MVN: Most Valuable Network

Note: It's been a while. Too long of a while, actually, since I last posted here. I wish I could have but life has been busier in the last two months than I can remember for quite a while. For that, I apologize.



What many do not understand about the National Football League is that it IS a business. Organization-wide respect and integrity are nice, but in the end moves are made from a business standpoint. Every owner and organization wants to get better. As Browns fans know too well, some just are more successful in their attempts than others.

At least Braylon Edwards realizes this and, at least publicly, is not bitter about the organization's grumbles about him over what has been close to a year now. For someone who has dealt with maturity issues for a long time, it's good to see this out of Edwards.

"I never said I wanted to go," Edwards said. "The Browns tried to put a trade out there. It's always about progress in any level of sport. It will always be business. Trades happen, releases happen, I never took it personal. They thought highly enough of me to ask for a lot and in doing so, the Giants couldn't give the Browns what they wanted. It's a business."

I'm glad a Braylon trade never materialized. Not because I'm an Edwards fanboy, per-say (I have had my fair share of frustration over his drops and inconsistency), but because it made absolutely no sense from a business standpoint. Braylon has shown us what he is capable of doing, and it's far greater than what he showed last season. I've never been a fan of dealing players at their lowest value, and that's exactly what an Edwards trade would have been.

Edwards' issues are nothing good coaching can't help to correct at least a large portion of. The measurables are there and I have to believe the urge is as well. Edwards is a competitor with talent, and that's not something you hand away for peanuts.

Enough of that, though - it's about moving forward. The Browns are still a pretty young team and probably won't be looking to compete this season, or maybe even next. Thus, it makes sense to allow Braylon to grow as Brady Quinn does.

After all, Edwards is right: It's a business.

1st RoundThe trades - I really didn't think the Browns would find a trade suitor to get out of the top five. The Jets proved me wrong. The Browns made the right move, as they weren't in love with anyone at #5 and managed to pick up a second-round pick and two promising defensive starters to boot. I personally liked the idea of drafting Jeremy Maclin at #19 but can't complain about how things shook out.Alex Mack, C, Cal - The more I think about it, the more I really like this pick. It can't be called a reach given the rumors that the Vikings were interested in him at #22 and the Bills took a center at #28. The Browns made a very safe pick - Mack is top of the line when it comes to character- and solidified another important position for a long time. And for all... Read more

...that by the weekend at the latest, I'll have two big blogs posts breaking down the two days of the NFL draft weekend for the Browns.Quite honestly, I'm swamped with work and responsibility right now. But it will come. Stick in there - like Browns fans know how to do a little too well.... Read more

As promised, I'm here to give my opinion on what the Browns should do with the #5 pick, providing no other deals are made (which is quite an assumption at this point).What is done by the four teams ahead of the Browns will entirely dictate where Cleveland will spend its #5 overall selection. If the Chiefs take my personal favorite, inside linebacker Aaron Curry, at #3 as expected, that's one name to scratch off the list. The Seahawks then will take either tackle Eugene Monroe (providing tackle Jason Smith is a Ram) or wide receiver Michael Crabtree.Basically, the Browns will select whichever player the Seahawks don't - or at least they should. Both Crabtree and Monroe would make solid picks for the Browns.Crabtree is a risk and a project. Wide receivers in spread systems of the magnitude of Texas Tech.'s are difficult to project and nonetheless will have to fight... Read more

The National Football Post's Michael Lombardi stirred up some discussion this week with his recent blog post reporting that deals are "on the table" for 1st-round draft picks for both Brady Quinn and Braylon Edwards, and that the Browns haven't completed any deals yet because they're actively "looking for more."If Lombardi is accurate (which you can never be certain of, since said deals "on the table" never seem to have quite the success rate you'd anticipate for such bold guarantees), the Browns truly are engaging themselves in a rebuilding period. Thus, the trickle-down effect should be expected, which would include a trade of Shaun Rogers. If the Browns aren't keeping Pro Bowlers under the age of 25, they certainly aren't keeping one over the age either.I've already voiced my opinion on the idea of trading Edwards and my feelings towards a Quinn trade are very similar.Granted, Quinn's value isn't as... Read more

