Welcome to The Browns Table, a season-long look at the 2008 season for the Cleveland Browns from the point of view of the Browns fans here on Bleacher Report.
We have a special season ending edition of The Browns Table. Effectively eulogizing a disappointing and depressing 2008 for the Cleveland Browns. Romeo Crennel and Phil Savage have been fired. The Browns failed to score a touchdown on offense in their last six games. Brady Quinn told Shaun Smith that Shaun he had a small penis. Ah, the memories!
Thanks to Browns fans John Arend, Samantha Bunten, Greg Cooksey, The Coop, Chris Davies, Scott Glisson, Dustin Haley, David Serdniak and Michael Taylor for their contributions this week and throughout the course of the season.
Without further ado, lets it’s time to hand out some 2008 awards and let’s talk Browns football…
2008 Team MVP
John Arend:
It's tough to choose an MVP for a team with only four wins, because you're basically picking a player who made the team play well enough to at best win four games. Well the choice comes from an odd place for some to conceive. If 2008 proved anything, it proved that Randy Lerner is the most valuable piece of the Cleveland Browns puzzle. Some might say firing Savage was a mistake, but no one can argue Crennel needed to go. If it's true that Lerner and Savage suffered from differing management styles, than no matter what kind of talent Savage is viewed as having, he had to go.
Samantha Bunten:
Phil Dawson.
Greg Cooksey:
Josh Cribbs. He laid it all on the line regardless of whether he was injured or not. Sometimes I wonder if we would have wondered where we would have been offensively without him.
The Coop:
Joshua Cribbs. He does whatever is asked of him with an unmatched intensity, desire and ferocity. Everyone knows what he does and is capable of doing each time he is on the field. More than anything, he brought constant excitement to an otherwise dull surrounding cast.
Chris Davies:
D'Qwell Jackson. He anchored a solid defense and was truly the only bright spot on the field in brown, especially when the offense goes six games without a touchdown
Scott Glisson:
Phil Dawson.
Dustin Haley:
Shaun Rogers. He has been arguably the most consistent player on the team and was the most dominating player on his side of the ball.
David Serdinak:
Shaun Rogers. He was a man all year and never suffered a letdown due to the record.
Jeff Smirnoff:
Shaun Rogers. He forced opposing offenses to account for him and alter their game plan. In the end, the defense as a whole may not have improved, number wise, but it would have been much worse without the effort he put forth every week. He got injured a number of times and could have sat out but came back to play every time.
Michael Taylor:
Josh Cribbs. He had a touchdown receiving, rushing, and on a kick return. Plus, he made countless open field tackles on special teams coverage. What else can you say? The man can do it all.
2008 Offensive Player of the Year
John Arend:
Jamal Lewis. He was the only consistent player on the Browns’ offense this year. No, he didn't have a 100-yard game all season. Yes, he only broke the 1000-yard mark in the last game of the season, but who else in the NFL save for Adrian Peterson could have done better with the horrible passing game the Browns had this
Samantha Bunten:
Jerome Harrison.
Greg Cooksey:
Josh Cribbs. He was the most consistent, if not the only consistent player, on offense.
The Coop:
Joe Thomas. Say what you will about the Pro Bowl, but only the best of the best get the trip to Hawaii. He faced a lot of tough, veteran pass rushers and held his own. He does need to improve on run blocking. Thomas isn’t dominant yet, but he will be.
Chris Davies:
Phil Dawson. No one else deserves this award.
Scott Glisson:
Joe Thomas.
Dustin Haley:
Josh Cribbs. He didn’t put up staggering numbers, but his consistency and versatility made him the most effective offensive weapons.
David Serdinak:
Joe Thomas. This is despite my opinion that he suffered a letdown and didn't deserve the Pro Bowl nod.
Jeff Smirnoff:
Despite his franchise record 30 field goals, Phil Dawson does not play offense, technically, so by default it is Jamal Lewis. He may have lost a step and needs a platoon role but he still got to the 1,000 yard mark in an offense that failed to score a touchdown or amount a legitimate NFL passing attack for the final six games.
Michael Taylor:
Phil Dawson. The Browns lackluster offense created Dawson a career high of 36 field goal attempts and did his job cashing in on 30 of them, including a career high 56 yarder. He continues to fly under the radar as one of the leagues best place kickers.
2008 Defensive Player of the Year
John Arend:
Shaun Rogers. He was the only player who consistently gave opposing offenses fits. If the Browns even had a decent LB corps to back him up, he could have been the NFL Defensive MVP.
Samantha Bunten:
Shaun Rogers.
Greg Cooksey:
Shaun Rogers. He came in with a chip on his shoulder wanting to prove himself. He was our most effective player and even played through injuries. He did his job on the line which is probably more then what anyone else did.
The Coop:
Shaun Rogers. The best thing I can say about him is that he erased all doubts about his character and work ethic that followed him from Detroit. He made impressive plays, including a few blocked field goals, and generally looked steady despite making the switch from a 4-3 tackle to the nose man in the 3-4. He is someone to build around.
Chris Davies:
D’Qwell Jackson and Shaun Rogers. Jackson for leading in tackles, Rogers for leading in sacks.
Scott Glisson:
Brodney Pool.
Dustin Haley:
D’Qwell Jackson. For an undersized linebacker he plays his position surprisingly well. He has a great ability to read offenses and get to the ball, as is shown with his leading the team in tackles.
David Serdinak:
Shaun Rogers, hands down.
Jeff Smirnoff:
While Shaun Rogers in the MVP, D’Qwell Jackson in the defensive player off the year. Although undersized, Jackson is a capable second ILB in a 3-4 set. He made plays in every game, including some at or behind the line of scrimmage, and led the NFL in tackles. Many expected very little from him in 2008 and he performed well above expectations.
Michael Taylor:
Defensively a case could be made for D'Qwell Jackson, but Sean Rogers was the leader of this defense if you ask me. Rogers was the beast in the middle that created pressure on the QB. This helped to lead the Browns to more interceptions and a plus turnover margin.
2008 Breakout Performer
John Arend:
The Secondary. There were times when this corps looked awful, giving up yards by the handful, but given the situation of having two second-year starting CBs and a thin group of backups, this group still managed to be second in the NFL for interceptions with 23.
Samantha Bunten:
Josh Cribbs.
Greg Cooksey:
Jerome Harrison. I did not like Harrison much for the first two years here, but he really showed me something this season. He looked a lot stronger, faster, and he did some plays that he did not do in the past.
The Coop:
Jerome Harrison. He made some electrifying runs and you have to give some respect to the last guy who actually scored a touchdown. I don’t think he’s an every-down back, but in today’s NFL, many of the most successful teams employ a 1-2 punch in the backfield.
Chris Davies:
Brady Quinn, before his injury, looked like the franchise quarterback we want him to be. Unfortunately, I believe that his injury really hindered him and made him look badly in his last game before sitting out. He gives us something to look forward to next year
Scott Glisson:
Jamal Lewis.
Dustin Haley:
Jerome Harrison. Putting up his best statistical season he averaged almost 8.5 yards per touch. Jerome has shown he is able to be a regular contributor on offense rushing and receiving.
David Serdinak:
I may be overlooking someone but I can't think of one.
Jeff Smirnoff:
Jerome Harrison. He finally showed that he deserves 10-15 touches a game. He may not be able to be the main running back due to his size but he has shown, if used properly, he can be an important cog to an offense.
Michael Taylor:
My first instinct was to again say Rogers, but he's been good for a while now. D'Qwell Jackson gave a solid performance this season leading the team, and NFL, in tackles with 154. He had just 101 and 93 the two previous years. He also was better in coverage, intercepting three passes and defending numerous others.
2008 Unsung Hero
John Arend:
Joe Jurevicius. He was the veteran glue that held a group of spoiled brats together in 2007. The team was never the same without him.
Samantha Bunten:
Willie McGinest. His locker-room presence and leadership were the only things that happened to this team off-field this season that can be considered positive.
Greg Cooksey:
Brady Quinn. I know that his season was cut short by injury, but he showed tremendous poise and patience with his situation. I really thought he was very mature. A lot of guys would have sounded off about how they wanted to play or be traded, but Brady was more then happy to make the most of the situation. That to me is deserving of being an unsung hero.
The Coop:
Dave Zastudil. Coming off an injury-plagued 2007, he averaged a career-high 45.5 yards per punt this year, which was 5th best team history and 4th best in the AFC. This helped him vault to the top of the Browns’ all-time career punting list.
Chris Davies:
Dave Zastudil. The man is a terrific punter, really.
Scott Glisson:
Phil Dawson.
Dustin Haley:
Willie McGinest. He may be ageing, but he quietly put together a very solid season. With the defensive line depleted he managed to develop pass rush playing as an end and be a nuisance to offenses from his outside position.
David Serdinak:
Dave Zastudil. He punted plenty and did well.
Jeff Smirnoff:
Phil Dawson. People love to bash the guy and yet if you look at the numbers he may be the best pure kicker in franchise history. He set the franchise record for field goals in a season and is the 4th or 5th most accurate kicker in NFL history.
Michael Taylor:
Steve Heiden is somebody who always goes unnoticed with guys like Winslow around. Heiden is a tough player who can both block and pick up some key catches from the tight-end position. As we can expect, he had another 20-plus catches this year, third on the team.
2008 Lasting Memory
John Arend:
This is a personal memory for me. During the Monday Night game against the Bills, I sat in the Boston Browns Backers local pub. Being an intern in Boston, it was the only place I could go to meet up with Browns fans and watch a game. Toward the beginning of the season, I went with a sense of pride of being a Browns fan and watching a game with a full bar of similar people. As the season wore on, I watched the crowd dwindle each week and grew discouraged by the attitude of those who had given up hope. Walking into the bar that night, I was one of four people who were there to see the game.
I almost gave up myself. Then a funny thing happened, the game started and the four of us started talking about our memories of the browns growing up. We didn't really care what was happening on the screen, we knew it didn't matter much if they won or lost, but we kept watching and didn't let it get to us when the Browns did something stupid. We just sat and enjoyed each other's company and were rewarded with an amazing running touchdown by Harrison. It turned out to be the last offensive TD we would see all season, but it didn't matter because I remembered why I'm a Browns fan: The good people around me, not the players on the field.
Samantha Bunten:
I'd rather forget the whole thing ever happened.
Greg Cooksey:
Monday Night game versus the Giants. My brother and I stood practically the whole game screaming out lungs out and had a big eruption when Eric Wright picked off Eli Manning and took it back for a touchdown. It was awesome! After the game was over people where chanting, giving each other high fives on their way out of the stadium. It was a great feeling.
The Coop:
What will stick with me the most, possibly forever, is the utter disappointment that followed all the hype heading into 2008. I’ve never looked forward to a season more than this one, and I’ve never seen a more pathetic display both on and off the field. As diehard Browns fans, we should have known better
Chris Davies:
Six games without a touchdown to end the season. It's not a good memory, and it will certainly leave a bad taste in everyone's mouth until next year, but it is the one that will stick around.
Scott Glisson:
Phil Dawson’s game winning field goals.
Dustin Haley:
The Monday Night 35 – 14 routing of the New York Giants. The only game we seen were the Browns looked like they were supposed to.
David Serdinak:
Big Shaun Rogers sucking oxygen on the sideline.
Jeff Smirnoff:
The Monday Night beat down of the defending NFL Champion New York Giants. For one night, the Browns were the best team in football.
Michael Taylor:
To me it is not really one moment in time. It is the idea of untapped potential. Braylon and his Butterfinger hands may be the poster-boy for this idea, but it was not just him. The whole team underachieved, or at least I think they did. Or maybe they vastly overachieved last season. In any case, there was enough talent on this team to be around .500 and they didn't do it, and it was horrifyingly bad.
2008 Biggest Surprise
John Arend:
My biggest surprise and disappointment go hand and hand. How could they manage to not score once an offensive TD in the later part of the season?
Samantha Bunten:
Josh Cribbs. I'm not sure his performance was surprising so much as it was the one bright spot in a terrible season.
Greg Cooksey:
The way that the season played out. I really think that while the loss in against the Cowboys was expected but the team would bounce back for the Pittsburgh or Baltimore games and when it did not it cane as a shock to both the fans and the team and they were never able to get themselves going.
The Coop:
Both the biggest surprise and the biggest disappointment was the ineptitude of the front office and coaching staff. I believed there was a plan in place and that the team was finally headed in the right direction.
Chris Davies:
The biggest surprise and disappointment are both the same for me, and it was seeing Ken Dorsey and Bruce Gradkowski start as quarterback.
Scott Glisson:
Losing 12 games.
Dustin Haley:
The biggest surprise for me was that we were second in the league in interceptions with 23. Given our young secondary this stat was unexpected and is very promising for the future.
David Serdinak:
Every surprise was a disappointment, wasn't it? There were no pleasant ones. Lots of things fit both categories. Braylon unable to catch. The Browns inability to score any points. Setting the record for not scoring a touch down. I could go on.
Jeff Smirnoff:
That Phil Savage fell apart. He went from untouchable to unbearable in mere weeks. The way he handled the Kellen Winslow staph infection controversy and the profane e-mail to a fan showed that he was in over his head. It showed that the Browns organization was still dysfunctional despite a 10-6 2007.
Michael Taylor:
Along with the last questions, I see this as one and the same. The biggest surprise to me this year was how quickly things can go bad, and to how extreme that bad can be. Sure the Browns were not 0-16 like Detroit, but I'd argue that the Browns season was just as excruciating as theirs.
2008 Biggest Disappointment
John Arend:
My biggest surprise and disappointment go hand and hand. How could they manage to not score once an offensive TD in the later part of the season?
Samantha Bunten:
Romeo Crennel. I just like the guy. It was disappointing he was unable to be the coach he needed to be.
Greg Cooksey:
The way that the season played out. I really think that while the loss in against the Cowboys was expected but the team would bounce back for the Pittsburgh or Baltimore games and when it did not it cane as a shock to both the fans and the team and they were never able to get themselves going.
The Coop:
Both the biggest surprise and the biggest disappointment was the ineptitude of the front office and coaching staff. I believed there was a plan in place and that the team was finally headed in the right direction.
Chris Davies:
The biggest surprise and disappointment are both the same for me, and it was seeing Ken Dorsey and Bruce Gradkowski start as quarterback.
Scott Glisson:
Only winning four games.
Dustin Haley:
The biggest disappointment would be the ineffectiveness of Jamal Lewis. Although the fault of his season doesn’t completely lie on him, I never expected coming into the season that his ability to wear down defenses would be gone.
David Serdinak:
Every surprise was a disappointment, wasn't it? There were no pleasant ones. Lots of things fit both categories. Braylon unable to catch. The Browns inability to score any points. Setting the record for not scoring a touch down. I could go on.
Jeff Smirnoff:
The serve drop off in play of Braylon Edwards. We all felt Derek Anderson was going to fall back to Earth but Edwards’ play and attitude regressed so badly, even before we were down to a 4th quarterback, that was as if in 2008 he forgot all the things he did right to have an amazing 2007.
Michael Taylor:
All of the silly happenings: Winslow's Staph, E-mail Gate, The Quinn/Smith fight, Edwards dropping balls and claiming he's a marked man from Michigan, Savage throwing Romeo under the bus, setting NFL record for touchdown futility, and I know I'm missing more. All were surprising, and all were huge disappointments.
2008 Best Off-Season Move
John Arend:
Getting Shaun Rogers from the Lions for almost nothing.
Samantha Bunten:
Acquiring Shaun Rogers.
Greg Cooksey:
Trading to get Shaun Rogers.
The Coop:
Acquiring Shaun Rogers.
Chris Davies:
Signing Shaun Rogers to a six-year deal. He is a defensive stalwart and will be of great help for years, hopefully.
Scott Glisson:
Acquiring Shaun Rogers.
Dustin Haley:
For obvious reasons Shaun Rogers was the best move. I questioned initially what we gave up for him, but given the season he has had, he was well worth it.
