Dantes Inferno

The Browns depleted wide receiver situation just got much, much worse today with the news that Dante Stallworth will be charged with DUI Manslaughter.  He can face a maximum of 15 years in prison if convicted, which pretty much points to him being out of the NFL for a little while.  Stallworth came into the Browns with great expectations that he would be the third receiver around Joe Jurevicious and Braylon Edwards, but those dreams died quickly with injuries to Joey J and Stallworth.  

Now the Browns are pretty much stuck with Braylon Edwards, unless they really want to overhaul their whole receiving corps.  The trade rumors that have swirled (which included a Braylon to Giants proposal - near orgasm for me) for pretty much this whole offseason, but with a roster that has Edwards, Josh Cribbs, 76 year old David Patten, and a bunch of unproven second year players (Paul Hubbard, Lance Leggett, Syndric Steptoe), they must really be searching for answers.  Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson need to have someone besides Braylon to throw to.  The one option they do have is the rumored three team deal between the Browns, Broncos, and Team C that would send one of the Cleveland QB's to Denver.  The free agent list includes Marty Booker, Drew Bennett, Hank Baskett, Mike Furrey, DJ Hackett, Marvin Harrison, Torry Holt, Matt "Pablo Escobar" Jones, Brandon Lloyd, Ashlie Lelie, Shaun McDonald, and Well Dressed Amani Toomer. 

If I was the Browns, I would look to bring in one or two veterans to help shore up this receiving position.  Toomer makes the most sense to me.  After watching him these past couple years, he definitely still has something left in the tank.  He was a little lost in the Giants offense, but that was really no fault of his own.  The need to establish a run game and the emergence of Steve Smith and Dominik Hixon (along with Plax, Kevin Boss) left Toomer with a role that varied from game to game.  I can see several great benefits to bringing him in.  First, he can mentor Braylon Edwards on the right way to go about his business.  Toomer may not have the reputation of a Marvin Harrison or Torry Holt, but few people have been as consistent as he has throughout his tenure in the NFL.  Second, he has the Michigan connection with Edwards.  Braylon would likely listen to a fellow Michigan Man, especially one that has had similar problems with Lloyd Carr that Braylon has.  (Toomer had not been back to the Michigan program while Carr was there.  The source of their tension is unknown to peons like me, but it is definitely real)  The third reason is the most important.  The addition of Toomer would bring the Best Dressed Duo together to form the greatest dressed receiving tandem EVER in the history of that sport (note: the italicised portion of that sentence was spoken in former WCW announcer Tony Schiavone shill voice).  The cover of GQ would be as sure of a thing as sex on a date between Shawn Kemp and Roller Girl.  

Whatever situation happens, the Browns cannot be happy with the options they currently have at the WR position.  Drafting a receiver could be an option, but the success of rookie receivers is rarer than an accurate throw from Steven Threet.  

Never Run The Toss Sweep

Coach Deuce