APPARENTLY you can catch stupidity if you sign on in any capacity with the Cleveland Browns. Remember Tom Heckert? Just a few weeks ago he was the EAGLES GM; and even thought he wasn't "The Man", he was still a part of one of the NFL's better personnel brain-trusts. Roster consistency, position depth, and team players were mainstays of the EAGLES for the last decade or so.

The Browns released Center Hank Fraley yesterday. Not earth shattering in and of itself, because Fraley had lost the starting job to a rookie. But the guy's been durable, and consistent. He mentored the guy who took the spot from him (demonstrating maturity and class); and filled in ANYWHERE the Browns asked him to line up! So let's line this up: You're rebuilding and a mature, versatile, durable, consistent, team player doesn't fit into your immediate plans? Only if you routinely wear a bicycle helmet indoors.

My hope is for the EAGLES to sign Fraley. He shouldn't be too pricey, and we could use the insurance policy. We didn't ship him out because he sucked, we traded him to a team that felt he was their best option for replacing a guy that everyone was regarding (at the time) as the best Center in the league.

So let's let Cleveland's stupidity make us a more solid ballclub.