2011 Draft

First and foremost, I think some congratulations are in order for Tom Heckert. How he was ever able to get a 1st, 2nd and 4th round pick this year and another 1st and 4th round pick next year for what basically amounts to Julio Jones, I will never know. Nonetheless, this was the biggest lopsided trade I may have ever witnessed and for once, it's in Cleveland's favor! Having all those picks, assuming we hit on at the 1st and 2nd rounders, accelerates the rebuilding process under Holmgren and Heckert. Cleveland should be a contender by 2012 instead of 2014. The magnitude of this trade will be felt almost immediately by the organization especially in the amount of cap-room they saved by moving down 15 spots. (Again, that's assuming there is no rookie wage scale once a CBA is reached.)

On to the player Cleveland finally ended up with: Phil Taylor. As everyone knows already, he is a mammoth of a man at 6'4", 335lbs. He has quick feet, decent hands and a relentless motor for a man his size. He is not the flashy pick most fans envisioned prior to the draft, but he is a solid pick make no mistake about it. The beauty of having Taylor to pair with Rubin is that our entire defense will reap the benefits of his presence. Our linebackers will have more room to roam behind the line of scrimmage to make plays. Somewhere, D'Qwell Jackson has a raging... smile on his face. Also, it takes pressure off of our young secondary. They will no longer be stuck on an island or forced to cover a man for 5 seconds or longer thanks to Taylor and Rubin collapsing the pocket. This was an organizational pick. It wasn't trendy, it wasn't flashy, it wasn't what the so-called experts predicted, but it will undoubtedly make the browns a better team. With two 2nd round picks tonight and Da'Quan Bowers still on the board look for the Browns to add him as well. If that happens, the D-line will be set for the next 8-10 years.

Yesterday was a great day in Cleveland thanks in part to Heckert and Holmgren. As an avid Browns fan, I can only hope that there is more to come. To say that yesterday made me giddy would be a drastic understatement. HECKERT, KEEP IT UP!

State of the Union

It's been a long time since my last entry. Unfortunately, I have been extremely busy. With NFL owners and the NFLPA feuding like two school children fighting over the swings at the playground, the 2011 season is up in the air. Despite the leagues effort to continue with "business as usual" by still holding a draft and releasing the schedule already, games are going to be lost. The inability to agree on how to divide up 9 billion dollars is astonishing. There is no end in sight to this ugly divorce.

There has been no off-season to speak of due to the absence of a CBA. Keeping all of this in mind. Cleveland took several strides forward last season. They had a tremendous draft; arguably the best draft in the league boasting players such as Colt McCoy, Joe Haden and T.J. Ward. Despite drafting these terrific playmakers, the team still finished 5-11, fired Mangini (FINALLY! He should have never been hired in the first place.) and hired his replacement Pat Shurmur, who I am not entirely sold on. Shurmur's decision to not hire an OC shows his lack of HC experience. That's not to say that he can't handle the added responsibility, but I do not believe this is the best way to kick-off your first HC job.

GM Tom Heckert needs to draft defense early and often in this draft. There are some very intriguing prospects in this draft, none of which I'm sold on save for one....Patrick Peterson. If he is available at #6, Heckert needs to pull the trigger. There will be other temptations such as Robert Quinn, Da'Quan Bowers, Von Miller, A.J. Green and Julio Jones. WR might be our biggest need, but our lack of DE's is also disconcerting. Nonetheless, Peterson is a once in a generation talent that will team with Joe Haden and T.J Ward for the next decade to form the best secondary in the league. Being able to cover receivers is just as important as rushing the QB and allowing 26 TD's through the air last year has to be weighing on Heckert's mind as well. The bottom line is this team is still 2-3 years away from competing for a Super Bowl. There are a number of holes that need to be filled and, unfortunately, they cannot all be filled at once. Without free agency this year until a new CBA is reached, the draft has taken on an even more important role. If you think about it though, draftees are not allowed to sign contracts or have any contact with their respective franchises due to the lockout so it's really irrelevant at the present time who is drafted. As with anything else, it is a long-term investment and not a get-rich-quick scheme.

I am very encouraged that this franchise may actually turn the proverbial corner with Mike Holmgren and Heckert running the show. Thus far, they have demonstrated that they have shored up the organizational side of the business and now what needs tending to is adding talent and depth to a depleted 53-man roster that simply isn't up to par with the other teams of the AFC North.

P.S. if you haven't done so already, vote for Peyton Hillis for the 2012 Madden cover at http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/feature/madden2012cover

Can Things Get Any Worse?

Bye-Bye Braylon. No I'm not talking about one of Braylon's highlight reel touchdown receptions from 2007. I'm talking about him packing his bags and moving to the Big Apple. In another brilliant, with the definition of brilliant loosely defined, maneuver, Eric Mangini has managed to trade our only wide receiver with any experience and talent. Even though Braylon has become a shadow of his former Pro-Bowl self, he is only 26. The dynamic duo of Kellen Winslow and Edwards is gone and Anderson and Quinn are left with no one to throw to. The Jets have to be the happiest team in the NFL if for no other reason then they are capitalizing on Cleveland's misfortunes. They parlayed Cleveland's 5th overall pick into Mark Sanchez and, obviously, have now acquired Braylon Edwards for Sanchez to play pitch and catch with. The Jets will make some noise come playoff time while Cleveland is working hard towards its goal of becoming the 2nd 0-16 team in NFL history.

