Browns Banter: Horrible Weekend Ahead and Lerner Continues Pursuit of Kokinis

January 16, 2009 By 2 Comments

Browns BanterWhile Browns owner Randy Lerner frantically searches for a general manager for his rumpled, crumpled Cleveland team, the idea has not been lost on him that the team’s major rivals are fighting for a shot at the Super Bowl.

Another un-Pleasant Allegheny Valley Sunday in Pittsburgh., Pa., the land of the coal black and gold.

For Browns fans, it is another Sunday of holding our noses while watching the Pittsburgh Steelers and Benedict Arnold/Art Modell’s Baltimore Ratbirds go to war. The winner of the defensive battle will face off against the victor in the Philadelphia Eagles vs. the Arizona Cardinals for the chance to play in the Super Bowl, Sunday, Feb. 1 in Tampa, Fla.

With the Browns last championship season in 1964, beating the Baltimore Colts, 27-0, Cleveland has never even set foot upon the hallowed ground of the biggest sporting match of the year.

Once again, choosing the lesser of two evil empires, I will be rooting for Piss-burgh while I wipe tears away with my own terrible towel. I don’t want to remind folks again that Art Modell, the most hated man in Cleveland, sold millions of loyal fans out by moving the Browns to Baltimore in 1995. So really it should be Browns vs. Steelers on Sunday.

That’s why I nearly choked on breakfast the other day while listening to ESPN’s Mike and Mike in the Morning show. Guest sports analyst Mel Kiper Jr., a Baltimore shill, extolled the virtues of Joe Flacco’s big arm and the grand schemes coming from Coach John Harbaugh’s big head.

Then Kiper decided to rewrite history.

“Baltimore has the greatest fans in the world,” Kuiper crowed. “For 13 years Baltimore kept getting passed over by the NFL while other teams were granted permission for expansion teams.

“Finally, Art Modell arrived in Baltimore and gave us our team.”

No, Mel. Actually Modell gave you our team, the Browns, and simply renamed them after the black bird in the Edgar Allen Poe poem.

In the early 1980s, Baltimore fans were rightfully upset when Robert Irsay and his Mayflower moving vans left Baltimore in the middle of night and dumped the Colts cargo in Indianapolis.

Despite having their guts and hearts pulled out by Irsay and Indianapolis, Baltimore accepted the stolen goods that represented the proud franchise of the Cleveland Browns, and never looked back.

Modell got his 30 pieces of silver, a new stadium, the love and adoration from fans that he craved – and a Super Bowl ring.
Randy Lerner - Browns Owner
Here is hoping Ben Roethlisberger has the greatest game of his life.

Lerner might not even watch the game. He will probably still be trying to nail down a general manager.

Lerner moved fast in hiring Eric Mangini to replace Romeo Crennel as the Browns head coach.

And while The Plain Dealer has reported Lerner is still interested in Baltimore pro personnel director George Kokinis to replace fired GM Phil Savage, Kokinis is not showing his cards.

It also comes to no surprise that Scott Pioli, Lerner’s first choice for GM, took the Kansas City Chiefs job. The Achilles heal of the Pioli hire was that he would insist on making Kirk Ferentz his head coach. The Cleveland media ran with that, but no one actually bothered checking the rumor out.

Now we hear that Ferentz has no desire to coach in the NFL, and he will stay put in Iowa, thank you.

So Cleveland would not have had to take a college coach with the deal, after all. But no way was Pioli going to work in the same city as Mangini, a former buddy who uncovered Spygate, tattling on Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick and by association, top man Pioli. While Mangini may have taken some satisfaction in watching Belichick’s non-apology, he ended up losing very powerful friends in New England.

The word was, others on Lerner’s GM short list, such as the Atlanta Falcons’ Rich McKay and Eagles’ Tom Heckert, dropped out of contention after Mangini was hired.

Former Denver Broncos general manager Ted Sundquist has reached out to the Browns about interviewing for the general manager position, but as of Thursday, no interviews had been scheduled, according to The Plain Dealer..

If I was Lerner, I’d forget about watching the game on Sunday. I’d be on the phone finding someone to come to Cleveland and help make this the winning franchise it once was.

Who knows, may some Sunday in January of 2111 (I mean 2011), we could be watching the Browns in the Super Bowl.

It could happen. Couldn’t it?

Filed Under: NFL Tagged With: browns banter, Cleveland Browns, george kokinis, randy lerner

Browns Banter: Will Quinn Opt For Surgery Despite Fears of Staph?

November 29, 2008 By 3 Comments

Cleveland Browns BanterWhy should Brady Quinn avoid a surgeon’s knife as if it were a 300-pound tackle leading a five-man blitz? Because both are potential season-enders.

