Bad, Bad, Cleveland Browns

Post by **Mr. Broken** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 10:19 am

In my opinion, ( 36 yr. old, born in Cleveland , Browns fan. ) Mangini is the biggest step forward that the franchise has taken since its return to the NFL.
I dont blame him for what happened to the Jets last year. Ill give you 3 other choices for what happened, and the correct one will be #4.
As far as what has happened in Cleveland so far, I dont have a problem with it. This team has been a disaster for a decade, and this approach hasnt been tried in Cleveland since guess who "Bill Belicheat" was the Coach. It didnt work then because the then owner Art Modell wanted out of town, so it never had a chance.
Mangini has brought major changes to the Browns facilities as well. The local media raised a stink about a display of legendary Browns players being removed , until it reappeared in the media area. I had no idea that the offense, and the defense, did not dress together. Mangini had the locker room changed so that these players will have to face each other at Half Time..
Former General Manager Phil Savage squandered over 20 million in guaranteed money before being shown the door. Over 4 million of that money, to Donte Stallworth WR who went out to celebrate his big payday. ( He got hurt during pregame warm up at the beginning of the season, and then went on to do nothing ) By his own admission the celebration consisted of clubbing, shots of Patron with Marge chasers, but only until midnight. Around 7AM the next morning , he ran over , and killed a pedestrian with his Bentley.
Mangini's style of coaching may be the only thing that can save this team. He has already begun a broad sweeping purge of bad character guys, malcontents, and under achievers. His Free agent aquisitions thus far have been conservative, but have provided much needed depth to a team plagued by injuries last season. Character guys, many are former Jets familiar with Mangini.
There are so many things not to like about the Browns right now, but for me Mangini isnt one of them.

Post by **Dromond** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 11:08 am

That was a very detailed post about your upcoming Browns and I agree with some of, disagree with some buy really, I would like to read what you say regarding the 800 lb. gorilla in the locker room..(IMO) . Brady Quinn. Has Mangini talked at all

Post by **Mr. Broken** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 11:30 am

Well this team suffers from an extreme lack of discipline, leadership, and unity. Last season we had players ( Jamal Lewis ) accuse other members of the team of quitting during the 4th quarter of a winnable game, and he was right , I watched that game, and they did quit. That was more responsibility, and leadership, than Romeo Crennels regime had ever shown the team, and that is pathetic. Mangini is the first head coach hired since the return of the Browns that actually has head coaching experience at the NFL level, and no matter what else he does in Cleveland, I guarantee that he will never flip a coin to determine who the starting QB is going to be.

Post by **Dromond** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 11:46 am

What are your thoughts on Brady Quinn? Can he perform at top level?

Post by **Cail** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 1:03 pm

Jamal Lewis has a lot of balls blaming someone else for giving up in the 4th quarter. His last season here he did that every game he played.

Post by **dANdeLION** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 2:01 pm

Dromond wrote:What are your thoughts on Brady Quinn? Can he perform at top level?

How can anyody know yet? Didn't he get injured in his 2nd game as a starter?

Post by **sgt.null** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 5:12 pm

Quinn needs to be starting. if he can't do it, they need to cut him. of course getting rid of his best receiver may have not been the best move.

it may be time to implode the team...

Post by **Mr. Broken** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 2:02 am

Its not even a question of imploding the team, this team ate itself last season. I was pissed about them shipping K2, and then I stopped being pissed when I realized even though the guy is very talented , he never really lived up to his obligation to the team that passed on Big Ben in the draft to get him. The team that retained him at the start of his career after that stupid motorcycle accident stunt riding in the parking lot.
If Mangini can return some kind of order in a locker room where a saftey can punch a starting QB in the face, it will have to be done by removing players with character issues.
Quinn however doesnt seem to have any. Its hard to say if he will, but I would like to see him start. Ive watched Anderson choke away game ,after game .... whoops I mean Derek Anderson is a really good QB, and there should be plenty of teams lining up to trade for him, maybe even Denver, sorry Brady.

Post by **Dromond** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 8:42 pm

Good points.
(edit)
In fact very good points.

I had forgotten the locker room punch incident, I remember waiting for more revealing info, and it seemed to disappear. Crennel hushed it. (I guess that's what a coach should do, keep it in house, but at least make someone pay, cut or trade... (Now I forget who supposedly punched Quinn...help me out?) What happened to him? Anything?

If Mangini can rid the roster of anyone who didn't see this as unacceptable, yeah, that's what the Browns need. Surely Mangini can do this much at least... if so, I retract my previous statements against him.
I do believe it's in the best interest of the league to have a solid and competitive Browns organization. I hope it happens.

