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Shutdown Corner

Tue May 05, 2009 1:54 pm EDT

Browns like Harrell, but not enough to offer him a contract

By MJD

Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach's anger at the NFL draft process is well-documented. After Michael Crabtree went 10th in the draft and Graham Harrell went undrafted, Leach blasted the NFL as a whole, saying that they're bad at drafting quarterbacks, and also took shots at Cleveland coach Eric Mangini.

So, let's check in with Harrell and see if he's setting the world on fire yet. The Cleveland Browns invited him to their rookie minicamp, and according to Mary Cay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, they liked Harrell. To a point.

The staff felt Harrell, who participated in rookie camp on a tryout basis, picked up the system quickly and has great potential, the source said. However, the team let him leave town without a contract, in part because it currently has four quarterbacks on the roster: Brady Quinn, Derek Anderson, Brett Ratliff and Richard Bartel.

So, kind of a mixed bag there. They said they liked him, but they didn't give him a contract, because they already have guys like Brett Ratliff and Richard Bartel. That's kind of like a girl telling you, "Oh yeah, I really think you're a sweet guy. So, yeah, I'll be over in the corner making out with the guy in the upside-down visor."

Harrell says he's got offers from a couple of other teams to attend their minicamps, too, but his preference would be to stay with the Browns. The Browns don't look like they share his vision, at least at the time being. But hopefully, he'll catch on somewhere.

Related: NFL Draft, Players Your Sucky Team Can Buy

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1617 Comments

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  1. James P
    1. Posted by James P Tue May 05, 2009 2:06 pm EDT

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    They had all those other guys before they invited him to the camp, so obviously it wasn't the reason or else they were just jerking him around. I think that's just a nice way of saying "sorry, no"
  2. MKRob.com
    2. Posted by MKRob.com Tue May 05, 2009 2:14 pm EDT

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    Harrell needs to go to Canada or the Arena Leagues and work his way up.
    @mkrob
  3. darknighte
    3. Posted by darknighte Tue May 05, 2009 2:18 pm EDT

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    Here we go agian another great player let go from the Browns so he can go to another team do great comeback and kill all of our dreams. When will this merry go round end. I want a consistent winning team. I'd be happy with an average 8-8 consistently team. Rather then a up and down training ground for other teams to get player that help them get to the playoffs or even superbowls.
  4. Mark McD
    4. Posted by Mark McD Tue May 05, 2009 2:27 pm EDT

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    #3 "Great Player"? You're on drugs. Every NFL team let this "great player" go, not just the Browns.
  5. dragon43078
    5. Posted by dragon43078 Tue May 05, 2009 2:29 pm EDT

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    Why on earth did he even think about the Browns? They are a team with no vision, a mediocre coach, players who do not want to be there, players the new coach publily said he was not fond of and no chance of him playing? Plus the guarantee of a losing season. Him and everyone the Browns cut and get picked up by other team should all be thankfull that they got cut.
  6. Don Squeek
    6. Posted by Don Squeek Tue May 05, 2009 2:34 pm EDT

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    He's an upgrade over Matt Hasslebench.
  7. Tut
    7. Posted by Tut Tue May 05, 2009 3:42 pm EDT

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    Cleveland, huh? Harrell, are you sure this is really what you want? The only thing easier than picking up their system is attracting staph infections. Take it as ablessing they DIDN'T sign you. Goto SF. I like your chances better there.
  8. sam spade
    8. Posted by sam spade Tue May 05, 2009 3:45 pm EDT

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    this shows what kind of person Mangini is. He didn't like Texas Tech's coaches comments so he played games with Harrell. when the Browns go 0 -16, I hope they fire him and get a real coach. Hope he catches on with another team. he'll probably turn out to be better than anybody on the Browns roster.
  9. Michael
    9. Posted by Michael Tue May 05, 2009 4:08 pm EDT

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    0-16? Not hardly hater!! I liked the fact that they brought Harrell in..and actually I was rooting for him to get a spot..afterall..when D.A. is traded away for the pack of gum he's worth..Having Quinn,Harrell and Ratliff as our 3 QB's would have been an upgrade from last season.It's early yet..and the Browns can still sign this kid.
  10. rookiegrizz
    10. Posted by rookiegrizz Tue May 05, 2009 4:33 pm EDT

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    We have alot of holes to fill and worry about then are 3rd string qb's....
  11. Zack
    11. Posted by Zack Tue May 05, 2009 4:35 pm EDT

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    Can someone explain why no one wants this kid? He was a top 5 QB last year. I know it was largely the system, but no one is willing to take a flier on a top five college QB?
  12. JAYHAWKS
    12. Posted by JAYHAWKS Tue May 05, 2009 5:18 pm EDT

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    Do the names Sonny Crumbie, Kliff Kingsbury, Tommy Chang, and numerous others ring a bell? Oh yeah college QBs who put up rediculous stats that didn't have the tools to play in the NFL.
  13. yajtub
    13. Posted by yajtub Tue May 05, 2009 5:23 pm EDT

