Daily Dawg Tags: Great quarterback purge has a familiar feeling
By Thomas Moore
The Cleveland Browns recent purge of the quarterback room was needed, but it is hardly without precedent in team history.
Cleveland Browns general manager John Dorsey has been making headlines with the Great Quarterback Purge of 2018.
In a span of just a few weeks, starting just before the opening of free agency and concluding last Friday, Dorsey cleaned out last season’s quarterback room by trading starter DeShone Kizer to the Green Bay Packers, and backups Cody Kessler to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Kevin Hogan to the Washington Redskins.
Some have gone so far as to praise Dorsey for his moves, calling the purge “unprecedented” in franchise history in an attempt to point out how “football guys” do things the right way.
That sounds nice as a talking point, or for what the kids call a “hot take,” but there is just one problem.
It’s not true.
If the moves have a familiar feeling to Browns fans, that is because there is nothing unprecedented, new, novel, groundbreaking, revolutionary or pioneering about Dorsey cleaning out the position as this is the third time the Browns have done this since 2005 alone.
Cleveland Browns
In 2005, in his first year on the job, general manager Phil Savage got busy trying to clean up former head coach Butch Davis’ numerous mistakes, and let go of quarterbacks Jeff Garcia, Luke McCown and one-time playoff here Kelly Holcomb.
In their place came the newest bridge quarterback in veteran Trent Dilfer and rookie Charlie Frye, who was selected in the third round of that year’s NFL Draft.
In 2010 the scenario repeated itself as general manager Tom Heckert took over for one-and-done general manager George Kokinis. Heckert took a quick read of the quarterback room and jettisoned both Brady Quinn, who would not play again in the NFL for three years, and Derek Anderson, who would go on to a successful career as a backup quarterback.
When the Browns broke camp that fall, the quarterback position was manned by veterans Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace, along with rookie Colt McCoy, a third-round selection.
Now while those moves all certainly had their merits, it is also true that Savage and Heckert did not improve the situation with the players that they brought in.
It was just as easy for Dorsey to send last year’s quarterbacks packing, but he can’t afford to make the same mistakes with their replacements. He is off to a decent start with veteran bridge quarterback Tyrod Taylor and veteran mentor quarterback Drew Stanton, but that is not enough.
Dorsey needs to find the team’s next franchise quarterback in a few weeks in the draft, and it can’t be in the third round. Dorsey needs to target the right quarterback and pick him with the No. 1 overall selection.
And if Dorsey pulls that off? Well, given the team’s history with the quarterback position since 1993, that feat would be worthy of being labeled as unprecedented.
Cleveland Browns news:
Browns draft profile: Notre Dame’s Mike McGlinchey
The Cleveland Browns celebrated the magnificent career of left tackle Joe Thomas. Now it is time to draft his replacement in Notre Dame’s Mike McGlinchey.
Browns the offseason champions of the AFC North
The Cleveland Browns may have flipped the script according to Tom Blair of NFL.com who looks at the moves they made in the 2018 NFL offseason.
Finding a quarterback is the Decision 2.0
The Cleveland Browns need a franchise quarterback. General manager John Dorsey sits at No. 1 in the draft. This is the decision 2.0.
Browns draft profile: Billy Price
The Cleveland Browns shored up their offensive line over the past two seasons. Drafting Billy Price would add depth and a piece for the future.
Browns host prospects at local Pro Day (ohio.com)
"The Browns haven’t drafted a player from Ohio State since 2009, but they spent Monday getting to know a bunch of Buckeyes. Cornerback Denzel Ward was among the Ohio State players who visited Browns headquarters for the franchise’s local pro day, the team announced on its website."
NFL news:
The NFL is terrible at evaluating quarterbacks (ESPN)
"The NFL has access to more information than ever before, but the job has become tougher. A wider range of passing offenses at the collegiate level have made it more difficult for obstinate coaches to translate amateur success into bland professional schemes."
Andrew Luck still has not thrown a football during his rehab (NFL.com)
"After missing the entire 2017 season with a mysterious, lingering injury to his throwing arm, Andrew Luck is appealing to the Indianapolis faithful for patience as the Colts assemble for Phase 1 of their offseason program. Toiling through an extraordinarily deliberate rehabilitation program, Luck began throwing again in February. To this point in the process, however, he has yet to reach the next level of throwing “The Duke” — the NFL’s official football."
Giants like Sam Darnold, not Josh Rosen (nj.com)
"The Giants own the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft later this month, with the chance to either mine an eventual franchise quarterback of the future to replace Eli Manning, or add an elite prospect to a team that finished 3-13 in 2017. If general manager Dave Gettleman opts to invest the premium pick in a quarterback, people in league circles believe that the Giants have made up their mind on who to choose."