Red Right 88

In Cleveland, hope dies last

Archive for the category “Cleveland Browns”

02 Mar 2011
3 Comments

Brandon Davies should have gone to OSU

On Tuesday, BYU dismissed starting forward Brandon Davies from the team for the rest of the season for a violation of the school’s honor code. Davies reportedly had sex with his girlfriend.

Davies, who started 26 of 29 games for the third-ranked Cougars, averaged 11.1 points and a team-leading 6.2 rebounds. The team felt his loss right away, losing Wednesday night to New Mexico.

The dismissal greatly reduces BYU’s chances of being this year’s Butler in the upcoming NCAA tournament, as Kurt Kragthorpe explains in The Salt Lake Tribune:

This team could not lose afford to lose anybody from the playing rotation, and Davies is one of BYU’s best athletes. The Cougars were not especially deep to begin with, basically using six players for extended minutes and piecing things together from there. … The Honor Code is part of what distinguishes BYU as a private, church-owned school. … There’s obviously no double standard in play for prominent athletes.

No double standard for prominent athletes? What’s that about?

Davies should have gone to Ohio State. Then he would have just been suspended for a game next season against IUPUI.

Clearly BYU needs to get its priorities straightened out.

The only thing we can’t figure out is how Jim McMahon made it through four years at BYU without violating the honor code?

***

Tribe general manager Chris Antonetti reportedly has doubts that center fielder Grady Sizemore will be ready to start the season on the opening day roster.

We’re cool with that. The Indians are not going to contend this season, so we’d rather see Sizemore get healthy and play in the last 140+ games of the season than rush to be ready for the opener and then miss a bigger chunk of the season if he’s not fully healthy.

***

Andy Carroll, the £35 million pound man, is reportedly set to make his Liverpool debut on Sunday against Manchester United.

Time to start earning your money, son.

***

Showing how great minds think alike, Terry Pluto echoes something we touched on briefly yesterday, that the NFL Combine is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to drafting players. Pluto writes that:

When it comes to the NFL draft, let’s hope the Browns do exactly what they did a year ago in the first round — they took the best pure football player, according to their ratings.

They didn’t lose focus with all the smoke from the NFL combine about how Joe Haden’s 40-yard times (about 4.5) showed he couldn’t be a big-time NFL cornerback. In fact, some scouts wondered if Haden could be better suited for safety.

Browns General Manager Tom Heckert did something very surprising for the NFL. He watched game tapes of Haden, over and over. He relied on reports from his scouts, who personally observed Haden in game conditions. They checked his character. They determined he was a guy who could really play, basing that judgment on how he played in games.

Until he shows us otherwise, we’re confident the Browns are in good hands with Heckert and team president Mike Holmgren running the draft board.

***

Staying on the NFL Draft, would the Browns consider selecting Oregon linebacker Casey Matthews?

That would be fine with us – as long as the Browns feel Matthews is a solid pick.

We’d hate for them to pick him, though, solely because they didn’t draft his brother, Clay III, in 2009. That wouldn’t make any sense, but we’re getting the feeling that people seem to be leaning toward that way of thinking.

Hopefully general manager Tom Heckert isn’t one of those people.

Posted in Brandon Davies, Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Indians, Liverpool, misplaced priorities, NFL draft
28 Feb 2011

Jamison’s bad break good for Cavs

The Cavs announced on Monday that leading scorer Antawn Jamison will be out 5-7 weeks with a fractured left little finger that will require surgery on Tuesday.

Jamison hurt his finger during Sunday’s loss to the 76ers. The 5-7 week time frame basically means Jamison and his 18 points per game will join Anderson Varajeo on the sidelines until next season.

While this is bad news for Jamison, it’s actually good news for the Cavs’ long-term future. After losing an NBA-record 26 games in a row, the Cavs appeared to be a lock for the most balls in the draft lottery.

But after going 3-3 over their last six games, the Cavs have let Minnesota creep within 2.5 games of the worst record in the league; with Sacramento just four games back.

That’s no way to go about maximizing your chances of landing the top pick in the NBA Draft.

