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  • September 23, 2007 10:18 AM ET

Hindsight's 20/20: If you were the Browns in 1999 who would you have taken with the 1st overall pick of the draft?

Oso Famoso (24-14-0) vs Favrefan is Oden (226-83-14)
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If you were the GM for the Browns who would you have chosen with the 1st overall pick of the draft if you knew then what is known now?
You have to consider that you are building a franchise from the ground up, not an established team. This is why I'm going to go with Champ Bailey. To me you have to pick the best player on the board who has played with the most consistency over the nine year stretch. He is the closest you will come to a shutdown corner in the league. This would have established the Browns defense for years to come. Other key roles could be filled with later picks and the "expansion draft" where you can pick unprotected players from other rosters. If you have a premiere CB available you have to take him.


I know that Champ is the best CB in the game today. However, as an expnsion franchise you need to build your team around a Pro Bowl QB. A DB can't lead an expansion team, or even the defensive unit.

If I was the Browns in 1999 I would have taken Donovan McNabb. He is a multi-year Pro Bowler for starters, and he is elusive, which is important for a young team that lacks an O line.

Expansion teams need a face on their franchise. A DB can't really do that, a QB can. I would have taken McNabb.


I like where your head is at, as Vince Vaughn would say. McNabb was a pro-bowl QB for a few years. Sure he took the team on his back. But if you're starting a franchise, you want someone you can keep long term. This is why I did not pick a single QB. None of them has stayed injury free or is what they once were at the top of their game. If you took McNabb you'd have him for 3 good seasons, 2 if you figure the learning curve of 1999. With all these players we have to take the good with the bad. He's pro-bowl, but injury prone. McNabb would most likely be more injury prone on a team that would be struggling the first few seasons. Bailey on the other hand shuts down his side of the field and forces you to throw elsewhere. Not to mention your front 7 have more time to put pressure on the QB. So I'd rather pick a premiere CB and draft a QB later that I could groom behind a veteran QB, just like the Eagles did with Pederson and McNabb.


McNabb is still a good QB, he is tearing apart Detroit as we speak.

When you start a team, there are two things you want with your first overall pick:
1) A person who can be the imagine of the franchise
2) A person who can help you win

Bailey really wouldn't be either of those things. DBs aren't ever the face of a franchise that a team can identify with, and DBs don't help you win as much as a franchise QB. McNabb is a franchise QB, and he has served as the face of Philly for eight seasons.


1) The face of a franchise does not have to be a QB. Look at the Chargers. Their "face" is Tomlinson. The Giants have Strahan who's a game changer on the D-line.

2) A shutdown CB can dominate and change a game as much as a QB. Bailey had 5 INT's his first year playing with Deion and Smoot. So how can a guy who forces you to throw away from him or get intercepted not help you win? He is your defense. He is your franchise.

3) McNabb is awesome when healthy. But he has missed significant time in 4 of his 8 seasons. Bailey on the other hand has only missed 2 games his entire career. To me it's better to pick consistency and domination at your position. Is either is top 10 at their position? Bailey would get a yes McNabb a no. Why? Durability and logevity.

4) I get why anyone might want to take a QB with the 1st pick. But if you look at the history of top 5 QB picks, it's hit or miss. For every McNabb or Culpepper you have at least 1 Couch and Smith. For every Palmer you have a Carr and Harrington. The gamble is just far too high on QB's in the top 5.
I'd rather go with a guy I know will elevate my defense and allow my team to keep it close while my offense develops.


1. No, the face of a franchise doesn't have to be a QB. But of all the available players in the 1999 draft, McNabb fits the mold best.

2. Yes, a shutdown CB can dominate a game, but how many CBs have led their team to victory or to the playoffs? How many teams have had their featured player at CB? I can't think of any. A QB or RB gives you a better chance to win when building from scratch.

3. While Bailey has been consistent, how many times has he played for the conference title? McNabb has had injury issues (I blame the Madden cover and TO), but he still leads his team far.

