@the-gipper said:

Unless you're a total Retard, drafting a center in the first round- assuming the talent is there is about one of the safest picks you can make. The Pounceys and Mack bear that out.

@bbedward said:

Let's also not forgot Lombardi criticized the josh gordon pick when he worked for the NFLN.

I haven't forgotten- I hope Haslam hasn't either.

@cdl15 said:

He had a monstrous draft class in 2000.

It will forever be a mystery who was calling the shots in Oakland- If Lombardi had more than minimal input on any of them, he's undeserving of being a talent evaluator. OK Ray Guy finally made the HOF, and Janikowski is a great kicker- but you want to talk about wasting draft position? Both of them could have been had way lower in the draft.

@roycerolls said:

if Lombardi was worthy of a front office position he wouldn't have spent five years without one, that's as far as the argument needs to go.

Yup, I've pointed that out several times. Even with the draft coming up. Lombardi is totally unnecessary. (the scouts have done all the work) I'd trust Farmer in the War Room 10x better than I would MIke.

It would also put Banner on the hot seat for a bad personnel decision.

@roycerolls said:

Yep!

I am the one who 1st posted Lombardi's draft record & someone stated that Al Davis made the picks there, not Lombardi. My response to that is that, if true, he didn't function as a GM. Lombardi is, at the very least, not qualified to serve as GM. To me, the hire should also have Banner under a microscope, although Banner DID come here with a seemingly solid track record.

Changing/decreasing Lombardi's function might be a positive step, BUT if Jimmy wants credibility with Browns' Fans, he'll get him the hell OUT of Cleveland (BEFORE this FA/draft period).

Perception is reality.

Mike

everitt

footman

langham

alexander

2 huge busts in jamarcus russell and gallery for the raiders. both their number one picks.

@westside-steve said:

The biggest bust on the list was undoubtedly JaMarcus Russell. I remember that time. Pretty well. As I recall just about every football pundit was singing his praises and there was talk amongst quarterback strapped teams of trading up for the big dumb goat. So... Plus I loved Eric Zeier.

WSS

To be fair, I expected jamarcus to have the same type of career cam newton is having.

Jamarcus turned out to be dumber and lazier than Cam though.

WSS

@osiris said:

It's a very sad track record.

Some people say Al Davis was the reason he sucked in Oakland, but idk if that can explain why he sucked in Philly and Cleveland.

Zach Miller is pretty good though. At least above average.

@westside-steve said:

I present to you exhibit A, Lombardi's draft record from 1992-2007:

Source: http://www.theclevelandfan.com/cleveland-browns/1-browns-archive/10640-mike-lombardi-for-the-record

The guy picked a FB and a freaking kicker with his first round picks. He picked JeMarcus Russell. Most of the names I recognize on this list are memorable in a bad way, and I only recognize Jeremiah Trotter and Asomugha as good player from this list.

And now Exhibit B: Kansas City Chief's draft picks while Ray Farmer was part of their FO:

Note all the impact players in bold. I'm sure there are more than I marked, too. I know we can't say he was directly responsible for these picks, but he was part of a team that was, and that's saying a lot more than what Lombardi has to show for himself.

@westside-steve said:

It goes back to him having a very poor record for evaluating talent....be it under Belichick, with other teams, and here with this gig.

And the fact that he is aloof and never seen makes people think that he believes he is above being questioned.

@ballpeen said:

Yes, let him be a "consultant" . He can e-mail his opinions about players in from wherever he parks his carcass.

I don't know exactly what would make someone think that Ray Farmer is a genius and Mike Lombardi is an idiot. Seems to me a lot of the anti Lombardi sentiment goes back to some Browns fans having a grudge against Bill Belichick.

WSS

@nickers said:

It's one thing to be wrong about the potential of a player; it's another thing to be miss a player's "issues".

Bess just may have been the straw that broke this particular camel's back. Failure to do due diligence on him was the costly kind of failure that a business man could not tolerate.

I don't like the guy but some posters around her can't think clearly when discussing Lombardi.

@ballpeen said:

I don't hope anybody loses a job. I think Lombardi has value.

That said, I think Farmer is better, and him staying tells me he has been told some things quietly.

