As recently as last week, the Browns had a Milk Bone in their pockets for Texas Tech receiver Michael Crabtree.
Now? Not.
According to Tony Grossi of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Browns "have all but crossed off" Crabtree from the draft board.
The problem apparently arose from his visit to Cleveland last week, during which he allegedly brought a "diva attitude" to the Dawg Pound, and that didn't sit well with a head coach who likes to snub players when he sees them at offseason functions. Allegedly.
Grossi writes that, after Crabtree left, the team lined up eleventh-hour workouts with Hakeem Nicks of North Carolina, Kenny Britt of Rutgers, and Mohamed Massaquoi of Georgia -- one or more of whom could be available when the Browns pick in round two.
Are we surprised? Hell no. As we pointed out yesterday, Crabtree's insistence that he could run a sub-4.4 while injured when he can't run a sub-4.5 while healthy makes us wonder whether he gets it.
Lost in all this fuss about Crabtree is the reality that the signs are pointing even more strongly to the Browns trading receiver Braylon Edwards.
Of course, there's a chance that the Browns have opted to bad mouth Crabtree in the hopes of ensuring that no one leap frogs them at No. 5 to get him.
If that's the case, they'd better be sure that Crabtree is in on the ruse.
Come on baby! Either Macklin or Crabtree fall to 17..
Did they find out he couldn't run 4.4 forty with a staph infection?
I knew this guy was too good to be true. Jeez, some of these college players that come into the league with this attitude that they're due everything when they even haven't earned their place is sad. If I were the browns I'd trade down, accumulate more picks, trade Brady Quinn for a #1 next year and build that roster up.
"Of course, there’s a chance that the Browns have opted to bad mouth Crabtree in the hopes of ensuring that no one leap frogs them at No. 5 to get him.
If that’s the case, they’d better be sure that Crabtree is in on the ruse."
Thank you, Captain Obvious. I'm giving you blog hits for this?
Obvious smokescreen.
they are taking the qb sanchez fact
Good for you Crabtree! The Browns are a blackhole for talent, might as well be a pain in the ass to all the teams you don't want to draft you. It's nice to see someone care more about the quality of team than the paycheck!
Crabtree is the next Mike Williams.....book it
I think what Grossi is doing is saying the Browns will draft -- and NOT draft -- every player that's supposed to go in the top 10 so that, at some point, he's right. I'm waiting on the story to break about the Browns being interested in Stafford... You've only got 3 days, Tony!
Crabtree is a punk. All one needed to do is notice that he has Deoin whispering in his ear.
this might also be a smoke screen to keep teams wanting Crabtree from trading up in front of them to get it.
They're idiots.
Pass on future pro-bowl caliber receiver and trade away your one weapon left after you traded one and they other one is jail, yeah that sounds about right for browns.
Why would he be in on the ruse? How would that benefit him?
thanks tbpforlife for repeating a portion of the story
Faster than a speeding bullet. More powerful than a locomotive. Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird. It's a plane. No! It's Micheal "gimp-foot" Crabtree in his own mind!
"Now? Not."
*****
Might be the shortest Seinfeld reference ever on this site.
There is probably MORE SMOKE coming out of the Browns orginization than ANY other NFL team, certainly more than any other team selecting in the top-10 this year, imho.
Who knows??? I have read about them considering QB, OLB, DT, OL, WR, (not to mention they have no starter SS at the moment, but Mel Jenkins isn't going anywhere near #5) ~or~ hoping they can trade the 5th pick and move back for one of the formentioned needs.
Who knows??? It's all very "Manginian", which of course stems from the tree of "Belichickian" philosiphy (control-control-control...). Face it~ NO ONE, I mean "NO ONE" has a clue what this team is going to do.
Keep your gas-mask on hand for three more days...after the draft, Mangini & Kokonis aren't going to say much as to why they did do, what the did in the draft, which kind of sux for Browns fans, too. We will never know...not with Mangini Regime now fully in place.
diva attitude?
mangini is trying too hard....
Cough Cough this is to make teams think they might take Sanchez.
eric magina is a toool. browns stink and they will continue to with that coach . he is not bill bellacheat and never will be. that is all .
Several people say that Crabtree is highly overrated. He's not as tall as was claimed, and he's not as fast as was claimed. Not sure he deserves to be quite as high as most people project. Then again, there are only a few prospects in this draft that really look like big difference-makers.
Braylon is coming to new york and they definitely are just saying stupid stuff about him to make sure no one trys to get in front but i think if seattle doesnt take him then cleveland will and no one is going to trade up in front of 4 to get him hes not worth moving up that high,theres too many risks like route running, adapting to the pro game,press coverage,SPEED lol. Come on look at this story where Crabtree says he would love to play for the Browns
http://football.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/11838/20090422/crabtree_i_would_love_to_play_for_browns/
its three days away from the draft im pretty sure everyone has everything pretty set and there just waiting to see the draft unfold, your not preventing anyone from leap frogging anyone, everyone is pretty set on where they want to trade to up or who they want to trade for..
why is it that the nfl doesn't do trades like the NBA where someone drafts a player just to secure him for a team you want to trade with.
Go Giants!!its almost time!
If the "Fountain of Misinformation" Grossi is saying they WON'T take Crabtree, chances are he'll be the pick.
