P.M. Cleveland Browns links: Nick Fairley is fairly impressive; would Plaxico fit here

Let the 2011 NFL draft debate begin. Julio Jones and Nick Fairley turn in impressive exhibitions at NFL Combine.

View full sizeAssociated PressNick Fairley turned in an impressive workout at the NFL Combine that didn't do a darn thing to lessen his appeal to the Browns.

Browns fans who don't want to dwell on the current labor situation can instead focus on the April 28 draft, which will go on regardless of what happens in the feud between players and owners.

And this draft stuff is gettin' fun. Julio Jones, the wide receiver out of Alabama, set the draft on its ear with his performance at the NFL Combine.

But here at Starting Blocks, we're kind of loyal to our own Tony Grossi, who last week suggested that Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley was his Mock Draft 1.0 pick for the Browns, who choose sixth overall. Fairley had 12 sacks this season for the BCS champion Tigers.

Todd McShay of espn.com tweeted this just hours ago:

McShay13 Todd McShay

So far this is fastest DT class I've ever seen. Fairley just ran a 4.84. (Alabama's Marcell) Dareus a 4.96 at 318 pounds. (North Carolina's Marvin) Austin ran 4.86 and 1.63 10-yd split.

Fairley is No. 2 overall in the Combine, according to Scout, Inc. He had 12 sacks last year, and the Browns as a team had only 29, led by linebacker Marcus Benard's 7.5.

And the debate goes on
Martin Rickman of SB Nation Cleveland is still talking wideouts. It doesn't take an advanced degree in applied defensive strategies to realize that the Browns don't have a burner wideout. Of the team's 13 touchdowns via the air this past season, only six went to wide receivers.  So in a way, we can dig what he's saying. We still prefer Fairley or one of the defensive studs over a wideout as the best use of that No. 6 pick.

But we'll acknowledge that Marty makes some pretty good arguments for the use of that pick on either A.J. Green of Georgia, Julio Jones of Alabama or Torrey Smith of Maryland.

His suggestion that trading down to get more picks so that the sixth pick could be used on one of those three, with the "extra" picks being employed to snatch up a defensive stalwart isn't necessarily a bad idea. This is a pretty good class of defensive linemen, with a couple of exceptional players elsewhere on that side of the line -- like cornerback Patrick Peterson, linebacker Von Miller, DT Marcell Dareus or CB Prince Amakumara, any one of whom could contribute immediately -- and one or more should be available IF the Browns can pick up an extra pick or three.

But what scares us is the final paragraph in Martin's piece:

Regardless of whether the Browns go offense or defense, it is reassuring that there are wideouts who can make an immediate impact for a team that is in desperate need of a big play receiver. And if they choose to go defense, or strike out with the guys they want, there is always free agency (Plaxico Burress, come on down).

Plaxico Burress? You want to give him -- and please pardon the expression -- a shot? He'll be 34 in August; hasn't played a down since going to prison in 2009 for accidentally shooting himself in the leg with an illegal handgun (he's scheduled to be released in June); and has had a checkered history in terms of character with both of his former teams, the Steelers and Giants. Yeah, he's a gifted receiver, and maybe he really HAS learned a lesson. But even at best, he's a short-term solution to the Browns' wide receiver issues. At worst, his history with Pittsburgh and New York make him a questionable risk.

Still, this country is all about second chances (right, Mike Vick?).

Speaking of Peterson
James Walker of espn.com said the Browns spent a little time talking to the big and quick corner from Louisiana State.

The thought of cornerback Joe Haden and Peterson together could be intriguing, but the Browns have bigger needs. Cleveland spent its first two picks on the secondary last year, so this would be more of a luxury.

Not so sure. The Browns were torched through the air by the Steelers and Ravens. Unless new defensive coordinator Dick Jauron's 3-4 scheme can put some pressure on quarterbacks, good covers might be worth their weight in Lombardi Trophies.

From The Plain Dealer
There is one guy who's sure that A.J. Green would be a good pick ... and interestingly enough it's a guy who could lose his job to him (or become an interesting part of a tandem involving him): Green's former Georgia teammate and current Brown, Mohamad Massaquoi. Here's what he had to say to The PD's Mary Kay Cabot:

"I'm not up on all the combine numbers yet, but I think A.J. is the best receiver in this draft," said the Browns' third-year receiver. "He's got phenomenal hands, he runs well and he's physical. He's got a tremendous body of work at Georgia. If you put all of that up against anybody, I think A.J. would come out on top."

Mary Kay's Browns Insider column opens with a piece on Patrick Peterson, the LSU cornerback who is so high on the Browns' radar. She also spoke with Nick Fairley, who disputed the allegations of some that he's a dirty player and doesn't always give his all.

"A lot of folks out there say I play the game the way it should be played," he said. "I hit a light switch when I hit the field and don't turn it off 'til I leave. I don't think I took plays off. I play with a high motor. I've been playing football since I was 8 years old, and every time I hit the field, my motor was always running."

Source: http://www.cleveland.com/ohio-sports-blog/index.ssf/2011/02/pm_cleveland_browns_links.html

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