Running back Ezekiel Elliott participates in drills during the NFL Combine in February.(Photo: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports) It seems like the love-hate relationship between Browns fans and the NFL draft has gone on for centuries. Given there’s been so little to crow about on the field, it’s the most anticipated time of the year for the Cleveland faithful. And yet elation so often seems to turn to deflation once the draft starts bearing fruit (as in rotten). First round busts in my lifetime, specifically in the 20th century, include Willis Adams, Clifford Charlton, Craig Powell (the original Barkevious Mingo, only in skinnier jeans) and who can ever forget Mike “Mad Dog in a Meat Market” Junkin? So the Browns were screwing this up long before Eric Mangini, Mike Holmgren, Tom Heckert and Ray Farmer came along. They just lowered the bar to subterranean levels. Like Groundhog Day, every draft comes along with the Browns in search of that elusive franchise quarterback. Those of us who track the team on something other than TMZ (thanks Johnny … or is it Billy?) know Cleveland has gone through 24 starting quarterbacks — or 21 more than the Patriots — since returning to the NFL in 1999. You know what else the Browns haven’t had in forever? A franchise running back. Unless you stretch the definition of “franchise” to include making the cover of Madden NFL 12. …
Continue Reading: A vote for Zeke: Browns could stay in state for playmaker
