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Narrowing it down Browns have three players in mind for the top pick
Posted: Friday March 31, 2000 05:34 PM
PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- For most of the five days of NFL meetings, talk around the Breakers Hotel was not of rules changes and off-field violence. It was about next month's draft. Coaches, executives, media -- everybody was eager to discuss the draft, which figures to be one of the most interesting of recent years. There is intrigue at the top, where the identity of the first four picks pretty much is known, but the order remains uncertain. In Penn State's Courtney Brown and LaVar Arrington, Florida State's Peter Warrick and Alabama's Chris Samuels, there are four blue-chippers. "It would be hard to go wrong with any of them," Miami Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt said. Cleveland's Chris Palmer gets the one he and general manager Dwight Clark want. They have the opening pick, and Palmer indicated during the week it likely would be Brown, a pass-rushing end, or super linebacker Arrington. But he also didn't rule out Warrick. "We've narrowed it down," Clark said, trying to be helpful. "Down to three." Thanks, Dwight. The Browns also are listening to offers for the top choice, but unless someone comes up with a huge package of picks, including at least two first-rounders, the opening selection will be made by Cleveland. Washington, with the second and third picks, certainly will take one of the two Nittany Lions. If the Browns go for Warrick, the game-breaking receiver, the 'Skins must decide if they want both Arrington (apparently their top choice) and Brown, or spend one pick on Samuels, a blocking machine of a tackle. "Everybody keeps saying we're going to take one of the Penn State guys and Samuels," Redskins coach Norv Turner said. "The truth is we still haven't made up our minds. If you ask who the best college player in the country over the last three years was, it's Peter Warrick." Many coaches were enamored of the quality of receivers and running backs. Baltimore's Brian Billick, whose team could use both, has the fifth and 15th picks. He expects to get a runner who can star and a receiver who can start. Or vice versa. "You look at the depth of receivers and running backs in this draft, and you see something that can be very beneficial to us," Billick said. Thomas Jones of Virginia is considered the best running back, while Plaxico Burress of Michigan State and Travis Taylor of Florida are rated behind Warrick among receivers. Even though so many minds were focused on Draft Day, April 15, lots of business was done at the meetings. Replay passed by an overwhelming margin, making its proponents giddy enough to think about long term -- maybe even permanent -- acceptance. The "No Fun League" tag resurfaced when, by a 30-0 vote, multiplayer celebrations were banned. St. Louis, originator of the "Bob and Weave," abstained. The supervisory coaching tag that allowed teams to hire assistant coaches from other teams was eliminated. An assistant coach now can only be hired away to become a head coach, unless permission is given by his current team to the team pursuing him. All assistant coaching positions, including offensive and defensive coordinators, will be lumped in one category. A two-year Internet plan was adopted under which all of the teams will split revenues equally. Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said the topic will be reviewed at the 2002 meetings. And a two-hour brainstorming session brought many suggestions on how to deal with NFL players who get involved in off-field violence or criminal acts. Look for each team to be more proactive in this area, and for a league-wide system involving heavy fines and suspensions for lawbreakers. That might not be in place before the season begins in September, but it will happen.
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