David Serdinak:
The firing of Romeo Crennel was the best move as overdue as it was
Jeff Smirnoff:
Trading Leigh Bodden and a third round pick to acquire Shaun Rogers.
Michael Taylor:
Trading Leigh Bodden for Sean Rogers.
2008 Worst Off-Season Move
John Arend:
The worst off-season move gambling away the 2009 draft to try and win this year.
Samantha Bunten:
Signing Dante Stallworth to a 7-year deal.
Greg Cooksey:
The trading away of a number of our 2008 and 2009 draft choices.
The Coop:
The worst off-season moves were the entire collection of contract extensions that were handed out like Halloween candy following 2007.
Chris Davies:
Singing Dante' Stallworth. Seventeen catches all season, thanks for the contribution.
Scott Glisson:
The contract extensions of Derek Anderson, Romeo Crennel and Phil Savage.
Dustin Haley:
The worst move was the signing of the overpaid Donte Stallworth. He was the best available receiver when he was signed, but due to his injury history we maybe should have signed less talented veteran to split time as the number two receiver.
David Serdinak:
I haven't seen a bad move yet. Keeping Kellen Winslow would be my bad-move if they do it.
Jeff Smirnoff:
The failure to maximize the potential of the 2008 and 2009 drafts. This is two fold. Derek Anderson should have been traded at his peak value for a first and third round pick based on his tender offer after 2007. Late round picks in 2009 were traded for Beau Bell and Martin Rucker who provided very little, if anything, to the Browns.
Michael Taylor:
Extending the contracts of GM Phil Savage and Derek Anderson after one good season. I might even remember Romeo receiving an extension after last season too. Why does one season of success against weak schedule lead to huge extensions?
The Point the Browns’ 2008 Season Derailed Was…
John Arend:
Pre-Season. The team was already down one veteran leader in Jurevicius and then player after player went down to injury. Although many could come back to start the season, they didn't have the practice to mesh together. By the time they did, the season was already lost and more bad breaks were to come.
Samantha Bunten:
It started Week 9 when the Ravens came to Cleveland but the Buffalo game in Week 11 was when I feel the team completely crashed and burned.
Greg Cooksey:
I would say the exhibition game against the Giants. I think that the team was shell shocked when that happened to them and they could not get back to playing good football. I really think that the effect of the game snowballed and set the tone for the rest of the way.
The Coop:
The Denver game. A second consecutive come-from-ahead loss at home was the biggest punch in the gut of all. It splintered the locker room and proved that the 2008 Browns were pretenders instead of contenders.
Chris Davies:
When Derek Anderson got injured the game after Brady Quinn went on Injured Reserve.
Scott Glisson:
Week 1 against Dallas.
Dustin Haley:
The pre-season debacle against the Giants. Hardly anything went right after that game. I’ve always said that I didn't put emphasis on pre-season games. I’ve since changed my mind.
David Serdinak:
The third loss to Baltimore. After going 0-3 the remaining schedule spelled doom.
Jeff Smirnoff:
The moment Donte Stallworth stepped on a shoeless Braylon Edwards’ foot. This act took all of the moment of the pre-season performance against the Jets away set off a series of events that left the Browns offense out fo sync for the entire season, even before the quarterback carousel tumbled out fo control.
Michael Taylor:
I believe it started in the preseason. Guys were banged up and not playing together through training camp. It then showed in the opening weeks as the Browns went 0-3 to start.
2009 Most Pressing Off-Season Need
John Arend:
Getting a coach and GM who are on the same page, can evaluate the talent on the team and come up with the best possible plan for the future so Randy Lerner doesn't have to be involved again for a long time to come.
Samantha Bunten:
A linebacker and a new head coach who is not Eric Mangini.
Greg Cooksey:
We need depth at our linebacker spots, defensive line and wide receiver spots. But above all else we need leadership on this team.
The Coop:
In terms of personnel, the linebacking corps is far from what’s needed to make the defense feared. They need a dominant pass rusher. The Browns put no pressure on the opposing QB, and this allows their secondary to get picked apart.
More than anything else, Lerner needs to make sure he doesn’t screw up the GM and Head Coach hires. Otherwise, the Browns are headed for another three plus years of watching football on TV during January.
Chris Davies:
Mike Shanahan.
Scott Glisson:
General Manager, Coach and Quarterback.
Dustin Haley:
Find an identity and build around it. Players mean jack otherwise.
David Serdinak:
A legitimate pass-rusher. Until the defense can put some kind of pressure on quarterback the secondary will get lit up by everyone.
Jeff Smirnoff:
To set up and establish a legitimate NFL organization. The Browns are already in a division with two of the best run franchises in football, Pittsburgh and Baltimore, and the fact they are one of the worst run accentuates their shortcomings. Until they have a properly structured organization from President all the way down to assistant coaches their changes at sustained success are small.
Michael Taylor:
Leadership! Someone needs to come in here and create a plan, stick to it, and provide a steady hand of leadership to a franchise in disarray. The Browns have to get this management team right!
Once again, thank you to everyone in the Browns and NFL Communities on Bleacher Report for all the support and patronage!
John Arend, Samantha Bunten, Greg Cooksey, The Coop, Chris Davies, Scott Glisson, Dustin Haley, David Serdniak and Michael Taylor thanks for your input and the chance to trade ideas and perspectives in an utterly frustrating season.
But remember...