***

For what it’s worth, NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock expressed faith in Cleveland’s second-year quarterback Colt McCoy at a press conference Sunday at the NFL Scouting Combine.

“That kid did a heckuva job last year,” Mayock told The Beacon Journal. “The kid’s won at every level. What did I say earlier about quarterbacks? How much do they care about the game? Are they the first one in the building? That’s him. He’s a gym rat.

“So I’m betting on him and I think the Cleveland Browns are, too. His arm is above average. It’s not great and it’s not elite. But the league has been (filled) with those kind of kids forever.

“If you understand where and when to throw the football and get it out quickly, you’re going to be fine.”

***

We’re still not sure how Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney can get off with no punishment for elbowing Wigan’s James McCarthy in the head during Saturday’s FA Cup game, but Liverpool’s Ryan Babel was censured and fined £10,000 for Tweeting a mocked-up photo of ref Howard Webb wearing a Manchester United shirt.

If only we could identify the common thread that unites these two incidents, we might be able to make some sense of this.

Posted in Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Cavaliers, Colt McCoy, Liverpool, Wayne Rooney | Leave a comment
26 Feb 2011

Now batting cleanup …

Browns president Mike Holmgren?

OK, not really, but we’ll get to that in a minute.

First off, general manager Tom Heckert and coach Pat Shurmur obviously got the message from Holmgren about Colt McCoy and what Holmgrem wants the team to do.

“I would say that based on what I know to this point, I’m extremely excited about working with Colt and him being our guy. I think that’s where we’re going,” Shurmur said in his first extensive interview since being introduced as Browns coach Jan. 13.

“I thoroughly evaluated Colt last year (as Rams offensive coordinator) when we went through the (draft) process with Sam (Bradford). He’s very talented, works extremely hard, football’s important to him, he’s an accurate passer, he understands timing, he’s a good decision-maker. I think he has all the things you’re looking for in a guy that can be your guy.”

Heckert echoed Shurmur’s comments.

“I think there are some teams saying we need to get a quarterback in free agency or the draft. We’re definitely not at that point,” Heckert said. “We have all the confidence in the world Colt’s going to be good.”

On the upcoming draft, it sure sounds like the Browns are leaning toward filling a hole on defense with their first round pick:

”I think we’ve got two really good (cornerbacks), and the third one, we’ll see,” Heckert said. ”We have a couple guys that we like on our team, but is that a position that we would look at? . . . I think corner is just as good a possibility as anything.”

The one positive to the Browns drafting so high – again – is that, with several holes to fill, they should be able to land someone who can help them (see Joe Haden from last year’s draft).

If defensive linemen Clemson’s Da’Quan Bowers, Auburns’ Nick Fairley or North Carolina’s Robert Quinn are off the board, they can select LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson to pair with Haden. Or Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller. Orthey can go with Georgia’s A.J. Green to fill the gaping hole at wide receiver.

Or, if one of the top quarterbacks is still on the board, they may be able to swing a deal with a team desperate to make a mistake on one-year wonder Cam Newton and bring in extra picks to restock the roster.

So, for now, things are looking good.

As for Holmgren, earlier in the week he said the team is looking to draft “a home-run hitter.”

While he may have mixed up his metaphors, Holmgren’s desire for an impact player signals the team is continuing to think touchdowns (i.e. home runs) instead of field goals (singles?) as they continue to rebuild the team.

And with everyone on the same page maybe, for once, the rebuild won’t end up looking like a condemned building.

***

After losing to the Bulls on Thursday night, the Heat are now a combined 0-5 on the season against Chicago and Boston, 0-2 against Dallas (second-best record in the West) and have yet to play San Antonio (best record in the NBA).

The Heat are also just 12-14 against teams with winning records.

Sounds like Miami should have built a better supporting cast for LeBron James.

***

Finally, David Hirshey at ESPN missed the mark with his criticism of David Beckham this week: Thanks for nothing, Becks.

Hirshey’s main complaint is that Beckham didn’t live up to Hirshey’s expectations after arriving in LA four years ago to play for the Galaxy, writing that:

Great news, everybody: David Beckham is back!

