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Best Browns #1 draft pick ever

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  • E Earl34

    @the-gipper said:

    Ernie Davis. RB. Never played a down (except in preseason). Died of Leukemia.

    Guys whose lives are cut short by leukemia are duds? In my opinion, a 'dud' is either someone who they should have known couldn't play (see Smith, Akili) or someone who failed to deliver when given the opportunity (see Thomas, Blair). There are people who fit the latter who battled injuries (see Bosworth, Brian) but to see a man cut down in his youth and to label him this way is tough for me to swallow.

    Have you ever met a leukemia patient? I'm sure the last thing on their minds is whether they can play football or not.

    Just my .02

    The Gipper The GipperT In Memoriam Very Popular
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    The GipperT The Gipper wrote on last edited by
    #16

    @earl34 said:

    Guys whose lives are cut short by leukemia are duds? In my opinion, a 'dud' is either someone who they should have known couldn't play (see Smith, Akili) or someone who failed to deliver when given the opportunity (see Thomas, Blair). There are people who fit the latter who battled injuries (see Bosworth, Brian) but to see a man cut down in his youth and to label him this way is tough for me to swallow.

    Have you ever met a leukemia patient? I'm sure the last thing on their minds is whether they can play football or not.

    Just my .02

    Well, yes, it is a question I stuggled with somewhat, but like you said, should we not put someone on the "Dud" list whose career was curtailed by injury? Those persons are often included in the various "bust" lists. I am not trying to make a moral judgment on Ernie Davis considering the way he perished. Nevertheless, should an illness be considered differently than an injury? Like I said, I struggled with it, but, objectively, you have to say that the team's investment in him was "wasted" albeit tragically.

    We could say the same about Don Rogers. He might have become a serious stud, but because he died of a cocaine overdose, he really ends up being a dud. Should the manner of Davis's death vs. the manner of Roger's death affect our evaluation strictly as an asset to the team? I don't know.

    E 1 Reply Last reply
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    • rich4eagleR rich4eagle

      Top Five

      Jim Brown

      Paul Warfield

      Gary Collins

      Bernie Kosar

      Mike Pruitt

      Eric Metcalf

      Ozzie

      Worst

      John Bauer

      Craig Powell

      Brady Quinn

      Ted Connally

      Kurt Burris

      Thaak ThaakT
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      ThaakT Thaak wrote on last edited by
      #17

      @rich4eagle said:

      Top Five

      Jim Brown

      Paul Warfield

      Gary Collins

      Bernie Kosar

      Mike Pruitt

      Eric Metcalf

      Ozzie

      Worst

      John Bauer

      Craig Powell

      Brady Quinn

      Ted Connally

      Kurt Burris

      How come your top 5 has 7?

      The GipperT 1 Reply Last reply
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      • ThaakT Thaak

        @rich4eagle said:

        Top Five

        Jim Brown

        Paul Warfield

        Gary Collins

        Bernie Kosar

        Mike Pruitt

        Eric Metcalf

        Ozzie

        Worst

        John Bauer

        Craig Powell

        Brady Quinn

        Ted Connally

        Kurt Burris

        How come your top 5 has 7?

        The Gipper The GipperT In Memoriam Very Popular
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        The GipperT The Gipper wrote on last edited by
        #18

        @thaak said:

        How come your top 5 has 7?

        Poetic license I guess. Where are your picks?

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        • sisky fringo sisky fringoS
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          sisky fringoS sisky fringo wrote on last edited by sisky fringo
          #19

          can't decide between Tommy Vardell or Willie Green. guess i'll go with....NEITHER. lol

          plenty of fun to poke in that list.

          i'm gonna hafta say Erocc. in his prime he'd start on any team today...but so would Jim Brown, Clay, Ozzie, Hanford, and Bernie would certainly get consideration.

          but i still like the excitement Turner brought to every game. he was like a trump card.

          now they just drafted two hitters for our backfield. you know i'm stoked to see how this years draft class plays out.

