Capitol Dawg Pound

ClevelandBrowns.com, or a Bad Brokeback Joke???

2007-01-11T15:20:00.000-08:00

You want to know how out of touch with Cleveland fans the Browns' organization is??? Go to ClevelandBrowns.com today.

I went to my team's website expecting to hear some spin about how the Browns are going to rebuild for a better year in 2007, how the front office has a plan to fix morale problems, how Romeo really just needs one more year to realize his coaching potential.

Instead, I thought that I had been redirected to some Brokeback Mountain spoof... There's a picture of a chest-bearing cowboy wearing a pearl necklace and tight jeans on the homepage. It looks like the Browns are more interested in pimping some country cowboy concert than in winning back those disillusioned die-hard fans who bothered to visit the website of the third-worst team in the league during the playoffs... If I want lame, overpriced concert tickets, I'll go to ticketmaster -- not ClevelandBrowns.com. I guess I need to go someplace else to find out what the hell is wrong with this franchise...

Let's beat the Bungles!

2006-09-15T13:52:00.000-07:00

I'm sick of Chad Johnson talking. I want to see Bodden pick Palmer for 6. I want to see the defense show up this week and stuff the run. I want to see Droughns running up the middle on 3rd and 1. I want to see a blitz.

No matter what happens this week, at least we won't have to hear ravings about Reggie Bush's "magic feet". I guess with $100,000 you can buy a pair of those.

I think many fans over-reacted to the loss last week, but we did have higher hopes going into the season. But the Bungles have shown a weakness against the run and if the Browns stick to a sensible gameplan of power running and quick passes to keep the rush off Frye, they do have a shot this week.

Uh-oh Joe

2006-09-13T10:38:00.000-07:00

Well, there is always good news and bad news in Cleveland. The bad news is that Joe Jurevicius will not play this Sunday. The good news is that the MRI revealed the ribs were not broken. The bad news is that if these players don't stop making mindless penalties, this team is not going anywhere. We played poorly against New Orleans and still had a chance there at the end. We can not play the same against Cincinnati or else we will get demolished. We need some good coaching to get these guys' heads out of their asses. The players need to perform on the field, but these coaches need to perform in the lockerroom. These next two games are going to be tough to pull out, but if we go on the road to Oakland and not win... this is going to be a long season.

Improvements Needed

2006-08-12T06:56:00.000-07:00

Thursday night was the Browns' first preseason game. They came out average at best. The offense was very stagnant. The first team offense only came out for 2 drives in which Droughns had 4 carries for 21 yards and Frye was 4 of 7 for 23 yards. However, the bright side of the game was the defense. The best part was it was the younger/newer players that made the difference. Brodney Pool had at least 4 key plays. David McMillan had back to back sacks to force the Eagles to punt which resulted in the Browns having fantastic field position. Additionally, young first rounder, Wimbley, looked quick off the outside, giving fans a lot of hope. Unfortunately, Winslow dropped a ball and missed another fairly easy catch, and Frisman Jackson dropped a ball. 3rd round hold out Travis Wilson caught a 20 yard pass from Lang Campbell to eventually set up an 8 yard touchdown pass from Campbell to Jerome Harrison in the final minutes of the 4th quarter. What really impressed fans was the play of Alonzo Ephraim, starting center. With Bentley out for the season and Hallen turning in his retirement papers today, he is going to be the center piece to the offensive line (no pun intended, well, maybe a little). The reason why they can't go with Rob Smith, according to Crennell, is because he sweats too much on the ball which causes the quarterbacks to have a tendency of dropping or throwing incorrectly. The tandem of Heiden and Winslow looks very promising, and both Jurevicious and Northcutt caught balls from Frye. Hopefully, offensive coordinator is taking it easy in the preseason to protect from injuries, but he needs to be more aggressive if we want to average more than 14.5 points per game this year. The first defensive series, the Browns came out soft, but came up with a huge stop on the .5 yard line to force the Eagles to kick a field goal. The rest of the half with the first team played extremely aggressive on defense and looked promising after the first drive.

Browns: "Best Draft in the NFL?"

2006-08-03T15:49:00.000-07:00

The Browns' draft seems to be impressing more and more NFL experts...
I liked the Cleveland draft on paper last April. I gave the Browns my one A+ on the grade card.
The Browns like their draft even more now that they've seen their rookies on the field in training camp. Second-rounder D'Qwell Jackson (right) could start at inside linebacker in Romeo Crennel's 3-4 defensive scheme. Other early standouts from this rookie class are second-day picks Leon Williams (ILB, fourth round), Jerome Harrison (RB, fifth round) and Lawrence Vickers (FB, sixth round).
Take a look at Rick Gosslen's "Grade Card", the Browns' get an A+, the rest of the Division couldn't pass the state exit exam. (No retakes on the field!)

Adjust Your TV Set

2006-07-31T16:14:00.000-07:00

Summer TV sucks. After one aborted attempt to watch "America's Got Talent" (hint: apparently it doesn't), I have been stymied in my attempts to find decent entertainment.

But there is hope.

The Brown and Orange will soon grace my screen again. We West-Coasters must depend on tape-delayed NFL Network airings of preseason games for our Brownie fix, but it's better than nothing. The schedule is as follows in PST:

Friday, August 11th Cleveland at Philadelphia- 1:00 PM
Saturday, August 19th Detroit at Cleveland - 1:00 PM
Tuesday, August 29th Cleveland at Buffalo - 1:00 PM
Saturday, September 2 Chicago at Cleveland - 7:00 AM

Live, tape-delayed, youtube.com internet streams, I could care less. Anything with the Browns on TV that isn't an ESPN Classic airing of "The Drive" will do.

NOTE:
If you don't have the NFL Network, you'll want to find out who does. Likely one of the biggest games of the next season, Pittsburgh at Cleveland, will air on the NFL network on December 7th (the NFL network got the rights to Thursday Night Football under the new TV package).

Curse of the Lake

2006-07-28T05:05:00.000-07:00

The Cubs have the goat and the Red Sox had the Babe. Now the Browns have Lake Erie. Once again, Cleveland Browns fans are devistated before the season even starts. Their biggest offseason acquisition, LeCharles Bentley, suffered a torn patella tendon in his left knee which will keep him out for the entire 2006 season. At first, they were hoping for just a partial tear which would have kept Bentely sidelined for only part of the season; however, after a MRI on Thursday, they ruled that Bentley would need surgery. As a result, Bentley will be heading into surgery first thing Friday morning. Bentley was the cornerstone to the Browns new offensive line. Fortunately, the injury occured early enough for Crennel/Savage to make adjustments before the season starts, but to lose a Pro Bowl player will definately be a big disadvantage for sophomore quarterback, Charlie Frye.

According to Crennel (courtesy of ClevelandBrowns.com), "Nothing has changed, but when you lose a Pro Bowl player, you're not quite as good. I told the team we're going to need some guys to pick up the slack, and I think they will. I'm still excited about the season."

Unfortunately, Crennel decided to keep the players out of full pads yesterday to prevent them from going full throttle trying to avoid injuries. Fortunately, it wasn't a defensive lineman that caused the injury (rumors were that Ted Washington accidently stepped on him), but was rather a result of just landing on the knee wrong.

So it begins...

2006-07-26T04:52:00.000-07:00

After months of waiting, football season is finally approaching. Once the Cavs were eliminated in the playoffs, Clevelanders were stuck watching their JV baseball team, the Indians. This debacle know as the Tribe, has pushed fans to the gates of Berea in eager anticipation for the opening of training camp.

Good news is that all draft picks but third rounder, Travis Wilson (WR Oklahoma), are signed and accounted for. Crennel said he is very grateful to have the entire team at practices at the beginning of camp. Rookie orientation ended yesterday, and offical training camp opens today at 3:30pm EST. I will be attending training camp today and hopefully Saturday to report any major news.

Gary Baxter is more than eager to get back on the field. His focus this year is to prevent the team from being annihilated by Pittsburgh like the lump of coal in our stocking last year on Christmas Eve. Their goal is to stress the importance of rivalries and to continue to foster the hatred we all have for Shitsburgh.

Although Frye is just in his second year, there still is a lot of pressure on the young up and comer. As of right now, Ken Dorsey is our back up quarterback. Unfortunately, the only rumors around town are to bring Tim Couch back (that rumor was squashed by Phil Savage) and Vinny Testerverde. Although, both Testerverde and the Browns both said that neither one of them have contacted the other. Since Testerverde is pushing 50, we might as well bring Bart Starr or Joe Nameth to Cleveland. My hope is that the Browns stop wasting Browns' fans time, and bring in at least a competent, effective back-up (i.e. Kerry Collins). If Frye gets hurt, I don't believe Dorsey could win a single game, especially if Ruben (Ike Turner) Droughns can't stay out of jail. In interviews Droughns seems to be a very humble soft spoken gentleman. However, the hold-out, DUI, and domestic abuse charges are tarnishing his image tremendously.

The good news is that we are in a division with quarterback problems. There is Cincinatti with Carson still hobling around town, Evil Kenival Worthlessberger, and Steve (I just received my AARP card) McNair.

I will be hosting a big Browns/Broncos extravanganza at my house in Cleveland for the October 22nd game. My wife is from Denver (yes, her hero is John Elway, that buck toothed bastard) and my in-laws are flying into town for the game. It is time for Cleveland to man up. I believe the last time we beat Denver in Cleveland was something like 1984. All Browns Backers are welcome to come and party with us. We have to root for the Browns to help will a victory over those hated Donkeys.

More to come...

HERE WE GO BROWNIES, HERE WE GO, WOOF! WOOF!

Cleveland Ex-Patriot Excited

2006-07-23T13:54:00.000-07:00

Time to throw off the negativity Browns Fans, the corner has been turned.
The Dawgs are hungry again. Report from a friend who is also the 'Browns Beat Reporter' for the Canton, Ohio Repository...Informs me that the 'atmosphere' surrounding training camp as some energy once again.
Can a young, underdog from Akron University, take the offense to the promised land?
In speaking with former Akron Head Coach Lee Owens; Frye has the 'mental make-up' to battle the bad breaks and make chicken salad out of chicken manure.
Anyone who can play football in the Rubber Bowl and make a winner out of the Zips, can take a continual expansion team in the Browns and give them vision.
I like this 'blue collar' QB. He's the type that carries his own 'lunch pale' to work...he doesn't need the elite of the league to wipe his behind after a tough day at the office - and there will be a few this season.
Attitude builds character, and the Browns' have lacked character since day one.

The Beginning of the Frye Era

2006-07-23T12:10:00.000-07:00

The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Tony Grossi writes a great piece today that reminds us all of the painful journey we've been through at QB since the Browns' return. Charlie Frye is the fifth different starting QB to open a Browns season in five years.

The difference between this year and years past is that Phil Savage actually seems to understand that a QB can't do it alone, so in his own words, he's equipping Frye with "a strong offensive line, with an established running game, with bigger, better receivers, with a capable defense. All those things can help alleviate some of the strain off the quarterback position."

Also, unlike Tim Couch, Frye wasn't fed to the lions on week two of his rookie season and seems to understand that there's no crying in football. He's not a career backup like Kelly Holcomb who feels a need to force it and prove he deserves to be there with every throw. Frye's also not a limp-wristed pre-Madonna like Jeff Garcia, nor is he a washed up pouter like Trent Dilfer.

