Jim Mora: "I Would Take Sam Darnold If I Were The Browns"

Former UCLA head coach Jim Mora thinks the Cleveland Browns should select Sam Darnold, from crosstown rival USC, with the first pick in the draft.* Mora said this on live television even though Josh Rosen, whom he coached at UCLA, is also right there at the top of most draft boards.

Mora’s explanation? Darnold has “that blue-collar, gritty attitude” and “represents what Cleveland is.”

Darnold was born in Capistrano Beach, Calif., and raised in nearby San Clemente—both renowned incubators of the blue-collar, gritty attitude so synonymous with Cleveland. Mora’s really just trying to save his own QB from the Browns.

* An earlier version of this post incorrectly referred to Mora as Jim Mora Jr. Though he shares the same first name as his father, Mora is not a junior.