He could be the best pick of the draft or a potential public relations disaster. The Florida State receiver is considered the most gifted offensive player available and the Browns desperately need playmakers. But the p.r.-conscious Browns also must be wary of the backlash that comes from bestowing millions of dollars on someone busted for accepting hundreds of dollars worth of clothes for a pittance at a Florida mall. In the NFL, teams usually give lip service to character but stack their chips on talent. This week, Browns director of football operations Dwight Clark did not sound like a man ready to close the door on Warrick.
Adults make mistakes.
I think when college students do things that aren't right, you've got to cut them a little bit of slack, especially if there's not a lot of history of doing things wrong. Warrick showed contrition after his arrest but didn't help matters when he tried to downplay his crime by saying it wasn't as if he had tried to assassinate the president. I think people will accept that he made a mistake.'' For most of the season, the Browns seemed likely to have dibs on the NFL's worst record, the No. 1 pick in 2000 and, therefore, Warrick. But an upset of Pittsburgh last week might have made that thinking premature. Clark said his wife, Ashley, already has mentioned that.