Written by Jerry Roche

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Kellen Winslow Jr. has been traded. Andra Davis and Sean Jones have been let go in free agency without a fight. Is Braylon Edwards next? We're starting to hear some rumors along those lines. And it's clear the new Mangini/Kokinis regime, despite what they initially told Randy, are not enamored with the existing roster and are looking to put their stamp on it. In Jerry Roche's latest, he talks about the enigma that is Braylon Edwards, and wonders aloud what the team should do with him. It takes a special kind of athlete to be a successful wide receiver in the ultra-competitive National Football League.

The best of the lot are tall and lanky with gazelle-like speed, rabbit-like moves, glue-like hands, and unparalleled self-confidence. However, the best also are loud-mouthed, self-absorbed narcissists who seem to seek out trouble like divining rods to water. Terrell Owens, Randy Moss and Chad Devon OchoCinco -- three of the best pass-catchers of the 21st century -- come to mind.

Google "wide+receiver+police" and you get 148,000 hits. The most recent to run afoul of the law run the gamut from the Giants' Plaxico Burress (two counts of second-degree criminal possession of the gun he shot himself with); to the Jaguars' Matt Jones (felony drug charge after being found cutting up cocaine with a credit card); to the Vikings' Koren Robinson (felony of fleeing from police and five misdemeanors, including two counts of driving while intoxicated). The poster child, of course, is former Bengals receiver Chris Henry, whose offenses included several arrests for driving under the influence, marijuana possession, assault, and criminal damaging.

Which brings us to the question of the day: What to do with Braylon Edwards, the Cleveland Browns' own malcontent, whose exploits off the field pale in comparison?

At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, Edwards' innate physical talents are equal to those of any All-Pro pass-catcher. His ability to get open deep and haul in difficult passes strikes fear into the hearts of opponents. His 2007 Pro Bowl season indicates what he can do when he's healthy and has his head on straight -- not to mention his 2008 performance against the touted Giants when his receptions totaled a career-best 154 yards, including individual catches of 49 and 70 yards, plus an 11-yard touchdown, all on national television.

But there is a flip side to the ledger. Like Owens, Moss, OchoCinco and others, Edwards has not shied away from being the center of controversy. Last August, he was found guilty of driving 120 mph in a 65 mph zone on Interstate 90 in Avon. And then he took some cheap shots at the Browns fans who pay his salary:

• "I went to the Pro Bowl last year and resurrected this team from the darkness."

• "People in this town believe they are entitled to too much."

• "I've learned since being here that I'm very unappreciated in the eyes of the fans and the city. Since Day One, I've been a marked man coming from Michigan."

• "I'm just to the point now that I'm playing football, and I could care less about the fans and the media."

Unfortunately for us, Edwards is unlike Owens, Moss and OchoCinco in one important regard: He occasionally forgets to catch the ball.

In a 10-6 loss to Pittsburgh, he dropped a deep ball inside the Pittsburgh 5 with the Browns trailing 10-0 in the third quarter. In a 37-27 loss to Baltimore, he dropped a perfectly thrown ball at the Ravens' 25 with the score tied 27-27 in the fourth quarter. The list goes on and on.

"Braylon is one of those unique, physically gifted individuals who can take over a game, a team, and light the city on fire," praised former quarterback Rich Gannon during a CBS telecast last season. But ... "There's too many snaps where he's not coming full speed out of a cut at the top of the route. He's also failed to come back for the ball. Twice, the ball was picked off on a slant route, and that should never happen.

"At times, he's not ready for the throw. He's got a great future, but you've got to go above and beyond. That's what the great ones do."

As Gannon contends, the line separating great receivers from the rest of the pack is fine indeed, especially in the NFL. Certainly, all receivers believe they have a divine destiny to catch every ball thrown their way. But the great ones might have to come back for the ball while it's in the air. They might have to make sure to get their shoulders between the ball and the defender. They definitely do not worry about any impending hit, but rather let their instincts take over after the catch -- and only after the catch. On the other hand, the not-so-great receivers might suffer a millisecond when they're more concerned about on what moves they will make after the catch or when they are bracing for the hit after the catch. That millisecond separates the good from the great.

What to do about Braylon? It was suggested last season that he get vision training or spend time on special drills to sharpen his concentration. The answer to his woes might be much simpler.

"Being human, I went into a rut," Edwards admitted. "I caught a slump. I'm human. I'm not Paul Warfield, Webster Slaughter or Jim Brown."

Being human, Edwards might also come out of his slump. Starting a new season might not hurt. Having a new head coach and a new position coach might not hurt, either. Nor would having a consistent presence at quarterback.

Strange as it may seem, despite all the run-ins that we Browns fans have had with Edwards, most of us still want him to be successful, for as long as he dons the brown and orange every Sunday.

If he starts consistently catching Brady Quinn's or Derek Anderson's throws, we will forgive him.

If he leads the NFL in receptions and receiving yards and touchdown catches, we will cheer him.

We are still on his side, because we want the Browns to share in his triumphs, and we want to share in them ourselves, too.

So go ahead -- light us on fire, Braylon.