Archive for September, 2008

So, we’re no longer winless. That’s a good thing. However, with the win, now Romeo Crennel is going to think everything is fixed and he doesn’t need to make any changes.

Keep in mind that the Bengals’ most important player, QB Carson Palmer, did not play. So we beat a team that didn’t feature the QB that shredded our defense last season. So really, nothing was “fixed”, but that won’t matter.

We have a bye week up next. But I don’t think any of you should be surprised to see Derek Anderson keep his starting job. He looked terrible until the final quarter of the game, and then was simply serviceable after that. Nothing to write home about. Oh, and he was slightly injured too. But he gets the win over another winless and out-of-sync team that turned the ball over 5 times, so everything’s back on track now, right Romeo? DA had an INT and a TD today, so he still has more INTs on the season than he does TDs. So, since there’s no way this team is making it to the playoffs this season behind DA, are we ever going to see chance? I, for one, am not holding my breath.

Oh, and the news about Brady getting more reps in practice this week; you know, to prepare him should he be needed? Remember that? There was no substance to that announcement. Jay Glazer from FOX Sports reports that Brady only got 2 additional snaps in practice. Yes, just 2. Like I said before, it was all talk from Romeo, who I am growing to detest more and more with each passing day.

He’s the only one who insists on extending the Derek Anderson era for the Cleveland Browns. Jim Brown appeared on a radio show and said that the Browns organization and some players — including team captains — were all in agreement that it was time to go to Brady, but Romeo is the coach and it’s he gets the final say. Super…

It’s so frustrating to be a Cleveland Browns fan, isn’t it?

flyte44

Well, this is what I expected. Do your own reading between the lines if you want – but I am still filled with promise. I am glad Romeo did not drag this QB who starts – he starts – question out all week. It doesn’t do the team any good waiting to know who’s going to be their QB. We now just have to wait and see on Sunday.

The game is being televised by CBS at 1:00PM – check your local listings. (I, for one, am lucky enough to see it!)

The following is the article posted on the Cleveland Browns website:

Anderson will start Sunday
Derek Anderson will be the starting quarterback Sunday when the Browns visit Cincinnati.

Browns coach Romeo Crennel said Wednesday morning that postponing any decision wouldn’t benefit the team.

“Anderson is the starter and (Brady) Quinn will be ready,” Crennel said. “I’m not going to go into the what-ifs, the whens, the where, the how long or anything like that. The decision was made and that’s what it’s going to be. We’re going to go forward.”

Crennel said Donte’ Stallworth (quad) will return to practice on a limited basis Wednesday. Also limited will be Braylon Edwards (shoulder).

Out of Wednesday’s practice will be Shaun Rogers (shoulder), Willie McGinest (hamstring), Eric Steinbach (shoulder), Sean Jones (knee), Kris Griffin (calf) and Martin Rucker (knee).

Stay tuned for more.

So, I thought we’d hear something about any adjustments the Browns were going to make for this weekend’s game against their in-state rivals. But it looks and sounds like a whole lot of the same.

As of right now, Derek Anderson will still be the starting QB, but Brady will get more reps in practice. That’s great. Not sure what getting increased practice reps means if you don’t ever insert BQ into the game. It’s funny how Charlie Frye essentially had 1 bad game and was traded, yet DA can have multiple poor showings and never get pulled.

Sounds like all of this was just an attempt to deflect pressure. Didn’t work. There are rumors circulating — keeping in mind that Crennel signed an extension in the off season — that Romeo may get the axe if he doesn’t lead the team to victory soon. Can’t say I’d miss him, but maybe that’s just me.

Not to state the obvious, but the status quo is not going to get the Browns in the win column. We need more than talk!

Um, here we go again?

So the Browns went down in B-More by a final score of 28-10. [BOXSCORE]

I’m not going to lie. I didn’t watch the entire game. It got to a certain point where I just couldn’t take it anymore. I threw my hands up in the air, grabbed my purse, and went to the mall. When I walked in, there was a girl in a Brady Quinn #10 jersey standing right in front of me. Foreshadowing? I certainly hope so.

