From: dxf12@po.CWRU.Edu (Douglas Fowler)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro
Subject: Webster Slaughter holdout will be LOOOONG
Date: 11 Sep 1992 00:45:24 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Reply-To: dxf12@po.CWRU.Edu (Douglas Fowler)
NNTP-Posting-Host: slc12.ins.cwru.edu


     Just in from channel 5 news - Webster Slaughter has said he doesn't
intend to play for the Browns again, it sounds like, and he definitely won't
play in the near future; they are really far apart.
    Okay, the time has come - The Browns should come up with a good trade.
I've been mulling a few things over in my mind, and here are the possibilites
that I've figured out:
    1. Miami.  Will provide a semi-low pick, especially if their defense
gels, but perhaps we can pry an offensive lineman loose as well.  Think about
it - their starting left tackle, a very good one, and a few draft picks for
Slaughter and Eric Metcalf.  Marino's got some good ones to repolace the aging
Duper and Clayton (one of whom should be thrown in to give US some help),
they've still got a good line, and we get some needed help plus needed
draft picks.
     2. Buccanneers:  Webster can be a star on a team devoid ofit & give Vinnie
a good target he can keep going back to.  The Browns get the Bucs first
couple picks this year and a good one next year. (If they can spend a number
one on a QB they later release, we can get them to give us the keys to
their vault!)
     3.  Saints:  A middle pick, like with the Dolphins, but they have
a fair line, could give us a LB too if we throw someone in, and they'll
be able to open up their game.
     4.  Seahawks:  All we'd get are really good draft picks, but they
badly need a receiver.
     As a Browns' fan, I feared it might come to this, but I wonder how naive
the Browns were; after all, , they have 3 receivers + Metcalf and Brooks on
their roster as if they expected Slaughter to sign.  I imagine Hilgenberg's
big contract contributed to Slaughter's determination to hold out.
     The Browns are in need of help; they are still rebuilding.  We Browns
supporters would love to see Slaughter sign, but right now I, at least, think
he's worth more than if he comes in, has to go through training camp all over
again practically, and can't play at his peak until midseason, if then.  What
are teams going to say about a fellow who only has 35-40 catches - "Okay,
here's a 3rd rounder; we'll make it a 1st if he goes to the Pro Bowl."  True,
he'd have to learn another team's plays and everything this year, but he's a
year younger than he will be next year - hence a step faster - and teams
now know their strengths and weaknesses, and how close they are to the top.
     Maybe I'm seeing too much potential in such a trade, unless we throw in
Metcalf and a few picks of our own, but I think the Browns can get more now,
especially from a team like the Dolphins or Saints (maybe even the Chiefs - I
don't know much about their receivers) who could pick him up, get him in shape
for the stretch run, and use him as that last key to get them to the Super
Bowl.
     (Note - I don't really know about his signability with any of these
teams, so you may have an even better trade idea.)
-- 
Doug Fowler: dxf12@po.CWRU.edu      :    "Every baby born into the world is
Real home: Canton, Ohio             :  finer than the last."--Charles Dickens
 Trying to follow in the path of our :     "A baby is an inestimable
Lord;anything close will be a success:  blessing and bother."--Mark Twain