Cleveland Browns (2008 Season)

[osugrad21]

CPD

Browns Insider: Jurevicius likely done for season

by Mary Kay Cabot Wednesday October 29, 2008, 6:27 PM


Browns receiver Joe Jurevicius will most likely sit out the rest of the season, according to coach Romeo Crennel. Jurevicius, 33, has been on the reserve/physically unable to perform list since the beginning of the season after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery in January and then at least three more surgeries to clean out a staph infection in the knee.
"We'll be coming out with a statement about Joe maybe toward the end of the week or the beginning of next week about what his status is, but generally it doesn't look very good," said Crennel.
Jurevicius' three-week window to begin practicing expires on Tuesday, meaning a decision will be made by then. ESPN.com, citing an unnamed source, reported Wednesday that Jurevicius will miss the rest of the season.
Cont...

[osugrad21]

Canton

Browns out to get even
Anderson has a (not so good) history with Ravens
Thursday, October 30, 2008
By STEVE DOERSCHUK
STEVE.DOERSCHUK@CANTONREP.COM

BEREA At 0-3, libraries were louder than the Browns locker room.

Now, the team is making some noise.

These are times when some Browns don't ask, "Do you mind if I turn up this song?"

Quarterback Derek Anderson reduced the locker-room sights and sounds to two words: "Miniature circus."

It's always circus-comes-to-Cleveland time when the ex-Browns based in Baltimore come calling. But this time, this is where Cleveland can get even.

The Browns can pull to 4-4 by beating the Ravens (4-3) Sunday. Anderson can restore the idea Baltimore would have been better off keeping him than it is going forward with rookie first-round pick Joe Flacco.

As it stands, Flacco and the Ravens have a one-game lead on Cleveland based on perhaps the worst quarter of Anderson's life.

The Browns were 0-2 and desperately in need of a win Sept. 21. A 10-7 halftime lead disappeared when Anderson threw two interceptions in the first five minutes of the third quarter to gift-wrap two Raven touchdowns.

The implosion led to a 28-10 Baltimore win and frequent references to Brady Quinn.

Anderson has regained his hold on the job, but the strength of the grip is as mysterious as Head Coach Romeo Crennel is vague as to his detailed plans.

For his part, Anderson is enjoying a 3-1 streak and not sweating the bumps in the 2008 road. He rubbed his goatee between his thumb and index finger as he shared a horror story from Sept. 21.

Cont...

[LitlBuck]

It was nice to read that if Joe Jurevicius feels healthy enough he might come back next season.

Also, it was interesting to read that Shaun Smith played TB in high school and would probably be more of a fit for the Browns to put in when they need 1 yard rather than Rogers. Phil Dawson played OT in high school but they won't be putting him in on goal line situations

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Lewis still unsure if he carries regret Running back reconsiders 'pathetic' remark
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer

Published on Friday, Oct 31, 2008
BEREA: Jamal Lewis seems conflicted over whether he should have called his 12 carries against the Baltimore Ravens ''pathetic.''
Asked if he regretted that remark after a 28-10 loss Sept. 21, the Browns' nine-year veteran running back first said no.
Then he thought about it for a moment and said, ''Maybe. I do regret saying it to the media. I just should have gone up there and told the offensive coaches.''
Whether it was the proper way to handle it, Lewis certainly seemed to get his message across.
Since that afternoon, when he totaled 56 yards against his old team, Lewis hasn't had fewer than 19 carries and has averaged 21. In that four-game span, he has averaged 82 yards rushing.
Lewis said his emotions were known to boil over with the Ravens. But that hasn't been the case since he signed with the Browns in March, 2007, which gave his comments more weight.
''I played under [Brian] Billick for seven years, so I'm kind of used to it,'' Lewis said. ''Sometimes you just get fed up. After that game, I spoke out on it; I shouldn't have. But at the
same time it was something that the coaches heard, we talked about it and it was something to build on.''
Cont...

[osugrad21]

CPD

Frustrated Jamal Lewis hauls winning formula for Browns

by Tony Grossi/Plain Dealer Reporter Thursday October 30, 2008, 7:37 PM


Joshua Gunter/The Plain DealerThe Browns are 3-0 this year when Jamal Lewis (31) has 20 or more carries.
When all is said and done, the Browns' loss in Baltimore in Game 3 may be viewed as a turning point.
After that 28-10 Baltimore win, running back Jamal Lewis commented that it was "pathetic" that he carried the ball only 12 times for the game.
Worse than pathetic was his workload in the second half -- three carries. The Browns held the lead at halftime, 10-7, and came out throwing beautiful spirals into the Ravens' hands. The Browns elected to pass on four of their first six plays in the third quarter. Two were intercepted and it was 21-10, Baltimore, less than five minutes into the second half.
Lewis, who averaged 4.4 yards a rush against the fearsome Baltimore run defense in the first half, was outraged by having to watch his former team do exactly what Lewis had seen it do in seven previous seasons with the Ravens.
"I do regret saying it to the media," Lewis said Thursday. "I should have told the coaches first."
The good news for the Browns is that his message was received.
Since Lewis expressed his frustration, Lewis has averaged 21.2 carries a game and the Browns have won three out of four. The first three games -- all losses -- Lewis averaged 14.7 carries.
Cont...

