
With the draft well in the rear view mirror the only “notable” move that the Browns have made at wide receiver was to draft the speedster out of Miami Travis Benjamin. So to many, the Browns have therefore done very little in terms of upgrading a position that was near the bottom of the league in receiving, and led the NFL in dropped passes with 43. So with some experienced players still available at the position, why not take a chance? Why not sign someone who is not only a skilled veteran at the position, but also very familiar with the teams they would face in the AFC North? I am of course referring to Chad Ochocinco.
On Thursday New England released the All-Pro receiver and Ochocinco has already drummed up interest from around the league (if you believe his twitter feed). The 34-year-old wideout wreaked havoc in the AFC North for a decade, but his reputation as a premier pass-catcher came into question this past season as he struggled to grasp a new complex offense run by the New England Patriots. If Ochocinco has his way he may be a Miami Dolphin before the start of next season as he is a South Florida native, Also, Miami will be the new home of HBO’s TV series “Hard Knocks” which seems like a perfect fit for the man who changed his name to match his jersey number.
But my question to Browns fans is this. Even if Ochocinco doesn’t have the premier speed he once had, wouldn’t it at the very least be worth signing him to, if nothing else, teach and mentor the young receivers in Cleveland like Little, Norwood, and Benjamin? He brings a detailed knowledge of the division and has the skillset and knowledge of how to succeed in this league. And if he could still be able to contribute on offense as a solid starter, wouldn’t that just be a bonus?
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