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          • The GipperT The Gipper

            @earl34 said:

            Guys whose lives are cut short by leukemia are duds? In my opinion, a 'dud' is either someone who they should have known couldn't play (see Smith, Akili) or someone who failed to deliver when given the opportunity (see Thomas, Blair). There are people who fit the latter who battled injuries (see Bosworth, Brian) but to see a man cut down in his youth and to label him this way is tough for me to swallow.

            Have you ever met a leukemia patient? I'm sure the last thing on their minds is whether they can play football or not.

            Just my .02

            Well, yes, it is a question I stuggled with somewhat, but like you said, should we not put someone on the "Dud" list whose career was curtailed by injury? Those persons are often included in the various "bust" lists. I am not trying to make a moral judgment on Ernie Davis considering the way he perished. Nevertheless, should an illness be considered differently than an injury? Like I said, I struggled with it, but, objectively, you have to say that the team's investment in him was "wasted" albeit tragically.

            We could say the same about Don Rogers. He might have become a serious stud, but because he died of a cocaine overdose, he really ends up being a dud. Should the manner of Davis's death vs. the manner of Roger's death affect our evaluation strictly as an asset to the team? I don't know.

            Earl34 E
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            E Earl34 wrote on last edited by Earl34
            #20

            @the-gipper said:

            Well, yes, it is a question I stuggled with somewhat, but like you said, should we not put someone on the "Dud" list whose career was curtailed by injury? Those persons are often included in the various "bust" lists. I am not trying to make a moral judgment on Ernie Davis considering the way he perished. Nevertheless, should an illness be considered differently than an injury? Like I said, I struggled with it, but, objectively, you have to say that the team's investment in him was "wasted" albeit tragically.

            We could say the same about Don Rogers. He might have become a serious stud, but because he died of a cocaine overdose, he really ends up being a dud. Should the manner of Davis's death vs. the manner of Roger's death affect our evaluation strictly as an asset to the team? I don't know.

            A fine point you make but perhaps it needs a little more teasing out: Don Rogers died of a choice he made. That (to me, at least) leaves you on far worse moral ground than someone who was injured in the course of NFL duty or someone who had a serious illness that happened outside of the sports career...(e.g., Lou Gehrig). There is a certain amount of tragedy that we as fans are willing to accept if it's not related to something they chose to do.

            The GipperT 1 Reply Last reply
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            • TheClevelandSound TheClevelandSoundT
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              TheClevelandSoundT TheClevelandSound wrote on last edited by
              #21

              Top 10

              1. Jim Brown

              2. Bernie Kosar

              3. Paul Warfield

              4. Joe Thomas

              5. Ozzie Newsome

              6. Hanford Dixon

              7. Eric Metcalf

              8. Alex Mack

              9. Clay Matthews

              10. Mike Pruitt

              Bottom 10 (notice most from new Browns)

              1. Gerard Warren

              2. Tim Couch

              3. Brady Quinn

              4. William Green

              5. Jeff Faine

              6. Courtney Brown

              7. Mack Mitchell

              8. Mike Phipps

              9. Charles White

              10. Kellen Winslow Jr.

              Predicted Records:2010: 8-82011: 8-82012: 9-72013: 5-112014: 6-10
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              • ballpeen ballpeenB Conversation Starter Dedicated Reacting Well Very Popular Posting Machine Collaborator First Post One Year In One Month Later Week One Done
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                ballpeenB ballpeen wrote on last edited by
                #22
                Bottom 10 (notice most from new Browns)

                No wonder since most around here don't remember players like:

                Preston Carpenter

                Bobby Crespino

                Pete Adams

                Willis Adams.

                Hands down the worst pick was Couch.

                That may have been the most important pick in out history, and it was totally flubbed.

                #1...the guy sucked.

                #2..as a new team, we had no business selecting a QB with a line and skill players that totally sucked.

                The pick sucked from every aspect possible.

                If everybody had like minds, we would never learn.
                The GipperT 1 Reply Last reply
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                • E Earl34

                  @the-gipper said:

                  Well, yes, it is a question I stuggled with somewhat, but like you said, should we not put someone on the "Dud" list whose career was curtailed by injury? Those persons are often included in the various "bust" lists. I am not trying to make a moral judgment on Ernie Davis considering the way he perished. Nevertheless, should an illness be considered differently than an injury? Like I said, I struggled with it, but, objectively, you have to say that the team's investment in him was "wasted" albeit tragically.

