First of all great disicussion. Its nice to see this in here instead of out where the idiots can run rampant with it.
My $.02 worth:
I think we need a back, unless RW is returning which I highly doubt.
I think it will be Brown or Benson, unless we trade out which is a 50/50 prospect.
Brown, good athlete and fast. Good hands. Not the shifty type, and will need the holes to get the yards, but if he has a seam he can run.
Benson. Benson is simply a feature back. He wants the rock, he carries it a lot. Very quick feet and can create yardage and find cut back lanes and get to them, and he is powerful. Although hands are not as good as Browns, he still is rated as a"good" pass catcher.
So where I land on it is this:
We need a back to take pressure of of the QB position until AJ proves he can learn the new system. We really important in a new offense. We also need a back who can help us manage games by protecting the lead later in the game. So if I have to choose between a good runner, with great hands or a great runner with good hands, I take the runner. I pick Benson.
As far as the character stuff goes, it is a bucnh of hogwash. The rap on Marino was that he liked to burn a litte grass, he turned out okay. He has nothing really serious hanging on him. As far as idolizing RW, didn't we all until he burnt us?
Benson is a man, and he is his own man. To think he wants to be a head case on purpose because of RW is just wrong.
Finally, I think we are really going to be in good shape whomever we land. Benson, Brown, Edwards it doesn't matter because it will be better than what we have. I am going to trust Saban and the brain trust until they give me reason not to trust them.
I am very anxiously waiting for the draft.