From now on, I’m going to measure the impact of all of my posts based solely on time/distance equations.  Or, how long did it take you to read that?  Could I have finished it a tenth of a second quicker?  Am I slowing you down? 

As you may already know, precious tenths of seconds and typed letters could be the difference between a top-10 Browns website and one that is a mere afterthought…nevermind.

And so it goes…the Scouting Combine fallout continues…

Plain Dealer – Browns’ Insider

Perhaps most the person most shocked by Haden’s slow time was the NFL Network’s Mike Mayock, who had said Haden could solidify his status as a top 10 pick with a sub-4.4. “That blows me away,” said Mayock.

NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks said teams shouldn’t overreact, “but it’s going to be hard for some scouts to get that 4.57 out of their mind when they think about him being an elite player. It’s rare for a team to take a guy with that kind of speed as a top 15 or top 10 pick.”

NFL Network analyst Deion Sanders said Haden began the run with a horrible stance.

“I don’t know what he’s being taught — sometimes you’ve just got to let a guy run,” said Sanders. “Tweak him a little bit but don’t try to change everything.”

Tony Pauline of Sports Illustrated and TFYDraft.com said Haden’s could cost him “6-7 spots” in the draft, which could translate into about $10 million.

First, let me get this out of the way. 

Is it now fair to think of Deion Sanders as the new Jim Brown?  Or, perhaps even the football world’s version of Jesse Jackson?  Whenever there is an athlete in need, Deion is on the scene.  Just think, he has already altered Dez Bryant’s career – at least in the semi-professional sense, and now could be laying his bejeweled hands on Haden.

Beyond all the natural “Worldwide Wes” comparisons, which are so easy to pull out when referring to Primetime, it is worth mentioning that Haden could have been the victim of a suddenly burgeoning camp industry – literally – that is designed to prepare NFL prospects specifically for the Combine….and then help them deal with its aftereffects.

In Haden’s case, the awkward stance and technique he showed at the Combine could have been a result of such a participation.  Or, in other words – a “Combine Trainer” is probably responsible for tweaking Haden’s physical form and subsequently screwing him up mentally.  Nice work if you can get it.

Isn’t it funny how the NFL is launching some of the most inane types of side industries?  For example, Haden first hires a trainer who specializes exclusively in things involving sprinting, lunging, jumping and other sorts of non-football intangible skills.  Now, he’ll need to find a new agent, one who can bring him back from the cusp of first-round irrelevance.  A Post-Combine Image Rehab Consultant, perhaps?

I wonder if Deion has already thought about this.  Maybe it’s time to bring back his reality show?

Anyway, back to the Sinking Ship That Has Been Christened Joe Haden…

If the recent post-combine talk holds up, it’s possible that Haden could eventually fall to the Browns in Round Two…or even land in the undrafted free agent market…again, because of two poor 40-yard dash times.  In fact, the immediate chatter surrounding Haden is that he is now “fallen” out of the top half of Round One. 

Talk about a bargain.  And a whopper of a story. 

Perhaps the Joe Haden Story will play out much like the current one involving Tim Tebow…except minus the God and crucifixion parts…meaning that Haden will triumphantly ascend to the heights of NFL superstardom one day.  Of course first, he must be stabbed by every spear in the sports media.  And then they’ll “go to work on him.”

As of right now, Haden is damaged goods, and will likely remain as such until some team takes “a chance” on him, likely within the first 15 picks.  And really, in the end, how different a player is Haden at Number Fifteen compared to Number Seven?

Two-tenths of a second different?

The NFL Combine – this is some heavy stuff. 

Speaking of some more narratives…let’s call this one a preemptive strike against diva wideouts…

Bryant a long shot? A league source said it would be risky for the Browns to draft Oklahoma State receiver Dez Bryant with their No. 7 pick.

“He could be more of a headache for them than Braylon Edwards was,” the source said.

“I wouldn’t draft that kid unless I had someone to wake him up in the morning to get to meetings, someone to wake him up for practice and someone to wake him up for games,” one source told Cole.

I would think the true risk with drafting a wideout early is just that…drafting a wideout early.  Considering the multiple years needed for a receiver to fully blossom in the league, the inherent gamble in such a move should scare a team like the Browns – one who is littered with needs – away from Bryant.

Obviously, if you throw this little characterization in – the case against Bryant is made.

However, considering that the NFL can often resemble an episode of Gossip Girl, it’s probably worth mentioning that it could greatly benefit certain player agents to have this type of information floating around.  After all, a devalued Bryant could help another prospect rise.  Or, it’s also possible that all of this is total nonsense.  Would anyone be surprised if this “same source” sold another team on a much different narrative?

Speaking of which…

Czarnecki – Combine Rumors

The Lions, who pick second in the first round, have their fingers crossed that the Rams don’t pick a quarterback so they can trade down with either Cleveland or Buffalo, who apparently are in the quarterback market. The thought process is that new Browns czar Mike Holmgren won’t want to lose his favorite quarterback to Washington and new coach Mike Shanahan. The Redskins are perched at No. 4, three spots ahead of the Browns. The Lions really don’t want to spend $33 million in bonus money on a defensive tackle.

Doesn’t all this just fit so perfectly? 

Or, scare the crap out of you?  Depending on your perspective, of course…

Here’s the part I don’t get.  Why are the Lions involved here?  If the Browns truly don’t “want to lose their favorite quarterback”, then shouldn’t this narrative read that the Rams are the only team involved in trade talks?  If Holmgren has a quarterback in mind – and God help us all – then the Lions become inconsequential. 

If the Rams indeed draft Sam Bradford – and honestly, no one knows at the moment what will happen – then the Browns should be in position to scoop up the leftovers…meaning Jimmy Clausen…assuming that he is Holmgren’s QB choice

Of course, this is all speculation…painfully alarming speculation.

After all, holding the second overall pick in a draft – any draft – is never the best of positions to find yourself.  After the overall best player has been taken, the team at Number Two is facing the likelihood of paying some 25 to 30 million dollars in guaranteed money to an already overvalued prospect. 

In most drafts, this becomes a “thanks, but no thanks” type of situation.

In 2010, it’s possible that Nebraska’s Suh goes off the board first, which leaves a number of solid options leftover, but none that command the kind of dollars that will eventually be thrown out.

So, if you’re Detroit – and God help you – you certainly want to become sellers come Draft Day.  However, for the sake of Browns Nation, let’s hope we’re not buying.