Breaking out all across Twitter right now is news that new Browns football czar Mike Holmgren has informed Eric Mangini that he will return with the team next season. His staff, probably with some tweaks, will return as well.

From Adam Schefter’s Twitter page:

Filed to ESPN: Mike Holmgren informed Eric Mangini and his full staff they will return to work in 2010 – then said, Let’s get to work.

There might be some tweaking to Browns staff, like there is on any staff, but Mike Holmgren told full staff they would return.

And a major hat tip to Mark Schlereth, whose tweet (which I initially doubted) alerted me to the growing chatter that Holmgren was keeping Mangini.

Update: As pointed by The Orange & Brown Report on Twitter, none of the sources stating that Mangini will be retained are local. However, I don’t see any reason at this point to doubt ESPN’s report. I’m keeping my eye on it though.

Update: Pro Football Talk is also reporting on Mangini’s return to Cleveland. They cite the ESPN.com story entitled “Source: Mangini to Return” that was filed by Schefter preceding the tweet cited above.

The story is light on details, saying only that Mangini and his staff were told they would return after three days of meetings with Holmgren.

Let’s take it to the people with a couple of poll questions:

Update: Interesting point raised by The OBR on Twitter just a few minutes ago:

How many in the media are going to admit they were wrong when they said Mangini was a goner as soon as Holmgren arrived? My guess is zero.

Last night, already in a sour mood because my Indiana Hoosiers were getting their doors blown off in Columbus, I read this article from the Cleveland Plain-Dealer.

The jist? The Cleveland Browns, in their infinite wisdom (you know, the same wisdom that has guided them to so many winning seasons since rejoining the league in 1999…), have decided that it is fair and reasonable to offer Josh Cribbs significantly less money than Andre Davis and Roscoe Parrish make per year.

Maybe it was the fact that I was watching IU play like crap when I read the article, but for whatever reason I immediately thought about the infamous secretly taped Bob Knight locker room speech that most of you have probably heard by now.

There is one particular statement by Coach Knight that perfectly sums up my feelings about how the Browns are handling Josh Cribbs’ contract situation.

Hit play below and you’ll hear the statement immediately. (Here is your should-be-unecessary head’s up: it’s Bob Knight we’re talking about here; obviously the language is very much not church-ready, so this is NSFW).

Josh Cribbs has given his heart and soul to the Cleveland Browns organization. He’s played hurt, he’s played hard despite suffering through almost constant losing, and he’s been team first despite playing for a team that’s refused to pay him a salary even close to commensurate with his value.

Somehow, the Browns have so fumbled this situation that it has led Cribbs’ agent to say the following, courtesy of the Plain-Dealer article:

They need to treat him fairly or he’ll never play for the Browns again,” said agent Peter Schaffer. “He will demand a trade and he will walk out of there and they won’t see him for the off-season — they won’t see him ever again.”

Schaffer said Cribbs will leave on the first day of the new league year, March 4, if he doesn’t have a new contract.

“We’re done,” said Schaffer. “There’s no middle ground anymore. We’ve upheld our end of the bargain and have done everything the Browns have asked.”

Browns fans are predictably outraged, and we have a right to be.

Remember the immortal line said by Terrence Mann (played by James Earl Jones) in Field of Dreams? It went a little something like this: “The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been base-ball.”

Well, if the movie had been named Field of Shattered Dreams, and the subject had been the last half decade of Cleveland Browns football, the line might have been as such: “The one constant through all the losing has been Joshua Cribbs.”

And, yet, somehow the Browns think that offering Cribbs $1.4 million per year – when former Brown Andre Davis makes $4.3 million and unproductive Roscoe Parrish makes $3.2 million – is reasonable.

I simply don’t understand it.

According to our friends at the Orange and Brown Report, there is no misunderstanding either. Apparently Mike Holmgren and Dawn Aponte, who was hired by Eric Mangini as VP of Football Administration, feel perfectly justified in their position.

The OBR article I am citing is part of their premium content (sign up…it’s worth it), so I’m not going to excerpt. But let’s just say that the $1.4 million offer is, in fact, being positioned as the Browns’ “final, final offer” and is the same number that was offered to Cribbs during the season.

Of course, it was followed up during the season by promises that the team would “negotiate in good faith” with Cribbs at the end of the season. And yet here we are.

How can anyone who claims to be committed to building a winner in Cleveland look at the Josh Cribbs situation objectively and not feel compelled to get this guy what he is asking for? If you are Randy Lerner, at what point do you get fed up seeing your second most valuable asset (after LT Joe Thomas) being treated like he’s an insignificant and dispensable piece of the puzzle?

Josh Cribbs took to Twitter last night to express his frustration:

Thanks everyone, I love playing for the browns & put my all in to it, but it doesn’t look good 4me at this point on returning…

I’m sorry to all the fans that u have to endore this, but I now see that this is business for them and loyalty means nothing & wait 4 what?

Should I wait for OTA’s, the draft, another season to prove my worth?..

Can you really blame him?

I’ve heard the argument that he has three years left on his contract (which runs through 2012) and that he should play it out, and that the Browns would be setting a dangerous precent by renegotiating with Cribbs right now.

Once again, in the immortal words of Coach Knight, I say that’s absolute f—–g bulls–t.

Everyone who watches the Browns knows that Josh Cribbs’ situation is a unique one. He is the heart and soul of the Browns and the undisputed fan favorite. AND, (oh yeah!) he is a terrific player who has proven that he can be a valuable offensive contributor while still being one of the greatest all-around special teams players in the history of the NFL.

Yet, he’s due to make $720,000 next year.

Clearly no one is sending around a collection plate so that Josh Cribbs can eat tomorrow. He’s not destitute, nor has he ever claimed to be or tried to play that ridiculous sympathy card (a la Latrell Sprewell and others of his ilk). All Josh Cribbs has asked for is: a) to be treated fairly; b) to be paid in a way that is commensurate to his on-field worth; and c) to have promises fulfilled.

The Browns have done none of those three things, and they are totally in the wrong. Let me repeat: totally in the wrong.

If they had never strung Cribbs along with promises that they’d re-do his contract, the organization would have a much stronger leg to stand on. But they have made promises to Cribbs and they have not fulfilled them. Randy Lerner should be just as outraged about all of this as the fans and Cribbs are.

Because in the immortal words of my mom: it sucks.

Yes. Yes it does. It also doesn’t make any sense and is absolutely infuriating.

I hope that Mike Holmgren simply failed to understand Cribbs’ situation. I hope that he failed to realize just how low $1.4 million per year is for a guy of Cribbs’ character, talent, and production. And I hope that Holmgren failed to realize just how much it will piss off Browns fans if getting Cribbs taken care of is not among his first actions as the Browns new czar.

Everyone is excited about Holmgren because of his pedigree and the long list of successes on his resume. But he will be getting off on a very tenuous foot with Browns fans, and the locker room (I’d presume), if he allows Cribbs to continue to be treated like this. There is simply no objective, well thought out reason for how the Browns are handling this.

Pay the man, Mike Holmgren.

Pay Josh Cribbs.

Incredibly, Cribbs is not even asking for Roscoe Parrish/Andre Davis money. According to reports I’ve read, Cribbs is looking for between $2.5-$3 million plus incentives. I realize that the Browns shouldn’t be hamstrung by the poor contracts signed by other teams, but they do have to respect the basic landscape of the market.

Ask Mike Holmgren if the market influenced what his agent asked for when he was negotiating with Randy Lerner. You know it did.

I am going to trust that at some point, cooler and wiser heads will prevail in Berea and this will get done. I simply do not see what leverage the Browns have here, other than the obvious leverage that Cribbs is under contract and has to play for Cleveland for his current salary if he wants to play football next year and the team chooses not to trade/pay him.

But the PR disaster of such a move, in my opinion, would be far worse than another 5-11 season.

Josh Cribbs is a special player, a special person, and has a very special relationship with the city he plays in and the fans who cheer for him. Even if the Browns (erroneously) only think that Cribbs’ on-field abilities make him worth $1.4 million per year, Randy Lerner needs to understand that Cribbs’ overall value to the organization is worth, at least, the $1.1-1.6 million difference in what he’s seeking.

There is only one way this ends well for the Browns: pay the man! (Or, as scores of pissed off Browns fans say on Twitter, #paytheman.)

Mike Holmgren and Randy Lerner will certainly be galvanizing their fan base if they choose to let this Cribbs nonsense linger through the offseason. It just won’t be in the direction they’re hoping for as the Holmgren Era kicks off.

The Josh Cribbs Era has been alive in Cleveland since 2005, and Cribbs has been underpaid since 2007. It’s time for the Browns to fix this very fixable situation.

Otherwise, the unthinkable could happen: Josh Cribbs could “not set foot in that facility again.”

The Browns have an amazingly loyal fan base, but don’t think that there isn’t a portion of them that might strongly consider doing the exact same thing themselves if their favorite player continues to be treated like he doesn’t matter.

Pay the man, Mike Holmgren. And do it now. It doesn’t speak very highly of your judgment if one of your first decisions is to alienate the second most important player you’re inheriting.

Unless, of course, you have some irrationally diabolical plan to piss everyone off right off the bat. And if that’s the case, congrats. You’ve succeeded.

Now stop playing games and treat Josh Cribbs like he deserves to be treated. Enough is enough. Pay him.

Update: A couple of quick points I want to add after discussing this issue with a few other people who have been following it:

1. Holmgren went down a similar road with his superstar left tackle Walter Jones in Seattle and Jones always showed up and played. Good point.
2. There is still a looooong time between now and the regular season. It is perfectly understandable why the Cribbs camp would want to dig in their heels right off the bat, but there is plenty of time for the organization to get something done and have everything be hunky-dory come training camp time.

With all that said, it is still inexcusable that it got to this point.

Whatever excuses anyone wants to make about Holmgren only having three days on the job, there being a long time until training camp, blah, blah, blah…the fact remains that this has been strung out long enough. Cribbs deserves better than to have to fight a PR battle with the Browns.

So make any excuses you want for the Browns/Lerner/Holmgren. At the end of the day, the organization has created a situation in which a player who has proven his loyalty now feels like Cribbs feels. It is not Josh Cribbs’ fault that there has been so much turnover in the organization.

The whole thing is unacceptable, and though I’m calling out Mike Holmgren above because he’s the new “czar” and has the power to get things done, the buck really stops with Randy Lerner on this one. He should make sure Cribbs gets taken care of, and so far he has not.

Update: Our buddy Scott over at Waiting For Next Year has a predictably fair and balanced post on the Josh Cribbs contract mess in Cleveland. And so does Cleveland Frowns, who looks at it from the Browns’ perspective. (And no, I’m not just saying that because they quoted/linked to our article.)

**********

* – Josh Cribbs photo credit: Cleveland.com

* – Mike Holmgren photo credit: The Scores Report

Congratulations are in order for the two players who clearly the best players on the Cleveland Browns roster, and have been so for three years running.

Joshua Cribbs, quite possible the most complete and dominant special teams player in the history of the NFL, and Joe Thomas, the Browns’ left tackle for the next decade, have both been named to the Pro Bowl, according to numerous reports.

I’ll provide credit to the first place I saw the news of Cribbs’ and Thomas’ Pro Bowl selection: PFT.

Per a league source, left tackle Joe Thomas has been named to the AFC Pro Bowl roster for the third time in three NFL seasons.

Also, receiver Josh Cribbs will make his second Pro Bowl appearance.  He previously made it onto the roster in 2007.

Congrats to both players, who are extremely deserving of this honor. I challenge anyone to provide evidence why either Cribbs or Thomas should not be going to Miami the week before the Super Bowl.

And I shall take to task the first commenter on the PFT post linked above, who said the following:

Cleveland is better off trading both. They have bigger holes to fill besides a stinkin KR and a tackle. CJ Spiller, Colt Mccoy, drafting those 2 might help us a lot. Also trading for a WR like Terrell Owens, Dwayne Bowe would help a lot too.

This is such an asinine comment I almost feel silly countering it.

First of all, the only position on the field more important than quarterback is left tackle. The Browns have one of the league’s best and made the right call in selecting Thomas at #3 over the available Adrian Peterson.

As for Cribbs, not only do the Browns have the best special teams player in the history of the NFL (go ahead, counter that…I dare you), but he is the perfect kind of team-first, high-character guy to help lead a rebuilding process. If attitude were dollars, Cribbs would already be paid $10+ million per year. As it is, he is due a fat new contract, which should be forthcoming sometime soon.

Colt McCoy? Please. He’s a career backup. CJ Spiller? A very talented back who could easily become Reggie Bush at the NFL level. T.O.? Dwayne Bowe? Sure, both would help out at wide receiver, but neither would be a difference maker for the Browns.

Clearly the Browns need a QB, more talent at WR, and better talent overall on defense. But no one can dispute that Joe Thomas and Joshua Cribbs are part of the solution.

Congrats to both on being named to the Pro Bowl, a well-deserved honor for each.

**********

* – Joe Thomas photo credit: Tracy Boulian/The Plain Dealer via The Plain Dealer

* – Joshua Cribbs photo credit: Gregory Shamus, Getty Images via FanHouse

Per two recent tweets by TheOBR, citing a WEWS report that I have heard elsewhere as well, Browns QB Brady Quinn will miss the rest of the season and will be replaced by Derek Anderson.

WEWS is reporting that Brady Quinn will be placed on the IR after an injury suffered in a QB sneak. Anderson will start Sunday.

QUINN OUT FOR SEASON…E Mangini announced that Quinn was placed on IR with a foot injury suffered against the Chiefs–Fred Greetham

Did anyone else even realize that Quinn got hurt on Sunday? I guess I must have missed it in the excitement over Jerome Harrison and Joshua Cribbs.

Luckily, with Oakland on the schedule this Sunday, the Browns shouldn’t have to do too much passing. We saw how that worked out with Anderson as the starter earlier this year.

For the season, Quinn thew 8 TDs and had a QB rating of 67.2.

Just came across Mike Florio’s recent 10-Pack at SportingNews.com.

In this week’s edition he analyzes the ten immediate actions that Mike Holmgren should take in his effort to turn around the Browns. While most of the suggestions are fairly solid and well-reasoned (especially the “Pay Josh Cribbs” one!), this one almost made me fall out of my chair:

Under the heading “Hire Mangini’s Replacement” Florida writes the following:

One obvious candidate is Jim Mora, who might be out in Seattle, depending on who the team’s next general manager is.

If Holmgren hopes to have an active role in the Xs and Os, Jim Zorn makes sense, too. He has experience in the top job, and he’d surely defer to any guidance or suggestions Holmgren might make.

Of course, if Holmgren really wants to get involved, he can coach the team himself, something he has not yet ruled out.

Yes, like many other Browns fans reading this, I threw up a little bit in my mouth when I read that.