Remember when those words meant something? When the thought of Becks stepping onto an American soccer field made your heart soar because he was going to transform the Los Angeles Galaxy into the second coming of the Cosmos? When it was presumed he would spread the gospel of MLS around the world, just as Pelé did with the NASL back in the day?

Yeah, I remember those 20 minutes too.

So because Hirshey chose to buy into the hype thrown out by MLS and the Galaxy – hype that no one could ever life up to – Beckham is to blame.

We don’t know why anyone chose to believe Beckham alone would somehow transform a minor-league operation like the MLS into something bigger.

Beckham was used to playing on the some of the world’s biggest teams in some of the world’s biggest competitions. Somehow playing in front of 10,000 people in Kansas City isn’t the same.

So Hirshey got duped and now he wants to blame someone. That’s on him; not Beckham.

Hirshey did get one thing right: Grant Wahl’s book, The Beckham Experiment, is a terrific book.

Posted in Cleveland Browns, David Beckham, NFL draft | Leave a comment
23 Feb 2011

Is contraction really the answer?

Should Major League baseball start eliminating under-peforming teams? What about the NBA or the NFL?

Fox Sports Ken Rosenthal is the latest to ask the question, putting fans in Oakland and Tampa on, if not high alert, at least an elevated level, writing that:

Fans of the Oakland Athletics and Tampa Bay Rays need not worry. But don’t be surprised if the “C” word — contraction — returns to the baseball lexicon soon.

I’m already hearing rumblings that certain big-market teams want to drop the A’s and Rays, even though the idea stands little chance of actually becoming reality.

Still, a major battle is brewing over revenue sharing, baseball’s method of rich teams helping the poor. Contraction would be an extreme solution, but one that addresses the big-market concern: Why keep struggling clubs afloat?

This comes on the heels of stories last fall that the NBA would consider contracting teams as a way to solve the league’s financial troubles:

“It’s a sensitive subject for me because I’ve spent 27 years in this job working very hard not only to maintain all of our teams, but along the way add a few,” commissioner David Stern said during his preseason conference call.

“But I think that’s a subject that will be on the table with the players as we look to see what’s the optimum way to present our game, and are there cities and teams that cannot make it in the current economic environment. I’m not spending a lot of time on it.”

While we understand the financial realities of pro sports and it makes sense that fewer teams would possibly be better, as Cleveland fans any talk of contraction makes us nervous.

The big unanswered question is: How would teams be selected for elimination?

Certainly the Browns wouldn’t be contracted if the subject ever came up within the NFL, not after everything that went on after the move. And Cleveland couldn’t have supported the Cavs any stronger than they did in the past seven years; same with the Indians from 1995 to 2001.

But teams generally cycle through good times and bad, and fan support cycles with them. Teams that are down now would, in theory, be the ones facing contraction. But is that fair?

If we were having this conversation in the 1970s or ’80s, it would be hard to argue that the Indians should not be eliminated. Year after year of owners with no money fielding bad teams in a crumbling stadium in front of 5,000 fans each night would have left the Tribe as prime candidates for contraction.

Same with the Cavs during Ted Stepien’s reign of errors and the dark years pre-LeBron, when Ricky Davis and Trajan Langdon played before a sea of blue seats on a nightly basis.

Imagine Cleveland as a one-sport town, where we would get 16 Browns games a year and that’s it for pro sports. Not something we like to think about.

We sometimes lose sight of how other fans are impacted by their teams, because nothing anyone else goes through compares to the pain of being a Cleveland fan. But on the issue of contraction, we would feel their pain.

Because this time they might be coming for them. But next time, what if they come for us?

***

Yeah, poor Denver (speaking of not having sympathy for other teams).

Again, don’t remember this being such a problem last July.

***

If this truly is Liverpool’s away shirt for next season, the only thing we have to say is Blech!

Adidas can’t really think putting the Reds in the color of cross-town rival Everton is a good idea. That would be the same as having the Browns come out for a game in black-and-gold.

Please tell us it ain’t so.

Posted in Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Indians, Liverpool | Leave a comment
22 Feb 2011

Browns decide to do right by Phil Dawson

The Browns reportedly placed the franchise tag on kicker Phil Dawson on Tuesday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The move to bring back Dawson, who’s been on the team since the Browns returned in 1999, always seemed like a no brainer to us, but media reports at the end of the season made us worried.

Dawson passed Hall of Fame kicker Lou Groza last season as the Browns all-time leader in field goals. He’s the ninth-most accurate kicker in NFL history at 83.1 percent, which is even more impressive when you consider the conditions he has to kick in at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

The fact that the Browns may have entertained the thought of parting ways with a kicker who can produce in conditions like this gave us pause. But the fact that team president Mike Holmgren and general manager Tom Heckert understand Dawson’s value makes us feel better.

But we do have to wonder: is the move to retain Dawson a sign that the new coaching regime is thinking field goals rather than touchdowns? Because we all know how well that worked out for the last coach.

***

Seneca Wallace is reportedly looking for a starting role next season as he ponders his future as a free agent.

“If I do go back (to Cleveland), hopefully it’s a chance to compete for the starting position,” he told Pro Football Weekly.

We like the thought of Wallace being on the Browns next year in a mentor role to Colt McCoy as he learns the West Coast offense. And Wallace is fine as a fill-in in case of injury. But as a starter? Not so much.

We understand that Wallace would want to be a starter, but after eight years of not being a starter in the league, we really don’t see the need for the Browns to be the test case.

***

Maybe there is something to the “Dolans are cheap” talk.

According to UniWatch, the Indians have scaled back the Bob Feller memorial patch they will wear this season from this to this.

Why? Because the photo the original patch is based on is owned by Photo File and the Indians won’t reach a deal on the licensing fees to use the image.

Unbelievable, and sad, that a team as cash-strapped as the Indians may in fact be, can’t find the dough to honor the greatest picture in baseball history.

Posted in bad ideas, Bob Feller, Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Indians, Phil Dawson, Seneca Wallace | Leave a comment
19 Feb 2011
3 Comments

Browns need to pass on Sanders

Before the hoople heads start getting riled up, we need to put the kibosh on any talk of the Browns signing safety Bob Sanders, who was released Friday by the Colts.

Fans are going to see Sanders’ name on the transaction list and some will immediately want the Browns to pursue him simply because they’ve heard of him. But the team needs to stay far, far away from him.

Injuries have limited Sanders to just nine games over the past three years. He played six games in 2008; missed the first five games in 2009 then, in his second game back, tore his left biceps and missed the rest of the season; last year he tore his right bicep on the first defensive series of the season and missed the rest of the year.

With that kind of injury history, why would anyone think Sanders would be able to stay on the field for any significant amount of time?

***

Is former coach Eric Mangini heading back to the sidelines?

The UFL’s Hartford Colonials are “interested” in Mangini to replace another former Browns coach, Chris Palmer. Palmer recently became offensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans.

“He is one of the people we would hope to talk to,” Colonials owner Bill Mayer said of Mangini this week, according to ESPN. “What comes out of that, I don’t know. I’ve been looking at our Facebook site, and it certainly has generated a lot of conversation. He’s a Connecticut native and he’s had experience. Whether we end up doing anything with him or not, we haven’t sat down yet, so it’s not at all clear whether this timing would work for him.”

“That doesn’t mean we’re in negotiations or that he’s going to be the next coach, but he’s certainly on the list.”

Well, it’s not as if Mangini is on the list for any NFL jobs.

***

As spring training gets underway for the Indians, manager Manny Acta expects the bullpen to be one of the strongest parts of the team – if not the strongest.

”It was last year, and there’s a very good chance it will be very good again,” Acta told The Beacon Journal.

The bullpen struggled early in the season, putting up a 4.69 ERA, but after the All Star break the relievers posted a 2.95 ERA, second best in the American League. Closer Chris Perez led the way, as he posted a 0.53 ERA after June 18 and converted 18 of his final 19 saves on the season.

