Ode to absurdity

Here it is slightly more than 36 hours after the stunning trade of Trent Richardson and there is nothing but silence emanating from Berea.

What’s going on here?

It is quite obvious the Richardson deal was the first shot in what soon will be called the rebuilding of the Cleveland Browns. So why stop now?

If you’re going to break up a team, do it the right way. If you’re going to stockpile draft picks, don’t sit around with your thumb up your hind flanks. Do something. There are other moves to be made.

Why are Joe Thomas, D’Qwell Jackson, Joe Haden, Mitchell Schwartz and T. J. Ward still on the roster? Certainly there are other National Football League teams that could use their talents.

The Denver Broncos, for example, recently lost offensive tackle Ryan Clady for the season. A quick call to John Elway out in Denver can remedy that situation in a hurry.

Thomas would look great in orange and blue and fetch yet another first-round pick. Maybe two. You can bet Elway wouldn’t mind parting with a couple of No. 1s if he could plug Thomas in as Peyton Manning’s protector on the left side of the Broncos’ offensive line.

So who, the critics would ask, replaces Thomas in that case? Who cares? The front office didn’t care who replaced Richardson after that deal. It makes no difference. Stockpiling for the future is what’s important.

So . . . wouldn’t Haden look terrific in New England’s secondary? Think Bill Belichick would give up a No. 1 for him? Damn right he would. Maybe even throw in a third-rounder.

Let’s not stop there as Joe Banner and Mike Lombardi take dead aim on 2014.

How about Ward to the Oakland Raiders – he’s their type of smash-mouth safety – for another third-rounder? And the Arizona Cardinals are looking for an offensive tackle. Why not Schwartz? Jackson sure would look nice in silver and Hawaiian blue making tackles behind Ndamukong Suh in Detroit.

If you’re going to purge a team, you might as well weaken it to the point where you’re the odds-on favorite to wind up with the top pick of the college draft. Don’t just sit there, guys. Move.

Make it as difficult on your head coach as you possibly can. Take all the bullets out of his gun belt. And then you can make the ultimate move at the end of the season. Thank him for his efforts. Then fire him.

Absurd? Preposterous? You bet.

Will it happen? No. That would be absurd and preposterous.