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    i agree with #8, harrell should go to SF, at least there, he has more chance to get a roster spot. plus he be with his WR, crabtree.
  14. Michael B
    14. Posted by Michael B Tue May 05, 2009 5:47 pm EDT

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    i have been a fan for 30 some years like every one else i would like some improvement . seems like we can't improve from one good year to the next. what's wrong? we have good players and the coaches seem to be ok but can't seem to motivate a team for more than one year. i sure would like to see sucess like some of the old teams of the 40's and 50's
  15. Mike H
    15. Posted by Mike H Tue May 05, 2009 5:52 pm EDT

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    @jayhawks... cumbie, kingsbury, and chang weren't highly recruited out of high school. no one thought they'd go far. you're not going back far enough, though. the real reason no spread quarterback has gotten a chance is because tim couch (a mike leach product) sucked in the nfl. remember that browns fans?
    harrell is a coach's son, a four star high school recruit, and a very bright kid with a decent arm. he'd be a fine back up and might be able to start after a few years of holding a clipboard. i don't like him in a run first offense like singletary will bring to sf, though, because he doesn't have the arm strength to stretch the field. i do like him as a backup to manning in indy. just a thought.
  16. S M
    16. Posted by S M Tue May 05, 2009 6:38 pm EDT

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    Mike H...I agree...I have watched Harrell play ball since the 7th grade and even through High School, was a winner and a Champion Athelete. He beat Matthew Stafford's HS team for the TX State Championship in 2003 and carried his winning ways into college at TTU. He has labeld a System QB becuase of QB's like Cumbie, Klingsbury and others.....He is a 4.0 GPA and is highly intelligent, something you need to run an offense of any kind. He is quick to pick up defensive scemes and is similar to Manning at the line of scrimmage. NFL teams are not picking him up becuase of the label he carries, not becuase he cannot play. If someone would just pick him up, give him a legit shot, he would be a great 2nd or 3rd string QB and he'll prove in time he wil help your team win games....Just like he did at TT. He won games becuase he is a great QB....Crabtree would not be where he is today without an accurate QB like Harrell....Give him a chance and he'll be the best undrafted free agent you will have ever brought onto your team.....Mark my words......Pick him up as an undrafted free agent, put him on your practice squad and allow him to excel......He will be the best pick up in your 2009 season and for years to come.....SM
  17. SiD
    17. Posted by SiD Tue May 05, 2009 6:54 pm EDT

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    I think they need to offer him a contract soon. After they cut Bartell or the other Bum!
  18. S M
    18. Posted by S M Tue May 05, 2009 6:56 pm EDT

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    Whether it be the browns, a CFL team or whoever, give him a contract and he will prove himself to wipe that System QB Label off of his shoulders.
  19. PaulT
    19. Posted by PaulT Tue May 05, 2009 7:52 pm EDT

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    Wow talk about misreading public sentiment . People don't like Mangini at all. And we all think Mike Leach is a riot, and we love his offense and the QBs he sends out, suck tho they may. So you choose to go on with this thing bashing Leach, who we like, and siding with Mangini, who we hate, all while acting as if you're taking a hated villain down a peg.
    Good luck with that.
  20. DCwhiteowl
    20. Posted by DCwhiteowl Tue May 05, 2009 8:59 pm EDT

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    Best player not drafted in 2009? i would have to go with Quan Cosby. If Palmer stays healthy Cosby could dominate in the slot.
  21. Realistic
    21. Posted by Realistic Tue May 05, 2009 9:00 pm EDT

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    He's a system QB and Browns don't have a system in place. This is probably Manginis final season as NFL head coach. They couldn't win even if they had Brady behind center, specially since their best receiver is a guy who catches only 85% of throws. Browns got a long way to go.
  22. vanjohnwil
    22. Posted by vanjohnwil Tue May 05, 2009 9:12 pm EDT

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    He has a noodle for a arm and couldn't beat out 4 stiffs that play for the almighty Browns, sit down bus driver!
  23. BigBear
    23. Posted by BigBear Tue May 05, 2009 10:08 pm EDT

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    OK -- we know Harrel's next stop. Manrat cut him so Bill picks him up and he becomes Cassel's replacement and gets to the playoffs before Manrat. Only the names change ; the results are the same.
  24. Stephen Cannon
    24. Posted by Stephen Cannon Tue May 05, 2009 10:34 pm EDT

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    not enough arm strength
    period
  25. zack f
    25. Posted by zack f Tue May 05, 2009 10:45 pm EDT

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    He is just another system qb who will join the long list of players who will never make it in the NFL-Akili Smith, Kliff Kingsbury, Colt Brennen, Kevin Kolb, Andre Ware, etc., etc., etc...

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Shutdown Corner is an NFL blog edited by Matthew J. Darnell. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

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