At this point, I'm not sure Cleveland could beat the Tebow-less Gators, Texas or USC. Hell anyone ranked in college foootball's top-25 may give Cleveland a run for their money. Mount Union would be competitive. Well maybe not Mount Union, but the other 3 schools could without a doubt. In fact, I'd be willing to put money on the imaginary matchup. Once LeBron leaves after this next season, all of Cleveland sports will be a fucking joke. It's nice knowing that without any expectations to live up to you will never be disappointed. Thank You Cleveland for giving back to me so much for all of the blood, sweat and tears I have put into supporting your sorry ass excuse for a franchise. With any luck, well a lot of luck like HELL OF A LOT of luck, I will be able to buy that shit franchise and run it the way it should run. Hey, I can dream can't I?

Lions Look-a-Like

Thanks to Randy Lerner and his hiring of Eric Mangini, the Cleveland Browns are enjoying their worst season since rejoining the league in 1999. The reason I can say this so early in the season is because if it hasn't become blatantly apparent to everyone by now, let me spell it out for you, Cleveland will be the second 0-16 team in NFL history at the conclusion of the 2009 season. Contrary to Mangini's belief, this is not Brady Quinn's fault. In fact, the blame should not be solely thrust upon the quaterback (Quinn or Anderson) when clearly the problem is the entire 53 man roster and not one position.

Hiring Mangini was easily the worst decision Lerner ever made which is saying a lot when you consider the plethora of inept hirings made since '99 including Carmen Policy, Chris Palmer, Butch Davis, John Collins, Romeo Crennel, Phil Savage, I think you get the point. Mangini's complete lack of personality is destroying this team faster than a stick of dynamite shoved in a mailbox. He has no idea how to relate to anyone other than himself and is such a control freak that he fined Abram Elam (I think it was Elam) $1,701 for a $3 bottle of water he thought was comped at a hotel they were staying at. What an asshole! Aside from Mangini's off-the-field antics, he and his sorry excuse for a General Manager, George Kokinis, have absolutely no idea how to evaluate talent. If it were up to me, given the dire circumstances the team is in, I would cut every single person on that team with 3 exceptions (Joe Thomas, Shaun Rogers and Joshua Cribbs). The argument can be made to keep Alex Mack as well considering he is only a rookie and, other than his shotgun snaps, has played relatively well. The rest of the team is worthless inlcluding the coaching staff. Hitting the reset button and starting over from scratch as if you were putting together a brand new expansion team would be better than trying to build and rebuild around whatever foundation has already been laid over the last 11 years.

Some possible coaching/GM candidates in "wish list" order include
1. Bill Cowher - HC- the former Steelers legend would be the most obvious and ideal choice to run the franchise whether it be as the head coach or GM. He would bring instant credibility to a franchise that has none and with any luck, revamp and remodel the structure of the front office/team so that it can function as an effective NFL franchise.
2. Tony Dungy - GM - the recently retired coach would be a prime candidate for a front office position because he has made it clear that his coaching days are behind him for the time being. His uncanny ability to evaluate talent and get the most out of his players is well documented.
3. Doug Whaley and/or Ron Hughes - GM's - the current Pro Personnel Coordinator and College Scouting Coordinator of the Pittsburgh Steelers have assembled two Super Bowl winning teams in 4 seasons. In all likelihood, 2009 will bring yet another AFC Championship appearance and Super Bowl appearance for the Steelers.
4. Russ Grimm - HC - the current Cardinals co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach helped Arizona reach the Super Bowl for the first time last season. His rugged, lunch pale mentality is perfect for the Browns. I liken him to Mike Singeltary and what he has done so far in San Francisco. Not to mention, there are a few Super Bowl rings on his fingers.
5. Kirk Ferentz or Urban Meyer - HC - Meyer is the more accomplished of the two winning 2 national championships in the last 3 years at Florida, however, the spread offense he covets so much is ill-suited for the NFL. Meyer's undeniable abilities to "recruit," evaluate talent and prepare his players week in and week out make him a desirable coach nonetheless. Ferentz style of offense and defense are more suited for a smooth NFL transition. His Hawkeyes are routinely in the Big Ten title chase despite being unable to recruit high profile high schoolers like big wigs Penn State, Ohio State and Michigan.
*NOTE: The route of hiring a college coach is not popular in the NFL and with the exception of Jimmy Johnson in Dallas, has not worked out well for any franchise including Cleveland. Regardless, these 2 coaches are intriguing to me simply because of their ability to "coach" despite what history has to say about the leap from college to the NFL.

I have presented 4 head coaching candidates and 3 general manager candidates. In my opinion, none of these people will be pursued (except Cowher) for the respective positions. Their credentials speak for themselves and should undoubtedly be given serious consideration or at the very least, be granted an interview. Their body of work with their current and former teams is more than Cleveland has accomplished since its last championship in 1964 (45 years ago).