If the bullpen can turn into a reliable asset for the Tribe, that will make Acta’s job a lot easier, take some of the pressure off the team’s young starters – who can’t be expected to go very deep into games – and maybe give the team a chance to surprise some people this season.

***

Finally, check out the latest from Uni Watch for something on the birth of the Browns facemask.

The story behind the development of the facemask is well known to longtime Browns fans: a late hit on quarterback Otto Graham in 1953 led to the first protective Lucite mask on the Browns helmets.

But it’s definitely worth reading about again, especially for the photos.

Posted in Bob Sanders, Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Indians, hoople heads
16 Feb 2011

It’s right vs. wrong, not new vs. old

Dan Le Batard at The Miami Herald apparently doesn’t get it.

In his latest column, he cries that “new” journalism is ruining it for everyone else.

He takes Deadspin to task for its recent story on Mark Sanchez, but somehow lets The New York Post off the hook for doing something far worse (bolding is us):

“What Deadspin.com did this week was wrong by all the previous measurements, although those measurements mummify more every day. It wasn’t news to report that a 17-year-old girl had maybe slept with Sanchez. That age is legal in New York. It wasn’t news that she had photographed proof of Sanchez’s bedroom. (This is what The Kardashian Generation has wrought; the famous get screwed, and the screwed get famous.)

“The girl wanted it published, then didn’t, but Deadspin published it anyway — and traffic soared. And you know what happened next, right? The New York Post followed by publishing the girl’s name and picture for her high school classmates — something even Deadspin avoided. This is how it happened with Favre and Rex Ryan’s wife, too — old media deciding to follow what everyone was talking about because that’s where the money, eyes and marketplace were.”

You can argue how close Deadspin got to crossing the mythical ethical line that journalists and newspapers deal with on a daily basis, but how can you even try to defend what the Post did? You just don’t publish the name of a minor, especially one who didn’t do anything wrong. That’s sleazy, no matter where you fall on the journalism age line.

But apparently that’s OK because the Post is “old” journalism and they are just trying to keep up. So rather than take the high road and do the right thing, it’s OK for the Post to trash a high school girl because Deadspin opened the door, the Post had no choice in the matter, they just had to follow.

Le Batard also misses the point in regard to Tiger Woods:

“There appears to be a fascinating sexual tension growing between old journalism and new journalism. A startled and exposed Tiger Woods discovered this the hard way, when both journalisms barged into his bedroom together with a kind of zeal that had no precedent in American sports.

“There is the feeling that a divorced and broken Tiger Woods should have been more discrete, should have known better. But he couldn’t have. The rules changed on him, and for all sports figures, while he was getting undressed.”

The only thing that Tiger Woods discovered is that he can’t do anything he wants without repercussions.

If you’re married you don’t cheat on your spouse.

We’re pretty sure that rule predates the creation of both “new” and “old” journalism.

***

From UniWatch comes this link to Hoopism, a site with several sophisticated and interactive NBA-centric infographics.

The best one shows word clouds for every NBA team based on who played the most minutes for each team. The one for the Cavs is pretty sweet.

***

Sure, when the Indians lost Albert Belle and Manny Ramirez and Jim Thome and C.C. Sabathia and Cliff Lee and on and on that’s just the way it goes.

But now that Albert Pujols might leave St. Louis, suddenly it’s a problem?

Please.

***

Would the Browns consider bringing Braylon Edwards back in free agency?

Someone at Bleacher Report thinks it’s a good idea:

“Bringing Edwards back might allow him to mentor younger receivers such as Mohamed Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie, both of whom struggled in only their second seasons. It would also give Colt McCoy a legitimate No. 1 receiver.

“Fans need to forgive and forget when it comes to Braylon Edwards. Sure, he dropped passes, but there is not a receiver in the league worth his salt who hasn’t.

“The only thing Cleveland fans need to worry about is whether adding Braylon Edwards will make the team significantly better.

“And the obvious answer is yes, it will.”

We’re going to go out on a limb and say that’s never going to happen.

