Cleveland Browns Free Agency 2012: Why Remaining Conservative is The Right Choice

As a Cleveland Browns fan, the NFL free agency period never really lives up to expectation.

Whether it is the total lack of interest in the elite players available or the complete whiffing on the players the organization does go after (I'm looking at you Jeff Garcia). Free agency has not been kind to the Browns.

That's why, as frustrating as it may be, the Browns must remain conservative when it comes to free agency.

This isn't to say they should completely abstain from spending ANY money, they could definitely fill a few holes and pick up some good talent while remaining frugal but breaking the bank for anyone in this year's class would be a detrimental error.

At this point, going after any of the big names in this year's class (Mario Williams, Vincent Jackson, Peyton Manning, etc.) is just going to slow down what the front office is working to build.

Free agency is for teams that are one or two pieces away. Cleveland is not of those teams.

Adding a big name free agent would be like putting a 72" flat screen HD TV in your living room when you have a leaky roof, broken windows and water damaged floorboards. Big price free agents are for those with mansions.

Ask Redskin fans how building your team through free agency works.

While winning now would be nice, the Browns must realize they are in the best shape they've ever been in since the comeback in '99.

We finally have a front office run by a proven winner. This front office has shown that they deserve the trust of the fans. They have yet to make any truly boneheaded moves and are finally providing a blueprint for success. This front office has done a solid job of drafting, nabbing multiple starters in each draft.

We have one of the best young defenses in the NFL with identifiable needs (another edge rusher, a second cover corner and a linebacker) and a solid offensive line. We still have some broken windows, but we've patched up the roof. Armed with three picks in the first 37 picks of the draft you can be confident that we will get three consistent starters with those three picks (without fear of a Chaun Thompson pick).

So while the Browns may not make it to the playoffs next year, signing a Vincent Jackson or a Mario Williams is not going to change that. Instead they should hold onto their 15 million available dollars, secure their draft picks and allow this front office to continue building their foundation through the draft because they're building a mansion and mansions take time.