Post by **Mr. Broken** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 11:13 am

I believe it was underperforming satey Sean Jones (recently signed by the Eagles so he is gone, Mangini refused to re-sign him) that punched Quinn in the face. Apparently Jones was of the opinion that a QB has no advice to offer him on coverage. The Browns now have a glaring need at the saftey position, but in my opinion Mangini will not sign anyone with a history of character issues, and thats why they havent gone after Roy Williams. Crennel and Savage would have snapped him up in a second, and then broke the bank to get him signed. Thats the old Browns. The new Browns are signing veteran players, to low priced short term contracts, to high turnover positions. Now some over zealous Browns fans are complaining about these signings, "Where are the Big Named Free Agents?" These fans are going to be sorely dissappointed because there arent going to be any. I would however like to point out to them that last season, wait scratch that, before last season started the Browns were the sexy dark horse pick that could go all the way.
So what happened? The opinions on this matter vary, but I think Ive narrowed it down to 2 specific incidents that destroyed the upcoming season. First" Barefoot " Edwards getting his foot stepped on by Donte Stallworth at practice, this injury kept him out of action for most of the pre-season, and never allowed him to get in sync with Derek Anderson. Braylon wasnt known as a ball dropper before last season. The other instance was the pre-season game with the Giants, the Browns lost 6 starters to injury in that "meaningless" game, and didnt get them back until we played the Giants again , I believe it was six or seven weeks into the regular season. The Browns ( I keep wanting to say we ) spanked them by the way. It was the one shining moment of the entire season.
I doubt Mangini will allow Braylon to practice barefoot, and I highly doubt that he will leave his starters in a pre-season game when they start dropping like flys. Romeo Crennel was the worst coach in the history of the Browns, also the only one to never once beat the Steelers. At least Mangini has done that, and he did it with a team that had less talent on it than this one.

Post by **danlo** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 6:18 pm

I'm sorry I ever mentioned Stallworth---he's one dangerous guy to be around (I never knew that about stepping on Edward's hand...).

Post by **sgt.null** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 5:42 am

Stallworth was drunk when he killed the pedestrian. maybe the Browns can recoup his contract?

Post by **Mr. Broken** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 8:04 am

Well it wasnt Braylons hand that he stepped on , it was Braylons bare foot. Now one might ask why Braylons feet were bare, and one would still be waiting for a legitimate reason. The resulting wound required several stitches to close, and completely removed Edwards from playing or practicing in pre-season. A bad case of the "Dropsies" then followed for about the first half of the season. After the season old butterfingers commented on how the fans in Cleveland didnt like him because he is a Michigan Alum, and we are all Buckeye fans.
The bottom line is that the guy has Randy Moss potential, the question is whether its Raiders Randy, or Pats Randy. Im hoping for the latter since this team WR corps have been depleted, thanks in no small part to Donte Stallworths tragic stupidity, and the release of Joe J.
Dont be surprised if you see Crabtree in orange and brown next season.

Post by **Mr. Broken** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 10:24 am

Reguardless of the impact on the franchise, a man is dead. Hopefully they throw the book at Stallworth. He was nearly double the legal limit, which means that he has already lied to the police. He told the police he had stopped drinking at midnight, the accident happened at around 7 am.
As far as the bonus money that he had received from the Browns, hope fully most, if not all of it will end up in the pockets of the dead mans family to compensate for the loss of their bread winner.
All that being said this is a terrible, sad, event.

Post by **sgt.null** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 5:05 pm

some idiot Pats fans are arguing that the dui should not prevent the franchise from resigning Donte.

Post by **Mr. Broken** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 12:13 am

If it were only that simple, if it hadnt been for the guaranteed money involved in Stallworth's contract , I believe the Browns would have released him. The bottom line is that since they had to pay him, they might as well make him play. So they went ahead and payed him, now when, or if he ever plays again is anybodys guess.

Post by **sgt.null** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 5:00 am

so who do you see them drafting? should be a defensive lineman worth the pick still available. with high picks i would rather get an o-lineman or a d-lineman.

Post by **Mr. Broken** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 10:38 am

I have it narrowed down to 2 possibilities in the first round, the pick is at #5, but even if it were #1 the Browns will pull either Curry, or Orakpo. If he falls to the second round, they will take Clay matthews Jr. I also believe that we are going to end up with several more picks than we currently have since the rumor has it that one of our Qb's will be shipped on draft day. Im a big fan of Brady Quinn staying, but Im not Mangini. I am however confident that the best Qb. on the roster will get the job. Since neither Anderson, or Quinn, were brought in by the current regime, there will be no favoritism.

Post by **sgt.null** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 6:20 pm

Matthews is the son of the former lb? didn't he play for the Browns?

not sure what they could get for Anderson, Quinn may be worth more.

not sure Curry will be around at #5, big buzz about him.

I'd like the Pats to get Matthews.

Post by **Mr. Broken** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 9:26 am

Here's my take on the draft as far as the Browns are concerned. I dont know who they are going to take, urgent needs have raised their ugly heads all over the roster, and I think the Browns will pick several times in the first 2 rounds. The Browns already own the #5 pick in the first round, if they ship Quinn (not a good idea IMO), they will receive at least a first round pick in return. If they ship DA maybe a second, and a fifth. They also own the 36th pick, and the 50th pick in the second round, but Im guessing that the Browns will end up selecting 4-5 picks in the first 2 rounds. Can you say Mangenius boys, and girls? Mangini has spent very little in Free Agency, and mostly on depth, not starters, so their will be money available to sign these picks, and hopefully avoid holdouts. The new regime denies the rumors of a complete rebuild of the team, but if that is indeed what they are doing, then they are doing so through the Draft. As it should be done.

Kevin's Watch

Kevin's Watch

Bad, Bad, Cleveland Browns