Jim Mora has done so poorly in his first season with the Seahawks (replacing Holmgren) that he might be ousted when the Seahawks hire a new GM. Whoo-hoo!

Jim Zorn has done so poorly during his two seasons in Washington that his power has been all but completely usurped and the Redskins’ owner is galavanting about town courting Mike Shanahan. Whoo-hoo!

And Mike Holmgren once was a very successful coach, but got burnt out in Seattle and has now reached an age when many coaches who were formerly successful struggle to climb the mountain again. Whoo-hoo!

So, as far as I’m concerned, Florio went 0-3 in offering potential head coach choices that would inspire me to be hopeful. Then, after I tweeted about this article, someone I respect sent me a direct message on Twitter that said the following:

At least he didn’t throw out Morninwheg like everyone else. I’ll be really ticked if that’s the direction Holmgren goes.

You remember Marty Morninwheg right? Yes, that Marty Morninwheg who somehow made the Detroit Lions worse and whose claim to fame is winning the toss in overtime and deciding to kick.

Brilliant.

I think I need some Pepto Bismol quickly or I’m going hurl all over my computer.

So, to recap, here are the names that I’ve read as being potential head coach candidates in the Cleveland next year:

• Jim Mora (failure in Seattle)
• Jim Zorn (failure in Washington)
• Mike Holmgren (failure his last season in Seattle and now older)
• Marty Morninwheg (failure in life for kicking in OT)

Ladies and gentleman, welcome to being a Cleveland Browns fan…where hope springs eternal!

**********

* – Jim Zorn photo credit: Taylor-Made Tirade

For the last few weeks, the following historical question has been asked: could we have two undefeated teams in the Superbowl?

That question was answered this week on the NFL Network’s Saturday Night Football when the Dallas Cowboys handed the New Orleans Saints their first loss of the season. The Saints loss left the Indianapolis Colts as the NFL’s lone unbeaten team at 14-0 (coincidentally, the same regular season record that the Miami Dolphins had in 1972).

So we now that the Colts are #1, but do the Saints hang onto their #2 ranking? Read on to find out.

(Also, as a little treat, make sure to read to the end of this week’s rankings for a little surprise, and a Christmas gift from a writer to his editor.)

1. Indianapolis Colts  (14-0)

Only one remains.

The Colts extended their streak to 23 regular season wins after a tough battle with Jacksonville that saw nine lead changes before the Colts struck the final blow on Peyton Manning’s 65 yard pass to Reggie Wayne.

This team is seemingly clicking on almost all cylinders.

Joseph Addai and the running back committee have been running more effectively, and Dallas Clark now has five touchdowns in the last two games. The only question remaining is how long will Jim Caldwell play the starters, and will this team achieve perfection?

2. New Orleans Saints (13-1)

It’s been quite a while since the city of New Orleans has experienced a loss on the football field, but with very little to play for in terms of playoff positioning, the Saints came out flat against a desperate Dallas team that opened up a 14-0 lead early. New Orleans made a strong charge, falling just short at the end of this game and lost 24-17.

Without a doubt, this is still the best team in the NFC, and a loss may actually do them more good than harm; only time will tell.

3. San Diego Chargers (11-3)

Nine in a row. This team is hot and it seems that they are most likely on a collision course with undefeated Indianapolis in the AFC Championship game.

Be afraid Indy. Be very afraid.

Philip Rivers continues to play at a very high level, and the Chargers are rallying around him and coach Norv Turner. This is one team NO ONE wants to see in the playoffs,

4. Minnesota Vikings (11-3)

Here come the “I-told-you-so-ers”.

• He’s too old.
• He doesn’t have enough in the tank.
• Blah blah friggin blah.

Brett Favre and the Vikings are just fine. They have secured a playoff spot, and will likely own the #2 seed and a bye in the first round of the playoffs, which will provide plenty of rest for the “old man” and his compadres.

I see New Orleans as the only team that will be able to knock the Vikes out of the playoffs, and that won’t happen until the NFC Championship.

5. Philadelphia Eagles (10-4)

The Eagles have once again held onto their lead in the NFC East, and with a win or a Dallas loss, can clinch the division this coming week.

It seems that no one can even begin to stop DeSean Jackson, and perhaps no one is trying.

Philly could end up posing problems for several NFC Playoff teams, but I just don’t see them being as good as Minnesota or New Orleans.

6. Cincinnati Bengals (9-5)

What a terrible week for the Bengals.

First, the unfortunate, tragic passing of Chris Henry occurred early this week, then a heart breaking loss to San Diego on Sunday put the cap on a very dark week for this franchise and the NFL as a whole. Even Chad Ochocinco could do nothing more than drop to his knees in honor of his fallen teammate.

7. Green Bay Packers (9-5)

Now Green Bay knows Arizona’s pain. Pittsburgh did it again with a leaning tip-toe-touching catch in the closing seconds for the one point victory. Green Bay played very well in this game, and at 9-5 will likely make the playoffs as a Wild Card entry (they clinch with one win.)

8. New England Patriots (9-5)

New England may have won against the Bills, and with Miami’s loss have all but clinched the AFC East; but I’m still not buying them. With teams like Indianapolis and San Diego playing as well as they are, a 17-10 victory over a horrible Buffalo team does not inspire my confidence in the Patriots as a contender.

This defense is not a Bellichick defense. Perhaps in a couple of years they may prove me wrong, but at this point, I consider New England to be a disappointment. I may be biased in saying this, but I’m not sure they have completely put the debacle in Indy behind them.

9. Arizona Cardinals (9-5)

Arizona is a good team, don’t get me wrong, but I feel that they are one of those teams that, in a different division, a tougher division, would not have as good a record. That being said, they have clinched their division, and even have a shot at Minnesota’s second seed in very extreme circumstances.

10. Dallas Cowboys (9-5)

My jaw is still on the floor. Dallas shocked not only this writer, but the entire NFL world on Saturday, as they put their December skid to a stop. What’s more important for Big D is that they remain within one game of Philly for the NFC East, and move one game closer to clinching a spot in the playoffs.

11. Denver Broncos (8-6)

12. Baltimore Ravens (8-6)

The Broncos have now lost six of their last eight games, and despite the fact that they and the Ravens are tied and hold the two wild card spots in the AFC, neither team, by any means, has secured that spot with still two games to go.

Jacksonville, Tennessee, Miami, Pittsburgh, Houston, and the New York Jets are all waiting in the wings at 7-7, and for the most part, all are playing very good football. This AFC wild card race is proving to be one hell of a show, and I don’t think we’ll know who is in and who is out until the last bell rings in week 17.

13. Jacksonville Jaguars (7-7)

14. Miami Dolphins (7-7)

These two teams have a lot in common.

They are both from Florida, both are coming off of tough losses to AFC South teams, and most of all, both are only one game out of the Wild card races. Either of these two teams could make a run into the playoffs.

Jacksonville gave all they had against the undefeated Colts and came up just short while Miami made an impressive come-from-behind surge to send it to overtime, only to lose by a field goal in OT.

15. Cleveland Browns (3-11)

Ok…I know what your saying….

“With all of those teams racing for the wild card spots in the AFC why the hell is Cleveland at 15????”

Simple. These rankings are not just based solely on the season, but recent performance, and despite Brady Quinn’s despicable performance, the amazing abilities of Joshua Cribbs and Jerome Harrison combined to give Cleveland their first win streak of the season after their victory against K.C.

OK, so I get it…that’s still not enough, but for all of those Cleveland fans, such as our own Jerod Morris, I wanted to provide a little ray of sunshine in what has been another rough season in Browns Town.

