Don't call us an expansion team
Posted November 22nd, 2007 by Marla Ridenour
There is much talk surrounding Sunday's Browns-Texans game about the expansion teams' bid for the playoffs. Cleveland (6-4) has been to the post-season just once since the franchise returned in 1999, that after the 2002 season. Houston (5-5), now in its fifth season, has never finished better than 7-9.
But Browns tight end Kellen Winslow would have none of that storyline.
"Us an expansion team?" Winslow said on a conference call with Houston media. "No, we're not an expansion team. I mean, we're the Cleveland Browns. There’s history here.
"I would say the Houston Texans and the Jacksonville Jaguars, those are expansion teams. We go back way back in the day with the Cleveland Browns. So there's a lot of history in this city and people are glad the Browns are back."
Coach Romeo Crennel said the Browns won't shed that label until it achieves continuity. That certainly hasn't been the case in Cleveland, which has had three coaches in its nine years.
"What happens with an expansion franchise is because everybody wants to win right now, you get a program started, it doesn't happen right away, and then you change," Crennel said on a conference call. "You change the front office, or you change the coach, you change players. Now the little bit that you’ve gained in two years, even though it doesn't show up on the won/loss record, you lose all of that when you bring somebody else new in. You're always starting over.
"The case here, it was six years, but was still an expansion team after six years, whereas if some continuity had been maintained year one, two, three, four, and five, then the team could have been a different team."
Crennel said people underestimate how long it takes to establish an organization "because this is a microwave society we live in and everyone wants it done yesterday."
Patience must not be a virtue just of the coach, Crennel said. He needs that understanding from owner Randy Lerner. His late father, Al Lerner, was awarded the franchise on Sept. 8, 1998 for a then-NFL record $530 million.
"Sure, I knew how difficult it was going to be, but whether I had patience or not really didn't make a difference. If the guys that call the shots, Mr. Lerner, does he have the patience?
"I think he's shown that he understands that it takes some time to build and to build the right way. He wanted to build it the right way so we can be in place for a long time and be a good, solid team for a long time. No overnight wonders."
November 22nd, 2007 at 4:29 pm
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November 22nd, 2007 at 5:55 pm
I have been a Browns's fan since 1954; yes 1954 and this old dude is writing a response to a blog.
Anyway to my point. I have lived in the Boston area for 30+ years. I watched a pathetic New England team (remember Dick McPhearson and that razor company dude?) struggle as a franchise - big time. They were ready to move to St. Louis. A new owner swept in (Bob Kraft) and bought the team. He has established a level of expectation throughout the entire organization and he lets the football people do their job.
Now I love my Brownies, but I really respect the Pats and the way they do business (camera-gate and all). The Browns organization has taken a page, so to speak from NE with the hiring of Romeo. He is a great guy and a good coach; give him some time to learn and grow.
PS I attended the Pats Browns game earlier this year; wore all my Browns stuff. I'll tell you the Browns are very close to being a really good team. They played the Pats fairly even throughout much of the game, something only the Dolts and the CowGurls can honestly say.
Expansion team? yes they way they were run the first 3-4 years I look at it like they are really only in their 3rd or 4th year of a re-start-up process that will take 2-3 more years to blossom and mature.
Go Browns.
November 23rd, 2007 at 5:25 am
The Browns are a competitive team in spite of Romeo. He rode the coattails of a succesfull system with the Patriots. Yes, he was the coordinator for SuperBowl teams…on defense. The Browns defense cannot be any worse. Chudzinski and the offensive players were all brought in by Savage. Crennel truly has nothing to do with the success of the Browns.
November 23rd, 2007 at 12:43 pm
This message is in response to Johnny and all who think as he does. I respectfully submit that if one has never coached football at any level, one cannot possibly begin to understand the impact and influence of a head coach. There is so much that goes on behind the scenes that the fans do not see.
Romero's biggest "fault" in this day and age is that he is not a self-promoter. He shares the accolades when things go correctly, but he willingly takes all of the blame when things go wrong. That is leadership. Moreover, he doesn't throw Phil Savage under the bus about the lack of defensive personnel that he has; he works with what he has and does not publicly complain.
For the first time in YEARS (I have been an ardent Browns' fan since the early 60's), the Browns are not a dysfunctional organization. Leave the current administration alone and let us have some continuity. We are on the brink of something wonderful.
November 26th, 2007 at 11:08 am
Too much turkey on Thanksgiving, Johnny?
I actually had began a very detailed reply to your very insightful (LOL) post, but I figured that with your illogical thought process, it probably wouldn't have sunk in anyway.
November 29th, 2007 at 3:00 am
The last thing the Browns need is to start talking major changes. This current team and staff are the best since 1999. I have confidence in Savage and his management of the team.
The offensive is looking explosive and more consistant and the defense is growing every game. I think we have the talent on defense which was apparent against Houston and Seattle; it seems the prevent has been hand-cuffing our players. There is a point when you conservatively play yourself out of a game. My prediction is that the Browns defense will suprise you at the end of the season just like the Colts defense during their Superbowl run. I would like to see the team resign Anderson prior to the playoffs and maybe save the team some salary cap. My only beef is that I would have liked to see the Browns beat the Steelers; I'm sure they'll meet again in the Playoffs (1995) (2002), just hope the results are much different.
December 8th, 2007 at 5:51 am
Sports Illustrated…
I couldn't understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting…