Prediction: Browns vs Bengals, welcome to the underworld

From www.examiner.com/cleveland, Cleveland Browns Examiner

The Browns (4-10) will face Cincinnati (2-11-1) on Sunday December 21, in Cleveland.

Hell: An endless place of suffering; inflicting pain and punishment.

I think this adequately describes the professional football situation in Ohio. While the Browns are having a season to forget, Cincinnati has not had the season they had hoped for either.

The Bengals lost star quarterback Carson Palmer earlier in the season to injury. Chad Johnson has had an abysmal season with only 540 yards receiving, while the quiet T.J Houshmanzadeh has been their only bright spot.

Here is the good news: The all-time series is tied between the two franchises is 35-35. So, at
least there is something to play for besides for "the worst team in the NFL" competition.

The Browns have reduced expectations looking to get snaps off timely and produce positive offensive yards. The brown and orange have a goal to score an offensive touchdown by the end of the season. With some luck and some holiday magic this may happen against the Bengals.

If the Browns don't score this weekend, it may be their last opportunity.

Next week they play the Pittsburgh Steelers.

That should be a fun experience.

Prediction:
The Browns will have a decent day rushing the football-- Jamal Lewis has his best day of the year.

Cleveland wins an ugly one.

Browns 10 Cincinnati 9

Browns receiver Stallworth fined $5,000

From www.examiner.com/cleveland


The AP is reporting that Browns wide receiver Donte Stallworth is being fined $5,000 for unnecessary roughness spearing an a member of the opposition after an interception.
Wait, is Donte Stallworth in the NFL? Oh yeah, he plays for the Cleveland Browns. You may have missed him this season because he hasn't played that much. Actually to be specific he has played in 8 games and started in six of them. He has 14 receptions for 141 yards and 1 touchdown. No, that's not for one game, that's his stats for the whole season.
Stallworth has been hampered most of the season with a quad strain. The injury that occurred during warm-ups against the Cowboys on week 1 of the NFL season. An injury, mind you, that Stallworth admits could have been prevented if he only warmed up properly on opening day.
Based on his latest hit maybe the Browns should have signed him to play cornerback.
His current contract is for 7 years with a base of 33 million dollars and 10 million guaranteed.
This is what I call a great investment. I'm guessing the Browns management thought Stallworth would try and warm up properly before games.
Either way, I was never in favor of such a long term deal because if you play fantasy football, you know this guy is injured all the time. I looks like fantasy has become reality for the Browns.

Football players and guns

From Examiner.com/cleveland, by Cleveland Browns Examiner

My fellow Examiner David Codrea wrote an article that referenced the recent "shooting drama" involving Plaxico Burress and himself.

I don't claim to have the knowledge or expertise in gun rights that Mr. Codrea has. What I think I can do is give a regular football fans perspective on the whole situation.

Personally, I have never been one to carry a gun. That's just a personal choice, and I believe it's important that people have the right to make that choice. Moreover, at some point in my life I may choose to carry a gun for protection. Carrying a firearm is important to a lot of citizens in this Country and, If done responsibly, can be a great thing.

I have lived and worked in many places that could be considered dangerous. Washington D.C, New York City, Cleveland, and Newark New Jersey at times can be considered dangerous places depending where you are and what you're doing.

I think the point that many fans are trying to make when they complain about athletes such as Plaxico Burress, is not the fact that they carry guns, it's the choices they make.

For instance, If you carry a gun you probably should make sure it's properly licensed. Also, If you carry a gun, it may be a good idea to have some training to prevent accidents. I'm not sure exactly what happened, but I'm guessing Plaxico didn't mean to shoot himself. Furthermore, if he shot himself in the leg then it's a possibility he could have hurt someone else by accident.

I don't know what it's like to be a pro-football player. I don't know where some of the athletes grew up or the sort of life they lived. Additionally, I think it is imperative to understand that the NFL is diverse and has players who grew up both rich and poor, in good neighborhoods and bad.

NFL linebacker Joey Porter maintains that it's important for players to protect themselves because they are targets.

I agree with Mr. Porter, if you make a lot of money and live in big houses you could be considered a target for crime. I'm actually in favor of athletes' rights to carry firearms for protection, but it's also important that the players use common sense.

For example, if I knew I would using the subway late night in NYC I would try my best to dress casual. I know this sounds silly to some people, it's just that I felt if I was wearing something more flashy it would invite more attention. I didn't change my lifestyle or sacrifice my identity, I just adapted to circumstances. Circumstances never change in our existence. We may want them to, they just never will.

