The Canton Repository is asking for fan comments on the Browns’ first-round draft strategy, the Garcia signing, and Coach Davis’ job performance. I’ll bite:
With their 7th overall pick the Browns ought to balance “best player available” with “position of need.” That means drafting, in this order, OT Robert Gallery, S Sean Taylor, QB Eli Manning, WR Larry Fitzgerald, QB Ben Rothlisberger, or TE Kellen Winslow, Jr. If those six go as the first six picks, they should trade down, take OT Shawn Andrews, and convert him to guard.
Adding Jeff Garcia is probably good, but we Browns fans have learned to temper our hopes. Garcia is a leader, a smart scrambler, and our first multiple Pro Bowl QB since Frank Ryan. His underdog biography compares well with that of Tim Couch, who at times wore that blue chip on his shoulder.
As for Coach Butch Davis, he didn’t deserve to be fired after last season, but he certainly didn’t earn that contract extension. He has a talented football mind, but his leadership shortcomings as a pro coach are myriad: egotism that results in scapegoating, inability to inspire loyalty from veteran players, an utter lack of credibility, and poor personnel judgment. But then again, maybe I should just “get a life,” huh?