Proof that NFL scouts are often fools: Brian Sipe

We've just finished yet another NFL draft. Some players went higher than expected and some lower. As the years pass we'll be able to judge the scouts on their skill in the 2010 draft but there are also decades of proof in our rear view mirror.

A good example is Brown's great Brian Sipe, who in spite of the fact that he led the nation in passing his senior year at San Diego State, was not drafted by the Browns in the 1972 NFL Draft until the 13th round. Why? Well of course, his arm wasn't good enough and he was too short and not athletic enough. Sipe of course went on to a stellar career with the Browns, registering 6 winning seasons in the 7 years he was the Browns starter. When you consider that Art Modell was the owner all of those years, it makes Sipe's winning record all the more impressive.

In the below youtube video of a Sipe led drive against Minnesota, you can witness some of the intangibles that allowed Sipe to rise about the rest of the pack. Most interesting to note is how cool and collected Sipe is in the face of Minnesota pass rushers, who in two cases annihilate Sipe after he gets the throw off.

In the book Kardiac Kids by Jonathan Knight, Browns great Doug Dieken, when asked why Paul McDonald was a failure and Sipe was a success in the NFL, gave the following answer:

"In a seven on seven drill when you're just going against defensive backs and linebackers and nobody is rushing you, isn't the same as being out there and having guys zinging by your head. That was the difference between Sipe and McDonald"

The 2010 was, on balance, a good draft for the Browns. Ironically however, it will probably be players like Joe Haden, Colt McCoy and Carlton Mitchell, all of whom had a hard time impressing the scouts, who will really contribute to the future succes of the Cleveland Browns.