God I hope he's not though. This team needs defense, not a "system" wide receiver with a pin in his foot.
Everything I read by this guy is bashing the Browns... lame. Bashing is for the comments section. Suck it up and report, Florio.
You can tell that the Browns are still in Cleveland exercising their
usual futile efforts. Give up your big play receiver and send him
to The New York Giants allowing them to win their 2nd Super
Bowl in three years. That after shipping one of the best tight
ends in the NFL out of town. Derek Anderson can throw to
Brady Quinn when the season begins. That should work
fine for Cleveland fans. Fans will be calling for HOF Jim
Brown to coach before the season is over.
lol HELL YEAH 2 SUPERBOWLS IN 3 YEARS BaTCH!!!!!! AAHHHH CAN WAIT!
I wish the Browns WOULD trade Edwards Scissorhands to the Giants already.
Maybe then their idotic and whiney posts on here would cease.
Bens over, bitches...Braylon's coming soon, to drop a pass near you!!!
Braylon did drop to many balls last year. However so did T.O.
when he first came up in San Francisco. He learned how to
focus then became a nut. The crazy Cleveland fans don't
realize how they dismantle success by giving players and
coaches away. They are delusional enough to indicate
that Bill Belichick is not a very good coach just because
the Cleveland Browns dumped him.
Maybe Crabtree thinks he can run under a 4.4 after some 40 training he did. A lot of it is getting out of the blocks the right way. And what doesn't he "get" for thinking he's faster than you do? He seems to "get" how to get open.
How many people outside of the Big 12 really knew who Crabtree was until that catch against Texas to win the Game? The suprising trend I see is how one play turns a seldom heard of college player into a 1st round, elite, game changer for the NFL. Just like all of the mental giants out there who believe their local team should draft all of the eligible players from their local colleges because they don't know there are other schools with very capable players that are as good if not better.From what I see, he is simply much better marketed than most (aka Brian Bosworth).
Some of you are not taking into account the "X Factor" as to if/when this trade (Edwards) goes down. If Braylon is traded to the Giants, he still has to "catch" a plane or "catch" a ride to NY. THAT could be a little dicey.
what happend to your "insider in cleveland saying it was a sure thing between Crabtree and Sanchez for sure"
(we knew it was full of shit anyway)
Maybe the guy just doesn't want to play in the armpit of America.
Or maybe the idiot coach ought to rethink his winning strategy to "snub players when he sees them at offseason functions." Allegedly.
How many poeple really knew who Crabtree was before his game winning catch against Texas? It absolutely amazes me how a guy goes from being a pretty good athlete to the next best thing with one over shown play. Marketing is everything (aka Brian Bosworth). There are planty of just-as-talented receivers out there that nobody hears about because the media can't make a buck off of their highlights. Look at the Jerome Harrison's and the Josh Cribbs of the league. If Crabcakes.. err.. Crabtree makes it in the NFL, great. If not, someone is paying for a lot of nothing. Hence the need for a rookie salary cap. If you really want to get paid, earn it. There is no entitlement in this world.
Bah.
The last thing the Browns need is another diva.
Damn it.
I hope Curry falls to the Browns. I see them drafting that Patrick Chung from Oregon as well to fill in their strong safety need.
ericfay81 says:
April 22nd, 2009 at 12:13 pm
thanks tbpforlife for repeating a portion of the story
thanks for killing my eardrums with you poor attempt at music
actually it's pretty good, what can I say, I quit reading the story halfway down
Dumbest comment ever. I'm a Big10 guy, not a Big12 guy and I sure as hell knew who he was. Maybe you realized his ability after "1 play" but most others had heard of him before. Check some of his stats (I know pass happy offense makes them a little different, but seriously, he's definitely an elite receiver)
YEAR REC YDS AVG LNG TD
2007 134 1962 14.6 75 22
2008 97 1165 12.0 82 19
But, no one noticed who he was unitll late October this year right?
Crabtree is gonna be great no matter who picks him. If the Browns want to pass on a top notch receiver its their loss.
Just what the NFL needs, another "me, me, look at me" WR with an IQ slightly above that of an eggplant.
Yea!
"EskinSux says:
April 22nd, 2009 at 11:56 am
Did they find out he couldn’t run 4.4 forty with a staph infection?"
Oh look, another lame staph infection joke. THE INCIDENT IS OVER AND DEAD. Your constant and feeble attempts at humor leave a lot left to be desired.
But then again, this won't stop you. Classic example of you and your kind:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GL7pDW1-tnA
As a Browns fan if they draft Offense at 5 im going to puke....D D D D i cannot stress that enough! their should be NO thought whatsoever of Offense at number 5...ManKok needs to straight their shit up ASAP
alert Browns fans ...Quinn is headed for Denver for the 12th pick in this years draft....the Giants 29th pick for Edwards and a Receiver prob Hixon....... and yes ....Derek Anderson will be on his way to NY Jets or Minnesota for a 2nd rounder.... Mangini believes this draft is loaded with ammuno to rebuild and reload the guns with fresh young talent, and is convinced the three heads of the Cleveland monster need to be moved to rebuild quicker..... so the story will be the browns will have 3 1st rounders 3 second rounders, giving them 6 picks within the top 54...