Cleveland Browns Draft Bust #5: William Green

by Chris Pokorny on Apr 11, 2011 8:43 PM EDT

William Green had a chance to do something special in Cleveland. He was the team's first-round draft choice in 2002 at No. 16 overall, meaning he was set to be the first running back that the team had heavily invested in. Green had a pretty good rookie season. While he was never really a game-changer, I'll always have a soft spot for him for the run he had in the final week of the season against the Atlanta Falcons. That is the run that produced Jim Donovan's infamous, "Run William, Run!" call.

The following year, it looked like Green was going to keep on rolling. He averaged 3.9 yards per carry through seven games. That's when things quickly went downhill.

After Green's good start in 2003, here is what happened:

He was arrested for drunk driving and marijuana possession.
He was suspended for four games.
While under suspension, he was stabbed by his fiancee in the back in a domestic dispute.

It's hard to believe that Green started 13 games in 2004, but you wouldn't know it based on his statistics as he gained just 585 yards for the season. He had a pre-game fight with Steeler Joey Porter that season and was ejected, but that didn't motivate the team very much. He also had other personal issues going on in his life, and the following year he barely played due to injury.

Green tried to return to the NFL in 2008 but was too slow. After showing some early promise, the return on investment for Green certainly didn't end up being worth it.

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and to think...

we could have had ed reed….

If we don't resign Phil Dawson until he retires from the league I'm going to cry like a little sissy boy.

by Brownsbacker488 on Apr 11, 2011 9:19 PM EDT reply actions

Theres a ton of could of hads. Our teams history of drafting is worse than Oaklands and thats saying alot since they’ve got that nutjob owner.

"They kept throwing it at me. I don’t know why. They just kept trying, and I just kept knocking it down." - Joe Hayden, Cleveland Browns.

by J. W. on Apr 12, 2011 5:27 AM EDT reply actions

These are some tough articles to digest Chris!

"They kept throwing it at me. I don’t know why. They just kept trying, and I just kept knocking it down." -- Joe Haden

by Kimble_79 on Apr 12, 2011 8:48 AM EDT reply actions

yeah, but they do put the Browns’ futility into perspective. No team can miss so often and be competitive.

by drjeo on Apr 12, 2011 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions

For some unexplainable reason, statements like this only increase my pride as a Browns fan. Thanks for the perspective.

Also, I have never been declared legally incompetent or confined to a mental institution in the last five years.

In theory there is no difference between theory and practice.
In practice there is. -- Yogi Berra

by JustPlainBrowns on Apr 12, 2011 10:36 PM EDT up reply actions

in the last five years

This is the key part

"They kept throwing it at me. I don’t know why. They just kept trying, and I just kept knocking it down." -- Joe Haden

by Kimble_79 on Apr 13, 2011 9:26 AM EDT up reply actions

Green was drafted out of spite. Davis wanted Green to play for him in Miami, really bad, but Green chose BC instead. What an idiot Davis is.

It’s not a lie if you believe it.

by Brownie's Year on Apr 12, 2011 12:02 PM EDT reply actions

Awe man, I went on to do the Best Round Ever thing, but I can’t. CA law can kiss my A**!

It’s not a lie if you believe it.

by Brownie's Year on Apr 12, 2011 12:45 PM EDT reply actions

While it is an enticing marketing campaign and I will submit my own list, the odds of winning are worse than the lottery in my book. It’s tough enough to get more than ten first-round picks correct in the whole first round, but to win we have to get all 32 in perfect order (with perfect spelling)? Never going to happen.

Dawgs By Nature - Covering the Cleveland Browns on SB Nation.

by Chris Pokorny on Apr 12, 2011 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions

There’s no way anyone gets all 32 picks correct. That’s why the prize is 10million.
I have the day off and I’m bored. Just seemed like a fun thing to do… at the time.

I went on there, picked CA as my residence, and Bud Light called me a loser. :)

It’s not a lie if you believe it.

by Brownie's Year on Apr 12, 2011 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Depending on the number of participants it could happen. The perfect spelling thing though? When do beer and orthography ever go well together. So disappointed in Bud right now.

by Clevsports on Apr 12, 2011 6:10 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs