<![CDATA[Unorthodoxy]]>So, the Browns have passed on the chance to take a QB high in the draft. This should be no surprise given their history. The Browns have almost always gotten their QBs in an unorthodox manner. Orthodoxy would say, draft your QBs high.....well, that has like never proved successful for the Browns.

(at least, lets say that most of their better QBs have not been high draft picks) Here is how the Browns have acquired the QBs that have been their primary starters over the years:

Otto Graham. Acquired essentially as a Free Agent. Drafted by Lions #4 overall in 1944. Never played for them, signed contract with the AAFC Browns instead after his military service.

Tommy O'Connell. Succeeded OG. Acquired in trade with Bears

Milt Plum. Drafted by Browns in 2d round (#17 overall was in 2d round at that time)

Frank Ryan. Acquired in a trade with the Rams.

Bill Nelsen. Acquired in a trade with the Steelers (sent Dick Shiner to them)

Mike Phipps. Drafted #3 overall by the Browns

Brian Sipe. Drafted in 13th round by Browns. #330 overall

Paul McDonald. Drafted in 4th round by Browns. #109 overall

Bernie Kosar. Acquired in the first round of the Supplemental Draft (in trade for 2 1st round picks)

Mike Tomcszak. Free Agent pickup after being cut by the Packers.

Vinny Testaverde. Free agent pickup.

Tim Couch. Drafted by the Browns #1 overall

Kelly Holcomb. Free agent pickup after being cut by the Colts

Jeff Garcia. Free agent pickup after being cut by the 49ers

Trent Dilfer. Acquired in a trade with the Seahawks

Charlie Frye. Drafted in round 3 by the Browns.

Derek Anderson. Free agent pickup after being cut by the Ravens.

Brady Quinn. First round draft choice by the Browns.

Colt MCoy. Third round draft choice by the Browns

Brandon Weeden. First round draft choice by the Browns

Jason Campbell. Free agent signing.

Brian Hoyer. Free agent signing after being cut by the Cardinals

Josh McCown. Free agen signing after being cut by the Buccaneers.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/topic/40191/unorthodoxyRSS for NodeThu, 01 Oct 2026 11:56:56 GMTThu, 21 Apr 2016 15:39:40 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Unorthodoxy on Fri, 22 Apr 2016 18:03:49 GMT]]>

@tour2ma said:

Forgot SNL host...

He also hosted "That's Incredible".

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/598273https://brownsboard.com/post/598273Fri, 22 Apr 2016 18:03:49 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Unorthodoxy on Fri, 22 Apr 2016 16:31:17 GMT]]>Man I hope Ghoolie is right about RG3, I'd be happy with just competence but black Frank Tarkenton would be awesome.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/598250https://brownsboard.com/post/598250Fri, 22 Apr 2016 16:31:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Unorthodoxy on Fri, 22 Apr 2016 15:34:52 GMT]]>

Zombo said:

Ghoolie's prediction for RG3:

NFL MVP

9 Pro Bowls

1st team All Pro

Lead us to three Super Bowls

Ranked one of 100 Top Players of All time

8th All-Time leading passer

Pro Football Hall of Fame.

That's Fran Tarkenton.

Forgot SNL host...

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/598225https://brownsboard.com/post/598225Fri, 22 Apr 2016 15:34:52 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Unorthodoxy on Fri, 22 Apr 2016 13:57:14 GMT]]>

Zombo said:

Ghoolie's prediction for RG3:

NFL MVP

9 Pro Bowls

1st team All Pro

Lead us to three Super Bowls

Ranked one of 100 Top Players of All time

8th All-Time leading passer

Pro Football Hall of Fame.

That's Fran Tarkenton.

Precisely.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/598195https://brownsboard.com/post/598195Fri, 22 Apr 2016 13:57:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Unorthodoxy on Fri, 22 Apr 2016 13:56:34 GMT]]>

VesnaKociper said:

On the plus side of Black Fran Tarkenton 3 (BFT3) - He has just got a $5 million endorsement from Etch-a-Sketch who is having a contest to see who can draw the erratic patterns of this goofy bastard running around the backfield like an asshole.

