NFL Draft Sleeper Profile: Western Ontario DT Vaughn Martin

We have all heard of the small school prospect. Perhaps a player like Marques Colston will emerge from a school like Hofstra, or Steve Smith and Chad Johnson both emerge from the same junior college. 

The NFL, however, has never seen anything quite like 22-year old Vaughn Martin. An intriguing article on NFL.com prompted me to take a look at this “mystery” prospect.

Martin is a red-shirt sophomore out of Western Ontario University, a school not known for producing many NFL studs. In fact, Martin would become the one and only Western Ontario player to grace an NFL field. 

So why bring this kid up? He’s just another NFL hopeful right? Wrong.

At a recent pro day held just across the border between the United States and Canada, Martin wowed scouts with his athletic ability. He measures at 6’4″ 327 pounds, and ran the 40-yard dash in 5.04 seconds. He also threw up 225 pounds on the bench press 32 times.

Even though he passed up a chance to play defensive tackle for the Michigan State Spartans coming out of high school, he still plans on playing professionally nowhere but here in the United States, even forgoing three years of college eligibility to do so.

“I’m raw, but I am extremely athletic,” Martin told NFL.com. “I am bigger than most of the guys already playing those positions and I’m tough. With me, you get a blank canvas to mold into whatever you want to mold me into.”

Martin’s passing on three years of eligibility doesn’t affect him with Western Ontario, and even if he goes undrafted, he can still return there and play football again.  However, he has no intentions of pursuing that option.

It will be interesting, at the very least, to see what happens to this “diamond in the rough” come draft day.

Peyton Manning Apparently Traded To Patriots (Humor)

Stephen O’Berry of East Providence, RI came to E!spn’s patriot page and saw another link from Bleacher Report about Peyton Manning.

His friends were worried. 

First because he went to E!spn. (Motto, “We can make mountains out of molehills,” or “if T.O. farts in a jacuzzi, we’ll have week long, round the clock coverage.”)

Second, and more importantly, he insisted Peyton Manning was a New England Patriot.

“He [Manning] is so freakin’ awesome,” said Mr. O’Berry.  “I’m glad the Patriots got him.”

When asked about the uniform he said, “Yeah, it is weird how they make him wear a different uniform, but that way the defender knows this is the QB and he should not hit him.”

He was foggy on details of the trade, but insisted it was true.

“I had hoped they’d land Drew Brees or, gasp, Carson Palmer, but…” said Mr.O’Berry before the paramedics revived him.

“Peyton Manning is a fricken’ Patriot,” said Mr. O’Berry as the emergency medical technicians moved him into the ambulance.

As the door closed he could be heard saying, “Now if they get T.O., it’ll be perfect.”

This is satire.  Mr. O’Berry does not exist.  (A Patriot fan going to E!spn??   That should have been the tip off, not this.)

It is tagged for Brady as well because obviously all articles about Brady are really about Peyton Manning.

Somebody Needs to Say It: the NHL Is More Physical Than the NFL

Of the four major American sports, hockey is easily the least popular. Canadians and certain regions of America take it seriously, but for the most part Americans either don’t watch hockey at all or only watch it between the NFL and MLB seasons.

However, I think something needs to be said for the NHL that nobody wants to admit.

Fans of football often praise the physical play in the NFL. Teams brag about having hard-hitting defenses and playing smash mouth football. However, the league has been getting progressively less physical year after year.

In hockey, that is not the case. If a hockey player gets praised for being a hard hitter, it’s because he’s a hard hitter, not because the new rules make him look great when compared to his peers.

Let’s take a look at the track record of the two leagues:

Before the 1970s, the NFL allowed full contact coverage of wide receivers. Anything short of tackling the receiver before the ball touched him was not considered pass interference. Hall of Fame Pittsburgh Steelers safety Mel Blount took full advantage of this rule, to the point that the league instituted newer, stricter rules on defenders so that receivers wouldn’t get hurt. The rule prevented Blount from basically brutalizing every receiver as they ran their route, and the rule became known as the Mel Blount rule.

