FanHouse Chris Palmer

The mittens are long gone, but the expectations remain unfulfilled. David Carr, the 2002 first-overall pick, never approached franchise quarterback status in Houston, and eventually flamed out, before landing the backup gig with the Giants.

But not before setting single-season sack records with the Texans and costing then-offensive coordinator Chris Palmer his job two weeks into the 2005 campaign. Palmer was also the sacrificial lamb hired to lead the expansion Browns when the team returned to Cleveland in 1999, so he has some experience with disappointment.

The Giants made a nice move by signing David Carr for a reported 1 year, $1 million dollar deal. Not much risk for a guy happy to be a backup, is a good practice player and a nice guy. He is a known quantity to Chris Palmer, the quarterbacks coach for the Giants who used to be the offensive coordinator for the Houston Texans. That being said, Giant fans should commence praying for Eli Manning's continued health.

Upon his signing with the Giants, Carr promptly blamed others for his failings because I guess that is what helps him sleep better at night after cashing his former teams' checks:

"I have a lot of calluses. I'm like an old carpenter – I've been through it. If you let that stuff affect you, you're not going to be able to do your job. One of the reasons I'm excited about coming here is they protect the quarterback well and they have playmakers on the outside."

Old carpenter? Wha? How can he have calluses? He wears Mickey Mouse gloves on both hands.

Okay, I guess the implication of his statement is that he sucked so bad over his career because both the Panthers and the Texans sucked. I got nothing on that carpenter thing.

Perhaps instead the answer is that Carr is the perfect illustration off how a quarterback who can't read defenses, has terrible pocket presence, holds onto the ball too long and has a wonky throwing delivery will make offensive lines look much worse than they are.

For the longest time -- basically 1999 to 2003 -- the Cleveland Browns made some dreadful decisions with their first-round draft picks. Obviously, it all starts with Tim Couch (1999). And then there was Courtney Brown (2000), and Gerard Warren (2001). Who could forget William Green over Clinton Portis (2002), and Jeff Faine (2003).

But with the dark days of Chris Palmer and Butch Davis behind the franchise, things have picked up in recent years. Kellen Winslow, Braylon Edwards, Kamerion Wimbley, and now, Joe Thomas and Brady Quinn. While it's easy to point to Quinn as the team's most important pick -- possibly in this version of the Browns' short history -- it may be the other 2007 first-rounder that ends up having the better career.

Cleveland's offensive line is quietly having a solid season. The unit is on pace to give up 28 sacks, the fewest in 13 years. This group is excelling with a rookie left tackle, and missing two of its best players: tackle Ryan Tucker and center LeCharles Bentley. But that's changing: