A CLEVELANDER IN EXILE... NO MORE!!!

Browns Sloppy in Loss to Lions

2010-08-28T20:18:00.001-04:00

Thoughts about the Browns after the 35-27 loss to the Lions in Pre-Season Week 3…

Jake Delhomme had a great day statistically (10-25, 152 yards, 1 TD) but did look a little “off” on a number of throws. Brian Robiskie, Josh Cribbs and Evan Moore all bailed him out with great catches on off target throws. That being said, Delhomme still has a presence that we haven’t seen in a long time in Cleveland. You have to LOVE on how fired up he was when he got face-masked and head-slammed Ndamukong Suh. He may struggle from time to time but the guy won’t let failure deter him.

Seneca Wallace was up and down making some really nice plays with this legs and arm but looking ragged at times as well. Running him out of the Pistol Formation is definitely intriguing. Keep in mind we still haven’t seen the “Flash” or “Cyclone” packages with he and Cribbs yet. If Delhomme falters, it’s Wallace to the rescue but it will be interesting how they incorporate him into the week to week game plans during the season.

Colt McCoy is not going to play this year. Period. If both Delhomme and Wallace both go down the Browns will grab a free agent, veteran QB. The kid looks overwhelmed at the pace of the game. I haven’t seen him throw down field effectively and when he doe it has not been pretty. The kid is going to make the team but shouldn’t see the field unless the Browns are up by 28.

I am a big Jerome Harrison honk, but this fumblitis the last two weeks is cause for concern. The guy is a warrior especially at that position and at his size but with Montario Hardesty getting healthy and Peyton Hillis shining in the pre-season Harrison better check himself or he will be seeing a lot less of the field than he wants.

Speaking of Hillis, seeing he and Vickers in the backfield makes me salivate. Two big backs., both wearing numbers in the forties, both who rather hit you then juke you. Old school. Love it.

Hard to believe but I am pining for the days of the Human Parking Cone Kevin Shaffer. My detest for John St. Clair as a player is well documented and Tony Pashos did nothing to impress me today either. Guy stunk when he was at Baltimore and, sadly, they are good judges of talent. Throw in that he can’t stay healthy in the last three years and it is a concern. Save us Pork Chop Womack, you’re our only hope! (I just threw up in my mouth a little bit typing that.)

The defense is getting more and more worrisome. Joe Haden and T. J. Ward do look like ball players but they are young and need time to develop. They will evolve over the year but it will take time. The front seven’s inability to generate pass rush will put even more pressure on the young ones.

No Shaun Rogers definitely hurts and other that Ahtyba Rubin no one else on the defensive line has looked impressive, although Brian Shaeffering did look solid today. The linebackers will be mixed and matched and I hope Eric Mangini and Rob Ryan are holding back a bunch of looks for the regular season. It will be interesting on who makes this squad after Thursday’s final pre-season game. The David Veikunes, Kaluka Maiavas and Jason Trusniks of the world need be worried.

Javid Best exposed the Browns lack of athleticism up front and they need to make that up with scheme and technique. The Lions are an up and coming offensive team but no where near the quality of offense that the Browns will face during the regular season. They need to step it up big time if they are going to be competitive on that side of the ball.

So it goes with the Browns. I come into camp worried about the offense and I leave peeing myself about the defense. Such is life. First cuts down to 75 on Tuesday, the Bears on the Thursday and final cuts to 53 Saturday. It will be interesting on how Tom Heckert shapes up this roster. Eric Mangini went through a lot of guys last year but no longer has control over the 53 man roster. Those in spots 45 an below must make a showing on Thursday as the starts will play little if at all.

Browns Top Packers 27-24

2010-08-15T14:25:00.000-04:00

Well, after the Browns ended the 2009 season on the strength of a stifling defense and power running game it only makes sense that they would open the 2010 exhibition season throwing the ball all over the place in a 27-24 win over the Green Bay Packers. The only thing that makes sense for the Browns since their reincarnation in 1999 is that they never make sense.

Taking the opening kick-off and never looking back, Jake Delhomme temporarily tabled talks of his sub-par Training Camp with a 6 for 7 effort that spread the ball around to Mohammed Massaquoi, Brian Robiskie and Evan Moore. Delhomme look sharp, decisive and in control, qualities that have rarely been associated with a Browns quarterback in the past few years. It was Delhomme’s only series on the night but it was a refreshing sight to see the Browns offense come out strong from the beginning for once.

Delhomme looked good but Seneca Wallace may have looked even better. Undersized but athletic, Wallace kept the Green Bay defense off balance by rolling out of the pocket and keeping plays alive with his legs. He hit Robiskie in the back corner of the endzone for one touchdown and then threw a perfect pass down the seam to Tight End Ben Watson for another. If Delhomme does falter at some point it appears the Browns do have a viable option in their back pocket.

Colt McCoy did a good job of putting the minority calling for him to get more snaps to bed as he looked awful in almost two quarters of work. Five for ten for only 25 yards and two awful, awful interceptions showed why he needs to “redshirt” in 2010 and learn from the veterans. Some of the pundits thought he might be he top QB prospect in this year’s draft but he does need to sit and learn for at least a year. Tim Couch and Charlie Frye would agree with that sentiment wholeheartedly.

Other than that it was good to see the Browns pick up some short yardage with Jerome Harrison running behind Lawrence Vickers and the offensive line. They may have thrown it around the field yesterday but the Browns are still going to want to stuff it down the opposition’s throat during the regular season.

Peyton Hillis also flashed his patented hands on a few screens and may be a nice third down option out of the back field. Moore lined up in the slot a lot which is a nice option in two tight ends sets with Watson. I have a hunch these guys are going to catch a ton of balls this year. The best sign was that despite the presence of any big names at the skill positions the Browns spread the ball around and kept the defense off balance… without any Wildcat or Cyclone packages. That is a very good thing.

The defense however did not fair as well on the day. Aaron Rodgers, and Matt Flynn after him, and his receiving core picked apart the Browns defense for their entire stay. Rodgers was 10 for 10 with a TD in the first two Green Bay drives on the night. Greg Jennings burnt rookie T. J. Ward on the first score and fullback Jon Kuhn bulled over Ward from 2 yards out for the second. Ward wasn’t the only offender on the tackling front and the Browns seemed to have trouble wrapping up and taking down the Packers all night.

The only good things that stood out were the fact the Browns were stout against the run all night across the board. Ahtyba Rubin forced a fumble on Green Bay’s first play from scrimmage and makes the whispers of Shaun Rogers moving to end make sense. Ward was everywhere despite being picked on at times a delivered big hit from the safety position that the Browns have not seen since 1995. Marcus Bernard or Jason Trusnik may not make the team due to the linebacking depth the Browns have, but both guys are high motor guys that are all over the place that will find a place elsewhere if not here.

Kudos to Phil Dawson for drilling field goals of 58 and 46 yards to win the game (and prevent the dreaded pre-season overtime). Joe Thomas and Josh Cribbs are special players, but after them Dawson may be the third best player on the team since their rebirth. He’s clutch, has made ridiculous kicks in adverse conditions and gets better as the years go on.

With Dave Zastudil out Reggie Hodges was hit and miss with punting duties and it wouldn’t surprise me if Zastudil is not ready that the Browns scour the waiver wire after cut to find a more reliable option. Zastudil, like Dawson, quietly spoils us with his consistency at an often ignored position. Dropping over HALF his kicks inside the twenty before getting hurt last year is a sick statistic, especially when you consider how much the Browns punted last year.

Its back home for #1 pick Sam Bradford and the St. Louis Rams next Saturday night. Hopefully we’ll get to see a little more of Delhomme and the first team O and the defense can step it up. It was a very impressive debut and let’s hope things get even better. A brutal regular season schedule awaits in 3 weeks and the Browns need all the confidence going into 2010 that they can generate.

Browns Bomb in Denver, 27-6

2009-09-20T19:58:00.001-04:00

It is often said that things sometimes have to get worse before they can get better. For the Cleveland Browns they better hope for teo things. One, that the proverb is true and two, that they can’t get much worse then their performance in a 27-6 loss to the Denver Broncos.

In a game that could have been a lot worse if not for two Matt Prater missed field goals, the Browns once again kept it close in the first half only to be manhandled after the second half kickoff. Failing to take advantage of opportunities presented by the Broncos and presenting more than a few to Denver was the story of the game for the beaten and battered Browns.

Cleveland got a gift on the opening kickoff when Peyton Hillis fumbled but was unable to convert the turnover into a touchdown and had to settle for a Phil Dawson field goal. The Broncos, on the other hand, were able to convert an Alex Mack botched snap into a touchdown pass form Kyle Orton to Tony Sheffler.

If the Browns play calling could be described in two words in would be boring and horrible. Once again deciding not to stretch the field, Eric Mangini and Brian Daboll instead attempted utilize a short passing attack. This was rendered ineffective by Brady Quinn’s inefficiencies and the inability of the offensive line to give Quinn time to throw.

After looking decent in two starts in 2008, Quinn has looked overmatched and unable to make plays. Today was no different as he seemed to have little or no cohesiveness with his receivers all game. Tackle John St. Clair did not help things as he yielded four sacks to Denver’s Elvis Dumerville, which set a Broncos franchise record. Once again another game without an offensive touchdown, which makes it seven out of eight games for the Browns.

The Browns defensive performance mirrored than of the first game versus Minnesota. They managed to keep the team in the game in the first half, helped by Prater’s two missed kicks, but derailed as the second half wore on. Whether it is just being worn down by the opposing offense, not having enough playmakers on that side of the ball or just losing faith that the offense will keep you in a game the Browns defense can not seem to put a complete game together.

So it’s 0-2 for the Browns with a trip to Baltimore to face the rugged Ravens and a home tilt versus the much improved Bengals staring them right in the face. If the Browns don’t find some sort of consistency, or more importantly some sort of team identity, in a hurry they are look at an even monger and more brutal season than most predicted.

For the Browns sake they better hope that proverb exist for a reason. Because it will be very difficult to get much worse than they have been in the first two games of the season. And it will be that much more difficult to watch for the Cleveland faithful.

The Browns Table: Season Preview

2009-09-14T21:06:00.001-04:00

We are back and better than ever!

Welcome to the 2009 edition of The Browns Table, a season-long look at the Cleveland Browns from views of the Browns fans here on Bleacher Report.

We have a special season preview edition of The Browns Table this week. Taking a look at the Browns no longer secret QB situation (Damn you, TO!) along with what we expect on both sides of the ball and where we thing the Browns will finish in 2009.

Thanks to fellow Browns fan Samantha Bunten for her contributions this week and throughout the course of the 2009 NFL season. Anyone willing to participate can contact me by leaving a note on my profile.

As Adam Carolla would say, “Let’s get it on” and let’s talk some Browns football…

Brady Quinn was finally named the starting QB for the Browns. What do you think of the decision and what does he need to do in 2009 to show you he is the QB of the future for the team?

Samantha Bunten:
Quinn was the obvious and correct choice. I agree with the decision, but I don't truly believe he is the quarterback of the future for this team. Quinn will be better than Anderson, but that doesn't mean he will be good. I haven't seen anything out of Quinn that convinces me he can lead this franchise anywhere.

However, nothing would make me happier than to have Quinn prove me wrong. He has the swagger and the mobility to command the position, but he needs to prove he has the ability to make adjustments and to truly be the team's field general, not just the guy taking the snaps.

And speaking of snaps, Mangini hasn't done Quinn any favors by failing to name a starting center for the opener. A relatively inexperienced quarterback needs to establish as much consistency and routine for himself as possible, and that's tough when you don't even know who's going to feed you the ball in a couple of days.

Jeff Smirnoff:
It was the only sane decision. Anyone who didn’t think he was the guy from Day 1 was fooling themselves. Ryan Leaf, Akili Smith, Heath Shuler and many other first round choices got 1-2 seasons to prove themselves (or disprove themselves, I should say) while Quinn has had 3 games, one with a broken finger. The Browns need to know if he is their franchise QB for years to come or if they need to address the position in the off season. Derek Anderson has had a chance to be evaluated and we know his strength and weaknesses and they were still evident in preseason. I think he is a great back-up QB and can still be a starter in the NFL but 2009 is about evaluating Quinn.

The offense failed to score a touchdown in the final six games of 2008. What do you expect from them in 2009 and what position has you most concerned on that side of the ball?

Samantha Bunten:
The offense can only get better, and get better they will. The question is how much better. Feature back Jamal Lewis will be a workhorse as always, but he's well past his prime. I'm excited to see what James Davis can do to bring some youth and energy to the position.

The receiving corps has a huge upside...if any of them can ever hang onto the ball. Robiskie, like Edwards, worries too much about where the hit is coming from to focus on the ball, and Massaquoi spent his whole senior season at Georgia with a mean case of the dropsies. If he can improve upon that though, he looks to be solid at the position and is a huge threat after catching a ball.

What concerns me most...just one position? Ok, ok. I'll go with tight end. The Browns have no stand-outs at this position. Heiden is solid, but not a number one guy. Beyond that, the position is staffed only with mediocre talent like Robert Royal and Martin Rucker.

Jeff Smirnoff:
Consistency. With Quinn at the helm, I expect a lot more sustained drives and a professional looking offense. It will be interesting to see how Brian Daboll works as a first time coordinator. I think the line will gel over the course of the year with Alex Mack and Rex Hadnot and that will help Quinn’s growth. Braylon Edwards and Josh Cribbs can make some plays in the passing game with Mike Furrey being a poor man’s Joe Jurevicius. If Daboll can find a way to work Jamal Lewis, Jerome Harrison and James Davis into the backfield to take the pressure off Quinn it will help the cause.

On defense, there a lot of seasoned veterans and young up and comers but not a lot of impact players. What area of the defense scares you the most heading into 2009?

Samantha Bunten:
Two things about the defense really scare me. The first is that the perpetually troublesome position for the Browns, OLB, is still looking like it will be just as much of an Achilles' heel for the team as it has been in years past.

Wimbley is a great guy and a great teammate, and there is still a chance he can be the guy we thought he would be after watching his rookie season in 2006, but for the most part he underachieves on the field in terms of making sacks and applying pressure. I'm not sold on David Bowens, one of many of Mangini's former "Pet Jets", but youngster Alex Hall may help the pass rush.

The second thing about the defense that scares me is the lack of depth at safety. I like Brodney Poole a lot, and Abram Elam is, for better or for worse, a very similar player to Sean Jones, the guy he will be replacing. The problem is that beyond those two, there's nobody waiting in the wings who I am comfortable sending onto the field on any given Sunday.

Jeff Smirnoff:
Linebacker. The 3-4 defense is all about the front three eating up blockers to allow the linebackers to make plays at or behind the line of scrimmage. This requires hard hitting, aggressive ILBs and OLBs who can generate a pass rush. The Browns have no such playmakers at linebacker currently. Maybe Alex Hall can develop. Maybe Kamerion Wimbley can return to his rookie form but those are maybes. D’Qwell Jackson is a solid second ILB but not an impact ILB the Browns sorely need. Until they address the LB core the team’s growth will be stunted.

Which player on the defensive side of the ball most needs to "make the leap" to help the Browns evolve into a competent defense?

Samantha Bunten:
D'Qwell Jackson is the guy who needs to "make the leap", and for once, the Browns may actually get what they need, as Jackson is capable of doing it. Jackson is already a standout at LILB and should only get better.

He's very accurate and misses blocks well. What he needs to improve on is his aggressive play, from forcing more turnovers to performing better in coverage and adapting to the new 3-4 scheme adopted by the defense this season. Jackson has the athleticism and the mental ability to do what he needs to do to make the leap, and hopefully, this will positively impact for the entire defense.

Jeff Smirnoff:
Abram Elam, no doubt. It would help if Alex Hall could develop into an impact OLB or Kamerion Wimbley would revert back to his rookie form but it all rests on Elam. The Browns have needed a leader and hard hitter in the defensive backfield since Brian Russell was not resigned. The 3-4 is all about impact LBs and a smash mouth safety. There are no impact LBs evident as of today but Elam has shown flashes of being able to take control at safety. If he can fill it, its one less huge hole they don’t need to address in the off-season. If not, someone page Taylor Mays of USC.

The Browns have a number of rookies that have a chance to make an impact. Who do you think steps up and becomes a player this season?

Samantha Bunten:
If Alex Mack can own the Center's position and wrest it away - permanently - from Hank Fraley, he could have a huge impact on helping Brady Quinn's game. Mack struggled in camp, but lined up at Center for the final three pre-season games, indicating that Mangini is considering him for the position as much as Fraley. Mangini has stated that he isn't opposed to playing both, but I think for Quinn's sake, it would be far better to be lined up behind the same guy every week. If Mack steps up, he could be that guy.

Massaquoi, as mentioned above, could be an impact receiver if he can hold onto the ball, particularly in heavy traffic. David Veikune was great at getting to the quarterback in college. If he can duplicate that in the NFL, he could be huge.

Jeff Smirnoff:
Kaluka Maiava on special teams and James Davis on offense. Maiava was in on every tackle on special teams. Rookie WRs hardly ever make a huge impact so Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi are out. David Veikune is adjusting to moving NFL OLB from NCAA DE which will take time. Alex Mack will start but offensive lines take time to gel. Davis has a chance to take advantage of a worn down Jamal Lewis and injury prone Jerome Harrison and become and intricate part of the Browns’ offense. The second year in a row that the Browns’ last draft pick is their best.

OK, call your shot. What record do the Browns finish at in 2009 and why?

Samantha Bunten:
I'll say the Browns finish at 5-11, but will be better than their record indicates. The schedule-makers didn't do the Browns any favors this year, just as being in the tough AFC North hurts them by forcing them to play a quarter of their schedule against the likes of Pittsburgh and Baltimore.

Their weakest opponents, like Kansas City and Denver, are unfortunately road games. The Browns are going to have to fight hard for every victory this season. Let's hope they're up to the challenge

Jeff Smirnoff:
Until I actually see the Browns punch the Appalachian Inbred and Ratbirds back when they get punched themselves I can not pick them to beat their two historic rivals. Throw in the Bengals being improved if Carson Palmer is healthy and I don’t see more than one win in the division. I see them splitting the other 10 games for a 6-10 record. I think the offense begin to gel under Quinn with the O line and rookies developing but the defense will hold them back until they get playmakers at safety and linebacker. Too many good QBs on the schedule to exploit the defense.

Browns' 2009 Can Not Be Judged by Wins Alone

2009-09-07T19:17:00.001-04:00

With the Cavaliers falling short in the NBA play-offs and the Indians’ reverting back to their mid-1980s ineptitude, Cleveland fans are starved for some winning. With the NFL about to kick-off 2009, the Browns don’t look like they are going to change that trend anytime soon but when it comes to this season the Browns can not be judged by their record.

Lacking an identity from the top down since their reincarnations, the Browns’ have been mismanaged by three separate regimes since the Lerner Family was awarded the franchise in 1999. Eric Mangini is the latest to take a chance at rebuilding the once proud franchise after three up an down years at the helm of the New York Jets.

What Mangini lacks in personality and forthrightness he makes up with attention to detail and accountability. The latter is something that has been missing in Cleveland for a long time. While Mangini may or may not be able to generate a wining record in his first year along the shores of Lake Erie how he builds and constructs the team is of much more importance.

Since their return, the Browns have not just played bad football. At times, it would be hard to classify the product on the field as professional football. If Mangini can make the Browns look like a professional football team for 16 weeks, it would be a giant step in the right direction.

Minimal penalties, competent games plans and putting players in a position to succeed are things that have not been seen on the North Coast for the last ten years. These things along with crisp execution and motivation need to be laid as the foundation to establish a consistent winning franchise in the NFL.

While establishing this foundation is key, the wins will not follow quickly in 2009 as the Browns face a serious lack of talent on both sides of the ball. This is why the 2009 campaign can not be judge by the win column. How many players and at what positions are what Mangini’s Browns should be evaluated upon.

ON offense it’s time to turn over the reigns to Brady Quinn and see what he can do. A first round draft pick QB needs at least two seasons to be evaluated properly. Brady Quinn has had 3 games. The likes of Ryan Leaf, Akili Smith and Heath Shuler have gotten more than that.

No offense to Derek Anderson but we have seen what he is and is not capable of. He may be a serviceable NFL QB but the need to evaluate Quinn is paramount to 2009. Because if neither Quinn nor Anderson is the answer then the Browns have a huge hole they need to fill for 2010 and beyond.

The rest of the offense is young and their development must parallel Quinn’s. A number of question need to be answer that will determine the direction of the franchise for 2009 and beyond.

Can James Davis and Jerome Harrison be a formative duo to supplant Jamal Lewis in 201 if not sooner? How will Brian Robiskie and Mohammed Massaquoi develop as compliments to Braylon Edwards? Does Edwards fit into Cleveland’s long term plans and can he realize the enormous potential that rests deep inside.

The Browns also need to develop a cohesive offensive line. The offensive line is always more than the sum of its parts. In 2007, moving Ryan Tucker to guard somehow made The Human Parking Cone, Kevin Shaffer, into a serviceable NFL right tackle. Rookie Alex Mack is thrown into the fire at center with Joe Thomas and Eric Steinbach anchoring the left side of the line. How this unit gels will undoubtedly affect the development of the offense as a whole.

The defense is an even bigger cause for concern. Shaun Rogers looks to me the only playmaker on that side of the ball in a defense that desperately needs more. The 3-4 defense demands a hard hitting impact player at ILB. D’Qwell Jackson may be a good second ILB but the Browns will need to find and develop a playmaker.

They also lack the pass rush from the OLB position that Kamerion Wimbley provided in 2006 but has been unable to replicate since. With out that pass rush young CBs like Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald are left on island more often that not for way longer than a DB should have to cover.

The safety position is also a concern as Abe Elam has looked shaky in pre-season and Brodney Pool suffered yet another concussion that may inevitably cut his career short. A rugged, ball-hawking safety needed to lead the defensive backfield and set the tone across the middle. The Browns have no one ready to fill that role.

So they key for the Browns in 2009 is not how many games they win, but how many players they can develop. Because if they can fill a number of personnel voids internally this year it will minimize the areas that they have to focus on in 2010. If they do not have the players in place to fill some of these needs, or they are incapable of developing them, then the Browns face a much steeper mountain than they already do climb back to respectability.

In a city that is starved for sports related success, the words patience, progress and development are not popular ones. But when it comes to the 2009 Cleveland Browns they are the only ones that can be used to accurately gauge if their campaign is a successful one of not, regardless of what the win column says.

Deja Vu Debut

2009-08-16T02:05:00.003-04:00

Well that was definitely worth the wait. Ineffective quarterback play. Porous run defense. Inopportune penalties. Bad tackling. Failure to capitalize on opportunities. All were consistent traits of the Romeo Crennel led Cleveland Browns for the past four seasons. Unfortunately for Eric Mangini they were all traits of the Cleveland Browns in his head coaching debut, a 17-0 whitewash at the hands of the Green Bay Packers.

Mangini was brought into Cleveland to instill hard work, discipline and work ethic to a floundering franchise. An actual touchdown would be nice for starters as the Browns failed to find the endzone on offense again after six straight games with the same problem in 2008.

The only difference was that in this game the Browns actually were thought to have two “capable” quarterbacks at their disposal and not placeholders named Ken Dorsey or Bruce Gradkowski. But neither Brady Quinn nor Derek Anderson was able to put points on the board against a Green Bay defense that was using the 3-4 against live competition for the first time.

Quinn started and looked very effective out of the gate hitting crafty veteran Mike Furrey on a couple of third downs during the opening Browns drive to move the chains. Jamal Lewis ran tough as the Browns mixed the run and pass effectively and a well timed end around to Josh Cribbs netted 29 yards, which ws the Browns’ high rushing total for the game.

In the end, Quinn was unable to put any points of the board as he misfired on a third down pass to Cribbs and the Browns has to settle for a 31 yard field goal attempt by Phil Dawson. That kick split the uprights but a holding penalty by Hank Fraley pushed the kick back 10 yards and Dawson pushed the ensuing kick wide right to give the Browns nothing for their troubles.