The NFL has rules for roughing the passer and roughing the kicker. Understandable, sure, because when the quarterback has already released the ball there’s no longer any reason to plant his face into the dirt. However, we’ve seen these penalties be called more and more excessively in the past years.

The NFL even has a rule for RUNNING INTO the kicker. Nobody can touch the kicker at all, even accidentally. The kicker is a delicate flower who must not be trampled upon.

Going back to the Steelers, receiver Hines Ward was fined multiple times last year for blocks he threw in a game, even when no penalty flag was thrown. Teammate Troy Polamalu famously responded by saying the NFL “is becoming a pansy league.”

This year, the NFL instituted a rule making it illegal for receivers to throw crackback blocks on defenders. So, something a corner is trained to watch out for from Pop Warner all the way up to the NCAA level will no longer be important once they reach the highest level of play, because the NFL doesn’t want their big, scary defenders getting shown up by physical wide receivers like Ward.

More famously, of course, the NFL instituted what has come to be known as the Tom Brady rule, where a defender cannot tackle a QB after being blocked to the ground unless he stands back up before making the tackle.

Or, to put it another way: offensive linemen will now be throwing defenders to the ground every down, because it’s illegal for them to hit the QB now without standing back up and asking “mother may I sack the quarterback?”

I think Polamalu may have been on to something.

Now, let’s contrast this with the NHL.

NHL players are routinely checked into glass walls. This isn’t illegal, and in fact is encouraged as a good play.

This year, the NHL debated on whether or not it should make it illegal for players to target one another’s heads when checking them. Fearing concussions of the players, the league considered cracking down on headhunters in the NHL…and decided AGAINST it.

Up until recently, icing was called whenever a player hit the puck from his team’s zone across the ice into another team’s zone without scoring a goal. Recently, the NHL modified this rule so that a player from the other team besides the goalie would have to touch the puck with his stick before icing is called.

This is different from international “no touch” icing and results in MORE physical play in the NHL from players racing to be the first to touch the puck.

The NHL not only has fighting, they both allow it and have a section of the rule book governing it. If an NFL player so much as throws a punch, they’ll be fined at the least and probably suspended for multiple games.

Despite the reputation of the NFL as a physical league, it’s done more and more each year to downplay the importance of physical football, while the NHL has done more and more to make physical defense an integral part of hockey.

So, if nobody else will say it, I will: The NHL is the most physical of the major sports. After the addition of the Brady rule, I’m not so sure the NFL is even a close second.

Green Bay Signs…Nobody

If the Green Bay Packers intend on having a 3-4 defense switch, who is playing the DE positions?

Cullen Jenkins and Mike Montgomery or Johnny Jolly moves over?

Through the draft I don’t see a good DE for a 3-4 defense—especially at pick No. 9. If Vonnie Holiday is still available Ted Thompson might wanna make a call because not only might he be a help, he has good character. 

Speaking of character. If Ted Thompson is all about rewarding from within, why is Nick Collins not being rewarded for his job well done? Twenty-nine million in cap Packers fans, and he won’t lock up a solid player like Nick Collins.

Where is this guys head?

If Ted Thompson is going to sign Jennings, Collins, Kampman, and maybe some others, he should get it done right after the draft.

Why Nick Collins is still sitting at home without a new contract is beyond me. I want everyone to be in camp this year so they have time to bond and gel. It was proven all over the field last year with shaky starts from Ryan Grant, and even Peyton Manning. 

Also draft prospects—Should Green Bay get Brian Orakpo or Everrett Brown?

Is he a DE or OLB?

My guess is still going with Malcom Jenkins or watching Ted Thompson trade down again for more pick, but I think he needs to just make a decision.

BJ Raji will not fit the 3-4, so I kind of took him out of the options even though most draft experts see it as a possibility. 

Michael Vick Thinks He’s Still Worth A Big Contract

I don’t know what kind of access Michael Vick has had to newspapers, magazines, and the Internet in prison, but it seems like the news that he is no longer a hot commodity has not yet filtered down.

