rjl2621's Thoughts

I've been one of the few sticking up for the decision to let Anderson continue as the starting QB for the Browns this season because his lack of success was not completely his fault (ie. Edwards dropping passes, O-line protection, etc). However, I've never let him completely off the hook because one thing has been obvious since last season when he simply got lucky --- Anderson makes BAD decisions.

If I have to watch one more game where he throws into double/triple coverage when another reciever is open, lock onto his reciever from the moment the ball is snapped or hold on to the ball too long and then try and force the ball somewhere he never should have tried .... I am going to have to surround myself with soft objects so I don't throw something through my big screen TV.

Everyone wants to blame Crennel. It's not his fault, it's the players. The problem isn't that they are not prepared ... the problem is they simply aren't performing. And the last few weeks, Romeo has gotten visibly angry on the sideline -- which is good, it's something he should get more often. Maybe that's what the players need to get their acts together. There is no excuse for Edwards' dropped passes ... nor any excuses for Anderson's poor decisions.

Braylon ... I don't know what you have to do to fix the problem, but right now you aren't worth the ink your checks are printed with. If you want to be a #1 receiver in the NFL, you need to learn how to make plays ANYTIME the team needs you to.

Anderson ... Defenses are on to you. You can't get away with what you were lucky to get away with last season. Change it up. Learn how to make better decisions or give up the starting job to Quinn. I hate being one of the fickle fans calling for a QB change, but maybe we'll at least have the element of surprise on our side like we did last season.

Aside from the thoughts and opinions on the Browns, I wanted to make a quick post also to pay tribute to Kevin Everett, his family and his Buffalo Bills teammates.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Kevin and his family during this difficult time. I share in the hopes of many that Kevin will at least partially recover from this and won't be paralyzed from this injury. I pray for all of those involved to have the strength to get through this, but most of all Kevin in order to have a speedy recovery.

Rizz reported this evening that there may be some optimistic signs coming from the hospital and that is certainly good news to hear. Let's hope that turns out true.

Let me start off by saying that I am happy for Charlie for being traded to a good, solid team that he can play with. Good for him!

Now, to all of you out there calling for Brady Quinn to be named the starter -- ARE YOU CRAZY?? Do you want our second 1st round QB draft pick to turn out like the first?

So now it is only a matter of time before you all get your wish and Brady will be tossed in for his NFL debut where he will perform miracles for a game or two before he will have taken so much beating from the opposing defensive lines that he will end up like all other QB's for Cleveland in recent memory. Great.

I guess Cleveland should start scounting the college teams now for the next round 1 QB that we can draft and effectively ruin the career of.

Look, I have always been a Browns fan and I always will be. But when is the front office going to learn from the mistakes that have been made in the short history of our expansion team? Next they will be firing Romeo Crennel when the Browns' problems have nothing to do with Romeo and EVERYTHING to do with our ineffective (and frankly non-existent) offensive line.

The Browns front office needs to wake up and begin managing this team like many of the other teams out there who make progress from year to year rather than going backward. There is no excuse for how horrible the Browns played on Sunday against the Steelers. In my opinion the blame falls squarely on the players -- especially those on the offensive line -- that didn't do their jobs.

Only in professional sports can you collect million-dollar salaries and stick around when you aren't doing your job. (Or maybe it's just with the Cleveland Browns) This isn't a QB thing or a head coach thing -- it is quite frankly a performance issue with our offensive line.

You can't expect everything from these guys though because there are a lot of rookies and relative inexperience on the line. Only there does coaching come into play. But what about the offensive lines coach? What is he doing? He should be cracking into these guys for the horrid performance they put on against the Steelers. If he won't do it, Romeo should. If Romeo won't, then the Browns front office should take action on all involved.

There is no excuse for this team coming out on opening day after all the off-season moves and adds, and looking like a high school football team against Pittsburgh. (No offense to high school teams -- there are probably a number of high school teams that might make the Browns look bad too.)

What I don't forgive is the Cleveland fans who apparently have short memories. Calling for Brady Quinn may as well be calling in the firing squad for the Cleveland Browns. But of course, the Browns front office can't stand up to the fans and rather give in and are going to end up sticking Brady Quinn out there to eventually fail instead of giving him time to grow and learn.