I'm hoping that Charlie Frye is cut in the mold of Bernie Kosar, and I must say some of offensive players Savage has surrounded him with remind me of other great Browns from the 80s. Braylon Edwards / Webster Slaughter. Reuben Droughns / Ernest Byner. Joe Jurevicius / Brian Brennan. Kellen Winslow / Stronger Faster Ozzie Newsome (maybe a stretch). I loved those guys, and would love it if Charlie Frye could lead these Browns to replicate their success and exceed it by winning two more playoff games at the end of the season.

It's going to be a long year, and I'm a little nervous that we don't have a credible backup for Frye. But hey, the guy has bulked up in the off season which will hopefully make him durable when the pocket inevitably collapses and he takes some hits. Right now Charlie has the city of Cleveland 100% behind him. He's young, and will make mistakes, but if he wants to be Cleveland's QB of the future he needs to be mentally prepared to play through the ups and downs of a Browns' season, weather the storm, and stay healthy. We don't need Frye to win us a Superbowl THIS year, just give us hope that he could take us there someday.

The early bird....

2006-07-06T12:43:00.001-07:00

With the training camps schedules being released, it appears Romeo wants a few extra days with the boys. Link

Only Philadelphia and Oakland will begin their camps earlier. The Raiders and the Eagles face off in the Hall of Fame Game on August 6th.

Or perhaps Philly will need the extra few days to recover from the "Thank God Terrell Owens Is Not My Teammate Anymore" party that is sure to ensure when the Eagles get back together. I'll bet McNabb's got his Cristal on ice already.

Romeo wants his rookies in on Sunday, July 23rd. The veterens will report three days later on Wednesday. Most NFL teams are simply having camps start on the 27th for all players. The Browns first preseason game is Thursday, August 10th against Philly, who will have played the HOF game just days before.

There is no doubt the Browns are among the most improved teams this off-season. Savage did his job, now lets see if Romeo can make 'em play.

Babette Says Bernie's Acting Bizarre...

2006-05-13T10:35:00.000-07:00

Babette says Bernie's acting Bizarre... She wants him to do drug and psychiatric tests? Say it ain't so. I'll vouch for him, it wasn't steroids that made that sidearm throw so spectacular.

Don't tarnish my childhood idol's good name. If Bernie wants to give away all of his Superbowl rings, he should be able to without being called a psycho by his supermodel wife (no wait, John Elway already stole those from him).

It's not the first time she's filed for divorce, hopefully Bernie and Babs can work it out. If not, thank God for pre-nups, Bernie should still have enough to buy a share of the team if Randy Lerner ever gets bored... I feel for the guy, the city of Cleveland is with you Bernie!

[Photo: Bernie, before and after the divorce filing]

Ex-Browns quarterback Kosar and wife in messy divorce

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida (AP) - Former Cleveland Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar and his wife are involved in messy divorce proceedings in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Babette Kosar has asked a judge to order her husband to undergo drug and psychiatric tests. She says her husband is acting bizarre, giving money and property to relatives and friends. Babette filed for divorce seven months ago. Kosar, a Browns fan favorite from the Youngstown area, says he still loves his wife and wants to reconcile.

Babette and Bernie's 2 views of marriage

Browns Take LB's, and Other Early Draft Observations

2006-04-29T15:29:00.000-07:00

Some sportswriter this week commented about how on draft day every GM and Coach gets up after each pick and brags that they got just the guy they wanted. It's a good observation. Keeping that in mind, Phil Savage says he's "a little bit in shock" that the Browns got both LB's Kamerion Wimbley, and D'Qwell Jackson. I think it'll take a little while for me to learn how to pronounce these names, but from what I've seen about these guys they look like they'll be able to drastically improve our pass rush and run defense, with time.

Kamerion will be learning from Willie McGinnest, who made the transition from college DE to outside linebacker pretty damned successfully, which is definitely a good thing. They say D'Qwell Jackson's a little small, but fiery. I'm OK with that, more important to have a big heart than an extra inch or two. Plus, London Fletcher (who went to my alma matta) got the same criticism and turned into a pro-bowler. This guy kind of sounds like he's cut of the same cloth.

I'm bummed that we lost Jeff Faine, but if D'Qwell's as good as Savage says he is, maybe it was worth it. If LeCharles or another O-Lineman gets injured this season we may all be kicking ourselves, but after free agency it was pretty clear that Faine wanted to play Center or be traded, and we needed to focus on our defense on draft day.

Ohio State Rules the First Round
By my calculation, Ohio State had more first round picks than any other school, with five. The Buckeyes had two in the top ten, with A.J. Hawke going to Green Bay (if we couldn't get him, I guess I'm OK with him going to the Packers -- I don't hate them, and we never play) and Donte Whitner going to Buffalo (I didn't realize he was good enough to go in the top ten, but more power to him).

At 18, Bobby Carpenter went to Dallas. That was a lot earlier than some of the draft boards I saw had him going. Again, I'm bummed we couldn't get him, but at least we won't be playing against him regularly. The one that really hurts though, is Santonio Holmes going to PITTSBURGH! What the hell? Seeing him in those putrid colors twice a year will really, really stink.

Browns 2006 Schedule? Looking Good!

2006-04-10T10:14:00.000-07:00

Since the NFL has gone to their rotating conference scheduling method a few years ago, before the 2006 NFL schedule last week was announced there was only really one unknown.

How would games be assigned across the 17-week schedule?

Because the Browns finished last in the AFC North, they were destined to play the last place teams in the AFC South and the AFC East. Enter Texas and the Jets, who finished last in their respective divisions with a combined 6-26 record, and short of Reggie Bush neither appear to much improved this year (I will ignore the fact we handed Texas one of their 2 wins). By comparision, marginal AFC North winners Cincy drew New England and Indianapolis....sucks to be them.

By the way, the Texans are getting 101-1 odds to win the 2007 Super Bowl (longest odds in the league). The Browns are getting 81-1. As soon as I-80 clears up I may have to make a day trip to Reno.

The Browns open at home against New Orleans, which is a good opportunity to start the season with a solid win. Ending at the Texans, that could make for a good bookended season. The only really tough stretch I see is weeks 11-14 which goes Pittsburgh/Cinci/KC/Pittsburgh. Other than that there is a pretty good mix-up of tough versus weaker teams. Also, I think a week 6 bye is one of the better positions to be in, particular with two home games right behind it.

And the NFL again graced us with one nationally televised game against the Steelers on Thursday, December 7th. Am I wrong, or do we always get only one game per year, and always against the Steelers?

And of course, the Browns make two (count 'em - TWO!) trips to the Golden State this year. Bad for jet-lag, good for the Capitol Dawg Pound.

San Diego on November 5th and back to Oakland on October 1st. Last year it rained in Oakland which prompted most Parole Officers to order various felons to stay home, making crowd fairly tame. This year, with the possibility that potential Nobel Prize laureate Vince Young will be playing QB for the Raiders, the crowd might not be so friendly to my Brown and Orange.

Keep Faine, Move Bentley to Guard

2006-04-06T16:15:00.000-07:00

According to Terrel Smith, Bentley's a stud at Guard. I say we move him there, and Keep Faine. Having too many good offensive lineman on the roster is like having too much beer in the fridge. I don't see that as a problem. Unless we can get someone markedly better than Faine, or fill a more desperate need, I can't imagine justifying losing a proven asset on the offensive line. Here's what Smith had to say:

"He's (known around) this league for being a violent and physical player. That's a type of player I would go to war with in the fox hole any day. He's a great addition."

When asked whether Bentley would be best suited to play guard or center, Smith openly favored the two-time Pro Bowl selection at guard. But then again, he may be a bit biased having never played with Bentley as a center. He did, however, bring some convincing evidence to the table.

"If you haven't seen this guy pull go pull up some old Saints film," Smith said. "He doesn't just pull and watch. He pulls to go hunt. Most offensive players are more passive than defensive linemen. For him, he has a defensive lineman's mentality. When he pulls, he's looking to seek
and destroy. A lot of them don't do that."

That sounds good to me, let Andruzzi or Coleman duke it out for the last starting spot and keep Faine at Center.

Mock Draft Prognostications...

2006-04-02T19:16:00.000-07:00

Here is the last mock draft prognostication from Yahoo's NFL guy (leading up to the Browns pick, and including the rest of our division rivals). I don't know that I buy all of these choices, and we all know things will change between now and draft day (April 29-30), but it's a starting point for debate.

I personally can't see Vince Young not going until the 10th pick. I think the guy's dumb as a rock, and would never want him on my team, but someone will take a chance with him. My guess is he's wearing a Raiders jersey next year.

On to the 12th pick. I'm still hoping that Savage pulls off some miraculous trade that allows us to move up into position to get A.J. Hawk. I think he'll be a franchise player for whoever gets him, and will ultimately have the rest of the defense revolve around him. People are saying that he could be the next Brian Urlacher. We should do whatever it takes to get him in our scheme with McGinnest, that would be a hell of a duo.

Rumor is that we're not having a lot of luck trading Jeff Faine. I'm a fan of keeping him, and switching him to another position on the O-Line. Bentley's great now, but he's getting old. Plus, our guys are always injured. I just can't stomach giving up a proven asset on the line. The only way I'd be happy about losing Faine is if we were to get an A.J. Hawk, or someone of that calibur, for him.

I don't know much about Brodrick Bunkley, DT - Florida State, who they're saying we might take. I have a feeling we won't end up with him, but if he's the best pass rusher on the board we certainly have a need in that department. Other draft boards have the Browns taking Manny Lawson, DE/OLB – NC State. They describe him as a "speedy edge rusher to put outside in their 3-4."

The thing that really makes me sick in this guy's draft is the idea of Ohio State LB Bobby Carpenter going to Pittsburgh. I hated losing Miami of Ohio guy Big Ben to the Squeelers, would really hate to see Bobby Carpenter suiting up in those putrid colors... Some other draft boards don't even have Carpenter going in the first round, would be sweet it we could snatch him in the second round...

Fortunately, these early draft boards are usually about as accurate as my Final Four brackets (that's not very accurate if anyone wondered). If Draft day is anywhere near as exciting as free agency was, we could be in for a wild ride. Post a comment and let me know what you think, and what they're saying in Cleveland.

1. Houston Texans – Reggie Bush, RB, USC.
2. New Orleans Saints – D'Brickashaw Ferguson, OT, Virginia.
3. Tennessee Titans – Matt Leinart, QB, USC.
4. New York Jets – Mario Williams, DE, North Carolina State.
5. Green Bay Packers – A.J. Hawk, OLB, Ohio State.
6. San Francisco 49ers – Michael Huff, CB/S, Texas.
7. Oakland Raiders – Vernon Davis, TE, Maryland.
8. Buffalo Bills – Winston Justice, OT, USC.
9. Detroit Lions – Jimmy Williams, CB, Virginia Tech.
10. Arizona Cardinals – Vince Young, QB, Texas.
11. St. Louis Rams – Jay Cutler, QB, Vanderbilt.
12. Cleveland Browns – Brodrick Bunkley, DT, Florida State. The buzz in some scouting circles is that the Browns have locked onto Bunkley as their defensive end in the 3-4 scheme. It's a little alarming how easily the information seems to be floating out there and smells a bit like a smokescreen. Still, Bunkley does make a lot of sense for Cleveland. There is going to be talk of possibly taking a running back at this pick, but getting some playmakers on defense seems to be a more pressing priority. The Browns could even pull a shocker and tab Florida State's Kamerion Wimbley here, but it seems far too high. Then again, Cleveland clearly likes his potential as a 3-4 outside linebacker.
13. Baltimore Ravens – Haloti Ngata, DT, Oregon. Ngata would give the Ravens the massive defensive tackle they need to replace Maake Kemoeatu. Justin Bannan isn't going to fill that void by himself. Ngata would give the Ravens the plug they need to keep Ray Lewis free to fill the running lanes.
24. Cincinnati Bengals – Leonard Pope, TE, Georgia. With Sam Adams expected to come into the fold in the coming days, the Bengals will have the opportunity to go pluck whichever tight end they like best. Pope's size and speed will make him a tough matchup, and he's shown decent hands in workouts. There are a handful of tight ends with similar grades, so it's basically going to boil down to who fits in what scheme the best, or impresses the most in interviews.
32. Pittsburgh Steelers – Bobby Carpenter, LB, Ohio State. Contrary to popular belief, the Steelers' outside linebacker corps isn't as stellar as everyone makes it out to be, especially the depth which is average at best. Carpenter would shore that up, and eventually push to be an upgrade over one of the starters. If Nick Mangold is still on the board, he's a more likely choice than Carpenter.