4. While it is a gamble, since we are using hindsight we know what we are getting in McNabb. There is no gamble here.

Comments (25) Add A Comment

September 23, 2007  10:42 AM ET
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Vote to Osito. If they picked McNabb they would have an injured guy as "the face of their franchise" right now.

I'd take Champ.

September 23, 2007  10:46 AM ET
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Who's to say McNabb would have torn his ACL in Cleveland? We just know McNabb is a very talented QB who has put up very good numbers throughout his career. If you want to hang him for two bad games this year, so be it, but we all know how good he is and the Browns would have had a better chance to win with a top 15 QB than with a number 1 CB.

September 23, 2007  11:04 AM ET
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I took this and argued before I realized you are an Eagles fan...this must be fun for you!

September 23, 2007  11:22 AM ET
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If mcnabb couldnt stay healthy in Philly wht makes u think he could even surviv in cleveland

September 23, 2007  11:50 AM ET
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McNabb was pretty healthy for his first six seasons. Look at the receivers McNabb had in Philly before Owens. The man would've been great wherever he went.

September 23, 2007  11:50 AM ET
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Mcnabb carried the Eagles to a superbowl, and a multitude of NFC championships without that much help on offense. Bailey's a great player and all, but CBs can't really carry a team.

September 23, 2007  11:55 AM ET
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I took this and argued before I realized you are an Eagles fan...this must be fun for you!

Favrefan12 | 09/23/07

I know. I had to be objective. Super Five has been my favorite for a long time now. But I had to do the anti-homer pick.

September 23, 2007  12:06 PM ET
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McNabb was pretty healthy for his first six seasons. Look at the receivers McNabb had in Philly before Owens. The man would've been great wherever he went.

TradeAngelos | 09/23/07

Nope. #5 went down in wk. 11 2002, three years into his career.

September 23, 2007  12:16 PM ET
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Nope. #5 went down in wk. 11 2002, three years into his career.

Ositodallas214* BS | 09/23/07

That was the only year McNabb's missed more a game in his first six seasons unless you count his rookie year. It's like TO placed a voodoo curse on him. Donovan hasn't been healthy since he left.

September 23, 2007  12:26 PM ET
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Yep. A T. O. curse or a knucklehead D-lineman spearing him in the chest!

McNabb was good for 2003 and 2004. But from that point on he was in and out. 2005 was a nightmare for Eagles fans. Seems like we're going to re-live it this year unless someone gets on the ball.

September 23, 2007  12:35 PM ET
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Good TD, both great picks, but I would have to agree with taking Champ.

September 23, 2007  01:20 PM ET
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Too funny. I'm getting whooped for not picking my own favorite QB who's stinking it up like a used diaper this season. I got a beat down in my last TD for picking the Eagles. ROFLMAO Maybe my arguments are what stink? Too funny.

September 23, 2007  05:28 PM ET
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gotta go champ here. he eliminates half of the field!

September 23, 2007  05:30 PM ET
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Defense wins CHAMPIONSHIPS. enough said.

September 23, 2007  05:46 PM ET
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Good TD Favre fan. Congrats on your team winning. I guess the rest of FanNation has to wake up and take the Pack seriously now. As for my team, I hope they saved a few TD's for the rest of the season. LOL

September 23, 2007  06:07 PM ET
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YOur own favorite QB sure as hell didn't stink it up today. What a performance. Favre's was better in my mind, because McNabb didn't tie any all-time marks today...but still. Thanks for the throwdown.

September 23, 2007  06:09 PM ET
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I doubt McNabb will tie any all time marks. Favre has toughness, skill, guts, and longevity on his side. I think any QB that wants to come close to Favre will have to play as many years and start as many games. Good TD.

September 23, 2007  06:11 PM ET
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Peyton Manning will break all of my player's records in five to seven years, but you bet your a.s.s. I will enjoy those five to seven years.

September 23, 2007  06:21 PM ET
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You think he'll break the consecutive starts record? That's more amazing to me than Cal Ripken's starting record.

 
September 23, 2007  06:35 PM ET
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I'm with you Favre fan!

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