The NFL prides itself on the parity of its teams.
The Super Bowl champion can easily become an also-ran within a year.
The draft system allows struggling teams to pick the very best college stars when they take the step up to the big time while the more successful outfits have hope for a gem lower down the rankings.
But two teams in particular have proved to be the exception to the parity rule: The all-conquering New England Patriots and the hapless Cleveland Browns.
That is all about to change thanks to one of the most extraordinary trades in sporting history.
Forget Eric Cantona’s explosive move from Leeds United to Premier League rivals Manchester United, disregard Louis Figo’s controversial move from Barcelona to Real Madrid, the Cleveland Browns have just pulled off the most audacious sporting snatch in history.
Odell Beckham Junior is one of the world’s finest sportsmen – a rare talent who has been stifled in recent years playing in front of a misfiring quarterback in the shape of Eli Manning at the New York Giants.
The thinking was the Giants would go after a young QB and do absolutely anything to keep hold of ODB. Surely his shirt sales alone would be enough to keep him in the Big Apple?
But instead the unfashionable Browns have landed the 26-year-old who shot to worldwide fame after a series of extraordinary, one-handed catches.
And now, all of a sudden the Browns roster is loaded with talent – young talent. Baker Mayfield took the league by storm last year after being drafted as the number one pick in 2018.
He is strong and has all the technical ability to form a devastating partnership with ODB.
The future is bright for the Browns thanks to decent draft picks – they have a long history of poor ones so it is about time – and some bold moves from management.
Perhaps that famous parity is finally smiling on the long suffering faithful in the Dawg Pound?
aem
Guest
If the Giants were going to take a young QB, it should've been Darnold last year (the best looking prospect coming out - short of Mayfield, though many old-school thinkers were stuck on old biases like Baker's height - since Luck) - they would already have their Eli replacement, and Odell would be looking at Sam taking over this year instead of moving to get a QB who could feed him with any degree of accuracy. Really, they totally messed up a year ago and it will continue cost them into the future - from the Ogletree trade, the Solder overpay (probably the most understandable and defend-able), and the total waste of a draft... followed by selling off one of the few offense-changing DTs in the league for pennies on the dollar mid-season. Sure, they got Saquon - but that will only be worth it if they could compete immediately... something that I think nobody is going to argue they will be in a position to do for now the first 3 years of his rookie deal (yr1 gone, yr2 wasted on Eli, yr3 rookie and/or retread QB). Come year 5 and beyond he'll be crippling their cap like no RB should. Unless he transitions into an elite receiver it's hard to see the value at that point - and to give up a shot at a prospect like Darnold for that?! QBs change teams (see: Mayfield, Baker), RBs are the icing on the cake. As for the Browns; I'm excited. What Kitchens was able to do, mid-season, with a rookie Mayfield and a patchwork (and very injured at the time he took over) receiving corps.. now he's got Landry, Higgins & Callaway all fit and an added OBJ with Mayfield in his 2nd season (despite the perception of sophomore blues, quality pocket passers almost always noticeably improve yr1->yr2)... PLUS Kareem Hunt joining Nick Chubb and Duke Johnson in the backfield - that's just nasty for opposition defenses. Speaking of defense - that's also interesting.. a high-level edge partner for Garrett in Vernon, plugging the hole next to Ogunjobi with Richardson (that's 2 pro bowlers added to the weakest unit on the defense).. plus whatever they can come out of a defense-heavy draft with. Could they be the '18 KC Chiefs... but with a defense?