After free-agency splurge, Browns now contenders

2006-03-31T21:30:00.000-08:00

Here's a great article from Sports Illustrated. As a Cleveland Browns fan, I'm used to all of the national media rags and prognosticators dumping on and downplaying my team. I admit, this is a little weird. I hope it's not a bad omen, but am glad the front office is getting some deserved recognition for good moves. Unfortunately, games aren't won and lost by the front office. As Romeo says, "We've improved on paper..."

Here comes Cleveland
After free-agency splurge, Browns now contenders

The biggest spender of all this offseason has been Cleveland's Randy Lerner, who's added at least $100 million to his payroll. That's a nice chunk, even for a billionaire. But the Browns hope to get their money's worth by transforming themselves into a playoff contender in the AFC North.

"There's no question that they have helped themselves," said Steelers head coach Bill Cowher. "We have a tough division, and they're going to be near the top of it, I'm telling you."

Cleveland GM Phil Savage and coach Romeo Crennel took advantage of being $25 million under the cap to address their glaring needs: improving the offensive line, pass rush and run defense. The Browns kicked off free agency by acquiring a Bentley (LeCharles) from New Orleans. By the third day Cleveland had signed left tackle Kevin Shaffer (Atlanta), nosetackle Ted Washington (Raiders), receiver Joe Jurevicius (Seahawks) and punter Dave Zastudil (Ravens). The spending spree was punctuated with a doozy: linebacker Willie McGinest, one of the best defenders in Patriots history. Cleveland's new players have been to a total of eight Pro Bowls and provide a nice blend of youth and experience.

Read the whole article

Preseason Schedule A Good Test

2006-03-29T19:44:00.000-08:00

Today, the NFL announced the Preseason schedule for the 2006 season. The Browns seem to have drawn a somewhat decent lineup.

Week 1: @ Philadelphia

At least we get another shot at Jeff Garcia. Since the backup usually gets about 50% of the snaps in a Week 1 Preseason games, that gives the Browns approximately 35-40 defensive snaps to remind Garcia we never really like him anyway.

On the plus side, this may be the only
potent offense we may face in the preseason, so an early test for our McGinest and his linebacking crew is welcome.

Week #2: vs. Detroit

This is the game we will see if Kellen "I Never Saw A Knee Surgery I Didn't Like" Winslow" is ready to roll.. They will probably work him hard this game, having him do everything short of going after on-side kicks (we can only hope).

Week #3: @ Buffalo

Great test against a solid defense for a week three game, when the starters usually work close to three quarters.

Winslow, Edwards, Northcutt and Jurevicius. That's tough to defend with Droughns lined up. Hopefully we find out if Frye can deliver and/or those four can actually hold on to what he's throwing. Unfortunately, not a great offense to test our defense against.

Week #4: vs. Chicago

Week 4 sucks. Crennel will spend 95% of the game playing kids destined to be cut and back at the local Piggly-Wiggly bagging groceries. The most useless of all preseason games.

Given the schedule, I think we will have a decent feel for where our offense is, but even after all four games, I think we will be clueless as to what kind of defense we have. I like the moves the Browns have made, but cohesion is everything. Given our preseason tests, I'd say defensively we will be walking into week 1 of the season pretty much blind.

Webstar the Chimp: Breaking Down the AFC North

2006-03-25T21:24:00.000-08:00

~ Ratbirds - Lose AFC North: "Ray Lewis and his monkey bunch are more likely to be eating bananas behind bars than making the playoffs..."

~ Bungles - Next to Last: "Carson Palmer and his Bengals finish turd... Cinci sucks in '07."

~ Squeelers - 2nd but still suck: "The Pittsburgh Steelers are a good team, for me to throw poop on..."

~ Browns - AFC North Champs! "Phil has Savaged free agency like Tarzan king of the apes. The Browns are going to the Super Bowl..."

OK, I know I'm having too much juvenile fun with this, but this is truly awesome. I'm levying a challenge to all who watch Webstar the Chimp to make your own Browns Monkey video that is better.

Get your monkey his own look, give him (or her) something interesting to say about the Browns, and have fun with it. Send the e-mail to yourself (and CC: CapitolBrowns@hotmail.com), then copy and paste the link to it in the comments below. If you can't figure it out, just send the e-mail to me at: CapitolBrowns@hotmail.com and I'll get it up on the blog. I'm really hoping someone takes me up on this challenge. And please, send this challenge far and wide. I can't imagine a scenario where chimps talking Cleveland Browns football ever gets old... ;)

Another Butcher Pick Bites the Dust

2006-03-25T20:23:00.000-08:00

With LB Ben Taylor's recent depature we have 8 left, and counting, of Butch "The Butcher" Davis's 29 bust draft picks from 2001-2004 [see the rest]. The Browns just disclosed that another possible bust, Kellen Winslow Jr., had surgery in January -- crossing fingers that he'll actually be worth something, but if the Butcher's bad karma continues he could join that trash heap...

Taylor actually performed well for us, but I'm not going to shed any crocodile tears at his departure. We all knew we needed to make some moves at Linebacker this year. Andra Davis, another Butcher pick, actually seems to be panning out, but he needs some serious help in Romeo's new scheme.

I think that the answer lies with THE Ohio State Buckeyes (still not sure why they insist on emphasizing THE, but hell, I'll go with it if it makes them feel better...). To my knowledge, former OSU alum Matt Wilhelm is still available as a free agent, and would love to play for his hometown Brownies if all of the stars aligned. We also may have a shot, if we were willing to trade up, at getting OSU All-American A.J. Hawk in the draft. I'm convinced he'd be worth whatever it takes to get him. Buckeye Bobby Carpenter's another option, if that train passes us by.

We need to do something drastic at Linebacker. My first choice is Hawk, but for now I'll defer to Savage. He's done alright by me so far...

Faine can seek trade? What the hell?

On another note, the Browns announced this week that Center Jeff Faine can seek a trade. What the hell? This guy has been solid (aside from the fact that he's one of the afore-mentioned Butcher picks). I'd much rather have too many, than too few, quality offensive lineman on our roster this year. Switch him around to guard, or figure something out with LeCharles, but let's hold on to the guy. Unless we could get a big name for him, or trade up for Hawk on draft day, I don't see the advantage of us letting him go...

Post your thoughts, or any rumors your hearing, as comments on the blog!

Cavs Hand it to Lakers, LeBron Out-Classes Kobe

2006-03-19T12:49:00.000-08:00

I know this is a Browns blog, but I'm a Cleveland Cavaliers fan too, and so are a lot of you reading this. For those Lakers fans who might be reading this, I'm sorry that your once championship-caliber team bought into Kobe's hype. I hope you just witnessed LeBron and the Cavs hand it to the Lakers. The Cavs pulled it out 96-95, battling back from a 15 point fourth quarter deficit. It was awesome, and there was nothing Kobe could do about it.

For all the comparisons between LeBron and Kobe, the differences between the two of them were pretty clear today. Kobe started off the game yelling at his teammates to "motivate" them. He went on to hit a flurry of amazing shots, and play great defense, while his team went down in flames in the fourth quarter. When the game started going South, Kobe just kept flashing that $#!+ eating "how could you not see they fouled me" grin at the refs, and got a technical foul to go with it. Fittingly, the ball was in Kobe's hands for the last shot, and he blew it. He always wanted it to be all about him, now he has his wish.

The greatest part of the game was afterwards, when Kobe was yelling at the ref one last time because he didn't get a foul called (there was no foul, Kobe just missed the shot) while LeBron was pulling his team together to huddle in the middle of the court. LeBron was telling them that this was one of their biggest wins of the year and that this is the kind of game they need to win to get through the playoffs. No such leadership was displayed by Kobe.

During the game, they played interviews with LeBron where he said, "this isn't about my stats, it's about this team proving we can make it to the playoffs and win." Kobe could care less about the playoffs and NBA Championships, he gave that all away when he forced Shaq off the team and out of town. For him, it's all about whether he can win a title alone, and get the glory all to himself.

LeBron humbly called Kobe "the best in the game" in a pre-recorded interview. I think that Kobe's performance on the court today, combined with his selfish, ego-centric, and I think criminal history over the last few years would suggest otherwise. With all of the highlight reel shots he's made, it doesn't even look like he can lead his team to the playoffs, let alone a Championship. It takes more than great stats to make someone a great player, and a great leader. LeBron's already a great player, and he's evolving into a great leader. I'd take LeBron over Kobe any day, and think he'll lead the Cavs to a Championship of their own in the next few years.

Bu-Bye Shank, Browns Sign Another Clevelander

2006-03-12T23:09:00.000-08:00

Savage is being pretty aggressive in shedding dead weight this off-season. I don't know if Kyle "Shank" Richardson has gotten the pink slip just yet, but it's only a matter of time. In his place, Dave Zastudil, a born-and-bred Browns fan from Cleveland. I'm starting to see a trend here, and I'm digging it.

Here are his stats and his bio from ClevelandBrowns.com:

Dave Zastudil
Position: Punter
Height: 6-3
Weight: 215
College: Ohio University
Age: 27
NFL Experience: 4 years
Former team(s): Baltimore

He's the third Northeast Ohioan to be signed by the Browns since free agency started just a day ago. Zastudil attended Bay Village High School. From there he went to Ohio University, where he was a first-team All-America selection and Mid-American Conference Co-Special Teams Player of the Year. As of the 2005 season, he was the only Bobcat in the NFL.

Career Highlights: Zastudil was a fourth-round draft choice of the Ravens in 2002. He became the team's punter as a rookie, tying for second in the league in punts inside the 20 (31). Pinning teams deep has been a strength for Zastudil. He dropped 21 more punts inside the 20 in '03, 26 in '02 and 11 in '05. His power also is a factor. He has recorded at least one punt of 60 yards or more during each of his four seasons in the NFL.

What his addition means: It finally may mean stability for the Browns at the punter position. Zastudil will be the team's fourth punter in four years. Ever since Chris Gardocki signed with the Steelers in '04, the Browns have suffered the ups and downs of having a first-year punter (Derrick Frost in '04) and a punter coming off a major injury (Kyle Richardson in '05). Zastudil is one of the most consistent punters in the game.

Fun Fact: Zastudil interned in the bond-trading department at Cleveland's McDonald Investments during the ‘03 offseason.

Quotable: "I grew up a Cleveland Browns fan and it is really exciting for me to be able to play for the team I grew up watching and rooting for. I can't wait to get to work and be able to do my part to help the team succeed."