Anderson fared no better as he led two drives that totaled five official plays. A three and out on the second series of the game and a two play drive that started on the 50 yard line after a Mason Crosby miss of a 60 yard field goal. The three and out was much better than the second series as Anderson was picked after being hit while throwing on the second play of the drive. Even worse, both series took place against the Packers’ second string defense.

Quinn returned on the last series of the half as the Browns ran the two minute drill down 14-0. He used Furrey, Cribbs and new tight end Robert Royal to put the Browns into the Red Zone for a second time. But the results were the same as the Browns were held scoreless once again. Braylon Edwards dropped a touchdown in the back of the endzone on a difficult but catchable ball on Second and Goal. On Third and Goal Quinn scrambled and went back to Edwards but was intercepted by Anthony Smith.

In the end, no light was shed on the quarterback conundrum that the Browns face as Quinn failed to make plays when he needed to and Anderson was not given enough of an opportunity (5 plays) to establish a rhythm. Those hoping for The Brett Ratliff Experience to provide hope were treated to two quarters of skittish play that resulted in three sacks and two interceptions.

Those hanging their hat on the defense being improved under Mangini and Rob Ryan were also left disappointed despite allowing only 17 points. The Green Bay first team offense carved up the Browns’ defense for 14 points in two series with very little effort. In fact, the Green Bay offense held the ball so much in the first half in only allowed Quinn and Anderson two series apiece.

Aaron Rodgers took advantage of Abe Elam on the first drive of the evening. On Third and 10, with the Browns only rushing three, Rodgers surveyed the field with no one open. He scrambled and stepped up in the pocket and that was enough to entice Elam to break towards the line of scrimmage and allow Donald Driver to blow past him. Rodgers hit him in perfect stride for 53 yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead.

The Packers’ second possession yielded the same result as they methodically marched down the field on a 12 play, 68 yard drive that culminated in a Ryan Grant touchdown and a 14-0 lead. Rodgers picked apart the Browns defense through the air while Grant, Brandon Jackson and DeShawn Wynn ran all over the field on the ground.

In the end the Browns defense conceded 392 yards to the Packers with 230 of them being on the ground. The lack of consistent pressure that was common during the Crennel years was still in place under Ryan and Mangini. Defensive holding penalties and too many men on the field infractions extended both Packers’ touchdown drive in the first quarter.

Ahtyba Rubin and Kendrick Moseley were the only two Browns to stand out on defense providing constant pressure and activity thought the first half. Rookies Coye Fancies and David Veikune were recipients of interceptions from Brian Brohm but those picks only prevented the score from being more lopsided.

In the end the Browns were left with the same questions that seem to have plagued them for the ten years since their reincarnation in 1999. Do they have an NFL quarterback on the roster? Can they effectively stop the run on defense? Do they have impact playmakers on either side of the ball that can change the course of a game? Do they have enough talent on their roster to be competitive in the brutal AFC North?

In fact, the night was symbolized perfectly by the solid, brown pants that they wore for the first time since the pre-season debacle in New York last season. Instead of being ready for prime time, the 2009 Cleveland Browns looked exactly the same as the 2008 model… the same color of their pants. Complete and udder crap.

The Detroit Lions come to the Erie Shore next weekend for pre-season week number two. The Lions went 0-16 last season but anyone who watched the Browns for the last six weeks of 2008 knows that the Lions were not the worst team in the NFL during that time. For Cleveland’s sake they better hope they can change that in the next seven days or its going to be a long 17 weeks in the regular season.

Series Rewind: Indians-Yankees

2009-04-19T20:35:00.003-04:00

Most of the time splitting a four game series in New York with the Yankees is cause for celebration for the Cleveland Indians. While the Tribe has many things to be encouraged about after the inaugural series in New Yankee Stadium the thought that they had the chance to christen the new venue by sweeping the Yankees out of their new home has to eat them alive.

The first game of the series featured the last two AL Cy Young award winners in Cliff Lee and CC Sabathia. Unlike some Cleveland fans I wish CC Sabathia no ill will. He resigned here when he was younger and never had any qualms about saying he was going to test the market. That being said, I hope he pitches like crap every time he faces the Tribe.

Both aces labored in and out of trouble all game with Lee somehow scattering seven hits and three walks over six innings while Sabathia surrendered five hits and five walks in only five and third.

After Lee left the game after the sixth with the score tied at one the Indians erupted for nine runs in the top of the seventh off the Yankee bullpen. This included a grand slam by Grady Sizemore and a solo shot my Victor Martinez. The Indians finished off the game with a final score of 10-2.

The struggling Rafael Perez pitched two rough innings, giving up one run while Eric Wedge trotted out Rafael Betancourt to pitch the meaningless ninth. We’ll come back to this point later in Bullpen Management 101.

Game two began what looks to be the rechristening of Yankee Stadium as Coors Field Northeast. The Yankees hit five solos homers en route to a 6-5 victory over the Indians. Anthony Reyes pitched decently but did not make it beyond five innings. Home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi did not help either he or Yankees starter Joba Chamberlain with one of the most inconsistent strike zones I have seen n quite some time.

The Yankees held a 3-2 lead going into the fifth inning but the Tribe managed to plate three in the top of the fifth to take a 5-3 lead. Here is where the Bullpen Management 101 would have been beneficial to Eric Wedge.

Wedge pitched Perez and Betancourt in the 10-2 blow out the day before, therefore neither was available to pitch in the second game. Perez has been horrid so pitching him two innings in a meaningless game made sense. Betancourt has been up and down and is coming off a bad 2008 but why pitch one of your bullpen stalwarts and leave yourself shorthanded for the next game.

Well that is what Wedge did and long man Zack Jackson cam on to pitch the sixth. He lasted 2/3 of an inning (four batters) giving up two hits including a homerun to Robinson Cano to make it 5-4 Indians. Then Joe Smith came on for one batter to end the sixth.

Instead of rolling with Smith in the seventh Wedge went with veteran Vinnie Chulk, who is the last man in the bullpen. Let me repeat. Vinnie Chulk is the last man in the bullpen. Why is he pitching the seventh inning of a 5-4 game? Because Wedge pitched Betancourt the day before instead of Chulk.

Yes, hindsight is 20/20 but Wedge left himself short in the pen on a day he knew he had a starter in Reyes who struggles to get past five or six innings routinely. Chulk promptly gave up a couple of walks and made an error himself to turn a 5-4 lead into a 5-5 tie after seven. Would have Betancourt done better than Chulk? Who knows but the ODDS were that Betancourt would done better than Chulk.

So with the game tied in the bottom of the eight Jensen Lewis came on struck out two and surrendered a pop up to Derek Jeter. Unfortunately, the New Yankee Stadium jet stream turned this routine pop up into the worlds weakest homerun and a 5-5 tie into a 6-5 Yankee lead.

Phil Cuzzi then reared his ugly head again with another inconsistent inning behind the plate as he rang up Mark DeRosa in the bottom of the ninth with two men on and Mariano Rivera on the hill. Not the reason the Indians lost but the poor game called by Cuzzi was extremely noticeable.

If the Tribe was upset with their pissing away a game they came out like gang busters on Saturday on National TV. They drubbed the Bronx Bombers 22-4 behind a 14 run second inning. The Indians belted 25 hits, including six homers, tied a club record with 50 total bases, and set a club record with 52 at-bats in the game.

Asdrubal Cabrera hit a grand slam to highlight the 14 run second and Mark DeRosa continued his hot streak with six RBIs. DeRosa, Sizemore, Shin-Soo Choo, Victor Martinez and Travis Hafner also went yard for the Erie Warriors. Fausto Carmona gave up four runs in six innings but looked more consistent than his previous two starts.

Up two games to one, the Indians had a chance to take the first ever series at New Yankee Stadium but the Tribe bullpen would not let that happen. Carl Pavano ignored the Yankee venom and turned in a stellar six inning, four hit, one run performance and left the game with a 3-1 lead.

The Indians failed to capitalize on a bases loaded situated in top of the seventh and Wedge called for the scuffling Perez to start the bottom of the seventh. Two hits and one run later it was 3-2 lead for the Tribe. Jensen Lewis relieved and after getting one out dug in to face pinch hitter Jorge Posada.

Posada lifted a fly ball to deep right field that Trevor Crowe had a bead on. He got back to the wall and was met by the outstanding arms of two Yankee fans in the front row. Cuzzi, umpiring second base this time, signaled home run as Wedge came out to argue.

The play went to MLB review and the umpiring crew left the field while replays appeared to show the fans reaching over the wall and making contact with Crowe’s glove in the field of play.

This is the key issue of the play. Whether fan interference occurs is decided by whether (1) the player is reaching into the stands or (2) the fans are reaching into the field. In situation (1) the ball is fair game and a home run. In situation (2) the ball is in the field of play and the batter should be out.

In my humble opinion, it definitely appeared to be situation (2) but the umpires thought otherwise and the play stood, 4-3 Yankees. Once again not something that caused the Indians to lose the game but it definitely didn’t help things. Rafael Betancourt then squashed all hopes of an Indians comeback by relieving Betancourt and allowing three more runs to make it 7-4 Yankees. Ball game.

So while the Tribe did put two whoopings the Yankees and somewhat ruin their opening series the fact that potentially let a sweep of the Bronx Bombers slip away is disconcerting. The offense has begun to wake and the starters have shown signs of life but the bullpen, that was supposedly improved, can’t get the game to lock down closer Kerry Wood to save their life.

The Indians sit at 4-9, 3.5 games behind the Royals, Tigers and White Sox who are at 7-5. The Twins sit a game behind the AL Central leading tri-fecta with a 7-7 record. Even though they could, and I argue should, be 7-6 or 6-7 they have a chance to make up ground this coming week. Their next six games are against the Royals and Twins, all at home.

Series Rewind: Indians-Royals

2009-04-16T06:00:00.000-04:00

The Tribe dropped their third series in a row, losing the first two of three to division rival Kansas City. Fausto Carmona started off very rough giving up three runs in the bottom of the first. He rebounded from there to give up only one run the next four innings but that’s where the Indians’ trouble for the first half of the season lie.

Their starting pitcher only went five innings, taxing an already frail bullpen. Carmona tossed 106 pitches in just five innings and was pulled. In this game Rafael Betancourt and Masa Kobayashi were able to hurl three combined innings of scoreless baseball to keep the Tribe in the game. Unfortunately, it was the Indians’ offense that kept them out of it.

Royals’ starter Zack Greinke was good but not great, needing 104 pitches to get through five innings himself. The Indians helped his out by going 4-13 with RISP, with most of those hits in the ninth inning, and starting 12 men on base. Once again failure to get the clutch hit doomed the Tribe.

In game two, the Indians’ bats came up empty again. Tribe starter Carl Pavano improve on his opening performance of 1 IP, 9 ER with a six inning effort in which he yielded four ER. His only real fault was allowing two runs in the bottom of the fifth after the Tribe had tied the game at two in the top of the inning.

The Indians’ bullpen could not jeep the Tribe in this game as after Rafael Perez came on in the 7th inning with a 4-3 deficit. He looked shaky in that inning but manager Eric Wedge sent him out in the 8th and the game derailed. Perez promptly game up a run to widen the gap to 5-3. He then loaded the bases with one out when Wedge finally pulled the plug and called on Vinnie Chulk, who promptly game up a grand slam to Kansas City catcher John Buck. 9-3. Ballgame Royals.

The Indians’ managed to avoid the sweep with a 5-4 victory on Wednesday. Recently promoted Aaron Laffey was solid in his 2009 debut giving up only 2 ER in 5 1/3 innings. He had a 2-0 lead going into the bottom of the sixth but a fielding gaffe by Shin-Soo Choo put runners on second and third instead of first and third.

By overthrowing the cut-off man Choo turned a ground ball double play into a run scoring out and allowed the runner on second to eventually score and tie the game at two. He did redeem himself later in the game, nailing Mark Teahan at second but when a team is scuffling, things like hitting the cut-off man are magnified ten fold.

The Indians broke through for three runs in the 7th to take a 5-2 lead but another managerial head scratcher by Wedge almost cost them the game again. Jensen Lewis worked out of a jamb in the bottom of the sixth, getting the final out of the inning. He then worked a sketchy seventh inning, giving up a run to make the score 5-3.

For the bottom of the eighth, Wedge sent Lewis back into the game after struggling to get through the seventh. Just as he did the night before, sending a struggling Perez back in for a second inning. However, this was Lewis’ third inning he was pitching in which is odd for any reliever who in not the long man or mop up guy. Teahan drilled his single that Choo threw him out at second at and Mike Jacobs immediately followed with a home run to make it 5-4. If SHOULD have been 5-5 if Teahan had not gotten greedy, but thanks to Choo redeeming himself it was only 5-4.

Cue Rafael Betancourt v.2007 for 2/3 of a hitless inning and Kerry Wood for a seven pitch, perfect, 1-2-3 ninth for the save and the Indians hung on to win 5-4 and move to a putrid 2-7 for 2009. It’s nice to have a legit, flame throwing closer. It may make the ninth inning anti-climactic but it’s a nice change of pace.

So the Indians shuffle off to New York for a four game series with the Yankees to christen New Yankee Stadium. The only way the Tribe is going to get back into the swing of things is to start winning series. Three out of four would be ideal but is going to be tough even with the Yankees starting slow.

Series Review: Blue Jays-Indians

2009-04-13T21:59:00.007-04:00

Well at least they won one. The Tribe dropped the first two in almost the same fashion they dropped all three to the Rangers to open the season. They got behind early thanks to poor starting pitching and then failed to come through with the clutch hit with runners in scoring position. The ugly numbers:

Game 1 - 1-5 RISP, 11 K, 8 LOB, 1 DP
Game 2 - 1-9 RISP, 9 K, 8 LOB, 2 DP
Game 3 - 2-7 RISP, 11K, 11 LOB, 1 DP
Totals - 4-21 RISP (.190), 31 K, 21 LOB, 4 DP

The strikeouts totals are maddening. The Tribe striking out over 10 times a game is just a killer. Teams are going to make outs but when a third of those outs are completely unproductive it makes it very difficult to win.

Not that advancing runners into scoring position would have mattered with the prestine .190 average with RISP. Add into in that your first two hitters Grady Sizemore (10 K in 25 AB for the season) and Mark DeRosa (11 in 26) are your main culprits it means the table isn't getting set as much as you need either.

Victor Martinez looks to be back to a hitting machine and Travis Hafner is actually showing signs of life despite still look a bit slow on his swing. Shin-soo Choo has started to rake and Rayn Garko has been an OBP machine. If the Tribe can cut down on the strikeouts and improve in the clutch this team will score a boatload of runs in 2009.

The starting pitching remains horrid. Scott Lewis landed himself on the DL with elbow soreness that he has had the last few starts of spring but never said anything about. Aaron Laffey will start in his place on Wednesday.

Cliff Lee had another poor outing giving up four runs in five innings pitched. He did rebound in the last two innings of the start by working out of jams for the first time in a while but had already worked his pitch count over 100.

Anthony Reyes was the first Tribe starter to last over five innings going six strong on Sunday. He gave up four runs but three came after Shin-soo Choo lost a ball in the sun in right field. Still he put the Indians in position to win and beat out the Washington Nationals for last remaining win less team... phew!

The bullpen was very bipolar as Vinnie Chulk looked decent in his Tribe debut and Jensen Lewis bailed the Tribe out of a mess on Sunday to help secure the victory. And what can you say about Kerry Wood? An Indians closer blowing away the side, all via strikeout, in the 9th inning was a sight for sore eyes.

On the other end of the spectrum Rafael Perez now sports a 14.73 ERA with three walks and no strikeouts. Joe Smith and Masa Kobayashi continue to walk opposing batters at an alarming rate and Rafael Betancourt has been so-so at beast in his appearances.

But hey they finally won one, and even at 1-5, only sit 2.5 games behind the 4-3 Detroit Tigers. A seven game road trip to Kansas City and having the honor of opening up New Yankee Stadium await them this week. Anything less than a 4-3 trip may leave them in an April hole that they are all too familiar with under Eric Wedge.

Series Rewind: Indians-Rangers

2009-04-09T21:26:00.006-04:00

The Texas Rangers wiped the floor with the Indians in Arlington, Texas to kick off 2009. Three games, three losses for the Erie Warriors: 9-1, 8-5 and 12-8. Yup, that’s 9.7 runs/game allowed. Easy to do when your starters rattle off the following gems:

Cliff Lee: 5 IP, 10 H, 7 R/ER, 1 HR, 0 HBP, 1 BB, 5K, 12.60 ERA
Fausto Carmona: 5 IP, 7 H, 6 R/ER, 1 HR, 1 HBP, 2 BB, 4 K, 10.80 ERA
Carl Pavano: 1 IP, 6 H, 9 R/ER, 2 HR, 0 HBP, 3 BB, 1 K, 81.00 ERA

With 22 earned runs in 11 innings that is a cumulative 18.00 ERA by the starting staff. It’s tough to win when you are behind by 6 or more runs after three innings gentlemen, and I use that term loosely. Scott Lewis the bar has been set low for the home opener, my friend, god speed.

The offense slowly got itself together after looking putrid versus Kevin Millwood on Monday. The actually had a few extra base hits on Wednesday before jacking five homeruns on Thursday. It is difficult, however, to win a game when you are playing catch up after just a few innings.

A few feathers for some caps and some guys who need to be scalped.

FEATHERS IN THEIR CAP
· Masa Kobayahi – 2 Scoreless IP, 1 H, 1 BB in 2 appearances. No alternative lifestyle adult movie appearances. I don’t know which was more unlikely.
· Joe Smith – An easy scoreless inning of relief. Nice Tribe debut.
· Zach Jackson – Showing why he won the long relief spot in the pen.
· Victor Martinez – 5-12 with a long HR. Power slowly coming back but still a hitter.
· Travis Hafner – You hit the ball fair over the wall on a fly. It’s a start I guess.
· Trevor Crowe – Looked smooth in RF despite taking an 0-5 collar at the plate.
· Grady Sizemore – Two 2-R HR on Thursday. Three of his four this in the series were XBH.
· Asdrubal Cabrera – 2-2, 2 BB, 2 R, 1 RBUI on Thursday after looking overmatched the first two games.

SCALP ‘EM
· Starting pitching – See above. Special recognition for Carl Pavano for getting the Tribe down 5-0 after 14 pitches. FOURTEEN F’N PITCHES!!!
· Hitting with RISP – 1-4 on Monday. 1-16 on Wednesday. 1-5 on Thursday. That’s 3-25 overall. A sparkling .120 clip. Not good.
· Grady Sizemore – He led of each game with a strikeout. Table setting 101 says this is poor form. Six Ks in 14 ABs is also way too high.
· Jensen Lewis, Rafael Perez, Rafael Betancourt – You all pitched pretty well but you all gave up a home run in one of your appearances. Shame!
· Kerry Wood – Struck out the side but looked shaky giving up 2 hits, a walk and a run.
· Mark DeRosa – 0-12 collar for the series with 5 Ks. No a good debut. Hopefully the friendly confines of Progressive Field lead you to many hits.
· Travis Hafner – He still looks over matched to me despite the HR.

The Indians return home to Progressive Field for a 3 game set with the Toronto Blue Jays. The Tribe is 0-3, 2 GB Kansas City in the AL Central. Toronto is 3-1 and leads the AL East by ½ game over Baltimore and Tampa Bay.

A bad start for the Indians but keep this in mind… the last time the Tribe started 0-3 was 1996 and they won the AL Central that season.

Texas Baseball Masacre

2009-04-06T19:49:00.004-04:00

Well the only way to go is up. The Tribe got rolled by the Texas Rangers 9-1 getting outplayed in all aspects of the game. Reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee came off a brutal spring with an even worse opening day performance: 5 IP, 10 H, 6 R/ER, 1 monster HR to Hank Blaylock.

He got hit in his pitching arm in the 2nd and promptly gave up 4 runs with two outs for a 4-0 Texas lead. He went unscathed in the 3rd and 4th before Blaylock's jack in the 7th. He couldn't spot his fastball and most of his stuff was up in the the zone and against the potent Rangers, that is a recipe for disaster.

Cliff Lee's worst game last year was at Texas where he gave up 6 runs in 5 innings. He had a 6.17 ERA versus Texas last year. He had a 6.42 lifetime ERA versus Texas coming into today's game and it just went up. He historically struggles versus Texas. But let's see how he does on Saturday versus Doc Halladay and the Blue Jays before going ballistic.

I was more disappointed in the Indians managing only 5 hits and a walk versus the Rangers. Kevin Millwood was brilliant but other than a Shin-soo Choo liner in the 7th none of them were hard shots. I expect nothing from Travis Hafner until I see something that looks like Travis Hafner and a slap hit to left is not Travis Hafner.

He got into a number of 0-2 counts and those rarely turn out well. He did battle but produced an easy, inning ending double play with runners on first and third in the 3rd. I will say he actually looks a bit athletic after his weight loss. He scored the only run on a wild pitch that I don't think he scores on at his previous weight. But the Indians need the Pronk version of Travis Hafner not the slap-hitting version.

One game but a crappy one at that. Fausto Carmona looks to rebound from an awful, injuried plagued 2008 on Wednesday. New day, new ballgame. Go Tribe.

Tribe Looks to Rebound in '09

2009-04-04T21:08:00.002-04:00

The Cleveland Indians stumbled to a disappointing 81-81 record in 2008 after an ALCS appearance in 2007. Injuries on offense decimated the Tribe in the first half of 2008 and forced the trade of veterans CC Sabathia and Casey Blake for prospects. The Indians’ 2008 bullpen rivaled their infamous “Bullpen from Hell” of the 1980’s as they did everything in their power to torture Tribe fans on a nightly basis.

But as the Cleveland Indians’ 2009 campaign gets sets to begin there is cause for optimism along the shores of Lake Erie. Despite those injuries on offense the Indians scored the seventh most runs in MLB with 805 and led all of MLB with 379 runs in the second half.

The offense should be as good, if not better, than last year with a healthy Victor Martinez, the heart and soul of the ball club. Infielders Ryan Garko and Asdrubal Cabrera came into Spring Training in shape and focused. Shortshtop Jhonny Peralta looks to build off of a 40 double, 20 homerun season while Grady Sizemore looks for an encore to a 30 homerun, 30 steal campaign.

The wild card is DH Travis Hafner. Can he return to his 2004 to 2006 form where he averaged 34 homers, 38 doubles, 111 RBI and hit well over .300? A nagging shoulder injury led to a substandard 2007 and a disastrous 2008 that saw Hafner hit .197 with little or no power. If he even returns to 75% of his previous form the Indians’ offense could be one of the elite in 2009.

General Manager Mark Shapiro was aggressive in the off-season in addressing the Tribe’s much maligned bullpen. Shapiro inked bona fide closer Kerry Wood to provide stability to the Indians’ weak link in 2008. Submarine reliever Joe Smith was also acquired via a three team trade to help provide an established hierarchy in the bullpen.

With Wood penciled in for the ninth inning it allows Rafael Perez, Jensen Lewis and Smith settle into their set-up roles in the 7th and 8th innings. Rafael Betancourt could work his way back into the back end of the bullpen after a horrendous 2008. After a dominant 2007 Betancourt was lit up for 11 homeruns and a 5.07 ERA in 2008. The Indians also have a wave of arms waiting in the minor leagues in case of injury or performance issues.

The starting pitching, which has been the stalwart of the Indians during the past few years, is now the main cause for concern. Reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee is coming off a 22-3 season with a sterling 2.54 ERA. That may me too much to expect in 2009 but you could put Lee down for 15-16 a year prior to his poor 2007.

But after Lee there are a bunch of question marks. Is the real Fausto Carmona the 19 game winner of 2007 of the wild throwing, emotional wreck of 2008? Having Martinez back behind the plate for his starts may prove to be the calming influence he needs. Carmona responded by having an excellent spring.

