NEW YORK -- It was a question that Browns management grappled with for quite some time: defensive end Courtney Brown or linebacker LaVar Arrington?

	Courtney Brown fills Cleveland's need for a prime-time pass rusher.

Both were excellent defenders from Penn State. Both were ranked first at their respective positions. And both would fill pressing needs for a Browns defense that ranked last in the league in 1999.

But in the end, Brown won out -- and fittingly so.

The Browns made Brown the first overall selection of the 2000 NFL draft, held April 15-16 at The Theatre at Madison Square Garden. Despite ranking Brown a shade lower than Arrington, Cleveland felt it couldn't pass on someone who has the potential to become the next Bruce Smith. Interestingly enough, Brown was the first defensive end to be taken No. 1 overall since Smith in '85.

"When it came down to the overriding decision, it was about that position," Browns vice president/director of football operations Dwight Clark said. "One could rush the passer every down, and we felt like that was a better fit for us."

The morning of the draft, Cleveland signed Brown to a six-year contract worth at least $45 million, including a signing bonus of $10.8 million. The team will pay Brown $14 million over the deal's first three years, which is more than QB Tim Couch, Cleveland's No. 1 pick last year, will earn in the first three years of his deal.

Despite the excitement of being the first pick and his new financial status as a millionaire, Brown was his usual low-key self in the press conference following his selection.

"I just try to let my actions speak for themselves," said Brown, who recorded 25 sacks and 52 tackles for loss in his last two years at Penn State. "I just go out there and play and let my game speak for itself."

Arrington, who is the anti-Brown when it comes to speaking, was taken second by the Redskins. But he couldn't have been happier for his teammate, who Arrington believes deserved the honor of being No. 1.

"For Courtney to get No. 1, there's no disappointment for me," said Arrington, who, with Brown, became the third duo from the same school to be chosen 1-2 in draft history. "I couldn't be picked after a better guy. I think he deserved it. I just feel like he was the natural pick for them."

	“	I think it's a great situation I'm stepping into. Bruce Smith and Darrell Green...I think playing with a few future Hall of Famers will be really interesting. I'm really looking forward to it. ”
		— LaVar Arrington

As was Arrington for the Redskins, who needed to upgrade their linebacking corps. Arrington, last season's winner of the Butkus (top college linebacker) and Bednarik (top defensive player) awards, has already been likened to Giants Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor. Arrington did little to squelch the comparisons by requesting to wear Taylor's No. 56 on his jersey, which Arrington displayed at the draft.

Though he's new to the NFL scene, Arrington is well aware of the situation he's walking into. The Redskins, who have been major players in free agency as well as the draft (they selected Alabama offensive tackle Chris Samuels with the No. 3 overall pick, which they acquired in a pre-draft trade), have become a popular choice to represent the NFC in Super Bowl XXXV, perhaps even win it.

"On paper, the Redskins look very, very good -- very good," Arrington said with a laugh. "But the bottom line is you still got to go out there and produce. I think it's a great situation I'm stepping into. Bruce Smith and Darrell Green … I think playing with a few future Hall of Famers will be really interesting. I'm really looking forward to it."