The good news for the franchise is that it looks as though Mike Holmgren is going to take over operations for the franchise, which could mean the dismissal of coach Eric Mangini.

So there is a silver lining for Browns fans out there. Hang on, there may be hope for the future.

Merry Christmas Browns Fans (and Jerod)….

Just Missed the Cut – Tennessee Titans, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans, New York Jets

I would like to send very special holiday wishes out to our troops, and their families, who are risking their lives this Christmas in what has become the longest war in American History. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, and it is my wish that next year you will truly be “Home for Christmas”

[Editor's note: Amen to that Myles.]

What a difference a couple of weeks (and wins) can make.

Sitting at 1-11, the conventional wisdom was that Eric Mangini was basically coaching out the string, essentially a placeholder for whoever the Browns future “football czar” were to choose to be the new head coach.

After two straight victories – importantly, one of them against arch-nemesis Pittsburgh – two of the most influential voices in Browns Nation have now publicly pledged their support for Mangini.

None other than Joshua Cribbs and Jim Brown.

Here are a couple of excerpts that are extremely telling of just how much better the Browns have played over the last two weeks:

From Peter King’s MMQB column today, which included the following Josh Cribbs comments on Eric Mangini:

I asked Cribbs Sunday after the game: If you polled all the players on the team, what would be the vote on whether to keep or get rid of Mangini?

“I think it’d be unanimous,” Cribbs said. “I think the guys would definitely want to keep him. You can’t judge coach Mangini on one year. The camaraderie in the locker room is great. You hear things in the media about coach Mangini being too tough on us. But I think we’re building something here, and I think the players are behind him.”

And from James Walker’s AFC North blog on ESPN.com, which included the following Jim Brown comments on Eric Mangini:

Following Sunday’s win, Brown, an executive advisor for team owner Randy Lerner, said Mangini should be back in 2010. Brown believes the team is improving with “a lot of young people who we don’t know who are playing good football.” Brown also said he didn’t want to contradict his boss.

I cannot think of two people more important for Mangini to have on his side than Brown and Cribbs.

Brown is obviously the most legendary Brown of all, and someone whose word still carries immense influence both inside and outside of Berea.

Cribbs is the most beloved and decorated current Brown, whose effort and selflessness endear him to everyone. Add in the fact that he now holds the NFL record for career kickoff return TDs, and is the most complete and explosive special teams player in the NFL, and he has emerged as a bona fine NFL superstar.

Remember earlier this year when the Browns looked listless as they lost game after game after game in embarrassing fashion? And remember when Jamal Lewis was extremely critical of his coach publicly?  I think it is now fair to ask if perhaps Lewis was a lone wolf, balking at a routine that was different from what he had known under more laid back regimes in Baltimore and under Romeo Crennel.

Jamal Lewis was placed on IR on December 2nd. At the time, the Browns were 1-10. Since then, the Browns are 2-1 after battling the hottest team in the NFL, San Diego, to a 7-point defeat, and then beating the Steelers and Chiefs in back-to-back weeks.

I’m not close enough to team to draw any sort of direct correlation between Lewis’ absence and the drastically improved play and attitude of the team (at least from my vantage point), but I do think that the timeline is interesting.

Either way, Mangini’s job status has gone from a foregone conclusion to very much an unknown – and rightfully so. The Browns were dreadful for the first three months of the season, but the fact that they are winning games in December with so many starters injured has got to come back to the head coach in the form of credit. Doesn’t it?

Had the Browns simply played out the strong and continued losing badly, the decision for the future czar would have been easy. But if the Browns get to four or five wins and Mangini has Jim Brown, Joshua Cribbs, and the majority of the locker room in his favor, he just may have done enough to buy himself another year.

And with the way the team has played the last two weeks, I no longer think that would automatically be such a bad idea.

**********

* – Eric Mangini photo credit: Sports Full Circle

Thirteen days before the beginning of a new decade, the Cleveland Browns await the decision that could very well dictate just how fruitful said decade will be.

Mike Holmgren, who met with Browns’ brass earlier this week, is expected to announce today whether or not he will accept Randy Lerner’s offer to become the head of the Browns’ football operations.

With Seattle apparently not wanting Holmgren back – or least not publicly showing any signs of wanting him back – and Washington announcing the hiring of Bruce Allen, it is expected that Holmgren will accept the daunting task of turning the Cleveland Browns into a winning franchise again.

From Tony Grossi’s column this morning on the impending Mike Holmgren decision on the Browns’ offer:

Mike Holmgren may disclose on his weekly radio show in Seattle today whether he will accept a conditional Browns’ offer to become their new senior executive of football operations.

And even if he doesn’t tip his hand, signs point to Holmgren taking the job contingent on finalizing a deal with the club.

In breaking their silence Thursday on Holmgren’s two-day visit to their facility, the Browns did not deny a report that the job had been offered.

One of the not-so-secret secrets of the waltz that the Browns and Mike Holmgren have been engaged in is that Holmgren has some interest in returning to Seattle. However, many recent reports have suggested that the Seahawks are not interesting in bringing him back.

I have to admit, this gave me a little bit of pause.

Holmgren was in Seattle from 1999-2008 and helped make the franchise a consistent winner in the NFC. He groomed Matt Hasselbeck into a legitimate Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback. He even took the Seahawks to a Super Bowl that, with different officials, just might have been won by the Seahawks.

So why wouldn’t they want him back? Is he that much of an a-hole? Did his energy level and drive dip that much during his final season? Considering that Randy Lerner is about to make a $10 million investment in the man, these and other such questions are certainly legitimate.

I felt a little better today after reading this article by Steve Kelley in the Seattle Times, who basically said that the Seahawks had one final chance to “do the right thing” before Holmgren makes his decision on the Browns’ offer.

Inexplicably, Holmgren has been courted by Cleveland, while Seattle, the franchise that knew him for 10 years, publicly has given him the silent treatment. The place that knows him the best is heralding him the least. It makes no sense.

…

The Seahawks need somebody with a whole lot of wisdom and NFL experience, who will surround himself with top-rung lieutenants, to replace recently resigned general manager Tim Ruskell.

The Seahawks need Holmgren.

Kelley goes onto explain that the primary reason why the Seahawks have not expressed in Holmgren is because of a few “skirmishes” that some of the holdovers from Holmgren’s regime had with him. Kelley says it’s time for perceived wrongs and egos to be put aside to bring Holmgren back because it is in the best interests of their rebuilding franchise.

And when you look at Holmgren’s resume, it is certainly hard to argue.

He is a student of the Bill Walsh school of passing offense and breathed in more football knowledge than most people have forgotten during his tenure with the 49ers as an assistant from 1986-1991. He then went on to coach the Green Bay Packers from 1992-1998, winning 67% of his games, a Super Bowl, and helping to turn a reclamation project (Brett Favre) into a Hall of Fame QB.

Holmgren then went to Seattle, which had been awful for years, and won 56.3% of his games, captured four straight NFC West titles, and led the team to the aforementioned Super Bowl.

Simply put, Mike Holmgren has been successful everywhere he has been. The Cleveland Browns, on the other hand, have failed with every leadership team that has been brought in since the franchise returned. Kelley may think that the Seahawks need Mike Holmgren, but the Cleveland Browns need someone, anyone who brings a winning pedigree and can supply a successful vision for the future.