Posted in bad reporting, Cleveland Browns, media hypocrisy, NBA, right vs. wrong | Leave a comment
15 Feb 2011
2 Comments

How the business world can fix Cleveland sports

A few weeks ago, Forbes ran an article highlighting the most annoying business jargon flowing through American workplaces on a daily basis.

According to the article:

“For people bent on achieving superstar status in the business world, knowing one language is often not enough. Unfortunately the second tongue most popular to many American corporate types isn’t Spanish, German, French, Italian or Chinese. It’s jargon, a heinous amalgamation of terms with unknown origins and delivered with no explanation, irony or even a crumb of guilt. Business clichés have long been allowed to proliferate, multiply and slink around like evil gremlins within the American business establishment.”

After wading into this swamp of nothingness, we found answers to what’s been going on with the local sports teams.

Clearly, the Cavs need to drill down to find more talent.

Mike Holmgren has all his ducks in a row now that he has Pat Shurmur on board as coach.

The Dolans unfortunately put a hard stop on payroll growth as they have reached their predetermined price point.

Browns coach Pat Shurmur is thinking outside the box with his decision to act as his own offensive coordinator.

While the scoreboard may not reflect it, we hope the Browns, Cavs and Indians are all giving 110 percent.

If they are going to turn the Indians around, GM Chris Antonetti and manager Manny Acta need to synergize. (although we’re still not sure how well that worked for Mark Shapiro and Eric Wedge).

There’s a whole list of players – Grady Sizemore, Matt LaPorta, Travis Hafner, Mo Williams, JJ Hickson and Colt McCoy, among others, who clearly need to move the needle during the season.

No doubt Dan Gilbert is wondering how long the Cavs plan to boil the ocean before they start winning again.

Cavs coach Byron Scott is praying that the team’s season-long struggles have provided a critical learning for the young players on the roster.

Browns general manager Tom Heckert hopes the upcoming NFL Draft will impact the team’s fortunes in the AFC North.

Randy Lerner is routinely out of pocket when he’s watching Aston Villa play.

It would be nice if Mohamed Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie would take it to the next level in 2011.

The Browns have a very hard time managing expectations among the fan base.

The Cavs should strive to grab the low-hanging fruit and string two wins together.

By replacing Eric Mangini as coach with Pat Shurmur, Mike Holmgren continues to break down silos in Berea.

Sadly, no matter what they do, the current state of Cleveland sports is what it is.

Posted in Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Indians
13 Feb 2011

Shedding some light on the Mangini Era

Starting with the release of six veterans this week – five of which were former coach Eric Mangini’s “guys” – the curtain has been pulled back a little bit on Mangini’s failed tenure as Browns coach.

General manager Tom Heckert explained that one the team decided to give Mangini a second year in 2010 the team owed it to him to give him the players he wanted – including Kenyon Coleman, Eric Barton, David Bowens, Robert Royal and John St. Clair

“Once we decided Eric was going to be the guy (and return), we knew that was going to be the case,” Heckert told The Plain Dealer. “And we were fine with that. We were trying to do everything we could to win and help Eric. And Eric wanted these guys, and that’s fine. We understood that. So there’s no sour grapes.

“If Eric was going to be the coach (in 2010), we weren’t going to say, ‘You’re the coach and we’re getting rid of these five guys.’ That’s not a good thing, either.”

It’s a very good sign that management is willing to give the coach what he needs and take a hands-off approach to let the coach do what he thinks best. But we’re left to wonder, in the wake of another 5-11 season, if Heckert and team president Mike Holmgren shouldn’t have taken a firmer hand in shaping the roster this past season.

Take, for example, running back Jerome Harrison, who the Browns traded to the Eagles in October. We didn’t mind the trade as it was obvious Harrison wasn’t going to receive playing time in Cleveland. But Mangini wanted Harrison gone, and Heckert gave in.

“I’m not saying we shouldn’t have (traded him) because Jerome … he wasn’t begging to get out of here, but he was acting like he wanted to get out of here,” Heckert told The PD. “It wasn’t going to do us a whole lot of good to keep him here. Jerome was kind of going through the motions. I think he thought he should have been playing more.