                  We could say the same about Don Rogers. He might have become a serious stud, but because he died of a cocaine overdose, he really ends up being a dud. Should the manner of Davis's death vs. the manner of Roger's death affect our evaluation strictly as an asset to the team? I don't know.

                  A fine point you make but perhaps it needs a little more teasing out: Don Rogers died of a choice he made. That (to me, at least) leaves you on far worse moral ground than someone who was injured in the course of NFL duty or someone who had a serious illness that happened outside of the sports career...(e.g., Lou Gehrig). There is a certain amount of tragedy that we as fans are willing to accept if it's not related to something they chose to do.

                  The Gipper The GipperT In Memoriam Very Popular
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                  The GipperT The Gipper wrote on last edited by
                  #23

                  @earl34 said:

                  A fine point you make but perhaps it needs a little more teasing out: Don Rogers died of a choice he made. That (to me, at least) leaves you on far worse moral ground than someone who was injured in the course of NFL duty or someone who had a serious illness that happened outside of the sports career...(e.g., Lou Gehrig). There is a certain amount of tragedy that we as fans are willing to accept if it's not related to something they chose to do.

                  OK, but, strictly, this thread is about which draft choices that #1 picks were used on contributed the MOST to the Browns success, and which contributed the LEAST to the Brown success. And in reality, I don't think from that narrow viewpoint we can judge something like: Davis had a good death and Rogers had a bad death. I didn't intend this thread to judge their lives or the manner they died, just what they gave to this team.

                  Davis gave nothing, and Rogers gave little. The demise of each of them, regardless of the manner hurt the team just as much as Bobby Garrett who couldn't play because he couldn't control his stutter.

                  Bottom line: they were both failed picks from the football standpoint.

                  Talking about the manner of their deaths or the way they led their lives is a whole other train track to be riding on.

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                  • The Gipper The GipperT In Memoriam Very Popular
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                    The GipperT The Gipper wrote on last edited by
                    #24

                    Formerly Stone said:

                    WOW! You guys draft really early! No wonder the teams have been so talent laden?

                    Early? What? Like 7:00 A.M.?

                    Or do you mean early in the draft like in high in the draft?

                    Do you think we are as stupid as you that we don't know how poorly some of those high pick have failed to pan out?

                    What do you think was the point of this exercise?

                    If you were paying one bit of attention, you would have noted that there were more bad #1 picks taken back in the 50s than there have been lately.

                    Why don't you go to your own team's board and conduct the same exercise. Go list all their first round draft picks since they began doing this in 1936 and have your group over there figure out who were Studs and who were Duds and report back to us what yinzers came up with. It is probably easy to do the studs. You probably have the likes of Green, Bradshaw, Harris, Dudley, Woodson. But what about the Duds. You tell us.

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                    • ballpeenB ballpeen
                      Bottom 10 (notice most from new Browns)

                      No wonder since most around here don't remember players like:

                      Preston Carpenter

                      Bobby Crespino

                      Pete Adams

                      Willis Adams.

                      Hands down the worst pick was Couch.

                      That may have been the most important pick in out history, and it was totally flubbed.

                      #1...the guy sucked.

                      #2..as a new team, we had no business selecting a QB with a line and skill players that totally sucked.

                      The pick sucked from every aspect possible.

                      The Gipper The GipperT In Memoriam Very Popular
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                      The GipperT The Gipper wrote on last edited by The Gipper
                      #25

                      @ballpeen said:

                      No wonder since most around here don't remember players like:

                      Preston Carpenter

                      Bobby Crespino

                      Pete Adams

                      Willis Adams.

                      Hands down the worst pick was Couch.

                      That may have been the most important pick in out history, and it was totally flubbed.

                      #1...the guy sucked.

                      #2..as a new team, we had no business selecting a QB with a line and skill players that totally sucked.

                      The pick sucked from every aspect possible.

                      Couch would probably NOT be in my bottom 20 or 25. In fact he would barely be in the bottom 10 of picks just since 1999! The ONLY guys taken in the first round since 1999 in fact who have been more productive than Couch for this team have perhaps been K2, JT and Mack....and Mack is only there based on his perceived quality potential. Couch has certainly been more productive than Quinn, Wimbley, Edwards, Green, Warren, Faine, or C. Brown. And all those guys from the 50s that I detailed!

                      Nevertheless, I completely agree with your point #2. They had no business taking a QB #1 overall if they weren't going to give him any help.

                      ballpeenB 1 Reply Last reply
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                      • The GipperT The Gipper

                        @browns57 said:

                        Quinn gave us NOTHING and I doubt if he ever sees the field again in the NFL unless there is a freak rash of injuries!

                        OK, but, I think I have documented at least 10 others that gave us less.

                        And, you can make your own list if you want. That is what you were asked to do. Go do it.

                        rich4eagle rich4eagleR One Year In One Month Later Week One Done
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                        rich4eagleR rich4eagle wrote on last edited by
                        #26

                        @the-gipper said:

                        OK, but, I think I have documented at least 10 others that gave us less.

                        And, you can make your own list if you want. That is what you were asked to do. Go do it.

                        You documented nothing..........copied my replies for the two biggest busts.............get down from your exalted horse of ether

                        Offense Wins.......Franchise QB's are the key.............Defense keeps you in the game.........Go Buckeyes
                        The GipperT 1 Reply Last reply
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                        • The GipperT The Gipper

                          @ballpeen said:

                          No wonder since most around here don't remember players like:

                          Preston Carpenter

                          Bobby Crespino

                          Pete Adams

                          Willis Adams.

                          Hands down the worst pick was Couch.

                          That may have been the most important pick in out history, and it was totally flubbed.

                          #1...the guy sucked.

                          #2..as a new team, we had no business selecting a QB with a line and skill players that totally sucked.

                          The pick sucked from every aspect possible.

                          Couch would probably NOT be in my bottom 20 or 25. In fact he would barely be in the bottom 10 of picks just since 1999! The ONLY guys taken in the first round since 1999 in fact who have been more productive than Couch for this team have perhaps been K2, JT and Mack....and Mack is only there based on his perceived quality potential. Couch has certainly been more productive than Quinn, Wimbley, Edwards, Green, Warren, Faine, or C. Brown. And all those guys from the 50s that I detailed!

                          Nevertheless, I completely agree with your point #2. They had no business taking a QB #1 overall if they weren't going to give him any help.

                          ballpeen ballpeenB Conversation Starter Dedicated Reacting Well Very Popular Posting Machine Collaborator First Post One Year In One Month Later Week One Done
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                          ballpeenB ballpeen wrote on last edited by ballpeen
                          #27

                          @the-gipper said:

                          Couch would probably NOT be in my bottom 20 or 25. In fact he would barely be in the bottom 10 of picks just since 1999! The ONLY guys taken in the first round since 1999 in fact who have been more productive than Couch for this team have perhaps been K2, JT and Mack....and Mack is only there based on his perceived quality potential. Couch has certainly been more productive than Quinn, Wimbley, Edwards, Green, Warren, Faine, or C. Brown. And all those guys from the 50s that I detailed!

                          Nevertheless, I completely agree with your point #2. They had no business taking a QB #1 overall if they weren't going to give him any help

                          .

                          I don't agree about his production, but that isn't the point I wish to debate as there is no real way to conclude such discussion.

                          The last point is how I arrive at Couch being the worst pick.

                          To me, your question isn't simply limited to the player and his production. It also encompasses what the pick meant to the organization. That first pick after our return was the biggest pick, as in most important in team history....and it was TOTALLY blown. To me it was as much a PR move as it was anything else.

                          If we were to limit the factors simply to production, then Ernie Davis was the worst pick since he had zero production because he died. It doesn't get much worse than that as far as production.

                          Really, we are still reeling from that pick. No other blown pick had lingering effects 10-11 years later.

                          Nope...the Couch pick set this whole thing rolling and it has snow balled from there.