Also, looks like we're making some big moves on defense. We just signed Nose Tackle Ted Washington. This guy looks like he knows how to plug a gap... Romeo knows and likes the guy from when he was the defensive coordinator that coached him to a winning Superbowl with New England. Can't say enough for the value of veteran leadership with this up-and-coming team.

Browns Land a Nose Tackle

By John Taylor Date: Mar 12, 2006

Yesterday, in an exclusive report, we told you that the Browns were heavy into negotiations with veteran nose tackle Ted Washington. Those reports have proved true today as the Browns have signed Washington to a multi-year deal.

The Cleveland Browns have found some additional help for their front seven today as the team has signed NT Ted Washington to a two-year deal worth between $6.5 - 7 million.

The OBR reported exclusively on Saturday that the Browns were in serious discussions with Washington which would continue through the weekend. Other exclusive reports on the Browns on-going negoations have already been reported on our premium forums.

Washington, a 14-year veteran of the NFL, has had plenty of time to get to know Browns head coach Romeo Crennel while at New England during the Pats 2003 championship season. Washington left the Patriots after 2003, and has played with the Oakland Raiders the past two seasons. He was cut earlier this week in a salary-cap related move by the Raiders.

Crennel's position as the Browns head coach had, again as we told our subscribers last evening, more than a small influence on Washington's decision.

“When you've been playing as long as long as Ted's been playing, you realize that there are more important things out there (than money),” Washington's agent, Angelo Wright, told The OBR.

“With (head coach) Romeo (Crennel) being there, and seeing the commitment he sees to winning now, it really was an easy choice for Ted. Their direction is toward winning, as you could see from (the signings) yesterday.”

In addition to the Browns, Wright also told The OBR that the Ravens, Jets, Panthers and Dolphins had shown more than a little interest in his client.

Bentley Should Help Browns Drive in Style...

2006-03-11T22:53:00.000-08:00

Damn, it's beatiful to watch Phil savage the free agency market for the Browns. It's about time we had someone in there with the power to patch holes and put us in a position to win.

Gotta give credit to the Brownies for signing two Cleveland natives in LeCharles Bentley [00 at left] and Joe Jurevicius. We also signed left offensive tackle Kevin Shaffer from the Falcons to fill those false-starting, slow as dirt shoes LeJoke Shelton left in the line. Jurevicius will replace the hard as stone, big play busting hands Antonio Bryant's leaving at wideout.

Prediction -- Bentley's a fan favorite, team leader, by mid training camp and Charlie, Reuben and the Browns are driving in style this year behind him. Joe Jurevicius, with three Super Bowl appearances, should be a good Mentor (played for Lake Catholic mind you) and help straighten out young guns/loose cannons Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow. Our offense is in good shape.

The next step is our defense, starting with linebacker. Word from a reliable source is that former Ohio State National Champion and All-American Linebacker Matt Wilhelm has recieved communication from his hometown Cleveland Browns, who may be interested in him at a middle linebacker position. He has backed up Pro Bowl Linebacker Donnie Edwards in San Diego for the last three years and may be looking to get out from under a 10 year vet and get some more playing time. Although he is a restricted free agent and San Diego can match any offer he gets on the market, don't be surprised if he is playing for the Brown and Orange next year. Whether or not Wilhelm pans out, we've got a shot at AJ Hawk or Bobby Carpenter in the draft to bolster our 3-4 defense, and fill out our linebacker corps.

Rock and roll Cleveland fans, rock and roll.

Browns strike early Saturday morning deciding to build a franchise around their young, upcoming quarterback Charlie Frye. Deciding to get more speed and experience on the offensive line, the Browns pick up what ESPN ranks as the #1 and 26th ranked player in the 2006 Free Agent Market. With the Browns being ranked No. 26 in the league on offense, they knew they needed to buy some time for the emerging talent.

They signed LeCharles Bentley of New Orleans and Kevin Shaffer of Atlanta. Bentley, who has only been in the league since 2002, has played guard until 2004 when he moved to center. Each position earned him one Pro Bowl appearance with still his best football ahead of him. Scouts consider him a "mauler," who can take on NFL's biggest nose tackles and block for room at the line of scrimmage. What's even better is that Bentley is a St. Ignatius and Ohio State Alumni. Bringing in players who grew up rooting for the Browns is the first step in taking the Steelers off their thrown. Shaffer a four year veteran is the solution to not being able to sign injury prone LJ Shelton. Shelton, who would injure from a sneeze, is still holding out for more money. Too bad he was so patient on the offensive line to avoid some penalties. Shaffer, a starter since the 2003 season, worked his way up to guard for the always moving Michael Vick.

Frye is considered very mobile and could use the speed and depth the Browns are securing for him this upcoming season. Browns fans should feel very eager to start a season when for once the management is fixing the same holes the fans are complaining about. Maybe with a little more defensive depth, the Browns can now have a fighting change as playoff potential. Free Agency has just started, the Draft is around the corner, and mini camp by mid-June. Our only hope is for the Indians to have a decent season to appease us until the Fall.

Morning Again in Cleveland???

2006-03-06T08:23:00.000-08:00

It's the same old labor vs. management story. Union thugs threatening strikes, making irrational demands and squeezing concessions, corporate bigwigs hoarding mountains of cash while pleading poverty, and consumers/fans being strung out in the process. The difference here is that it looks like whatever the outcome of this bloody battle, Browns fans will come out on top.

Amazingly, the Browns are the envy of the league this offseason. That's bad news for those of us who go to Vegas each year and plop down cash on the Browns to win the Superbowl, because the payouts get smaller as the odds turn in our favor. But, it's good news for our chances of picking up some talent in key positions. In hindsight, the Browns' typically horrible money and personnel management is looking pretty smart:

We let the Butcher draft total BUSTS for years. Consequently, the young guys who would typically evolve into team leaders and fill big money slots aren't on the squad.
We kept the right guy -- player personnel genious Phil Savage -- and got rid of the empty suit -- corporate guy with no team management skills John Collins -- and now have about $25 million in cap room to let our mastermind play with while everyone else cuts pricey veterans.
We have axed some of our own high-priced, dead weight players, signed our stars (Droughns), and trimmed down to fighting weight for the offseason, the draft, and free agency (if they ever allow it to start).
And, we may be in position to draft a great LB from OSU in AJ Hawke or Bobby Carpenter.

I'm hearing lots of rumors of people who Savage and the Browns could be looking at poaching. With all the cap room, and the deadline again being pushed back until Thursday, the Browns are in prime location to scoop up some cap victims. Some of the most interesting already (potentially) on the market:

LB LaMar Arrington (Wash, bought out his contract to become a free agent -- would fill one of the Browns' biggest holes in the 3-4),
WR Isaac Bruce (proven veteran from St Louis who can CATCH the ball in big play situations...)
DB Trevor Pryce (Denver injury prone but a nice fast pass coverage)
QB Kerry Collins (in case we decide to dump one washed-up old guy -- Dilfer -- for another...).

Supposedly, Romeo Crennel and Phil Savage are RIGHT NOW in secret negotiations with 2 new big free agents. Anyone with intel on the situation, post it on the blog.

As seems to be the case in recent memory, the offseason is the most exciting time to be a Browns fan, but for today, it's morning (not mourning) again in Cleveland!

Condi Rice: Die Hard Browns Fan

2006-02-08T13:36:00.000-08:00

Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice was at the Superbowl Sunday, and picked the Steelers to win. We can't hold it against her though (hell, she was right), because she's a self-described die-hard Browns fan who grew up idolizing Jim Brown.

Condi's dad was a high school football coach, and she grew up watching the Browns in Birmingham, Alabama, where they broadcast games. Her dream job is to be NFL commissioner someday.

Personally, I'd rather see her running the country than running the league. Being a Browns fan would give her presidential campaign a huge advantage in Ohio, which will likely be the key to victory once again in 2008. If this country's ready for its first woman President, I'm all for Condi over another Clinton (Hillary's probably a carpetbagging, frontrunning NY Yankees and Giants fan anyways -- won't buy her any points in Ohio...).

Having a Browns fan as league commissioner might not be that bad either. If she had been there instead of that weenie Paul Tagliabue in 1995 maybe we would have never had to endure Art Modell screwing us over. Rice has said she's no Redskins fan, I'm guessing she's not big on Modell and the Ravens either...

Whether she's in the Oval Office or the Commissioner's Office, it's always good to have Browns fans in high places. The way I see it, 2008 could be the year the Browns finally win the Super Bowl. Maybe if all of the stars align, President Rice will be able to watch the game from her West Wing Dawg Pound suite... You never know...

John Collins, YOU'RE FIRED!!! Hallelujah!!!

2006-01-03T21:37:00.000-08:00

When I first read this headline I thought it was saying Savage was out. Being a Browns fan for life takes its toll, and I subconsciously was resigned to us loosing the wrong guy. BUT, NO, it looks like this time the Browns actually made the RIGHT decision. Collins is out, Savage is still here, and we're better off for it.

Let's hope that this is a signal that Randy Lerner is NOT going to fall into the Art Modell mode of letting cheapskates (aka businessmen in team owner double-speak) make player decisions. Leave the nickel and dime crap in Romeo's devensive playbook, we're not going to get to the Superbowl by skimping out on player salaries and free agency.

We've got something in the neighborhood of $25 million to work with under the salary cap this off season. If Lerner's smart, he'll let Savage spend every last dime of it compiling the team that Romeo needs to win. We don't need a number-crunching President looking at the bottom line while he's trying to earn a bonus, we need a talent evaluator that can get us into championship form. John Collins, YOU'RE FIRED! It's not business, it's personnel.

Collins out as Browns President, Crennel helped save Savage's job, Collins Resigns

Browns: Undefeated in 2006!!!

2006-01-01T15:08:00.000-08:00

I was nursing a New Year's Eve hangover this morning at 9:30 AM when I looked at the clock and made the tough decision to sleep it off, and not subject myself to the punishment of driving to a bar to watch another Browns game like last week. In hindsight, looks like I made the wrong choice...

The Browns are UNDEFEATED IN 2006!!! I had to see the score come up on the ticker twice to make sure it wasn't a glitch. I still have yet to see a real recap of the game, since the pee-ons at the Fox and CBS don't care enough to give anything but the score, but from reading the stories it was a hell-of-a-game.

Sounds like Dennis Northcutt improved his stock greatly by scoring a punt return TD that, shocker, was actually not called back. That will be the thing that all of the Browns fans will remember going into the off season when Phil Savage (presumably he'll still be here) and the team figures out what our receiver corps is going to look like next season. I personally think that lining up Antonio Bryant, Dennis Northcutt, Braylon Edwards, and Kellen Winslow for an off-season matured Charlie Frye would be pretty sweet. Throw in Frisman Jackson as our 4th receiver, and we've got a lot of options.

Our team, and the entire city of Cleveland, needed this victory. It would have been a lot more difficult to deal with the Browns fan haters (you know who you are you pessimistic turds in the dawg bowl) for the next seven months of speculation if we hadn't washed that Steeler's loss from our collective memory with a comeback victory.

Someone who actually watched the game (I'm ashamed to admit that for the first time this season I'm not in that boat) should share with me some of the finer points in this game. Browns fans, this could be the start of a beautiful year. HERE WE GO BROWNIES, HERE WE GO! WOOF, WOOF!!!

Apologies in Order?

