5
Jan
2010
Browns: What is Worth Having Must be Earned
Coach Eric Mangini
Browns fans have been through the fire during the expansion era and during this season. It seems they are finally on the other side– except they aren’t. The men and women of the Flats, wait upon Mike Holmgren’s decision to retain or let go of Eric Mangini. What at once looked like a season of ruin for Mangini now looks like one of the better rebuilding jobs done in recent memory. Not some magical overnight blessing from the football gods that sends the team into the playoffs only to be brought down to earth the next year. No, it was a methodical, brick-by-brick construction job that can only be appreciated by stepping back after the season was finished to see the straight lines, quality workmanship, and effort.
Mangini, like no other coach I can remember, put his head down and stuck to his plan, even while the reporters (Clayton, the Plain Dealer hacks) sharpened their knives, gleefully stabbing Mangini at every turn, their contempt barely contained in their writing. Browns fans understandably impatient, watching at times a football team looking like one of the worst ever and reacting to incorrect reporting and poor analysis, called for his head. Veteran players used to the soft, mincy ways of Romeo Crennell dug their heels in the sand, complained loudly to their agents, who complained loudly to the media, creating a firestorm of bad energy. Randy Lerner, the entirely incompetent owner, without courage, without patience, wanting to prove how much he cares for the Browns fans (although strangely absent from the last two home games) goes out to hire a “credible football leader” in Mike Holmgren, who has the tedious nickname of “Big Show” to be the “CZAR” of football operations. The national and local media celebrate this move.
The Czar (AP Photo)
The hiring of Holmgren may have been a smart move (although there is something wildly mediocre about Holmgren that I can’t put my finger on) in the beginning of the season, or even at the end when the dust had settled and the lockers cleared. It was not a good move, however, done in the midst of a seemingly disastrous season– it was a panic move. It has now created a stomach-turning decision for Holmgren and for the Cleveland faithful, a decision that deep in the fog of a 1-11 season seemed easy. Keep Mangini or let him go. Times have changed.
23
Nov
2009
Game of the Week Highlights: Lions vs Browns – Stafford shoulders the win
Matt Stafford breaks away from a member of the Lions training staff to re-enter the game against the Browns (Photo: JULIAN H. GONZALEZ/DFP)
Heading into week 11 of the NFL season, one game stood out as the match-up that nobody wanted to see – the 1-8 Detroit Lions vs the 1-8 Cleveland Browns. The worst teams from both conferences squaring off in a game that was barely even broadcast on TV in their home markets. Feel the power. But by Sunday evening, this clash of the basement-dwellers stood out from the pack as the most competitive, action-packed game of the week. And the ending was certainly the most memorable!
The Browns jumped out to a lead on the arm of Brady Quinn, who threw for three 1st quarter TDs, and had Cleveland feeling good early. But rookie #1 pick Matt Stafford led the Lions on a gutsy comeback with 4 TDs of his own, giving them one last shot to win the game as time expired.
If you don’t know what happened by now, you can watch the complete game highlights below … or fast forward to around 5:10 to see the big finish (game recap here):
Peter King describes exactly what happened on those final two plays , including what went down after Stafford seemingly threw a pick to end the game as time ran out. But a pass interference penalty – along with an unnecessary timeout by Eric Mangini – allowed Stafford to re-enter the game after injuring his shoulder to throw the go-ahead score. Against the wishes of Lions team doctors.
UPDATE: Stafford suffered an AC joint separation in his non-throwing (left) shoulder. He is likely to miss Thursday’s Lions game against the Packers, but it doesn’t look like a long-term injury.
And while it’s yet another brutal loss for Cleveland and their fans (and TheDarkHorse may kill me for this post), the win marks the coming out party for Matt Stafford as a QB who now has earned the respect of his teammates, along with the city of Detroit. Head Coach Jim Schwartz summed it up best after the game:
“His best play wasn’t the last play, or the second-to-last,” Schwartz told me. “His best play was eluding four of our medical guys to get back onto the field.”