We have a special season ending edition of The Browns Table. Effectively eulogizing a disappointing and depressing 2008 for the Cleveland Browns. Romeo Crennel and Phil Savage have been fired. The Browns failed to score a touchdown on offense in their last six games. Brady Quinn told Shaun Smith that Shaun he had a small penis. Ah, the memories!
Thanks to Browns fans John Arend, Samantha Bunten, Greg Cooksey, The Coop, Chris Davies, Scott Glisson, Dustin Haley, David Serdniak and Michael Taylor for their contributions this week and throughout the course of the season.
Without further ado, lets it’s time to hand out some 2008 awards and let’s talk Browns football…
2008 Team MVP
John Arend:
It's tough to choose an MVP for a team with only four wins, because you're basically picking a player who made the team play well enough to at best win four games. Well the choice comes from an odd place for some to conceive. If 2008 proved anything, it proved that Randy Lerner is the most valuable piece of the Cleveland Browns puzzle. Some might say firing Savage was a mistake, but no one can argue Crennel needed to go. If it's true that Lerner and Savage suffered from differing management styles, than no matter what kind of talent Savage is viewed as having, he had to go.
Samantha Bunten:
Phil Dawson.
Greg Cooksey:
Josh Cribbs. He laid it all on the line regardless of whether he was injured or not. Sometimes I wonder if we would have wondered where we would have been offensively without him.
The Coop:
Joshua Cribbs. He does whatever is asked of him with an unmatched intensity, desire and ferocity. Everyone knows what he does and is capable of doing each time he is on the field. More than anything, he brought constant excitement to an otherwise dull surrounding cast.
Chris Davies:
D'Qwell Jackson. He anchored a solid defense and was truly the only bright spot on the field in brown, especially when the offense goes six games without a touchdown
Scott Glisson:
Phil Dawson.
Dustin Haley:
Shaun Rogers. He has been arguably the most consistent player on the team and was the most dominating player on his side of the ball.
David Serdinak:
Shaun Rogers. He was a man all year and never suffered a letdown due to the record.
Jeff Smirnoff:
Shaun Rogers. He forced opposing offenses to account for him and alter their game plan. In the end, the defense as a whole may not have improved, number wise, but it would have been much worse without the effort he put forth every week. He got injured a number of times and could have sat out but came back to play every time.
Michael Taylor:
Josh Cribbs. He had a touchdown receiving, rushing, and on a kick return. Plus, he made countless open field tackles on special teams coverage. What else can you say? The man can do it all.
2008 Offensive Player of the Year
John Arend:
Jamal Lewis. He was the only consistent player on the Browns’ offense this year. No, he didn't have a 100-yard game all season. Yes, he only broke the 1000-yard mark in the last game of the season, but who else in the NFL save for Adrian Peterson could have done better with the horrible passing game the Browns had this
Samantha Bunten:
Jerome Harrison.
Greg Cooksey:
Josh Cribbs. He was the most consistent, if not the only consistent player, on offense.
The Coop:
Joe Thomas. Say what you will about the Pro Bowl, but only the best of the best get the trip to Hawaii. He faced a lot of tough, veteran pass rushers and held his own. He does need to improve on run blocking. Thomas isn’t dominant yet, but he will be.
Chris Davies:
Phil Dawson. No one else deserves this award.
Scott Glisson:
Joe Thomas.
Dustin Haley:
Josh Cribbs. He didn’t put up staggering numbers, but his consistency and versatility made him the most effective offensive weapons.
David Serdinak:
Joe Thomas. This is despite my opinion that he suffered a letdown and didn't deserve the Pro Bowl nod.
Jeff Smirnoff:
Despite his franchise record 30 field goals, Phil Dawson does not play offense, technically, so by default it is Jamal Lewis. He may have lost a step and needs a platoon role but he still got to the 1,000 yard mark in an offense that failed to score a touchdown or amount a legitimate NFL passing attack for the final six games.
Michael Taylor:
Phil Dawson. The Browns lackluster offense created Dawson a career high of 36 field goal attempts and did his job cashing in on 30 of them, including a career high 56 yarder. He continues to fly under the radar as one of the leagues best place kickers.
2008 Defensive Player of the Year
John Arend:
Shaun Rogers. He was the only player who consistently gave opposing offenses fits. If the Browns even had a decent LB corps to back him up, he could have been the NFL Defensive MVP.
Samantha Bunten:
Shaun Rogers.
Greg Cooksey:
Shaun Rogers. He came in with a chip on his shoulder wanting to prove himself. He was our most effective player and even played through injuries. He did his job on the line which is probably more then what anyone else did.
The Coop:
Shaun Rogers. The best thing I can say about him is that he erased all doubts about his character and work ethic that followed him from Detroit. He made impressive plays, including a few blocked field goals, and generally looked steady despite making the switch from a 4-3 tackle to the nose man in the 3-4. He is someone to build around.
Chris Davies:
D’Qwell Jackson and Shaun Rogers. Jackson for leading in tackles, Rogers for leading in sacks.
Scott Glisson:
Brodney Pool.
Dustin Haley:
D’Qwell Jackson. For an undersized linebacker he plays his position surprisingly well. He has a great ability to read offenses and get to the ball, as is shown with his leading the team in tackles.
David Serdinak:
Shaun Rogers, hands down.
