Stranger than fiction: In the movie Draft Day, fictional Browns owner Anthony Molina pressures GM Sonny Weaver Jr. to take top quarterback prospect Bo Callahan in the draft. “Make a splash,” Molina orders. He has Browns Callahan jerseys ready to sell to his star-hungry customers.
But Weaver refuses to cave, sticks to his guns and selects linebacker Vontae Mack.
Did the opposite happen in real life? Did the GM cave to the owner’s command?
There is a story going around that after making the trade to move up to No. 22 with the Browns’ second pick in the first round, GM Ray Farmer selected quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.
A source told me that the card prepared to be given to Commissioner Roger Goodell for the official announcement in Radio City Music Hall originally had Bridgewater’s name on it. Then with 10 seconds to go, a new card replaced it with the name of Johnny Manziel, as a result of owner Jimmy Haslam’s order.
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Cooper is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Moore is flanked out wide to the right. Chubb and Ford are split in the backfield as Watson takes the snap ... Here we go."
Cleveland Browns general manager Ray Farmer was one of the big winners of the 2014 NFL Draft.
He drafted a defensive cornerstone in Justin Gilbert and the new face of the franchise in Johnny Manziel, while plucking a pair of 2015 draft picks from the Bills in the process.
Farmer made it clear Saturday night that it was him calling the shots -- not owner Jimmy Haslam -- in the draft's war room.
"I can tell you with 100 percent certainty that Jimmy Haslam at no point demanded, requested, tried to influence the process in any way," Farmer said, via The Plain Dealer. "He definitely asked questions, he'll definitely give his opinion of what he thinks and all of those things are fine.
"But at the end of the day, he trusted the football staff to make the decisions that we thought were the right decisions for this football team."
After the Browns made sweeping changes twice in two years, it was fair to wonder if Haslam might thrust himself into major draft decisions such as picking Manziel. In his short time at the helm, Haslam has proven to be one of the most hands-on owners in the league.
Under his watch, the Browns became the first NFL team to fire both their head coach and general manager after just one season on the job.
It doesn't follow, however, that he would take over his organization's draft process, forcing his football guys to select a marquee player who will galvanize the fan base and bring national attention to Cleveland.
That speculation grew legs because multiple national media outlets misinterpreted a nuanced report from ESPN's Sal Paolantonio that a homeless person helped convince Haslam that Browns fans were clamoring for Johnny Football leading up to the draft.
Of course, the Browns could have prevented that narrative if they had not spoonfed a mawkish story to Paolantonio in the first place.
The "Around The League Podcast" wrapped up the draft by picking our winners and losers.
Does it matter today? At all? Somehow the media sits in judgment. Seems easier to fabricate the news, to write the negative article and suspicions and innuendo, than to report the story: Manziel to the Browns. Tired, tiresome, and tiring.
"Every responsibility implies opportunity, and every opportunity implies responsibility." Otis Allen Glazebrook, 1880
I have to laugh at the idea of Jimmy Haslam, owner of a massive company, spanning the entire country, one of the biggest in his industry ........... as well as one of 32 NFL team owners, would be out asking a homeless person, who will probably never buy a ticket, what he thinks.
Do I find it likely that fans ran up to Haslam all the time saying "Draft Johnny!", and that maybe some homeless guy offered football advice in exchange for a twenty ...... sure. Do I think that a light bulb went off in Haslam's head, and he went "Now I know what we have to do in the draft!"? Please.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
I do not believe it was as dramatic as reported. If it was, maybe as a decoy to make other teams pull off offering more in a trade. If that was the case, it was a smart move actually.
That said, I do believe it makes a difference knowing what the guy writing checks for you wants. Not saying at all that Haslam overruled Farmer, but I simply don't like the fact that he might have influenced his GM to appease him. I just wish the owner was not inside the room during the draft process and if he is, then just as a VIP fan.
#gmstrong
"Players come along at different points in time" - Ray Farmer
Who was present at the press conferences introducing players, and recapping the draft?
