The Unjust Hammering of Hank Fraley

The Cleveland Browns decided to part ways with 10-year veteran center Hank Fraley. Hank was acquired in a 2006 trade with the Philadelphia Eagles after free agent acquisition LeCharles Bentley(me) suffered a ruptured patellar tendon. Subsequent Bentley's injury, back-up center Bob Hallen quit the team citing a phantom back injury as his reasoning. Needless to say, former Browns GM Phil Savage's trade for Fraley was urgent in nature.

Fraley played admireably as he started 53 of 62 games for the Browns during his 4 year tenure. His streak came to a hault after the Browns used the 21st selection of the 2009 draft to select University of Cal center Alex Mack. Fraley represented the Browns locker room well as his peers voted him co-captain for the 2008 season. Former Browns WR Joe Jurevicus has gone as far as stating he believed Hank should have been voted team mvp during the 2006 campaign.

Hanks Fraley's release by the Browns comes as a surprise giving the nature of the situation but not surprising considering the nature of the NFL. Fraley was due 1.6 million this upcoming season as the back-up "swing" lineman. This salary is bargain basement considering the tangible and more importantly the intangibles Hank Fraley brought to this ball club. Every team cites the importance of having good team guys and veterans that can show the younger players how to be professionals. The Browns had the type of player every team covets, not based on his playing ability but on his value as a leader. This man stepped in and represented the Browns, Cleveland and himself with class when one player couldn't and another chose not to. I could understand if Hank was considered a big ticket player and his salary hampered the teams ability to pursue other players in order to become more competitive, but this isn't the reality. The reality is, Hank Fraley is another reminder of the leagues unwritten, "what have you done for me lately" policy.