A "New Direction" or maybe a "New Day", depending on whom you ask. That's what they are calling the 2005 NFL draft in the offices of the Cleveland Browns. Bob Golic, who was a fierce nose tackle for the Browns in the 80's, now writes a column for the Browns' website.
He reports on his experiences at the Browns' draft party last Saturday. He talked about the attitudes of fans on hand. He said that most were positive about the Browns' draft choices.
However, he expressed disappointment in those who voiced that it would be "a couple of years" before they would know just how successful the team was last weekend.
Don't be so naïve, Bob. Browns fans have learned to be skeptical. They have been taught to. For too many years, well before the franchise was moved to Baltimore, they've been virtually promised success, only to see Defeat snatched from the jaws of Victory.
You know the litany. There was "The Drop," "The Drive," "The Fumble" and more.
There also were the player acquisitions that were supposed to turn things around but resulted only in more disappointment, either because of early season-ending injuries or a failure to fit into the team's game plan.
So we're skeptical. We have a right to be. The candy has been offered and snatched away too often for us to feel otherwise.
There may be a sort of optimistic consensus, however.
The Browns' website, www.cleveland browns.com, lists comments from several sources on how well the organization's draft team performed.
To recap, Cleveland, led by general manager Phil Savage and head coach Romeo Crennel, had the third pick. That worked out to the second pick in a couple of rounds.
To open their campaign, they took Michigan wide receiver Braylon Edwards. They followed that with free safety Brodney Pool of Oklahoma and Charlie Frye, a quarterback from Akron (and Willard High School). That completed Day One.
On Sunday, the Browns' choice was cornerback Antonio Perkins of Oklahoma, David McMillan, a defensive end from Kansas, New Mexico linebacker Nick Speegle, Virginia defensive tackle Andrew Hoffman and another DT, Jon Dunn of Virginia Tech.
The website article cites The Sporting News' Dan Pompei as giving the Browns an 'A' on their draft. He calls Edwards the nation's top rated wideout and Pool the top rated safety. Frye, he says, "Is a quarterback for the future."
ESPN's Mel Kiper is listed on the website as giving the team a 'B'. He suggests that they had bigger needs than a wide receiver, but can be forgiven for taking Edwards with their first pick, since he was the best player on the block by then. But Kiper hints that Pool needs to get back to the skills he had as a sophomore, Perkins will be used as a nickel back and returner, Frye occasionally tosses a wounded duck and Hoffman will be "plugged in" at nose tackle because there is no one else.
Ron Borges of MSNBC grades them at 'A', saying that both Edwards and Pool were considered first rounders. He said that Edwards and tight end Kellen Winslow, last year's Number One, give quarterback Trent Dilfer some choices.
Finally, Bob Glauber of New York Newsday said that Edwards was regarded as the best overall talent in the draft, Pool is "terrific" and Frye may have been "the biggest steal of all."