This is part two of a two-part segment, written by new Browns Bites blogger Nate Atkins. This segment will focus on Browns off-season moves and incidents that occurred after the new GM-head coach regime (more popularly known as ManKok) took charge.Trade of Kellen Winslow III'll admit, I was a big fan of Kellen Winslow's. You either love him or you hate him, and I loved him. I haven't enjoyed watching any Browns player since the 1999 expansion as much as I have Winslow (yes - I realize that really isn't saying much). I'm never one for "clubhouse cancers" but I never believed that Winslow was one. I do believe that Winslow has made some immature mistakes but none that were a matter of placing himself before the team. Love him or hate him, you can't deny that he gave his 100% at all times - something that can't be said... Read more

This is part one of a two-part segment, written by new Browns Bites blogger Nate Atkins. This segment will focus on Browns off-season moves and incidents that occurred before the new GM-head coach regime (more popularly known as ManKok) took charge.I'd like to refer to this entry as "The Revival of Browns Bites." This blog, like the Browns' offense, died in the final weeks of the regular season and, also like the Browns organization, wasn't revived at any point in the off-season.A lot of action has gone uncovered and thus, I will take a stab at touching upon the highlights of the off-season thus far.I know first impressions are crucial, but I promise you, I am not a typical Cleveland doom-and-gloom sports fan that fuels on the frustration of a 40-year championship drought to denounce anything of remote positivity in the world of Cleveland sports. I hate to be a... Read more

Here are three quick questions answered by the bloggers at mvn's Total Titans, www.mvn.com/totaltitans, as we approach the Browns next matchup with Tennessee.1. How will it affect the Titans come playoff time as theyhave been soclearly ahead of the pack for so long this season?Come playoff time, I believe that the Titans will take no opponent for granted. Their recent loss to the Jets left a bitter taste in the players' mouths, so I'm sure they'll take that into consideration as they prepare for the postseason. In a league full of parity, the "any given Sunday" mantra reigns supreme. If the 2008 Tennessee Titans want to accomplish their lofty goals, they know that 60 minutes of their best football is required against every opponent they face. 2. What do you think of the lack of hype around thedominance of this year'sTitans compared to the coverage of teams in the past suchas last year'sPatriots?I have... Read more

            I honestly don't even know where to start after this game.  It was that ugly on so many different levels that my mind is racing like a number three overall draft pick on a simple 5 yard slant route.  This is a game that the Browns should have really considered showing up for, because the schedule doesn't get any easier the rest of the way and they've probably lost all hopes for backing into the playoffs (yeah, just now).  Sadly, however, they did not, and Browns fans are left to once again walk away with a bad taste in their mouth, as though Phil Savage had personally called to wish them a Happy f@%$ing Thanksgiving.  Whatever.   God dammnit, this team pisses me off.              ... Read more

So CBS Sportsline.com and virtually every other sports media outlet reported today that Brady Quinn has a broken index finger on his throwing hand.  It's being said that after practice on Wednesday, Quinn complained of soreness in his throwing (and picking) finger, and x-rays revealed a hairline fracture.  Word on the street is that Quinn will wear a splint on the finger when he is not on the field, and will enter the game without it.  Umm, okay.  What's going on on the Brown's sideline if he has to wear a splint when he isn't playing in the game?  Maybe Braylon is warming up his throwing arm, and Brady is catching the balls thrown back to him?  Makes you wonder if he gives the same treatment to his cup too.  "It's just too restrictive when I'm on the field, and center, Hank Fraley doesn't like it either".  Whatever, my beloved... Read more

The Browns dropped to 3-5 Sunday afternoon with a tough loss at home to the Baltimore Ravens. I was not able to see the game, but I was able to follow it with Jim Donovan on Wtam 1100. If you didn't see the game it looks as if the Ravens controlled the game dominated at the beginning and the end en route to a 37-27 victory. However, the actual result was much worse than that. Let's just say I am glad that this game was not on TV.... Read more