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Warrick No. 1? Don't bet on it
Posted: Thursday March 23, 2000 08:32 AM
Florida State wide receiver Peter Warrick desperately wants to be the first pick in the NFL Draft April 15. Bad news, Peter: The Browns have narrowed their options to Courtney Brown and LaVar Arrington. Barring a late change of mind, the Browns will pass on Warrick, and it's a logical move. Warrick's not big, at 5-10 1/2. He's not fast, at a mid-4.5-second clip in the 40-yard dash. Think of it this way: The Browns are building a team they hope will be playing January football in Cleveland. Who's more important to winning home playoff games in Cleveland -- a legitimate franchise player on the front seven or a quick wideout, especially in a draft that is chock full of receivers? Cleveland will turn to one of the Penn State defenders -- probably Brown, as I've been saying for a month -- after spending the next two weeks analyzing every Brown and Arrington game tape of their college careers. Don't be fooled: Keyshawn still availableNotice one thing about the statement new Jets coach Al Groh made this week about Keyshawn Johnson, and I quote: "The Jets will not entertain any trade offers at this time." Key phrase: At this time. Johnson has decidedly not been taken off the trading block. And make no mistake about this: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who could offer the 13th and 27th picks in the first round of April's draft plus a veteran receiver for Johnson, are hot after Keyshawn. 49ers, Steelers likely face salary-cap finesThe NFL is getting close to penalizing the parties involved in the 49ers salary-cap violations, but the Niners aren't the only team that could get hit. The Pittsburgh Steelers, who turned themselves in for a violation on offensive lineman Will Wolford's last pro contract, are also under the microscope. Commissioner Paul Tagliabue is being advised by those close to him not to suspend any of the front-office people involved. His most likely course of action: Fines for the 49ers and Steelers, docking each team a mid- to late-round pick, and, for ex-San Francisco executives Carmen Policy and Dwight Clark, additional hefty fines. Sports Illustrated senior writer Peter King covers the NFL and appears regularly on CNN/Sports Illustrated and CNN's NFL Preview.
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