                          If everybody had like minds, we would never learn.
                          The GipperT 1 Reply Last reply
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                          • rich4eagleR rich4eagle

                            @the-gipper said:

                            OK, but, I think I have documented at least 10 others that gave us less.

                            And, you can make your own list if you want. That is what you were asked to do. Go do it.

                            You documented nothing..........copied my replies for the two biggest busts.............get down from your exalted horse of ether

                            The Gipper The GipperT In Memoriam Very Popular
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                            The GipperT The Gipper wrote on last edited by
                            #28

                            @rich4eagle said:

                            You documented nothing..........copied my replies for the two biggest busts.............get down from your exalted horse of ether

                            OK, I gave a synopsis of their contribution to the team....or lack thereof. I guess if you don't want to call that "documentation" that is up to you. I didn't think it was necessary to give each players complete resume.

                            But I think it is still by any objective measure a fact that a person that played and produced for this team for maybe 5 years was a better pick than someone who didn't play a down, or played very little.

                            You may have your subjective view on why you may not have liked the Couch pick, but the fact is, under objective standards, he gave a lot more for this team than tons of others of the Browns 1st round picks.

                            (and excuse me if I have you confused with someone else. Correct me if I am wrong about what you were talking about)

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                            • ballpeenB ballpeen

                              @the-gipper said:

                              Couch would probably NOT be in my bottom 20 or 25. In fact he would barely be in the bottom 10 of picks just since 1999! The ONLY guys taken in the first round since 1999 in fact who have been more productive than Couch for this team have perhaps been K2, JT and Mack....and Mack is only there based on his perceived quality potential. Couch has certainly been more productive than Quinn, Wimbley, Edwards, Green, Warren, Faine, or C. Brown. And all those guys from the 50s that I detailed!

                              Nevertheless, I completely agree with your point #2. They had no business taking a QB #1 overall if they weren't going to give him any help

                              .

                              I don't agree about his production, but that isn't the point I wish to debate as there is no real way to conclude such discussion.

                              The last point is how I arrive at Couch being the worst pick.

                              To me, your question isn't simply limited to the player and his production. It also encompasses what the pick meant to the organization. That first pick after our return was the biggest pick, as in most important in team history....and it was TOTALLY blown. To me it was as much a PR move as it was anything else.

                              If we were to limit the factors simply to production, then Ernie Davis was the worst pick since he had zero production because he died. It doesn't get much worse than that as far as production.

                              Really, we are still reeling from that pick. No other blown pick had lingering effects 10-11 years later.

                              Nope...the Couch pick set this whole thing rolling and it has snow balled from there.

                              The Gipper The GipperT In Memoriam Very Popular
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                              The GipperT The Gipper wrote on last edited by
                              #29

                              @ballpeen said:

                              I don't agree about his production, but that isn't the point I wish to debate as there is no real way to conclude such discussion.

                              The last point is how I arrive at Couch being the worst pick.

                              To me, your question isn't simply limited to the player and his production. It also encompasses what the pick meant to the organization. That first pick after our return was the biggest pick, as in most important in team history....and it was TOTALLY blown. To me it was as much a PR move as it was anything else.

                              If we were to limit the factors simply to production, then Ernie Davis was the worst pick since he had zero production because he died. It doesn't get much worse than that as far as production.

                              Really, we are still reeling from that pick. No other blown pick had lingering effects 10-11 years later.

                              Nope...the Couch pick set this whole thing rolling and it has snow balled from there.

                              But, you have to consider the counterargument that...in fact, the Browns with Couch as their primary QB made the playoffs in his 4th year as starting QB, and in fact if the team is reeling, it was not from the pick of him at QB. He did fine. It was the poor performance of the front office and coaching staff thereafter. To me, it was the poor picks of Courtney Brown, Gerrard Warren, William Green and others, and the failure of that front office to obtain a decent OLine and the meltdown/megalomania of Butch Davis that were far more the cause of this franchise "reeling" than the pick and performance of Tim Couch. Hell, in my view, selecting him may in fact have been the best move they made during those first 5 years after 1999. Though I agree picking him was as much a PR move as anything, I believe to this day his selection was probably one of the better ones made in the last 11 years.

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