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Savage would consider trading Browns veteran |
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Written by Steve Doerschuk; Canton Repository
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Thursday, 22 May 2008 |
 BEREA Phil Savage elaborated this morning on what the Browns must do to replace injured cornerback Daven Holly.
A trade is in the wind.
"There's got to be some teams out there who have an excess of corners and have a need for a position where we might have an excess," Savage said on his WTAM radio show.
That opens the question: Where do the Browns have an excess?
Start at inside linebacker. They need to clear room for their top 2008 draft pick, Beau Bell. Last year, D'Qwell Jackson, Andra Davis and Leon Williams rotated at the two inside linebacker spots in the Browns' 3-4 scheme.
Savage probably will dangle Travis Wilson as part of a package. Wilson's value has been hurt by the fact he has barely played since coming aboard as a 2006 Round 3 draft pick. Wilson was the Browns' busiest receiver in Wednesday's spring practice.
Head Coach Romeo Crennel praised him afterward.
"He's showing that maybe he's able to pick it up better this time around," Crennel said. "He made some plays yesterday. He made some plays today."
The wideout corps is crowded after veterans Donte Stallworth and Kevin Kasper were acquired in the offseason, with Braylon Edwards, Joe Jurevicius and Joshua Cribbs already on board.
Running back Jerome Harrison has looked electrifying when he has played, but the Browns seldom used him behind Jamal Lewis and Jason Wright last year. Harrison might interest someone.
Veteran tight end Steve Heiden could be available, in the wake of adding tight end Martin Rucker in the draft.
Obviously, the players mentioned here would not fetch a top cornerback. Savage says he is more in the market for quality depth.
He said former Pro Bowler Lito Sheppard, who could be traded by the Eagles, is not a realistic target.
"I'm talking about lower-end trade," Savage said.
Beyond second-year pros Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald, the Browns have nothing to bank on at cornerback.
"We have two corners we feel good about, and after that it's up in the air," Savage said. "Generally, we keep five, so we're more or less auditioning for three additional corners."
There's a chance two of the three "audition" players are not on the roster yet. |