[osugrad21]

CPD

Browns Insider: Browns have backup plans for specialty injuries

by Tony Grossi/Plain Dealer Reporter Thursday October 30, 2008, 8:27 PM


Tracy Boulian/The Plain DealerTight-end Steve Heiden plays a pivotal role for the Browns' special teams unit as the backup long snapper.
What happened to the Pittsburgh Steelers last Sunday would not happen to the Browns.
The Steelers' loss to the Giants was set up when long snapper Greg Warren had to leave the game with a knee injury and Pittsburgh had no adequate replacement.
Linebacker James Harrison, who had never executed a long snap at any level of football, volunteered for the job generally taken for granted. Harrison's long snap out of the end zone gave the Giants a safety that tied the score and led to the possession that won the game, 21-14.
The Browns have backups at all specialty positions, and the backups practice routinely.
Tight end Steve Heiden is the backup snapper to Ryan Pontbriand. Heiden said he learned how to snap at South Dakota State and thinks he snapped in an NFL game one time with San Diego before joining the Browns.
Heiden practices long snaps once a week and also gets in a few in pre-game warm-ups -- just in case something should happen to Pontbriand.
As for the kickers, they exchange roles as backups. Phil Dawson is the backup punter and Dave Zastudil is the backup kicker. They get in a few kicks each week.
Zastudil said he practices extra points and field goals in the 35-yard range.
Dawson said that any emergency change in the snap-spot-hold sequence would be disruptive, but it's lessened by practicing with the backups.

Cont..

[osugrad21]

CPD

How Cleveland deserves a title: let us count the ways -- Bud Shaw Blog

by Bud Shaw/Plain Dealer Columnist Thursday October 30, 2008, 1:58 PM


Philadelphia is my home town. I played baseball in a Catholic League championship game at Veterans Stadium when it was new in 1972. I had my most embarrassing moment in a career of red-faced developments there.
Sent to the bullpen to warm up in anticipation of relieving our starter, my chance came after the opponent, St. James, led off the fourth with a single and a walk. The phone rang. I couldn't find it. Now let me tell you, a phone will echo in a 70,000 seat multipurpose bowl when barely a thousand people are in attendance.
Our leftfielder turned around. The third base ump turned around. Still no luck. I finally found it on the 23rd ring or so behind a large industrial curtain. The manager was not happy, screamed at me to keep throwing and slammed the receiver down. I guess he figured if I couldn't find the phone I'd have no luck finding home plate.
Our starter settled down. He finished the game. I never got in. And thus were pro scouts deprived of seeing my 69 mile an hour fastball and 68 mile an hour curve.
I thought about that briefly Wednesday night when the Phillies piled all over each other in celebration of their World Series win over Tampa. I thought about it because the announcers made the point that it ended a serious "drought" in Philadelphia. It had been since 1983 that the city celebrated a title, since 1980 when the Phils won their last (and only) World Series.
I also found myself thinking more like a Clevelander than a Philadelphian because 25 years, even 28 years, I recognize as a single beat of a hummingbird's wings compared to what this city has gone through.
I was in my early 20s when the Broad Street Bullies won Stanley Cups. I worked covering the Eagles for a Philadelphia paper when the Phillies beat Kansas City in 1980. I was 26. The Eagles made the Super Bowl that year, losing to Oakland. By the time I was 30 the Sixers had won the NBA title.
Cont...

[osugrad21]

Canton

Crennel, McGinest eager to win again
Friday, October 31, 2008
By STEVE DOERSCHUK
STEVE.DOERSCHUK@CANTONRREP.COM

BEREA Can Romeo and Willie ride again?

What a romp they shared in New England, with Romeo Crennel as defensive coordinator and Willie McGinest intimidating at linebacker. Bill Belichick won three Super Bowls with them. He has none without them.

Up to now, though, Crennel and McGinest haven't set any records together in Cleveland.

Crennel is 23-32 in four years as head coach. McGinest has seven sacks in 32 games.

Crennel is the oldest head coach in the NFL, at 61. McGinest is the league's oldest starting linebacker, 42 days short of his 37th birthday.

On a 3-1 streak, heading into a stretch of four home games in five weeks, the old friends might never find a better time for a shared last hurrah.

Emboldened by recent wins over the Giants and Jaguars, McGinest said, "In the fashion we're winning certain games, it proves that we can win. We can beat anybody, compete with anybody. We just have to do it consistently."