There isn’t anyone else out there right now who fits that bill like Holmgren. If he decides to accept Randy Lerner’s offer today, Christmas will have come early for Browns fans. And if that does happen, the next question would be whether or not Holmgren’s arrival amounts to a lump of coal for Eric Mangini.

Let’s all hope that after today that is the question we are pondering, while actually believing in – based on past successes – the person who will be making the decision.

*********

* – Mike Holmgren photo credit: STEPHEN BRASHEAR / AP via Seattle Times

We’re going to open this week’s Power Rankings with another moment dedicated to MSF Editor-in-Chief, Jerod Morris.

The Cleveland Browns get mentioned for the first time this season in a positive light today, after their win over Pittsburgh, who are now losers of six straight, and likely out of the playoffs.

So, congratulations Cleveland and, of course, Jerod.

This was the Super Bowl for the Browns, and you won.

[Editor's Note: Thank you Myles. It was quite a week for Browns fans, many of whom - like myself - are still on Cloud 9 after last Thursday's thrilling W. Thus, to make this week's Power Rankings even more of a tribute to the Browns, I have chosen a very special song to provide our Week 15 NFL Power Rankings mood music.

Click the play button below (or click here if you don't see a play button), then proceed onto Myles' personal, one-man circle jerk otherwise known as his #1 and #2 spots in the rankings.]

Now onto the teams we actually care about:

1. Indianapolis Colts  (13-0)

2. New Orleans Saints (13-0)

Both of these teams have continued their pursuit for perfection, and deserve to be at the top of the list. New Orleans squeaked by Atlanta, and Indy, as they usually do, handled Denver despite Brandon Marshall’s record setting day.

The Saints have now clinched a first round bye, and find themselves only one win (or Minny loss) from clinching home field. However, the #1 spot goes to the Colts this week for several reasons.

The Colts have now set the record for consecutive regular season wins at 22, as well as amassing 114 wins this decade, which is a new NFL record, and of course, the Colts have now secured seven straight seasons of twelve wins or more, also an NFL record.

They have also clinched home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

The question for both of these teams, especially the Colts, is when do you rest your starters? And is perfection worth risking the health of players like Peyton Manning and Drew Brees? How much can you rest them without making them rusty?

[Editor's note: Umm...what kind of a cop-out is this? You just ask questions and don't give your opinion? Lame-o...]

3. Minnesota Vikings (11-2)

The Vikes bounced back in a big way after last week’s loss with a convincing 30-10 win over the Bengals.

Adrian Peterson found the endzone twice, and the Vikings have now clinched a wild card birth at the very least, while moving only one game away from clinching the NFC North and a round one bye.

4. San Diego Chargers (10-3)

These guys just keep rolling.

While the Cowboys can’t win in December, the Chargers seemingly can’t lose in December as they win their 15th straight December game and eighth in a row this season to move into sole possession of the second seed in the AFC.

This may perhaps be the most dangerous team in the AFC right now, and with one more win, they will clinch the AFC West.

[Editor's note: I like how you didn't qualify your "most dangerous team in the AFC right now" statement with "other than the Colts", and it shows just how terrified you pansy Colts fans are of the Chargers. I think everyone in the NFL, most notably Peyton Manning, knows that San Diego has the Colts' number. Indy has been squeaking by teams that are not nearly as good as San Diego. Philip Rivers is actually good enough to pull out a late win versus Peyton.

So, in conclusion, you are right. San Diego is the most dangerous team in the AFC right now. Period.]

5. Cincinnati Bengals (9-4)

Even with the loss, the Bengals are still in good position in the AFC North with Pittsburgh’s shocking loss to Cleveland. Baltimore is still on their heels, however, at only two games back of the AFC North lead.

The bad news for Cincy is that they have now fallen a game behind San Diego for the second seed, and San Diego, with the exception of Indy and the Saints, is the hottest team in the NFL right now.

6. Green Bay Packers (9-4)

Green Bay has kept their playoff hopes very alive, and the Packers have moved closer to a wild card birth.

Ryan Grant had a career day with 137 yards by ground and two touchdowns Sunday against the Bears. While Aaron Rodgers had a relatively quiet day, with only 180 yards and no touchdown or interceptions, he continue to do a great job leading this team to what Green Bay hopes is a deep playoff run.

7. Philadelphia Eagles (9-4)

Now, the Eagles control their own destiny. With Dallas’ loss and Philly’s win against the Giants, Philly takes sole possession of the lead in the NFC East with only three games to play.

McNabb and Vick are beginning to make a tough match-up tandem for defenses as Andy Reid learns when and where to play Vick as the season proceeds. And DeSean Jackson once again has proved he is a superstar in the making, netting 178 yards and a score, which accounted for over half of the Eagles’ passing attack.

[Editor's note: How great would a Philly-Green Bay playoff matchup be? Philly's explosive offense and DJax going up against Green Bay's Charles Woodson-led secondary. Remember, Green Bay gives up a lot of passing TDs, yet the Eagles have corners who could match up with Donald Driver and Greg Jennings to make things difficult on Aaron Rodgers. I love how the Packers are playing right now, but I don't think the Eagles would present a particularly favorable matchup for them.]

8. New England Patriots (8-5)

Even with the win, controversy is surrounding New England with whispers of the ghosts of Randy Moss coming to life. Is Moss finally going off the deep end, or was it just a bad week?

The Pats must not forget that the surging Dolphins are only a game back, just looking for the chance to take over the AFC East. Can the Master bring his locker room back together and make a deep run into the playoffs?

9. Arizona Cardinals (8-5)

Arizona lost a division game to San Fran and drops to 8-5. The good news for the Cards is that they still control one of the weakest divisions in football, the NFC West.

10. Miami Dolphins (7-6)

Speaking of the Phins, here they are! Why are they above Dallas, who has a better record, you ask?

Simple.

It was posed to me earlier in the season as to why I would put a team ahead of another team when I wouldn’t pick them to win a game between the two. At this point, I would pick the Dolphins ten times out of ten to beat the Cowboys, who just can’t catch a break in December.

Miami is right in the thick of the AFC wildcard race, and only one game back of the Patriots in the AFC East.

[Editor's note: I can't disagree with you at all here. And it isn't it funny that Tony Sparano was the offensive line coach for the Cowboys just a couple of years ago. And Dallas also had a chance to hire Norv Turner. I wonder if Jerry Jones would like to have either of those guys over Phade Willips right now? I think so.]

11. Dallas Cowboys (8-5)

I don’t know if I really want to spend too much time talking about the Cowboys when I can sum up everything with one simple word:

December

However, our hopes and prayers go out to DeMarcus Ware and his family after his nasty injury on Sunday. The latest I have heard is that he is doing much better, but it was a very scary moment, as it always is, to watch the medical staff tend to him and take him off the field on a stretcher. I may not be a Cowboy’s fan, but I wish DeMarcus the best in his recovery!

[Editor's note: Luckily it looked worse than it was. Ware might even play this weekend.]

12. Jacksonville Jaguars (7-6)

Following their disappointing loss to Miami, Jacksonville finds themselves in a dog fight for the AFC Wildcard.

Jaguars QB David Garrard was sacked on fourth-and-3 with just over a minute remaining near midfield. Jacksonville still managed another possession with 17 seconds left, but Garrard was dropped again at his own 17-yard line to end the game.

Jacksonville must forget this loss and press on if they want to make the playoffs. Their next challenge is undefeated Indianapolis on Thursday night.

13. Denver Broncos (8-5)

Denver falls again to Indianapolis, and while it’s not a season ending loss, and Denver is currently leading the AFC Wild Card race, it would be very beneficial to the Broncos if they can win out.

