Enigmatic–that’s the first word that comes to my mind when I think of former Browns then Jets wideout Braylon Edwards. Edwards is an older version of Titans wideout Kenny Britt. They’re both all-world talents that make tons of money along with stupid decisions.
Should the Titans want Edwards to double the diva count in Tennessee?
My initial reaction is “Yeah, why not? Lets upgrade everything we can.” However, I must warn you, my initial reaction has lead to stupid decisions in the past.
Braylon Edwards, the 28-year old former first round pick of the Cleveland Browns. After starring at the University of Michigan, Edwards was drafted 3rd overall in 2005. He stands 6’3″ and weighs in around 215 lbs. He can run a 40-yd dash in under 4.4 seconds and has such large hands, grandmother….oh, to catch the ball with. He is every coach’s dream wide receiver from a physical standpoint, the mental side is another story.
Edwards made the Pro Bowl during one of the most mysterious quarterbacking seasons in the history of the NFL…..Derek Anderson’s 2007 campaign. During that season, Edwards scored 16 touchdowns and just under 1,300 yards receiving on his way to the Pro Bowl. He was the next great thing, and then 2008 happened.
In 2008, Edwards was more known for dropping the football rather than catching it. At the beginning of the 2009 season, Edwards was traded to the New Yak Jets. In New York, Edwards got a chance to play with top draft pick Mark Sanchez and it appeared that a great relationship bloomed as Edwards started to re-claim a semblance of a football career. That season he finished with 15.5 yards per catch average in 12 games with the Jets while scoring 4 touchdowns. Edwards wasn’t the dominant threat he appeared to be in 2007, but he was a solid wide receiver that could pull coverage away from the running game and get open enough to ‘hopefully’ catch the ball. Add in that he was fast, and yeah, he was worth having on the team, no doubt. Edwards biggest moment for the Jets was likely the touchdown scored against the Colts in the 2010 AFC Championship game that the J-E-T-S would go on to lose.
Edwards now sits at a cross-roads in his career. After multiple run-ins with the law, Edwards could nestle down for a team and become their star wide receiver or he could continue his ways of getting in trouble and owning more of a distracting role with the team rather than being a team player. You have to wonder how much he wants to grow up. Edwards really could be a top-5 wide receiver in the NFL if he really wanted to be.
I would only bring Edwards in if I was confident in the teams locker room atmosphere and that they could handle another diva. His contract would absolutely have to have certain clauses similar to the ‘diva clause’ in 49ers wideout Michael Crabtree’s contract.
Edwards apparently hasn’t had many suitors so the team will have the stronger hand in the signing if they choose to pursue him. Why not give Hasselbeck, and later Jake Locker, more weapons? It’s worth a 1-year deal with options in it at the least. Edwards just needs rules and Hasselbeck is capable of leading the locker room and making Edwards sit down, shut up, play football and end up having fun in the process. Plus, who doesn’t want to play with Chris Johnson?
Just imagine Braylon Edwards lining up opposite Kenny Britt and both receivers mentally growing up and just playing a game they love. The Titans would have a top offense indeed. The problem is the imaginary end of this–it’s too true.
Edwards 2010 stats:
53 receptions, 904 yards, 17.1 yards per catch average and 7 touchdowns. Remember that Edwards ran as the second wide receiver, Santonio Holmes was the number 1. A developing Mark Sanchez slowed Edwards 2009 campaign considerably and that shows with the better stats for 2010.