Crime exists and it usually happens at night. I don't have numbers or stats, just my instinct. Yes, crime happens anywhere and anytime I just feel that it's more likely to occur in a dark subway, alone, with an expensive watch, sneakers, and on my way to Queens at 4 in the morning. Don't get me wrong, I think the subway system is safe to use, it's not the same system the "Warriors" were using in 1979. I think just think it is important to plan ahead to try and prevent "accidents".

So, like Romeo Crennel mentioned, there are ways to carry a firearm responsibly and lawfully. In turn, there are also some things you can do so you don't have to use your firearm. Some really elementary examples might be: live more modestly, don't hang out in poor areas and wear flashy clothes or jewelry, and don't go out to places that make you vulnerable.

Why should pro athletes live by different standards than most?

Because they do live by different standards than most.

They are rich, famous, and popular. With great power comes great responsibility.

But as Mr. Codrea states, "sometimes the wolf comes to your door anyway."

In that case, you have to protect yourself.

From www.examiner.com/cleveland, Cleveland Browns Examiner

For the second week in a row I find it pointless to even write a summary of the Browns game. The Browns lost, again, and it wasn't even close. I predicted the game final to be 30-9 and the actual score had the Browns on the losing end against the Tennessee Titans 28-9.

For a third straight week the Browns failed to score a touchdown, while Romeo Crennel failed again to show any class.

The feeble coach passed up many opportunities to "go for it" on fourth down. I guess "going for it" would be displaying too much pride and urgency for the bumbling Browns. It would mean that the coach was interested in showing a sense of pride rather than politics on the field of play. This was further illustrated by kicking a field goal when the Browns were losing 21-6. Don't forget Crennel not challenging a late Braylon Edwards catch that appeared in bounds. This is just a taste of Romeo Crennel's brilliant head coaching skills.

The Browns also failed to get Josh Cribbs the ball more than 13 times, and as Bill Livingston points out, six of those touches were on kick returns. They continued to stick with a inept Ken Dorsey as he put up Derek Anderson-like numbers.

The failure to improvise and give Cribbs a chance summarizes Crennel's entire coaching career in Cleveland. As a head coach in Cleveland, Romeo Crennel was a coward. This is a harsh thing to say but on the field of play he hasn't proved otherwise.

I just finished watching the Pittsburgh Steelers game (I admit it) and was witness to the sort of character their team has. On fourth and goal, down thirteen points, head coach Mike Tomlin went for it. The Steelers should have kicked a field goal in this situation but the Steelers don't play pee-wee football. Pittsburgh ended up botching the attempt but winning the game.

Nonetheless, the Pittsburgh Steelers, "play to win the game". They have guts, and win or lose, the coaching staff and players lay it all out on the line. They risked losing the game in order to win it. They cared more about winning rather than delivering the status quo.

Unfortunately, the same can't be said of Crennel and the Browns.

I still can't understand why Randy Lerner hasn't pulled Crennel from his position immediately. The players have stopped playing for him and he continues to commit fundamental coaching follies. There is a draft coming and the Browns have to stop living in denial; the Romeo Crennel era is over.

If they are going to establish new leadership, the earlier the better. Even if a head coach has not been decided on, the Browns need to end their relationship with Crennel. To not do so perpetuates an era of cultural losing and acceptance of failure. As Mike Singletary would say, "we can't do it".

Now that's a coach with some passion and who has his team on the right track.

Passion and intensity = desire and results.

Just a thought

Head Coach: A Cleveland Browns job that requires no experience

From Examiner.com/cleveland, Cleveland Browns Examiner

I recently received a comment from a reader on my article, "Bruce Gradkowski signs with Browns, Plain Dealer writer Terry Pluto: 'Browns fans were wrong'.

The comment was from a reader going by the alias wgP. He pointed out a statistic that I found shocking, and honestly, had never realized.

Year after year, Browns fans have been searching for leadership from a coach that has the tools to take them to the Super Bowl. Yet, there might be a reason why we haven't found that leadership.

Did you know that of all the Browns head coaches throughout the years, only two (Nick Skorich and Terry Robiskie as an interim coach for the Redskins) touted NFL head coaching experience? That means from 1946 until the present all but two of our coaches have been rookies.

Experience and identity is what the Browns franchise needs. In that case, maybe it's time to bring in a coach with some actual NFL coaching experience.

Just a thought.

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Here are the numbers:

Paul Brown 1946-1962

Blanton Collier 1963-1970

Nick Skorich 1971-1974

Forrest Greg 1975-1977

Dick Modzelewski 1977(interim)

Sam Rutigliano 1978-1984

Marty Schottenheimer 1984-1988

Bud Carson 1989- 1990

Jim Shofner 1990 (interim)

Bill Belichick 1991-1995

Chris Palmer 1999-2000

Butch Davis 2001-2004

Terry Robiskie 2004 (interim)

Romeo Crennel 2005-present

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Thanks wgP for the facts!

From Examiner.com, Cleveland Browns Examiner


Brady Quinn told Cleveland reporters late Wednesday that his surgery on his index finger was successful.

Quinn said about his finger, "I'll have full function of it again".

Quinn is planning to return to the Browns and be with them when they face the Tennessee Titans this Sunday at 1 pm et..

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Phil Savage recently stated in a press conference, '"I got four years left on a contract, I'd love to be able to finish that out".

So, basically he's saying 'wait til next year'. This is a phrase that Cleveland fans have been hearing for an obscene amount of years.

Savages' comments address more scrutiny that his job may be in jeopardy.

I've always have been a Phil Savage supporter, and even with some of the weird behavior, it's still too early to fire him.

I do not, however, think the same about Romeo Crennel. I have been clear about this over the last couple of months. Savage has put a lot of talent on the field for the Cleveland Browns and they have underperformed. Whether it was the players who choked or the coaches who didn't prepare them to win, the record for Romeo Crennel is not flattering.

The most stunning stat in his four seasons is that Romeo Crennel has never beat the Steelers. Not once has he beat the Browns most hated rival. That is like Jim Tressel losing every game to Michigan. That alone should set off an alarm in your head.

How can you compete in the AFC north if you can't beat the Steelers? In fact, Romeo can't seem to prepare his team to win any clutch game. The only example of his team winning a 'big' game is on Monday Night Football this year against the New York Giants. He then followed up this game by choking in Washington D.C. to the Redskins.

The point is, the Browns have talented players on their team. Those player have been put there by Phil Savage. Of course there have been mistakes like the signing of Donte' Stallworth, Braylon's Drops, and injuries with Joe Jurevicius. Nonetheless, Phil Savage has put talent on the field and they are not being put in the position to win. Phil Savage should be given a shot to complete his tenure and see what sort of results he gets with a new coaching staff in place.

The new question is if Bill Cowher comes to town, does that mean the end for Phil Savage? Could they come to a compromise and form a dangerous duo?

I guess we'll have to 'wait til next year' to find out.

Cowher09.com closing in on 10,000 signatures

From Examiner.com, Cleveland Browns Examiner

If you have not heard of http://www.cowher09.com/ than you're probably in the minority. The site is a living and breathing petition to Browns owner Randy Lerner to get Bill Cowher into Cleveland and reignite a winning tradition.
The website that started out as a sort of cult following for disgruntled Browns fans is now starting to be a sort of powerhouse. If you attend any Browns game, read any forum, or watch the Brownies on television, you will most likely hear the chants or see the T-shirts.
If you go to the site you'll see that it is closing in on 10,000 signatures and growing.
We'll see if the wishes of so many comes true with the hiring of Bill Cowher. Nonetheless, you can give credit to Cowher09.com for keeping the cause relevant and pressing.

From Examiner.com, Cleveland Browns Examiner

If you have not heard of www.cowher09.com than you're probably in the minority. The site is a living and breathing petition to Browns owner Randy Lerner to get Bill Cowher into Cleveland and reignite a winning tradition.
The website that started out as a sort of cult following for disgruntled Browns fans is now starting to be a sort of powerhouse. If you attend any Browns game, read any forum, or watch the Brownies on television, you will most likely hear the chants or see the T-shirts.
If you go to the site you'll see that it is closing in on 10,000 signatures and growing.
We'll see if the wishes of so many comes true with the hiring of Bill Cowher. Nonetheless, you can give credit to Cowher09.com for keeping the cause relevant and pressing.

Bruce Gradkowski signs with Browns,Plain Dealer writer Terry Pluto: 'Browns fans were wrong'

From www.examiner.com/cleveland, Cleveland Browns Examiner

Update: The Akron Beacon Journal reports former Toledo Rockets quarterback Bruce Gradkowski was signed by the Cleveland Browns today. He will most likely be the third string QB.