In papers he submitted to a bankruptcy court, Vick indicated that he plans on making $10 million per season, which I’m pretty sure would be a record for an ex-con who had a career quarterback rating of 75.7 when he went away.

From the Atlanta Journal Constitution:

The embattled Atlanta Falcons quarterback is hoping to earn as much as $10 million a year or more, according to court filings in his bankruptcy case. Under the plan he submitted to the court, Vick would keep the first $750,000 of his annual income over the next five years. After that, a percentage would go to his creditors based on a sliding scale. […]

In a March 4 court filing, Vick’s attorneys say he “has every reason to believe upon his release he will be reinstated into the NFL, resume his career, and be able to earn a substantial living.”

“He is hopeful to play quarterback,” Daniel Meachum, an attorney and business manager for Vick, said in an interview. “There is no person with his talent in that position in all the league.”

That may have been true at one time, but there are also no quarterbacks in the league who have spent the last nine months sitting in a jail cell and eating prison food. I’m not a nutritionist or anything, but I’m pretty sure that’s not what NFL team doctors would recommend for keeping a guy in optimum game shape.

The fact of the matter is that no one knows how Vick will perform when he gets out of the joint, though it seems extraordinarily unlikely that he’ll look exactly the same as he did when he went in. Factor in the amount of teams scared off by the P.R. nightmare, and I think we’re looking at a salary closer to $605,000, which was last year’s veteran minimum for a seventh-year player.

Breaking Down The New York Jets Linebackers

The NFL Draft is only one month away, and the Jets still have needs all over their roster that they will attempt to fill with their six draft choices. In preparation for the draft, I am going to go through each of the positions on the roster and examine what they currently have, who they could add through free agency, and who they could potentially draft.

Today, I will look at their linebackers.

1. David Harris—Harris had a monster rookie season two years ago, but missed some time last year with injuries. Regardless, he was still very effective when he was on the field, and should be a integral part of the Jets defense for years to come. Rex Ryan has already stated that he is very impressed with Harris and expects big things from him this year.

2. Bart Scott—The Jets’ biggest offseason acquisition, Scott is expected to be the emotional leader of the defense and provide a highly productive tandem with David Harris at the inside linebacker position. He followed Ryan over from Baltimore and should help teach the other linebackers the defense.

3. Calvin Pace—Pace received a monster contract from the Jets last year and responded with a very productive season. He is locked into the starting position at the one outside linebacker spot and will hopefully receive more opportunities to rush the passer this year.

4. Bryan Thomas—He will battle Vernon Gholston for playing time at the other outside linebacker position. Thomas started off last season strong but disappeared down the stretch.

5. Vernon Gholston—Gholston was a bust in his rookie season, but there is a hope that Ryan and his new defensive schemes will help him reach the potential that made him the No. 6 overall pick in the draft.

6. Larry Izzo—He was signed for special teams purposes but will also provide depth at the inside linebacker position.

7. Jason Trusnik—Another special teams player who has received some playing time the past couple of years on defense.

8. Marques Murrell—He has flashed some potential at the outside linebacker position and, if Vernon Gholston can’t get his act together, he could receive an opportunity to get some reps.

9. Kenwin Cummings—He was the biggest surprise on the Jets’ final 53 last year but never ended up receiving any playing time. Cummings will compete for a roster spot at inside linebacker, backing up Harris and Scott.

10. Brandon Renkart—A Rutgers product who will also compete for a roster spot at inside linebacker.

Free Agency

Don’t expect the Jets to make any more additions through free agency at linebacker. I think Ryan will let young guys like Murrell, Cummings, and Trusnik prove they could be capable backups instead of spending money on another veteran.

Draft

After spending their first-round pick on a linebacker last year and spending major money on two linebackers in free agency the past two offseasons, I’d be surprised to see the Jets take a linebacker before the fourth or fifth round.

NFL Hopeful Affected by Rising Red River

Former North Dakota State tight end Jeremiah Wurzbacher spent his free time before the NFL draft helping his hometown.