One other big question for Denver is the health of Correl Buckhalter.

Knowshon Moreno is having a great season, but he is beginning to show signs of being tired. A strong second back will be necessary for Denver to hold on to their Wild Card lead.

14. Baltimore Ravens (7-6)

Baltimore pushed themselves back into Wild Card contention with their 48-3 destruction of the Detroit Lions.

Ray Rice has been nothing short of completely amazing for the Ravens this year, and this game was no different as he complied over 200 yards of total offense and reached the endzone once.

Don’t count the Ravens out, they may very well be the dark horse of this year’s playoffs, provided they make it there.

15. New York Giants (7-6)

The Giants fall back to the bottom of the list with their disappointing loss to the Eagles.

They aren’t out of the playoffs, but things are beginning to look bleak for 2008’s Superbowl winners, and winning out may be the only chance they have of making the playoffs.

The good news for New York is that Dallas is one of the teams they must catch up to, and it is December.

Just Missed the Cut – Tennessee Titans, Atlanta Falcons

I realize that the question posed in the title of this post probably sounded absurd to you when you first read it, but should that be the case?

Look, we all know how bad the Browns have been this year. They’ve won one game: a 6-3 road “victory” over the hapless Buffalo Bills who have since fired the head coach who presided over that horrific war of gridiron attrition. And most weeks, they have not even been competitive.

And when they are competitive, they lose to the Lions.

Add to that the fact that the Browns have already fired a GM who was on the job for less than a year and that their best player, Shaun Rogers, is injured and out for the season.

There really is not a lot of hope to cling to here.

But consider these facts about the Steelers: they’ve lost four games in a row, are coming off of a 4th quarter home collapse to the Raiders, and they are still without the lynch-pin of their defense, Troy Polamalu.

So I will repeat the question: could the Browns actually beat the Steelers tonight on Thursday Night Football?

Quickly, here are the particulars for tonight’s game from our NFL Week 14 picks and TV schedule post, including my pick from Monday morning when the lines were first posted:

Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6) at Cleveland Browns (1-the rest of ‘em)

• Steelers-Browns Date: Thursday, December 10
• Steelers-Browns Kickoff Time: 8:20
• Steelers-Browns TV Network: NFLN
• Steelers-Browns Announcers: Bob Papa and Matt Millen
• Steelers-Browns Point Spread: Steelers -10
• Steelers-Browns Over-Under Odds: 36.5
• Steelers-Browns Spread Pick (from Monday): You have no idea how badly I want to pick the Browns here. I really do. And there is a part of me that even thinks it’s a good pick since the game is in Cleveland. But I just…can’t…do…it. Maybe I’ve just seen too many Cleveland massacres at the hands of Pittsburgh, but I can’t wrap my mind around this year’s Browns keeping it within double-digits against a QB and a team that owns us, especially when that team absolutely has their back against the wall. I hope I’m wrong. Steelers-Browns free pick: Steelers -10

As you can see, I really wanted to pick the Browns then – and that was just to cover – and I’d really like to pick them now as having a legit opportunity win.

Hines Ward is dinged up and there is a possibility that he might not play tonight, which is another notch on the we-have-a-chance side of things.

But sadly, I have just become too conditioned to expect disastrous performances, especially against Pittsburgh, to be able to answer my own question in the affirmative.

Ben Roethlisberger owns the Cleveland Browns, and for some reason the Browns tend to save their worst football for when they are at home. Yes, they kept the final score against the Chargers respectable, and they almost beat the Bengals at home earlier this year, but Cleveland also got murdered by the Packers, Ravens, and Vikings in front of their home fans.

I think that tonight we will something in between those extremes. I don’t think Cleveland will get embarrassed, but I certainly don’t have enough faith in Brady Quinn and his frighteningly young receiving corps to make a public proclamation that Cleveland can defeat a two-time Super Bowl winning QB and the rest of the Steelers.

Remember, despite being 6-6 and dropping four in a row, Pittsburgh is in a crowded field of teams that are one game behind Jacksonville for the final Wild Card spot. a 10-6 record will almost certainly net a playoff spot, with 9-7 a possibility. These are still the defending champs and their back is firmly planted against the wall.

Ward or not, Polamalu or not, home or away, hot or cold, I just don’t think Pittsburgh loses this game.

If given the chance, I might change my spread pick – might – as Cleveland could very well keep the final score in the single digits. However, until Brady shows me that he can win a close game in the 4th quarter, I won’t believe that he’ll be able to do it against one of the masters of such feats.

Browns-Steelers prediction: Steelers 28 | Browns 17

Update: This is why I love Twitter. Immediately upon tweeting about this post, I received some great feedback from our friends at Thunder Treats (@thundertreats):

I totally agree with you’re post, but will the cold and snow be a factor too? Could the snow replace Rogers as the best on D?

This is a great point. Weather.com has snow in the forecast for this evening, which could really make things tricky for the offenses and reduce the explosiveness that we’ve seen out of the Steelers’ passing game this year.

But it will do the same for the Browns, and perhaps even be even more detrimental because the Steelers actually have a running game with Rashard Mendenhall. The Browns, however, no longer have behemoth Jamal Lewis to churn out the tough yards in cold weather. Rather, we have Jerome Harrison and Chris Jennings, neither of whom has proven himself at the NFL level as the kind of between-the-tackles back who can carry an offense in bad weather.

Brady Quinn will need help from his running game tonight, and I’m not sure he can get it.

Thus, in response to the tweet from Thunder Treats, I do think that the snow will be a factor, but I don’t think it improves Cleveland’s chances much, if at all. Oakland came back on Pittsburgh by taking advantage of holes deep in the secondary thanks to Polamalu’s absence. In bad weather, will the vertical passing game even be available? If it’s not, and I Harrison’s shiftiness in the passing game is hindered by the field conditions, the Browns’ O could really sputter.

Revised prediction, taking the weather into account: Steelers 21 | Browns 10

Now that I’ve given two predictions, I figure it’s only fair to let you have your say:

**********

* – Ben Roethlisberger photo credit: AP Photo/ Gene J. Puskar via PennLive.com

We are now more than 2 1/2 years into the NFL careers of the players who were drafted in 2007.

If you scroll down the list of first round draftees, several names will jump out at you of players who have already carved out solid beginnings to their careers.

In a few cases, some of the first round draftees from 2007 have proven to be franchise cornerstones worthy of high picks: Calvin Johnson, Joe Thomas, Adrian Peterson, Patrick Willis, Darrelle Revis, Ted Ginn Jr, to name a few.

In other cases, however, the players drafted in 2007 have proven to be worth far less than what their draft position might suggest. This is no more evident than with respect to the two QBs drafted in the first round in 2007: JaMarcus Russell and Brady Quinn.

My goodness, what wasted first round picks those two are proving to be.

And amazingly, Russell and Quinn are not alone. Several other QBs were taken in 2007, none of whom have amounted to much of anything. Let’s review the carnage.

First, we have to examine the combined ineptitude of Russell and Quinn. Let’s start with the caveat that both players were drafted by teams that have spent most of the last decade defining the word futility. Any quarterback would have struggled in the situations that Russell and Quinn have been in.

With that said, bad franchises take QBs in the first round specifically so that they can emerge from their futility and become competitive. The Raiders and Browns have stayed the same, if not regressed, since deciding to take these two in the first round.