And Quinn, whose finger was smashed by a Buffalo Bills defensive lineman in his second start in two seasons, can ill afford any more costly mistakes.

Quinn’s first mistake was playing in the ill-fated lackluster performance against the Houston Texans on Sunday. On Tuesday, orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews gave Quinn one week to decide to undergo surgery or a splint to mend the fracture.

As of today (Saturday), Brady Quinn has three days to decide. Some fans believe the Browns team that “returned” to Cleveland in 1999 is cursed.

True, the General Manager Phil Savage and Head Coach Romeo Crennel duo is the franchise’s third regime in nine years. During that time, starting quarterbacks have been plagued with either a weak offensive line, costly penalties, ineffective play calling and the delusional expectations of a super hero – in the embodiment of a Tom Brady or a Brett Favre.

No, Browns fans do not go easy on their quarterbacks.

Just ask Tim Couch, the only Browns quarterback to beat Pittsburgh in the past decade, or Kelly Holcomb, a man blessed with a Derek Anderson arm and the consistency of the shifting wind direction off Lake Erie.

Will Brady Quinn Opt For Surgery Despite Fears of Staph?Just ask Trent Dilfer who recently spouted off on ESPN about the dysfunctional Browns – or Jeff Garcia, dazed and confused by play calling in the red zone.

In fact, it is impossible to predict from week to week what kind of offensive scheme Browns offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski will order up

But the most important reason to avoid the operating room at all costs is the chance of coming out with a staph infection.

The way this 2008 season of shattered dreams has played out so far, I wouldn’t risk it.

However, the Cleveland Browns aren’t the only athletes, struck by staph infections. Dennis Manoloff of The Plain Dealer put together a list that includes:

Tom Brady, football: The New England Patriots quarterback recently confirmed on his Web site that he has had two procedures to clear out an infection on his surgically repaired knee.

Mike Gansey, basketball: The former Olmsted Falls and West Virginia University standout contracted methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which is a debilitating form, as he went through NBA pre-draft workouts. He had MRSA in the knee, then the ankle.

Drew Gooden, basketball: The former Cleveland Cavalier contracted a staph infection while playing for the Orlando Magic. “I was in the most pain that I have ever felt in my life,” he said.

Grant Hill, basketball: The longtime NBA standout contracted MRSA after surgery. He has made it a point to warn children and adults about MRSA.

Ricky Lannetti, football: The Lycoming College player died in 2003 when MRSA led to pneumonia.

Brandon Noble, football: The former Washington Redskins defensive tackle contracted MRSA.

Paul Pierce, basketball: The Boston Celtics star contracted MRSA.

Junior Seau, football: The longtime standout linebacker contracted MRSA after surgery.

Delonte West, basketball: The Cavalier had an ingrown-toenail infection while playing for Boston which led to a staph infection.

Filed Under: Featured Column, NFL Tagged With: brady quinn, browns banter, Cleveland Browns, staph

Browns Banter: Brady Quinn Benched, More Drops by Braylon Edwards

November 24, 2008 By 23 Comments
brady-quinn

Browns Banter: Browns Lose 16-6 to Houston “I have not yet begun to fight,” Naval hero David Farragut told his fleet.

This is what Cleveland Browns quarterback Brady Quinn must have been thinking after being benched with more than three minutes to go in the third quarter of Sunday’s dismal and depressing 16-6 loss before a sell-out crowd of 70,200 bitterly disappointed Browns fans.

In fact, when the quarterback change was made by Browns Head Coach Romeo Crennel, boos exploded from half of the crowd, while the other half headed for the gates.

Worse yet, one fan unfurled a huge sign and draped it over a row of empty seats which read: “Cowher09.”

But even the Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl winning coach — or even the Ghost of Paul Brown (or even the Man Upstairs) — cannot pick up the pieces and put the Browns back together again. (Oh, wait! The Browns never broke — but just moved to Baltimore to inhabit the souls of the blackbirds.)

Sure, Brady Quinn was eight for 18, had 94 yards and had two picks — one because Braylon didn’t bother beating the defender to the ball. But doesn’t Romeo Crennel remember how the Browns lost its last two homes games when they were up by two touchdowns?

IT WAS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER when Baltimore and Denver beat them. And as bad as the defense was, it Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn gave up just 16 points.

Brady Quinn told The Plain Dealer he expected to go the whole 12 rounds of a fight and didn’t know he was on a short leash. He said his fractured finger was not a factor. But it probably was.

If Romeo Crennel was worried about Brady Quinn’s injury, he didn’t show it all week. In fact, he failed to make sure Derek Anderson got some snaps with the first team, and Derek admitted he was a bit rusty.