This news seems to be secondary on the minds of Cleveland fans. There is still a lot of talk about the "Derek Anderson Incident".

In my last article "Cleveland Browns fans hate Derek Anderson'" I explored the episode of Derek Anderson being booed by some fans at Cleveland Stadium after he went down with a knee injury against the Colts.

Of course it was not "right"' for those few fans to boo an injury, but that's assuming that fans were cheering Anderson being hurt. Could it be a possibility that his injury was just the climax to one of the biggest "let down" seasons in Browns history? Could it be that fans were disgusted with the effort from a team that has the talent to compete for an AFC title? These are just a few ideas to think about before the media and sports fans turn this into a "Cleveland Witch-hunt".

After reading Terry Pluto's most recent article, I was surprised that he didn't ask any of these questions. I'm surprised he didn't question the reason for the fans apparent anger at Anderson. He did, however, publish an e-mail from a fan condemning the actions of the booing fans. The comment validates the "nice guy" attitude that Cleveland strives to be known for. Unfortunately, it could be this very same attitude among the organization, city, and fans that perpetuates a losing culture.

I have my theory on the social and cultural foundation that drives Cleveland fans, but reading some of the comments made on Pluto's' online page I found something interesting. A radically critical but honest illustration of the parallel between the city of Cleveland and its' sports teams.

This particular comment was made by "The Lifer", and whether you agree with it or not, you can't ignore the truthful anger and honesty that it exudes. I'm publishing his/her comment because I wanted to illustrate a different and possibly more realistic vision of the Cleveland sport identity.

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Here it is:

TheLifer,

I feel bad for DA but seriously, who cares. The NATION laughs at our fair city and it has been "injured" for 30 years. We have no jobs, no economic backbone, or hope to fix it. All we have are our lousy sports teams that do little for us but take our money and break our hearts. So, sorry DA I don't care what you think or how you feel. Take your money, get the he|| out and don't forget to tell everyone how awful it was and how badly you were treated when you go.

Yes it is wrong to boo an injury, but until these fool players/coaches/fans acknowledge this is about something bigger than them, bigger than the money and bigger than the coach (I know that's hard), it's about pride. The pride our Browns used to give us when there is nothing to cheer for.

We don't have socal weather or Florida weather. We don't have jobs like the Carolina's or baseball, football and basketball champs like New England. We don't have factories that run like Philly or Pittsburgh. Matter of fact, sometimes it seems like the Browns are all we do have, and I don't know if we even have that anymore.

That was our team, it was woven into the fabric of our existence. I say was because it isn't our team anymore. It belongs to corporate thugs that only care about entertaining a client, it belongs to overpaid immature thugs interested only in pillaging the city for their own glory and gain, it belongs to personnel managers that don't know what they're doing, coaches that don't coach, fans that go only for the booze...and so on

So, sorry if I don't shed a tear for you DA, but I very seriously doubt you'll shed any for the city you stole from, for the fans and kids that believed in you, from the teammates that actually try (Sean Rogers-I appreciate you greatly), and I doubt you'll cry for the opportunity YOU lost last year by costing us the playoffs.

Do everyone a favor and fade quietly into obscurity.

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This may be written out of anger, but it seems to capture a certain universal frusteration amongst Cleveland fans. Many fans seem to be measuring their actions against other cities or comparing themselves to other cities. I think we need to just worry about winning football games.

Romeo Crennel says Browns gave a great effort this past Sunday, DA confirmed out for season (view)

From www.examiner.com/cleveland, Cleveland Browns Examiner

Derek Anderson is out for the season with a torn knee ligament. It was already assumed DA would miss time but an MRI on Monday confirmed it would be season-ending. Kellen Winslow is also out at least a week with a high ankle sprain. More bad breaks for the Browns but it wasn't as disturbing as recent comments made by Romeo Crennel.

When you read some of Romeo Crennel's comments about his team, you have to wonder if he is exists on the same plane of reality as the rest of us.

Plain Dealer writer Mary Kay Cabot published an article this evening in which Romeo Crennel said he was satisfied with the teams' effort versus the Colts last Sunday.

"As a coach, you want your players to play hard, to give great effort and do the things that they need to do to give themselves a chance to win. I thought our team did that Sunday", commented Crennel.

