Browns GM John Dorsey may hold royal flush as NFL version of poker begins
John Dorsey
CLOSE USA TODAY Sports' Lindsay H. Jones and Lorenzo Reyes break down all the action from Day 2 of the NFL scouting combine and preview Friday's on-field workouts.  USA TODAY Sports
Browns GM John Dorsey   left  talks with team owner Jimmy Haslam before a game on Dec. 10. (Photo: Scott R. Galvin  USA TODAY Sports)
 John Dorsey  the latest ânew GMâ of the Cleveland Browns   is on the clock with the No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft. But despite widespread expectation that another new quarterback will be pegged  now is not the time for any grand declarations. Instead  as  Dorsey  fielded a battery of leading questions during a media session at the NFL scouting combine Thursday  he danced.
âAny good GM wants to field phone calls from his peers â  Dorsey  said. âWhy wouldnât I? Thatâs why I say  âJust give me a call and see whatâs up.â â
Yeah  but  Dorsey  and Hue Jackson  the coach who's gone 1-31 the past two seasons  must already have their pecking order in assessing the Los Angeles-based quarterbacks  USCâs Sam Darnold and UCLAâs Josh Rosen. And theyâve surely seen the tape on Oklahomaâs Baker Mayfield and Wyomingâs Josh Allen.
âYouâll find out on draft day â  Dorsey  said. âWe bounce things back and forth  but they could change after the combine. It could change after pro day. Itâs an evolving thing. It doesnât matter until that draft board is set the day of the draft.â
There were no clues from  Dorsey . When asked about Barkley  he shut it down rather quickly. âGood football player â he said. No elaboration. Hmmm.
âI have one single responsibility: to awaken a sleeping giant â  Dorsey  told USA TODAY Sports.
This is all rather fresh for  Dorsey   a new start after  he  was shockingly dumped last summer as the Kansas City Chiefs GM just a month before training camp.  He âs bolstered  his  personnel department by luring two of  his  former understudies in Green Bay  Alonzo Highsmith and Elliot Wolf  while using former Washington GM Scot McCloughan as a consultant. Thatâs an impressive collection of brainpower taking hold in Cleveland as the Moneyball philosophy recedes in the rear-view mirror.
Yet for long-suffering Browns followers  it must feel like Groundhog Day. Here they go again  with another new brain trust  talking about the need for a franchise quarterback.  Dorsey  marks the franchiseâ seventh GM in the past decade.
âI feel the frustration â  he  told USA TODAY Sports. âI feel it from the fan base. You feel it  and itâs real. And they have a right to be cynical.â
And with the top pick in the draft   Dorsey  has the right to be coy.
âIâm not going to show my cards â  he  said. âBut hereâs what Iâm going to do: Iâm going to explore every opportunity  whether itâs players or trades  and see whatâs best for this organization.â
Which means  Dorsey  is on the clock in more ways than one.
CLOSE USA TODAY Sports' Lindsay H. Jones and Lorenzo Reyes break down all the action from Day 2 of the NFL scouting combine and preview Friday's on-field workouts.   [TGT] 
left  talks with team owner Jimmy Haslam before a game on Dec. 10. (Photo: Scott R. Galvin  USA TODAY Sports)
 John Dorsey  the latest ânew GMâ of the Cleveland Browns   is on the clock with the No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft. But despite widespread expectation that another new quarterback will be pegged  now is not the time for any grand declarations. Instead  as   [TGT] fielded a battery of leading questions during a media session at the NFL scouting combine Thursday   [TGT]  danced.
âAny good GM wants to field phone calls from his peers â   [TGT] said. âWhy wouldnât I? Thatâs why I say  âJust give me a call and see whatâs up.â â
Yeah  but  Dorsey  and Hue Jackson  the coach who's gone 1-31 the past two seasons  must already have their pecking order in assessing the Los Angeles-based quarterbacks  USCâs Sam Darnold and UCLAâs Josh Rosen. And theyâve surely seen the tape on Oklahomaâs Baker Mayfield and Wyomingâs Josh Allen.
âYouâll find out on draft day â   [TGT] said. âWe bounce things back and forth  but they could change after the combine. It could change after pro day. Itâs an evolving thing. It doesnât matter until that draft board is set the day of the draft.â
There were no clues from  [TGT]  . When asked about Barkley  he shut it down rather quickly. âGood football player â he said. No elaboration. Hmmm.
âI have one single responsibility: to awaken a sleeping giant â   [TGT] told USA TODAY Sports.
This is all rather fresh for  Dorsey   a new start after  he  was shockingly dumped last summer as the Kansas City Chiefs GM just a month before training camp.  He âs bolstered  his  personnel department by luring two of  his  former understudies in Green Bay  Alonzo Highsmith and Elliot Wolf  while using former Washington GM Scot McCloughan as a consultant. Thatâs an impressive collection of brainpower taking hold in Cleveland as the Moneyball philosophy recedes in the rear-view mirror.
Yet for long-suffering Browns followers  it must feel like Groundhog Day. Here they go again  with another new brain trust  talking about the need for a franchise quarterback.   [TGT] marks the franchiseâ seventh GM in the past decade.
âI feel the frustration â   [TGT]   told USA TODAY Sports. âI feel it from the fan base. You feel it  and itâs real. And they have a right to be cynical.â
And with the top pick in the draft    [TGT] has the right to be coy.
âIâm not going to show my cards â  he  said. âBut hereâs what Iâm going to do: Iâm going to explore every opportunity  whether itâs players or trades  and see whatâs best for this organization.â
Which means   [TGT] is on the clock in more ways than one.