And it has culminated in this, from Pro Football Talk today, in which MDS breaks down (via Adam Schefter) the possibility of the Browns or Raiders breaking the all-time NFL record for fewest points in a 16-game season (currently held by the 1992 Seattle Seahawks, 140 points):

…both the Cleveland Browns and the Oakland Raiders have a shot at the record this season. Nine games into 2009, the Browns have scored 78 points, putting them on pace to finish with 139 and break the 1992 Seahawks’ record.

And if the Browns don’t break the Seahawks’ record, the Raiders might: Having scored 88 points this season, Oakland is on pace to finish with 156. If Bruce Gradkowski manages the superhuman feat of being a worse quarterback than JaMarcus Russell, maybe the Raiders can come in under 140 as well.

Now, to be fair to Brady Quinn, he has not started the entire season. He was replaced by Derek Anderson after playing only 10 quarters. But that is perhaps even more of an indictment of Quinn’s failures, because we all saw how pathetic Anderson was.

Just take a look at Russell’s and Quinn’s career numbers. (I apologize in advance for not having sickness bags ready for the Browns and Raiders fans who are reading this.)

Brady Quinn:

• 2007 draft position: #22 overall
• Passer rating: 58.0
• Completion Percentage: 52.2%
• TD:INT ratio: 3:7
• Yards per attempt: 5.2
• Total passing yards: 1,071
• Large fines for cheap hits on opposing defenders after INTs: 1

JaMarcus Russell:

• 2007 draft position: #1 overall
• Passer rating: 65.5
• Completion Percentage: 51.6%
• TD:INT ratio: 17:21
• Yards per attempt: 6.0
• Total passing yards: 3,860
• Number of google results when you search “jamarcus russell poor work ethic”: 1,070,000

Thinking back to the 2007 NFL draft, and how big a deal was made about Brady Quinn dropping unexpectedly and being “embarrassed” as the cameras caught the disappointment on his face, it almost makes me laugh. Considering how he’s turned out, he should have been jumping for joy to be picked in the first round and get some guaranteed money; it’s the Browns and their fans who should have winced in agony.

But hindsight is always 20-20, as they say.

Okay, fine. So the two first round QBs of 2007 turned out to be putrid. Surely there must have been a diamond in the rough uncovered later in the draft, right? Well…

Kevin Kolb was taken with the 36th pick. He actually showed some promise this season, sporting an 88.9 QB rating in two starts. Still, he’s only played in 11 games over three seasons and has thrown seven INTs against only four TDs. But we’ll be generous and say the jury is still out on Kolb.

John Beck was taken with the 40th pick by the Miami Dolphins. He has thrown 107 career passes and is now a benchwarmer for the Ravens. Failure.

Drew Stanton was taken with the 43rd pick by the Detroit Lions. All you need to know about Stanton is that he has been so good the Lions took Matthew Stafford with their first pick in the last draft. Failure.

Trent Edwards was taken by the Bills with the 92nd pick. He has actually been the “best” QB from the 2007 draft…which is not saying much. He has at least played in 31 games for the team that drafted him though, and has a respectable (I guess) 78.0 QB rating with a 24:25 TD:INT ratio. I suppose this is not terrible production from a third round pick, but it’s not good for a draft class when this is the high water mark.

The Dallas Cowboys drafted Isaiah Stanback with the 103rd pick and then promptly switched him to WR, where he now plays for the Patriots. Go 2007 QB class! Go!

The Bengals drafted Jeff Rowe with the 151st pick. Who? Exactly.

The Ravens drafted Troy Smith with 174th pick. He made such an impression that they drafted Joe Flacco in the very next draft.

The Redskins drafted Jordan Palmer with the 205th pick. He now plays with his brother in Cincinnati and has done about as much in an NFL uniform as Jordan Farmar.

The Minnesota Vikings selected Tyler Thigpen in with the 217th pick in the 7th round. He was later dealt to Kansas City and now is in Miami. He at least put some decent stats for the Chiefs last year. Let’s put it this way, his 76.0 QB rating, 54.8% completion percentage, 2,608 yards, and 18:12 TD:INT ratio in 2008 are better than anything Quinn or Russell have even approached. And Thigpen played for a similarly crappy team.

Apparently 2007 was like some sort of bizarro draft in which QBs were drafted in inverse order of their future production. Am I embellishing a bit? Sure. But not by much.

So, in conclusion, the 2007 QB draft class featured two first round QBs, yet the two most productive players from that class have been a 3rd rounder who has oscillated in and out of the lineup and a 7th rounder who is now a backup with his third team.

In fact, it would not be unreasonable to state that the greatest contribution from the QB class of the 2007 NFL Draft is an iPhone app that tells you the most optimal times to take a wizz during a movie.

Now, I have neither the time nor the inclination to review each position from every draft in an effort to prove my hypothesis true. But I’d be willing to blindly bet $20 right now that there is not another position from a single draft more porous, putrid, and pathetic than the QBs from the 2007 NFL Draft.

If anyone wants to take the challenge, go right ahead. But you’ve got your work cut out for you. (So you probably shouldn’t ask JaMarcus Russell to help. In fact, shh…he’s taking a nap…the Raiders are in a meeting. )

**********

A couple of things struck me recently regarding how bad things are in 2009 for the Cleveland Browns and their fans.

Anyone who has watched a game this season knows just how bad the team is, but a few things have happened this week that go beyond the offensive offensive numbers (repetition intended) and the record to truly illustrate what a putrid season this has become.

First off, there may be no bigger indictment of the sorry state of the Browns than this: the Detroit Lions, a team that went 0-16 a year ago and has won only one game this year, is a 3.5 point favorite over the Browns this weekend.

But wait…there’s more.

Entering Week 11, which begins the stretch playoff run for any team worth half a crap, the biggest story involving the Cleveland Browns doesn’t even involve anyone on their own team. It revolves around whether a basketball player would make a good football player.

Even more amazing, it’s not just fans talking about it, but Browns players and coaches are addressing the issue as well. (Our friends at Waiting For Next Year also noted just how terrible of a sign this is for the Browns.)

When you’ve scored five touchdowns in 15 games, I guess you can’t really blame these guys for practicing a little bit of escapism. Plus, does anyone really doubt that LeBron James could throw on some pads and cleats tomorrow and become the biggest threat on the Browns’ offense?

Don’t get me wrong: as great as LeBron’s athletic ability is, that is much more of an indictment of the Browns than any faith I have in his football ability.

Cleveland fans should be careful though. They may be jinxing their King by mentioning him in the same sentence as the Browns. Is it a coincidence that on the same day all of this Lebron-on-the-Browns talk escalated that the Cavs lost to the Wizards and LeBron hurt his wrist?

Maybe…maybe not.

But perhaps nothing though sums up the 2009 Cleveland Browns season more than what happened at the end of the Browns-Ravens Monday Night game earlier this week.

The Browns called a timeout before their final play of the game, presumably to try something, anything, in a desperation move to avoid a shutout. On the ensuing play, the Browns’ only productive offensive player – Josh Cribbs – was injured while running around and lateraling the football. He had to be placed on a stretcher and taken to the hospital.

The problem is that it was the Browns fourth timeout of the second half. As we all know, teams only get three timeouts per half. And, of course, the Browns did not score on the play en route to a 16-0 home shutout loss.

The moral of the story? Even when fortune seemingly smiles down upon the Browns and throws them a bone (so to speak), it turns into a complete and utter disaster.

And that, ladies and gentleman, should be the name for the official Browns 2009 Season in Review DVD.

Complete and Utter Disaster.

It is the most apt description possible for a season that continues to just get worse and worse…and worse.