The 6’5″, 247-pound NFL hopeful stood along a levee in Fargo, ND while filling and lifting 40-pound sandbags to keep the town safe from the rising waters of the swollen Red River.

The Wurzbacher family home is backed up against a portion of the Red River but the National Guard took care of the sandbagging efforts there.

Wurzbacher said that he as well as other members of the North Dakota State football team worked at building the sandbag levees for 10 hours a day.

Wurzbacher, a Fargo native, joked, “I guess you could say that instead of working out Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, we were getting our training by throwing sandbags. It’s a little different than what we do in the weight room.”

Should the tight end find his future home in New Orleans, he would use much of his training at keeping the river at bay (no pun intended).

Joshua Joffrion writes Eyes On The NFL, a blog dedicated to giving its readers the news of the NFL in a fun and upbeat manner. Find it at http://www.eyesonthenfl.blogspot.com.  

 

Big Names Still Available On The NFL Free Agent Market

This offseason has been one of the most memorable I can remember in the NFL. Terrell Owens was a big story, as usual, before he landed in Buffalo. The ongoing saga in Denver with Jay Cutler and Josh McDaniels won’t stop. The daily trade rumors involving Cutler and how any trade for him runs through Cleveland have taken on a life of their own.

What is amazing to me is some players that are available on the free agent market have been on the market for a while now. These guys are a little older, yes, but still can offer a lot to a team. Let’s look at the candidates.

Marvin Harrison

I am amazed that nobody has picked him up yet. It only took Owens a couple days to get a new team. Harrison can still be productive and give you less problems than T.O.

Tory Holt

Another top receiver who is probably a little past his prime, but he can still be productive. He also can be a mentor to younger receivers.

Jeff Garcia

I find it amazing that, with all the teams with QB issues, no team has signed him. The perfect scenario would be for Garcia to go to a team that would also draft either Matt Stafford or Mark Sanchez. That way, he could start and mentor the young guy at the same time. Then the team doesn’t have to play the young guy right away.

Jason Taylor

Certainly, injuries have slowed him down a bit. However, when healthy, he is still one of the best defensive linemen in the NFL.

Derrick Brooks

There is no doubt that his better years are probably in the past. However, this guy is a natural leader and can still bring a lot to help a younger defense.

Why The Oakland Raiders Will Select Michael Crabtree

Here goes another mock.  Wide receivers have fallen in recent years, and so I expect that trend to continue.  The Lions can’t pass on the passer, while the Seahawks could be in search for a new QB to start the Jim Mora Jr regime.  The premium position in this draft will be offensive and defensive linemen, so expect many of them in the first round.

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Detroit Lions
Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia

The Lions have needed a QB since Bobby Layne (look it up).  They also need an offensive-lineman, but QB is the priority and the Lions own 2 picks in the first round.  With Matt Millen gone, don’t expect more linebackers and wide-receivers.

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St. Louis Rams
Jason Smith, OT, Baylor

Toss up between Jason Smith and Eugene Monroe, but I think Smith is the better all-around tackle, while Monroe excells in pass-protection.

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Kansas City Chiefs
Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest

The Chiefs might convert to the 3-4 as the base defense.  Curry is the hands-down best defensive prospect in the draft.

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Seattle Seahawks
Mark Sanchez, QB, USC

This would be a surprise pick, but don’t be shocked by it.  Matt Hasselbeck is on the wrong side of his career (and was terrible in the time he played) while Mike Holmgren is leaving.  Jim Mora Jr might want to start with a new face at quarterback and phase-out Hasselbeck or trade him.  The Seahawks would be wise to capitalize on the opportunity for a franchise passer before they *need* one.  The offensive problem for Seattle was not the tackles (Jones, Locklear, Willis), the problem with the offensive-line was the interior (LG, C, RG).  The Seahawks can select interior linemen in the 2nd and 3rd rounds.