Carl Pavano, Scott Lewis and Anthony Reyes round out the Tribe’s starting rotation to start the season. Pavano looks to rebound from four injury riddled years with the New York Yankees. Reyes brings his own injury concerns after arriving in 2008 from the St. Louis Cardinals. Lewis was a late 2008 surprise going 4-0 in four September starts for the Indians but was roughed up in the Arizona spring after winning the job.

The Indians also have depth sitting in AAA Columbus if one of the previous three starters struggles. Aaron Laffey was the Scott Lewis of 2007 and is looking to rebound from an injury filled 2008. Jeremy Sowers was the Laffey of 2006 and has struggled mightily in the majors since the start of 2007. David Huff has torn up each and every level of the minors and looks to be primed and ready if and when the Indians call. Zach Jackson starts the season as the long reliever but odds of him starting a game at some point are good.

Tons of questions for the 2009 Tribe but there are a plethora of options for answers to those questions. Manager Eric Wedge has the versatility in the field to mix and match line-up which always seems to be his MO. The season may hinge on Wedge’s ability to keep his bullpen fresh while dealing with a lot of uncertainty in the rotation.

If Wedge can effectively use the bullpen and not wear out the back end, a la Perez and Betancourt in 2007, the Indians should be able to stay in more games than not with their offense. Wedge will also have to be aggressive in addressing and shortcomings in the shaky starting rotation. If one the starters can not perform Wedge and Shapiro can not hesitate to make a change.

The Indians face a brutal start to 2009 with ten of their first 13 games away from Progressive Field. They also play the powerful Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays 21 times in the first two months of the season. The Indians have been notorious slow starters throughout Wedge’s tenure. The only season they started out well was in 2007… the only season they have made the play-offs under Wedge.

There are a lot of questions and some adversity to face at the start of the 2009 season for the Cleveland Indians. That shouldn’t damper the Indians’ outlook for the new season. They are healthy, hungry and looking for redemption from a bad end to 2007 and a sub par 2008. They just need something to bring in all together…

Suck it, Matt Stover!

2009-03-05T22:42:00.004-05:00

The Baltimore Sun is reporting that the Ravens and kicker Matt Stover have parted ways and Stover will not be returning to Baltimore in 2009.

Matt Stover is a great guy (I actually hope he hooks on somewhere) and a good kicker but pardon me when I say, "Suck it, Matt Stover!"

Why the angst? Why the excitement over a 41 year old kicker being released? Well, for the educated Browns fan it is simple.

Stover was the last Ravens player on their roster to play for the original incarnation of the Cleveland Browns in 1995. The last one. For what seems like the last five years.

Annoyingly every CBS Sports announcer, I am looking squarely at you Dick Enberg, loved to bring up this fact once a game, if not more, whenever Stover took the field to kick-off, attempt a field goal or extra point. It's been thirteen seasons since the transgression took place but it seemed like every time I turned on a game, that fact was brought up.

No longer. And it is refreshing. Vinny Interceptaverde moved on years ago. Earnest Byner was forgiven and was inducted into the Cleveland Browns Legends Hall of Fame. Many other has long since left the Eastern Shore. Yes, Benedict Ozzie is still in Baltimore but I will give him props for only signing Browns gear despite working for the Ratbirds.

But the last on the field connection is gone. The franchises have their own separate lineage and history. Sorry Matt Stover but suck it long and suck it hard. I don't know of anything else that could make me happier right now...

... unless YOU KNOW WHO were to bite it.

Browns Deploy the Soldier to Tampa Bay

2009-02-27T22:47:00.003-05:00

The first act of the Cleveland Browns Eric Mangini / George Kokinis regime wasn’t a peace summit with Shaun Rogers. It wasn’t a declaration of a starting quarterback named Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson. It was a minor surprise, the shipping out of Kellen Winslow II to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for undisclosed draft choices.

The common consensus has the Browns receiving a 2009 2nd Round draft choice and a 2010 5th Round draft choice from Tampa Bay for Winslow. If this information is accurate it would be almost identical to what the New Orleans Saints traded to the New York Giants for Jeremy Shockey last off-season. Anything less in return for Winslow would be a disappointing proposition.

Winslow, when healthy, can be one of the premier receiving tight ends in the NFL. Back to back seasons of 89 catches in 2006 and 2007 are not easily attained by a tight end. He also would seem to be a perfect fit for a young quarterback, especially Quinn, who will be running the New England Patriots style offense that offensive coordinator Brian Daboll is rumored to run in 2009.

No one can question Winslow’s intensity and effort between the lines on each Sunday. Love him or hate him the guys busts his ass for 60 plus minutes each and every game he plays in.

However, Winslow does have his detriments as well. The number of injuries he has sustained over his short career has left him with a shorter shelf life for his career. He struggles in 2008 with getting separation from opposing defenders and has often been criticized for poor route running.

He can also show up a teammate from time to time on the field as well. No matter what he says he also wanted another huge payday, because of his shortened career, which is the only reason players switch to agent Drew Rosenhaus mid-contract.

But the revelation is not that Winslow was traded, what he was traded for or if the trade is a good or bad move. The revelation is what the move signifies.

Right now, no matter whom the Browns draft with the choices they received, the Browns are not as good of a team as they were with Winslow. Whether the move was made because of Winslow’s attitude, his desire for more money or to maximize his trade value the Browns lose one of their main offensive weapons plain and simple.

The only reason this move is made is with the future of the team in mind. It says that the Mangini / Kokinis regime is looking past the 2009 season for long term stability and success. It also says that they do not feel that their chances for success in the 2009 season itself are great as the team is weaker without the presence of Winslow. It may be addition by subtraction off the field but on the field the Browns are not as good of a football team today as they were yesterday.

Whether the move is the right move will not be known until after the 2009 season, or beyond. But it is the first tip of the hand by Mangini and Kokinis. They are looking toward the long term success of the franchise and to build the core of the team via the draft. Whether or not they can actually do it will depend on the strategy they deploy next.

No Trade News is Good Trade News

2009-02-22T00:02:00.002-05:00

The NBA Trading Deadline passed on Thursday without the Cavs making a move. While many are disappointed in GM Danny Ferry’s failure to make any sort of a trade with the rumored offers out there Ferry made the right move by standing pat.

While there will not be any new blood entering the equation the eminent return of Delonte West can provide the spark that a trade might have otherwise brought. West has missed the last 16 games and counting, including both losses to the Lakers, and was playing the best basketball of his career before injury.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas has also missed 16 games this season and is still being bothered by a sore ankle and foot at times. Reserve guard Tarence Kinsey was finally starting to get some quality minutes before he missed seven games with an ankle sprain.

Sasha Pavlovic is also out indefinitely with a sprained ankle and Daniel Gibson has had what can only be referred to as a horrible season and that is being kind. Ben Wallace’s touch football injury that may keep him out for a few games is the latest injury issue to befall the Cavs.

Despite all the injury issues the Cavs still sit at 42-11 with a 15 game lead in the Central Division over the Pistons. They are one half game behind the Celtics for the best record in the East and 2 ½ games in front of the Magic. While the Cavs are getting healthy the Celtics and Magic have been dealt injuries to Kevin Garnett and Jameer Nelson, respectively. The opportunity to seize the number one seed in the Eastern Conference play-offs has presented itself.

Yes, Wally Szczerbiak’s expiring contract was a big chip they had to play, but would the cost have been worth it?

If they would have shipped him off to Phoenix for Shaquille O’Neal it would have left them with a dearth of big men and short in the backcourt, especially with the aforementioned injuries. It also would have put them in a salary cap conundrum for the next two years with Anderson Varejao up for free agency after this season. LeBron James is eligible in 2010… in case you didn’t know that.

Everyone cried about not trading Szczerbiak for Marcus Camby, but the Clippers did not make him available. The same goes for the Suns’ Amare Stoudamire. He was taking off the trading block after Terry Porter was fired as head coach. Richard Jefferson may have been a nice fit, but Milwaukee already did the Cavs a huge favor by delivering Mo Williams on a silver platter in the off-season.

Szczerbiak may be a role player but his presence has been valuable especially with the injuries that occurred in the first half of the season. He may not be winning games for the Cavs on a nightly basis but he is contributing and the Cavs do benefit from his expiring contract after this season.

For what was being offered by other teams, Danny Ferry made the right move by standing pat and not taking a deal that would handcuff the team. It may not be the most popular or glamorous move but if the Cavs seize the opportunities laid of in front of them everyone will forget the lack of activity in February.

Cuts, Cuts, Cuts... Browns Release Seven

2009-02-10T20:03:00.002-05:00

Cuts, cuts, cuts. I love cuts. The Cleveland Browns trimmed some dead weigh yesterday releasing seven players on the first day permissible by NFL rules. No one of real consequence but some familiar names nonetheless.

The unfamiliar names were punter Mike Dragosavich, kicker Jason Reda and offensive lineman Eric Young. Young spent the entire year on the non-football injury list after being signed as an undrafted free agent out of Tennessee.

Dragosavich and Reda have the misfortune of playing positions manned by two of the toughest players on the football team. The Browns have the misfortune of having those positions being punter and kicker, respectively. Sad but true for the Brown and Orange.

Linebacker Antwan Peek was also jettisoned after two injury plagued season in Cleveland. Peek missed the entire 2008 season with a torn patellar tendon he suffered right before the season began.

He had four sacks in an injury plagued 2007 and hopes were high that he and Kamerion Wimbley could provided the pass rush the Browns have been lacking since Wimbley’s rookie year in 2006. We all know how that turned out in 2008.

Cornerback Terry Cousin was also jettisoned to the chagrin of Browns opponents everywhere. He may be a crafty veteran but the Browns were torched over the middle of the field in almost every game this season. That falls right on the nickel cornerback and anyone who watched the Browns at all this season saw Cousin get abused over the middle on a weekly basis.

But the two big names, if you can call them that, were signal callers Ken Dorsey and Bruce Gradkowski. The zero offensive touchdowns might have something to do with the decision. Dorsey’s 0 to 7 touchdowns to interceptions ratio and Gradkowski’s 2.8 QB rating might also have something to do with it. I am not a stat guy but those numbers can not be ignored.

Dorsey was only around to mentor Brady Quinn plain and simple. People forget he was released before the 2007 season and was only resigned after the Browns traded away Charlie Frye after less than one half of football. Once Dorsey actually had to play significant time his lack of arm strength and NFL ability were exposed.

His release signifies that the new regime values his roster spot for someone who can actually play and not a glorified coach in waiting. This no knock on Dorsey, I am sure he brought a good mind to the table, but we all know the beating that quarterbacks take in the league and all too often a third stringer is required to take some significant snaps in the NFL. 2008 was proof positive that you can not afford to have Ken Dorsey take significant snaps in the NFL.

Gradkowski comes as no surprise either. The Browns picked him up in the last quarter of the season. The fact that no other team picked him up on a flier prior to that is telling in itself. The previous regime signed him to a two year deal in hopes he could back up in the future but his performance, even with him being pressed into duty quickly, showed he could not.

The moves tell me that if, and they should, the Browns trade Derek Anderson they will be in the market for a reliable, proven back-up quarterback. Someone who will fill the mentor role to Brady Quinn that Dorsey had while at the same time being a legitimate option to play should Quinn get hurt.

So nothing of great note but news nonetheless. Now when Anderson or Kellen Winslow get traded things might perk up a little bit. But until then… Dorsey, Gradkowski… CUT!

Thank God it's Over...

2009-02-03T00:07:00.002-05:00

Thank the lord. The NFL season is over, finally.

Not only did the Browns devolve from 10-6 to 4-12 but we had to witness the Steelers take home NFL Championship number six and an AFC Championship Game where they faced off against the Ravens. We should be thanking our lucky stars that we at least have the Bengals… what’s that? We finished behind them, too? F@#$.

The only thing we can really hang our hats on is that many are asking questions about the Appalachian Inbred title once again. Where was the clipping call on James Harrison’s Pick Six to end the first half? Did he even get into the endzone? Why didn’t Santonio Holmes get a personal foul for using the ball as a prop after his tippy toe TD? Why wasn’t the last play reviewed? It looked like a fumble but why not make sure? Was James Farrior’s 15 yard penalty for his Dwayne Rudd impersonation part of it?

I’ll channel by inner Lt. Frank Drebin one more time just for shits and grins [time stamp 6:30 to 7:07]…

“The attempt on Nordberg's life left me shaken and disturbed, and all the questions kept coming up over and over again, like bubbles in a case of club soda. Who was this character in the hospital? And why was he trying to kill Nordberg? And for whom? Did Ludwig lie to me? I didn't have any proof, but somehow, I didn't entirely trust him either. Why was the 'I Luv You' not listed in Ludwig's records? And if it was, did he know about it? And if he didn't, who did? And where the hell was I?”

Bottom line they still won the game and made plays when they had to. But after number five was shrouded with some referee controversy in of itself and numbers one through four have always had a steroid cloud around them, number six doesn’t seem totally clean either. But they should be saluted. Being a Browns fan the proper way to salute them is to extend your right arm and extend your middle finger. To paraphrase Ron Burgundy, “GO F@#$ yourself, Pittsburgh.”

So now we can worry about the more important things like the painting over of murals, the lack of any witty repartee from the head coach and soccer in England. These are what are really important in the NFL. Not the need for an impact draft with only four selections. Not the fact that the owner hired the head coach before the GM. Not the fact that we have no President of Football Operations. We painted a wall. “We can build on this!” as Herm Edwards would say.

No offense to Joe Thomas, Shaun Rogers or Ryan Pontbriand but it’s over. Have fun in Hawaii boys, don’t get injured but thank God this stink pickle of a 2008 NFL season is complete.

I can now relax and focus on the fun prospects for the spring. First off, the Cavs’ quest for an NBA Title and LeBron’s drive for an MVP trophy. The way the team actually enjoys playing together is magnificent to watch and they are all very likable characters unlike that Appalachian Inbred team (and fanbase). If they can lock up home court over the Celtics and Magic their odds of making our dreams come true in June and July are increased dramatically. The excitement builds with each game the Wine and Gold tip off.

The Tribe breaks camp with just as many questions as there are about Super Bowl XLIII. Is Travis Hafner going to be anywhere near to himself, circa 2004-2006? Can Cliff Lee and Fausto Carmona anchor a shaky starting rotation? Can Masa Kobayashi be effective in his second MLB season? By effective I mean not appear in any alternative lifestyle Japanese adult films again.

Will Asdrubal Cabrera give me reason to text people with “AS-MAN! AS-MAN! AS-MAN!” on a routine basis? How the hell is this whole first base/catcher/designated hitter platoon thing going to work out? Will Kerry Wood, Mark DeRosa, Joe Smith and (gulp) Carl Pavano be key pieces to the Indians’ puzzle?

I have a very weird feeling about the Indians in 2009. Like a good weird. I can’t explain it. It isn’t like in 2007 when I thought they had a shot or in 2008 when I thought they’d win it all. It’s different, but I can’t put my finger on it. But I do know on thing, it’s a hell of a lot better than I felt 24 hours ago when it was still the NFL season. Thank the heavens that it is over.

Fear and Loathing in Cleveland

2009-01-17T10:15:00.005-05:00

Its mid-January in Cleveland and the Cavs are off to their best start in franchise history, pushing towards a potential first seed in the Eastern Conference. LeBron James is looking like the clear cut NBA MVP due to an elevated intensity on the defensive end and a willingness to play offense without controlling the basketball. Mike Browns has opened up the offense, without sacrificing his trademark defense first philosophy, by turning over some of it to assistant John Kuester.

Across the country, he Indians are just under a month from taking the field at their new spring training complex in Goodyear, Arizona hoping that the namesake of their new home is an understatement of what they will accomplish in 2009. For the maybe first time ever the Dolan Family opened their pocketbooks despite a crumbling economy. Mark Shapiro took advantage by being aggressive and creative after an off-season of sitting on his hands in 2008 blew up in his face.

While I love the rosy prospects for both the Cavs and the Tribe in 2009 I find myself fearing and loathing the Browns at so many levels it shrouds my excitement for everything else Cleveland sports related. Right or wrong, the Browns are the team that is associated with and defines the city. LeBron may be able to chance that in the very near future, but for now when one thinks Cleveland, the Browns come to mind.

I love the fact that Randy Lerner does not want to sell the Browns and I appreciate that he does not want to be the face of the franchise. However, it scares me to death that he is so introverted that he can not even speak in front of a camera for ten minutes to explain his rational behind hiring a head coach. It is embarrassing when Team President Mike Keenan, who has been around for about a year, has to introduce himself at a press conference before he introduces the head coach.

I appreciate that Lerner seemingly found “his guy” in Eric Mangini and that he values a coach more than a General Manager even though it is an ass backwards approach to me. But I wonder what Lerner would have done if Mangini had not come available after Bill Cowher and Scott Pioli became unviable options.

And what if the Ravens’ George Kokinis decides to stay in Baltimore? I have no faith that Lerner has even considered that situation. It looks like the Browns only fallback options are Shack Harris who resigned from the Jacksonville Jaguars GM post after free agent signings of Jerry Porter and Drayton Florence blew up in his face and he was unable to get first round draft choice Derrick Harvey into camp on time. Former Broncos GM Ted Sundquist is begging Lerner for an interview which does nothing to sooth my fears.

I even have concerns about Eric Mangini, who I actually am intrigued by, as the head coach of the Browns. I may not like they way that Lerner went about selecting Mangini but I do think the scrutiny of the New York market and three years of actual head coaching experience will benefit him.

It does scare me that while coaches in their second go round do experience success many of them, like Bill Belichick and Tom Coughlin, either took time off from football or went back to the coordinator ranks before their next head coaching gig. The 14 days off that Mangini had between being fired by the Jets and hired by the Browns makes me worry how much he could really learn from his mistakes in that short time.

So instead of celebrating the success of the Cavs or analyzing the potential of the Indians I find myself worrying about the Browns when they should be an afterthought in my mind. Fearing that an organization has failed to learn from its worst decade of football in franchise history and loathing the fact that we may be looking at another decade of the same.

2009 Cleveland Browns Cut List - Receivers & Tight Ends

2009-01-11T19:25:00.004-05:00

Wide Receivers

12 Syndric Steptoe, WR

You are just too small to be an effective every down or third receiver. You are incapable of blocking down field because of your size and it impacts the game negatively. You are a great return man but with Josh Cribbs here you will be forever blocked behind him. We need an actual third receiver who is capable to do it all. CUT!

17 Braylon Edwards, WR

Everything is in your brain. No one thinks anything less of you because you are from Meatchicken. Grow up. You have been pampered and coddled and I honestly think your head can not process this and does not have any idea on how to react. If you can get you brain sorted out you have a chance to be one of the greatest receivers in the franchise’s history, if you want to. We need your deep threat to open up the running game and make this a potent offense. Get you head out of you ass and man up. You are better that this. KEEP.

18 Donte Stallworth, WR

I have seen Kevin Johnson. I have seen Quincy Morgan. I have seen Dennis Northcutt. I have seen Andre Davis. I have seen Travis Wilson. You by far take the cake. You may be a worse free agent signing that Andre Rison. You are everything that is wrong with this franchise. You are soft, babied and put yourself before the team. You show no heart or soul in your play on the field. When it is time to lay it on the line you fold like a house of cards. If you are on this roster next season it would be a disgrace. CUT!

80 Kellen Winslow, TE

I love your heart and dedication on the field. The fact you play through pain on a daily basis is admirable. But I think the veil has been lifted on your true being. Yes, the staph infection cover-up was not you fault and put you in a bad position but the way you handled it was just as poor as Phil Savage. Despite your hard play and effort on the field I think that you only do it to benefit yourself off the field. You know your time is limited because of all your ailments and I think your first priority is to capitalize monetarily on that. The team comes second. I think it is time to move on and you need to be traded. CUT!

82 Steve Heiden, TE

If you removed Phil Dawson, you are the best player the Browns have had since their reincarnation in 1999. Your knee needs to heal quickly I think you will need to fill in for Winslow in 2009, and not because he is injured. KEEP.

84 Joe Jurevicius, WR

Seven surgeries on the same knee in under a calendar year is not good. I just hope you are able to make it through life without any effects from it. If you can make it back onto the football field it is a bonus. KEEP.

86 Martin Rucker, TE

Most NFL scouting departments don’t think very highly of you. The Browns don’t know what they have in you because the lame duck coaching staff would not play you. I hope this gives you a giant chip on your shoulder. KEEP.

87 Darnell Dinkins, TE

You still are the ugliest mo-fo on the entire team but that is not enough this year. I am tired of seeing your countless penalties on special teams and you dropping of passes over the middle. CUT!

89 Paul Hubbard, WR

You have the size to play in the NFL but could not get activated for a single game. I will attribute it to coaching ineptitude and not you being the second coming of Travis Wilson. KEEP.

2009 Cleveland Browns Cut List - Offensive Line

2009-01-11T19:23:00.005-05:00

Offensive Linemen

61 Isaac Sowells, T/G

We need young offensive linemen but you’ve only see action on offense in one game in three years. Time to see what you are made of. KEEP.

62 Lennie Friedman, G/C

Let’s get it out of the way… I always laugh when I hear this name. I think of the scene in “Major League” when the construction workers are going over the Tribe’s roster after Spring Training. “Willie Hayes, Ricky Vaughn, Lennie Friedman… who the F@#$ are these guys?” You also are in the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame which is outstanding. But I hear that LeBron-ukkah is sweeping the nation and that does not bode well. In all seriousness, you missed all year with a neck injury and I hope you experience no ill effects from it but it’s time for a youth movement on the offensive line. Mazel tov, my good man. CUT!

65 Eric Steinbach, G

You played injured most of the year and it showed. I think that impacted Joe Thomas’ play as well. We need you at 100% next season. KEEP.

66 Hank Fraley, C

Your play definitely decline this season. How many times were the Browns vulnerable to the blitz up the middle? Way too much. We need a solid year out of you next season while we groom a successor. KEEP.

68 Seth McKinney, G/C

I normally love a fat, red haired guy since they are few and far between but your play didn’t inspire me. Last year we were better off with Ryan Tucker and this year you couldn’t beat out Rex Hadnot. CUT!

70 Rex Hadnot, G

You are a road grader and I don’t mean that in a good way. You lack the athleticism a guard needs and combined with Kevin Shaffer you create a polar opposite right side of the line to the left side. Shaffer’s play also suffered with you in there and that has to say something. You weren’t awful but just weren’t good either. CUT!

72 Ryan Tucker, G/T

Two years ago you went off the deep end. Last year returned in the form of “The Tuckster” after a four game suspension for saying your prayers and taking your (illegal) vitamins. This year you started one game and the Browns rolled the defending champs. You are getting up there in age but you are valuable and make Kevin Shaffer look serviceable. KEEP.

73 Joe Thomas, T

You had a down year but you faced a much tougher list of opposing defenses. I will chalk it up to an adjustment period. You still had enough respect from your peers to be voted to the Pro Bowl which counts for something. You will anchor the line for a decade or more. KEEP.

77 Kevin Shaffer, T

After 2006 I wrote, “The Human Parking Cone (HPC) has been returned to the department of Public Works. You almost single handedly got Derek Anderson killed… I thought Chris Hovan killed him. But I got to see Ken Dorsey play. Thanks douche-bag!” Well after a stellar 2007 guess what? You DID single handedly get Derek Anderson killed. I DID to see Ken Dorsey play. Thanks douche-bag!” HPC you defied the oods last year but this year you came back to earth. You may look like The Warlord from the Powers of Pain tag team back in the 1980s WWE but that is not enough. It time we H-P-C ya. CUT!

2009 Cleveland Browns Cut List - Defensive Line

2009-01-11T19:20:00.003-05:00

Defensive Linemen

71 Ahtyba Rubin, DL
You actually made a few plays here and there once you got some PT at the end of the year. A true nose tackle is hard to find and we need someone to spell Big Baby from time to time. Sad that only our sixth and seventh round draft choice were effective this season. KEEP.