Good job Cleveland. Good job.

I was pleased to see the Browns select Thomas with the #3 overall pick in the 2007 Draft. I was even more pleased to see Miami pass on Quinn at #9 and the list of teams after Miami's pick that didn't need a QB.

The Browns front office finally made some decisions which make sense. I am actually proud to be a Browns fan after yesterday's success in the draft. Say what you want about what the Browns gave up, if you think about it we simply got our #1 draft pick of 2008 a year early and gave up our 2nd round pick this year to do it. If you compare what we gave up to get Quinn to what NY Jets and Denver gave up to move up in Round 1, the Browns got a STEAL. Not saying those teams didn't get good players, because they did --- but they also gave up quite a bit more in the 2007 draft to do so.

Now, add that to what the Browns gave up to move back into the 2nd round for CB Eric Wright, and the Browns made some pretty good deals to get three of the top players on their list that they were looking for.

The key is to keep all of these new players plus our current players HEALTHY. So let's hope our strength and conditioning staff has improved over last season and past seasons.

As for Frye, I think the draft of Quinn will help him work harder to become a better and smarter QB. I still think Frye can get the job done, and the additions of Joe Thomas and Eric Steinbach will certainly help that. The problem the Browns have had for years now has been their Offensive Line -- now that the front office is actually addressing those issues, I think QB's will be a bit more successful in Cleveland. I'm not ready to ship Frye off though as I don't think Quinn is the silver bullet solution either -- but he is a higher quality QB (draft-wise) than Frye was -- so he should, in theory, be better.

Last point I would like to make is with Romeo Crennel. He's a good and smart coach. I don't agree with the people calling for his head any more than those calling for Charlie Frye's head. Romeo has made some good progress with the team, regardless of what the record was last year. One thing Romeo needs to do though is show more emotion and take after coaches like Cower in Pittsburgh. Cower always got into the faces of players who caused problems or screwed up -- Crennel needs to quit being so forgiving and start getting on these guys.

They are making millions to be successful on the field and win games -- if they aren't getting the job done, bench them. Make them understand that if they won't get the job done, we'll find someone else who can and fire them (in the form of a trade or cut). The only way to get through to these players anymore is through their pocketbooks. If you start affecting their fancy cars and mansions, maybe they will get the hint and word harder to be the best players they can be -- and actually EARN their money rather than simply expecting it.

They need to GO. Randy doesn't care about the team and isn't a Browns fan, and Phil Savage is just a joke. I don't trust either one of them with the future of the Browns organization because they don't seem to even want the team to get better.

Letting Northcutt go was expected after this season, but it doesn't make the decision the right one. Some say he was a declining WR, others say that he wasn't anything more than a 3rd-down reciever or overpaid career punt returner. The problem I have with those descriptions is that the Browns front office and coaching staff has done that to him by bringing in these rookie "stars" which haven't even proven themselves yet.

Edwards dropped more passes and made more mistakes than Northcutt all season, but yet he was given the free pass and Northcutt's playing time was cut in half. Edwards has a lot of maturing to do, and could actually take a few lessons from a veteran receiver like Northcutt. Jurevicius is suffering slightly from the same overshadowing from Edwards as Northcutt did this season. Jurevicius is a very talented receiver, and a veteran also... but the Browns coaching staff need to learn how to utilize their players in the best ways, rather than expecting miracles.

Lastly, what does this mean for our special teams? Cribbs is our only truly talented returner now, and now teams simply have one target to avoid on kickoffs. With both Cribbs and Northcutt being dangerous returners -- probably two of the most dangerous in the league -- we should have kept that as a weapon rather than simply counting now on Cribbs to get the job done. I like Cribbs, he's a great player both in returns and as a WR -- and even as a QB when needed in a reverse or similar trickery. But now the Browns have given teams the ability to prepare for only Cribbs... there are no other threats on the Browns roster. Makes a great deal of sense.

