That homeless guy apparently has given Jimmy Haslam some new advice.
According to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Browns intend to “explore all options” at quarterback this season.
Those options include a possible trade up to get Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota, a player with whom G.M. Ray Farmer reportedly is smitten.
The Browns will enter the draft with a pair of first-round picks that could be packaged in an effort to get Mariota, if the Browns decide to make a move up. It would mean making a move out with current starter Johnny Manziel, whose wage-scaled contract would allow the Browns to keep both guys around, if they wanted to.
The willingness of the Browns to explore their options shows that they’re far from sold on Manziel, the 22nd overall pick in this year’s draft. If they decide they were wrong about Manziel, it makes much more sense to admit the mistake and move on than to try to justify it by sticking with a guy who can’t get it done.
Besides, if Haslam won’t be firing his coach or G.M. after the season, he needs to fire someone, and the homeless guy who suggested that Manziel be drafted already is unemployed.