Jeff Smirnoff:
While Shaun Rogers in the MVP, D’Qwell Jackson in the defensive player off the year. Although undersized, Jackson is a capable second ILB in a 3-4 set. He made plays in every game, including some at or behind the line of scrimmage, and led the NFL in tackles. Many expected very little from him in 2008 and he performed well above expectations.
Michael Taylor:
Defensively a case could be made for D'Qwell Jackson, but Sean Rogers was the leader of this defense if you ask me. Rogers was the beast in the middle that created pressure on the QB. This helped to lead the Browns to more interceptions and a plus turnover margin.
2008 Breakout Performer
John Arend:
The Secondary. There were times when this corps looked awful, giving up yards by the handful, but given the situation of having two second-year starting CBs and a thin group of backups, this group still managed to be second in the NFL for interceptions with 23.
Samantha Bunten:
Josh Cribbs.
Greg Cooksey:
Jerome Harrison. I did not like Harrison much for the first two years here, but he really showed me something this season. He looked a lot stronger, faster, and he did some plays that he did not do in the past.
The Coop:
Jerome Harrison. He made some electrifying runs and you have to give some respect to the last guy who actually scored a touchdown. I don’t think he’s an every-down back, but in today’s NFL, many of the most successful teams employ a 1-2 punch in the backfield.
Chris Davies:
Brady Quinn, before his injury, looked like the franchise quarterback we want him to be. Unfortunately, I believe that his injury really hindered him and made him look badly in his last game before sitting out. He gives us something to look forward to next year
Scott Glisson:
Jamal Lewis.
Dustin Haley:
Jerome Harrison. Putting up his best statistical season he averaged almost 8.5 yards per touch. Jerome has shown he is able to be a regular contributor on offense rushing and receiving.
David Serdinak:
I may be overlooking someone but I can't think of one.
Jeff Smirnoff:
Jerome Harrison. He finally showed that he deserves 10-15 touches a game. He may not be able to be the main running back due to his size but he has shown, if used properly, he can be an important cog to an offense.
Michael Taylor:
My first instinct was to again say Rogers, but he's been good for a while now. D'Qwell Jackson gave a solid performance this season leading the team, and NFL, in tackles with 154. He had just 101 and 93 the two previous years. He also was better in coverage, intercepting three passes and defending numerous others.
2008 Unsung Hero
John Arend:
Joe Jurevicius. He was the veteran glue that held a group of spoiled brats together in 2007. The team was never the same without him.
Samantha Bunten:
Willie McGinest. His locker-room presence and leadership were the only things that happened to this team off-field this season that can be considered positive.
Greg Cooksey:
Brady Quinn. I know that his season was cut short by injury, but he showed tremendous poise and patience with his situation. I really thought he was very mature. A lot of guys would have sounded off about how they wanted to play or be traded, but Brady was more then happy to make the most of the situation. That to me is deserving of being an unsung hero.
The Coop:
Dave Zastudil. Coming off an injury-plagued 2007, he averaged a career-high 45.5 yards per punt this year, which was 5th best team history and 4th best in the AFC. This helped him vault to the top of the Browns’ all-time career punting list.
Chris Davies:
Dave Zastudil. The man is a terrific punter, really.
Scott Glisson:
Phil Dawson.
Dustin Haley:
Willie McGinest. He may be ageing, but he quietly put together a very solid season. With the defensive line depleted he managed to develop pass rush playing as an end and be a nuisance to offenses from his outside position.
David Serdinak:
Dave Zastudil. He punted plenty and did well.
Jeff Smirnoff:
Phil Dawson. People love to bash the guy and yet if you look at the numbers he may be the best pure kicker in franchise history. He set the franchise record for field goals in a season and is the 4th or 5th most accurate kicker in NFL history.
Michael Taylor:
Steve Heiden is somebody who always goes unnoticed with guys like Winslow around. Heiden is a tough player who can both block and pick up some key catches from the tight-end position. As we can expect, he had another 20-plus catches this year, third on the team.
2008 Lasting Memory
John Arend:
This is a personal memory for me. During the Monday Night game against the Bills, I sat in the Boston Browns Backers local pub. Being an intern in Boston, it was the only place I could go to meet up with Browns fans and watch a game. Toward the beginning of the season, I went with a sense of pride of being a Browns fan and watching a game with a full bar of similar people. As the season wore on, I watched the crowd dwindle each week and grew discouraged by the attitude of those who had given up hope. Walking into the bar that night, I was one of four people who were there to see the game.
I almost gave up myself. Then a funny thing happened, the game started and the four of us started talking about our memories of the browns growing up. We didn't really care what was happening on the screen, we knew it didn't matter much if they won or lost, but we kept watching and didn't let it get to us when the Browns did something stupid. We just sat and enjoyed each other's company and were rewarded with an amazing running touchdown by Harrison. It turned out to be the last offensive TD we would see all season, but it didn't matter because I remembered why I'm a Browns fan: The good people around me, not the players on the field.
Samantha Bunten:
I'd rather forget the whole thing ever happened.
Greg Cooksey:
Monday Night game versus the Giants. My brother and I stood practically the whole game screaming out lungs out and had a big eruption when Eric Wright picked off Eli Manning and took it back for a touchdown. It was awesome! After the game was over people where chanting, giving each other high fives on their way out of the stadium. It was a great feeling.
The Coop:
What will stick with me the most, possibly forever, is the utter disappointment that followed all the hype heading into 2008. I’ve never looked forward to a season more than this one, and I’ve never seen a more pathetic display both on and off the field. As diehard Browns fans, we should have known better
Chris Davies:
Six games without a touchdown to end the season. It's not a good memory, and it will certainly leave a bad taste in everyone's mouth until next year, but it is the one that will stick around.