2005-12-28T15:48:00.000-08:00

I hope this headline's not indicative of the relationship Cleveland's going to have with Romeo: Crennel doesn't apologize, Droughns does

Romeo just don't seem to get it. After a drubbing like that (on Christmas Eve nonetheless), you need to stick that tail between your legs, and start trying to earn back the fans' trust. We know you didn't try to lose, but you certainly didn't play to win

Bud Shaw hit it on the head with this article. A few good points: "There's no doubt a certain segment of Browns fans don't want any more talk. They don't want a postgame apology from Crennel. They want halftime adjustments."

Everyone knew Frye was going to be blitzed ALL DAY, why did it take until halftime for them to decide to release a TE for him to dump it off to. Even that didn't work real well. Coaching this week sucked, how about a GAMEPLAN???

Shaw also struck a chord with this one: "The scene at the end of Saturday's game - all those Terrible Towels waving amid all those empty seats at the lakefront - was as close as you'll find to a fan protest around here. It said: If you don't care enough to show up, we don't care enough to stay. See you Sunday. Maybe not for long."

I had to walk past about a dozen hillbilly Steelers fans at the bar on Saturday with MY tail between my legs. It really ticked me off to see them not getting pelted by beer bottles in Cleveland Stadium while they swung around those putrid yellow rags. Crennel owes me, and every other Browns fan, an apology for that... We deserve competence from our head coach. If he doesn't get his head on straight and his team in order against the Ratbirds on New Year's Day, it's going to be a VERY long off-season...

Embarrassing is Right...

2005-12-27T17:20:00.000-08:00

Browns fans were optimistic coming into the last two rivalry games of the season, especially those of us in Northern California who went into the black hole for the Oakland game and pulled out a last second victory over the Raiders (whose fans are over-hyped I must say).

At the beginning of the year, most of us didn't expect a whole lot more than to be playing for our 6th win in week 16 (I think the odds makers put the over-under at 5 wins for the season). We also held our own against good teams, and could have won some that we lost in the last few minutes.

But this game was flat out demoralizing and embarrassing. It doesn't get much worse than loosing 41-0 to the Steelers on Christmas Eve. It was painful to watch. We are not a good team, but we're a hell of a lot better than we played. I'm glad we have one more game before our 7 month hiatus, because anything that happens against Baltiwhore will be better than this game was.

Crennel needs to snap this team out of it, and get these guys up to speed for the Ratbirds. Our bend-but-don't-break defense is broken. Our once-promising running game is non-existent. Our D-Linemen couldn't pressure the QB if their jobs depended on it (which they all do). Our secondary is outright pathetic, how do they get THAT wide open??? It's hard to say what position we need the most in the draft and the off season...

Savage will have his hands full in the coming months trying to patch some gaping holes in this team. I think that Charlie Frye is maturing, though we know that too much trial by fire can lead to premature burnout (see Tim Couch). Everyone's excited about having a healthy Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow line up on the same line of scrimmage. Getting some help on the O-Line (I think there has to be someone better than Shelton out there) is much needed. Re-signing Reuben is key. Figuring out if Antonio Bryant and/or Dennis Northcutt will be here next season will be interesting. Aside from Andra Davis, the whole Defense needs help.

I'm considering not trekking out to a bar on New Years Day to watch the last game, I could have gone without witnessing that game last week. I'll probably change my mind come Sunday morning, but man, this team hurts. Let me know what you think we need to do in the off season, who's to blame/fire, your reflections on this season, and your projections for next year. Also, any New Years Resolutions that Browns fans / management should consider? I'll start it off with, let's resolve not to draft a dud... Show me what you got, let's find some way to spread some holiday cheer among Browns fans, even if it is with self deprecating humor... GO BROWNS!!!

Frye is starting QB Sunday vs. Cincinnati

2005-12-07T10:25:00.000-08:00

12:15 p.m. - Tony Grossi - Plain Dealer Reporter

Romeo Crennel changed his mind and announced that Charlie Frye would be the Browns starting quarterback Sunday in Cincinnati.Crennel, who originally intended to keep his starter a secret, said that it would be unfair to Frye and Trent Dilfer to wait until Sunday. The coach broke the news to Frye and Dilfer on Tuesday and told the rest of the team when it reported to work on Wednesday.Crennel said he would insert Dilfer into the game if he felt Frye were "overwhelmed" in Cincinnati.Dilfer said he didn't agree with the move but he would do everything he could to prepare Frye for his first start on the road.

Now we REALLY get to see what Charlie's made of. I, personally, still don't really think the Bengals are for real. I'm not predicting an upset, but I think Charlie could have some success against this defense. Let's just hope Romeo doesn't overreact and pull him after his first mistake, and remembers that Dilfer hasn't been a model of consistency this year either.

Hey Romeo, Cut the Crap Already and Start Charlie

2005-12-06T16:31:00.000-08:00

Charlie Frye had a hell of a game Sunday, and deserves to be the rookie of the week (VOTE FOR HIM HERE). He brought a level of excitement to the game from the QB that has been sorely missing since those first few weeks of the "Dilfer" era. He also hit receivers, and spread out the field, in a way that we really haven't seen all year.

Dilfer's hot streaked cooled after a few games, and Charlie's probably will too, but why Romeo Crennel insists that the rookie didn't at LEAST earn another shot at the starting spot this week is beyond me. He's blaming the media for ASKING him too early for his stubborn stance that our QB will be a game time decision. That's assanine.

NEWSFLASH ROMEO: The reason they're asking, is because it's the question the city of Cleveland wants answered. I'm sure the Bungles are loosing sleep over who we'll be starting at QB, but I'd predict that after this week's performance, they'd much rather face Trent than Charlie.

Romeo credits Frye for having a great first half, but criticizes him for not getting the ball away quickly enough in the second half. Has he not been watching TRENT in the pocket all year??? I know he has a selective memory (remember after the game last week he couldn't recall the :30 seconds that ticked off the clock at the end of the 2nd half...), but those of us who HAVE been paying attention have watched Dilfer take sack after sack, and make fumble after fumble, because he can't/won't make fast decisions in the pocket.

Charlie Frye will get better with time, and as of right now is the only hope as the Browns future at QB. Trent Dilfer may be a good backup, but his career has peaked and is fast on the downslope. My unsolicited advice to Romeo: Cut the Crap, Quell the QB Controversy, Start Charlie Sunday Against Cinci!!!

Quarterback decision needs drumroll? Please, Crennel mum on QB choice vs. Bengals, Crennel will not commit to QB, Finally! Frye leaves us wanting more,

Stick a Fork in Trent, Start Charlie

2005-12-02T10:05:00.000-08:00

It's time. We have nothing to gain by keeping Trent Dilfer as our starter. If we're looking for a QB that can do better than Trent did last week, I'd say we probably have that in Derek Anderson (our #3 QB) AND Josh Cribbs (played QB for Kent State), but definitely have it in Charlie Frye.

I didn't cheer when Tim Couch went down (before his infamous "There's no crying in football" interview), and don't want to have to root for Dilfer to get broken just so we can get a look at Frye. But, maybe that's what it will take for Romeo to finally officially make the move.

I'm very excited about the prospect of having someone behind center who actually has the arm strength and the presence in the pocket to get the ball to our receivers. I'm glad that Heiden and Shay have been having great games, but TE's should be a QB's last outlet, not his only option.

I believe Antonio Bryant, Braylon Edwards, and Dennis Northcutt when they say they're getting open. I also cringe every time Trent pumps, waits, bumbles and fumbles in the pocket while the D-Line closes in on him.

Charlie should expect to be blitzed, and prepare for it. We have weapons on offense, it's time for someone to use them. AND, if Carthon gets his head out of the dirt and we run Reuben effectively, that should take pressure off of our QB.

C'mon Romeo, start the kid. C'mon Charlie, quell any rumors that we are in the "Leinart Lottery". C'mon Trent, do what's right for the team and be a mentor from the sideline rather than teaching the young protege what NOT TO DO on the field. I think it could be a big week for Charlie and Braylon, and am looking forward to hopefully witnessing the future of the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

Practice Notes: Dilfer Returns, Dilfer limping, so heat turns up on Frye, Crennel's not naming starter, Anderson could be one play away,

Dilfer: Glad to be walking, but still starting???

2005-11-30T08:30:00.000-08:00

I was back in Cleveland for 10 days over Thanksgiving, and got to witness Browns games covering both ends of the spectrum. They looked GREAT in the home win against Miami, and TERRIBLE on the road vs. Minnesota. This is definitely a frustrating point of the year, where it's time to start looking ahead at next season while we still try to win some games.

That being said, I really don't get Romeo's strategy at QB. He rightfully lets Charlie Frye take some snaps in the shutout blowout Dolphins game at home. This draws much whining from "mentor" Trent Dilfer after the game and in the press. Shouldn't the journeyman Dilfer realize that he's NOT the future of this team, and be willing to give up a few snaps to Frye, who could be our rising star, once he's clinched the game???

Next game, Dilfer loses two fumbles, throws two interceptions, and is sacked five times (many of which were HIS fault for holding on in the pocket WAY too long). YET, Romeo continues to let him limp through the game, only giving Charlie ONE pass (which was intercepted after he was hit when he released the ball). Talk about instilling confidence in a rookie QB.

Now Trent says he's just Glad to be Walking and Romeo's still proclaming him as our starter this week. In Baltiwhore, Trent was the guy that didn't lose the game for them by throwing TOO many interceptions, and watching the Ratbird's defense score. Dilfer says he's always prided himself on not being a fumbler in the past. Well, he's a fumbler NOW, AND he throws INT's, AND he doesn't have the arm strength to hit open receivers (Steve Heiden doesn't mind, but c'mon), AND he can't lead his team to the endzone when they get in the redzone, AND he's limping along glad to just be walking this week. What more does Romeo need to see before he lets someone else take some snaps??? If it's one mistake than your out per rookie, lets give Cribbs a shot at it too, just to see what we're dealing with... Maybe I'm being hard on the guy, but what do we really have to gain by leaving Dilfer in???

10 Years Later, SI Brings Back the Emotions...

2005-11-14T22:17:00.000-08:00

This article's pretty amazing, brings back a LOT of emotions. Dazed and confused -- Emotions of Browns' move still raw 10 years later I tell you what, it sure reinforces my feelings of hatred for Art Modell, and actually makes me have some sympathy for what Bill Belichick went through as the coach that dark year in 1995.

I still don't think I can forgive Ozzie for choosing Art over the Browns, but I guess where loyalty lands is a weird thing. One thing is for sure, it reminds you that however bad this season might seem, there was a worse time to be a Browns fan, and we made it through it...

Steelers Suck, and Other Observations...

2005-11-08T08:28:00.000-08:00

So it begins... Twice a year, the flames of hatred between the great City of Cleveland, OH and the putrid City of Pittsburgh, PA are stoked to the boiling point.

Throw the records out the windows, and disregard the pundits, this week is all about a true rivalry between two cities, the greatest in the NFL and I'd say in professional sports.

I came across this website this morning. Their theme-song is a good kickoff for a week of Steeler bashing. I also wanted to start the week off with a good Steelers joke, and challenge everyone else to submit at least one in the comments page:

Albert Einstein arrives at a party and introduces himself to the first person he sees and asks, "What is your IQ?" The man answers "241." "That is wonderful!," says Albert. "We will talk about the Grand Unification Theory and the mysteries of the Universe. We will have much to discuss!"

Next Albert introduces himself to a woman and asks, "What is your IQ?" The lady answers, "144." "That is great!," responds Albert. "We can discuss politics and current affairs. We will have much to discuss!"

Albert goes to another person and asks, "What is your IQ?" the man answers, "51." Albert responds, "How 'bout them Steelers?"

Let me know what you think of the joke, and Please, POST A BETTER ONE!

GO BROWNS!!!

Drug 'em Down to Our Level, and Beat 'em at Our Own Game

2005-11-07T07:56:00.000-08:00

The Browns snapped a three game losing streak and pulled out a victory over the Titans in true Cleveland fashion this week. We drug 'em down to our level, then beat 'em at our own game, and it took us to the last play to clinch the win.

While our Defense played well, and Reuben Droughns, Dennis Northcutt, Kyle "Shank" Richardson, and a few others had great games, the most valuable players were the Titans stone-handed receivers corps. They dropped so many big-play passes, they compensated for the fact that we couldn't close out the game on our own.

Reuben Droughns finally had his break out game, maybe because he was our only RB (aside from Touchdown Jason Wright). He also had something to prove after his Halloween DUI. Though I still think his off-field shenanigans were in coach Crennel's mind after the game when he got this nice shot in:

Droughns had to leave the game again in the fourth quarter after he cramped up, but not before gaining 116 yards rushing on 20 carries and 73 yards receiving on four catches - his most productive game since joining the Browns. With a straight face, Crennel said: "He's not used to carrying the ball that much. We've got to get him in better shape."

Told of that comment, Droughns said with a laugh: "I hope he was joking. I'm in great shape."

Sadly, I don't think he was joking. Reuben needs to stop drinking during the week... I think we all saw him sucking wind after his big run that set up Wright's TD. That run should have been his, were he in better shape. We also should have given him the shot at the 1 yard TD run where we instead lined Aaron Shea up in the backfield, and let him pick up the 1 yard key 4th down instead of giving it to Terrell Smith. If he's going to be our featured back, which he is, we need to have confidence that he'll make the big plays.

Dennis Northcutt finally had his breakout game too. He did what we all knew he could as a receiver. Realistically, his highlight reel is probably just going to improve his hand for next year when he'll be a free agent (and presumably his agent won't screw him over again). I'd love it if we could keep him, but the roster's a little crowded at that position...

It's nice to have some momentum going into Pittspuke next week. We've definitely got something to build on, and it should be a ball game. Check out these recap stories: Walking on air, Droughns Shines in Browns Win, Browns snap skid, win 20-14, Big plays in bad weather key win, PD's Livingston: Droughns is tough, Insider: Northcutt snags opportunity, Browns Hold Off Titans

Northcutt frustrated by role

2005-11-05T08:26:00.000-08:00

Dennis Northcutt is frustrated by his "demotion" to splitting time as the number two receiver with Braylon Edwards. Braylon deserves to have more balls thrown his way, and so does Dennis. He didn't help his case for being the "go to guy" on third down last week though when he dropped the third down pass that would have kept us in the game.

I really think that the biggest problem with the Browns 3rd down offense to this point has been Trent Dilfer. Northcutt, Edwards and Antonio Bryant all claim to be getting open, and they probably are, but we'd never know because Dilfer's always got the cameras focused on him as he fumbles, falters and farts around too long in the pocket instead of getting rid of the ball.

Charlie Frye would/will give us mobility and a spark on third down and big play situations that we've been sorely missing. I'd rather see him cut his teeth in the pocket this week against the Titans than to be thrown in against the Blitzburgh Squeelers next week... Romeo Crennel has been making a big deal this week about the fact that it's his decision who plays QB. That just means it all comes back to him if and when Dilfer starts going downhill...

Droughn-ing in His Own Sorrow

2005-11-02T08:19:00.000-08:00

Reuben Droughns has had a tough week so far. He couldn't hit paydirt Sunday against the worst run defense in the NFL in an embarrassing loss. Then he gets a DUI Monday night, probably after watching the Steelers win on MNF at a bar.

He only blew a .08, which is about 2 and a half beers and would have been totally legal last year in Ohio before the Blood Alcohol Content maximum was lowered from .10... I'm guessing that Lt. Rick Zwayer of the State Highway Patrol probably had a blood alcohol content higher than Droughns on his drive home after Sunday's debacle, if he's a Browns fan.

UPDATE: Video: Droughns apologizes for DUI

Richardson, You're FIRED!!!

2005-11-02T08:06:00.000-08:00

OK, it hasn't officially happened yet, but I'm sure Savage and Crennel are chomping at the bit for their chance to have a Trump moment and kick this bum punter out on the street...

One shanked punt, we can forgive. Two in a few games? C'mon... But screw the pooch punt as much as this guy does??? I could kick farther than 19 yards. There's no way he is one of the 32 best punters in the world. Bring on the tryouts. Who cares how Richardson looks in practice this week, the guy's a choke artist come gametime.

UPDATE: The Browns are grooming a new punter in the event Kyle Richardson continues to struggle. Signed to the practice squad Friday was former University of Toledo punter Gabe Lindstrom, who's bounced around from team to team since 1999. One of Lindstrom's stops was in Cleveland, where he spent a few months in the 2001 off-season. He was let go at the start of training camp.

Unfortunately the guys only signed to the practice squad, meaning we can't put him in THIS week if Kyle "Shank" Richardson starts sucking...

A Browns Fan Walks Into a Bar with His Pet Dog...

2005-11-02T07:56:00.000-08:00

A guy walks into a bar with his pet dog. The bartender said, "Sorry. No pets allowed." The man replied, "This is a special dog. Turn on the Browns game and you'll see." The bartender, anxious to see what will happen, turned on the game. The guy said, "Watch. Whenever the Browns score, my dog does flips."

The Browns keep scoring field goals and the dog keeps flipping and jumping. "Wow! That's one hell of a dog you got there. What happens when the Browns score a touchdown?" The man replied, "I don't know. I've only had him for seven years!"

Time to Make a Change at QB???

2005-10-31T08:06:00.000-08:00

Trent Dilfer may not have played bad enough to lose the starting job outright, but what do we really gain by keeping him as our starter?

With our pathetic loss to the Texans we are officially in the running for the number one draft pick. Let's put to rest talk that we're in the "Matt Leinart Lottery" once and for all by getting a look at the QB we already have. I'd like to see if Charlie Frye can replicate his pre-season performance in a real game.

Trent has had 9 turnovers in the last four games. He consistently holds on to the ball too long, runs out of the pocket and into rushers, and misses open receivers on big plays. He can't lead the team to the endzone, which means we can't put anyone away.

Our last possession was emblematic of the entire game:

On second down, Dilfer's pass for Dennis Northcutt at the right sideline bounced off the receiver's hands. The Browns had third down at the 38. The worst they could hope for would be a 55-yard field goal try from Dawson to send it into overtime.

But, no. Dilfer took a sack for an 8-yard loss. On fourth-and-17 from the 46, Dilfer's playaction pass was slightly underthrown for Bryant breaking free between the hash marks inside the 5. Cornerback Phillip Buchanon broke it up to seal the miserable loss.

Bryant was wide open. If Dilfer wanted to "redeem" himself, that pass was his chance. I don't think he has the arm. I was really rooting for the guy, but I think it's time to make the change. POST A COMMENT and Let me know what you think.

Quote o' the Week: Just Score.

2005-10-28T14:18:00.000-07:00

"However we score, I really don't care," Crennel said. "If a guy has to crawl in, if a guy has to jump over the pile to get in, just score."

If the Browns don't score a rushing touchdown in Houston, they will exceed the longest in-season drought since the franchise returned in 1999. It'll be pretty bad if Reuben can't run to paydirt against this defense.

The Texans are giving up a league-worst 167 rushing yards a game. Opponents have scored 10 rushing touchdowns on Houston. Only Buffalo (11) has yielded more.

They started off running the ball so strong last week, and then just gave up on it. We NEED some confidence in our running game if we hope to win some games. This week's Reuben's chance to have a breakout game AND take some pressure off of Trent (or whoever the QB is). I think it's the key to the game.

Read the whole article: There's no defense for this Browns run offense

Under-Dawgs: No Respect from the Gamblin' Men

2005-10-27T22:20:00.000-07:00

The Browns players are taking offense to the fact that the bookies don't give them any respect. We're used to being Under-Dawgs, but c'mon, listing the Texans as favorite is taken as an insult.

Last in offense, last in passing, last in giving up sacks, last in rushing defense - did we mention they are the NFL's only win less team? - the Houston Texans never theless have been installed as two-point favorites to beat the Browns on Sunday.

"I take offense to that," said fullback Terrelle Smith.

"A slap in the face," said center Jeff Faine.

As sad as it is for me to say, I'm still not motivated to put money on the Browns in this game... Anything that gets the team riled up can't be that bad, but Respect is Earned...

QB: Status Quo, Dilfer's Starting

2005-10-26T21:33:00.000-07:00

According to Dawg Blog: The push for Charlie Frye is in full swing among Browns fans. In a cleveland.com poll, 65% of fans said the Browns should start the rookie over Trent Dilfer at quarterback after the team's abysmal, almost unwatchable offensive performance yesterday.

In spite of popular opinion Romeo's giving Dilfer another shot at starting. I'm not second guessing his call, but after three weeks of Dilfer saying:

“I’m champing at the bit to just get back out there and have the opportunity to redeem myself. I just want to try and be consistent as a quarterback,” and “I have high expectations and there can’t be any more pressure put on me by anyone more than what I put on myself.”

It all starts to sound the same (yes, these quotes sound familiar, but they are from this week). I predict that we see Charlie this week if Dilfer starts going down hill. I hope we don't have to go there, but I am a believer that if our old guy keeps sucking it up it may give the team and the fans a boost to give the new guy a shot.

Read Bernie's Insiders: Status Quo - At Least for Now

The article also notes that the Texans are favored to win. It proves we got no respect when even an 0-6 team is giving us points.

Here are some highlights from DawgBones' 20/20 Hindsight on the Lions game:

Good: The defense allowed on 13 points and yielded only it's 4th TD in it's last 4 games. The defense is now ranked 8th overall in the NFL in points allowed. Too bad the offense ranks 30th in the league in scoring.

Bad: Time of possession has become a huge issue for this team. For the 2nd consecutive game the team gave the opponent the ball for 14 minutes longer then they had it. That's pathetic when you think about the 2 offenses they faced, the Ravens and Lions. The defense can't make the big play to get off the field, the offense can't sustain any drives to help them either. 45 plays in a game is ridiculous, that's what the Browns had against the Lions.

Compared to Texans Fans, We're Great to our QB's...

2005-10-26T08:04:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not, it sounds like the Browns could enter this week as the FAVORITE... That's not a testament to how good our team is, but to how bad the Texans are at 0-6. Their tailspin started the last game of the season against the Browns last year.

You think WE'RE tough on our QB's... "[In last season's game against the Browns, Texans QB David] Carr was sacked six times and intercepted once. The hometown fans treated him worse. Carr was booed rudely. The next day, it was reported angry fans showered his [pregnant] wife with beer.

"It was disappointing. Left a bad taste in our mouths," said GM Charlie Casserly of the loss to the Browns.

Sounds like it left a worse taste in her mouth...

So far the Texans have fired Offensive Coordinator Chris Palmer which sounds like a good start, but it sounds like their problems go deeper than that. Once again, here's to the Browns going into the game with a winning attitude, they had better take advantage of it because our schedule doesn't get any easier.

Read the article: A fine mess in Texas and the Scouting Report.

Lions Game Recap, Plus QB Controversy in Cleveland???

