INSIDE SLANT
The ideal Browns draft would be for one player to somehow, some way fall to
them at the seventh pick.
That player would be Iowa tackle Robert Gallery, who has had the best
offseason of any draft prospect.
Gallery would be the anchor at left tackle the Browns sorely need, and his
presence would allow Ross Verba to move inside to guard. If the team could add
another guard in free agency, they then would have what appears to be a decent
offensive line.
Problem is Gallery will fall to seven about as often as the moon falls into
the Pacific Ocean. It's just not going to happen. In fact, if the Browns want to
take Gallery they probably would have to trade up.
If they don't, the likelihood is that they would prefer two University of
Miami players if either are available on the seventh pick: Tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. and safety Sean Taylor.
Who the Browns prefer isn't known. Butch Davis keeps his draft plans very
close to the vest.
But Winslow plays a huge position of need and brings a dimension to the
offense the team has lacked for years -- a pass-catching tight end that is a
downfield threat.
Winslow's character is questioned by some, but Davis knows him well, having
recruited him.
Taylor, like Winslow, is an impact player, but from the outside it seems like
a tight end could have a bigger impact.
Break down the team's first-round draft hopes like an offensive possession,
then: Gallery, Winslow, Taylor, punt.
NOTES, QUOTES, ANECDOTES
- The Browns caught a lot of flak from media and fans for offering the
team's quarterback spot to Jeff Garcia while it was still negotiating with Tim Couch. The team seemed baffled by the outpouring of sympathy for Couch. Their
take: He'd already made $35 million to be a relatively mediocre quarterback,
and the team's first offer was a starting point. Too, once Kelly Holcomb had
surgery, the Browns could not just let Couch go because then they'd have had
no quarterback.
It's evident the Browns decided to keep Couch because he was the best
available (until Garcia came along). The team never seemed totally committed
to Couch as "the guy."
- Running back Jamel White left the Browns to sign Tampa Bay, a team that
might be a good destination. White became disenchanted with playing behind
William Green and Lee Suggs and may be able to better compete for time in
Tampa, which does not have a big-time back.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's not his job to make me happy. It's my job to make
him happy." -- quarterback Kelly Holcomb, on Butch Davis' decision to sign Jeff
Garcia to become the team's quarterback.