I have lost faith in the Browns front office, as I am certain others out there have -- and it is time that Cleveland Browns fans speak out. We cannot be kept in a perpetual state of "rebuilding" and be fooled by the free agency signing of Offensive Line players. I think that is a great signing, but let's be honest -- look what happened last year with Bentley. We cannot rely on these "silver bullet" signings because when they go bad, the Browns front office doesn't have any backup plans.

Maybe Savage should go screw up one of the other AFC North teams so that Baltimore can stay on top of the division...

So there are a lot of folks (at least on Fantasy Racing message boards) talking about and bashing NASCAR for their lack of throwing the caution flag during the wreck that preceeded the race to the finish line by Mark Martin and Kevin Harvick.

I must admit, as much as I like Harvick, I was pulling for Martin to win on the matter of principle... he has never won it before and if anyone deserves to get their win at Daytona, it's Mark Martin.

However, the facts remain that if you watch the replay video of the final lap (available at Nascar.com ) you will find that as Kyle Busch was sideways (when a caution likely would have been called at any other point in the race) -- Harvick was in front of Martin. It wasn't until after that where Harvick backed down, possibly expecting a yellow flag to come out after seeing the chaos in his mirror. Then, presumably because he saw there was not a caution flag -- he raced back to the front of Martin to win in one of the closest finishes I have seen, at least in recent memory.

Many say that the yellow should have been thrown, but given the above circumstances -- I don't know what good it would have done. Additionally, because it was such a close race to the finish, I strongly believe NASCAR did the best thing for the sport by allowing those two to finish their race to the finish line. In theory, this should have solved any controversy over the finish -- unfortunately many have still brought out controversy because NASCAR didn't throw the caution. This is just more proof that you can't please all of the people ALL the time.

NASCAR did the right thing. Period.

What is with this city and its fans?

You know what, I understand being tired of not being a contender year after year - but calling for the head of a coach with more brains than any of Cleveland's coaches in recent years? C'mon!

The problem that the Browns have has been and still is the lack of an Offensive Line worth a damn. Sure, we have a few token players but then they go down with injuries and we're back to 2nd stringers trying to protect the QB and give him time to throw the ball. Yes, I said the O-Line is responsible... not Charlie Frye. Charlie Frye is the most mobile and versatile QB Cleveland has had in years... and sure, he makes mistakes - but look at Plummer, Vick, and Brady this season -- and what about Bledsoe? Two of those four have been benched for rookies and the other two have just enough good weeks to keep them in the starting job every week.

You put any of the big name QB's in the league behind Cleveland's O-Line and I guarantee you they will struggle just as much as Frye is. What Frye brings to this team is a mobile QB that isn't afraid to make a play to grab a 1st-down now and again, but whose first instinct isn't to run like a Michael Vick or Jeff Garcia. Frye tries to hang in there to make a play, and is mobile and agile enough to get out of trouble when the O-Line gives him some protection. But if he gets no protection, I don't care what QB you put back there... they will fail.

Moral of the story is Crennel has made some good personnel changes, and the fans need to quit chasing everyone out of the city who doesn't put us in the playoffs in their 1st attempt. This team has potential, but they need time too.

Starting over with another new coach would be a HUGE setback and a HUGE mistake.

A new offensive line would be great, but a new coach or QB is not the answer.

I would like to take a few minutes to pay tribute to a great friend to any Cleveland sports fan - Casey Coleman.

Anyone who has been a Cleveland sports fan for any length of time can remember Casey's passion for reporting on and analyzing of any of our teams. He suffered right along with the rest of us as each of our teams has gone through their ups and downs. Browns moving to Baltimore, Indians getting to the World Series twice but coming up short against the Braves and completely blowing it against Florida when they should have won it, and many more Cleveland sports events - good and bad.

To Casey's family ... All of Cleveland's thoughts and prayers are with you during this bittersweet time. Bittersweet because Casey's in a better place now, without the treatments, without the suffering - but also because we've all lost a special person, and you have lost a loving husband, father and friend.

Rest in peace, Casey. Oh, and if you happen to be able to pull any strings up there -- see if you can't bring us something to cheer about in Cleveland. As you know, our teams can use all the help they can get! :)

In a game that most had written the Browns off to be brutally massacred, they came out stopping a productive and good offense to few points. They kept it close and despite scoring only FG’s going into the half, they went into the locker room with a 2pt lead.