Scott Glisson:
Phil Dawson’s game winning field goals.
Dustin Haley:
The Monday Night 35 – 14 routing of the New York Giants. The only game we seen were the Browns looked like they were supposed to.
David Serdinak:
Big Shaun Rogers sucking oxygen on the sideline.
Jeff Smirnoff:
The Monday Night beat down of the defending NFL Champion New York Giants. For one night, the Browns were the best team in football.
Michael Taylor:
To me it is not really one moment in time. It is the idea of untapped potential. Braylon and his Butterfinger hands may be the poster-boy for this idea, but it was not just him. The whole team underachieved, or at least I think they did. Or maybe they vastly overachieved last season. In any case, there was enough talent on this team to be around .500 and they didn't do it, and it was horrifyingly bad.
2008 Biggest Surprise
John Arend:
My biggest surprise and disappointment go hand and hand. How could they manage to not score once an offensive TD in the later part of the season?
Samantha Bunten:
Josh Cribbs. I'm not sure his performance was surprising so much as it was the one bright spot in a terrible season.
Greg Cooksey:
The way that the season played out. I really think that while the loss in against the Cowboys was expected but the team would bounce back for the Pittsburgh or Baltimore games and when it did not it cane as a shock to both the fans and the team and they were never able to get themselves going.
The Coop:
Both the biggest surprise and the biggest disappointment was the ineptitude of the front office and coaching staff. I believed there was a plan in place and that the team was finally headed in the right direction.
Chris Davies:
The biggest surprise and disappointment are both the same for me, and it was seeing Ken Dorsey and Bruce Gradkowski start as quarterback.
Scott Glisson:
Losing 12 games.
Dustin Haley:
The biggest surprise for me was that we were second in the league in interceptions with 23. Given our young secondary this stat was unexpected and is very promising for the future.
David Serdinak:
Every surprise was a disappointment, wasn't it? There were no pleasant ones. Lots of things fit both categories. Braylon unable to catch. The Browns inability to score any points. Setting the record for not scoring a touch down. I could go on.
Jeff Smirnoff:
That Phil Savage fell apart. He went from untouchable to unbearable in mere weeks. The way he handled the Kellen Winslow staph infection controversy and the profane e-mail to a fan showed that he was in over his head. It showed that the Browns organization was still dysfunctional despite a 10-6 2007.
Michael Taylor:
Along with the last questions, I see this as one and the same. The biggest surprise to me this year was how quickly things can go bad, and to how extreme that bad can be. Sure the Browns were not 0-16 like Detroit, but I'd argue that the Browns season was just as excruciating as theirs.
2008 Biggest Disappointment
John Arend:
My biggest surprise and disappointment go hand and hand. How could they manage to not score once an offensive TD in the later part of the season?
Samantha Bunten:
Romeo Crennel. I just like the guy. It was disappointing he was unable to be the coach he needed to be.
Greg Cooksey:
The way that the season played out. I really think that while the loss in against the Cowboys was expected but the team would bounce back for the Pittsburgh or Baltimore games and when it did not it cane as a shock to both the fans and the team and they were never able to get themselves going.
The Coop:
Both the biggest surprise and the biggest disappointment was the ineptitude of the front office and coaching staff. I believed there was a plan in place and that the team was finally headed in the right direction.
Chris Davies:
The biggest surprise and disappointment are both the same for me, and it was seeing Ken Dorsey and Bruce Gradkowski start as quarterback.
Scott Glisson:
Only winning four games.
Dustin Haley:
The biggest disappointment would be the ineffectiveness of Jamal Lewis. Although the fault of his season doesn’t completely lie on him, I never expected coming into the season that his ability to wear down defenses would be gone.
David Serdinak:
Every surprise was a disappointment, wasn't it? There were no pleasant ones. Lots of things fit both categories. Braylon unable to catch. The Browns inability to score any points. Setting the record for not scoring a touch down. I could go on.
Jeff Smirnoff:
The serve drop off in play of Braylon Edwards. We all felt Derek Anderson was going to fall back to Earth but Edwards’ play and attitude regressed so badly, even before we were down to a 4th quarterback, that was as if in 2008 he forgot all the things he did right to have an amazing 2007.
Michael Taylor:
All of the silly happenings: Winslow's Staph, E-mail Gate, The Quinn/Smith fight, Edwards dropping balls and claiming he's a marked man from Michigan, Savage throwing Romeo under the bus, setting NFL record for touchdown futility, and I know I'm missing more. All were surprising, and all were huge disappointments.
2008 Best Off-Season Move
John Arend:
Getting Shaun Rogers from the Lions for almost nothing.
Samantha Bunten:
Acquiring Shaun Rogers.
Greg Cooksey:
Trading to get Shaun Rogers.
The Coop:
Acquiring Shaun Rogers.
Chris Davies:
Signing Shaun Rogers to a six-year deal. He is a defensive stalwart and will be of great help for years, hopefully.
Scott Glisson:
Acquiring Shaun Rogers.
Dustin Haley:
For obvious reasons Shaun Rogers was the best move. I questioned initially what we gave up for him, but given the season he has had, he was well worth it.
David Serdinak:
The firing of Romeo Crennel was the best move as overdue as it was
Jeff Smirnoff:
Trading Leigh Bodden and a third round pick to acquire Shaun Rogers.