Who was absent.
That was what really stood out to me.
I remember the draft pressers with Heckert, and Shurmur ....... and the fat walrus .......
Or last year, with Banner, and Haslam.
This year, it was GM and head coach, and they seemed to be in perfect accord on the players they drafted. I do think that bodes well for the future of the Browns.
I think that this draft belonged to Farmer and Pettine, with Haslam asking questions, but largely staying out of the decision making process. Just a guess on my part, but I think that if Haslam had been involved in pulling off a coup to draft Manziel, I would think that he would trumpet it. Instead he let his guys take the credit for all of the moves made
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
WOW,, talk about speculation. Farmer addressed this in his presser.. He said, rather strongly, that Haslam didn't interfere with the decisions of who to take in the draft.
That Haslam had input, but made no such demand.
It comes down to who you want to believe. I'd like to believe Farmer, but honestly, I have no way of knowing.
#GMSTRONG
“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.” Daniel Patrick Moynahan
"Alternative facts hurt us all. Think before you blindly believe." Damanshot
Quote: A source told me that the card prepared to be given to Commissioner Roger Goodell for the official announcement in Radio City Music Hall originally had Bridgewater’s name on it. Then with 10 seconds to go, a new card replaced it with the name of Johnny Manziel, as a result of owner Jimmy Haslam’s order.
What a bunch of hooey. Once that card hits the league table whether Goodell announces it or not it becomes official. So we some how changed the card given to Goodell by league officials from Bridgewater to Manziel after we had already given it to those said league officials? What did we do say "Excuse me but we want to change our pick that you just recorded because our Owner said so."? I'm sure they allowed that.
Quote: The Cleveland Browns provided the most drama on draft weekend, from general manager Ray Farmer's deals to a homeless man's wishes to Josh Gordon's potential suspension. But the craziest story of all seems too nutty to believe.
ESPN Cleveland's Tony Grossi had a source who says the draft card prepared to be given Commissioner Roger Goodell in New York originally had Teddy Bridgewater's name on it. According to the source, the name was replaced with Johnny Manziel's name with 10 seconds left on the clock because of owner Jimmy Haslam.
"That is not true," said Zak Gilbert, Browns spokesman. "I was in the draft room. That didn't happen."
Coach Mike Pettine came even stronger on the topic Monday at a charity golf event Monday via The Plain Dealer, saying the suggestion was "beyond laughable."
Farmer said after the draft that Haslam in no way tried to influence the draft process.
The Bridgewater card story sounds too ridiculous and too ripped from the movies to be true. But there's no way to know the truth now, and we probably never will. We do know that Browns fans unfortunately have to deal with wacky stories like this trailing them around like a cloud of dust. Even if the story sounds fantastical, enough crazy things have happened in Cleveland just since Haslam arrived to make you wonder.
The Browns are covered differently than almost any other team. The town clearly loves football, as does its local media. But the relationship between the Browns media and team sometimes seems uncomfortably close, careening between overly positive to pained, which is the other side of homerism. It is in this atmosphere that wild conspiracy theories are created.
Too many people following the Browns for years instinctively expect the worst. It's like that old quote: "Just because you're paranoid doesn't meant they aren't after you."
The "Around The League Podcast" wrapped up the draft by picking our winners and losers.
Grossi got his butt fired from the Plain Dealer over a Tweet about Randy Lerner... Does the man never learn?
#GMSTRONG
“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.” Daniel Patrick Moynahan
"Alternative facts hurt us all. Think before you blindly believe." Damanshot
Quote: I do not believe it was as dramatic as reported. If it was, maybe as a decoy to make other teams pull off offering more in a trade. If that was the case, it was a smart move actually.
If memory serves me, (and I'm at work right now so can't take the time to search it out), Phil Savage did a very similar, if not the same thing, when he picked Courtney Brown. That is, made a card with Ngata's name on it for others to see and then drafting Brown instead.
Presumably that's how Savage snookered Ozzie into trading up one spot. I'm sure I remember Savage bragging about it after the draft. Ozzie still got the best of him.