By playing through the pain and carrying the team on his shoulders (literally), Stafford has given hope to a franchise that hasn’t felt that emotion since Barry Sanders left town. And that’s a pretty big accomplishment in and of itself.
2
Nov
2009
REPORT: BROWNS GM KOKINIS ESCORTED OUT OF BUILDING
Browns Owner Randy Lerner was not kidding when he said changes were pending.
UPDATE: Per John Taylor and TheOBR.com: “There continues to be rumblings that there’s been increased chatter between owner Randy Lerner, newly-anointed consultant Bernie Kosar and Ernie Accorsi.”
Accorsi was the GM of the Browns from 1985-1992, previous to team’s move to Baltimore.
Like the fans -- this guy has seen enough. (Source: AP)
The Cleveland Plain Dealer is reporting the Browns GM George Kokinis was escorted from the facility earlier today. This is the story by reporter Mary Kay Cabot:
“Browns general manager George Kokinis was escorted out of the Browns facility in Berea by security, two league sources told the Plain Dealer, and is believed to have been fired.
The Browns did not immediately return calls or emails, including an email to owner Randy Lerner.
Kokinis was handpicked by Browns coach Eric Mangini to be his general manager, but was barely heard from after his hiring in January. Both began their careers in Cleveland as underlings to Bill Belichick in the early 1990s.
One league source said ‘Kokinis is a great guy who does not deserve this. He is taking the fall for the team’s problems and it’s not right.’
Browns owner Randy Lerner spent considerable time following Sunday’s 30-6 loss to the Bears on Sunday talking one-on-one with Dawn Aponte, Vice President, Football Administration, who was under Kokinis’ jurisdiction in the football operations department.
Afterwards, Lerner told two reporters that he wouldn’t fire Mangini during the bye this week but that was searching for a football authority to guide the organization.
‘There’s absolutely no question about that,” he said. “The highest priority that I have is a strong, credible, serious leader within the building to guide decisions in a far more conspicuous, open transparent way. I can maybe defend decisions by saying I’ve sought advice and I’ve brought people in, and we’ve gone to see people — and I think my highest priority is to have a stable figure that represents the voice that explains the decisions.’
Even though Mangini has been the voice of the organization since his hiring, Lerner seemed irked that Kokinis didn’t take a more high-profile role in the organization. In fact, he encouraged him to be interviewed recently by Sports Illustrated.
Kokinis’ ouster comes just days after the Browns dismissed Mangini’s hand-picked director of team operations, Erin O’Brien. O’Brien was Mangini’s righthand assistant with the Jets.
The move also comes just weeks after Lerner brought Bernie Kosar on board in an unofficial capacity as another pair of eyes.
Kokinis, who had final say on the 53-man roster, had 18 years’ NFL experience, including 13 with the Ravens.”
7
Oct
2009
Browns fans won’t miss Braylon Edwards
We’ve all heard about the trade by now. Braylon Edwards to the New York Jets for Chansi Stuckey, Jason Trusnik, as well as 3rd- and 5th-round draft choices (the 3rd-rounder is conditional, and could turn into a 2nd-rounder).
I think this trade works for Cleveland. This is a young team looking to purify the roster, dump “issue” players, and build a cohesive core roster–in other words, short-term fixes don’t mean much here. “But,” you ask, “hasn’t this ‘new’ Browns team been rebuilding since Bill Clinton was in office?” Yes, they have, and they have sucked thoroughly from A to Z; but Eric Mangini can’t be fired after a few games–as some demanded–based on the frustrations of a decade he didn’t ruin. There is no quick fix.
Lots of flash, lots of talking, lots of potential--very little production. Most Browns fans won't miss Braylon. (Photo from Deadspin.com)
Getting rid of Braylon makes sense for a number of reasons.
(1) Braylon–in the fifth year of a five-year contract–was going to be an expensive issue to solve in the offseason. It’s very unlikely he’d be with the team next year. No way the team was about to resign this headache for huge money, or tag him as their franchise player, etc. They just did wonders for the cap. Even if we head into this “uncapped” year–he’s not worth a pay raise.
