I was aware of former Browns wide receiver Braylon Edwards’ heroic act several days before it became a national story.

Edwards, now 41, intervened recently in a fight between two men ages 20 and 80 at a YMCA in the Detroit suburb of Farmington Hills. He allegedly raced in and grabbed the younger man, stopping him just as he appeared to be ready to slam the older man’s head face-first onto the floor. It may well have saved the older man’s life, according to reports, and as such,  Edwards is being hailed as a hero.

But I wanted to wait until everybody told that story and, as expected, missed the other part of the tale.

Edwards was selected by then first-year Browns General Manager Phil Savage in the first round, at No. 3 overall, of the 2005 NFL Draft out of Michigan. 

Edwards played well, being an immediate starter and finishing his four-years-plus Browns career with 238 receptions, placing him No. 22 in club history, for 3,697 yards (13th) and 28 touchdowns (tied for eighth).

His best season was in 2007 when he caught 80 passes for 1,289 yards and a team-record 16 touchdowns, enabling him
to play a huge role in the Browns finishing 10-6and just missing qualifying for the playoffs. He teamed with tight end Kellen Winslow to give the Browns arguably the best pair of young pass-catchers in the league.

When Eric Mangini took over as head coach in 2009 after Romeo Crennel was fired, Edwards lasted just four games before getting traded.

But then there was the other part of Edwards’ relatively short time in Cleveland. And that’s what everybody else missed, which I knew would happen. It’s why I waited to tell it.

To be continued.

Steve King