I'm already tired of reading mock draft posts, and the mundane arguments of RGIII vs. Colt McCoy, Blackmon vs. Trading Down, trading up, Peyton Mannings likely landing place, Matt Flynn's value, and free agency is still a couple of weeks away. Getting old already, and it's only February. So, when I read the quoted posts below in another thread it inspired me.

What if the Browns finally did reach The Promised Land in say, 2014? That's the year The Super Bowl to be held in the new Meadowlands Stadium. It's only a straight-shot 8 hour drive from Cleveland, and New York City is one hell of a town to party in. I chose Detroit as an opponent only because I thought it would be kind of cool for both towns to end their Super Bowl drought together. I'm sure the networks would not be amused.

So, the Browns are finally in the Super Bowl.......

What do you do?

Well, if you are J.W. you..

Crap my pants , then strip down and run the Vegas Strip before the Heart Attack or the Cops could catch me.

If you are Dawg Nuts?

My plan is to sit and sob tears of joy, wearing nothing but my Joe Thomas jersey, until the following morning.Then I’m driving to Cleveland.

Me? After the initial shock wore off and I was finally able to stop crying tears of joy, I'd get down to business. I told my wife long before we were married that I had a credit card with a very high limit and no balance earmarked for just this occasion. I still do. I intend to use this card for every Super Bowl related expense that can be dreamed of. I'm talking no inhibitions, no sensor, no little guy in a white gown with wings and a halo sitting on one shoulder - just the little horned version with the pitchfork on both shoulders - chanting "Party-Party!". I'm talking about good tickets inside the 40's, the Playboy pregame party and the Maxim post-game. Limo service and First Class air. I'm "all in" baby!

Now it's your turn. What would you do?

1. Sign Matt Flynn to a moderate 4 year deal. He brings immediate competition to Colt McCoy, that we wont get from RG3. (Snag McNabb on the cheap for mentoring/#3QB, if possible).

2. Franchise tag on D'Qwell Jackson. Browns' Comeback player of the year.

3. Re-sign Peyton Hillis if Marshawn Lynch can't be lured away from Seattle. Hillis has great hands, Lynch is a more durable beast.

4. Redskins trade up with Rams to take RG3. Makes drafting Blackmon, WR, at #4 easier for Browns fans to agree with.

5. Trade up #22 and a 3rd from '13 to move up to #16 for Cordy Glenn, RT/RG, at #19-20. Brings size, speed and versatility.

6. Zach Brown or Lavante David, OLB, at #37. Fujitas best days are long gone but, he'll add nice depth.

7. Geore Iloka, FS, at #68. A #1 at position in the 3rd to replace Mike Adams is to enticing to pass up. (especially if we trade away our ATL 4th round pick).

8. LeMichael James, Factor back, at #101. Give 6th rd pick to trade up 5 spots if necessary. Change of pace back that finds the endzone.

9. Malik Jackson, DE, at #119. Earned All-SEC First team as a DT but has played both, inside and out. Looks more natural at End.

10. Joe Adams, WR, at #132. A sub 4.4, 40. Ran back 4 punt returns for TDs in 2011.

*11. Donte Paige-Moss, DE at #196. Stock was much higher before neck injury. Worth risking a 7th round pick on.

Please REC this so it stays at the top.

Every year we see a huge spike in FanPosts. Please feel free to keep firing up FanPosts about all sorts of things, but if you have a short one on the draft, (1 or 2 paragraphs) this is the spot.

Not to say that this isn't great, but a lot of them are somewhat the same topic. So, a few seasons back, we decided to make a Draft Post.

Everything to do with the draft can be dumped in here.

You have a "dream draft" that you would like to show everyone? Plop it here. Like a player and want to tell everyone about? Yep, right here.

These will fill up quick, but don't worry, one of the mods will create another one when needed.

ANY POSTS THAT SHOULD BE HERE, WILL BE COPIED AND PASTED IN HERE AND TAKEN DOWN. LET'S MAKE SURE WE KEEP EVERYTHING NICE AND NEAT.

Thanks for the help. Now, anyone want to talk about RG3?

Newsflash, we're not going to the Super Bowl next year. So my strategy is based on the continuation of a push to serious stability and then Super Bowl contention.

This will only be Heckert's third draft.

First draft landed us:

Haden (Impact starter)
Ward (Impact starter)
Hardesty (Jury is still out)
McCoy (Starter, tough kid, good pedigree, Jury still out)
Lauvao (Starter, or excellent depth at G)
No 4th Round pick
Assante (lost on Roster shuffle to TB)
Mitchell (6th round fail)
Geathers (6th round fail)

2nd Draft Landed us:

Browns traded 6th pick to ATL for 27, 59, & 124 in 2011 as well as 22 & 117 in 2012. Browns then traded 2011 27 & 70 for #21.