This made Crennel’s quarterback switch the act of a desperate man. But even desperate people who fear for their jobs should be able to make some sound decisions.

Should Romeo Crennel have pulled Brady Quinn in favor of Derek Anderson Sunday against Houston?

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How about: BENCHING BRAYLON who, as an equal opportunity pass dropper, killed touchdown drives by both Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson. In fact, Coach should have been more concerned with Braylon’s fingers which seem to open and close spastically whenever the football comes toward him — and especially when a defender is close.
Braylon Edwards Drops Pass
Braylon insists he doesn’t know why he catches some, misses others. Well, here is a big hint: Get your head out of your a– and practice catching passes outside for a few hours every day. You are not nearly as good as you think you are.

And why did the Browns practice inside its facility all week? This neutralized the advantage of a cold weather team over Houston, and didn’t really test the effectiveness of Brady’s finger.

After the game, Romeo Crennel looked like a beaten man, and stated that Brady Quinn is still his starting quarterback (at least for today, I guess).

Phil Savage said it was the worst Browns game he had ever seen.

Well, F— you. back. Go be the general manager or scout of another team.

But Browns fans, just wait until Sunday when we get even against the Indianapolis Colts. God and Peyton Manning, have mercy on us.

[tags]brady quinn, cleveland browns, nfl[/tags]

Filed Under: Featured Column, NFL Tagged With: brady quinn, braylon edwards, browns banter, Romeo Crennel

Browns Banter: Flying Fickle Finger of Fate Award Goes to Phil Savage

November 22, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Cleveland Browns: Browns BanterThe week that was for the Cleveland Browns took several strange turns.

First, General Manager Phil Savage was outed for replying to a fan’s insulting email with an “F… you.”

Then, Browns quarterback Brady Quinn came up with a fractured index finger on his throwing hand. The fingertip injury apparently happened during the Browns-Buffalo game Monday night. However, a hand specialist cleared Quinn to play Sunday against the Houston Texans in what may turn out to be another game on the snowy, windy tundra that is Cleveland Browns Stadium.

The Phil Savage f-word email story was retold on national sports shows with former NFL general managers, athletes and analysts weighing in on the impulsiveness and unprofessionalism of the act.

In fact, the story was so bizarre that I’ve dusted off the “Laugh-In” Flying Finger of Fate Award, given each week by hosts Rowan and Martin for the dumbest news item of the week. (To those under 40, Laugh-In was a political comedy considered very controversial and edgy for its day.)

Phil Savage’s vulgar email sent to a fan later identified on WKNR AM/850 as “Brett” was dumb on several levels.

Number one, the email exchange which began with Brett calling Phil Savage “the worst GM in the NFL” and asked why Jerome Harrison wasn’t used more, was sent at 11:37 p.m., Monday, as the Browns were beating the Buffalo Bills.

Savage responded at 12:17 a.m., more than 20 minutes after the game ended with: “Go root for Buffalo – F— you.”

Two, was the Browns 29-27 victory over Buffalo so uninteresting to Savage that he opened up his blackberry to read emails from fans?

At that time of night, every Browns fan in Cleveland seemed to be holding its collective breath while Phil Dawson kicked the 56-yard field goal for the lead, giving the Bills enough time to kick – and miss — a 47-yarder with less than one minute left in the game, and secure a Browns victory. (I didn’t even think of checking my emails or answering the phone.)

Phil Savage GM Cleveland BrownsAnd three, why the heck would Savage care what one fan wrote. This incident makes ESPN analyst and former Browns quarterback Trent Dilfer’s comment of the Browns making moves to please the fans a lot more credible.

One WKNR sports talk show producer also wondered aloud how any fan could get access to Savage’s email address. Well, I guess it is available on the Cleveland Browns Web site. (Although I can’t say this is the case as of this writing.)

My suggestion to Phil: Pay more attention to the game. It might help when it comes draft time. And if you are bored sitting in your loge, email your wife or something.

Perhaps a good policy would be for the Browns to set up an automatic email from Savage to emailing fans, stating, “The Cleveland Browns thank you for emailing me with your helpful suggestions and comments. We read all of our emails and care what fans have to say. We hope you continue to support our Cleveland Browns.. Go, Browns.

Your friend, Phil.”

You probably won’t catch Mr. Savage emailing an f-bomb to a fan, again.

You can “bet your sweet bippy” on it.

[tags]phil savage, cleveland browns, nfl[/tags]

Filed Under: Featured Column, NFL Tagged With: browns banter, Cleveland Browns, email, NFL, phil savage