Quote: I do not believe it was as dramatic as reported. If it was, maybe as a decoy to make other teams pull off offering more in a trade. If that was the case, it was a smart move actually.
If memory serves me, (and I'm at work right now so can't take the time to search it out), Phil Savage did a very similar, if not the same thing, when he picked Courtney Brown. That is, made a card with Ngata's name on it for others to see and then drafting Brown instead.
Presumably that's how Savage snookered Ozzie into trading up one spot. I'm sure I remember Savage bragging about it after the draft. Ozzie still got the best of him.
I'll look it up tonight.
I've never heard this story.
But it would have been Wimbley, not Courtney Brown.
I have actually heard of that Savage/Wimbley story before ... man, I hated that pick
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Cooper is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Moore is flanked out wide to the right. Chubb and Ford are split in the backfield as Watson takes the snap ... Here we go."
The Buck stops with Haslem. From anything you've seen about his public persona, do you really think that Haslem is taking a hands off approach, a "whatever you want guys, I trust you fully." approach? No way, it's the opposite, and I'm confident, that nobody's going to tell Haslem "NO" at this point.
Spoiler alert! I haven't seen that movie yet.
Can Deshaun Watson play better for the Browns, than Baker Mayfield would have? ... Now the Games count.
Evidently Browns Nation is not the only one caught up in the Johnny Manziel frenzy. Owner Jimmy Haslam, who some are claiming engineered the pick, has announced that all season ticket holders will be charged an extra 2 to 7 % on their tickets. This "Manziel" surcharge will go into effect immediately. Updated bills are being prepared as this story is being written. It remains to be seen how the fans, rallied by Manziel but deflated by the latest drug problem with star receiver Josh Gordon respond.
It was Wimbely, I heard it from Phil himself, he left the choice to Crennel. He gave the coach the choice for what he felt he needed to succeed. We can thank RC for that brilliant call
Quote: It was Wimbely, I heard it from Phil himself, he left the choice to Crennel. He gave the coach the choice for what he felt he needed to succeed. We can thank RC for that brilliant call
IIRC, he asked Crennel if he wanted a run stuffer or a pass rusher.
Quote: If memory serves me, (and I'm at work right now so can't take the time to search it out), Phil Savage did a very similar, if not the same thing, when he picked [Wimbley]. That is, made a card with Ngata's name on it for others to see and then drafting Brown instead.
Presumably that's how Savage snookered Ozzie into trading up one spot. I'm sure I remember Savage bragging about it after the draft. Ozzie still got the best of him.
I'll look it up tonight.
Finally had time to look for the story...
Dan Pompei of the Sporting News has a very good article on the Cleveland Browns, and how Phil Savage and the Browns did the smart thing on draft day involving Haloti Ngata. Here is an excerpt:
The clock is ticking down on the Browns. Scouting assistant Bobby Vega, representing the team at the draft headquarters in New York, writes "Haloti Ngata, DT, Oregon" on the card to be turned in to league officials. A Ravens representative sitting nearby sees what Vega has written and reports back to Newsome. What he doesn't see is the Browns' other rep in New York, salary cap assistant Ryan Seelbach, who had "Kamerion Wimbley, OLB, Florida State" written on a second card. In his pocket.
Newsome offers Savage a sixth-round pick, and Savage accepts. The Ravens get their man, Ngata. The Browns get Wimbley, who was on the phone with Crennel. Later, Cleveland uses the sixth-round pick from Baltimore for another front seven piece, nose tackle Babatunde Oshinowo of Stanford.
Couldn't find the original Dan Pompei article but the above is how I remember reading it shortly after the 2006 draft.
Farmer said it is absurd that they had a card with Bridgewater written on it. Maybe it is and maybe they didn't. But maybe they did. If so, it could have been a similar thing to what Savage did back in '06 and Farmer didn't want to let his tactic known.
I'll defer to Farmer on this one. He's been pretty up front so far.