91 Shaun Smith, DL
Carson Palmer called you the Hamburglar. Brady Quinn said you have a small penis. Some of your teammates insinuated you quit at mid season. You trash talk relentlessly which is fine but when you factor in that you came from the Bengals who love to keep malcontents and then chose not to re-sign you tells me maybe you are not that good. There is only one fate for you and your tiny penis. CUT!

92 Shaun Rogers, DL
Keep the weight within reason and stay motivated. DO that and you will be the best interior lineman the Browns have had in a long, long time. KEEP.

93 Louis Leonard, DL
You give it your all but you have zero effect on the game. Teams double team Rogers and you need to make plays or string it out. You did neither on a consistent basis. CUT!

97 Santonio Thomas, DL
See Leonard, Louis. CUT!

98 Robaire Smith, DL
Losing you early in the year was a huge blow. Big men with Achilles injuries have a difficult time recovering from them due to the weight placed on the heel. I hope you can recover, we need you. KEEP.

99 Corey Williams, DL
You look like the classic case of the square peg (not Sarah Jessica Parker) in the round hole. You were injured early in the year and struggled since. Regardless we need to see how you do with another season under your belt. KEEP.

2009 Cleveland Browns Cut List - RB & QB

2009-01-11T19:18:00.004-05:00

Running Backs and Quarterbacks

3 Derek Anderson, QB

You had an incredible 2007 even though you tapered off. A smart GM would have traded you at your peak value. I expected you to fall off somewhat in 2008 but you crashed and burned. I still think you could be an effective QB but not in Cleveland. You were never going to be loved once Brady Quinn was drafted and those who cheered your injury should be embarrassed of themselves. I wish you well but it’s time to move on. CUT! Trade actually.

7 Bruce Gradkowski, QB

Your QB Rating for the year was 2.8. Do I need to say anything else you Pittspuke piece of crap? CUT!

10 Brady Quinn, QB

I think you can be the man. Will you be the savior like some think? I will believe it when I see it. But think entails being a leader. So when a big fat guy with a small penis is talking smack on you in the weight room you need to walk away and be the bigger man instead of pointing out he has a small penis. Also, no more wacky pictures. No more Village People gear at wedding. No more flexing with Brett Michaels of Poison. Subway commercials are cool. Pimping EAS on TV, cool. Got it? KEEP.

11 Ken Dorsey, QB

No one expected you to throw a pass this year so I can not hold you fully responsible for that. But after seeing you play at length there is no way that a roster spot can be wasted on you. Retire and get into coaching, you obviously have a future there. ESPN’s Bill Simmons delivered the infamous quote, “Good God, that’s Ken Dorsey’s music!” If you did have music it would be “Blaze of Glory” by Bon Jovi. Because the Browns season went down in one once you took over. CUT!

31 Jamal Lewis, RB

The tread on the tires is wearing down but you can still be effective. You may tippy-toe here and there but you still play hard, you still play hurt and you still play with passion and that counts for something. 10,000 career rushing yards, 1,000 yards in a season again and zero cocaine deals with in Cleveland. All numbers to be proud of. KEEP.

35 Jerome Harrison, RB

You made me a believer. You need 10-15 touches a game. Every time you touch the ball you are a threat to take it to the house. A competent coaching staff would have figured that out long ago. KEEP.

41 Charles Ali, FB
A second fullback is a luxury but you were just mauling people left and right when Vickers was injured. You are not, in any situation, allowed to touch the ball no matter what. KEEP.

47 Lawrence Vickers, FB
Once you were the bane of my existence when Maurice Carthon was around due to Fullback Option Passes and other tomfoolery. Now you are one of the most underrated fullbacks in the NFL and a relieving threat out of the backfield. You have swayed me my firend. KEEP

2009 Cleveland Browns Cut List - Linebackers

2009-01-11T19:16:00.004-05:00

Linebackers

52 D'Qwell Jackson, LB

It can not be ignored that you led the NFL in tackles. You actually make play at or behind the line of scrimmage. Your size will never let you be a dominant #1 inside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. However, if you keep this level of play up I think you can be an effective #2. KEEP.

54 Andra Davis, LB

Unless the Browns are playing in a blizzard, monsoon, earthquake or other natural disaster you are too slow and unable to make any sort of tackle for less than a five yard gain. In a 3-4 defense you need an inside linebacker to be an impact playmaker. You are not. You always gave it your all every play you just aren’t very good. CUT!

55 Willie McGinest, LB

You have a very good 2008 but overall your three years here have been a waste. You were supposed to be the veteran influence that would help develop the linebacking core. They developed to the worst linebacking core in the NFL. CUT!

56 Antwan Peek, LB

You have the scariest mug shot of anyone on the Browns but you can not stay healthy to save your life. Either you have bad luck or are fragile. Either way that leaves you in one spot. CUT!

58 Beau Bell, LB
It has been said that many other organizations did not think very highly of you in last year’s draft. Hopefully you can use that as a chip on your shoulder. There is little to no linebacking talent on this roster so you are worth keeping around. KEEP.

94 Leon Williams, LB
Neon

Leon

you are not. After looking line a successor to Andra Davis in 2007 you devolved in 2008. You got significant playing time at the end of the year and made zero plays. None. I don’t recall you every doing anything of substance. CUT!

95 Kamerion Wimbley, LB
Where do I begin? What looked like a sophomore slump is now a horrific trend. You still have only one, count them one, pass rushing move. Try to run around the tackle on the outside. This is not a formula for success. If anything it shows how brilliant Benedict Ozzie was in fleecing Phil Savage out of Haloti Ngata. It a season of disappointments, you are one of the largest. CUT!

96 Alex Hall, LB
For a seventh round choice from a D-II college you did more that anyone could have expected. You tapered off at the end of the season which will happen. Get someone who can actually coach you up and we may have something. KEEP.

2009 Cleveland Browns Cut List - Defensive Backs

2009-01-11T19:13:00.002-05:00

Defensive Backs

20 Mike Adams, S

Nothing you did stands out, good or bad. When the starting safeties went down with injury you fill in and weren’t exploited. That counts for something. KEEP.

21 Brodney Pool, S

I have never thought very highly of you but you had a better year that I expected. Word on the street is that you many be better suited for strong safety which is curious. If that is the case then you need to have much more of an impact in both phases of the game. KEEP.

22 Brandon McDonald, CB

You got exploited this year that’s for sure. But you stood up and took accountability for your play, something that many other players on the team did not do. I still think you can be an effective player but your size may make you better suited for the slot receiver. KEEP.

24 Eric Wright, CB

I think you could be a corner piece for the defense for years but I do have an issue. How many times are you going to all a fade or corner route against you and not look for the ball? Ten? Twenty? Eleventy million? Sweet lord, when the receiver looks for the ball turn you damn head around! KEEP.

25 Terry Cousin, CB

How the hell have you been in the league this long? You are horrible! No wonder our defensive backs regressed if you were supposed to be the “veteran influence” for them. I thought Ralph Brown was bad but he was picked up off the scrap heap but you take the cake. Every opposing offensive game plan had this in it: Throw to whoever Terry Cousin is covering on third down. CUT!

26 Sean Jones, S

I thought you could become an Ed Reed or Troy Polamalu type force at strong safety: a hard-hitting, intimidating ball hawk that flew around the field and led the defense. You make a play from time to time but not enough to even sniff those players’ level. My memory of the season about you is the Browns’ being 0-3 and you having elective knee surgery to clean it out rather than sit out a couple weeks with a bye week coming up. Then you told the media you were doing it because it was your contract year and you were going to be a free agent. That told me all I needed to know. CUT!

39 Daven Holly, CB

I never would have thought that your loss would have had such an impact. But it resulted in moving B-Mac out of the slot and signing Terry Cousin. You also seem to be a ball magnet, grabbing 4-5 picks a year and a few fumbles. I hope you are 100% coming training camp. KEEP.

2009 Cleveland Browns Cut List - The Specialists

2009-01-11T19:11:00.003-05:00

The Specialists

4 Phil Dawson, K

You may be the greatest pure kicker in franchise history and people still aren’t satisfied. If things don’t get much better for the team I am getting a #4 Phil Dawson jersey. If you didn’t play for the Browns you would be a perennial Pro Bowler. You are one of the few players we can be proud of. KEEP.

15 Dave Zastudil, P

You gutted out two weeks on a bum plant leg when most other guys would have hung them up. When you are healthy you are money. You’ve been hurt the past few years. Heal up. KEEP.

16 Joshua Cribbs, WR

What can be said that hasn’t already been? Hopefully, the new regime can find a way to get you 10+ touches on offense while not impacting your effect on special teams and returns. KEEP.

27 Nick Sorensen, DB

Every team needs a token guy who looks like a surfer or a burn out. You make plays on special teams and you actually were moderately effective on defense. Plus I work down the street for your high school. KEEP.

29 Jason Wright, RB

Always undervalued, but I see what you bring, superior work on special teams and always in the right spot for the blitz pick-ups. You are a solid all around back that every team needs. KEEP.

30 Gerard Lawson, DB

You showed a lot of promise in the pre-season and on special teams this year. We need a yound DB to emerge for depth. I hope it’s you. KEEP.

53 Kris Griffin, LB

I appreciate you are a former D-III college player but you’ve been hurt all year. We need your spot for younger, athletic linebackers. CUT!

64 Ryan Pontbriand, LS

Cool as the other side of the pillow. Keep them straight, Ponty, we can’t afford to burn another draft choice on a long snapper. KEEP.

2009 Cleveland Browns Cut List - Practice Squad & Others

2009-01-11T19:00:00.007-05:00

The Practice Squad

8 Mike Dragosavich, P

Your name sounds eerily familiar to the impeached governor of Illinois. Do you have a horrible toupee? Are you trying to sell Senate seats to the highest bidder? No? CUT!

9 Lance Leggett, WR

I hear you have very skinny legs. That does not bode well for you. Plus I have no idea if you can catch.

44 Jed Collins, TE

The Browns lost three tight ends for the season finale and the team chose to use a back-up offensive lineman as the third tight end. The writing is on the wall my friend. CUT!

60 Melila Purcell, DL

You were drafted two years ago and have spent every single moment on the practice squad. Riveting. CUT!

62 Dustin Fry, OL

You could be a distant relative of Charlie Frye. Plus you took Lennie Friedman’s number. Bad move, my friend, bad move. CUT!

69 Christian Mohr, DL

You are the NFL Europe international designee. Awesome. NFL Europe is now defunct. CUT!

74 Kurt Quarterman, OL

I prefer pong over quarters. CUT!

83 Steve Sanders, WR

Cleveland born and Cleveland bred. You caught every pass throw to you this year. It may have only been one pass, but on this team that deserves recognition. Plus you are named after a guy from Beverly Hills 90210. KEEP.

90 David Holloway, LB

We have the worst linebacking core in the league and you couldn’t make the active roster, jeez. CUT!

Who the F#$% are These Guys

13 Richard Bartel, QB

You got that Week 17 bump up to the active roster so you can appear on the Browns’ all-time roster. Kudos. But I know Lang Campbell. I’ve seen Lang Campbell. You sir, are no Lang Campbell. CUT!

23 Travis Daniels, CB

We traded a seventh round pick for you play seven games and five tackles. You got to start one game and were pulled after one play. You couldn’t beat out Terry Cousin. This is not fuzzy math. CUT!

28 Allen Patrick, RB

Could be worse, you could still be at Oklahoma losing BCS games. CUT!

42 Hamza Abdullah, S

Inactive every game is not a good thing my friend. With that name I am sure you get harassed, sadly, at the airport every time. Could be worse your name could be Uleeq M’Diq or M’Balz Ez-Hari. (Thanks to SNL for those beauties.) CUT!

51 Shantee Orr, LB

You got cut out of training camp and only Antwan Peek’s knee injury brought you back. CUT!

59 Titus Brown, LB

You actually played in a game and made a tackle. Impressive for a Browns’ linebacker. Not enough however. CUT!

69 Eric Young, OL

You spent the entire year on the Non-Football Injured Reserve. Enough said. CUT!

79 Scott Young, OL

You got activated for the last game, as a third tight end. And you got called for holding like 50 times. Brilliant. CUT!

85 John Madsen, TE

The Browns had three tight ends out and they activated a back-up lineman instead of you. Hey, how ‘bout that. CUT!

88 Brad Cieslak, TE

I should keep you just for the name. Brad Cieslak is a great TV or movie name. You should look into that. CUT!

The Browns Table: 2008 Year in Review

2009-01-09T18:43:00.005-05:00

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...

"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!

Before You Question Mangini, Question Lerner

2009-01-08T21:59:00.002-05:00

The Cleveland Browns made it official today. Eric Mangini is now the 12th fulltime coach in franchise history. The first head coach with previous head coaching experience since Nick Skorich in 1971.

Mangini comes to the Browns a little over a week after being fired as the head coach of the New York Jets for three seasons. Mangini complied two winning season in three years and totaled a 23-35 record and a first round loss in the 2006 NFL Playoffs.

Many question the selection of Mangini in the first place and rightfully so, for a wide variety of reasons. Certain Jets’ players including one NFL Icon apparently didn’t like playing for Mangini in New York. The Jets’ flushed away an 8-3 start in 2009 and ended with a 9-7 record, including a season ending clunker versus Miami at home.

Mangini has the reputation of being a strict disciplinarian. Having come from the Bill Belichick coaching tree his interviews, comments and interaction with the media has come under fire as well.

He also has faced scrutiny for turning Belichick and the New England Patriots into the league for the infamous “Spygate” controversy last season. The Browns were the only team to show any sort of interest in Mangini which is sure to raise some eyebrows, but rumors of his being blackballed due to the being the Spygate snitch have been mentioned.

Mangini did have his fair share of backers as well. Many believe that the Jets’ epic 2009 collapse doesn’t rest solely on his shoulders. Some former players like Leon Washington have actually come out and shown support for their departed Jets’ leader.

Mangini still is young, at age 37, and does have three years on NFL head coaching experience. Dick Vermeil, Mike Shanahan, Tom Coughlin and even Belichick himself have had success in their second go rounds as head coaches. If Mangini can learn form his mistakes in New York and use that knowledge in Cleveland he does have a chance to succeed.

The bottom line is that Mangini will be judged on wins and losses. If he wins no one will care about how dull his press conferences are. If he loses no one will care he used to be a ball boy for the Browns in the mid 1990s when Belichick was a first time coach and Mangini caught his eye.

However, for all the questions being asked about Eric Mangini there should be more questions being asked of Browns’ owner Randy Lerner.

While Lerner does deserve some credit for having a list of candidates by priority: Bill Cowher, Scott Pioli, and Mangini. One has to question the way Lerner has gone about the process of structuring his football organization.

Since there return in 1999 the Browns have failed to structure their organization in a way that promotes an environment that is conducive to winning on a consistent basis. The structure of the football team starts in the front office and works its way down.

The Browns have lacked a solid team president, on the football operations side, since John Collins was dismissed after the 2004 season. The President of Football Operations is necessary to establish and define the identity and direction of the organization on and off the field. One only needs to look to Miami to see the impact that Bill Parcells has had in this role.

This is the role that Lerner needed to fill first. He does not want to be the face of the franchise like Bob Kraft in New England or Jerry Jones in Dallas. If anything he is camera shy to a fault, even going so far as to have an agreement with the networks to keep him off television.

Despite rumors to the contrary, Lerner does in fact attend every home game. Many love to point to his ownership of the Aston Villa football club in the English Premier League as a lack of commitment to the Browns. His ownership of Aston Villa is totally unrelated and has no effect on his commitment to the Browns.

Despite that commitment, Lerner himself admits that he has no knowledge or desire to run an NFL franchise. He’s not a “football man.” That’s why one has to question Lerner for not bringing in someone to run the football side of the franchise on a daily basis. No offense to current Team President Mike Keenan but he is skilled/schooled in the business side of things not the football side.

Lerner also has to be taken to task for interviewing both GM and head coaching candidates. Once again, he is admittedly not a “football man” by any means, what qualifications does he have to select the GM and/or coach on his own? Even if he is getting advice from respect NFL peers and colleges, how can he effectively judge a candidate on his merits?

By employing a President of Football Operations it would give Lerner an effective counterpart to independently evaluate every candidate. As I stated previously, an organization needs to be built from the top down to ensure a common focus and establish a hierarchy of command.

Based on that, the next logical step would be to hire a GM, who reports to the President, to run the player personnel and development in the direction and identity the Owner and President desire. Based on those criteria the Owner, President and GM would select a head coach who they all felt shared the same vision for the identity of the team.

Randy Lerner, however, chose to go about things in a rather backwards kind of way. Lerner fell in love with Mangini the moment he heard that he had been fired by the Jets. That in itself is fine but once again the way in which he went about things has to be questioned.

Rather than fill the GM spot and collaborate on the selection of the head coach, Lerner chose to hire his head coach, Mangini, first. This is not a knock on Mangini, but on Lerner. Lerner has asked Mangini for his input on whom he feels could be a competent GM who Mangini can work hand in had with after the departed (Phil Savage and Romeo Crennel) were obviously not on the same page for their four years in Cleveland.

While the desire to have the coach and GM on the same wavelength in the correct line of thinking the way Lerner has gone about it is all wrong. In effect, Lerner is letting Mangini choose who his superior is. That in of itself is extremely flawed logic. If you are going to have organizational stability and accountability you need to have the General Manager in place before the head coach.

The other problem that selecting the head coach first creates is that in limits the number of candidates for general manager. Pioli and Eagles GM Tom Heckert have already withdrawn their named form consideration for the Browns’ GM job now that Mangini has been appointed head coach. Again, not a knock on Mangini, but most GMs are going to want to have input on their head coach.

So here the Browns sit after the worst decade of football the city of Cleveland has ever seen, by far, with a new head coach but without a Team President or General Manager.

While I remain cautiously optimistic and intrigued about the potential of Eric Mangini, I am worried to death about the structure of the Browns organization as a whole and if Mangini has any change to succeed because of it, not himself.

It is these questions about Randy Lerner and the organization that his family is restructuring, for the fourth time in ten seasons, which should be asked and explored. Those questions about Eric Mangini and his qualification should take a backseat to those about the Browns organization as a whole.

Vote Jeff for Bleacher Report NFL Writer of the Year

2009-01-01T18:09:00.001-05:00

Happy 2009 to everyone! After the depressing, recession laden, $4 gas year that 2008 was there is no where to go but up... hopefully.

I hate to ask a favor on day one of the New Year but I must. As some of you know, I write for bleacherreport.com as the Cleveland Browns Community Leader.

Despite the giant turd the Browns laid this season I have been nominated for writer of the year on the site and would really appreciate it if you could take a second and vote for me.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/98619-vote-for-the-bleacher-report-nfl-writer-of-the-year-award

Once again, Happy New Year and thanks for your support!

Jeff

Steelers Put Browns Out of Their Misery, 31-0

2008-12-28T17:12:00.001-05:00

The outcome was never in doubt. Whether or not the Browns would set records of futility were. The Browns were shutout in consecutive games for the first time in franchise history courtesy of a 31-0 beat down at the hands of the AFC North Champion Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Browns also managed to set an NFL record by going 24 full quarters without an offensive touchdown. The last time they scored was in the fourth quarter of the Monday night game versus the Buffalo Bills. That game was on November 17th.

The Browns managed to keep the game close in the first quarter and a half but their only chance to put points on the board went wide left with Phil Dawson’s 53-yeard field goal attempt on their opening possession. The vaunted Heinz Field winds took the ball from the right goal post past the left one.

The Steelers drove into the red zone on their ensuing possession but Sean Jones intercepted Ben Roethlisberger inside the Cleveland 10 yard line to keep the game scoreless.

Both teams traded punts back and forth until Willie Parker broke a 43-yard sweep to the right and handed Pittsburgh a 7-0 lead that was never threatened. It was Parker’s longest run in what has been a disappointing season for the Steelers’ rushing attack.

Pittsburgh received a scare on their next possession when Roethlisberger was hit while rolling out by Willie McGinest and D’Qwell Jackson. Roethlisberger was on the ground for over 15 minutes as medical personnel treated him. He was carted off the field, into an ambulance and to the hospital where he was diagnosed with a concussion.

It was the only scare the Browns put into the Steelers all afternoon.

Byron Leftwich took over on the drive and led the Steelers into a 3rd and Goal from the Browns’ 8. In a microcosm of their defense for 2008, four Browns whiffed on the less than mobile Leftwich and he waddled into the end zone for a 14-0 Steeler advantage right before halftime.

The second half was just as putrid for the pitiful Browns as a Tyrone Carter interception set up a Jeff Reed field goal. Gary Russell then powered in from three yards to finish off a drive that was met with little resistance from the Browns defense. Browns’ quarterback Bruce Gradkowski was intercepted for a second time, again by Carter, who returned it to the house for the 31-0 final.

The Browns only managed 126 yards of total offense while Willie Parker had 116 on the ground by himself. Gradkowski was only 5 of 16 for 18 yards and the two interceptions. If this was a test to see if he could be the Browns’ back up in 2009, he failed spectacularly.

Head coach Romeo Crennel’s was the only one who outdid his performance. Crennel fell to 0-8 versus Pittsburgh making his the only full time Browns coach in franchise history to have never beaten the Steelers. Crennel is expected to be relieved of his duties tomorrow.

The only bright spot for the Browns was running back Jamal Lewis who ran for 94 yards on 23 carries. That gave Lewis 1,003 yards on the season, the first Browns running back to have consecutive 1,000-yard season since Greg Pruitt.

For the rest of the Browns and their fans it was a fitting end to a miserable season. A season the 1999 expansion Browns would even be embarrassed by.

The Browns Table: The Battle of Woe-HIO

2008-12-22T21:23:00.001-05:00

Hines Ward Gets Lit Up, Defenses Rejoice

2008-12-21T21:05:00.005-05:00

A picture is truly worth 1,000 words.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward was leveled by Tennessee Titans defensive back Courtland Finnegan in the Titans' 31-14 victory Sunday in Nashville.

Ward who is one of the most intense, hardest working and physical players in the NFL also has a reputation of being one of the dirtiest. He is, by far, the best blocking wide receiver in the league but his propensity to specialize in the clean, blind side hit often draws the ire of opposing defenders. So much so the Baltimore Ravens allegedly (they did) put out a bounty of him for their second contest of the season.

While Ward is a great receiver and excellent role model off the field, some of his action on it are questionable. While he may not be the team distraction like Terrell Owens or Randy Moss have been or even a "look at me" player like Chad Johnson or LenDale White, Ward does do something that is just as classless. He taunts.

It is often hidden or dismissed because of the giant smile that is always on his face, but his disrespect for opposing teams and players is a reality. Whether celebrating the clean hit that broke the jaw of Cincinnati Bengals' linebacker Keith Rivers or any other hit he connects on the taunting is there.

He has mocked Ray Lewis' entrance dance after scoring a touchdown against the Ravens. He has mocked the "Fly Eagles Fly" fight song of Philadelphia after scoring in the city of Brotherly Love. He has wiped his feet like a dog in the direction of the Dawg Pound in Cleveland.

He may be a great player but please don't let that shroud the fact that he is also one who shows no sportsmanship.

So for one play, he got what was coming to him. Hopefully there will be many more to follow. Then may his taunting and unsportsmanlike antics will finally cease.

Bengals Make Browns Roll Over and Play Dead, 14-0

2008-12-21T20:58:00.003-05:00

"Worst season I've ever played in," Browns running back Jamal Lewis.

That could be the understatement of the century as the visiting Cincinnati Bengals shutout the Cleveland Browns 14-0 in windy Cleveland Browns Stadium. With the victory in the 71st battle of Ohio, the Bengals took the all-time series lead 36-35. The Bengals recorded their first shutout since holding the Browns scoreless on November 26, 2006, also the last time the Browns were shutout.

The game was basically over after two offensive series. The Bengals received the opening kick-off and drove to midfield before their drive stalled. On the Browns’ ensuing possession, third string quarterback Ken Dorsey hit Leon Hall in the left flat for a 50 yard touchdown. Unfortunately for the Browns, Hall plays corner back for the Bengals.