(2) Turning a blind eye to Braylon’s knack for big drops–something that Jets fans will disdain immediately–he’s been average since that dazzling 2007 season. Part of reason, of course, is the Browns terrible offensive drought of 2008-2009. Still, Braylon hasn’t been a “gamer” on this team. He’s got all the talent in the world, theoretically, but something’s missing.
(3) Mohamed Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie are coming up. The Browns have two talented rookie wideouts who are under contract until Planet Nibiru hits in 2012–so we’re fine.
(3a) Some are ripping on the Browns for not pulling the trigger on a deal this past offseason, when they could have gotten “more” for him. Really? In the end, the New York Giants (a very smart football team) decided they didn’t want to give up a flood of #1 picks for a faulty, mouthy wideout. The Roy Williams deal aside, most teams have learned not to sell the farm for an inconsistent wide receiver. Chansi Stuckey has more receptions than Braylon this season, and less bar fights. The Browns also got a promising young linebacker and two draft picks. It’s a solid deal.
(4) Eric Mangini and the Browns are an easy target right now. Sitting at 0-4, Mangini has taken a lot of heat. People will say the lovable New York Jets won this deal, but the truth is that most Browns fans–and certainly the team itself–realize that the Braylon experiment had run its course. Mangini shouldn’t be killed for weeding out the bad apples on the roster. He wants players who love the game and play for team first. We’re four games into his tenure, and things have been rough. Still, many coaches endure tough starts in reshaping NFL teams to fit a system. The problem is that we fans, and the media, have no patience. When the Browns are 0-4, it’s easy to rip on Mangini, the front office, the players, the stadium–everything. If this purification of the organization yields a team that plays tough–and wins–you’ll see everyone get on the bandwagon soon enough.
(5) Browns fans weren’t high on Edwards–he’s a Michigan player who goes out clubbing after a loss and gets in a brawl with LeBron’s friends. Is this the guy who blue-collar Browns fans identify with and want to pay money to see? No. Again, it’s easy to take shots at the Browns right now, but their fans are long-suffering. The fanbase is at an epic lowpoint. You have to wonder how many 10-year-old Browns fans there are right now–kids don’t like losers. Young people gravitate toward success–they’re Pats fans, Giants fans (youth who love style over substance are Cowboys fans). These are glowing, big-market teams who either (a) win playoff games and Super Bowls, or (b) are treated like they did by a fawning media. Cleveland plays 15 of its games at 1 p.m. EST. There isn’t a player on the team my mom could name. Nobody on the Browns is dating Giselle; being paid to promote their hair for Head & Shoulders; or dumping Jessica Simpson to focus on football, only to suck four times worse. This is a LOSING team, with a LONG way to go. Browns fans are still talking about Bernie Kosar, Webster Slaughter–and wondering if Marty Schottenheimer might decide to come back. Nothing in 25 years has come along to replace these old players and teams–frankly, it’s sad. It’s pathetic. With all that said, there is tremendous pride and love for the game in C-Town. They want a winning team, and they want it now. Everyone will say the Jets won this deal. Rexy and the Jets are a media-darling squad who “just got their deep threat.” Fine by me–have a nice day.
(6) Let’s see what people are saying about Eric Mangini at the end of the season. People have ripped him to shreds–some were calling him the worst coaching hire in the history of the NFL–after an 0-2 start. That’s ridiculous.
(6a) Mangini is stockpiling draft picks: This April, the Browns enter the draft with all of their picks. In addition, they will get the Jets 3rd-round pick (which could wind up as a 2nd-round pick); two 5th-round picks (from the Jets and Tampa Bay); and a 7th-rounder from Carolina.
(7) The 0-4 Cleveland Browns are going to SHRED the Buffalo Bills this Sunday. SHRED THEM UP. You heard it here first.
Eric Mangini is cleansing the roster of headcases. (Photo by richswerb)
7
Sep
2009
Mangini’s mystery wrapped in a riddle, inside an enigma
Per beat reporter Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Browns Head Coach Eric Mangini will not reveal his starting quarterback for Sunday’s home opener against the Minnesota Vikings.
