The Troubles of Scouting

[the Talking Can]

It was 2001. The Browns were in serious need of a running back. Their leading rusher, Travis Prentice, had rushed for 512 yards the year before, averaging only 3.0 yards per carry. Butch Davis had just taken over, having replaced the expansion franchise’s previous head coach, Chris Palmer. Palmer had fielded a 5-27 record during his two years at the helm, when the Browns came back into existence after the former Art Modell-led Cleveland Browns franchise had packed up and moved to Baltimore.

Davis had full authority to call the shots. According to multiple sources with intimate knowledge of the Browns’ decision-making process, Davis considered LaDainian Tomlinson to be strictly an option back who produced all of his yards after the pitch and did not think he could be successful lining up out of the "I" and running downhill. Davis did not like Deuce McAllister, either. With the third overall pick, Davis opted for Florida DT Gerard Warren, two picks ahead of where San Diego drafted Tomlinson, the premier back in football today.

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