Just ask the Raiders.  They passed on Ben Roethlisberger (2004), Phillip Rivers (2004) for OT Robert Galley, Aaron Rodgers (2005) to trade for WR Randy Moss, Matt Leinart (2006) and Jay Cutler (2006) for DB Michael Huff, only to end up with the number 1 pick in 2007 which they used to select JaMarcus Russell.  I believe in J-Russ, but at the same time, I wish the Raiders had taken a QB when they had the chance, rather than circle the waters for years.  And unlike fellow Trojans Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart, Sanchez appears ready to take control in a tough situation.

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Cleveland Browns
Brian Orakpo, DE/LB, Texas

The Browns need a pass-rusher plain and simple.  BJ Raji is also possible, with NT Shaun Rogers wanting out, but don’t expect that to happen.  Coach Mangini needs a rusher like Orakpo.

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Cincinnati Bengals
Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia

I’m not convinced of Carson Palmer’s status as the franchise player, because he hasn’t taken control in that situation.  But the Bengals appear to be sticking with him, and despite some mocks that have the Bengals taking a wide-receiver, I think they take an offensive-lineman, no matter what.  If not Monroe, then perhaps Andre Smith or Michael Oher.  Between Chad “My Last Name Isn’t Real Spanish” Ocho Cinco (ochenta cinco, or ochenta y cinco), Lavernanues Coles, Chris Henry and two prospects in Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell — I doubt that Cincy will take another.

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Oakland Raiders
Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech

Michael Crabtree tumbles, because wide receivers have fallen in recent years so I expect the trend to continue, especially because Crabtree lacks a timed 40.

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Jacksonville Jaguars
BJ Raji, DT, Boston College

The Jags need to revamp their defense and would love to replace the traded Marcus Stroud with a tackle like BJ Raji.

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Green Bay Packers
Aaron Maybin, DE/LB, Penn St

I’m not convinced that Aaron Kampman can transition to outside linebacker, but either way, the Packers need a rusher for the 3-4 and Aaron Maybin fits the bill unless they really do believe in Brady Poppinga.

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San Francisco 49ers
Andre Smith, OT, Alabama

Coach Singletary wants to commit to defense and the run, and considering the shaky QB situation in San Francisco, they’d be wise to take Andre Smith as a right-tackle in order to do so.

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Buffalo Bills
Everette Brown, DE, Florida State

The Bills need a rusher as an upgrade over Chris Kelsay and Ryan Denney.

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Denver Broncos
Rey Maualuga, ILB, USC

Coach McDaniels is off to a bad start in Denver and has decided to convert the defense to a 3-4 as their base.  This pick will come down to whom the coaches like more: Kenny Peterson as a defensive end, or Boss Bailey as an inside linebacker.  The 3-4 relies more on linebackers than on linemen, so while the quality of their d-linemen with Marcus Thomas, Darrell Reid, Tim Crowder and Kenny Peterson is probably weaker than their group of linebackers in Andra Davis, Elvis Dumervil, Boss Bailey and DJ Williams — Rey Maualuga would be the better choice, because that defense relies on the linebackers rather than the linemen.  But either way, the Denver defense is weak overall, so it’s really just splitting hairs, which is why I think they’ll take the player that better fits the system.

The other possibility here would be RB Knowshon Moreno because Coach McDaniels clearly doesn’t believe in Selvin Young, while Correll Buckhalter and LaMont Jordan aren’t the answers, but McDaniels comes from a system in New England that emphasizes the passing game, but the Denver defense cannot be ignored.

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Washington Redskins
Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU

With Jason Taylor gone, the Redskins will want to protect their investment in Albert Haynesworth by adding a defensive-end to prevent excessive double-teams.  The other possibility here would be LB Clay Matthews but I think the d-end spot is of more importance to the Redskins.

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New Orleans Saints

Malcolm Jenkins, DB, Ohio State

Malcolm Jenkins becomes the first d-back off the board, but I think he’ll play safety. With that said, the Saints play on turf which is “fast surface,” and so, his speed deficiency will be masked by the turf.  Nevertheless, the Saints already have Randall Gay, Tracy Porter, Usama Young and Jason David as prospective cornerbacks, but the fact is the Saints have long needed to fix their secondary.  The other possibility here would be LB Clay Matthews or DT Peria Jerry, but their secondary cannot be ignored.