2005-10-24T22:04:00.000-07:00

A lot of articles are talking about Jeff Garcia's triumphant return to Cleveland... I still hate the guy, and have never doubted the Browns decision to CUT him. Not that I'm sold on Dilfer [more below...] These sentences pretty much sum up the game:

In failing to score a touchdown for the second straight game, the Browns fell to 2-4 after losing to another losing team. Everyone thought the Browns' October schedule offered a reasonable opportunity to build a modest winning streak. Instead, they are stumbling toward Halloween as a poor imitation of a competitive football team.

"In 1999 and 2000, we just weren't good enough," said cornerback Daylon McCutcheon. "We've got the talent now. We just don't play smart."

Three interceptions by Trent Dilfer, a dropped pass by Antonio Bryant and eight penalties were the big mistakes made by the Browns. They offset a 100-yard rushing game by Reuben Droughns and a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Joshua Cribbs. .

Josh Cribbs finally did in the regular season what we all predicted in the pre-season. His kick return TD was by far the highlight of the game. Read the play-by-play

Back to the bad news. The writers over at Dawg Bones are calling for Dilfer's head:

Dilfer had one of the ugliest games a QB could have or has had. His QB rating of 22.4 is his lowest of the year and seems to hint at a prevailing trend, his play is slipping. Many fans are confused as to how his play could be regressing so much, after all shouldn't the offense be gaining as the season goes on, gelling and getting consistency? It should, but that does not appear to be the case for the Browns and their QB. Dilfer will come out and take blame for the poor performance and he should, but when does acceptance become enough? When will the Cleveland Browns decide that they need to find out if indeed rookie QB Charlie Frye is the future?

It is now apparent, as if it shouldn't have been already that the Browns will contend for nothing this year, so what do they have to lose by playing their young guys? Some would say the fans, but by looking at the crowd Sunday, only about 2/3 of capacity and the chants for Charlie Frye it appears the fans may already be lost. A switch to Frye may be what the fans and the organization needs right now.

Dilfer really made his case with this quote:

Dilfer, who can be brutally frank, actually was kind to himself when he said, "I played a stinker today."

A few more sentences from Dawg Bones that aptly describe the game:

The score makes the game seem closer then it actually was. The Lions dominated every aspect of the game except the scoreboard. They had the ball for 37:17, marking the second consecutive week the Browns defense was on the field 14 minutes longer than their opponent. The Lions defense held an anemic Browns offense to 0 for 8 on 3rd down conversions and only 174 yards of total offense. They were able to sack Trent Dilfer 4 times and forced him to throw 3 INT's. Read the Whole Article: Lions Maul Browns

Aside from Cribb's return, Droughns 100 yard rushing game was the only other real bright spot on offense. He proved though that the Browns can't run away from offensive woes

The Defense actually came to play, as one article noted:

The Browns defense was stout again Sunday, but are the innocent victims of a poorly run offense right now. The fact that they are keeping games so close is a testament to their hard work and grittiness. The fact that they are on the field for nearly a whole quarter longer then their offense though will eventually turn the close losses into blow out losses later in the year.

Adding injury to insult, Gary Baxter's now lost for the year.

Believe it or not, we've got ANOTHER team next week in the Texans that's supposedly as bad as we are...

I'm guessing this week will turn into a full blown QB controversy in Cleveland. Stay tuned, COMMENT and let me know what you think: Should we stick with Dilfer, or give Frye his chance to get some snaps??? Anyone???

No Intensity, Focus, or Direction

2005-10-18T21:25:00.000-07:00

Here's a pretty good re-cap of the Ravens loss that lays out a few of my biggest complaints about the game.

- The play was bad, but the play-calling was worse.
- We didn't run the ball the whole first quarter.
- Romeo Crennel has YET to throw the red flag in his career. Maybe he thought that TD was good, but C'MON, there was certainly a reasonable doubt...
- Do we need a penalty on EVERY punt return??? Someone has to be to blame...
- We punted on fourth-and-6 on our own 38 with four minutes left in the game and the score 16-3??? WHY???
- We didn't play terribly for the majority of the game, but we never took any risks that would have given us a chance to be in it.

Those are some of my gripes, Read the Article: Passive Football

It was only a matter of time...

2005-10-16T19:08:00.000-07:00

I haven't read what anyone else has written, or heard what the commentators have said about the Browns 16-3 loss to the Ratbirds, so here's my unbiased opinion after a nap and a few hours of letting the buzz wear off.

There wasn't a whole lot to be excited about today. This picture of Trent Dilfer trying to pick up the opening snap that he fumbled exemplifies the entire game.

We handed the Ravens unexperienced QB the ball in the redzone and practically put the points on the board for him. We made him look good. As for Trent making a statement in this game, the only thing I could take from it was that Billick did the right thing in dumping him. Dilfer's fumbles killed us.

It's not all Trent's fault. While he was painfully slow getting rid of the ball on numerous occassions, the O-line was collapsing around him. And the play-calling was pretty pathetic. WHY on 2nd and 1 on the second series of the game, when we desperately need to get some first downs to pick up some momentum, do you go no-huddle and throw the ball away? We didn't even try running the ball until the 3rd or 4th series.

Both Droughns and Green ran the ball hard, and probably had pretty decent yards per carry averages, but the penalties and bonehead plays and play calling got us into such a hole that we had no choice but to telegraph on passing downs.

Once again, we seemed to have a penalty on every punt return that negated a good Northcutt effort. Fortunately for his and the fans psyche, he didn't hit paydirt this week, because it would have been all the more painfull to have it taken back and hear people blaming that for our loss.

The ONLY good thing that comes to mind right now was seeing Reuben Droughns put that thug Ray Lewis on his butt numerous times. For all his cheap shots and show boating, Lewis looked washed up today. His stats might not show it, and the commentators are always on their knees for him, but the man is far past his prime.

It was only a matter of time before we had a loss like this that really lets the wind out of the team's sails. Now we'll see the true test of whether Crennel can be the rudder that rights the ship this week or whether this is the game that sets the rest of the season is adrift...

Boils Down to Receivers and Running Game

2005-10-15T15:51:00.000-07:00

Limping in to Baltiwhore this week with some key players on injured reserve we need to utilize our offensive weapons right. We need to hit Antonio Bryant and Dennis Northcutt regularly, while spreading it around to Frisman Jackson and Josh Cribbs as needed. Reuben Droughns needs to have the break out game we've all been waiting for.

This week will be a big test for our "bend but don't break" 3-4 defense.
We need to stop Jamal Lewis from breaking big plays from the line of scrimmage. They don't have a QB, so we should expect to force some interceptions.

The key is to remember that the Ratbirds Suck, and are a bunch of convicts that should still be behind bars. If we can rattle their cage a little, they'll self destruct... One more thing... UCK FART!!!

Dawg Blog's Keys to the Game

2005-10-15T15:39:00.000-07:00

The Dawg Blog guy makes his pick, and lays out his keys to the game here:

I'm picking the Browns...While most experts are taking the Ravens - they're 6 point favorites to beat the Browns, heck SI's Peter King is picking the Ravens to win by 21 points - I'm picking Cleveland to win on Sunday. But it won't be easy. Here are my keys to the game:

1. Reuben to goThe Browns can't live and die by the pass forever. Sooner or later, they're going to have to give Reuben Droughns the rock 25 times or more.

2. Stop Jamal If it wasn't for 5 of 6 plays two years ago, Jamal Lewis wouldn't have rushed for a NFL-record 295 yards against the Browns. This Sunday, the Browns' run defense, among the worst in the league, will have to make those 5 or 6 extra tackles. Jason Fisk, Andra Davis, Brian Russell - I'm looking at you.

3. Rattle the RavensOne mistake by the Ravens offense - a fumble or an interception - may just be enough for the tired-of-doing-all-the-work Ravens defense to reach its boiling point.

4. Stay coolTrent Dilfer and Gary Baxter will be pumped up to play against their former team, but both need to play within themselves for the Browns to have a chance.

My pick: Browns 20, Ravens 14

It's Time to Make a Move

2005-10-13T10:19:00.000-07:00

Almost exactly 10 years ago Modell screwed the Browns. After a few years hits and misses, the Browns are finally prepared for real revenge (isn't Photoshop cool?).

Almost exactly one year ago, Derrick Frost kicked a seven yard punt standing almost in his own end zone. The Baltimore Ravens kicked the Browns all over the field. The Browns were still 3-4 at the time. They went on to lose the next eight games.

The times, they are a-changin'. Well, almost. The Browns are still six point underdogs.

A hobbled Ravens team will be hosting the Browns in a must-win for Coach Billick. Trent Dilfer, fired by Billick on the tail end of a Super Bowl victory four years ago has the exact same mentality.

What is really at stake for both teams is to get some momentum going. The next four games for each couldn't be more different.

The Browns next four opponents are a combined 5-12. The Ravens next four are 10-7. Billick wants to keep his job, Crennel wants to get his team above .500. It's getting late in October and issues like stupid penalties and lackluster offenses are exactly the types of things that are supposed to get fixed as the season gets going. Both teams have suffered greatly from both.

Key to the Game #1: The team with fewer stupid mistakes will likely win

Key to the Game #2: The running game.

The Browns haven't had a hundred yards rusher this season. Jamal Lewis didn't have one against the Browns two seasons ago either. Instead, he had 2-two hundred yards games. Ouch.

However, last season he was held to 57 and 81 yards against the Browns. He hasn't looked particularly strong this season. The Browns don't need to win the battle on the ground, but they better stay stay within a 9-iron of the Raven's rushing production to make the game workable.

Lastly, the reason why I like the Browns is the quarterback position. Dilfer can win coming from behind in the fourth. I don't know much about Wright, but I do know about the Ravens. While their passing game has improved this season, Billick has little experience winning from behind.

A decent early lead combined with a strong game from the O-line and Droughns should get us the "W".

I'm really looking forward to this game. Except for the fact that the announcers are going to gush all over Ray Lewis on EVERY play. Seriously, hasn't his career jumped the shark? I'm just glad it's not Theissman announcing. It always sounds like Joe wants to personally rub down #52 after every game.

Matchup Preview: http://www.cleveland.com/browns/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/1129109871121200.xml&coll=2

Quote O' The Week: Ryan Tucker on Winning...

2005-10-12T21:55:00.000-07:00

I just came across this quote, it captures the true die-hard's mentality:

"It's awesome," Browns offensive tackle Ryan Tucker said. "It's good for the fans and players. When you win at home, everything is better. Your kids behave better, you love your wife more and even the food tastes better."

Braylon's Out for 4-6 Weeks...

2005-10-12T21:00:00.000-07:00

Sounds like Braylon Edwards' infection was bad enough that it needed surgery, and could keep him out for 4-6 weeks or more if it turns out to be a staph infection. Browns' Edwards out of hospital

We've now got our WR of the future, our TE of the future, and our RB of the future all on the sidelines. Amazingly, we've still got enough talent on the team that we should be able to hang for at least the next four weeks.

Credit Phil Savage, because under the Butcher's regime we'd all be writing off the season since we had NO bench. Also credit Crennel, who's making no excuses and still putting these guys into position to be competitive.

Offense: Injuries, Infections, and Bad Breaks...

2005-10-12T08:10:00.000-07:00

Lee Suggs is injured. There's a shocker. This time it's a broken thumb. Chalk him up for injured reserve for another four weeks. Translation: maybe Reuben Droughns will actually get the ball enough times to run for 100 yards over the next few weeks. Everytime he gets on a roll they seem to take him out, now that won't be as much of an option.