That was an ugly game. And I don’t know where to start with the critiques. All I gotta say is that something’s gotta change if the Browns except to have a decent season. And by decent, I pretty much just mean a .500 season. There’s no way this team is heading to the playoffs. You can’t expect to win when you continue to turn the ball over, can’t move the chains, lose the time of possession battle, have significant player injuries, and all sorts of mental errors (what happened to Braylon?).

It probably could have been worse. Obviously Derek Anderson took all the snaps, but who knows how much longer that’ll last. Shouldn’t a starting NFL QB have more TD passes than interceptions? Yea, that’s what I thought. DA has 2 TDs and 5 INTs on the season. Fans and media members alike are calling for Brady to get the next start. Deja vu much? This feels a lot like last year. I hope it ends differently for Brady.

So looking ahead to next week and we have the 1st 2008 edition of the “Battle of Ohio”. Cincinnati is also 0-3. So somebody is going to get their first win next week. I saw some of the Bengals/Giants game and the Bengals looked pretty good. If they play next week they did today — and the Browns fail to make any adjustments — then the Browns will be 0-4 this time next week.

Not surprised. Lots of teams are having “QB issues” this season and pickings are slim, so to speak.

Fans of the Kansas City Chiefs are fed up with their team’s QB play. One fan in particular has created the site “Get Brady Now” to gather petition signatures in the hopes that team management will take their advice and make a trade for Brady.

This all may be a tad premature, though. The Browns aren’t even thinking about trading any of their quarterbacks right now. Fast forward to late January/early February and then we shall see. We all know that the Browns are going to deal either Derek or Brady after this season. And if things continue the way they are (meaning the Browns keep sucking), things are fixin’ to get mighty interesting up in C-Town.

Back to the petition, for a moment. Rarely do these types of online petitions change things, but you gotta give it to the KC fans for trying. When your team struggles, you gotta do something to stop the pain, right?

Final Score: 10-6

I can’t imagine playing football tonight. The winds were intense in Ohio today. 2 hours southwest of Cleveland, in Columbus, there are hundreds of thousands without power, branches all over the roads, traffic lights down, and schools closed tomorrow. All of this as the aftereffects of Hurricane Ike makes its way through the midwest with high winds that topped 70 mph this afternoon!

So to be a QB or kicker and have to put the ball in the air sounds like quite a difficult task! Perhaps that’s why this was such a low scoring affair.

The Browns wanted this win because they haven’t defeated the Steelers in 10 meetings. They also wanted to avoid an 0-2 start. But they did not get the W as they fell 10-6 to Pittsburgh.

Taking out the weather, one can probably point to the turnovers as the difference in this game. Cleveland had 2 (both were interceptions by Derek Anderson) while Pittsburgh recorded zero. It’s hard to win games when you don’t win the turnover battle.

Next week the Browns travel to Baltimore to battle AFC North foe the Ravens. The Ravens come into this season with a new coach and rookie starting QB, as well as a 1-0 record. Their game this week was postponed due to Hurricane Ike.

[BOXSCORE]

I really don’t have much to say about the game. Wasn’t pleased with the execution of either the offense or defense and the Cowboys took advantage.

Brady didn’t play, so no stats to report there. The Browns just didn’t have an answer for anything Dallas did. Simple as that.

I hope more of the team gets healthy and focused because the Steelers are next and that’s always a tough matchup.

MORE COVERAGE:
ClevelandBrowns.com recap | Boxscore

I definitely considered selling my first born to attend this game, but decided against it. Besides, it’s much easier to get my live football fix by staying in Columbus and heading down to campus to see Ohio State.

The Browns officially kick off their 2008 campaign with a difficult task as they host the Dallas Cowboys.

As a fan, I am still wondering how all the injuries are going to effect this team as well as the heightened expectations.

It’s not really “news” that DA is back at the helm as the Browns starting QB. I’m just glad that Brady was finally given a chance to start and get some reps. Even the most talented QBs in the world need to play in order to get better. Here’s to hoping that 2008 doesn’t mirror 2007 in that respect.

Kickoff is at 4:14 PM and the game should be televised nationally on NBC. Check your local listings. Additionally, you can visit ChannelSurfing.net for ways to watch or listen to the game online.

Go Browns!