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Houston Texans
Clay Matthews, OLB, USC 

The Texans need a disruptive linebacker to pair with DeMeco Ryans and linemen Mario Williams, Amobi Okoye and Tim Johnson.

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San Diego Chargers
Peria Jerry, DT, Mississippi

Jacques Cessaire is penciled in as the replacement for Igor Olshanky, but I think that the Chargers will take the value flier on Jerry unless they reach for a safety, or trade the pick.

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New York Jets
Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri

Jeremy Maclin tumbles too, and into the hands of the Jets in need of a receiver.  Probably not a rookie starter, but will get his chances to make plays on special-teams, which will free-up Leon Washington for a greater role in the offense.

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Chicago Bears
Percy Harvin, WR, Florida

Does this pick really need explanation?

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State

The Bucs need youth on defense, but mostly in terms of depth.  Unless they trade up for a d-tackle or linebacker to replace Jovan Haye and Derrick Brooks, I doubt that they’ll take a young corner.  The biggest hole for the Bucs is quarterback.  They invested in Derrick Ward, tagged Antonio Bryant, traded for Kellen Winslow II, and a solid offensive-line plus some depth.  All they really need is a quarterback, like the Ravens needed Joe Flacco.

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Detroit Lions
Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State

This might shock and horrify Detroit fans, but the Lions need another weapon for their rookie quarterback.  Michael Oher is probably not an anchor for the line, and so I think Detroit would be wiser to add another weapon for Matthew Stafford (assuming that Pettigrew falls this far).  Some might even think Stafford’s teammate Knowshon Moreno at this spot, but Stafford needs weapons in order to succeed.  I’m not the type that thinks passing is more important than running, but I do believe that the Lions already have a capable runner in Kevin Smith, whom could do more if the running lanes were opened with the passing game.

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Philadelphia Eagles

Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi
The Eagles get lucky and a left-tackle prospect falls to them to replace Tra Thomas.  I don’t believe that Michael Oher is an anchor but would fit well in a complete line. 
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Minnesota Vikings
Alex Mack, C, California

Matt Birk signed with the Ravens, so obviously the Vikings need a center to block for Adrian Peterson and snap for Sage Rosenfels.

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New England Patriots
George Robinson, G, Oklahoma

Possibly another Logan Mankins pick.  I don’t expect the Pats to take Brian Cushing because I think he’s more of an inside linebacker or safety than an outside linebacker because of his deficiencies in pass-rushing
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Atlanta Falcons
Brian Cushing, LB, USC

The Falcons lost Michael Boley and Keith Brooking and badly need to fix their defense.  Cushing reminds me of Keith Brooking — a no frills tackling-machine.

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Miami Dolphins
Eben Britton, OL, Arizona

A hard-working linemen who would fit well for Bill Parcells.  Not ready to be an anchor on the line, but would mix well with Jake Grove, Justin Smiley, Jake Long and Vernon Carey at the right-guard spot, kinda like Kendall Simmons was for Pittsburgh.  Parcells passes on Knowshon Moreno and Chris Wells, because he prefers a solid offensive line and scrappy runners.
 
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Baltimore Ravens
James Laurinaitis, ILB, Ohio State

In need of a replacement for Bart Scott, the Ravens select James Laurinaitis.

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Indianapolis Colts

Hakeem Nicks, WR, UNC

Not an immediate starter, but the Colts utilize three wide-receiver formations, so Nicks will likely get playing time as a rookie in the slot.

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Philadelphia Eagles

Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia

Every Eagle fan knows that the Eagles struggled in short-yardage, and the other fact is, Brian Westbrook is no spring chicken.  Taking Knowshon Moreno is far-sight pick, in that it will prepare the Eagles for the departures of Donovan McNabb and Westbrook.