Quitters Never Win

Running back, Jamal Lewis, has made claims that some players "quit" during the Broncos game as reported by James Walker on ESPN.com. Well it seems as though Lewis isn't the only one who thinks that the Browns quit as Joshua Cribbs and Andra Davis have agreed with Lewis's statement about the team. This is absolutely unbelievable. If you don't wanna play than get the hell off the field. Players quitting on a season is a direct reflection on the Head Coach i.e. Romeo Crennel. Crennel should follow Mike Singeltary's example if he wishes to attain a coaching job ever again in the NFL. Singeltary benched first-round draft pick and starting TE Vernon Davis a few weeks back after he took over as head coach for Mike Nolan. Singeltary caught Davis pouting on the sideline after he was removed from the field for committing an unnecessary personal foul. Singeltary went over to talk to him and shortly thereafter told him that if he wanted to help the team, he could go take a shower and get off his sideline. Singeltary's hard-line approach to coaching is a needed change to the NFL ranks. Crennel is soft and does not have the respect and will never have the respect that a man like Singeltary demands. Players should be disciplined for not giving all that they've got because there are plenty of other players who salivate at the chance to play professional football.
This is further evidence to how poor of a job Crennel is doing at managing his team. Crennel does not deserve to be a head coach because he has no clue how to be a head coach. His personality is what is holding him back. It takes a tough man with a strong backbone to do the job and he simply does not possess enough drill sergeant in his blood to run a team. Discipline on the team is lacking severely and this is due to Crennel's inability to control his players. When players lose respect for their coach, winning becomes impossible; just ask Don Holl, head coach at Cathedral Prep. When respect is lost, the last thing anyone wants to do is give 110%, or claw for that extra inch or hit that much harder or block for another second. Giving all you've got for that person becomes impossible because they no longer give you all they've got. It has to be mutual.
The players who no longer wish to be there need to be let go and the coaches who no longer wish to be there need to be let go as well. The common expression is trimming the fat. Cleveland needs to trim the fat and believe me, there is a lot of fat and not a lot of meat. Good luck Randy Lerner. Other than Barack Obama, you have the least enviable job in America.

History Repeats Itself

As I watched the Browns/Broncos game last night, visions of John Elway danced through my head as the dreaded game dubbed simply "The Drive" was being reenacted on the field by a Jay Cutler led Broncos offense. This past week was historic as the American people elected its first black president. At a lesser level of importance, but still historic, Cleveland made the switch from Derek Anderson to Brady Quinn after a season and a half. Quinn's performance last night was nothing short of spectacular. He looked like a seasoned vet in the pocket and brought an element to the offense that Anderson did not. Quinn avoided the rush. Where Anderson would have taken a sack, Quinn evaded defenders and kept plays alive with his legs. He threw for 230 yards and 2 touchdowns with 0 interceptions and 0 fumbles. Mistakes you would expect a rookie quarterback make such as miscommunications, poor hand-offs, wasting timeouts, poor accuracy, holding on to the ball too long in the pocket, none of that was there last night. Quinn was not sacked once which is as much a credit to his scrambling ability as it is to his offensive line. He didn't force anything and did not turn the ball over. He played very solid and found his favorite target, Kellen Winslow, in the endzone twice. Last nights loss cannot be placed on Quinn's shoulders. He put 30 points on the board. The loss falls squarely on the defense and Romeo Crennel.
The only defender we have that is any good is Shaun Rogers, who is definitely getting my vote for the Pro Bowl. Our secondary is porous and soft. There is no physicality at all in any one of our corners or safeties. Our secondary is manhandled by bigger receivers and burnt deep by smaller ones. DeAngelo Hall is available, but wooing him will be impossible because he is going to want to go somewhere where a Super Bowl is a realistic goal this season. Our linebackers flat out suck. There is nothing else to say really. McGinest is too flippin old and cannot get the job done. Wimbley just isn't suited for the 3-4. Alex Hall is a pass rush specialist and cant play the run. Anyone else that is on our roster as a LB is dead weight. Our defensive line would be the worst we've ever had since '99 without Shaun Rogers, period!
The flaws that I see are a direct result of coaching. Romeo does not know how to coach and cannot get the job done. He never could. The people he has hired have been suspect as well. A common saying is, the mark of a good coach isn't his ability but whether he surrounds himself with other good coaches. Crennel has not done that. I mean Mel Tucker is a terrible defensive coordinator. I'd rather have Todd Grantham back. At least he knew what he was trying to accomplish; his fault was that he didn't have the wherewithal to get it done. Tucker has no clue what he is doing: None! Rushing 3 and 4 men all night does not generate enough pressure on the QB, if any, and playing a soft, and i mean an extremely soft, zone behind a nonexistent pass rush just won't win ya very many games. The prevent defense is too much a part of his philosophy (and Crennel's). The only thing the prevent does is prevent you from winning as we've seen in the past.
Randy, just give Cowher whatever the hell he wants and get someone in here who who has some competency because so far I haven't seen any from anyone.

QUINNNNNNNNNN!!!

Finally, after 8 games of torture, Cleveland's coaching staff has named Brady Quinn the starting quarterback! With such a short week, playing Denver on Thursday night, I am not expecting anything magical out of Quinn because he has only 2 practices to prepare for his first NFL start, but I am expecting consistency; something Derek Anderson has failed to show. After playing a major role in the Browns self-destruction during the 4th quarter of the Ravens game this passed Sunday, Crennel said that Anderson would remain the starter which leads me to believe that this was not his decision, but is a direct result of pressure from within the organization. I can just see Randy Lerner issuing the ultimatum: start Quinn or lose your job. Hopefully, Crennel loses his job anyway at the end of the season, but one step at a time. Quinn is the starter and there is no doubt in my mind that he will take command of his troops; something that Anderson has failed to do. Quinn will not stand for Edwards case of the droppsies that has lasted 8 games now (yes that means the entire season thus far). His leadership qualities alone make him a superior quarterback than Anderson because you simply cannot win with as laid-back a demeanor that Anderson possesses. There are certain times when getting a little fired up make all the difference in the player. It seems as though Anderson has tucked his tail between his legs and lost all confidence in his game. I cannot wait to get a glimpse of the face of our franchise on Thursday night in the national spotlight.
On a more disappointing note, Joe Jurevicius has announced he will miss the entire season. The only positive that comes from this is that he also said that he no longer plans to retire after the season and will return in 2009. To be honest, how could you retire after missing the entire season while watching your team, who had Super Bowl ambitions and expectations in the offseason, fall off the map. Anyone with half a brain knew that Jurevicius could not end his career on such a dismal note. I, as many Browns fans, look forward to his return next year because he is such an integral part of this Browns organization.
Ryan Tucker has also been placed on injured reserve, effectively ending his season after playing just one game. His return next season will also be welcome because of his importance to the cohesiveness of the offensive line.
As I mentioned before, unless Cleveland runs the gauntlet and finishes the season at 11-5 (they are currently 3-5), they will not make the playoffs. Next season is all a Browns fan ever has to look forward to so, Browns fans, here's to a great draft, healthy offseason, smooth transition to a new head coach, free agent signings and of course talking about our team like they actually have a chance to beat the Steelers.

