The Browns could find a gem in the late rounds of the draft this April, and this gem has family ties with the Browns. Chase Minnifield, son of former Browns great Frank Minnifield, will be joining his father as an NFL pro. Chase played his college football at Virginia where he finished 2nd in the ACC and 7th in the nation with 6 interceptions during his 2011 campaign. He was also named first team All ACC.

During the early part of last season Chase was projected to go in the late 1st, early 2nd round in the Draft. But a knee surgery on January 12th has limited his ability to perform up to 100% and has led to some sub-par workouts this spring. He was unable to run in the NFL Combine in February due to swelling in his knee. As a result of his slow recovery Chase’s draft stock has fallen and is now expected to go in rounds three, or four. Chase himself agrees that his performance during the spring workouts have hurt him draft wise. He also feels that they are not a true measurement of what he can do. His father Frank would agree.

Frank Minnifield had made comments during an interview with Vic Carucci on Cleveland Browns Daily that his son Chase is a better player then he (Frank) was at the same age. That is saying a lot coming from a four-time Pro Bowl selection. He had also talked about the fact he taught his son about the importance of game-film study.

The last son of a former Browns player to come into the NFL was Clay Mathews. Mathews has been a success in Green Bay and there is no reason to think that Chase will not do the same where ever he is playing in 2012.

Michael W. Youngman

(Lead Analyst C.B.R.)