Michael Taylor:
Trading Leigh Bodden for Sean Rogers.
2008 Worst Off-Season Move
John Arend:
The worst off-season move gambling away the 2009 draft to try and win this year.
Samantha Bunten:
Signing Dante Stallworth to a 7-year deal.
Greg Cooksey:
The trading away of a number of our 2008 and 2009 draft choices.
The Coop:
The worst off-season moves were the entire collection of contract extensions that were handed out like Halloween candy following 2007.
Chris Davies:
Singing Dante' Stallworth. Seventeen catches all season, thanks for the contribution.
Scott Glisson:
The contract extensions of Derek Anderson, Romeo Crennel and Phil Savage.
Dustin Haley:
The worst move was the signing of the overpaid Donte Stallworth. He was the best available receiver when he was signed, but due to his injury history we maybe should have signed less talented veteran to split time as the number two receiver.
David Serdinak:
I haven't seen a bad move yet. Keeping Kellen Winslow would be my bad-move if they do it.
Jeff Smirnoff:
The failure to maximize the potential of the 2008 and 2009 drafts. This is two fold. Derek Anderson should have been traded at his peak value for a first and third round pick based on his tender offer after 2007. Late round picks in 2009 were traded for Beau Bell and Martin Rucker who provided very little, if anything, to the Browns.
Michael Taylor:
Extending the contracts of GM Phil Savage and Derek Anderson after one good season. I might even remember Romeo receiving an extension after last season too. Why does one season of success against weak schedule lead to huge extensions?
The Point the Browns’ 2008 Season Derailed Was…
John Arend:
Pre-Season. The team was already down one veteran leader in Jurevicius and then player after player went down to injury. Although many could come back to start the season, they didn't have the practice to mesh together. By the time they did, the season was already lost and more bad breaks were to come.
Samantha Bunten:
It started Week 9 when the Ravens came to Cleveland but the Buffalo game in Week 11 was when I feel the team completely crashed and burned.
Greg Cooksey:
I would say the exhibition game against the Giants. I think that the team was shell shocked when that happened to them and they could not get back to playing good football. I really think that the effect of the game snowballed and set the tone for the rest of the way.
The Coop:
The Denver game. A second consecutive come-from-ahead loss at home was the biggest punch in the gut of all. It splintered the locker room and proved that the 2008 Browns were pretenders instead of contenders.
Chris Davies:
When Derek Anderson got injured the game after Brady Quinn went on Injured Reserve.
Scott Glisson:
Week 1 against Dallas.
Dustin Haley:
The pre-season debacle against the Giants. Hardly anything went right after that game. I’ve always said that I didn't put emphasis on pre-season games. I’ve since changed my mind.
David Serdinak:
The third loss to Baltimore. After going 0-3 the remaining schedule spelled doom.
Jeff Smirnoff:
The moment Donte Stallworth stepped on a shoeless Braylon Edwards’ foot. This act took all of the moment of the pre-season performance against the Jets away set off a series of events that left the Browns offense out fo sync for the entire season, even before the quarterback carousel tumbled out fo control.
Michael Taylor:
I believe it started in the preseason. Guys were banged up and not playing together through training camp. It then showed in the opening weeks as the Browns went 0-3 to start.
2009 Most Pressing Off-Season Need
John Arend:
Getting a coach and GM who are on the same page, can evaluate the talent on the team and come up with the best possible plan for the future so Randy Lerner doesn't have to be involved again for a long time to come.
Samantha Bunten:
A linebacker and a new head coach who is not Eric Mangini.
Greg Cooksey:
We need depth at our linebacker spots, defensive line and wide receiver spots. But above all else we need leadership on this team.
The Coop:
In terms of personnel, the linebacking corps is far from what’s needed to make the defense feared. They need a dominant pass rusher. The Browns put no pressure on the opposing QB, and this allows their secondary to get picked apart.
More than anything else, Lerner needs to make sure he doesn’t screw up the GM and Head Coach hires. Otherwise, the Browns are headed for another three plus years of watching football on TV during January.
Chris Davies:
Mike Shanahan.
Scott Glisson:
General Manager, Coach and Quarterback.
Dustin Haley:
Find an identity and build around it. Players mean jack otherwise.
David Serdinak:
A legitimate pass-rusher. Until the defense can put some kind of pressure on quarterback the secondary will get lit up by everyone.
Jeff Smirnoff:
To set up and establish a legitimate NFL organization. The Browns are already in a division with two of the best run franchises in football, Pittsburgh and Baltimore, and the fact they are one of the worst run accentuates their shortcomings. Until they have a properly structured organization from President all the way down to assistant coaches their changes at sustained success are small.
Michael Taylor:
Leadership! Someone needs to come in here and create a plan, stick to it, and provide a steady hand of leadership to a franchise in disarray. The Browns have to get this management team right!
Once again, thank you to everyone in the Browns and NFL Communities on Bleacher Report for all the support and patronage!
John Arend, Samantha Bunten, Greg Cooksey, The Coop, Chris Davies, Scott Glisson, Dustin Haley, David Serdniak and Michael Taylor thanks for your input and the chance to trade ideas and perspectives in an utterly frustrating season.
But remember...
"Every rose has it's thorn.
Just like every night has it's dawn.
Just like every cowboy sings a sad, sad song..."
2008 was the thorn. Let's hope 2009 is the rose!
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