Braylon Edwards has an infection. Is Kellen Winslow's rookie "luck" contagious or is this just a coincidence (though we did just ink him to a deal through 2010...)? Edwards loss hurts more than Suggs, especially given Frisman Jackson's stone hands last Sunday, but we've still got the weapons with Antonio Bryant and Dennis Northcutt to be a threat. Plus, our TE's have been making plays. Braylon's still questionable for Sunday, we can cross our fingers...

Browns get bad break
Bad Luck Strikes Suggs Again
Suggs expected to miss 4 weeks

57 Ugly Minutes, But a W is a W...

2005-10-10T22:31:00.000-07:00

The Browns played ugly all game, but :38 seconds of brilliance in the fourth quarter gave the Dawg Pound faithful a much-needed home win.

[Trent] Dilfer was intercepted twice and struggled for 57 of the game's 60 minutes before connecting with [Antonio] Bryant for touchdowns of 33 and 28 yards just 38 seconds apart late in the fourth quarter.
I'll take the W over the moral victory any day, but it wasn't pretty. Still, how many times have we been on the other side of this coin. Team played great the whole game, but... It's about time we had one go our way.

I couldn't hear any "Charlie" chants from the barstool where I was sitting after his two interceptions, but I can guarantee that had Trent not connected with Antonio for those two TD's, it would have been the talk of the town this week. I'm glad that Dilfer, and Bryant, redeemed themselves because aside from those last three minutes of the game there wasn't anything to celebrate. They'll have a lot to talk about after watching the game films.

The Browns play the Ravens, Lions, Texans and Titans next, we'll talk about that later. For now, let's revel in victory. GO BROWNS!!!

Perfectly timed recovery
Whatever 'it' is Dilfer has, he finally decides to use 'it'
Browns Declaw Bears
Browns Win Late, Defense Shines
Two decisive plays make Browns' day

Simmering WR Controversy?

2005-10-08T22:52:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not, none of our wide receivers think they're getting the ball enough. In the absence of ego and controversy at QB this year, I think our WR corps is filing the void. Maybe it's being driven by sportswriters with too much time on their hands over the bye week, who knows. Personally, I don't care if it's Braylon, Frisman, Dennis, or Antonio, we just need to get the ball in our playmakers hands more regularly. AND, we need to do it on 3rd down, and in the red zone if we expect to win games.

Braylon wants the rock: No. 3 pick Edwards No. 3 WR, but OK so does Dennis: Third down gets Northcutt down and of course, we're still talking about his called back touchdowns: Browns Veterans Thriving

Quote O' The Week: "Overconfident? This Team?"

2005-10-08T22:44:00.000-07:00

For the first time this season, the Browns are favored - by 3 points - and Crennel was asked if the team might be overconfident. He laughed.

"Overconfident?" Crennel said. "Worried about being overconfident? This team? Gosh almighty. I'm not worried about being overconfident at all."

More Inexperienced than Da Browns???

2005-10-05T20:47:00.000-07:00

The scouting report sounds like these guys could actually be younger and more inexperienced than we are. They've got a rookie QB who threw five interceptions in the last game handing off to a rookie running back who missed all of training camp.

Still, these guys shouldn't be underestimated. Some are predicting them to win their division. For me, this game's all about paybacks. I almost walked out into traffic after the last Browns v. Bears matchup. I don't know if anyone else remembers this, I tried to block it out:

Most recent meeting: Bears won, 27-21, in overtime, Nov. 4, 2001, in Soldier Field. Down by 14 points with two minutes to play, the Bears scored a TD with 28 seconds left, recovered an onside kick and tied the game on a Hail Mary TD to James Allen, then won it in overtime when Mike Brown returned a Tim Couch interception for a touchdown.

Dawgbones makes an interesting point in their preview article: The Browns are not expected to contend for the AFC North title in 2005, but have played 3 very competitive games so far. Their 2 losses have come against the AFC's only 4-0 teams, the Bengals and Colts. In both games the Browns were victimized by penalties that cost them a total of 21 points. coincidentally they lost both games by a total of 21 points.

Not surprisingly, Crennel Wants to See More Discipline. Still, no excuses. Here are some preview articles:

Trent Dilfer's Knee? Only One Red Zone TD...

2005-10-04T17:00:00.000-07:00

Trent won't admit it was his knee that kept him from practice last week, just chalking it up to being an old veteran. Whatever his ailments come from, I don't think he'll make it through the season if we keep giving up four sacks a game and he keeps taking big hits.

These next five games are going to be the true test for whether the 2005 Browns are for real, or whether their one win was a fluke. We've started strong a few times since returning, only to watch the team spiral after a couple of close losses. I must say though, if Trent can't get the ball into the endzone when he gets to the red zone, the fact that he has good stats otherwise will be worth absolutely squat.

Here are a couple of articles: Dilfer is back in step - Dilfer rested, ready for Bears

Also, check out these new screen savers and the Cleveland Browns desktop theme, they're pretty cool...

Browns' changing roster turns red-hot jerseys [and bobble heads] cold

2005-09-29T15:50:00.000-07:00

I hate the bye week. Three games is just long enough to get a Browns fan addicted, and now we're all stuck going through two weeks of withdrawal.

This article hits close to home for a couple of reasons. Last season I considered beheading Tim Couch's bobblehead and replacing it with Jeff Garcia's (glad I didn't deface Cleveland Browns Stadium for that bum...). This year I've transformed Tim into Trent Dilfer...

I also have a Courtney Brown jersey sitting in my closet that I need to figure out what I'm going to do with. As I see it, my options are:

1. Add an "S" to BROWN on the back so that it's just a generic team jersey, or;
2. Change the 9's to 3's, and play it off as a Jim Brown classic...

I could be purchasing some white duct tape this weekend and performing jersey surgery just to pass the time until the Browns vs. Bears game. Approximately 215 hours until kickoff, and counting down...

Name game is costly
Browns' changing roster turns red-hot jerseys cold

Use No. 8,793 for duct tape: Cleveland Browns jersey rebellion. A 3-inch piece of silver tape covers up the "C" in Couch, giving voice to what so many fans feel week after week - ouch.
A longer swath hides the entire name of Kellen Winslow, one of many promised stars who never sparkled.

And someone has logged the entire parade of the new- Browns quarterbacks with magic marker on a series of tape strips stuck across a jersey. Crossed out: Couch, Holcomb, Garcia and Dilfer. Frye's name ends the list, followed by a question mark.

Who can keep up? Or maybe the better question is: Who wants to, at least when it comes to shelling out $70 to $80 for an authentic National Football League jersey? Many Browns fans - already disappointed by the team's dismal second coming - have jersey burn-out.

Read the Whole Article
http://www.cleveland.com/sports/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/1127050206320380.xml&coll=2

20/20 Hindsight

2005-09-29T15:16:00.000-07:00

Here's an interesting look at the Browns vs. Colts game that gives the top 5 good and bad things from the game, plus the top five things we need to do for the next game.

Looking at the next five games in our schedule: Bears, Ravens, Lions, Texans, Titans -- I'd say we have a hell of a shot at racking up some W's if we can patch some of these holes. I know Crennel's not happy with 7-9 (and he shouldn't be, he's the coach), but I'd be pretty stoked if we could come away with a 5-3 (or even a 4-4) start...

Quote O' The Week

2005-09-29T14:38:00.000-07:00

"He (Crennel) was asked if 7-9 would be a respectable start for the rebuilding Browns.
'You mean seven wins and nine losses? Not in my mind,' he said. "

Ol' Butch probably would have salivated over a four-win season prognostication. You can already see this kind of attitude working its way into how these guys play games.

While I detest bye weeks, I think this came at the right time for the Brownies. Crennel said he would prefer a bye in the middle of the season. From an injury and fatigue point of view, he has a point. But getting rid of the penalties and dumb mistakes that have kept us from two very winnable games will probably serve us better in the long run.

If we can get the O-Line (which as certainly exceeded expectations) to be a bit stronger on the run blocking over the next two weeks, we will definitely be more competative. We have lost the time of possession battle in all three games, the first two by about 10 minutes. Also, might be neat to actually run OUTSIDE the tackles from time to time. It'll be interesting to see if Suggs gets any PT just for that purpose.

Browns vs. Colts Recap Stories, Observations...

2005-09-28T13:24:00.000-07:00

A 13-6 loss to a team the caliber of the Colts isn't as much of a heartbreaker as the "Cardiac Kids" have been known to cause, but at the end of the day a loss is a loss. The first link below makes the case that moral victories don't and shouldn't make you feel too good, and they certainly won't earn you a winning record or a playoff berth.

I'm not a pessimistic Browns fan though, and there is great cause for optimism from this team. The rest of the articles talk about some positives that can be taken from game 3, and the need for our team to be more disciplined.

Fans can always blame losses on the refs (and in my mind too often do). And yes, they took three touchdowns from us in two weeks and have killed numerous drives and momentum (I think back to the Green Bay game when we pelted the fat zebra with a pass, and then our O-lineman was flagged for illegal touching for catching the deflection...). But ultimately, crying in our beer about bad calls gets us nowhere.

That being said, I have a few of observations:

1. Why is Dennis Northcutt not returning kickoffs? Ruben Droughns and Willie Green can run between the tackles, but they're not playmakers like Northcutt or Edwards. Let's get the ball in our playmakers hands...
2. This bend but don't break defense is somehow keeping us in games, but giving up 5 yards a play while hoping for turnovers isn't really a winning strategy that will hold long term. We need our guys to figure out this 3-4, and fast.
3. Our O-Line has so far been pretty amazing. Two games with no sacks, one bad half last week for L.J. Shelton, but overall for the year a relatively untouched Dilfer. If Tim Couch had this kind of protection those first few years, he might still be our QB.

Any thoughts??? Check out the links below:

Moral victories don't count
http://www.cleveland.com/weblogs/dawgblog/index.ssf?/mtlogs/thedawgblog/archives/2005_09.html#083174

Browns can pick out positives
http://www.sportsnetwork.com/default.asp?c=sportsnetwork&page=/nfl/news/ABN3981777.htm

Browns, The Day After
http://www.dawgbones.com/article/article_2005_09_26_4400.html

Crennel: Browns must clean up mistakes
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/NFL/2005/09/26/1236602-ap.html

Browns battled hard but mistakes proved costly
http://www.realfootball365.com/nfl/articles/cleveland-browns-recap260905.php

Capitol Dawg Pound Blog Launch

2005-09-28T09:55:00.000-07:00

In Sacramento, as in cities and towns across this great country, there exists a strange and united band of die-hard fans who have weathered “Red Right 88,” “The Drive,” “The Fumble,” countless victories, and even the temporary non-existence of the Cleveland Browns. Somehow, many of these fans have been drawn to the world of California politics as well.

As a result, the Capitol Dawg Pound was formed as a caucus within the Northern California Browns Backers, and a place where true fans can throw aside partisan differences (hopefully) and unite in our dedication to the Browns and hatred of Art Modell and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Capitol Dawg Pound Blog was created as a place for die-hards to go for one-stop news and commentary on the greatest football franchise on earth. Fans with a busy schedule should be able to save time surfing all of the Cleveland websites by bookmarking www.capitolbrowns.blogspot.com and checking here first.

On that note, I'll sign out the inaugural blog post with a "HERE WE GO BROWNIES, HERE WE GO!!! WOOF, WOOF!!!!" chant.