Monday, April 8, 2002

ProFootballWeekly.com asks personnel expert Joel Buchsbaum for his thoughts on the hottest topics in football. 

Draft sleeper cancels career

Gardner-Webb OG Richard Williams wasn’t well-known outside the NFL’s inner circle, but those who did know about him were sure he could play on the next level. Apparently that wasn’t enough for Williams, who announced he no longer intends to play football at any level. Williams was projected as a mid- to late-round pick.

Buchsbaum: Richard Williams, a very powerful guard from Gardner-Webb who was impressive in the Blue-Gray All-Star Game and one of the sleepers in this year’s draft, has decided against continuing his football career. Williams informed all NFL teams with an interest in working him out that he no longer desires to play football.

Farrior finds home in Steel City

The Pittsburgh Steelers welcomed the NFL’s leading tackler, James Farrior, pairing the rising star with an already dominant LB corps. Rookie Kendrell Bell, Jason Gildon and Joey Porter will team with Farrior to form one of the most talented groups in the league.

Buchsbaum: The Steelers made a good move in signing former Jets LB James Farrior. He was the Jets’ best linebacker last year and finally started to show why he was a top-10 pick. If he can make the adjustment from an outside linebacker in a 4-3 to the inside ‘backer in a 3-4, he will give the Steelers tremendous speed and talent to go with the other linebackers and have the coverage ability they lacked with Earl Holmes in the middle.

Browns continue upgrade, add MLB Holmes

The Cleveland Browns were a drastically improved football team in 2001, winning seven games after a 3-13 season. Head coach Butch Davis has kept the ball rolling downhill in the offseason, adding experience on both sides of the ball. The recent signing of ex-Steelers MLB Earl Holmes is another sign that the Browns are serious about contending — now — and can draft for talent rather than need April 20 once it selects the impact running back the team desperately needs.

Buchsbaum: Earl Holmes is a major upgrade over Wali Rainer at middle linebacker. It is another indication that the Browns believe they can win this year. Butch Davis has added a number of quality veterans like SS Robert Griffith and DE Kenard Lang. Offensively, the Browns have also added veteran linemen to improve the running game, and now it will be interesting to see if the Browns draft a running back like Michigan State’s T.J. Duckett. The reason I mention Duckett and not Boston College RB William Green is questions about Green’s character have caused clubs to sour on him, as has his subpar workout. He didn’t catch the ball as well as he could have and didn’t run that well either. Don’t be surprised if Green falls to the end of the first round or even out of the first round.

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