The Cleveland Browns have yet to make what anyone would consider a big signing in free agency, could this be because no-one wants to come to Cleveland? Yes, Cleveland is not home to the most favorable weather with winter months that can be brutal, however if you combine the weather with the somewhat dysfunctional state of the Browns is it truly "A miserable combination"?

Mario Manningham, native of Warren Ohio does not hold back when asked about the possibility of going to the Browns:

"A lot of players wouldn't (want to play in Cleveland). Like, I'm not trying to put the organization down," he said just before putting the organization down. "But a lot of players, that wouldn't be in their top choices. Because everybody says how cold it is in Cleveland. And team-wise … so it's a miserable combination."

Well, that was a powerful shot to the jaw--a native of Ohio suggesting that no-one would want to play for the Browns due to the weather and the "state of the Browns"--which is rather disturbing.

Keeping in mind that other destinations for free agents with bad weather, however choice destinations would include Green Bay and of course New England. It is hard to believe that weather conditions would stop a large number of players from signing with the likes of numerous teams that have "bad weather".

With weather not being the determining factor was Manningham clearly referring to the team as a whole, coaching staff, front office, the owner and keeping the cellar of the AFC North warm and cozy!

Due to the dormancy the Browns have displayed in this years free agency (thus far) along with previous years one must wonder if this is what GM Tom Heckert meant when he stated not to expect the Browns to "go crazy" in free agency--maybe what he meant was that no-one was crazy about coming here!

This gives a whole new outlook on the Holmgren and Heckert plan--a plan to build through the draft. If no-one wants to come to Cleveland via free agency this is not a plan, it is what you are stuck with and what you are stuck with is a limited amount of picks that you must hit the payload on every pick!

If Manningham is correct, this losing tradition the Browns have found themselves involved in since 1999 has limited the Browns ability to attract high profile players in free agency. Rebuilding through the draft is an excellent plan, a plan that takes time and with problems that could be addressed via free agency--provided anyone wants to come here and the Browns are willing to "open the wallet" to entice them to do so!

Quote from the News-Herald