemplify Browns Problems

Mike Adams has a real attitude problem. Mike had an interception yesterday. He picked off a QB from Harvard...maybe one of the worst QB's to start for any team during the last 3 NFL seasons. That is not what bothers me about Mike. What bothers me about Adams is during the game I was starting to think, I dont mind this Mike Adams guy. And then I read his quote in Tony Grossi's article today:

"If Palmer was in there, we would have gotten after him as much as we went after Fitzpatrick," Adams said. "Actually, I was looking forward [to Palmer playing]. I was looking for two picks and I only got one. I needed Carson Palmer."

Mike. Mr. Adams. What on earth is your problem? In the world of NFL players, you are not even a starter. As a reminder, you are on the field because of injuries. The Bengals are an awful NFL team, and Fitz threw up an equally awful ball that you happened to catch. Just be quiet Mike, and at the end of they year, you will have an int next to your name on the stat sheet, and people will forget who you picked off a QB that used to battle the Penn Quakers. But you dont do that, do you Mike? Instead, you decide to call out a Pro Bowler. How is that going to play for you next year when Sean Jones is healthy, you get cut, and then join someone's practice squad? Even Damon Jones doesn't think you should have said that.

Braylon Edwards is another story. He does not have 100 yards yet on the season - total. He now has (1) TD. Yesterday, the Bengals Defensive Backfield was striken with injuries. Braylon had 26 yards receiving. And when he got into the endzone, he felt it necessary to play air guitar. Your team was losing 6-3 to the worst team in the NFL at halftime. You caught a 4 yard TD pass, and then played Air Guitar. Did you really do that Bray?

This is the attitude of the 2008 Browns. Thats why we're 1-3, and awful to watch.

Rumored Altercation Examplifies Leadership Void

Rizzo talked about a rumored fight in the Browns locker room last week. The rumor has been all over message boards. The funniest thread I read about the fight was on the Cleveland Fan message boards: reportedly DA tossed Braylon a sub, he dropped it, and a fight ensued. I can see that happening. What I heard from someone, that is a friend of a friend of Eric Steinbach's, was that Braylon Edwards was complaining, and running his mouth in the locker room, about whatever it is Braylon complains about, and Willie McGinest took offense to it, a physical altercation ensued to some degree.

Whether the details of this skirmish are accurate or not doesn't really matter. The Browns certainly look like their fighting, look like they are going in (52) different directions, and look like they have no 'on field leadership' on either side of the ball. Now maybe Willie McGinest was this 10 years ago, but he isnt anymore, and maybe Jamal Lewis was 6 years ago, but he doesn't even get the ball anymore.

What all of the good teams have that undoubted leader - and it is obvious for all to see. Ray Lewis is in charge of the Ravens Defense. Peyton Manning is in charge of the Colts Offense. Michael Strahan was in charge of the Giants Defense last year. Tom Brady ran the Patriots Offense.

Who is in charge of the Browns? Andra Davis? Kellen Winslow? Braylon Edwards? Willie McGinest? Ken Dorsey? Paul Zastidul?

Whoever it is, its not obvious, and thats not a good thing. And with no leadership, in-fighting ensues, and losses occurrs, over, and over, and over again, year after year, after year.

Prop Bet on Braylon, Over/Under on Brady

There is a prop bet being offered by Las Vegas in regards to the amount of drops possible by Braylon Edwards this weekend. Thats not good for Number 17. Check link for details NFL Fanhouse. There is also an over under on how many games Brady Quinn will start this weekend. If I am a betting man, I am betting the under on the Braylon drops, and the over on the Brady starts. I just have a Butch Davis gut feel, that at some point, DA is going to take the hit for the awful start for the Browns. I dont see Chud, or Romeo firing themselves beforehand. DA is an easy scapegoat, that is why I am taking the over on #10's snaps from scrimmage.

Fantasy: Grim Reality for Browns Owners

I drafted Braylon Edwards early in my fantasy draft, like TO early. He blows so far. As back-ups, much later in the draft, I took Anthony Gonzalez and Bryant Johnson. I started Braylon both weeks, and benched Gonzo and Johnson. Brayon has 4.6 points total so far (Yahoo league), the other two guys have over 18. Braylon is killing me. He is killing me as a Browns fan and as a fantasy owner. I am starting him this week though, because Uncle Rizzy said today on the Really Big Show that Braylon is going to have a big day on Sunday. I hope Uncle Rizzy's right.

Hammer also reminded me today that Braylon said on the Really Big Show, that if he were a fantasy owner, he would draft himself first. Nathan Zegura replied to that comment by saying, if Braylon took himself first in his fantasy draft, "then his team isn't doing very well."

Regardless, for me, I am giving Braylon one last week to suck. If he continues to drop more balls than he catches, and continues to infer that DA throws to hard, I will trade him for Tyler Thigpen, and a box of matches.

Besides Braylon, DA was a highly picked QB in most fantasy drafts. A caller called in today while Nate Dog was in the house, and asked if he should start Phillip Rivers, or "continue to let DA screw him over." With no hesitation, the fantasy consultant said to start Rivers.

It might be that type of year for Browns owners. I just hope you didn't take Jamal Lewis early...that would suck even worse.