Browns need to get a clue from Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles have the NFL’s best record at 10-1, thanks in part to the emergence of secondyear quarterback Carson Wentz.
Barry Wilner of The Associated Press praised the Eagles for drafting Wentz in 2016 while criticizing the Cleveland Browns for their quarterback evaluation.
“In their own ways, the Eagles and Browns are setting new standards for their franchises.
“In Philadelphia, they’re embracing it: ‘Fly Eagles Fly.’
“In Cleveland, they’re repulsing it: ‘Why Browns Why?’
“Maybe those nicknames of ‘City of Brotherly Love’ for Philly, and ‘Mistake by the Lake’ for Cleveland have some merit — at least in NFL 2017.
“There’s a link here that can’t be ignored, of course: Carson Wentz.
“The Browns have been searching for a quarterback since the days of Otto Graham. Well, not exactly, but certainly since they returned to the NFL as an expansion team in 1999.
“The opportunity was there in ‘99 when the Browns had the first overall draft choice. They used it on Tim Couch.
“Selecting second, Philadelphia took Donovan McNabb. He took the Eagles to a Super Bowl.
“Here comes the synergy: Cleveland had a chance to select Wentz in last year’s draft, but dealt the second overall choice to the Eagles, who took him. Later on, the Browns took Cody Kessler. This year, they went for DeShone Kizer.
“Perhaps they can take inspiration from the Eagles.”