Browns first-round draft picks Richardson, Weeden arrive in Berea

BEREA, Ohio - The Cleveland Browns top two draft picks, Alabama running back Trent Richardson and 28-year old Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden, were at Browns headquarters in Berea Friday afternoon.

The Browns chose Richardson with the number three draft pick. They traded their number four overall pick and selections in the fourth, fifth and seventh rounds to Minnesota to move up.

Browns general manager Tom Heckert took Weeden as the 22nd pick, and he is expected to start right away, leaving quarterback Colt McCoy's future up in the air. Browns coach Pat Shurmur introduced the new draft picks to the media. Both called it as an honor to be chosen by Cleveland.

"When you hear you name called, it's really special," said Weeden, adding he's ready to play some football. He said he knows his role is to win football games and he's here to do that. Weeden said he knows he'll play in some windy conditions at Browns Stadium, but he's used to that from playing in Oklahoma and he just has to throw the ball tight.

As to his age, Weeden does not see it as detriment. In fact, he said his body is fresh, and he has never had a surgery and never broke a bone.

“Being 28 years old is an advantage for me… I still have a lot of football left in the tank,” Weeden said.

Weeden turned to football when his professional baseball career was not working out. He said he often prepped for baseball by first throwing a football. But then in 2006, he realized it was time to go back to football.

"Everything happens for a reason," said Wheeden.

As for Richardson, he calls it a "pleasure" to play for the Browns.

"When I got the phone call, I looked at my mom and said I'm going to Ohio," Richardson said. He also credited his mother with keeping his family strong because she had to be both mom and dad to him and his brothers when he grew up.

He added he wants to do whatever it takes to lead the field and he can be the guy the Browns want.

Richardson has two daughters and he said he realized when he was in college, it was important for him to do something to change their lives and playing football is providing him with that opportunity.

“I had my first child when I was a sophomore in high school. I hung out with the wrong crowd and I wasn’t raised that way,” Richardson told the Cleveland media. “I was a child trying to raise a child… You have to do something to change your life and your mom’s life and take care of your family.”

The draft continues Friday at 7 p.m. with the second and third rounds. Keep checking newsnet5.com for more information.

 

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