The Cleveland Browns announced today that they sent controversial wide receiver Braylon Edwards to the New York Jets. The Browns get two draft picks, reportedly 3rd and 5th round picks, WR Chansi Stuckey and LB Jason Trusnik, a special teams standout in return.
Edwards has been a polarizing figure since he was made the third overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft out of Michigan. He had a huge year in 2007 when the team went 10-6 and just missed the playoffs, catching 80 passes for 1285 yards and 16 touchdowns. It was his only year of over 1000 yards receiving or more than 10 touchdowns, those figures being the goals of great receivers.
Obviously, the alleged incident late Sunday night in a nightclub was the last straw for Eric Mangini. That, and the way Mohamed Massaquoi played on Sunday against the Bengals. It has been reported that Edwards would likely have been traded before the NFL trading deadline even before this latest thing.
Edwards mentioned last week that he would likely leave after his contract ended at the end of this season, so at least the Browns picked up some draft picks and a couple of players, instead of getting nothing if he indeed left as a free agent.
The former University of Michigan standout’s problem was basically that he thought he was better than he really is. Elite wide outs have seasons like 2007 every year, not once in five seasons. Edwards seemed to act and wanted to be treated like the Larry Fitzgeralds and Terrell Owens of the NFL, and he clearly isn’t in that class.
Stuckey is in his third year out of Clemson, and caught 32 passes last season, scoring three touchdowns, and so far this year has caught 11 balls for 120 yards and a TD. He is more of a slot receiver and will likely be moved into a starting role for the Browns soon. Trusnik is from Ohio Northern, and had six tackles and a forced fumble for the Jets in 2009.
The extra draft picks will help bring in more talent for next season, although the team will have to do a better job in picking players than they did this year where two of three second round picks can’t do anymore than play special teams.
Getting back to Edwards, he seems like a good kid, but he needs to decide whether or not he wants to be a great football player, or a self-promoter who happens to play football. The Browns got tired of waiting for him to grow up.
JD
Cleveland Sports Perspective 