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New York Giants
Chris Wells, HB, Ohio State

The Giants have clearly shown a love for depth.  With the departure of Derrick Ward and the absence of quality receivers at this point in the draft, I think the G-Men take Wells to run behind Brandon Jacobs.  Even though, the receiver spot is shaky right now, the G-Men would be wise to reinforce their strengths — running the ball, rather than take a receiver at this spot.

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Tennessee Titans
Ron Brace, DT, Boston College

This pick would make perfect sense for Tennessee.  Ron Brace is probably not a 3-down player but can occupy the offensive-line in a way similar to that of Albert Haynesworth.  I know that Tennessee signed Jovan Haye and already has Tony Brown and Jason Jones, but the Tennessee defense has long relied on rotating defensive-linemen, and Brace would be perfect for that system.

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Arizona Cardinals
Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee

Not sure that Calais Campbell is the answer at DE (might be a better DT).  The Cards then select the replacement for Antonio Smith.

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Pittsburgh Steelers
Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois

In need of a corner for youth in the secondary with the departure of corner Bryant McFadden, the Steelers take a flier on value.

Cleveland Browns 2009 NFL Draft: Prepare To Be Disappointed

From the look of things so far this offseason, the new regime of Cleveland Browns head coach Eric Mangini and GM George Kokinis, affectionately dubbed “Mankok,” are going to do things their way. This is very bad news for a fan base that expects to be heard and obeyed. Obviously, there has been no love lost between the two this offseason, and it may get even worse after the 2009 NFL Draft on April 25-26.

Browns fans want a defense to rival those of their two neighbors and most bitter rivals, Pittsburgh and Baltimore. So in keeping up with the Jones’, supplications and pleas have been made for the Browns to draft a defensive player in the first round of the draft, whether it be DE Brian Orakpo or a linebacker like Aaron Curry or Clay Matthews. After all, there is certainly room for Cleveland to improve on their pass rushing.

Yet, judging by Mankok’s off season activity, this scenario could very well be in jeopardy. This is, of course, mere speculation, but here is why I believe that Cleveland Browns fans could come away from the 2009 draft extremely ticked off.

1. Unlike Crennel and Savage, Mankok doesn’t care what everybody else thinks, and that includes the fans. Not that they reset after making them mad, but if that’s the byproduct of making moves that they think is best for the team, then so be it. Next!

2. Free agency appears to be the conduit through which Mankok is adding to the defense. Considering the amount of free agents signed to that side of the ball, one has to wonder if Cleveland will forego a defensive player in the early rounds of the draft, especially when you consider…

3. …the pressing needs on offense. While the offseason has seen additions to the defense, the offense went through some drainage. The hell with the Anderson/Quinn argument, who’s going to catch the ball? Edwards is on a sort-of probation and could likely be gone after next season. Winslow is gone. Jurevicius is gone. Stallworth could be in jail. Steptoe can’t cut it.

Then there’s the running game. As we all know, running backs don’t last past the age of 30, and Jamal Lewis is no exception, as he hit the proverbial wall last season. Expect things to only get worse for him in 2009.

4. Is Cleveland’s defense really that bad? They finished in the top half of the league in 2008, though barely. Yes, I know sacks were rare, but did Mel Tucker even try? Wasn’t a linebacker blitz a novelty seldom seen in Cleveland?

Is it really that bad when you hold the then-to-be Super Bowl champs to 10 points? Is it so unsatisfactory to limit the defending Super Bowl champs to two touchdowns or to grab a pick-six from their quarterback? Does it suck to keep the 2008 NFL MVP from throwing a single touchdown? Was it so bad to have a safety who ranked third in the NFL in interceptions?

More fans have recently accepted the fact that some offensive players need to be drafted this year, but still expect a linebacker or defense lineman in the first round. That, of course, is still possible. But with all that has gone down this offseason, consider yourselves warned that the first three picks could be for two receivers and a running back.

Mangini and Kokinis don’t care if you set the river on fire again. They’re gonna do what they’re gonna do. So grab a box of Kleenex, fellow fans, just in case.

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