"Big Baby", More Like Big Time

With a nickname like "Big Baby", it doesn't exactly cast a positive light, but Shaun Rogers has officially worn out his nickname and is need of a new one. How about "Big Time" instead? I don't think anyone can argue with the fact that Shaun Rogers is a hulk of a man, standing 6'4" and 360lbs. He is an absolute freak. I believe he finished yesterday's game with 9 tackles, a sack and a blocked field goal. He even managed to recover the ball after he blocked the field goal. He has been playing at a Pro-Bowl level all season on one of the worst defenses in the league. If there is a bright spot on the defense, I guarantee that Shaun Rogers is it. His play has elevated that of his teammates. Make no mistake about it, without Shaun Rogers, we'd probably be 0-7. He makes everyone around him play that much better. If only there was someway to get Quinn on the field, then we'd have a dynamic leadership duo. One on each side of the ball. The reason I say Quinn is because Cleveland is trying to run Kellen Winslow, the undisputed leader of the offense, out of town because the organization has sensitive feelings.
Kellen Winslow's recent dispute with the organization is uncalled for. The organization basically admitted that it screwed up when it rescinded its suspension of Winslow. Now, I do have to give Cleveland props because before I lambasted the organization for not owning up to its mistakes. So at least they are making progress in the right direction, however, scuffles like this shouldn't ever take place in the first place. Winslow spoke his mind. There is nothing wrong with that. He realizes that if he doesn't vocalize his discontent, nothing is going to be done to evoke change to fix what is wrong. He knows how to push the buttons of the coach and management which can be a bad thing if you push too many buttons, but he has used this ability to try and address some in house issues. Now, hopefully, Savage and Winslow will realize that the team is better with him on the field, not off it. The team has won two out of its last three games and it should have been three out of its last three but the Browns decided not to show up against the Redskins. With Winslow back and all of the off-the-field issues supposedly resolved, I pray that Cleveland will go on a little run and make a push to the playoffs because after Pittsburgh's loss, they sit just two games back with plenty of football left this season. I am by no means predicting a playoff birth for the Browns nor am I saying that they are playing well right now because their record stands at 3-4. I am saying that they have an opportunity and it is up to them to make the most of it. The remaining games will be very telling as to the future of the franchise. I am very anxious to see how it plays out because in my opinion, everyone on the team is playing for a job for next season. They are in essence "trying out" for a chance to continue to be a part of this once proud organization.

Whatever Happened To The Good Ole Days?

I'm gonna go in a different direction in this entry and get a little off topic. Instead of talking about how Cleveland is going to get dismantled this weekend by Jacksonville, I'd rather talk about the NFL's current crackdown on hitting during games.
Everyone has known, since the dawn of time, that quarterbacks (and kickers) wear skirts. They are not allowed to get hit all week in practice and when you hit them in a game, it's a penalty. So if it wasn't blatantly obvious before, consider this a crash course in wussification. Now onto my gripe with Roger Goodell and his recent policies regarding "safety" in the NFL. These policies have now placed skirts on every player who steps on the field. The bone-crushing, jaw-jarring, gut-busting hits that have been the trademark of football are being removed from the game. Take Adrian Wilson's hit on Trent Edwards a few weeks back (scroll forward to about the 20 second mark). This hit was clean demonstrated by there no flag being thrown by the referees. However; he was fined tens of thousands by the league and warned that if he hit anyone like that every again more severe action would be taken i.e. a suspension. This is ludicrous. Whatever happened to tackling? I mean this was a textbook play by a Pro-Bowl caliber safety. What was Wilson supposed to do!? Was he just supposed to stop and just try and push Edwards over with his pinky finger? NO! He put his helmet in his chest and buried him to the turf. Any TRUE coach and player would appreciate this type of play; not reprimand it.
Eric Smith's hit on Anquan Boldin was also a perfect play (scroll forward to about the 17 second mark). This helmet to helmet stuff is bullcrap. A hit's a hit. Smith made a play. I mean if I'm this guys coach, I'm jumping for joy because he prevented a touchdown. It's unfortunate that Boldin got hurt. I don't deny that, but injuries are part of the game. Every player understands the risks of strappin on the pads on Sunday's. They understand the consequences that may occur as a result of playing one of the most violent games in the world today. There is no way around it. Injuries are a part of the game. Players are gonna get hurt no matter how hard they get hit. A player can tear his ACL and end his career just by making a cut or falling awkwardly to the turf. Coaches often preach that going any less than 110% in between those sidelines will get you seriously injured. So why are people encouraging them to tone it down? It doesn't make sense. It really doesn't.
Roger Goodell and anyone who agrees with his "safety" policies, (this even includes the parents of little Joey in Pee-Wee football. Yes you too!) I have a message for you. GET OUT OF FOOTBALL and let real men run the sport. I admire men like Mike Ditka across the USA for one simple reason. THEY WANT TO PRESERVE THE GAME THEY LOVE SO MUCH. For those of you who didn't hear Ditka's sarcastic comments on the state of the league, he said that if the commish really wanted to prevent hitting other players, he should take the facemasks off of their helmets. If I'm the only one who finds what is happening to football (and to America in general, but that's a whole different topic for another day) to be repulsive than I feel sorry for the future of the game. I don't think football will survive if the violence of the game is taken away. Then again flag football is pretty popular, right?

