Cleveland Browns (2008 Season)

[osugrad21]

CPD

Postgame scribbles from Browns-Redskins

by Terry Pluto Sunday October 19, 2008, 10:18 PM


Scribbles in my notebook after the Browns fell to 2-4 following a 14-11 loss at Washington ...

LANDOVER, Md. -- Hard to know what the Browns are doing at halftime, but they have scored only nine points in the third quarter. That's nine points in six quarters -- three field goals for those keeping score at home. They've been outscored, 38-9, in the third period -- 21 of those points came in the Baltimore game.
Part of the problem with the offense is two key players are very streaky, a nice way of saying inconsistent. Derek Anderson's passing runs hot and cold, and the same with Braylon Edwards catching the ball. In a league where the average quarterback usually completes close to 60 percent of his passes, Anderson is at 49 percent. Edwards leads the NFL with 10 drops. They can be brilliant, as was the case in the 35-14 victory over the New York Giants. But this season, when they should be getting better having played together longer -- they both have regressed.
Players and coaches read and hear the criticism and take it as a knock on their effort. Anderson and the rest do care. They do try hard. But the NFL is a bottom-line-results business, and the fact is the offense has had only one good game (New York) out of six. In their four losses, the Browns have scored a total of 11, 10, 10 and six points. It seems that this season, Anderson is having more passes batted down than a year ago. There seems to be more indecision in key offensive situations, more emotional discussions on the field between the players. Maybe it seems that way because they are 2-4, or maybe those things are part of the reason the Browns are 2-4.
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[osugrad21]

Canton

Last-gasp FG miss deflates Browns
Bad D.A. directs punt-athon
Monday, October 20, 2008
By STEVE DOERSCHUK
STEVE.DOERSCHUK@CANTONREP.COM

LANDOVER, Md. It's never a comfortable feeling for Joshua Cribbs when he can't breathe.

On Sunday, the Browns Pro Bowler thought briefly about growing up with asthma. He was gasping for breath, lying on the field at the time. A Derek Anderson fastball hit him in the sternum just as Washington cornerback Carlos Rogers whaled on him. He got up as 90,487 in his hometown looked on.

Later, after Cribbs' late touchdown catch wasn't enough to help the Browns avoid a wrenching 14-11 loss, he stood as a living, breathing metaphor for his back-to-desperate team.

"I was taking some hits," he said, his body shivering slightly. "I get knocked down a lot. It's important to get up."

After falling to 2-4 when Phil Dawson missed a 54-yard field goal, the Browns are down for the count. If they can't win at Jacksonville and then beat Baltimore at home, their next chance to arise might be 2009.

"We knew coming into the season there would be a lot of games coming down to the wire," left tackle Joe Thomas said. "We knew we had to win the close ones. We haven't done that so far."

The Redskins, 5-2, held the Browns to 236 yards with a defense Head Coach Jim Zorn called "emotional, valid, mean and physical."
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[osugrad21]

Canton

Winslow blasts Savage, front office
Monday, October 20, 2008
By TODD PORTER
TODD.PORTER@CANTONREP.COM

LANDOVER, Md. Maybe it was frustration. Maybe it was, like Browns tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. said, coming from his heart. Maybe it was both, but Cleveland's tight end blasted General Manager Phil Savage and said he felt treated like a piece of meat, unappreciated, and he thought about asking for a trade.

Winslow, speaking with a small group of reporters Sunday after Cleveland lost to Washington, 14-11, at FedEx Field, spoke calmly. Eventually, veteran running back Jamal Lewis persuaded him to stop talking and pulled him aside. A couple of other teammates rolled their eyes at Winslow's comments.

Winslow missed last Monday night's impressive win against the New York Giants, but tight ends Steve Heiden and Darnell Dinkins played well in his place. Winslow told The Plain Dealer that a staph infection was the cause of his absence.

"To go through what I've been though, I thought there just would be more, 'How you doing?' Winslow said. "My teammates did, but not a lot of the guys upstairs did. Coach Romeo (Crennel) did. He's a great guy. My position coach did, but not the main man. That disappoints me."

Asked if he was talking about Savage, Winslow said yes.

"You can write it how you write it, I want you to ... this is from the heart talking. This is how I feel. ... I'm not even talking about football. Just, you know, 'How you doing?'"
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[LitlBuck]

I know that quite a bit of this was discussed in the game thread but I thought I would post over here since this really is a "2008 Season" thread. I guess I am getting sick and tired of Anderson and it's not only because of yesterday. It goes back to last season and every game this season except maybe for the Giants who are probably taking the Browns too lightly.

I agree that there has been quite a few dropped balls this season blow my major problem with Anderson is his inconsistency. He can look very good one-game and then look pretty bad the next four. IMO he has no touch when it comes to short passes or flare passes. One of the other things that troubles me with Anderson is the fact that he got into it with Vickers during the game out in front of everyone. This is not the first time this has happened this season. I believe that also happened when we were playing the Ravens but it was not Vickers that he get into it with but someone else along the sidelines.

There needs to be a change and not just because of Anderson's inconsistency and poor leadership. We need to find out what Quinn can do in order to make some type of decision for next season because the season is history. We cannot keep both of these guys on the roster next season and Savage needs to make a decision who is going to be his starter. The reason I say Savage is because he makes all the personnel decisions including who makes up the 53 man roster.

On another note, I am tired of Winslow and Edwards. Winslow once a contract extension in the middle of the season. That is really being a team player especially after you have had 4 operations on your knee since you don't know how to drive a motorcycle. I wish he was 1/2 the player that his father was when he played for the Chargers. I am also tired of hearing all the excuses from Edwards when it comes to dropped balls. I will admit that he is a very athletic player but he also lacks consistency which is one of the things that makes up a good WR.