“I think (the RB depth) was good for a while. When we had Peyton (Hillis), Jerome and a couple of other guys here, we were OK. But once Eric wanted us to get rid of Jerome, that’s when it started (going bad). Once you get rid of that guy then it’s just tough to find guys.”

We all saw how that played out as Hillis wore down by the end of the season because the Browns had no viable alternative in the running game.

And even when the coach signed off on the Browns picking someone up, that still didn’t mean the player would see any game action. Take defensive lineman Jayme Mitchell for example, who never played a down after the Browns traded for him on Oct. 6.

“He was by far our best pass rusher and never got on the field, so I can’t answer that one,” Heckert told The PD. “Eric watched him (on tape prior to the trade) and Eric liked him. So I don’t know what happened after that. He’s a nickel pass rusher on third down. We thought he could really rush the passer.”

So on a team that only recorded 29 sacks on the season, the player who was “by far our best pass rusher” couldn’t get on the field?

Heckert’s latest comments help crystallize the comments he made at new coach Pat Shurmur’s introductory press conference:

“Like Pat said, from the day he walked in the door, we were on the same page,” Heckert said at the time. “Everybody says they want the character and hard work and stuff, but we’ve been through it together and we’ve done it with getting those players. I think we are on the same page when it comes to players and what we are looking for, and we’ve done it together before. That can’t be a negative.”

So now, in theory at least, the Browns have a trio all working together with the general manager getting the players that the coach wants and – presumably – the coach will actually put those players on the field on Sundays.

And as Heckert said, if that happens it can’t be a negative, right?

Of course, with the way things have been going around here lately, who really knows?

***

For more on this, check out:

Tom Heckert Gets Loose at Waiting for Next Year

And Cleveland Frowns touches on it in When Eric met Tony

Posted in Cleveland Browns, NFL, Tom Heckert | Leave a comment
09 Feb 2011
1 Comment

Colt McCoy just had a good day

The Browns released six veterans on Wednesday, most notably defensive lineman Shaun Rogers and right tackle John St. Clair.

The release of St. Clair has to put a smile on the faces of quarterbacks Colt McCoy, Seneca Wallace and Jake Delhomme, as it means they don’t have to fear the turnstile brand of blocking that St. Clair employed over the past two years as he inexplicably was put in the lineup time and time again by the former coaching staff.

Also released were linebackers Eric Barton and David Bowens, defensive linemen Kenyon Coleman and tight end Robert Royal. The release of Royal and his stone hands made it a daily double for the quarterbacks.

Despite having a ton of talent, Rogers only played when he wanted to, plus he was hurt for much of last year. He finished the season with 17 tackles and just two sacks. While it would seem as if the Browns could use his talent, if he was unable or unwilling to make it on the field on Sundays, what value did he bring to the team?

It’s interesting to note that new defensive coordinator Dick Jauron coached Rogers in Detroit, so he obviously knew what the team had in Rogers. We think if Jauron would have really wanted Rogers to stay on the team the Browns would have figured something out.

Barton, Bowens and Coleman were “Eric Mangini guys” brought in from New York to teach the Mangini way.

With four of the players released coming from the defensive front seven, the Browns may be giving us a sign as to what their draft plans will be come April.

***

The Ravens are reportedly going to look for a backup quarterback in the draft.

Seems to us they could use a veteran quarterback as well; wonder if Jake Delhomme likes crab cakes?

***

Liverpool’s big win over Chelsea on Sunday set viewership records for Fox Soccer Channel.

Slowly but surely America seems to be getting it.

***

Finally, tonight marks the end of one of the best shows on TV, Friday Night Lights.

We read the book, which was very good; saw the movie, which was excellent; and remember being skeptical when we saw that they were making a TV version.

But we were hooked from the first episode and, despite the show completely losing its way in Season 2, stuck with it and were rewarded each week with quality writing and acting.

We’re going to miss the lights, for sure.

For more, check out:

Posted in Cleveland Browns, Friday Night Lights, Liverpool, NFL

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