I Thought The Expression Was Spring Cleaning?

Are you freakin kidding me!? This is the final straw. Today was a pretty humdrum day until i checked nfl.com earlier and saw that the Cleveland Browns tried trading Kellen Winslow. SERIOUSLY!!?? I mean what is Phil Savage thinking? It seems like Cleveland is about to destroy another relationship with one of its best players. This has LeCharles Bentley written all over it. Savage seems to be really pissed off at Winslow for a few reasons. One being his demand for a new contract. Winslow's phenomenal play over the past two season cannot be ignored. Cleveland stood by Winslow's side when he couldn't stay healthy and couldn't behave himself. That was honorable of them; however, Winslow has set numerous records over the past two seasons at the TE position surpassing a Cleveland legend Ozzie Newsome. Those efforts should definitely be rewarded. Apparently, giving Winslow a new contract isn't on Savage's list of things to do for whatever reason.
Another thing that has Savage's panties in a bunch is Winslow's recent comments about his bout with staph. Winslow made some outlandish comments that seem to stem from the frustration of an underachieving team that was pegged as pre-season favorites to win the division and make the playoffs. Nonetheless, Winslow accused Savage of not caring about him when he was in the hospital being treated for staph last week because Savage did not come and visit him and check up on him and make sure that he was okay. This seems a little childish, but staph can kill you. It is no laughing matter and Winslow obviously wasn't doing well.
Winslow has every right to feel slighted. He is being pushed out of Cleveland. The fans adore him and the front office loathes him. He is one of the best tight ends in the league when healthy. I mean he is a Pro-Bowler at only 25 years of age. It's truly sad that Savage has absolutely no people skills. Forcing someone out because he isn't afraid to speak his mind and ask for what he deserves is terrible policy. Oh and by the way, in an attempt to smooth over their relationship, Cleveland has suspended Kellen Winslow for exhibiting conduct detrimental to the team. Way to go Cleveland you really know how to make a man feel wanted.
This whole ordeal is surreal. If Winslow is traded, I will be calling for the termination of both Crennel's and Savage's contracts because neither is fit to run a team and organization. I already am praying that they fire Crennel and hire Bill Cowher, the former, legendary Pittsburgh Steelers head coach. Now I am hoping that Savage is shown the door same as Crennel. I'd have to do a little bit more homework to find a suitable replacement for Savage, but that shouldn't be too hard. At this point, Randy Lerner should cut his losses and move on. On the off chance that somehow Crennel and Savage are the one's to turn around Cleveland's misfortunes, they have lost all of my respect. Not that one fan's opinion matters, but I cannot respect a man or men who have no respect for their fellow man. Winslow, hang in their buddy; I know what it feels like to be surrounded by incompetency... see Mike Fox, defensive coordinator of St. John Fisher College

You Can't Teach an Old Dawg New Tricks

Go figure. Cleveland reverted back to its old form dropping an easily winnable game to the Washington Redskins. The offense struggled as it has been all year, with the exception of one game. The defense didn't play terrible. I mean they did only give up 14 points. That's a good job no matter who you play. When you only give up 14 points, you have to be confident that your offense will out-score the other team especially when you are loaded with so many offensive weapons. Anderson and Edwards were not on the same page. It seemed like Cleveland never moved on from their dominating performance last week. They were just mesmerized by their Monday night win.
I can now say, with confidence, that the Browns will have a Top-10 draft pick this off-season. If they're smart, they'll go defense. More specifically, their defensive front seven. If the opportunity presents itself, I wouldn't fault them for going after a running back such as Beanie Wells because Jamal Lewis is getting old and I don't think Jerome Harrison or Jason Wright is the long-term answer at RB. James Laurinaitis would be a phenomenal selection because our interior linebackers are not very talented and seem to struggle in every game. A pass rusher who can also play the run would be ideal because Willie McGinest is just too damn frickin old to be starting for us. He is not the player he used to be and is very ineffective as a player. At his current age, he would be more effective as a coach. George Selvie is a possible draft candidate, but most likely in the later rounds because he is strictly a pass rusher. Brian Orakpo should definitely be on the Browns radar in the 1st-round. Not only is he a phenomenal pass rusher, but he has the size and ability to play the run as well. Both Selvie and Orakpo would have to make the transition from collegiate defensive end which as we've seen with Kamerion Wimbley, is not an easy task. If you want to go defensive line and they should go defensive line, Terrence Cody is the most ideal pick. He is 6'5" and listed at 365lbs although he probably weighs closer to 375 or 380. He is the second coming of Shaun Rogers. His combination of freakish size and strength make him a dominant run stuffer, which Cleveland desperately needs. He can rush the passer when asked even though it's not his strong suit. I pray that Savage won't be able to pass on Cody assuming he makes himself eligibile for the draft and is available when Cleveland picks because He has Pro-Bowl 3-4 Nose Guard written all over him.
Whomever the Browns go after next April, I hope that they make a smart choice. I will never bash them for making an intelligent choice over a brash one. Cleveland needs to get their shit together, but I don't see that happening anytime soon. So in the meantime, I will speculate on the off-season because that's about all I have to look forward to.