Hall torched Dorsey and wide receiver Braylon Edwards all night long, intercepting him three times total. The high winds off of Lake Erie bothered Dorsey just as much as he completed a respectable 10-17 passes, but only for 68 yards, the longest 15 yards to Edwards, and the three costly interceptions.

Cincinnati’s Ryan Fitzpatrick struggled with the wind as well, but the Bengals’ game plan had him only throwing nine passes for the entire game. He completed five for 55 yards, including a perfectly thrown corner route to Chris Henry. Henry beat Browns’ cornerback Eric Wright in the middle of the second quarter for the insurmountable 14-0 lead.

With the 14 point cushion and the Browns’ failure to score an offensive touchdown in the previous four games, the Bengals turned to running back Cedric Benson. Benson rushed a career high 38 times for 171 yards as the Cincinnati simply played keep away and ate up the game clock for most of the final two and a half quarters.

The Browns failed to score an offensive touchdown for the fifth consecutive game and got another quarterback hurt in the process. Dorsey, playing because of season-ending injuries to Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn, suffered a mild concussion and injured ribs late in the fourth quarter

Enter recently signed QB Bruce Gradkowski, who may have to start the season finale in his hometown of Pittsburgh against the Steelers. Gradkowski was an unimpressive 2-5 for eight yards and an interception. Bengals linebacker Brandon Johnson tipped and intercepted Gradkowski’s second pass on the second to last drive of the game.

Jamal Lewis finished with 76 yards on 16 carries to become the 24th player in NFL history to rush for 10,000 career yards. Lewis came in needing 63 yards to eclipse the mark and achieved the milestone on an eight-yard burst in the third quarter. It was the lone highlight for the Browns on an otherwise frigid day.

The Bengals can actually pass the Browns for third place in the AFC North with a victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Cincinnati and a Browns’ loss in Week 17.

The Browns’ travel to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers in Week 17 where they will legitimately looking at the possibility of a sixth consecutive game without and offensive touchdown and a second consecutive shutout. The Steelers have beaten the Browns ten consecutive times and, on paper, should have no problem making it eleven, even if they rest their starters for most of the afternoon.

Browns-Bengals: Breakdown of the NFL's Must-See Game of Week 16

2008-12-20T19:38:00.002-05:00

The juggernaut Cleveland Browns (4-10) host the Cinderella darlings of the NFL, the Cincinnati Bengals (2-11-1), in the 71st battle of Ohio this Sunday at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Those who thought that the epic battle that these two teams waged in Week Two when both teams were 0-3 couldn’t be outdone have to be kicking themselves.

The series stands tied at 35 wins apiece. Who stands to take the lead in this back and forth series? Let’s break it down by position.

QUARTERBACK

Carson Palmer has had his ups and downs since his horrific knee injury in the 2005 playoffs but still has to be considered in the upper tier of NFL quarterbacks. Brady Quinn has the college pedigree, hype, and looks to be a superstar in this league.

They both...What? They aren’t playing? Neither one? Really? What’s the deal?

Is Carson filming those sexually suggestive hot dog adds this weekend? Partying with Matt Leinart, maybe?

And where is Quinn? Pimping Myoplex and Subway sandwiches? At a wedding dancing to “YMCA” by the Village People again?

Oh, they're both injured, fine. Then who is...

Ryan Fitzpatrick and Ken Dorsey?!? Are you f’n kidding me? No, seriously, these guys are STARTING? Sweet lord.

Normally you would take the guy from “Tha U” over the guy from Harvard, but Fitzpatrick is actually athletic where as Dorsey makes Bernie Kosar look like Michael Flatley.

Advantage: BENGALS

RUNNING BACK

Jamal Lewis versus Cedric Benson. The former is nearing 10,000 career rushing yards as he looks old and slow. The later is a former first-round bust that had his first production game in over two years last week.

Tough call.

Well, Lewis got busted for dealing crack a few years back and had to serve hard time. Benson likes to get over-served and has a hard time driving afterwards.

Advantage: BROWNS

RECEIVERS AND TIGHT ENDS

Braylon Edwards is sad because nobody likes him because he is from Michigan. Chad Johnson is sad because he would have had to buy 10,000 jerseys if he wanted to change his name to Chad Ocho Cinco.

T. J. Houshmandzadeh is banged up and so is Kellen Winslow. But Winslow is a soldier! But at least Houshmandzadeh is playing.

This may come down to Chris Henry versus Donte Stallworth—a dream matchup that no one could ever imagine. Who do you go with here? The guy with the rap sheet longer than most Christmas lists or the guy who thinks his brain is inhabited by a Martian.

I got it. Oregon State alum Derek Anderson says go with my fellow alumni Johnson and Houshmandzadeh over Edwards. Why, because Anderson hates Michigan, too? No, because they don’t drop the football when it is thrown to them.

Advantage: BENGALS

OFFENSIVE LINE

The Browns have a guy, Kevin Shaffer, who I call “The Human Parking Cone” (HPC) because putting a parking cone at right tackle would do just as good of a job. Rex Hadnot has a beard. Hank Fraley is fat. Joe Thomas is better that Levi Jones. But Browns NT Shaun Rogers might eat Bengals center Eric Ghiaciuc.

Advantage: BROWNS

DEFENSIVE LINE

Did I mention Sean Rogers might eat Eric Ghiaciuc? Carson Palmer said that Shaun Smith looks like the hamburglar when he wore the Bengals’ striped uniform, which is awesome! I’m stopping right there. I’ve seen enough.

Advantage: BROWNS

LINEBACKERS

I don’t know who plays LB for Cincinnati, but I do know that other than D’Qwell Jackson no other LBs play for Cleveland.

Advantage: BENGALS

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Michigan alum Leon Hall is playing corner for the Bengals. Browns fans don’t like him… because he plays for the Bengals. Former Brown Chris Crocker returns to Cleveland for the first time since being traded.

Brandon McDonald set a team record for most interception yards in a game and the greatest back flip into the end zone when you team is still down by 20 points. You stay classy, B-Mac!

Advantage: BENGALS

SPECIAL TEAMS

Shayne Graham has red hair. Phil Dawson might be the best player on the Browns and he’s the freaking kicker. Plus his wife is hot, can sing the national anthem, and was a cheerleader at the University of Texas.

Dave Zastudil is having knee problems and the Browns’ apparently have a “secret punter” on call in case he can not punt. Please God let it be Scott Player and his awesome 50-year-old man porno-mustache!

Oh wait, Josh Cribbs, duh.

Advantage: BROWNS

COACHING

Marvin Lewis has floundered at the helm of the Bengals but owner Mike Brown isn’t going to fire him in this economy. Plus, he is just trying to ruin his father’s name more than the Browns are currently trying to do.

Browns fans are just happy that Romeo Crennel remembers to wear pants on the sidelines, let alone make decisions on challenges, field goals, and personnel. Would it surprise you to see Romeo enjoying a nice, cool mojito and about four pizzas on the sidelines on Sunday?

It’s as if he is Leslie Nielsen as Lt. Frank Drebin in The Naked Gun...

“The attempt on Nordberg's life left me shaken and disturbed, and all the questions kept coming up over and over again, like bubbles in a case of club soda. Who was this character in the hospital? And why was he trying to kill Nordberg? And for whom?

"Did Ludwig lie to me? I didn't have any proof, but somehow, I didn't entirely trust him either. Why was the 'I Luv You' not listed in Ludwig's records? And if it was, did he know about it? And if he didn't, who did? And where the hell was I?”

But more like...

The attempt on Nordberg's life left me shaken and disturbed, and all the questions kept coming up over and over again, like bubbles in a case of club soda. Who was this staph infection in the hospital?

And why was he trying to kill Kellen Winslow? And for whom? Did Phil Savage lie to me? I didn't have any proof, but somehow, I didn't entirely trust him either. Why was the 'Brady Quinn' not listed in my roster records? And if he was, did I know about it? And if I didn't, who did? And where the hell was I?

Advantage: PUSH

Well, shoot I have no clue about this one folks. That is how colossal this matchup of two NFL titans is. It truly is the proverbial irresistible force versus the immovable object. But something has to got to give in the 71st Battle of Ohio...well unless they tie.

Are the Cleveland Browns' RB Answers Already in Cleveland?

2008-12-20T19:36:00.003-05:00

As the Browns stumble towards the finish in 2008, many personnel questions are up in the air for 2009. Who is going to play linebacker other than D’Qwell Jackson? Should strong safety Sean Jones resign? Can Joe Jurevicius come back from a seventh knee surgery? The Browns have some talent but they also have some awfully large gaps to fill.

One position that is also often talked about is running back. Workhorse Jamal Lewis will hit the dreaded 30-year-old mark for running backs in 2009. It has looked like that unwritten guideline for running backs is holding true with him as well as this year he has been a step slow to holes, lacks an initial burst off the snap and often tip-toes to line instead of hitting it full bore.

His stat lines from 2007 and 2008 also tell a similar tale:

2007 – 298 Rushes, 1,304 Yards, 4.4 Average, 9 TD (16 games)
2008 - 240 Rushes, 832 Yards, 3.5 Average, 4 TD (through 14 games)

Lewis, the coaching staff, and GM Phil Savage all say that Lewis has been battling through a number of nagging injuries all season. While it is noble that Lewis is playing hurt through this dismal Browns season, the signs of deterioration cannot be ignored.

The knee-jerk reaction is to go out and grab a Knowshon Moreno type in the first round of the 2009 draft or pick up a young, free agent—a la Michael Bush—to fill the hole.

However, the Browns have many more significant holes to fill, especially on defense, which they desperately need to address on draft day. Also, when Michael Bush is one of the headlines in the crop of free agent running backs, that crop is not deep at all.

One intriguing possibility is a three-headed monster.

Lewis, while having a lot of wear on his tires, can be effective in certain situations if used properly. See Jerome Bettis’ final few years in Pittsburgh as a reference. Think 15 to 20 touches a game with a focus on short yardage and wearing the opposing defense down when it counts.

Mix in a little Jerome Harrison. Now, Harrison may be somewhat undersized, but that has been said about many running backs before him. The quick, shifty, scat-back can come in and take the hand-off off the edge and can break it at any time. He also can be a weapon in the short passing and screen game, something that the bigger Lewis often struggles with.

The final piece of the puzzle is Josh Cribbs. Yes, Cribbs is one of the best special-teams players and returners in the NFL and the Browns can not afford to lose him there. However, he has such big play ability he warrants around ten touches a game.

While currently classified as a receiver, Cribbs was a quarterback at Kent State. Many pro scouts actually saw him as a running back at the next level, not a wide receiver. As a receiver, Cribbs has had a minimal impact on the Browns. His route running is not crisp and he seems to struggle without the ball in his hands right away.

However, the few glimpses we have seen of Cribbs in the “Flash Package” have shown he is more than capable as an NFL runner. Using him in the role of a “third-down back” gets him the ball in his hands right away and he would not be a liability in pass blocking as he has already proven his toughness on special teams.

So while the Browns have plenty of holes to fill in the 2009 off season they just may have the pieces in place to fill the running back void already. It may take a little bit of chicanery and a pinch of tomfoolery, but that’s what good organizations do to win football games.

Browns-Bengals: A Brief History of a Rivalry Ruined

2008-12-17T23:10:00.001-05:00

It once was a rivalry of great pride for the state of Ohio and both cities. Cleveland, situated on Lake Erie in the northeast, Cincinnati situated on the Ohio River in the southwest.

Both teams’ initials matching those of their common founder Paul Brown. Both teams’ using orange as a secondary color as homage to Brown’s beloved Massillon Tigers.

The Bengals came into existence when Brown was fired from the team that bore his name by Art Modell. Brown responded by founding the Bengals shortly thereafter in 1968 and an instant rivalry was born, founded on the hatred between the two men. The rivalry hit its peak in the 1980s when both teams were perennially battling for play-off positioning.

The rivalry began to deteriorate in the 1990s when Paul Brown’s sons, led by Mike, took over the day to day operations of the team. The Bengals embarked on a downward spiral that they still have not come out of today. Their focus on money, namely not spending it, has held them back and makes them a laughingstock of an organization.

Of all the NFL franchises, they put the least amount of money into college and free agent scouting. This has resulted in an inordinate amount of off the field transgressions by their players.

It also handcuffs them in the front office as the fail to make personnel changes in the coaching and management offices in fear of having to pay salaries in full while also paying those who would take over.

This resulted in a 52-108 record in the 1990s and a 54-74 record from 200 to 2007. The Bengals only made two play-off appearances in that time, 1990 and 2005.

While the Browns feasted on the Bengals in the 1990s, that dominance was short lived. Not because of action on the field but those off it.

Modell ran his businesses into the ground financially and faced personal bankruptcy. To avoid it, Modell moved the Browns franchise from Cleveland to Baltimore after the 1995 season. The city of Cleveland fought to keep the name, history and colors of the team while Modell was in essence granted a new team and clean slate in Baltimore.

Cleveland waited for three years for the Browns to return in 1999, but the expansion form of the Browns look nothing like its glorious history. Dealt a bad hand by the NFL who awarded ownership to Al Lerner with little time to prep for 1999 the Browns suffered their worst seasons in team history in 1999 and 2000.

Lerner passed away and his son, Randy, took over the reigns. The Browns have had three regimes in the ten years the team has been under their watch and has produced only two winning seasons (2002, 2007) and one play-off appearance (2007) under their watch.

In five of the last six seasons, the Browns have accumulated ten or more losses. It is, by far, the worst ten year span in team history. The team faces a fourth possible “reboot” under the Lerner Family after the team fell from 10-6 last year to 4-10 this season.

The teams have met 70 times, with each franchise winning 35. Fitting for two teams that share the same state and the same founder. Disappointing, in that both teams have tarnished the image and legacy of that man, Paul Brown, by running their franchises into the ground both on the field and off it.

Until Mike Brown and Randy Lerner figure out how to turn their respective teams around, the Bengals and the Browns will continue to flounder, and a once proud rivalry will continue to be ruined.

The Browns Table: Monday Night Masochism

2008-12-16T22:18:00.006-05:00

Eagles Beat Down Browns, 30-10

2008-12-16T00:30:00.005-05:00

In an outcome that surprised no one the Cleveland Browns fell to the far superior Philadelphia Eagles, 30-10, on Monday Night Football. The Eagles outclassed the Browns from the opening drive and only their futility in the red zone and propensity for turnovers kept the score closer than it should have been.

The Eagles drove effortlessly down the field on their opening possession for a touchdown as Donovan McNabb converted two third downs on the drive. The first to Jason Avant for 21 yards and the second when he hit Kevin Curtis for the touchdown on a fade route in the right corner of the endzone and a 7-0 advantage.

The Browns came into the game without scoring a touchdown on their opening drive for 20 consecutive games. They made it 21 in a row, but were able to put a Phil Dawson field goal on the board, a single season Browns record thirtieth, for a 7-3 ballgame. It should have been 7-7, but Darnell Dinkins dropped a sure touchdown on 3^rd and Goal on a perfectly timed crossing pattern.

The Eagles then took control from that point forward and were only held back by turnovers and inefficiency in the red zone. McNabb converted two more third down on the Eagles’ second drive but failed to convert a third inside the Browns ten and Philadelphia had to settle for a David Akers field goal and 10-3 lead.

The Browns were unable to answer and Philadelphia took over and drove down the field. On 3^rd and Goal from the Browns’ 8, receiver DeSean Jackson line-up in the shotgun formation, bluffed a drawn and under threw a pass that would have been a sure touchdown. Browns safety Sean Jones made an amazing, diving interception and prevent the Eagles from opening up a bigger lead.

But not to worry for the Eagles, as Ken Dorsey paid them back and then some as he threw an interception right into the arms of Asante Samuel. Samuel then dashed down the sideline for a touchdown that put the Eagles up 17-3.

After another Browns punt, Philadelphia once again marched into Cleveland territory and beyond. McNabb just picked apart the Browns defense with no threat of a pass rush to worry about. The Eagles faced a 2^nd and Goal at the Browns’ 1 after Brian Wstbrook was stopped short of the goal line.

With nine seconds left in the half and no timeouts remaining, McNabb threw a quick pass to the left that Browns’ corner Brandon McDonald leapt up an snared one-handed, and raced down the sideline. Westbrook however hustled and caught him inside the five yard line to prevent the score. In the end it was the longest interception return not for a touchdown, 98 yards, in NFL history.

The score may have only been 17-3 but the first half stats showed how lopsided the game really was. The Eagles ran 39 plays to the Browns’ 22. Twenty-three of Philadelphia’s plays were in Browns’ territory compared to only five for Cleveland. The Eagles possessed the ball for just under 20 minutes compared to ten for the Browns.

The second half was no different that the first as the Browns were unable to generate anything on offense while the Eagles continued to drive without resistance but stall inside the 20. They put up two Akers field goals on their first two drives and added a touchdown when McNabb found Greg Lewis after another Dorsey interception.

The Browns added a gift touchdown late when Eagles’ back-up QB Kevin Kolb’s pass found McDonald and he wiggled his way 24 yards for a touchdown. Down 30-3 at that point McDonald took the classy rout into the endzone by doing a somersault into the endzone to cap the scoring for the night. It was the Browns first touchdown in a month.

Other than the interception, there were not a lot of positives for the Browns other than Dawson’s field goal record. Braylon Edwards has his third good game of the season, all on Monday night, posting a five catch night for 102 yards, and no drops. Shaun Rogers was a beast once again, despite leaving briefly after reaggravating a shoulder injury that has plagued him all season.

The Romeo Crennel led Browns have their third 10 loss season in four years, and now must face the 2-11-1 Bengals who knocked off the Washington Redskins Sunday. This was supposed to be an easy win, even for the Browns, but now it looks like the Browns will have their work cut out for them this coming Sunday at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

Browns O Line Underachieving in 2008

2008-12-14T14:08:00.001-05:00

The Cleveland Browns sit at 4-9 staring down the barrel of a Monday night beatdown at the hands of the resurgent Philadelphia Eagles. Last year’s season of dreams has turned into a season of nightmares for fans on the Erie Shore. Many things have contributed to the Browns crash and burn in 2008.

It starts at the top with owner Randy Lerner’s hands-off approach while failing to put together an organization hierarchy capable of sustaining a winning atmosphere. Hand in hand with that, General Manager Phil Savage’s failure to define a direction and identity for the football team is just as culpable.

I have already rambled ad nauseam about Romeo Crennel’s shortcoming as a head coach. Derek Anderson’s meteoric drop to earth is just as responsible as the balls that Braylon Edwards drops on a weekly basis.

The Donte Stallworth signing, a defense that can not generate pressure on the opposing quarterback and the lack of an impact linebacker are also huge factor into this miserable Cleveland Browns season.

One factor that has been overlooked is the performance of the Browns’ offensive line throughout the season. After third string quarterback Ken Dorsey got the crap beat out of him against the Tennessee Titans last week it because obvious that this has been a sub-par year for the guys on the front line.

Losing Ryan Tucker to hip surgery early in the off-season started the problems. While not the premier name on the offensive line, Tucker may just be the glue that holds the unit together. A tackle most of his career, Tucker played right guard last year during the Browns’ offensive resurgence.

Tucker missed all of camp, the first four games of the year before playing in game five against the New York Giants. Unfortunately, he was lost for the season after one game due to a knee injury.

This put free agent signee Rex Hadnot and The Human Parking Cone (HPC) Kevin Shaffer as the right side of the Browns line. Both are road grader type of players and both have struggled mightily against the athletic defenses the Browns have faced this season. Hadnot is serviceable but is a step below Tucker in terms of performance.

HPC played left tackle two years ago and almost single handedly killed Charlie Frye in 2006. He was moved to right tackle when Joe Thomas was drafted in 2007 and performed well on the right side of the line. However, in 2008 the Shaffer has devolved into the HPC once again creating another issue for a sputtering offense.

The road graders on the right side of the line are contrasted by the finesse of the left side of the line, Thomas and Eric Steinbach. While physical, Thomas and Steinbach are much more athletic and excel in pass blocking and running plays that put them on the edge or in the open field. This creates some play-calling conundrums, and trends, as the Browns are handcuffed on which plays they can run to each side of the line.

Tying the two sides together is center Hank Fraley who saved the Browns in 2006 when they lost four centers in pre-season and training camp in rapid succession. Fraley was a crafty veteran acquired from the Eagles who has played very well in his two years in Cleveland.

2008 has been a different story as opposing defense have routinely blitzed up the middle with success. Fraley seems to have lost a step or is just have a very poor season. In either case, this has caused Dorsey, and Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn before him, to spend a lot of time under duress this year.

While their problems run much, much deeper the Browns can not ignore the drop in performance of their offensive line in 2008. In may not be the sole, or large, part of their disappointing record but it should not be ignored.

Donte Stallworth Fined for Unnecessary Roughness... Really!

2008-12-13T10:32:00.005-05:00

The NFL announced on Friday that Browns wide receiver Donte' Stallworth was fined $5,000, for unnecessary roughness, on an interception when he speared an opponent with his helmet.

Let me repeat that.

Donte' Stallworth was fined $5,000, also for unnecessary roughness.

The Donte' Stallworth who stepped on Braylon Edwards’ heel gashing Edwards and requiring him to need stitches… and almost came to tears talking about it? That Donte' Stallworth?

The Donte' Stallworth who missed the first four games of the regular season because he tweaked his hamstring in a walk-thru the day before the season opener against the Dallas Cowboys? That Donte' Stallworth?

The Donte' Stallworth who came up lame in warm-ups before the pivotal Week 9 game against the hated Baltimore Ravens? That Donte' Stallworth?

The Donte' Stallworth who believes his brain is inhabited by a Martian by the name of Nicco? That Donte' Stallworth?

The Donte' Stallworth who signed a seven year, $35 million contract with the Browns this off-season? The one who has produced a whopping 14 receptions for 141 yards and a lone touchdown? The one who has only played a full 16 game season in three of his seven seasons in the league? That Donte' Stallworth?

Dear NFL, I know you are trying to crack down on player conduct and unsportsmanlike play on the field but come on. Donte' Stallworth is, has and always will be soft.

If you are going to fine him for being unnecessarily rough than please fine the Browns for signing him and please fine the fans for having to watch him. Because fining Donte' Stallworth for unnecessary roughness may be the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard of.

Could Cassel End Up in Cleveland?

2008-12-11T21:39:00.004-05:00

With both Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson currently on Injured Reserve for the west of the season the Cleveland Browns are currently knee deep in the Ken Dorsey Experience for the last four games of the season.

The only thing to look forward to in 2008 for the Browns on the quarterback front is an appearance by the Polish Hammer Bruce Gradkowski.

With Anderson’s performance in 2008 showing that he may have been a “one hit wonder” in 2007 and Quinn only having four NFL games and three NFL starts under his belt the Browns 2009 quarterback situation is as murky as ever.

Do they bring both Anderson and Quinn back for another open competition? Probably not since Browns fans celebrated Anderson’s season ending injury against the Indianapolis Colts. (Honestly people, calling for Ken Dorsey is NOT a good idea.)

Head Coach Romeo Crennel has declared Brady Quinn his starter for 2009. Um… one problem there, big guy, you aren’t going to be coaching the team in 2009. So it is probably not a good idea for The Mighty Quinn to celebrate your endorsement.

Does this mean that Quinn is incapable or handling starting NFL quarterback duties? No, absolutely not. There just isn’t enough game data to say that he is capable due to his injury.

But is there a scenario that Browns fans are overlooking despite it being a possibility? Could Matt Cassel end up captaining the Browns offensive ship in 2009?

Could it happen? Yes. What are the odds? Slim.

If the Browns were to pursue Cassel they should want to exploit the fact that he has flourished in the New England Patriots system. There are no guarantees that he would fit into the Browns’ current system. Besides, Crennel will not be back so odds are his coordinators may not be back as well.

Throw in the fact that current Browns GM Phil Savage may be on his way out as well and the stage could (key word could) be set for Cassel to be a target. Here’s how…

There have been rumors circulating that current Patriots GM Scott Pioli could be itching to bolt New England to get out from underneath the shadow of Pats’ Czar Bill Belichick. If this were to occur Pioli would undoubtedly want to bring in a head coach he was familiar with. Perhaps the Pats’ offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels?

