Last week at this time wide receiver Braylon Edwards was lanquishing in Cleveland, waiting for a ball to come his way from a sputtering offense, while searching for nightlife downtown and throwing down with a Friend of LeBron.
On Monday Night Football in Miami, Jets v. Dolphins, Number 17 — wearing his new New York Jets uniform — was brilliant, showing off the moves, leaps and most importantly, the hands that Browns fans had not seen since 2007.
Edwards had five catches for 64 yards, one touchdown and another called back on a challenge with the ball placed on the one-yard line. The Jets scored on the very next play.
Despite the loss to Miami, New York fans were buzzing about the Mark Sanchez to Braylon Edwards connection.
Magical.
Ironically, Browns Head Coach Eric Mangini had Sanchez for the taking on draft day. But noooooo! Why would Mangini want all of that excitement and starpower on his team.
Mangini wants team players, currently translated into a bunch of mediocre rookies and retreads who tow the line and make sure to pay for their bottles of water from little fridges in hotel rooms. (It was reportedly Edwards, by the way, who was fined $1,700 for forgetting to add $3 to a recent hotel tab.)
I don’t think Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan is that anal and ridiculous.
By the way, Rex and Rob Ryan (Browns defensive coordinator) must be fraternal twins. Rex is clean shaven with short hair and Rob looks like his schizophrenic brother who really enjoyed the seventies.
The good news is that Braylon is playing with the enthusiasm and focus of a kid, again. The bad news is, Mangini has no room on the Browns for a star.
Next off the sinking ship: Brady Quinn.
It has been rumored around the league that Quinn’s agent Tom Condon is shopping the 24-year-old Notre Dame star. This will be Quinn’s third year in the league and he wants a decent chance to be a starter.
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* – Braylon Edwards photo credit: Doug Benc, Getty Images via The Sun-Sentinel
