Braylon Edwards Delivers on Scholarship Promise to Cleveland Students

by Chris Pokorny on May 26, 2011 10:52 AM EDT in General News

Former Cleveland Browns wide receiver Braylon Edwards did not leave the city with the best reputation, and he didn't do a lot to help his cause when he persisted to trash the city when he first became a member of the New York Jets. He seemed to find "closure" so to speak after last year's game against the team though and pretty much toned his antics down.

Another story that will help repair his image a little bit in Cleveland is the fact that he came through with promise he made in 2007 to selected students of Cleveland schools. Specifically, Edwards spent $1 million on scholarships -- 100 scholarships of $10,000 each -- that went to Cleveland students who are getting ready to enter college.

More details about how the scholarship process went down, including eligibility requirements and testimonials from some of the scholarship recipients, can be found here.

When Edwards (who referred to himself as the "2nd" most hated man in Cleveland) was asked about his thoughts on the Browns, he continued to have a positive approach:

"If there's a season I'm sure they'll be alright," Edwards said. "They played a lot of tough teams and it looks like they're getting better, turning the corner. I would love to see them improve upon that."

Here is a link to DBN from last year, where several students in Edwards' program received scholarships early.

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i really wish that he realized that he was mainly hated by the way he acted. we can forgive and subsequently forget bad players (ie. having frying pans for hands and never being able to catch a ball) but when that player starts spewing trash from his mouth and trying to say that cleveland hates him because he is from michigan, thats wrong and i really wish he knew that.

this man is an idiot. i dont care how much money he gives to students for attention, he is a vile piece of human excrement and should be treated accordingly. i really hope he gets no leniency on his dwi that he got and should be made an example of at that.

its morons like him, like dez bryant, other garbage attention whores of the league that really need to just go away.

by pwndabear on May 26, 2011 11:05 AM EDT reply actions

and i dont care how much they donate, they are only doing it for attention. if edwards had simply donated and shut his mouth about instead of saying “oh derp they hate me there but imma still give to them,” maybe my rant would be a little different. but no, he had to go and say “oh derp they hate me there but imma still give to them,” to simply: get. more. attention.

by pwndabear on May 26, 2011 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions

Braylon Edwards is a childish, spoiled, idiot, but I don’t think he’s a bad human being. I also don’t think it’s impossible to say he did it all for attention. A lot of these guys did not have the best childhoods and just want to give back.

"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools" -Hemingway

by notthatnoise on May 26, 2011 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions

he is a vile piece of human excrement and should be treated accordingly

what a ridiculous, over-the-top rage call. the guy hasn’t killed anyone, he hasn’t been suspended for drug use, he’s not a sex offender … he said some mean things about cleveland and didn’t catch a lot of balls that he should have. but he’s helping to improve the lives of 100 kids from our community … whatever his motivation, i applaud him and completely reject your comment.

"I gave in to the monosybillic despotic group imperative demands here" --mooncamping

by DontCallMeJoey on May 27, 2011 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

It is nice to see him help kids but I still dislike him to the max. When LeBron had that bike thing in Akron after leaving… Good cause, still hated him.

Adam Foote still blows!

by Heavysoviet on May 27, 2011 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions

The cause was a farce, it was all about his ego.

Evil wins again, but Truth prevails where Good fails.

by North Coast Flea on May 27, 2011 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions

He also punches midgets and drives drunk.

Dawgs by Nature -- where Hitler, apparently, 'did some good things'.

by golanbatrac on May 27, 2011 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

oh, he’s still a world-class douchnozzle … but i respect him sticking w/ his promise here.

"I gave in to the monosybillic despotic group imperative demands here" --mooncamping

by DontCallMeJoey on May 27, 2011 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

so you think he should be shown leniency on his case for driving drunk and endangering the lives of everyone he drove by because he gave some money away?

no, this idiot should have the book thrown at him. just because he is a “celebrity” doesnt mean he should get off easy. It’s far too often that people in the spotlight dont have to pay for their crimes and i feel it should be opposite; the little person should receive more leniency than a money hungry, attention starved worthless sack of donkey dicks.

by pwndabear on May 27, 2011 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions

No one has said that.

"I wasn’t asked to catch the ball and go out in the flats and run routes, because that wasn’t how our offense was," Lawrence Vickers said. "Now people are lying and people think I can’t catch. I guess I shouldn’t have started knocking people out."

by Villeslgr on May 27, 2011 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions

so you think he should be shown leniency on his case for driving drunk and endangering the lives of everyone he drove by because he gave some money away?

as Ville said, no one said anything remotely resembling this. i know it’s hard to see through your irrationality, but try to stay on point.

this isn’t binary … you aren’t either a drunk driver or a good person. he deserves to be punished for his DUI (and i actually agree w/ you that people w/ means such as he has should be punched in the face for being so stupid … hire someone to drive you around, sheesh); but he should also be applauded for keeping a promise to 100 kids who: a. deserve the money, and b. live in a city where he has no vested interest anymore.

also, the guy is an all-world putz. there’s no two ways about that. you just took that way way overboard.

"I gave in to the monosybillic despotic group imperative demands here" --mooncamping

by DontCallMeJoey on May 27, 2011 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions

This is over the top.

Resident Tim Couch Apologist.

by Dawg Nuts on May 27, 2011 9:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Nice straw man there.

Evil wins again, but Truth prevails where Good fails.

by North Coast Flea on May 28, 2011 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions

The dude sped like 50 mph over the speed limit at like 8 in the morning in a family heavy Cleveland district. He then was caught driving drunk and as a notable public figure, he gets in fights.

Dude is a vile piece of human excrement.

Nissan GT - R.

Sexy. Sexy. Sexy.

by SpecialBrownie on May 27, 2011 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

damn. straight. making donations for attention should not pardon you of your crimes.

by pwndabear on May 27, 2011 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions

once again, no one has said that. read people’s comments: all we’re saying is he should be applauded for keeping his promise and helping these kids. It has absolutely nothing to do with his arrests.

Resident Tim Couch Apologist.

by Dawg Nuts on May 27, 2011 9:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Who has said differently?

by Bernie19Kosar on May 28, 2011 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions

No one has that I saw.

Evil wins again, but Truth prevails where Good fails.

by North Coast Flea on May 29, 2011 7:46 PM EDT up reply actions

he did get drunk with Donte’ Stallworth however on that fateful night…

I teach good life choices. That’s why I almost didn’t graduate High School.
Intensive Purposes? I could care less...
your whole argument is a fallacy!

by bross09 on May 31, 2011 2:28 AM EDT up reply actions

The most important factor is that he kept his promise to Cleveland students.

Go Browns 09!!!

by deemac3248 on May 26, 2011 11:25 AM EDT reply actions

for that i give him kudos. he’s made a lot of very poor choices. he deserves the same punishment everyone else does for his DUI. i’ve had a couple friends get them and they went through a lot of hassle, much deserving for such a blatantly stupid mistake, and so should he. he made a fool of himself with the way he acted in Cleveland and the way he wanted out. much like LeBron he made himself infamous in Cleveland, not the fans or the media.

but again, he made a promise and stuck by it. in all honesty i completely forgot about his promise to those kids, and it shows something of his character to stay consistent. i can’t say i’d welcome him back to the team, much like LeBron, but i respect his attempt toward maturity and responsibility. whether he’s looking for attention or not doesn’t really matter to me. he did what he said he would do.

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 May 26, 2011 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions

Still not a fan, but I give him credit for his. Good job.

by emily522 on May 26, 2011 12:04 PM EDT reply actions

I have to give him props for this too. Keeping a promise like this in the face of so much negativity from Cleveland fans is an act of character. A million $ is a lot of money even for a NFL football player. Hopefully this will make a big difference in these kid’s lives.

Brownsyup

by Brownsyup on May 27, 2011 9:34 AM EDT up reply actions

Especially when faced with losing a season

by Villeslgr on May 27, 2011 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions

agreed. I am surprised he came through, but at least he may have a good heart. He is completely boneheaded and arrogant, but he has a good heart (so David Brent or michael Scott via 1st season)

I teach good life choices. That’s why I almost didn’t graduate High School.
Intensive Purposes? I could care less...
your whole argument is a fallacy!

by bross09 on May 31, 2011 2:30 AM EDT up reply actions