McDaniels is one the young, up and coming coordinators in the league and in recent years those fitting that mold (Mike Tomlin, Sean Payton, John Harbaugh, etc.) have had success when teaming with an experienced GM such as Pioli.

If they were to team up in Cleveland you would have to think they would make a play for Cassel and they are as familiar with him as he is with them. He has shown that he can flourish in their system after Tom Brady was lost for the season.

Once again, could it happen? Yes. What are the odds? Slim.

But it is another scenario that could play out in an 2008-2009 off-season for the Cleveland Browns that should be much more interesting that their 2008 regular season.

The Browns Table: A Titan Sruggle

2008-12-10T07:05:00.001-05:00

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.

This discussion is not just meant for the contributing Browns fans. Please feel free to comment on any of the questions or any of our answers below.

We welcome any comments and an open discussion about the Browns below. If you would like a seat at the table leave me a note on my profile and we will try and get you in the rotation.

As always thanks to Browns fans the Dawgfather, Dustin Haley, Eric Lawhead for their contributions this week.

The Browns lost to the Tennessee Titans, which wasn’t surprising, but the guys look for some positives from the game… if there are any. They also debate the futures of a few players, personnel needs for 2009 and if it is OK to root against your team.

The Browns fought as long as they could but still came up short against the Titans. Are there any positives the Browns can take from this contest?

The Dawgfather:
That we need to reassess this WHOLE franchise from top to bottom! we have receivers who cant' catch, an o-line that can't block! and QB's who can't throw, in ALL my years of watching the Browns I have NEVER seen such a pathetic and impotent performance than what I saw on Sunday it was like watching 1999 all over again.

Dustin Haley:
There was not anything spectacular from the game for which we should build on for the season, but if not anything, the Browns found out exactly who has heart and whose here to win.

It was good to see that we have a backup QB that isn't out there going through the motions and he's going to give all he's got to win. He by no means had a great game, but I admire Dorsey for his determination. Obviously Cribbs has the most heart on the team, and looks to be stepping up as a team leader. Braylon has had a terrible season, but he's still competing, let's not give up on him yet. Defensively D'Qwell had a spectacular game and Shaun Rodgers was stellar as usual.

Eric Lawhead:
Another QB didn't get hurt for the rest of the season.

Jeff Smirnoff:
Not much. Romeo Crennel just keeps digging his grave deeper and deeper each week with his game management. I will give Ken Dorsey some credit for hanging in there while getting the crap beat out of him while Rob Chudzinski called for him to pass 43 times against the Titans defense. It’s also good to see Josh Cribbs, D’Qwell Jackson and Shaun Rogers busting their asses on every play even though there is not much to play for. Other than those things and Phil Dawson being a good kicker, there isn’t much left to take from the game.

Jamal Lewis has looked old and slow the past few weeks. Do you think he is a viable starting NFL running back for 2009?

The Dawgfather:
No, and not only because he has looked old and slow, it is because he IS old and slow he is about to hit 30 in August, and in the NFL that is like being put out to pasture, he can help this team in other areas, but he is way past his prime now and I think he is done as a RB.

Dustin Haley:
Starting? Yes. Feature? No. Before the season started I, like many, defended Jamal against critics who thought Jamal would decline this season. I did so with good reason. He was coming of a stellar year and had not shown any signs of regression, in fact he seemed to get better as the season wore on. Also many reports that he had reported to camp the lightest and in the best shape of his professional career, combine that with his work ethic it seemed he poised to have another great season.

I believe that Jamal's decline this year has less to do with his age than his running style. It doesn't seem to me that Jamal has slowed any; he never had exceptional speed to begin with. However he seems to have turned from a downhill runner to a more timid runner; he's become easy to bring down. All this doesn't mean he can't be an effective runner with the proper complimentary back.

Eric Lawhead:
No, they need to get rid of him and let the Harrison era begin. They should also spend a late round draft pick on a running back and build towards the future. With Quinn being the future behind center, they need someone to help him.

Jeff Smirnoff:
Yes, but his tank is nearly empty. I think he can be productive, in a role, for one more season. He should get 15 to 20 carries a game but the days of him carrying the full load are over. Whether it is Jerome Harrison, Josh Cribbs or someone else Lewis should split carries with a faster, more athletic back in 2009. I am thinking a la Jerome Bettis late in his career.

D'Qwell Jackson. He has had a decent year. Do you see him as a key member of the Browns defense in the future?

The Dawgfather:
Yeah, and I also feel it maybe time to look at letting some of the younger players on the field like Hall and Bell, you know players who can actually TACKLE, it would not surprise me when the new coach decides to cut Davis and maybe even Wimbley who is now offically a bust in my eyes.

Dustin Haley:
Yes. D'Qwell may not be you're classic prototypical linebacker, but in this day and age size isn't everything in the NFL. Today's linebackers are not on the field to just stop the run, but are now responsible for many areas of defense. When offenses tout players like Kellen Winslow, Dallas Clark, and Jason Witten you’re at a disadvantage if you don't have a versatile linebacker to cover them. D'Qwell has not just defended the run but has also covered tight ends and receivers very well.

D'Qwell has shown he has a great nose for the ball. He hasn't always been the first to the ball this year, but with our lackluster tackling he's typically the one cleaning up. He may not be an impact linebacker, but with a better supporting cast, Jackson would prove to be a cornerstone on any defense.

Eric Lawhead:
Sure, anyone who can have a decent year on a defense that is this bad, should be looked at to only get better down the road. They need a lot of help on defense and need to make the alright players into better players, and they can do that with Jackson.

Jeff Smirnoff:
I am torn. He has been very active this year, a lot more active than previous years. He has started to make a play here and there but not at the rate that an impact ILB in a 3-4 needs to. He seems to be very athletic and decently fast but he is so undersized for an ILB in the NFL I wonder if he can truly have be the impact player the Browns desperately need him to be. I can see him being the second ILB in the 3-4 if they had a monster ILB next to him and a pass rush at OLB but without those he doesn’t cut the mustard.

What are the Browns' most pressing positional needs in the off season?

The Dawgfather:
Number one with a bullet, LB - do I really need to go into why we have the WORST LB's corps in the league? Second is RB - Harrison and Wright are nice change of pace backs, but I don't see starting tailback, feature back status in them, it wouldn't surprise me to see the browns take a RB with the first pick. Third DB, please see number one. Fourth, WR. Edwards has lost confidence in himself and Stallworth is a joke. We need a true #1 receiver who can challenge Braylon or help him because Steptoe is too short, Sanders is average and we need some depth, missing JJ really hurt us this year.

Dustin Haley:
As the roster stands right now, and the Browns keep the 3-4 defense I feel that the most pressing position we need to look for in free agency is a replacement for Andre Davis. Andre has given us many years of solid play but it's time for the team and him to part ways. I'm against drafting a linebacker because we already have pretty young core at the position, and we will need a starting caliber player with playing experience.

In the draft I would like to see us go after a half back, preferably with the first pick. As we have talked about Jamal is no longer a feature back, Jason Wright is a solid blocking back but not a great runner, and Jerome Harrison, while exciting, is not an every down back. I feel that there are many potential quality backs that may declare for this draft and we should be able to come away with a nice complimentary back to what we have.

Eric Lawhead:
Defense, defense, defense. They have the tools on offense and Quinn can only get better. They need to draft with their first three picks defensive players, especially in the secondary ans possibly a linebacker as well. Besides the defense, they need to look for a new coach, and Marty isn't the answer. (Bill Cowher, anyone?)

Jeff Smirnoff:
First and foremost is linebacker. Whether they run the 3-4 or the 4-3 is irrelevant at this point in time. Right now, only maybe D’Qwell Jackson could qualify as an NFL right now and even that is debatable. After linebacker they need to focus on secondary depth, finding a running back to eventually take over for Jamal Lewis, wide receiver depth and cultivating some young offensive linemen.

Philosophy Question: The Browns have been out of play-off contention for some time now. Are you rooting for them to lose to get a better draft pick or is that sacrilege?

The Dawgfather:
Not at all, as long as we beat Pittsburgh, everything is gravy.

Dustin Haley:
No. Never. I expect a win every game. The draft is a somewhat of a crapshoot anyway, but if your scouts know what to look for and do their job correctly, you’re going to come out of the draft with a player your looking for, regardless of pick.

Eric Lawhead:
I'm never one for sand-bagging it. They should play out the rest of the season and be spoilers to the other teams. They could really screw up the AFC North with a week 17 win at Pittsburgh. That would look nice to attract Cowher, huh?

Jeff Smirnoff:
I never root for the Browns to lose. I am one who believes you always play to win no matter what. I can not actively root for my team to lose. I honestly can not see the Browns beating anyone on the schedule other than Cincinnati and even that is not a given.

Titans Beat Up Browns

2008-12-07T16:25:00.009-05:00

The players, for the most part, played hard for four quarters but the same can not be said about the coaching staff as the Cleveland Browns fell to 4-9 with a 28-9 drubbing at the hands of the 12-1 Tennessee Titans. The Titans outclassed the Browns is virtually every phase of the game as they methodically wore down the Browns defense to the tune of 390 total yards, 235 on the ground.

The Browns came into the game as the only team int he NFL not to score a touchdown on their opening drive in 2008. They looked as if they might actually break that string as Ken Dorsey drove them into Titans' territory. But a dropped pass, this time by Donte Stallworth, on third down made them settle for a Phil Dawson field goal and a 3-0 lead to start the contest.

An acrobatic interception by D'Qwell Jackson gave the Browns the ball back at the Titans' 25 and an opportunity to put Tennessee in an early hole. But the offense could only manage two yards on three plays and had to settle for a 6-0 lead courtesy of Dawson's leg.

Kerry Collins took the ensuing possession and led the Titans down the field on a nine play drive to answer. Mixing in both Chris Johnson and LenDale White the Titans faced a 3rd and 1 at the Browns' 28. Shaun Rogers and Andra Davis stuffed White for no gain but Titans' coach Jeff Fisher wanted nothing to do with field goals.

On 4th and 1, Fisher called for a play action pass to the left flat. Fullback Ahmad Hall caught the Collins toss and rumbled 28 yards for the go ahead touchdown. The Rod Bironas extra point made it 7-6 Tennessee and the Titans took control from there.

On their last drive of the half, the Titans once again went nine plays for a score. Running at will, and the beneficiary of a Corey Williams 15 yard roughing the passer foul, the Titans effortlessly drove into Browns' territory. LenDale White stuffed it into the endzone for a 14-6 Titan advantage with just over two minutes left in the half.

For Browns fans hoping for some late second quarter magic there would be none. The Browns had only scored nine points total in the last two minutes of the first half for the entire year. They did nothing to better that statistic and went into halftime trailing by eight. In fact, Chris Johnson had outgained the entire Browns team in yards 87-77 in the first half.

The Browns forced a Tennessee three and out to start the third quarter but Ken Dorsey was intercepted on the Browns subsequent possession. Collins responded by hitting Justin Gage in the endzone for a 21-6 lead midway through the third.

The Browns tried to fight back forcing White to fumble and intercepting Collins for a second time, again by D'Qwell Jackson. But the inept Browns offense could do nothing as the Titans defense smothered the run all day.

Jamal Lewis managed only seven yards on seven carries and Jerome Harrision gained two yards on two carries. In fact, as a team, the Browns only gained 35 yards on 19 attempts.

This put the onus to win the game on Dorsey which is not a position for him, or the Browns, to succeed. He gave it his all and played with a lot of guts as the Titans pressured him and hit him all day. But the longest completion he could manage was a 25 yard slant that was more the product of Braylon Edwards' legs than Dorsey's arm.

While the players seemed to play with heart and effort one has to ask if Romeo Crennel was doing the same. Down by 15 early in the fourth quarter he called for a third Phil Dawson field goal rather that go for in on 4th down. The points made the margin 12 which meant he still needed two touchdowns to win the game.

With that 12 point deficit later in the period, Crennel called for a punt on 4th and less than one from Browns' territory. The move did nothing to attempt to win the game and was gutless, quite frankly. Josh Cribbs finally threw out of the "Flash Package" and hit Braylon Edwards for 50 yards, but Edwards was ruled out of bounds.

Replays showed Edwards may have gotten his feet in bounds but Crennel chose not to challenge. Down 19 points at that juncture, what did the Browns have to lose by challenging? One timeout at the most if they did challenge. A lot of respect if they didn't. They didn't.

Crennel did however decide to call timeout on the Titans last drive of the game with the clock running on 4th and 1 from inside the Browns ten yard line. Once again, it accomplished nothing as the Titans were only attempting to run out the clock and not score.

The Browns did hold and prevent a late touchdown to keep the score more respectable, if you can call a 19 point loss that. But after three straight games without a touchdown and a head coach who still doesn't get it, the Browns organization isn't something that generates much respect in anyone's eyes.

A Division I Football Play-Off is Just Too Easy

2008-12-06T22:35:00.003-05:00

When the Football Championship Subdivision (Division I-AA), Division II and Division III can all do it, there is no excuse that the Football Bowl Subdivision (Division I) can not. The excuses are just that, excuses, as a Division I play-off is just too simple to ignore.

This play-off can be instituted while keeping the lower level bowls intact for teams that do not qualify for the tournament. The lower divisions of college football have a few bowl games in addition to their play-off and there is no reason that the FBS Division I can not do it either. Heck, even NCAA basketball has the NIT for teams that were quite good enough for the NCAA tournament but still had good season regardless.

The higher tier bowls could rotate on a yearly basis and be used as the host sights for the latter rounds of the tournament. Please spare me the travel arrangement and class schedule arguments. Once again if the lower level divisions can do it and make it work, so can the bigger budget Division I.

Many have suggested it before but in order to make it fair, keep it interesting and give everyone a chance, the play-off has to include 16 teams. This would include the 11 conference champions and five “at-large” selections.

How the “at-large” selections are made could be via the polls, some sort of comprehensive ranking like the BCS or via a committee like the NCAA basketball tournament uses. For this argument we will use the BCS rankings.

These 16 teams would then be ranked from one to 16 and an be matched up in a single elimination tournament with the first round at the higher seed’s home field with the next three rounds at the corresponding bowl sites that rotate on a yearly basis:

First Round – Lower Seed’s Home Field
Second Round – Capital One Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Liberty Bowl, Orange Bowl
Semi-Finals – Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl
Championship Game – Fiesta Bowl

This would not diminish the regular season or make it less exciting. Tell that to Oregon State who would have blown an automatic bid because of losing to state rival Oregon. Or to Ball State and Tulsa who blew their only chance to qualify by losing to Buffalo and ECU in the MAC and Conference USA Championships Game, respectively.

Win your conference and you are in. Play well at the end of the year and you have a change for an at-large spot, something the 2007 Georgia Bulldogs could have used to prove their doubters wrong.

So in 2008 here is how your NCAA Division I Football Play-Off would lay out:

11 Conference Champions – Automatic Qualifier
ACC – Virginia Tech Hokies
Big East – Cincinnati Bearcats
Big Ten – Penn State Nittany Lions
Big Twelve – Oklahoma Sooners
Conference USA – East Carolina Pirates
MAC – Buffalo Bulls
Mountain West – Utah Utes
Pacific Ten – USC Trojans
SEC – Florida Gators
Sun Belt – Troy Trojans
WAC – Boise State Broncos

5 At-Large Bids (highest BCS ranking of non-conference champions)
Texas Longhorns
Alabama Crimson Tide
Texas Tech Red Raiders
Ohio State Buckeyes
TCU Horned Frogs

The little guys like TCU, Utah and Boise State get a chance to prove that they can play with the big boys. The Big Twelve three way tie debacle still existing but all three teams; Oklahoma, Texas, Texas Tech; get into the play-offs. And of the six “BCS” conferences, only the ACC sends a representative with more than two losses. Only the crème de la crème, gentlemen.

So (again using the BCS rankings) the following first round match-ups would occur.
#16 Troy at #1 Florida
#9 Boise State at #8 Penn State

#12 Cincinnati at #5 USC
#13 Virginia Tech at #4 Alabama

#11 TCU at #6 Utah
#14 East Carolina at #3 Texas

#10 Ohio State at #7 Texas Tech
#15 Buffalo at #2 Oklahoma

Other than the 1/16 and maybe the 2/15 match-up is there a game that isn’t interesting?

Boise State leaving the “smurf turf” to face a “white out” in Happy Valley. Beamer Ball versus the Florida spread offense. A Mountain West rematch between TCU and Utah. A southern shoot-out with East Carolina facing Texas. A contrast in styles as Ohio State takes on Texas Tech.

The second round would be just as interesting. Possible second round match-ups of Florida/Penn State, USC/Alabama, Utah/Texas and Ohio State/Oklahoma. Who wouldn’t want to see any of those games instead of two 6-6 teams matching up in a low budget bowl?

It is just too easy and too incredible to ignore. So grow a pair and get on board Big Ten and PAC 10. Stop holding things up BCS Bowl chairmen. Stop trying to sell me a Clemson versus Notre Dame Gator Bowl as something I want to see. In a time of change it’s time for a change in Division I college football. The fans are too smart to think what we have now is legit.

The Browns Table: Indianapolis Ineptitude

2008-12-04T07:38:00.004-05:00

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.

This discussion is not just meant for the contributing Browns fans. Please feel free to comment on any of the questions or any of our answers below.

We welcome any comments and an open discussion about the Browns below. If you would like a seat at the table leave me a note on my profile and we will try and get you in the rotation.

As always thanks to Browns fans Samantha Bunten and The Coop for their contributions this week.

The guys and gals review another disappointing performance by the Browns’ offense, discuss the RB and QB situations and weigh in on the latest Browns controversy in soap opera land. Let’s talk Browns football.

Another game, another touchdown-less performance. Romeo Crennel said the gameplan "worked" even though they lost. What did you think of the offensive gameplan?

Samantha Bunten:
What gameplan? Seriously, the only way I would say this alleged gameplan worked is if the purpose was to eat up possession time without actually accomplishing anything. Crennel is just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic, so to speak. I understand the need for the head coach to remain positive, but maybe it's time we just call a spade a spade and acknowledge that absolutely nothing the Browns do is working.

The Coop:
If I strain my eyes really hard, I can maybe see Romeo's point. The Browns moved the sticks won the time-of-possession battle, thereby keeping the normally-explosive Colts offense off the field.

But to say the gameplan "worked" is really a stretch. I mean, they scored 6 points on two field goals for crying out loud. In fact, other than the first two drives, they really only threatened to score one other time, and that resulted in a missed field goal.

Once again, the play-calling was way too predictable. Just because they wanted to establish the run doesn’t mean they should have ran it eight times in a row or on virtually every early-down situation.

And then when they decided to throw, almost everything was underneath. They hardly took any shots down the field, and the entire offense suffered as a result. With no downfield threats, Indy’s defense was able to play the run more aggressively and force the Browns to make plays, which we all know has been a challenge this year.

Jeff Smirnoff:
The premise was sound against a strong Colts offense. Posses the ball and minimize the Colts’ opportunities. That being said, to just posses the ball without being aggressive once you were sustaining a drive and not taking chances gives you no opportunity to win. Once the Browns got into Colts territory the offense became so conservative they were lucky to even get field goal attempts. The basis of the strategy was sound but the way they went about it was unbelievable.

Jamal Lewis asked for the ball and got it 24 times. He only gained 77 yards (3.2 average), however. How do you think Lewis should be used for the rest of this season and beyond?

Samantha Bunten:
While I acknowledge that Lewis was spectacularly unproductive on Sunday, I'm not sure we should be picking on him individually any more than anyone else. I'm glad he asked for the ball. It's nice to see someone on this squad is still willing to show some initiative even as the team continues to implode. Overall, what I might take from this is proof that Lewis needs some better blocking to assist him. He put up good numbers for the Browns last year, and I think he can do it again.

The Coop:
I will say this: running the ball is the only chance the Browns have of winning. Ken Dorsey isn’t going to beat anyone with his arm. So, for the remainder of 2008, the Browns have to pound Jamal when they can and then use Harrison and Wright more for a change-of-pace.

Lewis is a vital component of the Browns and needs to be treated as such going forward. People who want to get rid of Lewis because they think he is too old or think he’s lost a step are ignoring some very important facts and are not looking at the situation objectively.

Even in the last two games, Lewis has shown burst and power, ripping off some nice runs and also fighting for tough yards. Isn’t it possible that predictable play-calling and the absence of a downfield passing game might have something to do with his inability to dominate?

Jeff Smirnoff:
He should start and get 15-20 carries a game but not at the expense of getting Jerome Harrison and Josh Cribbs some touches on offense. Lewis is slowing down but he can still be an effective back if used properly. Harrison and Cribbs can keep the defense off balance, and are explosive runners, so getting them more involved will take the focus off of Lewis and hopes open up the power running game some.

Derek Anderson is now out for the season with a sprained MCL. What are the ramifications of having both Brady Quinn and Anderson out for the season?

Samantha Bunten:
Quinn and Anderson were both largely ineffective in their respective stints at the helm. Thus, I doubt losing both will really hurt the Browns all that much. I hate to challenge the universe's sense of irony by asking, "what could be worse?", but really, could things really be any more of a mess with Dorsey as the Browns QB?

The Browns season is over anyway, so even if Dorsey were to cost us a game or two, it won't make much difference overall. The one thing that makes this such a disappointment is that we did not get a chance to see if Quinn, finally given a series of consecutive starts, could step up and be the guy he was supposed to be when we drafted him. As per usual, we wait till next year.

The Coop:
Well, obviously, the injuries are troubling because no one knows how they will handle the rehab and recovery. I’d think Quinn would be okay because it doesn’t seem as serious, but the injury is on his throwing hand and who knows if it will limit his throwing ability. For Anderson, it’s much scarier because knee injuries are just never good. And the guy wasn’t mobile to begin with.

Quinn will be mainly hurt by not being able to gain valuable actual-game experience. There’s no substitution for facing “live bullets.” Allowing him to start the last half of the season would have given him a good foundation to build on heading into 2009. Now, he’s practically still a rookie.

As for Anderson, the bigger impact may be felt by the Browns as an organization. He now has virtually no trade value, because no one will want “damaged goods.” So, although I generally like DA, the Browns’ are more or less stuck with him until he plays out his contract or is released.

Jeff Smirnoff:
For Brady Quinn it is five games lost against quality opponents that you can accurately evaluate him for the future. Now you are forced to evaluate him based on three games, one healthy, and ten plays last year. Not a large data sample.

For Derek Anderson it is an opportunity lost to prove his worth to another team, prove to the Browns that he can still be their quarterback or increase his trade value. Now not only has he had a poor 2008 but he is also damaged goods without an opportunity to get back out there and show he is healthy.

Cue the Ken Dorsey Experience. Dorsey gets the start at QB for the rest of the year with Josh Cribbs serving as back-up. How should the Browns approach the QB position for the last 4 games?

Samantha Bunten:
It is a shame Winslow is injured - it would have been interesting to see if Dorsey and Winslow could rekindle some of the chemistry that made them a solid combination during their days at the University of Miami. That aside, I'm not sure this situation merits a change in approach to the position. The Browns have not had the luxury of relying on the strength of their quarterback all season, so they are used to having to look for other ways to succeed. Also, signing Gradkowski was a smart move - if anything happens to Dorsey, I don't really want to see Cribbs in the QB slot.

The Coop:
We now know that Bruce Gradkowski will be the backup. Thank goodness for that. The notion of Josh Cribbs playing QB is really silly. Cribbs in one of my favorite players, but the guy has no NFL experience at QB and hasn’t taken any reps in practice, nor has he been involved in quarterback meetings in Berea. How could anyone expect him to run the offense? Furthermore, putting him at QB takes away the Browns' best special teams player – offensively AND defensively – and reduces their options at the already-thin wideout position.

