When Bill Belichick was coaching the Browns from 1991-95, he always talked about the importance of building a team right up the middle.
In fact, Belichick not only talked about it, but he also went out and did it.
In that first NFL Draft of 1991, he took the late, great Eric Turner, a safety, in the first round.
In 1992, Belichick drafted fullback Tommy Vardell in the first round.
Then in 1993, his first-round selection was center Steve Everitt.
OK, so Vardell didn’t work out very well, but Turner, who became a Pro Bowler, and Everitt sure did.
As the Browns begin to try to rebuild themselves into a contender this offseason, they have two big decisions at key players up the middle in center Alex Mack, who made the Pro Bowl last season for the third time, and free safety Tashaun Gipson, a Pro Bowler in the 2014 season. Mack can opt out of his contract, and Gipson’s contract is expiring. They look headed for free agency.
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However, both have expressed in staying. That’s especially true for Gipson. The Browns have plenty of money to spend in free agency, and they should make every effort to re-sign both of them.
The Browns have had eight consecutive losing records, and 15 in the 17 seasons of the expansion era. So they don’t have enough good players as it is. Again, with the money available, they would be absolutely foolish to let two of their best ones in Gipson and Mack get away.
Mack will be making the blocking calls and fortifying the middle for the quarterback the Browns will most certainly draft in two months. Gipson, a ball hawk, would really be effective playing in new defensive coordinator Ray Horton’s scheme that emphasizes rushing the passer so as to create hurried throws.
The previous regime refused to spend money in a lot of cases, and when it did, it was an unmitigated disaster. Ever head of a guy named Dwayne Bowe?
Let’s hope this new regime does a lot better, and a big step in the right direction would be taken with the retention of Alex Mack and Tashuan Gipson.
Stay tuned.
