I'm Dreaming of a Brown Super Bowl

[Cap Ologist]

"It wasn't supposed to be like this", sighed Randy Lerner. His father had succeeded in bringing professional football back to Cleveland in 1999, and now 5 years later the team was mired in mediocrity. They had overachieved and made the playoffs once in 2002, but had slumped to 5-11 in 2003 and were now 3-8.

The phone buzzed on his desk. "Coach Davis is here to see you," the receptionist said.

Thirty minutes later, Coach Davis left the room and Lerner was looking for a new coach to finish the season. He turned to offensive coordinator Terry Robiskie, who had once served as the interim coach for the Redskins. The team continued to struggle and finished the seaon 4-12.

The team needed direction and the city needed hope. Lerner knew who he wanted for the job of general manager, Phil Savage. Savage had worked for several years with the Baltimore Ravens. Lerner knew that his hiring would have a twofold effect, strengthening his own team while weakening a division rival.

As the team searched for a replacement head coach, one man stood out above the rest, Romeo Crennel, defensive coordinator of the world champion New England Patriots.

Crennel had no previous head coaching experience but had served on the staffs of legends Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick.

Savage and Crennel would be charged with rebuilding the Cleveland Browns into the champions the city longed for.

[Cap Ologist]

The day after the team announced the signing of Romeo Crennel, the coach and the general manager were in meetings, reviewing tape and scouting reports on each player. One thing became clear very quickly, the team needed talent desperately.

As free agency approached, they highlighted several key areas they wanted to target.

1. A veteran quarterback to mentor a young quarterback they hoped to find in the draft.

2. A runningback who could consistently move the chains.

3. Offensive and defensive line depth

4. Secondary help

The Browns targeted several guys to immediately go after. They signed QB Ty Detmer, OG's Joe Andruzzi and Cosey Coleman, DT Jason Fisk, DE Brad Scioli, OLB's Kevin Hardy, Jesse Armistead and Matt Stewart, CB Gary Baxter and FS Brian Russell.

They orchestrated a trade with the Denver Broncos for workhorse running back Reuben Droughns.

The team was now ready to begin focusing on the NFL draft.

[Cap Ologist]

Randy Lerner leaned back at his desk and clasped his hands behind his head. The draft was over and it seemed that his team was headed in the right direction. The duo of Savage and Crennel had produced a solid first draft.

In the first round, they took dynamic wide receiver Braylon Edwards. Edwards is a tremendous weapon at wide receiver and is a natural playmaker.

In the second round, they selected safety Brodney Pool. He possesses great instincts, is good in run support and has a nose for the ball.

In the third round, they chose quarterback Charlie Frye from nearby Akron. Frye has great potential and will hopefully develop into their quarterback of the future.

In the fourth round, they addressed the secondary again with the selection of cornerback Antonio Perkins. Perkins may see action as a punt returner as well as provide depth in the secondary.

In the fifth round, the team added DE/OLB Ricky Gaines. Gaines will be asked to play some OLB in the team's 3-4 defense.

In the sixth round, the team added fullback Rodney Canada to lead the way for Droughns.

In the seventh round, the team selected C Ernest Schenk to bolster their offensive line depth.