It seems Crennel was watching a different game this Sunday, because actually, the effort they gave wasn't enough. The Browns lost 10-6 in a game that was winnable. Crennel continues to amaze the people of Cleveland with his post-game brilliance. When referencing to what it will take to beat the Titans next week Crennel said, "If they play hard, they'll have a chance."

Right, when teams play hard, they sometimes have a chance to succeed. Okay, so Crennel is being payed millions for this sort of analysis?

You know that "spider sense" alarm that goes off in your head when you're in a bad situation? Like when you feel danger, if you are lost in a bad neighborhood, or when running into people from high-school that you despised?

That's the same feeling Randy Lerner should be getting when Romeo makes comments like this.

What's next? Are the Browns going to start giving out gold stars after every loss? Will they implement the "Almost Touchdown Emmy" for all the players who almost got in?

Crennel acknowledges he understands the NFL is a game of winning and losing.

"That's the nature of the business and I've said that all along", protested Crennel.

I think Cleveland fans understand the majority of the players are performing and trying to win. What they want to hear from Crennel is that how he prepares and coaches the team isn't good enough. That he takes the blame for not having his team prepared week after week. They want to hear that Crennel has a passion for winning, and that he will accept nothing less than that. However, Browns fans are not hearing that. Instead, they are being told by Crennel that last Sunday's effort was good enough for them.

Let's be clear, it wasn't.

Browns linebacker Willie McGinest remarked,

"We're behind Romeo 100%". He also went on to say that, "It doesn't matter if you got Vince Lombardi out there coaching you. If you don't execute, if you're not consistent, you don't win."

This quote reminds me of something Romeo Crennel would say. Dare I say it sounds like an excuse?

Just a thought, it may matter a little if Vince Lombardi is your head coach. I'm guessingn a Vince Lombardi team wouldn't be in this situation year after year.

Now, bring on the Titans?

From www.examiner.com/cleveland by Cleveland Browns Examiner


As Derek Anderson was carried off the field after hurting his knee, Cleveland Browns fans cheered.

"They were cheering the fact that I was hurt. They don't like me. That's well known", commented Anderson after the game.

Yes, the fans were cheering a sarcastic cheer after Sundays game, but was it the right thing to do?

Before the "Cleveland has no class" comments poor in, let's try and give some perspective to the situation.

No, most Cleveland fans do not like Anderson but I think the cheers were more to do with the frustration over an abysmal season. Of course it wasn't right, but were talking about a crowd mentality here. I'm guessing the fans were probably pretty plastered by this point seeing as how the offense put up a total of two field goals.

Some of the Browns players felt that the jeers for Anderson were wrong.

"We love our fans, but that just wasn't needed", said Josh Cribbs after the game.

Well, the Browns seem to show their love in an awkward way when they take the field.

They play poorly and lose.

I'm not trying to justify the fact that Anderson was jeered, it's just that the players need to know that booing is the only outlet the fans have. In this case, it may have been wrong, but I understand why it happened. Angry crowds are not usually "right" about complex human emotions and social situations.

Another man that has been a target of the fans wrath is Romeo Crennel.

ESPN's Chris Mortensen stated before the Browns game that "it would take a miracle finish" for Romeo Crennel to save his job. Well Romeo, you said you didn't believe in curses when you came here, how do ya like them apples?

It is going to be tough going for Crennel now that Ken Dorsey will be starting at quarterback. Now the question is, with the Browns luck, who will be his backup?

It will most likely be Josh Cribbs. Cribbs was a former quarterback in college for the Kent State Golden Flashes. I remember he would always come Bowling Green State University and give the BG Falcons a run for our money. Now he may be taking his first serious reps as an NFL quarterback. Derek Anderson seemed to have different thoughts about that possible scenario.

"Were not putting Josh in. You guys are smoking crack. Because we're playing bad doesn't mean we're going to put a receiver at quarterback", said Anderson.

Okay, so now Derek Anderson is making coaching decisions from the locker room? What's the worst thing that could happen? The Browns could lose?

In the words of Charles Barkley, "shut the hell up" and play. I'm not sure I would take quarterback advice from a guy who posts one of the worst qb ratings in the NFL.

Another scary option might include a phone call to one Vinny Testaverde. Oh yeah, you know broseph is always available to give a helpless team a 15-35 255yards 1td and 3 int stat-line.

What about Romeo?

With all this speculation, who will be the next coach of the Cleveland Browns?