[LitlBuck]

Sorry, I forgot this one in my previous post but why did the Browns pick up Cousins. I don't think there is a slot receiver in the NFL that he could cover. In fact, he probably couldn't even cover himself. That certainly was a waste of money. A brilliant pickup by Savage.

I also forgot about Anderson's inability to throw over a defensive lineman's hands. I have never seen a QB in the NFL who has had more batted down passes than Anderson and I am just not talking about the game yesterday. I mean the guy is 6'6" what is his problem... nevermind I don't think I want the answer.

[JCOSU86]

Originally Posted by osugrad21

CPD

Staph infection? On the Browns? NO [censored]ING WAY!!!!!!!!!1111!!!!!!!


Just a matter of time. Be afraid, Braylon, be very afraid.

[LitlBuck]

Originally Posted by JCOSU86

Staph infection? On the Browns? NO [censored]ING WAY!!!!!!!!!1111!!!!!!!


Just a matter of time. Be afraid, Braylon, be very afraid.

Yeah, I just read some of those articles linked by grad (who I need to rep) and I can't believe that these guys are getting staph infection at the Cleveland Clinic. I think there is a lot more to this story. The Clinic is one of the best medical facilities in the country. Anyhow, staff infection or not, Winslow was very upset that Savage did not call him while he was in the Clinic. Maybe I should send him a get well card. The guy is such a little whiner. I wonder if any of the team would really want him. Now his trade value is probably going down hill along with his brain.

[Snappy_Jay]

Well we got a group of about 45 coming from Naples/Fort Myers to the Jags game this week. I was hoping we'd be .500 going in. The playcalling was pathetic, the QB situation is a joke. I have never been sold on DA he caught lighting in a bottle last year. I don't place the blame purely on him but there were some pretty bad passes yesterday, the WR's aren't helping much either. The only thing I'm hoping for is when we go to Jax I'll have my QUINN jersey on and I hope his era begins. Time for a change. Go Brownies!!

[IronBuckI]

The play calling was very good (sans 4th qtr goalline situations). The receivers were getting open, Lewis was getting and finding holes in the defense. If we had a QB that could hit the broad side of a barn, we would have won that game by 2 or 3 touchdowns.

[LitlBuck]

Originally Posted by IronBuckI

The play calling was very good (sans 4th qtr goalline situations). The receivers were getting open, Lewis was getting and finding holes in the defense. If we had a QB that could hit the broad side of a barn, we would have won that game by 2 or 3 touchdowns.

Agree for the most part but I am not sure about the play calling in the first half. At times seemed a little predictable. The problem at the goal line in the fourth quarter was more serious because they wasted some, what turned out to be, so very valuable time.

[ScriptOhio]

BEREA, Ohio -- Browns coach Romeo Crennel confirmed Monday that tight end Kellen Winslow was hospitalized last week with a staph infection and may discipline the Pro Bowler for comments made after Sunday's loss to the Washington Redskins.
"Sometimes the emotions of the game and the emotions of your personal situation kind of overflow," Crennel said. "So I think he probably said some things that he didn't need to talk about to the media."
Winslow spent three days in the Cleveland Clinic with the infection, which has been a problem for the Browns in recent years.
Last week, the club refused to disclose Winslow's illness. On Sunday, the 25-year-old revealed he had staph and complained about the team's handling of the situation.
"We'll investigate it and determine if anything needs to be done," Crennel said. "My policy is to keep family business in the family. So whatever I do, I do and I'm not going to broadcast it."
Crennel said they haven't determined whether a fine would be involved for Winslow's comments.

Entire article: ESPN - Browns TE Winslow could face discipline for comments on GM - NFL

[schwab]

Winslow is right, and Savage is right. Let's let this guy move on. We beat the Giants 35-14 with Heiden and Dinkins. Let's upgrade the D.

[Ballard4Heisman]

It is bizarre how many Browns player's have developed staph infections the last couple years. The team is cursed. Poor Lecharles Bentley lost his probowl career and almost his leg after joining the team.

[billmac91]

Braylon Edwards admitted that his frustration early on with the passing game led to his poor outing against the Redskins. He dropped four passes, including two with the game on the line in the fourth quarter. He also failed to be ready on a hot read on the final drive and was inches away from catching a third-down pass at the 15 that was followed byPhil Dawson's missed 54-yard field goal.
"I just saw some things and I think we missed some things early and it leads to frustration," said Edwards. "I saw some things and those things didn't get completed or didn't happen and it caused me to get frustrated and lose my edge. It messed with my game."
He said the team counts on him as a Pro Bowler and No. 1 receiver not to let that happen.

Braylon continues to act like a 12 year old. Learn to catch Braylon.

[osugrad21]

ABJ

No situation is ever normal Situations frequently not related to winning
By Patrick McManamon
Beacon Journal sports columnist

Published on Tuesday, Oct 21, 2008
BEREA: Another Monday produced another ridiculous fire for the hometown NFL team.
Welcome to the world where nothing is normal. While teams muddle through a season with concerns about two-deep coverage and the proper depth on the slant, Browns coach Romeo Crennel spent most of a news conference talking about Kellen Winslow revealing he had a staph infection. Again.
It was odd.
There was Crennel talking about the complaints voiced by Winslow, when Winslow said he had no complaint with Crennel.
Winslow went to great pains to say he had no problem with his teammates or coaches, that he was upset only with General Manager Phil Savage.
Savage did not address the media Monday. His presence ? or that of a team doctor or trainer ? would have been welcomed.
The Browns chose not to make them available, which might indicate they did not want to get into any more details of a situation they had decided was private when Winslow was in the hospital.
All this came after Winslow went public with his dissatisfaction two days after saying people didn't need to know everything about him.
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