Dorsey deserves to finish the season as the starter because he knows the offense better than anyone on the roster. There’s a reason he’s a third-stringer, but the Browns weren’t exactly lighting up with the other two guys, so the Browns should just run him out there and hope for the best. Bet he wishes his first start as a Brown was coming against Denver (like Quinn) or Cincinnati (like Anderson) and not Tennessee!

Jeff Smirnoff:
Ken Dorsey should be the quarterback with a healthy dose of Josh Cribbs in the “Flash Package” as the Browns call it. You can not expect a guy, who already has to know all his special teams assignments and receiver routes, to come in and learn the entire playbook for a QB perspective in four weeks. Not going to happen. It also will decrease his effectiveness on special teams.

Dorsey is not going to light it up but at least he is a veteran who has some starting experience, albeit three seasons ago. Use Cribbs to keep the defense off balance but don’t expect him to come in and play quarterback in a standard capacity in any way, shape or form.

Controversy of the Week: Some of the faithful at Cleveland Browns Stadium cheered Derek Anderson's injury. Your thoughts on the fans taking their angst out on DA?

Samantha Bunten:
It is never, NEVER acceptable fan behavior to cheer for an injury to a member of your own team. Ever. I find this sort of behavior classless, disloyal, and flat out despicable. It reminds me of fans applauding when Tim Couch got a concussion a few years ago. I hated Couch as much as anyone, but I don't think a good fan should ever delight in an injury to a member of his team.

The Coop:
There’s no question that cheering because a player is injured is classless and disgusting.

But the thing that bothers me the most about this incident is that it’s just another occurrence in an all-too-familiar series of contemptible behavior by Browns fans. Since coming back in ’99, Browns fans have managed to cheer injuries to not one but two quarterbacks, litter the field with beer bottles and other debris, enter into email confrontations with members of the front office, and even run onto the field during a game.

I’ve always believed the Browns have the best, most loyal and passionate fans of any professional sports franchise. My friends, family and other bloggers here on B/R reaffirm those thoughts frequently. But when there are a couple of losers who act in these deplorable ways, it’s impossible for anyone else to see how great the majority of Browns fans truly are, and it personally embarrasses me.

Jeff Smirnoff:
I was at the game. It wasn’t all or most of the fans doing it but that doesn’t make it right at all. To boo any player when they are injured is just classless. I understand the fans are upset and frustrated at the Browns performance this season but that doesn’t give you Card Blanche to celebrate the injury to someone, let alone your own team.

It’s always the few people who do it that give the rest of the people a bad name but it doesn’t change the fact that it just is the wrong thing to do. Very disappointing indeed.

Browns Lose Second Straight Game... and QB

2008-11-30T20:28:00.001-05:00

On a miserable, rainy day on the shores of Lake Erie the Cleveland Browns put up another miserable performance, losing to the Indianapolis Colts 10-6.

They also likely lost beleaguered quarterback Derek Anderson for the season with a sprained MCL. Two weeks, two crappy performances, two quarterbacks done for the season.

Let the Ken Dorsey Experience begin. Dorsey will be taking the snaps next week against the Tennessee Titans and for the foreseeable future unless Anderson has a miraculous recovery.

As is with the 2008 the Browns their basic strategy was good but their implementation was awful. Run the ball, possess the ball and keep the potent Colts’ offense off the field. The Browns were able to do just that but whenever they got into the red zone they got ultra conservative and settled for field goals instead of touchdowns.

That philosophy had a chance to work with the normally porous Browns defense holding the Colts at bay, and without an offensive touchdown, but it was the offense that allowed the defense’s effort to be for naught.

With the Browns leading 6-3 midway through the fourth quarter Dwight Freeney beat Browns’ left tackle Joe Thomas on a bull rush and knocked the ball free from Anderson’s hands. Robert Mathis then scooped the ball up and rumbled 37 yards for the decisive score and a 10-6 Indianapolis victory.

The loss did spoil what was a good day for a Browns defense that held the Colts to just three points on offense. It was the first time since 2002, once again versus the Browns, that the Peyton Manning led Colts were held without an offensive touchdown.

Manning was 15 for 21 on the afternoon, but on for 125 yards and two interceptions. Joseph Addai and Dominick Rhodes were held to 92 yards on 26 carries. Struggling Browns’ corners Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald held their own against Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison whom totaled only seven catches on the afternoon.

Wright recovered an Addai fumble on the opening play of the game and McDonald picked off Manning on a ball intended for Wayne on the Colts opening series of the second half. Sean Jones picked Manning on the final play of the first half.

But in the end it didn’t matter much as on a day that the defense showed up to play the offense did not. The plays the offense ran were designed more not to lose the game than to try and win it. That is what losing teams do, par for the course for the 2008 Cleveland Browns.

The Brady Quinn Conundrum

2008-11-26T08:48:00.003-05:00

The Cleveland Browns disappointing 2008 got even more disappointing with the news that quarterback Brady Quinn would be placed on Injured Reserve with a damaged tendon in the index finger on his throwing hand. Currently, there is no decision on whether or not Quinn will require surgery to repair the finger.

Quinn originally injured the finger in the Week 11 Monday night tilt against the Buffalo Bills. It was in that game where he fractured the tip of his right, index finger. He was cleared to play in this past Sunday's game against the Houston Texans where he was pulled by head coach Romeo Crennel in favor of deposed starter Derek Anderson.

You have to give credit to Quinn for playing through the injury, but in hindsight the decision turned out to be poor. It now leaves the Browns in a pickle when it comes to their quarterback situation in 2009.

Quinn only was able to muster three starts. He had a great statistical debut, but a loss, in Week 10 versus the Denver Broncos when he benefitted from a porous Broncos defense and solid game plan.

He followed that up with a below average game against Buffalo where he was not great statistically but was able to make plays when he needed to in leading the Browns to a victory. Sunday, against Houston, he had a very poor game before being benched in favor of Anderson.

The remainder of 2008 was mostly about developing Brady Quinn to see if he could be the man for 2009. Now that evaluation process is put on hold. The problem that presents the Browns is that they are going to have to make a decision on Quinn with very little data to analyze.

The Browns pretty much know what they have in Anderson. A tall, strong armed quarterback who can make all the throws but struggles mightily with consistency and decision making. When the pressure is off Anderson is at his best. When the pressure is on Anderson is at his worst.

The Browns have had 11 starting quarterbacks in the ten years since their reincarnation and desperately needs to stabilize the position. Losing the time to evaluate Quinn hurts in that endeavour.

Do they commit to him with only three pro starts under his belt? Do they try and have he and Anderson coexist for another season? Do they have an open competition next year in Trainign Camp?

It all leads to a giant conundrum for the Cleveland Browns.

For now they can only hope that Quinn heals up and is 100% for OTAs in the spring and that Anderson can play well enough in the last five games of the season to increase his trade value if they decide to go that route. But for now, all that Cleveland is left with is another disappointment.

The Browns Table: A Texas Sized Letdown

2008-11-25T22:58:00.004-05:00

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.

This discussion is not just meant for the contributing Browns fans. Please feel free to comment on any of the questions or any of our answers below.

We welcome any comments and an open discussion about the Browns below. If you would like a seat at the table leave me a note on my profile and we will try and get you in the rotation.

As always thanks to Browns fans Eric Lawhead and Michael Taylor for their contributions this week.

The guys lament another disappointing performance by the team and discuss where the Browns go from here. Let’s talk Browns football.

The Browns fell to the Houston Texans, 16-6, on Sunday. The performance was bad to put it nicely. What was the worst part of the Browns performance?

Eric Lawhead:
Quarterback play. When your two quarterbacks combine to go 13-32 with 0 TD and 3 INT, it means bad day and worse result. The Texans only scored 16 points. The Browns with the offensive firepower they are capable of, they should be able to beat a team scoring 16 points. They got a whopping 95 yards rushing as well. Not good against a team with a pretty bad back up in Sage Rosenfels.

Jeff Smirnoff:
It was the fact that the Browns could do nothing against a bad football team who was sporting one of the worst defenses in the NFL and a turnover prone offense. It was a horrible performance in all phases of the game. This team fails to learn anything from previous weeks and continues to spin its wheels. The Texans gave the Browns plenty of opportunities to stay in and ever take over the game and the Browns just gave it right back to them each time.

Michael Taylor:
I don't even know where to start...do we begin by looking at how Sage Rosenfels looked like a Pro Bowler, how Kellen Winslow disappeared, how Braylon Edwards dropped a million passes, or how Brady was benched to see if Derek had a hot hand today?

To me, just the entire second half of the game was an embarrassment. There was no fire in the team. It was sloppy, and if the Texans could have "finished" the game, it would have been a route.

Brady Quinn did not play well and was replaced by Derek Anderson. Should Quinn have been pulled despite is rough day?

Eric Lawhead:
Quinn should have never started. He has a fracture in a pretty important finger in his throwing hand. A broken pinky kept Tony Romo out for 3 weeks! Why would you play a guy who is needed to manage the game and throw crisp precise passes to keep the defense away from the ball? Anderson should have started and at least gave them a starting chance to throw the ball against a bad Texans pass defense.

Jeff Smirnoff:
Absolutely not. Anderson should have been pulled against Cincinnati and Washington where he was performing much worse than Quinn did versus Houston. It just shows the lack of leadership on the team from the owner to the GM to the head coach and the double standards exist. Was Quinn having a bad game? Yes and that’s being kind, but you have to see how he can develop and overcome adversity.

Michael Taylor:
At first I was ok with the change, thinking that the broken finger had something to do with the change. Though, just seconds later, we saw BQ upset on the sideline that he was pulled, obviously his finger was not the issue. Because of that and his comments after the game, I don't understand the move. How is he supposed to learn to work through adversity in this league if his coach doesn't show any confidence in him? Talk about a slap in the face. Derek makes mistakes for half a season, and a couple of passes in the third quarter for picks and Quinn is pulled. The change has been made, Quinn is the future. Let him learn and play.

Braylon Edwards continued to drop passes at an alarming rate. Kellen Winslow had his obligatory offensive pass interference penalty. Which of the two has been the bigger disappointment this year?

Eric Lawhead:
Edwards is more disappointing this season. Everyone is going to say Winslow, because of his attitude and what not. But with what kind of number Edwards put up last season, it is painful to watch him not produce. Now to give him the benefit of the doubt, the offense, mainly the quarterback play has not helped him this season. Anderson is not the same Anderson that gave him the opportunity he had last season. It's just frustrating to watch him not produce when he's given any opportunity.

Jeff Smirnoff:
On the field, Edwards. Off the field, Winslow. Edwards seems to lose focus on a week to week basis. I still think many of his troubles are mental and not physical. The drops can be cured, the question is does he have the mental toughness to overcome them. Winslow has been plagued by injuries this year but the return of his loose lips after a quiet 2007 make me wonder if he really wants to be here.

Michael Taylor:
Braylon by far. I don't even know what to think of it anymore. As pointed out Sunday, he is running poor routes and is dropping passes at an alarming rate. He just looks lackadaisical out there. I just don't see the same guy that was a force last season. I wasn't expecting 16 TD's again, but I figured 1,000 yards and 8-10 TD's would have been a lock. That can still happen, but it will be very tough.

The Browns are now 4-7. The play-offs are pretty much impossible to attain. What should the goal for the team for the rest of 2008?

Eric Lawhead:
Develop Brady Quinn and fire Romeo Crennel now! Quinn is first and foremost. He needs to learn the system in the game. He needs to learn to make better decisions and learn what it takes to learn on the fly and be and NFL quarterback. Romeo on the other hand will just bring down any sense of talent on this team for the rest of the season. Fire him now, so they can work out a deal with Cowher and then ride the season out and fire Phil Savage and give it all to the Steeler-man himself.

Jeff Smirnoff:
Develop Brady Quinn to see if he is the franchise quarterback that this team sorely needs. See if some of the younger talent like Martin Rucker, Beau Bell, Jerome Harrison, etc. can be key pieces in building a foundation for next season. See how some of the younger veterans (i. e. Edwards and Winslow) handle themselves the rest of the year to see if they should be retained or traded.

Michael Taylor:
To me, I could care less how the remaining games go in the win-loss column. I just want to see this team go out, compete, and not make so many mistakes. I just want to see clean, competitive football. Not this sloppy, penalty-ridden, poor tackling, frustrating brand of football that we have witnessed this season.

The Browns also need to just let Brady play and play through tough situations. Everything was and is not going to be easy for him. He has to learn on the job while the pressure is off of him in terms of having to win games right now. Then based on how he does the Browns can then make a better decision in the off-season on what to do at the quarterback position.

E-mail Gate: Browns GM Phil Savage fired off a profane e-mail to a fan after the Buffalo game. What is your take on the situation as it came down?

Eric Lawhead:
Two sides to my take. First being the public figure Savage is. He should never write something like that. He should have just taken the e-mail and deleted it and forgot about it. There is no need to fire back at a fan they are the ones paying the money to see your team suffer. Second being the real person Savage is. That was human nature to do what he did. Most all of us, if we got an e-mail or letter going after the way we do our job and the company we are employed by, would fire right back at them. It's just the way most everyone is. We would defend our stance and our situation. The winning vote is the first, Savage is a public figure. He should have never done what he did. But it's over and he will not be employed by the Cleveland Browns for the 2009-2010 season.

Jeff Smirnoff:
It was totally unprofessional and embarrassing but it ultimately will not be the reason that he may lose his job at the end of the year. The fact that he even felt the urge to reply to that e-mail when he probably gets thousands of them every week is ridiculous. It’s just another blemish on the Browns organization as a whole. We are one of the laughingstocks of the NFL and have been since they returned.

Michael Taylor:
I think that this whole issue is just silly and simply a microcosm of what this season has become. Only the Browns could have such a ludicrous problem as this. While I do not appreciate what Savage did, as I believe a part of being in front office management is remaining professional in all facets of the job, I will not bash him for doing it. I would just hope in the future that he would not be reading such garbage in his email inbox. Why was he reading these emails anyway?

Bumbling Browns Fall to Texans, 16-6

2008-11-23T16:35:00.005-05:00

Breaking news, the 2008 Cleveland Browns are not a good football them. If anyone had any doubt of that or were holding on to faint play-off hopes were rudely awakened Sunday afternoon versus the Houston Texans.

Houston had not won a road game in over a calendar year but thanks to five Cleveland turnovers they were able to end that skid with a 16-6 victory in a contest that wasn’t that close.

The Texans took the opening kick-off and effortlessly drove 79 yards for a 7-0 lead. Journeyman back-up quarterback Sage Rosenfels picked apart the sieve-like Browns defense hitting receivers Andre Johnson and Kevin Walter at will.

Walter caught a 17 yard corner route for a touchdown burning much maligned cornerback Brandon McDonald for a 7-0 Texans. Rosenfels went 6-7 on the opening drive as the Texans ate up over eight minutes on their opening drive.

The Browns responded on their first drive of the afternoon in the only way they know how. A Kellen Winslow drop, a penalty and a Jamal Lewis fumble to give the ball back to the Texans. Rosenfels and Walter continue to hook-up over the middle of the field but the Browns defense managed to hold the Texans to a Kris Brown field goal.

The Browns dusted off running back Jerome Harrison on the next drive and managed to put a Phil Dawson on the board. Shaun Rogers blocked a Texans field goal to keep the game at 10-3 and the Dawson delivered another field goal to cut the lead to 10-6.

Former Brown Andre Davis returned the subsequent kick-off for a touchdown but it was called back for a holding penalty. No matter as Rosenfels once again found Johnson and Walter time and time again, including two fourth down conversions, and Brown poked through his second field goal for a 13-6 Houston advantage.

Then, in what could only be a sign of things to come later in the game, the Browns somehow muffed the ensuing allowing Brown to attempt a 56 yard field goal with one second left. Brown missed, but the fact that the Texans even had the opportunity was embarrassing.

The halftime score was 13-6 but the Texans had dominated the first half, holding the ball for almost 21 minutes. The Houston running game was held in check but Rosenfels was having a career day throwing the ball.

Cleveland went three and out to start the half but were given a lifeline when Rosenfels returned to his sometimes turnover prone form as Brodney Pool picked him off on the Texans opening drive. But Browns’ quarterback Brady Quinn returned the favor and the Texans turned the Browns second turnover into another Brown field goal and a 16-6 lead.

Quinn drove the Browns into the red zone but was picked off for the second time on an attempted slant to Braylon Edwards. The Texans were forced to punt for the first time in the game and Romeo Crennel sent in Derek Anderson at quarterback.

Some reports said Quinn was pulled due to reinjuring his index finger that he chipped a bone in last week. Others said Quinn was pulled due to performance and had some choice words at the decision.

If the later is true, it is a curious move as there were more than a handful of games where Anderson was not performing well and Romeo Crennel stuck with him rather than go to Quinn. Quinn was having a poor game, but the double standard that may have been in effect does raise a few eyebrows.

Anderson fared no better than Quinn as the Browns imploded from that point forward. Edwards continued to drop the football, Winslow got his obligatory offensive pass interference penalty and the normally reliable Dawson shanked a makeable field that could have cut the lead to 7.

Rosenfels teased the Cleveland faithful by throwing another pick to Browns’ safety Sean Jones that was returned into Houston territory. But Jamal Lewis missed a handoff from Anderson and the Browns committed their fifth turnover of the game and sealed their seventh loss of the season.

Any play-off hopes for the Browns are effectively done as the now sit at 4-7, 3-5 in the AFC and 1-3 in the AFC North. After going 7-1 at Cleveland Browns Stadium in 2007 the Browns are a lowly 1-5 at home in 2008.

The Browns continually fall flat on their faces after a win, this time falling to a 3-7 football team starting their back-up quarterback. They are now staring down another potential ten loss season which would be their sixth in the ten years since their reincarnation. Unfortunately, that make be the only realistic goal the team may have for the rest of 2008.

The Browns Table: A Buffalo Bailout

2008-11-19T23:06:00.002-05:00

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.

This discussion is not just meant for the contributing Browns fans. Please feel free to comment on any of the questions or any of our answers below.

We welcome any comments and an open discussion about the Browns below. If you would like a seat at the table leave me a note on my profile and we will try and get you in the rotation.

As always thanks to Browns fans Samantha Bunten, The Coop, and the Dawgfather for their contributions this week.

The ladies and gents talk about Brady Quinn’s first NFL win, Braylon Scissor-hands, why they can tackle better than the Browns D and wax poetic about some Browns of years past…

…but for now let’s talk Browns football…

The Browns squeaked out a 29-27 win over the Bills on MNF notching Brady Quinn his first career victory. His numbers weren't good but what did you think of his performance?

Samantha Bunten:
I think he did fine. It would have been fantastic if Quinn had surprised us all with a breakout performance, but realistically speaking all he had to be was better than Derek Anderson, and for the most part, he was. After just two starts, I don't think we can make any accurate judgments on how Quinn will fare in the long run. For now, I would like to see him work on red-zone efficiency and spreading the ball around more.

The Coop:
I could not care less about statistics. Call me crazy, but I would dare to say that he played even better against Buffalo than he did against Denver. First of all, and most importantly, he got the win. He did what it took to manage the game efficiently and effectively. He did not turn the ball over, and he would have looked even better if the Browns’ so-called “star” receiver did not have stone hands. The Bills took away his favorite target in the Denver game (Kellen Winslow) and instead of trying to force the ball to him he distributed it around to his other receivers. He stood tall in the pocket, took some brutal hits, and showed poise, leadership, and confidence.

And he did all this against a much, much better defense in Buffalo, on the road, in less-than-ideal weather conditions. I’m starting to buy into the hype.

Dawgfather:
Very effective and very poised and cool. He didn't make any ill-advised throws or try to force anything. Overall another quality start.

Jeff Smirnoff:
Eff the numbers, he just looks like he belongs. For the second week in a row everything was organized and crisp. He made no mistakes and avoided the turnover, although he did come close a few times. He made the plays when he needs to make them. When the Bills scored he led the Browns down the field and answered. When he got the ball at the end of the game I had full confidence that he would lead them down for the go ahead score.

Quinn’s development this year should not be measured by statistics or by wins and losses (although the former would be nice). How his game continues to evolve, how he reacts and performs in every situation and how he adapts to the game are what is important. The Browns need to establish that he is their quarterback that will lead this team for the next decade. They have many more holes they need to fill and removing quarterback from that list is imperitive.

Braylon Edwards, and his hands, decided to make an appearance to the benefit of the team. What do you feel has contributed the most to his disappointing 2008?

Samantha Bunten:
Edwards just doesn't have his head or his heart in the game. He has lapses in concentration at critical moments, often appears to be afraid to take hits, and just can't deliver under pressure. His numbers are terrible against opponents in the division and he's averaging over 20 YPG less this year (57.6) than he was last year (80.6).

The most disturbing thing of all is that his numbers are very, very similar in games the Browns win to his numbers in games the Browns lose, indicating that his presence on the field really doesn't matter all that much.

The Coop:
Not enough Five Hour Energy. But seriously, I think it’s inconsistency as a result of lack of focus, intensity, and passion. You don’t often think of needing intensity to catch a football, but in the NFL, you need to be intense just lacing up your shoes.

I think his mind wanders as he starts to think about what his ESPN highlight will look like after he makes the catch. But he forgets that the most important part of the highlight is the physical act of making the catch.

The sad thing is, I seriously doubt whether he even cares enough to get better. When I see dropped passes out of him every single week, I have to wonder if he’s working hard enough in practice, staying after practice, and doing whatever it takes to get the job done when it counts for real.

Additionally, I’m sure he’s always been able to get by on raw ability, and he thinks things will come to him as easily in the NFL as it did through high school and college. It doesn't quite work that way.

Dawgfather:
Dropping key passes that could have helped the Browns win some games that they lost.

Jeff Smirnoff:
I think he came in a little full of himself in training camp and once he got hurt he lost his rhythm and timing. Somewhere along the way I also think he lost a little focus because 2007 was so easy and effortless. He has struggled to get it back and I think it is I his head. He looks a little lost at times, not just with the drops, but even on some catches he has to “double catch”. I still have faith he can be a money receiver, but he needs to get refocused and rededicated in the off-season and realize he has to continually work to stay at the top. He has the talent to do it, does he have the mind and discipline to do it?

The defense was once again plagued by poor tackling but did generate four turnovers. What does this unit have to do to play better on a consistent basis?

Samantha Bunten:
The defense shows flashes of greatness, but it never lasts more than a week. And despite generating 4 turnovers on Monday, they had a pretty poor showing overall. We've talked about stopping the run ad nausea all season. So far, no improvement has been made consistently. They also need to focus on consistently pressuring the quarterback and stopping short-yardage gains.

The Coop:
You said it already - tackle! I mean, watching the tackling display in the last three weeks is truly embarrasing. In addition to that, I think they need to work schemes that pressure the passer more consistently and effectively. They're not going to have the luxury of facing Trent Edwards every week. They've got to harrass the QB all day long.

You can't argue with their ability to get turnovers and, for the most part, they stayed away from the big play against Buffalo. These things must continue too.

Dawgfather:
Besides tackling, they lack fundamentals, they are often out of space, get blown off the ball by the opposing offensive line clearly need to wrap up better in the open field.

Jeff Smirnoff:
Get healthy and better talent. Robaire Smith has been on IR for most of the year. Sean Jones, Shaun Smith and Corey Williams are playing hurt. I have already gone on record lamenting the poor play of our linebacking core. The secondary is young and thin. Getting healthy in the front line will help but until the talent is upgraded in the back seven they will continue to struggle, bad tackling or not.

The Browns are now 4-6. They face a potent Houston Texans offense but Houston's defense is just as porous as the Browns'. What do you see in your crystal ball?

Samantha Bunten:
The Browns horrendous run defense will have trouble stopping Houston's offense, and should be particularly concerned about Texans' rookie Steve Slaton, who had a breakout game last week vs. the Colts. On the other side of the ball, our offense should be able to exploit Houston's weak, 17th ranked secondary.

The Browns have won 3 of 5 vs the Texans, so there is no glaring advantage there. However, Jamal Lewis absolutely owns Houston. In the last Browns-Texans meeting in 2007, Lewis had 29 carries for 134 yards, and if history is any indication, he'll come up big this Sunday as well.