The White Fran Tarkenton took his teams to 3 Super Bowls. If we can get the same out of the Black Fran Tarkenton....that would be OK by me.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/598193https://brownsboard.com/post/598193Fri, 22 Apr 2016 13:56:34 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Unorthodoxy on Fri, 22 Apr 2016 13:55:45 GMT]]>

VesnaKociper said:

Vinny had far, far greater passing skills than RG3, and he was a better overall athlete. I din't say a faster runner, I said overall athlete. VInny's downfall was that he would make bad decisions and try to do too much. The guy was a very accurate passer and he got rid of the ball. RG3 is Black Tarkenton 3. He runs around like a chicken with no head and gets his cock knocked off.

With JT playing, BFT3 will be getting pounded, and you can be sure he will get fucked up, for sure by the Steelers. If the Browns take Lynch, there is no way BFT3 makes the team.

Vinny's brain was always his problem , not his athleticism. He could be extremely accurate at times......but, they don't call him Vinny Interceptaverde for nothing. He threw more Ints than any other QB in history. Still, I gave him a plus as I think he played well for the Browns.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/598192https://brownsboard.com/post/598192Fri, 22 Apr 2016 13:55:45 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Unorthodoxy on Fri, 22 Apr 2016 12:13:50 GMT]]>Ghoolie's prediction for RG3:

NFL MVP

9 Pro Bowls

1st team All Pro

Lead us to three Super Bowls

Ranked one of 100 Top Players of All time

8th All-Time leading passer

Pro Football Hall of Fame.

That's Fran Tarkenton.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/598159https://brownsboard.com/post/598159Fri, 22 Apr 2016 12:13:50 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Unorthodoxy on Fri, 22 Apr 2016 17:59:45 GMT]]>So, lets analyze this. I am going to highlight those I think were good players.

First, take the QBs that were 1st or 2d round picks by the Browns in the regular draft. The orthodox manner:

Milt Plum. Probably the best in this category

Mike Phipps, semi-failure (did QB Browns to one playoff spot)

Tim Couch...semi-failure (ditto)

Brady Quinn...Failure

Brandon Weeden...Failure

(never even got to JMZ....never was primary QB for Browns.

A fairly terrible record of drafting high QBs. One good player

Next. Look at lower round picks

Brian Sipe. #330? I call that unorthodox. Probably the best value pick in Browns history, fair to say?

Paul McDonald. Failure

Charlie Frye. Failure

Colt McCoy. Failure

Sipe would have been UDFA this day and age. Otherwise also poor drafting in lower rounds.

Next. Special case Draft choice

Bernie Kosar. Supplemental draft. Worth it

As noted, special case.

Next. Quarterbacks acquired by trade:

Tommy O'Connell. A forgotten Browns QB. If you look at what he did and his stats...they were pretty good for the 50s.

Frank Ryan. Championship QB

Bill Nelsen. Close to Championship QB

Trent Dilfer. Failure.

Imagine that, the Browns have a good record of trading for QBs?

Next: Free Agent pickups:

Otto Graham. Perhaps the best FA pickup in the history of football.

Mike Tomscak. Nothing special

Vinny Testaverde. I am giving him a plus grade.

Kelly Holcomb. Too much of a flash in the pan. Half OK

Jeff Garcia. Failure

Derek Anderson. Italics mean half good, half bad

Jason Campbell. Failure imo

Brian Hoyer. can't give him plus grade as he collapsed

Josh McCown. Nice guy, can't win.

Fairly mixed bag with FAs.

Now, in this last category we have likely RGIII. I don't expect him to be Otto Graham...but can we at minimum get Vinny like quality out of him?

Just a note....notice that only OG was a FA before early 90s. Until FA came along, players were tied up. That is why you see trades of the likes of O'Connell/Ryan/Nelsen. Trading was the only way players could move between teams in those days. Free Agency has replaced that.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/597930https://brownsboard.com/post/597930Fri, 22 Apr 2016 17:59:45 GMT