They're Baaaaaack

Okay, I'd be lying if I said this is the first time I've been wrong and not just wrong but way out in left field with my prediction of the Monday Night Football game. I'd also be lying if I said that yesterday's game has completely changed my outlook for the rest of the season. I am not 100% convinced that yesterday's Cleveland Browns are the team we'll see for the next 11 games. I pray to God that it is, but they haven't sold me quite yet because one game does not make a season.
On a more positive note, I am ecstatic that the Browns finally decided to show up this season. We are now sitting at 2-3 and are tied for 2nd in the division. If we can keep it up, the division crown is not out of the question. Everyone got to see what the Browns can do when they get in a rhythm and are relatively healthy. The most impressive thing about our win last night wasn't that we dominated the Giants for 4 quarters, or that Braylon Edwards dominated the secondary, or that our youthful secondary intercepted the "great" Eli Manning three times. It was that we did all of this without our best player, KELLEN WINSLOW. That's right the most consistent performer on our team didn't suit up due to an undisclosed illness. It didn't seem to phase a Cleveland offense that was firing on all cylinders yesterday.
The player who stood out to me the most during the game was Shaun Rogers. He is an absolute freak. He dominated arguably the best offensive line in football last night. He was constantly harassing Eli Manning in the passing game and plugging Brandon Jacob's running lanes. In my opinion, this was the best acquisition of the offseason. Even Corey Williams had a solid game. He had a sack and a forced fumble taken away because of defensive holding penalty, but overall he had a real solid game.
The sky is the limit for the Browns if they can carry this momentum through the rest of the season. Getting players back such as Sean Jones, Shaun Smith, Kellen Winslow, Kevin Shaffer, etc. is only going to make this team better. I was very pleased to see Donte Stallworth on the field last night and he did a good job considering it was his first game this season. My interest and excitement has been renewed after last night's game. I can only hope that they don't make fools of themselves in the coming weeks because they have a tendency to revert back to their usual, mistake ridden selves after statement games such as last night. GO DAWGS!

I (Don't) Stand Alone

This entry for Inside the Helmet can be located at Podbean under the title "Inside the Helmet: I (Don't) Stand Alone". Listen to it and give me some feedback on it.

Also, If you find anything I have said to be untrue, misleading or downright blasphemous. Rich Passan, of the OBR, did a good job summing everything up for me. It's nice to know that I am not the only lunatic who thinks these things. There is comfort in numbers. Anyway check out his article. It's a good read.

Cruel Intentions

Okay, it's Sunday afternoon and I've been watching football all day. The best thing about it is I am actually enjoying the games for a change because Cleveland isn't playing. I don't have to worry about my team embarrassing themselves yet again. I don't have to listen to all of my buddies busting my balls for loving the NFL team that looks like they might get beat by some of the elite college teams this season. Instead, it's nice and quiet while I make fun of everyone else's teams who lost. For instance, I no longer feel like Cleveland has the worst luck in league after watching the Texans lose a 17 point lead to the Colts with 4 minutes to go in the game.
The one thing that still upsets me about the Browns right now is they feel like nothing has gone wrong. Phil Savage said and I quote, ""We've spent three-plus years trying to put this team together and get our best players onto the field... I know for a fact 1,000 percent -- I've talked to people around the league, people who have been in this business a long time, coaches, front office types -- you don't go blowing things up after a couple games. We've had a dry spell for the first couple weeks, but you're not going to do it and be successful in this league." Well Phil no one is talking about "blowing things up." All we want as fans is a tuneup: grease the hinges, tighten the screws and start Brady Quinn. We aren't asking for much because apparently when we ask for competence from anyone in the organization that is too much to ask for and you go on one of your little tirades because someone hurt your feelings. The bottom line is Savage and Crennel are screwing up. Their inability to admit that they are screwing up is what the problem is. I mean everyone knows Cleveland on its way to rock bottom, but it's the people who are willing to admit their past mistakes that will turn this team around. Savage and Crennel are stubbornly beating a dead horse because they do not want to own up to their mistakes and say that everything they have worked for the past 3 years isn't working out the way they had originally planned.
Unless Savage and Crennel suddenly decide to mix things up a bit, I wouldn't expect much of change in Cleveland.

First or Last

Go ahead... ask me. Ask me if I'm impressed and/or happy that Cleveland finally got its first win this season. The answer is hell no! We beat one of the only two teams that is truly worse than we are. The one thing that makes this win even less impressive is that Bengals quarterback, Carson Palmer, one of the top-3 quarterbacks in the league, didn't even play because he was injured. Ryan Fitzpatrick was under center. Who the hell is Ryan Fitzpatrick!!?? With the odds clearly in Cleveland's favor to win, they nearly blew it. If it wasn't for a semi-dominant fourth quarter by the team, they'd be 0-4 and I'd be much happier. I know it seems odd that I'd be happier if they were 0-4 instead of their current 1-3 record. The reason, however, is quite simple. Had Cleveland lost, Brady Quinn would be the new starting quarterback in Cleveland and Derek Anderson would be relegated to the bench where he belongs. So for now, Anderson keeps his job and Quinn continues to grow discontent on the bench as Cleveland ruins their relationship with him much the way they did with LeCharles Bentley.
I'm glad Cleveland has a bye this week too. This will be the first Sunday since the season kicked-off that I won't be sick to my stomach. I'm praying that they use this week to heal up and get the endless list of players that are on the injury report back on the field, where they belong. Donte Stallworth, for one, hasn't played in a game yet this season. The Browns dished out a $35 million dollar contract for his services and so far he is cashing his checks without doing any work. There are too many people on the team that are not "earning" their paychecks be it not playing at all (Donte Stallworth) or playing extreme poorly (Derek Anderson).
The one thing that I am looking forward to is getting rid of Derek Anderson because unless he somehow takes Cleveland to the Super Bowl this season, which won't happen, he is off to make someone else's team look incapable of scoring a touchdown. Brady Quinn will take over the starting quarterback position at some point this season no matter what Phil Savage says because he is not the coach and has no authority over who sees the field. I can't wait to see Brady Quinn as the quarterback instead of the incumbent.

