The Browns traded their No. 6 first-round pick to the Atlanta Falcons for a bunch of other picks, then traded up from the No. 27 to the 21st spot to snag Baylor defensive lineman Phil Taylor. It seems some had concerns about Taylor's weight, which hovered at more than 330 pounds.
Let's head to the blockquote machine for analysis from the PD:
At 6-3 1/2 and 337 pounds, Taylor is one of the heaviest players in the draft. Originally enrolled at Penn State, he was involved in a fight at a fraternity and dismissed from the school after his second year. Taylor transferred to Baylor, sat out 2008 and started at tackle his last two seasons.Draft publications rip Taylor for struggling to keep his weight down and having fatigue problems. When properly motivated, they praise him as run-stopper who is "a terror to block."
Heckert said Taylor is conscientious about his weight and weighed in at 335 for the Browns — a few pounds less than he played at Baylor. Heckert said Taylor and Bowers dined together during their visit to the Browns, and Taylor ate salmon.
Good idea on Taylor's part, but isn't that like an alcoholic ordering a club soda when he's out to dinner with his girlfriend's parents just because he thinks that they think that he's a drunk? Did anyone tail Taylor after that dinner? Odds are he went straight to McDonald's after the Browns brass left and ordered three quarter-pounders and two McFlurries.