Cabot reports that Mangini will “tell the two quarterbacks in the ‘near future’ in separate conversations with each of them. He said he’ll explain to them why and how the decision was made. He said as a defensive coordinator, it’s difficult to prepare for an offense when the quarterback is unknown… He said he expects both quarterbacks to prepare as though they’re the starter.”
Quinn or Anderson? Who cares. Stopping this guy is the issue.
This is dangerous territory. We doubt the Minnesota Vikings are in awe of either quarterback. Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson combined for one touchdown pass in the preseason–it’s not as if the Vikes are game planning for Joe Montana, only to discover, moments before kickoff, that Steve Young is starting.
The bigger concern for Cleveland is containing Adrian Peterson and finding a way to rush for more than 30 yards against Minnesota’s blistering defensive front. These head games equate to nothing, and Minnesota’s feathers are unruffled by this mystery.
4
Sep
2009
Derek Anderson to the Patriots?
As mentioned earlier today, we’ve been hearing chatter regarding a series of potential trades in the National Football League–including one that may permanently end the QB debate in Cleveland.
In the wake of the Cutler debacle, there was talk about Josh McDaniels pursuing a trade with the Browns for QB Brady Quinn. It never went down. Meanwhile, speculation about a Derek Anderson trade dates back to January 2008.
Tonight, on the eve of the 2009 season, the New England Patriots are without a solid backup for Tom Brady. With only two quarterbacks on the roster, something has to change.
There’s chatter all over the grid that Mangini’s decision to sit both Quinn and Anderson last night had a purpose: resting Quinn for the starting role in Week One, and positioning Anderson for a trade that will happen over the next 48 hours. People speculate that the Browns and Pats couldn’t be talking–the Belichick/Mangini feud would prevent that, right? Nonsense. If the deal makes sense for both coaches and both teams, the trigger will be pulled.
While Derek Anderson is far from perfect, he’s young with a cannon arm, and may appeal to Belichick in the same way Vinny Testaverde did in 1993, when Belichick made the decision to release Bernie Kosar, much to the horror of the entire city. (People forget that Vinny wasn’t even healthy when Bernie was cut, but he figured into the coach’s plans for 1994, and he helped lead the Browns to an 11-5 season and their most recent playoff win–over Bill Parcells and the Patriots, of all teams.)
Derek Anderson recalls, in some ways, the imperfect--but dangerous--skillset of Vinny Testaverde.
People ripped on Vinny for his perceived lack of intelligence–and his knack for throwing costly interceptions. Belichick loved his arm, and fawned over his athleticism. Inherent to Anderson are some of those same strengths and weaknesses–when he thinks too much, and gets tight, he suffers. When he’s loose (we’ve said before that he should drink about three beers before every game), the guy just guns the ball all over the field. Anderson can be frustrating beyond comprehension–but he’s downright dangerous when he’s on. Besides, he’s toiled on a team that’s been in flux since the Reagan era. What would happen to Anderson under the guidance of Belichick and the Patriots? It’s a scary thought.
DEVELOPING…
2
Sep
2009
Former Patriot Assistants trip over themselves trying to claim Kevin O’Connell
Kevin O'Connell could reunite with Josh McDaniels in Denver
When the Patriots released back-up QB Kevin O’Connell on Monday, it seemed clear that at least one of Belichick’s former staffers would make a play for the 2008 3rd round choice. With the recent injury to Kyle Orton and presence of his former OC Josh McDaniels, Denver seemed like the most obvious fit for O’Connell.
But according to ProFootballTalk, not one, but FOUR teams have put in a waiver claim for O’Connell: Denver, Cleveland, Detroit and the NY Jets. Both the Jets and Lions need back-ups for their rookie QBs, so those teams make sense too. Cleveland is interesting, though. They already have a QB controversy, so does this mean Eric Mangini simply wants more in-house fodder for trade talks?