Except for an unfortunate slip by Frye causing San Diego to get a freebie TD, the Browns successfully pulled off a 1st half that most did not think was possible.

Cue team self-destruction.

As is becoming a tradition with games this season, the Browns quickly began to unravel in the 2nd half. Tomlinson became the running powerhouse that everyone expected (except apparently the Browns defense) and they proceeded to allow holes the size of Texas to form for L.T. to run through. That’s simply unacceptable. Inexcusable. Pathetic.

When will this team play an entire game instead of playing half of a game and not showing up for the other half?? When will the defense and offense both bring their “A game” and work together instead of always playing to bail out the other?

We cannot expect a team to win games if they cannot even be consistent with their offense and defense playing completely different games every week. One week the offense starts out strong and the defense starts off struggling – the next week that is reversed.

I used to get annoyed earlier this season when I would see the defense hold the other team and keep the Browns in the game but see the offense play horribly. Now, every week is a toss up for which part of the Browns team will show up in the 1st half of the game – but the bet is generally on the defense.

I guess this all comes right back to the lack of a quality offensive line – but that doesn’t deserve the entire blame, especially when they drove down the field on several occasions against San Diego. Figure that one out.

All I can say is at least PITTSBURGH lost!

Oh, our beloved Cleveland Browns. They are at it again, injuries, staffing changes, and a losing record. It's so hard being a Cleveland sports fan -- but it's like a train wreck, you can't look away either.

Do I agree with the decision to part ways with Mo Carthon? Yes and no. Yes because it was obvious earlier in the season that he was making some pretty conservative and outright poor play calls. No because I can honestly say that is probably the least of the Browns' problems with the Offense.

We have not had a good offensive line since even before the old Browns left town. Why is that? Why does the front office continue to neglect the part of our team that lacks the most? It's a tough question that I don't think any of us can answer. Maybe Riz can get an answer one of these days from Phil Savage. Sure, we lost Bentley in pre-season practice -- but he is one player in the line. What about the other guys? What in the heck are they doing out there?

Our defense... they keep us in the game just about every week. They are coming together in the 3-4 nicely, and making big plays when it counts. They become even tougher when teams get into the red zone. That's good.

Our special teams also keeps us in games we are otherwise not participating in. Cribbs and Northcutt are awesome returners, and both add some dynamics to the offense as well when in as receivers. If the Browns are smart they wouldn't deal Northcutt away -- but then again all Cleveland teams seem to deal away the talented players in the name of "rebuilding". (At least the Indians and Browns...) Speaking of rebuilding, why does the rebuilding process continue perpetually? Why not keep some talent around long enough for us to get back to the post-season -- in both baseball AND football! Another question for the front offices of the respective teams.

Lastly, the fans. This is again partially the front office at fault. Placing all of these rules (ie. no standing) on ticketholders is ridiculous. I remember games in the old stadium where there wasn't a single person sitting for the entire second half of the games!! Add to that ticket prices. There are different people coming to the games now. It has become a social gathering, much like Indians games have become. Having tickets is more of a status thing anymore, no longer is it because you are a diehard fan. The diehard fans can't afford tickets these days -- not saying diehard fans are poor, but let's face it -- the economy isn't exactly booming right now either. Business folks are snapping up tickets to take their clients out, vendors are snapping up tickets to woo their potential customers. It is no longer the event that it used to be.

Which brings me to my final point. The Denver game was a close game because the defense kept us in it and took advantage of some of the mistakes Denver's offense made. Where were the fans? Leaving after halftime. Why? We were down 10-0. Sure Denver's defense is one of the best in the league -- but not infallible. Where were the fans of yester-year when they got behind the team even when the team was down by 17 pts?? The Browns have always been a team that can come back from being behind - in recent years that has been where they get many of their wins. Usually the Browns of today aren't winning from the beginning -- and if they are generally speaking we are all cringing knowing that clock is moving too darn slow.

C'mon Browns fans -- we need to take back our home field advantage and not allow teams to come into our house and silence us. MAKE SOME NOISE!!