The Coop:
Remember all the offense in the first Browns-Bengals game last year? You ain't seen nothin yet. If the weather is not a factor, it will be a track meet.

For Houston, Steve Slaton is probably going to break the all-time record for most yards in a single game. Brandon McDonald should also hope that Andre Johnson slips in the shower and breaks a leg, because if he thought Brandon Marshall was a beast, Andre Johnson will make Marshall look like Dennis Northcutt.

For the Browns, Jamal and Jerome should be able to run all day. The O-Line will have to keep BQ upright. Mario Williams can bring it, and I'm really excited to see the matchup between him and Joe Thomas. But if BQ has the time, he will find the open man.

Every possession is going to be critical because the team who wins the time of possession and has the ball last is going to win.

Dawgfather:
I see a 38-35 Browns shootout. I look for Andre Johnson to have a MONSTER game against our secondary and Steve Slaton to go buck-wild.

Jeff Smirnoff:
With their porous defense the Browns are going to have to put up around 30 points on a consistent basis to win games. Steve Slaton is just the type of back that gashes the Browns and Andre Johnson dwarfs anyone in our secondary. Sage Rosenfels is a sin-wave type of quarterback and if he is on, the Browns are in trouble. If not, it may be a replay of the Buffalo game. The Texans defense is not that good either so this has all the makings for a shoot-out.

Philosophical Question Du Jour: Phil Dawson hit 5 field goals including the game winning 56 yarder. He is the last remaining Brown from 1999. Who is the best Browns player since their reincarnation?

Samantha Bunten:
Over the years, many players have at times looked as though they might earn this distinction (Northcutt, William Green, Winslow, Lewis), but they all seemed to have the same problem our team has collectively this season: they just couldn't seem to show up for more than two weeks in a row. So far, I don't think anyone has earned the right to be called The Best. Here's hoping someone steps up soon.

The Coop:
You nailed it. It's Phil Dawson. In an organization full of inconsistency and drama from Day 1, he has been steady as a rock. The guy has made HUGE kicks time after time, and always shows up and does his job. He's reliable, and as a captain, I believe he is a leader who provides a great veteran presence.

I feel funny about naming a kicker, but it is what it is. With the minimal success that the Browns have had since '99 and the big ups and downs, it's probably more of an indictment of the organization than an endorsement of the player.

I'd love to say it's Kellen Winslow, but he's hardly been on the field in his time with the Browns and has disappeared at times. Joe Thomas? Second-year man, and too early to tell.

No doubt that the Browns have some other players who are close. I love Brodney Pool and Jamal Lewis. But they haven't done it for the Browns long enough or consistently enough to be considered.

Dawgfather:
Jamir Miller, at least he could tackle.

Jeff Smirnoff:
It’s Phil Dawson without question. He has been more than consistent (4th most accurate kicker in NFL history). He is one of the few clutch performers the Browns have had even going back to the win over the Appalachian Inbred in 1999. He has a flair for the dramatic a la the Gooseneck Field Goal and the Snow Game kicks. He has gotten better with each passing year and would be a Pro Bowl player by now if he had been playing for a team that regularly wins.

For those who are purists and will not accept a kicker it is Steve Heiden. Obtained for a 7th round pick, Heiden has been steady, a total team player and people often forget how good he is because of Kellen Winslow. Look at the two years that he filled in for Winslow. Those stats are pretty damn good, especially for a guy who had Jeff Garcia, Luke McNown, Kelly Holcomb, Trent Dilfer and Charlie Frye throwing to him.

Dawson, Quinn Help Browns Squeak By Bills, 29-27

2008-11-18T08:00:00.004-05:00

In Week 10 the NFL Network subjected the viewing audience to 1,000 replays of “The Drive” and the Denver Broncos obliged by capping a 13 point comeback in a victory over the Browns. In Week 11 ESPN and the Browns turned the tables on the Buffalo Bills in a remake of “Wide Right” that made Scott Norfolk infamous in Western New York. It wasn’t pretty and as sure as heck wasn’t efficient but the Cleveland Browns escaped Buffalo with a 29-27 victory.

Brady Quinn wasn’t as impressive as he was in his starting debut statistic wise but in the end he committed no turnovers and led the Browns on the final scoring drive of the night that generated Phil Dawson’s career long 56 yard field goal for the victory.

It was the polar opposite for Bills’ quarterback Trent Edwards whose three interceptions in the Bills’ first four drives handed the Browns an early lead.

The Browns jumped out to a 13-0 lead via a pair of Dawson field goals and a Josh Cribbs rushing touchdown that capped a 96 yard drive. The lead should have been much larger but the Browns could only manage six points off of Edwards’ three interceptions.

But as it has all year the Browns defense couldn’t hold down the Bills for long as the lead quickly diminished. The Bills’ play-calling handcuffed Edwards due to his rocky start but he took advantage of Marshawn Lynch as a safety valve and Fred Jackson of out the shotgun. Add in the Browns continued bad, and poor effort at, tackling and it was 13-10 by the time the first half ended.

The Browns went three and out to star the third quarter but much-maligned Brandon McDonald forced a Fred Jackson fumble that Ahtyba Rubin recovered at their own 37. Then an odd thing started to occur, Braylon Edwards started catching the football.

The Browns marched into Bills’ territory but stalled once again and had to settle for Dawson’s third field goal of the night and a 16-10 lead. That made for a paltry nine points off of four Buffalo turnovers, two which occurred in Bills’ territory.

The game got interesting after Buffalo answered with a Rian Lindell field goal to make the score 16-13. After another Braylon Edwards reception, underused tailback Jerome Harrison broke a 72 yard touchdown run for a 23-13 Browns advantage. It was short-lived, however, when Bills’ kick returned Leodis McKelvin took the ensuing kick-off back 98 yards for a touchdown and cut the Browns’ lead to 23-20.

Harrison once again drove the Browns down the field with a 15 yard run and a 21 yard reception on a beautiful pass by Quinn. The Browns faced a First and Goal on the Bills’ 9 but had to settled for Dawson’s fourth field goal of the game and a 26-20 lead.

The Bills and Browns traded punts but thanks to Roscoe Parrish’s 34 yard return the Bills’ were set up in Browns territory. Marshawn Lynch continued to gash the Browns’ defense, this time on the ground, as he rumbled just short of the goal line. Trent Edwards snuck in to with 2:25 remaining for a 27-26 Bills’ lead.

Quinn had a second chance at a fourth quarter comeback as he took over on the Browns’ 33. He hit Edwards for 12 big yards to start the drive. He then found Kellen Winslow for 16 to get down to the Bills’ 39. Three straight incomplete passes led to 4th and 10 and yet another field goal decision for Browns Head Coach Romeo Crennel. Send Dawson out for a 56 yard attempt or go for it.

Crennel looked at Dawson and Dawson nodded. He then proceeded to knock his fifth field goal of the game home for a 29-27 Browns lead. There was still 1:39 left on the clock and Trent Edwards still had a shot at redemption.

A squib kick let the Bills start the drive on their own 44. Edwards took advantage right away hitting Robert Royal on a 30 yard pass to the Browns’ 34. After a few runs to make the field goal attempt shorter Lindell lined up for a 47 yard attempt. The snap and hold were good but the kick was pushed just a bit… wide right… Browns victory.

The Browns could exhale despite not putting the Bills away early. The nine points off of four turnovers almost came back to bite them. They were only three of 13 on third down all night. Quinn was a pedestrian 14-36 for 185 yards but in the end he had the poise and calming effect to lead the team down for the go ahead score.

It may not have been pretty but the Browns avoided becoming the first team in NFL history to avoid blowing 13 point leads in three consecutive games. A win is a win, and this team will take it any way they can.

The Browns Table: Self-Destruction Versus Denver

2008-11-11T21:38:00.004-05:00

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.

This discussion is not just meant for the contributing Browns fans. Please feel free to comment on any of the questions or any of our answers below.

We welcome any comments and an open discussion about the Browns below. If you would like a seat at the table leave me a note on my profile and we will try and get you in the rotation.

As always thanks to Browns fans Coop, Dawgfather, Dustin Haley Eric Lawhead and Michael Taylor for their contributions this week.

The guys discuss a second consecutive collapse, the starting debut of “The Other Guy”, goats and the NFL Network unnecessary torture of Cleveland sports fans.

So while I burn a picture of John Elway and let’s talk Browns football…

Let's get it out of the way. The Golden Boy made his first NFL start. What did you think of Brady Quinn's performance?

The Coop:
For the most part, I was very impressed. He definitely did not look anything like a guy making his first NFL start. He was efficient, made good decisions, and was mostly error-free. He showed great poise especially when he rallied the team and led them on a TD-scoring drive to retake the lead late in the 4th quarter.

He also displayed very good pocket presence and mobility, which allowed him to avoid the rush and use his legs to make plays. He was pretty accurate with the short and intermediate passes, and he put some zip on the ball when he had to. He also seemed to have a great sense of where all of his receivers would be in their routes so he could easily find the open man.

Still, he failed at the most important thing, which was getting the "W." At the end of the day, this is what all quarterbacks are judged on, and BQ should be no different. I was also a little troubled by the fact that they didn't even attempt any long passes. I'm not just talking about bombs, but the 20-25 yard patterns. And I cannot overlook the fact that they played Denver, who is just about as bad on defense as the Browns. This isn't meant to discredit anything Quinn did, but it was definitely a factor in his success.

Dawgfather:
Very sharp and crips, a lot of simple short-intermediate passes to build his confidence and get a flow for the offense, I would say a solid A

Dustin Haley:
I’m not going to go over board here and say Quinn had a spectacular game, but he did bring consistency to the position, which we have been lacking. Whether or not he’s going to be consistent game to game remains to be seen, but for his first regular season NFL start, he was very solid.

Statistically he played very well, completing over 70% of his passes for with two touchdowns, but what impressed me the most was his ability to buy time to throw by stepping up or rolling out. He has and excellent pocket presence and that ability will pay dividends as he develops. Aside from a few questionable but receivable throws at the end of the game I think we should be pretty excited at how well he played.

Eric Lawhead:
Well like everyone else says...he managed the game very well. He made plays when he had to and didn't lose the game for them. Very Kyle Orton-esc when he was a rookie with the Bears.

Jeff Smirnoff:
He was great. It was against a bad defense but he made the plays when he needed to to put the Browns in a spot to win. People will say that he didn’t take a shot downfield, but he didn’t need to. . If Winslow does not make that pass interference penalty on a converted third down or fumble late in the third quarter the Browns have a lot more points on the board and everyone is raving about how he picked apart the Broncos on one day of practice. A good start, it will eb interesting to see how he adjusts against better defenses and once opposing coaches adjust to him.

Michael Taylor:
It was as good as you could hope for from anyone's first NFL start. He did miss a few key passes, and Kellen Winslow saved a few passes by catching them off of his shoestrings, but overall Quinn made strong, accurate throws. He had a presence and poise to him as well.

I will not expect this to happen each week as many fans probably will, but Quinn will be a very respectable Quarterback that will only get better with more experience. He could be great.

Two players on the Browns not named Brady Quinn stood out in the game against the Broncos: Kellen Winslow and Brandon McDonald. Which one do you think had a bigger impact of the game?

The Coop:
Overall, I've got to go with The Soldier. His first half was amazing. He and Brady had a great pitch-and-catch thing going. It fit in well with the Browns' game plan and allowed BQ to settle in and lead the offense down the field efficiently and effectively. Scoring those two TDs was just what the doctor ordered. Winslow proved to be reliable and dominant.

As positive of an impact as K2's first half was, his second half, specifically his 4th quarter, was just as negative. The pass interference, fumble, and dropped pass on 4th down each did significant damage. The PI and the fumble negated Browns first downs, which would have allowed the Browns to take even more time off the clock if not help them get more points. The dropped pass ended the game. Ouch.

It's too easy to blame Brandon McDonald for all of the defense's problems. The number of missed tackles by everyone was sickening. There was no pass rush either, and when a guy like Jay Cutler has all day to throw, even the greatest defensive backs in the league are going to get beat. Yeah, he should have made those INTs, and yeah, maybe his coverage could have been better, but he's guarded the # 1 WR on every team the Browns have played this year and has done a pretty good job. I'm not going to throw him under the bus for this particularly bad game.

Dawgfather:
Brandon McDonald for getting burned and not playing up more on the WR's

Dustin Haley:
Kellen Winslow finally had a big game, but without the “W” I’m going to have to say Brandon McDonald’s suspect play made the biggest impact on the game. I’ve got nothing but love for B-Mac, but you can’t give up 138 yards of offense on three catches while trying to close out a game. Not all blame can be put on him, but sometimes it’s better to be in a position to tackle than making a play for the ball.

I’m confident that he will learn and improve although his play and decision making have been unacceptable the last couple of weeks, mostly due to his aggressive nature in his game. It’s that trait that I like most about him, quite the paradox but he needs to figure out when to be aggressive and when to not.

Eric Lawhead:
Well I would say K-2. He became Quinn's best friend by catching 10 balls for 111 yards and 2 scores. But then he also fumbled in the 4th and let a ball go right through his hands on a crucial 4th down. I would say McDonald broke out a bit, but Winslow had a bigger impact.

Jeff Smirnoff:
Winslow. McDonald is a young DB who is going to have his share of growing pains. It happens. If Winslow does not make that pass interference penalty or fumble on consecutive possessions, at a minimum the Browns get two field goals and have a 19 point lead with about 12 minutes left and maybe the defense holds on. The drop of the easier pass he had all night on 4th and 1 didn’t help either.

Michael Taylor:
Great question! Both made some big plays, and both made some not so great plays that certainly affected the outcome. I have to go with Winslow though. 10 Catches for over 100 yards and 2 TD. Looks like he and Brady may have a good thing going!

(Editor’s Note: I think Michael missed the point of this question! LOL!)

How does a professional football team blow back-to-back games that they are leading by 2 touchdowns in the fourth quater at home? What has happened to the Browns' defense in the last two games?

The Coop:
On the field, I believe the team completely loses its focus, urgency, and intensity when they're up by a few scores. They have been lacking this "killer instinct" all season. When this happens, their fundamentals completely erode. Defensively, the missed tackles and blown assignments are inexcusable and the players should be embarrassed.

Even though I've supported the coaching staff this year, they also deserve some of the blame. The play-calling, both on offense AND defense, becomes ultra-conservative. I think this, as a mindset, trickles down to the players and manifests in the poor performances. When they start running the ball every down once they're ahead, and once they stop blitzing once they're ahead, they become predictable and easy to beat.

Dawgfather:
Being on the field too long and not attacking the QB or applying any type of pressure, the Browns are not a playoff ready team and don't know how to "close-out" games yet., also when they are ahead they play prevent, thus guarding against the big play which is great but the whole underneath of the field is open thus vulnerable to the dink-dunk passes.

Dustin Haley:
Any time your opponent gains 235 yards of offense in less than 8 minutes with almost any lead in the NFL you’re liable to give up a win. Up until the Baltimore game our defense had done an adequate job of keeping the play in front of them and not giving up the big plays. Now the ball is flying over our head, and once that starts happening you can cancel Christmas. It’s hard to say where the problem is deriving from, could be Mel Tuckers play calling because we’ve been putting our guys in single coverage, but mostly it’s our DB play within that coverage.

Eric Lawhead:
It happens very easy. Poor secondary coaching. The Eddie Royal play was a prime example. The corner has to know that there is no one behind him and anything over his head will be a score. They should have not have been playing such tight man on the outsides and played off the receiver more and who cares if they get a 10 yard pass underneath. Better than 93 over the top.

Jeff Smirnoff:
On the players’ end you had a young secondary have a very poor day and the ineffective linebacking core continuing to get worse as the season goes on. Coaching wise, why the Browns could not scheme to stop the pass when the Broncos had no RBs and a rookie FB playing RB is beyond me. It was embarrassing. There was no pressure or creativity in trying to pressure Jay Cutler and he made them pay.

Michael Taylor:
I wish I knew. I certainly wouldn't be blogging about it if I did! It is just mind-blowing the ineptitude of this team and franchise. It was nice to not watch them on Sunday. I get another Sunday next week to do other stuff.

The Browns are now 3-6. They obviously have issues. Do you think it is a personnel, coaching or management issue? Or all of the above?

The Coop:
Just about everyone says the Browns have too much talent to be playing this way. Well, if that's the case - that the Browns have "too much talent" - then management, primarily the GM, has done their job.

The coaching staff should be taking some of the heat. The play-calling has been atrocious all season, both offensively and defensively. Also, I don't feel that the coaching staff has held enough players accountable for their performance. For example, Braylon Edwards should have been benched after the Washington game. He wasn't, and he continued to make the same mistakes he's made all year.

But when you get through all the muck and the mire, it comes down to the players. Romeo Crennel cannot tackle for Mike Adams. Rob Chudzinski cannot catch for Braylon Edwards and throw for Derek Anderson. Mel Tucker cannot cover a receiver for Brandon McDonald. The players have to make the plays, period. The players have to get themselves mentally prepared to play from the opening kick to the final whistle. They are professional athletes making millions of dollars. Get the job done. End of story.

Dawgfather:
All of the above and here are my reasons:

Personnel - we don't have the team that can run a 3-4, I have never liked the 3-4 in the first place as it has clearly exposed our LB's as the worst in the league, I think we need to go back to a 4-3. Regardless of who is under center, we need to bench Edwards and try and find a solid (and healthy) #2 receiver in the off-season because Stallworth is fragile, Braylon drops balls and Winslow makes mental mistakes and Steptoe is too short

Coaching - Romeo is done after this season and word is already going out that Cowher is ready to come in, we need a coach who is decisive, tough and gets his players up for a game, and Crennel has shown that he can't motivate a team, let alone coach, his clock management is very shoddy and his play-calling is very erratic, Chudzinski looks in over his head and that opposing DC's have figured him out, thus a lot of teams know what to expect. Tucker is not a NFL DC, I'm sorry to say and the fact that his defense has blown TWO 14 pt leads AT home will deflate a team's morale very quickly.

Management - Is both indecisive and incompetent to go along with "dysfunctional", I'm amazed at how many fans are taking Dilfer's statements so personally when they are true, and I'm in the minority because this management clearly lacks direction and a plan, why did they put Quinn in on a short week, that was what he was referring too but they are all up in arms about it..it must be true because the truth can really sting.

Dustin Haley:
There is obviously discontent among the players with Jamal’s Lewis’s latest comments. Perhaps there isn’t really a player who “gave up” during the game, but Lewis’s statements cannot be without merit. I’m sure there are egos that get brought onto the field, but I think his message is meant to be deeper than its face value. We’re not going to win games if we continue this he said, he said nonsense. Braylon getting into DA for bad throws when he’s not catching balls, for example.

As much as I respect our coaching staff and have stuck by them this season, I must admit they have lost control of the locker room. Is it completely their fault? No, but it is their job to manage the team and bring them together.

The front office has never seemed to be on the same page with the team all season. They’ve had different opinions on who the starting QB should be, the miscommunications from office personnel to players (perhaps shady?), and the overall inability to keep the team under relative control. Although Savage and Crennel have publicly supported each other, it is painfully obvious that they are in disagreement with issues.

Eric Lawhead:
I would start with coaching. Romeo has already drunk the poison and will be gone by the last "act." He is such a blob on the side lines. It's terrible to see that over there. He has no emotion, couldn't care less how terrible his defense is and just is terrible. Second is management. The fact that they've allowed Romeo on the sideline for so long is terrible. They will get rid of him and begin a new and improved regime under Bill Cowher.

Jeff Smirnoff:
It’s all of the above in varying degrees. They have personnel issues on defense especially at LB as a whole and CB depth. On offense they need a successor to Jamal Lewis and WR depth. Coaching is more of a concern because the current coaches can not get the players to play up to their talent level or get them to play a complete 60 minute game on a consistent basis.

I have been saying for years that the Browns’ biggest problem is their organization as a whole. It has been that way since their reincarnation in 1999. There is no one running the show to hold Phil Savage or Romeo Crennel accountable for on or off the field decisions. This team has no identity. What are the Browns trying to be on the field? Power running, defense first, throw to set up the run? Without a definition of what you are trying to accomplish and someone to hold people accountable they will continue to flounder.

Michael Taylor:
All of the above. Romeo got lucky on a few bonehead moves Thursday, but we have seen those kill him earlier in the year. He is not a head coach, one has to wonder if Belichick had more to do with New England’s defense during their Super Bowl titles than Romeo.

Management also is at fault for putting together such a dysfunctional group. For whatever reason, this group just does not click. They may have the best talent since the Browns return in '99, but the outcomes remain the same.

Flashback of the Week. The NFL Network subjected us to 1,000 replays of "The Drive" Thursday night. Which was more disappointing to you: The Drive or The Fumble?

The Coop:
Wow, this is like asking if I'd rather be put to death by firing squad or electrocution!

As we all know, Cleveland fans have experienced no shortage of devastating plays and defeats. In addition to the two you've mentioned, there's The Catch (Willie Mays), The Shot (Michael Jordan), and The Blown Save / Error (Jose Mesa / Tony Fernandez), just to name a few.

Of all these horrible losses, the ones that are hardest to take are the ones that are self-inflicted. That's why I've got to go with The Fumble. Earnest Byner had a sure TD, if only he holds onto the ball. This would have capped an amazing comeback and sent the game into overtime, and who knows what would have happened? But he had it..... he was THAT close. Just like when Tony Fernandez booted that routine grounder.

The Drive, even though Cleveland was on the wrong end, was the stuff legends are made of. John Elway is perhaps not "The" John Elway without The Drive. This was a future Hall-of-Famer becoming an all-time great right in front of our eyes. Players like that you sometimes have to tip your cap to them on a job well done. Just like when Jordan buried that jumper over Craig Ehlo.

Dawgfather:
The Drive..clearly.

Dustin Haley:
Thankfully I was up in the nosebleeds and didn’t have to watch those god awful replays. Even so, I was all of 6 years old when it happened I hardly remember the games, let alone how I felt (although I am told I watched them, I’m not sure.) But being the historically educated Browns fan I am I would have to say that The Fumble would have disappointed me the most.

Having come back from a 21-3 deficit in the second half to tie the game at 31 thanks to Bernie throwing 4 TD’s in the second half, two of which to Earnest Byner. Only to have Byner, who was having a good game and was one to thank for the comeback, fumble it right before making the go ahead touchdown at the end of the game.

Eric Lawhead:
The Drive. It breaks my heart every time I see it. That team was awesome, and Elway broke our hearts. The most heart-wrenching play however, is Jordan's cross the lane game winner over Ehlo.

Jeff Smirnoff:
For me it is “The Fumble”. “The Drive” was a combination of Marty Schottenheimer playing prevent defense against a mobile QB and John Elway being John Elway. Denver won that game more than the Browns lost it. “The Fumble” hit home because the Browns had all the momentum and were going to tie the game and everyone felt they would win it.

But when Webster Slaughter half-assed a block and Earnest Byner fumbled the Browns had lost the game. Plus Earnest Byner was one of my favorite players and it killed me to have it happen to him.

Michael Taylor:
Hey now...As soon as they showed that damn "The Drive" clip, what did Jay Cutler do? Throw a 93-yard TD to Eddie Royal to start the comeback. I actually told my wife while they were showing that clip that the Browns would be jinxed. I didn't think that badly.

And to get back to the question, personally the Fumble was more disappointing because I was just old enough to really get into watching sports with my Dad, and knowing what was going on during a game. I remember we also had family over to watch the game, so when that play happened...well you know how it felt, the party was over.

Overall though I would say the Drive was more disappointing because it was at Home, the Browns had the lead late in the game, and Elway was backed up to the 2-yard line after the botched kickoff. That was the year the Browns were to win it all, and it didn't happen. My most vivid memory of this game was Brian Brennan’s catch that he like fell on or something and dodged a guy to get a few extra yards deep in Broncos territory. Classic game with a classic disappointment.