Joe Haden may not be in camp when rookies report on Friday.
View full sizeColt McCoy signs autographs at a Cleveland Browns youth football camp in June. One blogger is convinced the young quarterback is not going to be the savior he's been painted as for the Browns.Cleveland, Ohio -- Mike Florio of profootballtalk.com is reporting that it seems likely that rookie defensive back Joe Haden will not be in camp when rookies report on Friday.
When Browns coach Eric Mangini on Monday's edition of "The Dan Patrick Show" . . . Mangini expressed optimism that the team's top three draft picks -- cornerback Joe Haden, running back Montario Hardesty and quarterback Colt McCoy -- would sign their contracts in time for camp. (We forgot to mention second-rounder T.J. Ward.)
But the rookies report Friday, and camp opens several days later. And while it's possible that Hardesty and McCoy will be signed, Haden's deal presents a couple of challenges.
For starters, Haden is represented by a relatively inexperienced agent, Malik Shareef. Then there's the fact that Haden is operating out of the same No. 7 overall slot occupied in 2009 by receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey, to whom the Raiders paid a whopper of a deal – five years, with $23.5 million guaranteed.
The floor for Haden's deal will be set by another Raiders' top-ten pick, linebacker Rolando McClain. It would be foolish not to wait and see whether the Raiders do another foolish deal.
Um, Joe and Malik, Starting Blocks advises not holding your breath. The Raiders are the same Raiders who paid JaMarcus Russell $61 million to stink up Oakland (coincidence that the Raiders share colors with a skunk? We think not!). Mike Holmgren is not Al Davis.
Colt not the ride the Browns need?
Apparently, Geremy Graham doesn't think Colt McCoy is . . . nah, we can't say it. Too easy. Let's just say that the bleacherreport.com contributor doesn't think McCoy is going to be the savior Browns fans apparently feel he may be.
It's hard to say this, because he is a class act, but Colt McCoy just doesn't have what it takes to win in the city of Cleveland.
That is too much to ask of even Peyton Manning, let alone Colt McCoy.
Colt McCoy was a fantastic college quarterback, there is no arguing that, but he played under a system which wasn't a pro-style offense like the West Coast offense he will face in Cleveland.
That is a tough transition for any college quarterback to make, even someone who was as successful during college as Colt McCoy.
His arm strength is average at best, which means he is going to have lots of trouble completing passes at the highest level where athletes are faster and stronger than they have ever been.
Another knock to McCoy is his fragility.
In the 2009 BCS title game, he looked to continue his winning ways holding the reins in Texas, but the sheer physicality for the Alabama defense proved to be too much for McCoy.
They bullied McCoy from the starting whistle, knocking him out of the game on just the fifth play from scrimmage.
This is just a taste of what he will face when he plays with the big boys in the NFL. The athletes are bigger, meaner, and more ferocious.
Could you imagine what is going to happen to Colt McCoy when he plays against the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers?
Graham may be right. But a decent line and a good running back make any quarterback better. The Browns have a better than average line, anchored by a potential Hall of Famer in Joe Thomas, and a good, deep corps of running backs with Jerome Harrison and (if he signs) Montario Hardesty.
Plus, Texans like overwhelming odds. Remember the Alamo!
Browns beat writer Tony Grossi takes a look at the division-rival Baltimore Ravens. The short version: They're going to be tough to beat. He labels them "a Super Bowl contender." It's all part of Grossi's AFC North Preview series.