Still a Good Season

Look, the Browns are terrible. The national media laughs when they are brought up and their own fans organize sit-outs from the kickoff of home games.

There have been more injuries in this season than this fan ever remembers in any previous seasons. But please, let us remember how awful this team was before the injuries.

What has happened since then has not been a winning streak or even really good professional football, but a slow development of young players is happening right before our eyes. Who knew that Eric Mangini had a kid on the practice squad who has more heart and talent than Kellen Winslow? (See link for more info on that)

Brady Quinn can throw the football. Give him a little more than one second and the kid ain't half bad. Plus, we have seen that he can run the ball, and even catch if he has to.

It is a bad season, and so is this article. I felt obliged to the many fans out there requesting new material. It will get better.

It's Been Awhile

The Browns teed it up against the Ravens on Monday Night Football tonight in what could have been the most unheralded Monday night game of the season, or ever.

However, the announcers made the game a Browns love-fest. Innuendos were abound as Jon Gruden churched up Brady Quinn and the entire Cleveland Browns history. Will Gruden coach the Browns next season? Judging by the broadcast, there was no question.

However, Gruden signed a multi-year deal with media giant ESPN on Monday, leaving little doubt about his future as a head coach in the NFL next season.

The Browns got 90% of the talk Monday night and went as far as to show Gruden's childhood pictures in Browns gear, much like the pictures of Brady Quinn. They even showed a letter he wrote to Leroy Kelly, telling Kelly that he was Gruden's favorite player.

Browns fans were sadly misled. Gruden will not coach the Browns next season. Eric Mangini will. The team has 11 draft picks next season but no stars to build around.

Brady Quinn got the starting job at quarterback and was allowed to play an entire game. This is rare in Cleveland, where the position seems to be unsettled at best.

Browns fans were faced with the proposition to sit outside of their seats until after the opening kickoff as a protest to the team's poor performance and perceived lack of direction. That protest was not evident on television and the fans were as loud as ever, showing support for a team that has done little to deserve it.

Of course, the Ravens beat the Browns 16-0, and there does not seem to be much hope for the lowly Browns. 10-year veteran Steve Heiden was injured early and the best player on the team, Josh Cribbs, was carted off by an ambulance late in the game. By then the stadium was practically empty, and deservedly so.

This team is terrible. They seem to have no identity. The defense seems solid until the second half and the offense is suspect at best.

Who knows what owner Randy Lerner will do next. If changing coaches isn't the answer (and I don't think it is) then what the hell? There is a direction that leads to nowhere, and the Cleveland Browns are following all the way.

High points from a low viewer

After finally forcing myself to watch the Packers-Browns preseason game, I feel awful.

The starting defense, minus number 92, was visibly overmatched; even listening to the game on the radio on a 28-second-delay the defense sounded bad.

The offense showed a little spark against the Green Bay back-ups and quarterback Brett Ratliff looked good, aside from the two picks. Overall, if yellow flags indicate a rank of any sort, that is what the Cleveland Browns deserve on offense.

Despite lackluster showings from both sides of the ball, there were a couple of hustlers on the second/third team defense that deserve some spotlight:

Rookie defensive tackle Adam Hoppel, Cincinnatti, and rookie linebacker David Veikune, Hawa'ii.

Veikune saw plenty of playing time at the outside linebacker spot. He hustled after every play and ran sideline to sideline on several occasions, making himself the second man on several tackles, but usually the first. This should be encouraging seeing as Veikune played defensive end at Hawa'ii and is making the transition to a run stopping, coverage linebacker, hopefully with pass rushing abilities.

Hoppel seemed to make big hits whenever he got the chance. He exploded backs within arms reach. He was one of three lineman who was able to push his opponent consistently. Granted he played garbage time, but that is when young talent usually plays. If Adam Hoppel can continue to play with the same intensity every day he may have not only a shot at the final 53 man roster, but some serious minutes behind Big Baby.

To Ticket or not to Ticket?

I have this question in my mind every year about this time.

NFL Sunday Ticket is not the cheapest seat in town.  But it beats going to the bar every Sunday, getting stuck in the corner with the smallest TV and having to listen to Steelers and Ravens fans cheer and give high fives.  

But with 'these tough economic times' should one sacrifice the Browns experience being shared by all in the comfort of the home of a Browns fan?  This is the question I pose to all you fans who are not fortunate enough to get the games on TV in your local area.  

Last season truly felt like a wasted Ticket, but you never know with the Browns.

Thoughts before camp

The Cleveland Browns are a different team than they were last year.  

Along with some veterans are some new faces.  While the starting quarterback position remains an "open competition," according to head coach Eric Mangini, several problem positions have been addressed by the new staff.  

Center Alex Mack, from Cal, was not the draft pick some fans were looking for, but he is versatile in that he can rotate to the guard spot as well.  The two receivers being picked in the second round signifies an effort by the new regime to rectify the issues at the skill position of wide receiver.  

With 5th year man Braylon Edwards entering his final year of his rookie contract, the Team had to bring in some guys in order to evaluate their ability to adapt to the new offense and assess their NFL abilities.  

I think the running back has a chance to make an impact, especially because of the lack of NFL experience on the depth chart.  

Overall, the Browns had a decent draft, despite my draft day convictions.  Sports Illustrated's Jim Trotter reported in the May 4, 2009 issue: "Each of his (Eric Mangini) top four picks received all-academic honors either nationally or within their conferences, and sixth-round cornerback Don Carey of Norfolk State could have gone to Yale if he'd so chosen."

I'd say that is a draft that built for years down the road.  The Browns played for knowledge and experience over skill; a luxury given to those with four year contracts.  

P.S.

Pay attention to the potential signing of Graham Harrell, NCAA record breaking quarterback from Texas Tech.  (If you feel bad about losing Michael Crabtree in the draft, it ain't bad to have the guy that tossed him the skin for two or three years, depending on how you evaluate eligibility standards in the NCAA.)

2009 Schedule Released

It looks like another tough battle for the Browns this season.  

They will get 2 prime-time games, although one is a Thursday game on NFL Network.  

I see this turning into a 5-11 to possibly 6-10.  It is always a little harder to win in the best division in football.  Hopefully this season, though, the Browns can actually be one of the tough teams in the AFC North.

Sanchez could be good pick at 5

I know it is a stretch, but if Aaron Curry is not available at the fifth pick in this month's draft, then why not pick Mark Sanchez?

Sanchez supposedly had tremendous work outs and great reviews from guys like Trent Dilfer.  If the Browns end up trading Brady Quinn, Derek Anderson or both, a quarterback is not such a bad pick.  Why not Matthew Stafford?

I think Sanchez over Stafford because everyone thinks the opposite.  Seriously, everybody thought Tim Couch could be great.  I think Sanchez is better long-term.  We may have to wait a few years to see, but I'm sure we'll all remember, I called it!