Taylor (Impact Starter)
Sheard (Impact Starter)
Little (Impact starter, led league in rookie receptions despite drops)
Cameron (West Coast needs LOTS of TEs, jury out on 4th rounder)
Marecic (We'd view him differently if we hadn't let our last FB go)
Skrine (Excellent 5th round value, Great cover & zone DB)
Pinkston (Great 5th round value, Learning & Strong)
Haag (7th rounder, finished STRONG last 6 games last year)

This year we draft 4, 22, 37, 68, 100, 118, 131, & 194.

We're not going to win the Super Bowl next year. Or the year after. But if we draft well this year and next we might just compete for one by 2014. That's what this is about. I want the Cleveland Browns to play in a Superbowl in the next five years. Keep value and add depth longterm. Build through young talent & depth. Stop with the "savior" bullshit and give me talent at all positions.

Make your Super Bowl 2013 predictions here!

Poll

Who will win the 2013 Super Bowl?

• The Cleveland Browns
• Taco Doritos

  55 votes | Results

Continue reading this post »

I was born 2 hours exactly after the Browns beat the Colts on December 27, 1964. Our last NFL Championship. My dad (who was a devoted Browns fan his whole life) each year the Browns failed to make it to the Superbowl blamed it on me and called me Jinx the Cat. There have been teams like the Chicago Cubs in MLB (1908) with a 103 year drought or Toronto Maple Leafs in the NHL (1967) with a 44 year drought that are still on going, but somehow because we have been so close and so many times it felt like a Superbowl birth and win should happen, it is more painful to us. It feels like it will never happen. (Screw all the jerks who say a Cleveland Browns team did win a Superbowl in 2000 as the Baltimore Ravens, I want to actually punch those people) My question to everyone is how long do you think till the Cleveland Browns break through and make it to a Superbowl and win a Superbowl?

Poll

When will the Cleveland Browns be in a Superbowl?

• 1-3 years
• 3-5 years
• By 2020
• Not with this Front Office
• Never (we are jinxed)

  185 votes | Results

I want to know how far would you be willing to go to acquire Robert Griffin III??? The Browns are in a great position in this years draft 3 picks #4,#22, and #37 in the top 40 picks. H&H have created a ton of options for the team in this years draft. The offense was void of any playmakers and are in a desperate need to upgrade WR's, RB, and QB, and to a lesser degree right side of OL. Colt McCoy did not have a good year and it is more than fair to say that he may not be a Franchise type of QB. With those facts in place how far to you go to upgrade the QB position, if you are in a bidding war for the 2nd overall pick and a chance to draft Robert Griffin III. The Browns have more ammunition than there biggest competition Mike Shanahan and the Washington Redskins, but what is too expensive to trade up for Robert Griffin III??? If Washington offers 2012 1st, 2nd,4th and 2013 1st, and 3rd would you be willing to match or beat that offer for the right to get RG3?? I would imagine that H&H would not be willing to part ways with any pick next year so to beat that offer you would probably have to offer a package something like this both 2012 1st #4,#22, 2nd #37, and a 4th rd pick. Or do you stay at the 4th pick and allow Washington to get Robert Griffin III and take Blackmon or even have the option to trade the pick for Blackmon to maybe Jacksonville or Carolina picking up another 2nd rd pick and 2013 1st rd pick giving you 4 picks in the top 40 to upgrade the offense and get a DE and have ammunition for next year if Colt is a flop again next year.

Poll

Would you trade both 1st #4,#22, 2nd #37 to move up for Griffin III?

• Yes All in
• No the price is too high just take Blackmon
• Trade back whether RG3/Blackmon is there at 4

  103 votes | Results

I decided that in an attempt to pass the time until the start of another Cleveland Browns Super Bowl campaign (AKA the 2012-2013 football season), I am going to change my name to Tom for a few minutes and assume the position of “General Manager” of the Cleveland Browns and let you in on my plan for the perfect offseason.

This will be lengthy. I’ll talk about what I think our needs are, what I think we should do in free agency, and what I think we should do in the draft. Feel free to skip whatever you want.

As I see it, here are positions of need for us:

Offense

QB: Yes. We all are aware that Colt McCoy is not looking like the guy in Cleveland. Furthermore, we have a backup QB that is approaching the twilight of his nothing-to-write-home-about career and does not want to mentor anyone. We need at least one QB, if not two.