My feeling is Lombo is going to be re-assigned as Haslams front man....whatever you want to call that....again, I think he has value.....maybe over special projects.....but Farmer is going to rise to GM. Lombo is going to scout FA players....I think he is good at that. He brought in some good players this last year even if we didn't play them.

I don't think Lombardi's voice is going to be eliminated because it shouldn't, but right now the PR people have a louder voice than usual.

Farmer will end up GM and Lombo will end up Sr. advisor to the owner.

Outside of Hoyer..please tell Me what good players he brought in...Kruger? stinkola. Groves? stinkola Bess? he was cut..c'mon...quit defending this POS Peen..I know your not that dumb old man.

@ballpeen said:

@nickers said:

All valid points and. Let's not forget he's a negative distraction to the team in lieu of current events that has transpired since he was brought on board. He's mysteriously absent from any pressers or team scouting excursions wich should and could raise concerns. The Media does not like him. The Fans detest him. His track record is shoddy at best. Hes a terrible evaluator of talent. And weather or not you like or dont like Chud. He did the Browns coaching staff a disservice,constantly playing with the roster during the season , which made things difficult as if they weren't enough already..

The only reason they would keep Major Stooge #2 around is Major Stooge #1 (Banner) essentially said "well, I know you guys are going to hate him, but I'm hiring him anyway." So if it's all about performance instead of continuity- bye bye Mike. And good riddance. Only in the Bizarro World that is Cleveland football would you promote a guy for doing a crappy job. FWIW, Lobotomy probably does very little of the actual scouting- it's the grunts on the ground that have already done that. Now comes the critical part, the private workouts and interviews- and stay away from those Lobotomy- far, far away.

@cdl15 said:

Was not to happy with the hire to begin with as much rocky road in this guys past. And very little positives. I don't think he has much value left at this point and better hope he still with the stoogess going forward because I find it hard to beliebe people want this guy around a respectable organization.

The sad truth about Lombardi is he was here a tick longer than chud. From a very formidable and credible fan his lists of bad decisions and fuckups heavily outweighed chud's, yet chud was the one to get the shaft.

Very shotty Free Agency with the bess saga, bryants health, and over spending for Krueger while very little attempt at Avril was at least reported.

His first Draft was not what he and the other stooges had promised. Honestly Mingo coulda been picked by a Retarded monkey and might have been.Where there is smoke there usually is fire. And with this guys glamorous resume things probably are how they look. If he wants a qb at 4 I'd immediately escort him off the property. The way he's been blowin Hoyer dick since his days coming outta college and the process it took to get him to Cleveland, to gettin him to start for this franchise. To suddenly covet another qb at this point is not ideal.

All valid points and. Let's not forget he's a negative distraction to the team in lieu of current events that has transpired since he was brought on board. He's mysteriously absent from any pressers or team scouting excursions wich should and could raise concerns. The Media does not like him. The Fans detest him. His track record is shoddy at best. Hes a terrible evaluator of talent. And weather or not you like or dont like Chud. He did the Browns coaching staff a disservice,constantly playing with the roster during the season , wich maade things difficult as if they werent enough already..

The sad truth about Lombardi is he was here a tick longer than chud. From a very formidable and credible fan his lists of bad decisions and fuckups heavily outweighed chud's, yet chud was the one to get the shaft.

Very shotty Free Agency with the bess saga, bryants health, and over spending for Krueger while very little attempt at Avril was at least reported.

His first Draft was not what he and the other stooges had promised. Honestly Mingo coulda been picked by a Retarded monkey and might have been.

Where there is smoke there usually is fire. And with this guys glamorous resume things probably are how they look. If he wants a qb at 4 I'd immediately escort him off the property. The way he's been blowin Hoyer dick since his days coming outta college and the process it took to get him to Cleveland, to gettin him to start for this franchise. To suddenly covet another qb at this point is not ideal.

@ballpeen said:

I don't hope anybody loses a job. I think Lombardi has value.

That said, I think Farmer is better, and him staying tells me he has been told some things quietly.

I speculated the same, but I read an article where Farmer is quoted as saying he had NOT been told anything of the sort and that he has a very good relationship with Lombardi. He also said if he had been told that he would've been concerned and he doesn't want a promotion at someone else's expense.