Some Things Never Change

Just when I thought Romeo Crennel was about to turn the corner in his coaching career, his knee buckles and decides to keep beating a dead horse. Derek Anderson will be the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, much to my dismay. I was looking forward to seeing #10 on the field slingin passes to Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow, but instead I get to watch the one-year wonder try not to throw anymore interceptions this season because the last time he played the Bengals, he threw 4 interceptions and single-handledly kept Cleveland out of the playoffs.
Now not only is Anderson still starting, there are way too many injuries for the team to pick up its first 'W' this season. Both sides of the ball are decimated by injuries as well as the special teams seeing as Josh Cribbs hasn't played in a game yet this season. Braylon Edwards, Joe Jurevicius and Donte Stallworth are all injured and are on the shelf for this weekend. Braylon may make an appearance, but I doubt it seeing as he hasn't practiced much this week. As much as I praised the Browns for releasing LeCharles Bentley over the summer, it seems as though they could use his expertise since the line is becoming a patchwork again. Eric Steinbach and Ryan Tucker are both injured and probably won't play on Sunday. The right side of the line with Hadnot and Shaffer at guard and tackle have been atrocious this season. Anderson was sacked 5 times last week.
The defensive line isn't in much better shape. Robaire Smith has already been lost for the season and now Shaun Smith and Shaun Rogers are also injured and expected to miss time. That leaves us with one d-lineman left from our original 4-man rotation, Corey Williams. The linebacking corps is down to its last 2 outside linebackers, rookie Alex Hall and Kamerion Wimbley. I'm not even going to talk about the secondary.
I honestly can't see this team picking up a win for a very long time. It's a good thing the bye week is around the corner because this team has some serious regrouping to do. If they can magically produce some chemistry over the bye week next week, I think they could "save the season". They definitely have a chance of finishing 8-8 and salvaging some pride, but they already blew their shot at the playoffs. I know it's only September and it's way too early to be declaring them as a playoff miss, but there isn't a browns fan that would disagree with me if they have watched a game so far this season.

Caution: Disaster Looming

Browns fans, would you expect anything less from your beloved team? The obvious answer is NO! Another pathetic performance has gotten me to think, at least they are consistent. They have consistently underperformed since their season ended last year. As much as I don't like Derek Anderson because, let's face it, he is not an NFL QB, only a one year wonder, Brady Quinn would fair much better the way the rest of the team is playing. This isn't just a few players not playing badly, it's all 53. No one is playing "good football". The coaches aren't helping, but I have said it before and I will say it again, "ROMEO CRENNEL AND HIS STAFF NEED TO GO!!!" There is no reason to settle for mediocrity which owner Randy Lerner is doing at this point. In the past, I praised him for being faithful and not cleaning house every time the team loses a game. However, he is taking it a little too far this time because it is obvious that some serious changes need to be made. Anderson should have been traded in the off-season for a 1st and 3rd round draft pick because at this point, we will be lucky to get a roll of athletic tape for him. Brady Quinn has the attitude, swagger and confidence of a starting quarterback. All traits Anderson lacks. Romeo needs to admit when he is wrong and swallow his pride. This is not a game of right and wrong, but winning and losing. Stubbornness should not be tolerated and should be met with consequences namely the loss of your job.
Al Davis is a perfect example of what stubbornness can do to a franchise since his has consistently been one of the worst in the league. He doesn't know when he has a good thing going even if it conflicts with his original plan. No one is right 100% of the time which Crennel seems to think he is as does Davis, however, I don't care about Davis and the Raiders, I care about the Browns.
What happened to the Jamal Lewis that ran for 1300 yards and 9 TD's last year? He is gone and doesn't seem to be coming back. This could be due to the lack of a passing game because Anderson is at the helm, but it seems as though Jamal lacks the motivation that coursed through his veins all of last season. He isn't running with that same nastiness and drive like last year and it shows in the stats column and on the scoreboard.
Don't even get me started on the defense that was supposed to all of a sudden wreak havoc on opposing offenses. It doesn't matter who is on the field, they are all turning in sub par performances. They are decimated by players whose skill level is not of NFL caliber. Shaun Rogers may be the only one who belongs in the NFL. Everyone else would be better suited playing in Canada or the AFL.
Hopefully Cleveland gets serious about its football team and makes some very necessary decisions this off-season because it's do or die time. Ten years marred by poor football and poor management is enough. If this trend continues, then the NFL made a big mistake by returning the Browns to Cleveland after Art Modell moved them to Baltimore.