Oh, and if you think I’m just plaintively wallowing in woe-is-me nonsense all by my lonesome, do a quick Google Image search for “browns fans” and then examine the first page. There is nothing but Browns fans looking miserable (except for the strange picture of the lady dressed up as the Browns’ elf).

I guess seasons like this are what you sign up for when you become a Browns fan. But even by the Browns’ lofty standards, what has transpired this year has been pathetic.

Thanks for reading. I’m going to back to doing what Randy Lerner is probably doing right now: daydreaming.

**********

* – Browns fan photo credit: Tracy Boulian via the The Plain Dealer

There is no joy in Cleveland, the mighty Quinn has gone three and out; kick return man and wildcat Cribbs has gone down.

A fan at Cleveland Browns Stadium for the Monday Night debacle against the Ravens, held up a sign that said it all: “Hey, Baltimore, can you take this team, too?”

After suffering through another day of depression and frustration over the state of these Cleveland Browns’ pretenders, (remember, the Browns did not “come back” in 1999; late owner Al Lerner accepted a nameless, nearly talent-less expansion team and named it the Browns), Browns fans’ hope the end of the nine-game Coach Eric Mangini Era is near.

Even though Browns owner Randy Lerner said he would not fire his incompetent, arrogant little field general and dictator this season, a seriously injured Cribbs would have had Mangini packing, as well as his clueless offensive (yes, his lame playcalling is offensive) coordinator Brian Dabold.  Cribbs, a brilliant kick-off and punt return man, is a fan favorite and heart of the team.

It was in the final seconds of the 16-0 game that Cribbs was blindsided and knocked to the turf. This came after lateraling the ball to a teammate in a desperation mad dash to score six points. (Why? Because losing 16-6 would have looked better?)

The nearly empty stadium became even more silent as Browns and Ravens players surrounded Josh while he was lifted gently onto a stretcher. Cribbs was released Tuesday morning from the hospital, and Mangini, admitted in a conference call (yes, Coach opted to skip his regular face to face press conference)that he should not have allowed the hook-and-ladder play.

Brady Quinn did what he could with Daboll’s calls for five-yard bubble passes, a non-running game and receivers who let the ball slip through their hands. Game analysts figured Quinn had 2.5 seconds to take the snap, read the defense, find an open receiver and throw the ball — before getting leveled by Baltimore’s D.

After the last interception, Quinn tackled the wrong Raven too low, knocking his feet from under him and causing serious injury. This led Baltimore defense captain Ray Lewis to call Quinn out for the dirty hit. Quinn said he didn’t mean to hurt anyone — and I believe him.

Brady was so distraught, he probably didn’t know who had the ball.

Quinn has got to be lobbying his agent for a ticket out of Cleveland. Back-up quarterback Derek Anderson is also demoralized by Mangini and his schizophrenic quarterback shuffling.

The result is, neither Quinn nor Derek Anderson can move the offense into the red zone. Their egos are bruised, their confidence shot and trade value practically nil.

After a short practice week, the Browns head to Detroit to face the Lions on Sunday. (The first team to score a touchdown, wins the game.)

There is one flickering light at the end of the tunnel: Word came down from Berea Tuesday that Randy Lerner met with former Seattle Seahawks Head Coach Mike Holmgren about a director of Browns operations position, with authority over personnel — including the right to fire the coach.

One can only hope.

The Browns got their asses handed to them again last night in another embarrassing offensive performance that culminated in a 16-0 shutout.

But nothing the offense did (or didn’t do) could match the collective fear and frustration felt when Josh Cribbs needlessly went down on the last play of the game and then had to be taken off the field on a stretcher.

Let’s forget for a moment how asinine it was for the team to run a “hook and ladder” play with the game out of reach and get to the important stuff: this morning’s Josh Cribbs injury update.

The latest Cribbs injury update, according to the Plain-Dealer, is that Cribbs was taken to the hospital immediately after last night’s game and is being evaluated for a concussion.

He was reportedly placed on the stretcher as a precautionary measure, but was said to have been laughing and joking with teammates as he was carted off the field. He was also reportedly experiencing full movement in his extremeties.

I’m not sure there are words for how relieved this news will make Browns fans, his teammates, and the organization.

Not only is Josh Cribbs the only bright and exciting spot for the Cleveland Browns right now, but he is about as high a character guy as there is. For example, this past week it was reported that Cribbs attended the senior night for the son of his former coach at Kent State, who is now deceased. Cribbs accompanied his former coach’s wife as she walked her son out on Senior night.

That’s Joshua Cribbs for you.

So while you never want anyone to get hurt during a sporting event, Cribbs is the kind of guy that you really don’t want to see get hurt. He plays his heart out on every play of every game, regardless of whether the Browns have a chance to win or not, and he embodies everything that we want our athletes to be in terms of providing a positive example for young people to follow.

You’d think that kind of thing would be rewarded by the pathetic organization for which he plays — the same organization that professes it wants to build around “high character” players — but so far Cribbs does not have a new contract. And before you argue and say that he should play out his current deal, consider for a quick second what happened last night.

In the NFL, everything can be taken away from a player in a split second. They have to take care of themselves and their families by using leverage when they have it. The Browns organization will continue on if Josh Cribbs ever gets seriously injuried; his career will not.

I have no problem with Cribbs seeking a new deal, especially when he obviously deserves it and when he says Randy Lerner promised him one.

Anyway, sorry…I didn’t mean to go off on a tangent there. Last night was just a reminder of how important Cribbs is to the Browns and how much he needs to be a centerpiece of the rebuilding project.

I don’t know why he was even on the field in that situation. Actually, I take that back…all it takes is one glance over to the sideline to know exactly why such an idiotic call would be made.

Bud Shaw put it best at the Plain-Dealer website this morning in his article about Josh Cribbs’ injury:

Three seconds left on your half of the field, down 16 points, why do anything except take a knee?

Why the Browns ran a fire drill play that ended with Josh Cribbs carted off the field because his head didn’t swivel fast enough goes into the unanswerable file in an unfathomable season, Eric Mangini’s first and perhaps only here.

That’s not the question being asked around the rest of the country, no doubt. The question being asked around the rest of the country after the Browns 16-0 loss to Baltimore: “Any chance there’s an Antique Roadshow marathon we could watch instead?”

But given the obvious doubts some Browns have about their head coach as voiced by Jamal Lewis last week, the final play of a forgettable game is another log on the three-alarm fire licking at Mangini.

I’d like to, I really would…I’m trying to stay as positive as possible…but I cannot disagree at all.

Also read this update on Josh Cribbs’ injury from Waiting For Next Year, with some quotes from Brady Quinn and Mohammed Massaquoi.

Update: Cribbs has been released from the hospital according to FoxSports.

**********

* – Josh Cribbs photo credit:Tony Dejak/Associated Press via The Plain-Dealer

No folks, that’s not a type there in title. Croppy is the intended word.

And the beautiful photoshop work featured in this post is the fruit on our own Ryan Russell’s labor of Browns love, in response to the most colorful and nonsensical figurative part of Jamal Lewis’ pre-practice rant about Eric Mangini earlier today.

Via the OBR:

“If you look at this like it’s a farm, we (the players) are just the crops. We’re just the crops. We’re just the crops. You’ve got to take care of your crops. You’ve got to nurture them. And if you don’t, when it comes harvest time, your crop isn’t going to be any good.”

Full size picture (Eric Mangini included!) after the jump.

Nice work Russell (who you can follow at @ryansrussell).