McGinest is eager to face the Ravens on Sunday after sitting out a Sept. 21 game at Baltimore and the subsequent game at Cincinnati with a hamstring problem.

Cont...

[osugrad21]

Canton

Lewis: Move from Ravens to Browns was good
Friday, October 31, 2008
By STEVE DOERSCHUK
STEVE.DOERSCHUK@CANTONREP.COM

Ravens at Browns

Sunday, 1 p.m., Cleveland Browns Stadium

TV Channel 19

BEREA It was a simple question.

"Was moving from crabcake country to Cleveland a good idea?"

What followed was along the lines of what opposing defenses presumably think: Don't get Jamal Lewis started.

"Oh, yeah," the 29-year-old back said faster than he hits a hole. "It was a great decision."

You could see the engine warming up.

"I love this team. I love the talent," Lewis said. "Really, no regrets coming here. No regrets. "

Lewis gave the Ravens 7,801 yards in seven seasons from 2000 to 2006 before co-existing with then-head coach Brian Billick ceased. Since joining the Browns in March 2007, the 5-foot-11, 240-pounder has rushed 427 times for 1,788 yards.

The Ravens went 13-3 in Lewis' last year in Baltimore. They are 9-15 since.

The Browns were 4-12 the year before Lewis arrived and are 13-10 since.
Cont...

[JCOSU86]

As much as I banged my head about Davis' selection of Pontibriand, it turned out to be not only one of his best picks, but one of the better picks in the last 5-6 years.

[LitlBuck]

Originally Posted by JCOSU86

As much as I banged my head about Davis' selection of Pontibriand, it turned out to be not only one of his best picks, but one of the better picks in the last 5-6 years.

Excellent point and I thought the same thing when he was drafted. It was almost like a Al Davis move with no points involved. Besides him, there is certainly aren't many of Butch's draftees around anymore

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Ravens 37, Browns 27: Ugly collapse is quick, thorough
Ravens' 24-0 rally leaves Browns shaken
Monday, November 3, 2008 3:10 AM
By Bill Rabinowitz


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Tony Dejak | Associated Press
Browns receiver Syndric Steptoe fumbles as he is hit by cornerback Corey Ivy in the first quarter.




CLEVELAND -- One by one in the Browns' locker room, players said variations of the same thing.
"We didn't finish."
As a result, finished might come close to describing the Browns' season barring a late-season surge after Cleveland lost 37-27 to the visiting Baltimore Ravens yesterday.
This was a game the Browns seemingly had in hand. They led 27-13 in the third quarter against an offense-challenged team starting rookies at quarterback and running back. Playoff teams don't blow games like this.
Yet that's exactly what happened. The Ravens scored 24 unanswered points in less than 17 minutes.
"We just have to finish," running back Jamal Lewis said. "That's it. You're up by two touchdowns. Every aspect of the game has to be about finishing.

Continued.............

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Notebook: Cribbs gives team a spark
He flashes Pro Bowl form with TD on kick return
Monday, November 3, 2008 2:59 AM
By Bill Rabinowitz


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Tony Dejak Associated Press
The Browns' Joshua Cribbs returns a kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. He returned another kickoff 38 yards and had a 32-yard punt return.




CLEVELAND -- The Joshua Cribbs of 2007 made his belated debut in 2008.
The Browns' kick returner, whose dynamic special-teams play last year earned him a trip to the Pro Bowl, had been slowed the first half of the season by ankle, hamstring and shoulder injuries.
Yesterday, he had the breakout game he and the Browns had awaited in Cleveland's 37-27 loss to Baltimore. Cribbs returned a kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter after Baltimore had taken a 10-0 lead. Kicker Matt Stover and Haruki Nakamura converged on Cribbs near midfield, but Cribbs plowed between them.

Continued...............

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

NFL
Bob Hunter commentary: Browns don't seem to get what 3-5 means

Monday, November 3, 2008 3:10 AM
By Bob Hunter


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
TONY DEJAK | ASSOCIATED PRESS
Browns receiver Syndric Steptoe fumbles as he is hit by cornerback Corey Ivy in the first quarter.


CLEVELAND -- In a place called Delusionville, a depressing little burg that also serves as the Cleveland Browns' locker room, the prevailing theory is that the Browns are a pretty good football team.
While that concept seems almost laughable to those who don't reside there, it is presented with the serious expression of a cardiologist during heart surgery. In the land of the lost, the poor souls who repeat this garbage don't know what they don't know.
"We're much better than that 3-5 shows," linebacker D'Qwell Jackson said. "Everybody in this locker room knows that. It's just like tonight, we let the game slip (away). The Washington game, the Pittsburgh game, we lost by less than seven points ... so we know we're right in the thick of this thing.

Continued..............

[BuckeyeTillIDie]

Brady Quinn is your Thursday starter, Browns' fans.