RB: Let’s be real. Peyton Hillis is a big question mark; no one is sure whether we will bring him back or whether he wants to come back. But even if we assume he is coming back, there are still some holes. Montario Hardesty is essentially always a threat for injury. Chris Ogbannaya showed he can be a steady back. We have no idea what we have in Brandon Jackson. So we have one decent back, maybe two.

WR: Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Well, we actually have talked about the elephant in the room. Biggest need- We need playmakers. Period.

OL: Starting RT and depth.

Defense

WLB: Scott Fujita is a phenomenal team leader, but he’s not the impact player we need at that position. He’s also not getting any younger.

DE: We basically have Sheard and Mitchell. It’s a nice start, but we need more talent at the position.

CB: This position is a strength on the team, but we could stand to replace Sheldon Brown. He’s getting older and it was starting to show last season.

DT: What? Defensive tackle is a need with Taylor and Rubin??? Why yes. When the guys behind the big guys are Brian Sanford and Scott Paxson.

Free Agency:

I think we can go into the draft with some holes filled through free agency. I don’t expect a huge free agency addition (no DeSean Jackson, no Matt Flynn, etc). But here are some guys I think we could potentially target:

Donovan McNabb (QB)- We aren’t finding a franchise QB in free agency. McNabb is not a starter and he will not get a starting role on any team in the NFL. But he’s a guy that spent almost his whole career in Philly, running an offense quite similar to Shurmur’s offense, and he could be a great mentor for whoever the starting QB will be next year.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis (RB)- He’s a guy that I think we should go after if Peyton Hillis walks. I don’t know a whole lot about him, but I know he scored me lots of TDs in fantasy football. I think he’s a tough runner and a year ago he rushed for over 1,000 yards. He also had 9 receptions for 159 yards this year.

Le’Ron McClain (FB)- Maybe it’s just me, but if McClain can be half of what he was with the Ravens, I would love to see him instead of Owen Marecic.

Dwayne Bowe (WR)- Should KC let him walk, I think this is a guy we need to go after. He’s a big dude and he can be our #1 WR, plain and simple.

Robert Meachem (WR)- Marques Colston was tempting in this spot, but in the end I think NO is going to re-sign him. Meachem becomes replaceable in a stacked Saints offense. He can be a legit deep threat, and we need that.

Carl Nicks (G)- A little birdie tells me that the Saints gave their other guard (Jahari Evans) a fairly lucrative deal recently, so signing their other guard will be a tough sell given that he will command lots of $$ (Birdie: http://www.footballsfuture.com/2012/fa/ol.html). It would look really nice to have Nicks starting in place of Lauvao.

Mario Williams (LB)- I don’t think that any Browns fan would rather see Scott Fujita instead of Mario Williams at LB. My head tells me the Texans will try to keep him around, but my heart tells me I want to see him in orange and brown next year.

Brandon Meriweather (FS)- This guy went to the Pro Bowl in 2009 and 2010 with NE, but kinda fell off the boat this year in terms of production when we went to Chicago. I don’t see anyone that really jumps off the page at me at safety, so I think we should take a flier on him. If he returns to Pro Bowl form, great! If he doesn’t, at least there’s someone to compete with Mike Adams and Usama Young.

Draft:

And now, the moment you’re all waiting for. I know you’ve all been thinking “OMG when is shep615 going to post a mock draft? I’M DYING HERE!!!1!1!!!one” Well, wait no longer.

Round 1, Pick #4: I really wanted to turn this pick into 4 picks by trading down, honestly. But I couldn’t really justify it. And it’s for the same reason that we will easily outbid Washington to slip into the #2 pick. I looked at the playmakers on offense and I saw 3 that make any sense for us to take anywhere in the top 15: RGIII, Justin Blackmon, and Trent Richardson. I don’t want Trent Richardson because in the end I think we will be looking good at RB, and I would feel the wrath of B19K and many others if I picked a RB in the first round. I don’t want Justin Blackmon because I already filled the #1 WR need in free agency, and in the end I don’t think he necessarily fits what we need. So the only choice I had was… TRADE #4, #22, and Round 3 Pick 4 to St. Louis for

Round 1, Pick #2: Robert Griffin III (QB- Baylor)- I don’t think I need to say much here. I’m a believer in RGIII. We outbid Washington with two first round picks. Blackmon is the guy for St. Louis, and I think the Rams are in the same boat as us in that they need playmakers for Sam Bradford. Richardson makes no sense, and Blackmon would be gone if they traded with Washington. We win out. We have to give up the other first round pick to outbid Washington while only giving up 3 picks, but it’s a small price to pay for RGIII.

Round 2, Pick #5: Whitney Mercilus (DE- Illinois)- I hope he falls to us in round 2. He looks like a pass rushing beast, and think about it: If you’re an opposing quarterback, you’re either going to have a dude named Sheard in your face or a dude named Mercilus. Sheard sounds like you’re going to get sawed in half, and I’m not sure exactly what Mercilus sounds like. But with a name like that, you know it’s not going to be pretty.

Round 4, Pick #5: Josh Kaddu (OLB- Oregon)- What I’ve read about him is that he has the athleticism and the build to be a LB in the NFL. He’s got good speed and burst. The knock on him is that he’s raw. His technique could use some work. Good thing Fujita is around to show him the ropes.

Round 4, Pick #23: Dan Herron (RB- OSU)- Eh, why not? Could compete for #2/#3 spot behind whoever starts at RB next year.

Round 5, Pick #4: DaJohn Harris (DT- USC)- He’s 6’3” 308 lb. Could provide some nice depth behind Rubin and Taylor.

Round 6, Pick #5: Tony Bergstrom (T- Utah)- Depth on the O-Line. He’s big (6’6” 315 lb.) and he has a beard. Enough said.

Round 7, Pick #4: Derek Dennis (G- Temple)- It’s late and I want to be done so I just picked someone.

So there you have it. What do you think?

Peyton Manning has been cleared to play and most seem to think that he has 3-5 good years left in the NFL. It seems to be an overwhelming understanding that Andrew Luck is a cant miss, future star, best QB to come out in the last 10 years. My view: I AGREE 110%. Call me a dreamer and say there is no way this will happen, but I would do whatever it takes to get him. Everyone has a price and the Colts are in need of a lot of help and could use the picks. I give the Colts Picks 4, 22, 37, and 1st round pick next year. They may be willing to do this with the thought of still possibly getting RG3 with the #4 pick. Yes this is a lot, but I make up the difference in free agency. This guy can take the Browns over the top! Please don't tear me a part its just my opinion.

These are the first 5 starters I want to see an upgrade over. I view them as top priority but not quite in the same order. Offense first. (Assuming the Browns can re-sign Hillis and DQ.)

22. Scott Fujita (WLB): Somebody has to be at the bottom. Nothing personal Fuj. It's "Strictly Business". He looked quite slow to me in '11. Maybe the 3-4 is better for him. Seemed more interested in shaking the hands of tacklers, rather than making tackles. I'm undecided, leaning towards not, on Kaluka Maiava as a replacement.

21. Shawn Lauvao (OL): Failed to meet, already low, expectations. With a healthy Steinbach, his replacement is already on the roster. However, I am interested in adding another pro-bowl potential lineman to the right side. Adding another lineman also acts as a back up plan, in case Steiny is a 'no-go'. I like Glenn and Decastro a lot in the draft. But if an equal caliber lineman can be obtained else where, I'm fine with that. If Pinkstons expectations were the lowest of the lineman, that would be highly-impressive. (Then, if McCoy fails in '12, we won't need 3 years to evaluate the next QB. If he succeeds, expectations for the offense go way up.)

20. Mike Adams (FS): Not a great tackler and doesn't appear to have a 'strong' nose for the ball. I thought he was in the wrong place at the wrong time more often than the other starting DBs. His replacement may already be on the team. There's a couple decent prospects in the draft. Worse case scenario, let him go and bring Elam back. Otherwise, re-sign him to a 1 year deal.

19. Mohamed Massaquoi (1WR)**: Also failed to meet expectations, again. His replacement MUST be a true #1 with all-pro caliber potential.

18. Sheldon Brown (RCB): I like him but there is quite a bit of talent coming out at his position. An young equally talented CB to play opposite of Lil' Joe could only be seen as a good thing.

Notable mentions: 17. Jayme Mitchell (RDE): Expecting Marcus Benard to, at the very least, compete for 'chunks' of playing time. 16. Depth (Everywhere). 15. Colt McCoy (QB): I have depth before McCoy because if we need to draft a QB next year, it may be expensive to turn a top 10 into a top 3.

I don't know if they can upgrade all 5, plus depth, for the '12 season, but I see no reason why H&H can't address most of them. I'm fine with retaining any of these guys for depth (not so much for Lauvao). They would be an improvement there. (MoMass for R.Windsor anyone?)

**My #1 priority.