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.

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.)

New Coach, New Team?

New head coaches have a tendency to rid themselves of the "baggage" from the previous administration.

Eric Mangini is no different. The Soldier is gone. Sean Jones is gone. The lockers that divided the locker room are gone. Hopefully so is losing.

All of those changes along with an endorsement for the AFC Championship from Colin Cowherd can give fans a cause for excitement. I might even pay for another season of NFL Sunday Ticket.

I don't think Mangini is done quite yet, though. I predict that Rogers will be out of Cleveland before the season begins. I like the fact that a guy can plug up the middle and get to the QB, but if we can get some value for him, do it. I would be happy with the Rogers/Quinn for Cutler/3rd round draft pick.

We would then have two Pro Bowl QB's on the roster and be able to draft another interior defensive lineman. That sounds good to me.

How 'bout you, Coach?

Is Shaun Rogers the Latest Brown Frown?

Appartantly another high paid footballer does not want to play for the Browns. Shaun Rogers allegedly does not want to play in Cleveland anymore. I say, if this is true, and I want to stress that, then good riddance. I am sick and tired of guys coming here and not wanting to play. Let them leave.

If they don't realize that they have an opportunity to play for a franchise that is starved for a winner and will fill the stands no matter what, then let them go. What these players don't seem to understand is that it takes time to build a unit that will play and win together. Even though Rogers is arguably the best player on the defense, the fans and the organization deserve a little more class.

Apparantly new head coach Eric Mangini is the reason behind this new attitude from Big 92. I am not sure who is being the bigger toddler in this situation, but it appears that if they can't get along, then someone has to go. My guess is that is would be Rogers, so here is my suggestion:

Trade Shaun Rogers back to Detroit for their two first round picks. Or do a first and a third round pick, similar to the deal the Browns made for him. I don't want any of their players though. They already cut Leigh Bodden, the guy they got from us for Rogers last off-season.

Story link : Browns Gab

What is the meaning of life? Or more importantly, who is going to play quarterback for the Cleveland Browns next season?

How many Pro Bowl quarterbacks are on the Cleveland Browns' roster?
One.
How many first round draft pick quarterbacks are on the Cleveland Browns' roster?
One.

The trouble is, they're not the same guy.

Derek Anderson (the former) and Brady Quinn (the latter) both got the chance to start for the greatest franchise in the history of professional football this past season. The general perception is that Anderson is on his way out the door and Quinn is the man of the future. This perception is not unfounded, seeing as Anderson was replaced as the starter in week 10. Quinn subsequently started three games and then was sidelined for the rest of the season with a finger injury. Anderson replaced him for a short while before sustaining a season ending concussion.

And for all you Ken Dorsey fans, don't worry. There has never been a quarterback with a higher clipboard rating. He is a Brown for life.

So who will carry the torch for new head coach Eric Mangini? This is where the fun begins.

Derek Anderson can flat out toss the bladder. Let's have a look at a typical pass play on offense for the Browns this season. Shotgun formation with Jamal Lewis in the backfield next to Anderson. Edwards wide left, Josh Cribbs wide right. Kellen Winslow slot left, Syndric Steptoe slot right. Hank Fraley snaps the ball, good snap. Anderson controls, looks right, nobody open, looks left, linebacker, defensive end and defensive tackle in his face. A flick of the wrist and DA sends the ball 65 yards down the field to Braylon Edwards in stride, who then drops the ball on the six yard line.

In summary, the offensive line could not block an eighth-grader for large portions of the season, wide receivers were not up to par and, although not mentioned above, the O-line also had trouble getting holes for Jamal Lewis. "The Truck" was still able to plow his way to over a 1,000 yards, with some help from the playcalling during the Steeler game.

Brady Quinn ran into similar problems. He did not have much time to throw the ball and Edwards continued to drop passes. It seemed that Kellen Winslow was the only guy willing to make a catch for either quarterback. It is harder to assess Quinn because he didn't play much. There is no doubt excitement about the possibility of him leading the Browns to the playoffs and more, but I think we need to calm ourselves down a little bit. He throws a better short game than DA, but nobody besides Winslow wants to catch the ball over the middle.

Derek Anderson is by far the better choice for the Browns right now. Word on the street is that Mangini favors the short game. That's fine, let DA get into it in the offseason. He would be well suited to get with a system where he is comfortable and knows that he will have time to work through his check downs. His ability to throw the deep ball keeps safeties honest on the blitz, allowing Jamal to power his way to the second level and demoralize anyone in his way.

I say you give the Pro Bowler a chance with the new system and see what happens. It can't be any worse than last season. Brady will get his chance, but let Derek Anderson get our Team to the next level offensively.