QB's in the draft

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Here it be Mr. Newbie

Browns may have to look at QBs

Saturday, March 19, 2005 By STEVE DOERSCHUK Repository sports writer

Is Alex Smith too young for the Browns to draft at No. 3 overall?

Is the 20-year-old Utah quarterback too good to pass up at No. 1 overall when the 49ers kick off the NFL draft on April 23?

Or is he a “tweener,†with the Dolphins zeroing in on Smith with the No. 2 overall pick?

This much seems clear: Smith knocked some socks off with his Pro Day workout this week. One day later, California quarterback Aaron Rodgers aced his Pro Day.

The result is that both players held their position as the top quarterbacks in the draft, and increased the chances they have moved into the Browns’ draft range.

General Manager Phil Savage was in a large crowd of observers who watched Smith throw for 45 minutes.

Anything Savage says can be viewed as posturing, but hear this. NFL.com analyst Gil Brandt, a former Cowboys personnel guru, came away from Salt Lake City with his mouth watering.

“I’ve been to private workouts for decades,†Brandt said, “but this is the first time I can remember a player receiving a standing ovation. He was lights out.â€

Brandt said Smith dispelled concerns about being too ingrained in Urban Meyer’s shotgun system at Utah.

“He made all the throws, three-step drops, five-step drops, play-action, deep passes, crossing routes, roll-outs, and, of course, deep routes,†Brandt said.

One pass sailed 62 yards to a receiver on the goal line.

Smith had dinner with a 49ers entourage that is looking for the next Joe Montana, or a sweet deal to trade down to another team that falls in love with Smith.

Breakfast was with Dolphins General Manager Rick Spielman and Head Coach Nick Saban, who subsequently went over Utah game films with Smith.

Quarterbacks have been the top picks of most recent drafts, including Peyton Manning in 1998, Tim Couch in 1999, Michael Vick in 2001, David Carr in 2002, Carson Palmer in 2003 and Eli Manning in 2004.

Savage went from Utah to Berkeley, Calif., where Rodgers conducted his Pro Day workout Thursday.

Savage could not be reached, but Rodgers said the Browns invited him to Ohio for a personal interview.

According to Brandt, Rodgers’ workout was similar in quality to Smith’s.

“It’s a two-horse race for the top quarterback,†Brandt said. “Before this week, it was debatable if a quarterback should be taken at No. 1 overall. Now, it’s looking more and more like a good idea.â€

After his Thursday workout, Rodgers told reporters, “I think I showed the accuracy, arm strength and fundamentals you can see on film, and just reassured the teams I am as good as they think I am on film.â€

It is known Savage would choose a quarterback at No. 3 if the Browns conclude that QB had a draft grade in that neighborhood.

The buzz is that the grades are settling in the neighborhood for Smith or Rodgers, and perhaps both.

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WASHINGTON WELCOME: Courtney Brown visited the Redskins at their team facility Thursday, but left without signing a contract. “We had a good visit.†Head Coach Joe Gibbs told Washington writers. “He took a physical. We’ll just work through the rest of it. I don’t think there’s anything imminent.†Brown’s former Penn State teammate Brandon Noble, now a Washington player, made a recruiting pitch to the defensive end. The Browns, Bucs, Seahawks and Broncos are the other teams with the most apparent interest in Brown.

NFL notebook

n The Jets traded middle linebacker Sam Cowart to the Minnesota Vikings for a seventh-round pick in this year’s draft. Cowart saw his playing time diminish in 2004 after a knee injury knocked him out for an extended period and rookie Jonathan Vilma emerged as a standout player. After the season, Cowart asked for a trade when it became clear he wouldn’t have much of a role with the Jets.

n The Steelers restructured the contract of left tackle Marvel Smith to free up $2.55 million in salary cap space. Smith will be paid the minimum-wage base salary of $540,000 in 2005 instead of the $3.95 million in salary he had been due.

n Linebacker Keith Adams agreed to a one-year contract with the Eagles following a season in which his career-high 54 tackles helped Philadelphia reach the Super Bowl.

n Jaguars linebacker Tommy Hendricks was charged with violating a restraining order taken out by his former wife.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

You can reach Repository sports writer Steve Doerschuk at (330) 580-8347 or e-mail:

steve.doerschuk@cantonrep.com