Let’s face it, Belichick could release a turd, and most of his disciples would kill themselves trying to scoop it out of the toilet. So is O’Connell a real viable option at QB, or just a sign that these young head coaches are desperate, and would be happy with Belichick’s table scraps?
Interestingly, the Kansas City Chiefs haven’t made a claim for O’Connell, which means that the GM who drafted him (Scott Pioli) a year ago isn’t interested. And with an ailing Matt Cassell, that could be a statement in and of itself.
1
Sep
2009
Trimming the vine
The Browns have parted ways with defensive lineman Louis Leonard, trading the third-year pro to the Carolina Panthers for an undisclosed 2010 draft pick. Originally undrafted out of Fresno State and picked up by the Chargers in 2007, Leonard was later waived by San Diego and the Rams before signing with Cleveland midway through the 2007 season.
While this in not a ground-breaking development for the Browns or Panthers in terms of roster shakeup, it clarifies something about the Eric Mangini era in Cleveland. All malcontents will be jetisoned. Late in training camp, Leonard got into a verbal argument with defensive line coach Bryan Cox, and refused to apologize to the team for his actions. Weeks before, the team cut mouthy defensive lineman Shaun Smith, who also refused to man-up and apologize to teammates for his poor behavior. Neither of these guys were dominant. Neither made a tremendous impact with the Browns. While it’s easy to make examples of low-impact players, the Browns also parted ways with tight end Kellen Winslow, Jr. before the season for similar reasons.
For a team that desperately needed a culture change, these moves are welcomed by the fans.
29
Aug
2009
Quinn will be named starter in Cleveland…
While Head Coach Eric Mangini hasn’t made the official announcement–and may continue to hold his tongue–everyone knows what’s coming: Brady Quinn will be named the starting quarterback of the Cleveland Browns. In no way did Quinn decisively vanquish Derek Anderson (who seems like he’d be much better with a few beers in him at gametime, loose and frenzied, just gunning it across the field like it’s his backyard), but he took care of business tonight in the team’s third–and most critical–preseason game against the Tennessee Titans. Check out the highlights here.
It’s questionable whether or not these preseason games provide adequate ground for a true quarterback competition–especially one as flimsy as this–it’s simply been a stage for the inevitable. Anderson, as always, flip-flops between white hot and ice cold. Meanwhile, we have no idea what Quinn can do over the course of a season, but he’s more Mangini’s style: controlled, orderly, and methodical.
In the eyes of many, Anderson needed to wipe Quinn off the field to win this job–he didn’t even throw a touchdown pass. Tonight, Quinn did, and while nobody in Pittsburgh is shaking in their shoes just yet, he will lead this team in 2009.
Case closed.
The Browns last four opening-day starters at the quarterback position were almost as funny as these guys--Quinn can do no worse.
22
Aug
2009
( ( ( LIVE GAME BLOG ) ) ) Browns vs. Lions
The Browns 10-year rebuilding plan continues today!
And we are here to follow the action. After a dismal showing against Green Bay last Saturday, will the Browns have their act together today in Cleveland Browns Stadium? Will Eric Mangini‘s team be different than those coached by Chris Palmer, Butch Davis, or Romeo Crenell–or is this just more of the same?
Aspects of the game the Browns need to improve:
- Every aspect
There’s an incredible amount of attention on the QB battle between Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson, but the reality is that neither of these guys has separated from the pack. Neither has shown they can play consistent football week to week (or even practice to practice). The “quarterback controversy” here, in my opinion, is the fact that we’re going into the season for the eleventh time since the Browns return to the league WITHOUT a clear-cut starter–and minus a true leader at the position.
Here are two problems that suggest disaster for this team: (1) They cannot run the football; (2) They cannot stop the run. That’s the recipe for a painful, long season. This team that has to get tougher, smarter, and refuse to lie down. Winning or losing preseason games is not of core importance–but playing well, gaining confidence, and nailing down Mangini’s new system are critical.
Will the team get their act together today? We’ll post throughout the game, right after the jump…
