Cleveland Browns (2009 Season)

[AKAKBUCK]

Originally Posted by jlb1705

Isn't Bernie broke? Please correct me if I'm wrong, but his recent troubles don't indicate to me that he's a smart business man. He strikes me as someone who has been able to connect himself to business because of his name - some of it good, some of it really bad.

He might be broke, ex-wife isn't.

(not saying that's all of his trouble, but, these are tough times for a lot of people)

Anyway, not gonna endorse him for GM or anything like that, but, I would be surprised if he couldn't contribute something.

Like a better QB rating than Anderson for starters. [censored], yeah, let him play QB again.... can't. be. worse.

[BuckNut65]

Originally Posted by jlb1705

Isn't Bernie broke? Please correct me if I'm wrong, but his recent troubles don't indicate to me that he's a smart business man. He strikes me as someone who has been able to connect himself to business because of his name - some of it good, some of it really bad.

He declared bankruptcy this year. I did like his comment earlier in the year however, he said he sure was good at making money and spending it too.

He has Lerner's ear...let's hope the how to make money side is steering Lerner in the right direction.

[lvbuckeye]

Originally Posted by Buckrock

There are rebuilds, renovations, and demolition tear downs in the NFL. The Browns are in complete demolition tear down mode. This is from the Bellichek play book. Build through the draft. Win big in year 3. Scott Pioli advised Lerner to do the same but opted for Kansas City. It will get darker before we see some light.

how the [censored] can it get any darker? FIVE TDs in 7 games? are you kidding me? the Saints' DEFENSE has scored 6 times this year!

and can someone please explain to me how Mangini 'hired' the general manager? isn't it supposed to work the other way?

last week Lerner said "i don't know what to do." how about you hire someone who does, you [censored]ing moron.

[Bucklion]

Originally Posted by jlb1705

Isn't Bernie broke? Please correct me if I'm wrong, but his recent troubles don't indicate to me that he's a smart business man. He strikes me as someone who has been able to connect himself to business because of his name - some of it good, some of it really bad.

He's extremely good at the PR end of business and he knows the ins and outs of football well...maybe not traditional GM material, but he is definitely someone who can bring a good deal of positive influence to the Browns if they use him right.

[Piney]

Originally Posted by jlb1705

Isn't Bernie broke? Please correct me if I'm wrong, but his recent troubles don't indicate to me that he's a smart business man. He strikes me as someone who has been able to connect himself to business because of his name - some of it good, some of it really bad.

Originally Posted by AKAKBUCK

He might be broke, ex-wife isn't.

(not saying that's all of his trouble, but, these are tough times for a lot of people)

The divorce was REALLY messy. I know he was one of the big men behind the scout Browns site, and he had to sell that and alot of other businesses due to the divorce.

Also he did own the Cleveland Arena Football team and was profitable, but the whole league went under.

Originally Posted by Bucklion

He's extremely good at the PR end of business and he knows the ins and outs of football well...maybe not traditional GM material, but he is definitely someone who can bring a good deal of positive influence to the Browns if they use him right.

Yeah, him as the GM I am not 100% behind. But him as the acting president hiring the GM and being the face of the team I think would be his best role.

[LitlBuck]

Originally Posted by Piney

Yeah, him as the GM I am not 100% behind. But him as the acting president hiring the GM and being the face of the team I think would be his best role.

the above was discussed last night on Sports Time Ohio last night with Grossi and Dieken and they both agreed that Kozar would be an excellent choice as President of the Browns and let him hire the football people to run the show. Bernie would be an excellent PR person for all long-time Browns fans and he does have an excellent football and business mind even though he declared Chapter 11 last year.

[Buckrock]

Lerner is lost. I hope he sells the team. How about Dan Gilbert. He is one of the best owners and business people in sports. What a mess.

[willsonphilips]

Even if Lerner would consider selling the team going off recent history of sports franchise sales it would be 2 additional year before the team actually changed hands. Look at the sale of the Cubs, that took close to 3 years. I'm not saying the Browns compare in value(Lerner's driving the sale value into the ground as we speak) but we have to look at recent examples. I think he might finally be talking about going in the right direction in bring in a presense in the front office like what the Dolphins have done with Parcells. Let a proven football guy make all the decisions regarding front office and coaching personnal decisions because the writing is on the wall that when Lerner hires he has no idea what he is doing.

[LitlBuck]

I wonder if anybody approved these two waverers. Maybe this is the whole source of why Kokinis was escorted from Berea yesterday.

Cleveland Browns waive kicker Billy Cundiff and defensive back
By Plain Dealer staff
November 03, 2009, 1:10PM
Billy Cundiff played in five games and Anthony Madison appeared in four games. Full story ?

http://www.cleveland.com/sports/

[Kenshin]

Originally Posted by lvbuckeye

last week Lerner said "i don't know what to do." how about you hire someone who does, you [censored]ing moron.

This.

Originally Posted by Piney

Yeah, him as the GM I am not 100% behind. But him as the acting president hiring the GM and being the face of the team I think would be his best role.

I'll pile onto this one as well.
I'm not sold Bernie is GM or Coach material -- but he could be the man that handles everything since Lerner is absolutely clueless.

Originally Posted by Buckrock

Lerner is lost. I hope he sells the team. How about Dan Gilbert. He is one of the best owners and business people in sports. What a mess.

Selling seems like a carte blanche "get a new HC" knee-jerk reaction to me.
My issues with Lerner are...
1. Exactly what are the financial relations between Aston Villa and the Browns? I've seen in mentioned before that Browns profits have been used for transfer fees in England. True/False/rampant rumor mongering ??
2. As you say he's clueless. But he's also just the owner. Having a knowledgeable and involved owner isn't always good (see Raiders).
He needs to hire somebody (say... Bernie ) that can act as the guiding light for the organization.
3. Salary cap. If we're not meeting it, then an owner that will would be an improvement. It seems suspicious that Aston Villa spent around $30m (18m pounds) just to acquire players (that figure doesn't include their salaries) in the Summer while we're almost $16m under the cap, have since offloaded Braylon, and are obviously paying salary games with Bradypoo. (For the record, I have no issue with those 2 decisions about BE and BQ -- but it only adds to a seeming lack of financial support for the team.)

[scarletandgrey]

Good news browns fans, The brownies are favored by 4 this weekend...

[NJ-Buckeye]

No way are you suckering me in that easy... I'm taking BYE +4

[OH10]

Is it just me or does Bernie sound drunk when he's doing the preseason games? I hear him on the radio and he just sounds drunk. He has the bankruptcy issues as well. Is he really a guy we want involved in important decisions for this team?

[stowfan]

One bad business deal can blow up in your face and result in bankruptcy so I'm not going to hold that against him. Bernie is very bright and knows football. On top of that, Bernie pushed hard for Al Lerner and should have been given a position of some kind, years ago

[ulukinatme]

Originally Posted by OH10

Is it just me or does Bernie sound drunk when he's doing the preseason games? I hear him on the radio and he just sounds drunk. He has the bankruptcy issues as well. Is he really a guy we want involved in important decisions for this team?

I have come to the conclusion that Bernie always sounds drunk. I've watched a lot of the pre-season games, you know, when we still have hope. Bernie seems to always slur throughout the tele-cast. I'm beginning to believe it's just him and he's not really a raging alcoholic