Injury Bug or "Out-of-Shape"

You know nothing ever seems to go right in Cleveland. At least not since Jim Brown donned a #32 and broke ever major rushing record in the books. Fresh off their devastating loss to Pittsburgh, Cleveland suffered another major blow to the team. As if we weren't thin enough on the defensive side of the ball, starting defensive end Robaire Smith has been placed on injured reserve with an Achilles tendon tear and will miss the remainder of the year. That's just freakin fabulous. We already were using a 4-man rotation and cutting it down to 3 will cause problems for the Browns defense the rest of the season. There is no proven depth behind the front 4 of Smith, Smith, Rogers and Williams. Everyone else has seen little or no game time at the NFL level and, in all likelihood, will struggle mightily against NFL competition because of their lack of inexperience and skill. Cleveland isn't exactly known for producing All-Pro caliber defensive lineman at least not since their rebirth into the league in 1999.
If you ask me, the numerous injuries that occur in Cleveland on a daily basis can be attributed to the coaches more so than the players themselves. And the reason i say this is because of a recent quote by Romeo Crennel in which he stated the Robaire Smith is "out-of-shape". How the hell is he playing professional football and not just playing, but STARTING, if he is out-of-shape? That is a direct reflection on the coaches inability to sell the system to the players. If a coach cannot convince his players to trust what he is saying and doing he will not be a successful coach. Up to this point in Romeo's career he has been successful only as an understudy and never as the lead which brings in to question his leadership qualities. Does he have what it takes to take control of an NFL franchise? I would have to say no, emphatically. On the other hand, however, Robaire should know what it takes to be in the NFL and more importantly what it takes to WIN in the NFL. He has been in the league long enough to understand that if your fat, lazy and out-of-shape than you don't belong on the field. Shaun Rogers found that out the hard way when Detroit ousted him from their squad.
This cat and mouse bullcrap needs to stop and if it means bringing in a new coach, I hear Lane Kiffin will soon be on the market. If it means simply finding better talent or players who want to be in Cleveland than so be it. If you don't want to win a championship then get out.

P.S. I hope Derek Anderson takes some aggression training courses or something because he is as soft as a freshly baked muffin.

Make that #10

Well Browns fans, you can't tell me that you are honestly surprised we lost to the Steelers AGAIN!!! As much good as Romeo Crennel has done for our team, he has done just as much bad by always playing it safe and never taking any risks. Maybe Crennel would finally get some guts after a few mentoring sessions by Mike Shanahan. I mean with three minutes and change left in the game and your down by seven inside your opponent's redzone, how can you justify kicking a field goal on fourth and seven? To me it's a no brainer, either way you're still down a touchdown if you have any chance of winning the game. Why not go for it, especially when Willie Parker has gashed our defense the entire game for huge chunks of yardage. Romeo Crennel is not Head Coach material. He would be much better suited in a Front Office position or as a defensive coordinator. Cleveland needs a coach that isn't afraid to win games in crunch time which Romeo is. Crennel has continually put his tail between his legs and ran away when faced with a decision that means taking a calculated risk. His inefficiency to manage a game has proven fatal in the loss column. Starting out 0-2 is not exactly the way anyone affiliated with the Browns envisioned the season taking off.
I was watching ESPN this morning, to be more specifically Mike and Mike in the morning, they said that in the eighteen years since the NFL implemented the current playoff format only nineteen teams have made the playoffs after starting the season at 0-2 which figures out to about one team a year. I will bet anyone who is willing to take a bet that Cleveland will not be that one team to pull themselves out of an 0-2 hole. My best guess is that they end up with a top-10 draft pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. This season is gonna be a lost cause for three foreseeable reasons, 1. poor coaching 2. injuries and 3. Derek Anderson. That's right; I said it, Derek Anderson. His poor decision making and inability to make plays will eventually lead to his demise. I hope Crennel wises up and starts Quinn, but that won't happen because Crennel is a wussy. Nothing would please me more to see Phil Savage terminate Romeo Crennel's contract.

First of Many (Rants)

With this being my first blog, there is a lot to say. I might as well start with last Sunday's loss to the Dallas Cowboys. I don't think there was anyone who thought Cleveland was actually going to win, but I don't think that anyone thought they were going to get demolished either. After enjoying quite a bit of success last year and supposedly upgrading the roster in the off-season, Cleveland was poised for a big year. So far, they look like the same Browns of old. The injury bug seems to have moved back into town after taking a vacation last season as the Browns have been decimated by injuries to date especially in their young and inexperienced secondary. With the Pittsburgh Steelers on the schedule this Sunday, this game is arguably the most important game Cleveland has seen since the 1980's. Not only do they have a lot to prove to the football world after last week, but they have a lot to prove to themselves since the Steelers have beatin them nine straight times dating back to 2003. Talk about a drought.
With starting strong safety Sean Jones out for at least a month and the spotty play of Derek Anderson, Romeo Crennel may very well be on the hot seat in Cleveland. It wouldn't surprise me in the very least if Romeo Crennel is shown the exit before or after the season has ended. However, he isn't the only one to blame for Cleveland's poor play. Phil Savage's recent tendencies to trade away valuable draft picks for other team's garbage i.e. Shaun Rogers, Travis Daniels, and Corey Williams. These players will have little to impact on the team are being paid heavily for their efforts or lack thereof.
Beating Pittsburgh would be a solid start in the right direction because after the showing I viewed last week, I would be happy with between 4 and 6 wins based on our strength of schedule. I'm like any other Browns fan who had the wind taken out of their sails last week, but in order to compete for a Championship you need to have Championship caliber people starting up top with the ownership and working its way all the way down to the practice squad. Here's to hoping and praying the Browns eek one out and go 1-1. I'm looking forward to the game even though I think a loss is inevitable.