A few thoughts on a Browns game that produced very little for thought …
The first-team offense provided enough positives to let everyone breathe a little easier heading into the season. Brady Quinn led the starters to a field goal and touchdown, and the unit was sharp.
Quinn should have hit Kellen Winslow for a touchdown, though. Poor throw.
The offensive line, too, finally played like it’s been expected to play.
Derek Anderson was on the sidelines. He left the locker room without addressing the media, but did give a thumbs-up signal on his way out. Expect him to return to practice next week.
Braylon Edwards got a pretty nasty cut on his foot – nobody has said how many stitches he needed, to my knowledge – but the team expects him back as well. Same with Jamal Lewis, who strained a hamstring.
It was not good to see starting guard Rex Hadnot leave with a strained knee. But if the Browns are to lose anyone up front, at least they have experienced backups in Seth McKinney and Ryan Tucker on the team.
Travis Wilson might have done enough to save his job, especially if Syndric Steptoe’s shoulder injury keeps him out any length of time.
Observers said Steptoe did not seem seriously injured as he left the locker room. The Browns will need either he or Josh Cribbs to be healthy for the opener.
It’s hard to gauge these injuries during games. The team says what is hurt, and gives the chances of return (probable, questionable, doubtful, will not return). Other than that, the media pretty much knows what everyone watching on TV knows. Details on the guys hurt in the finale will be available probably on Saturday when GM Phil Savage discusses the final roster.
The Browns finished preseason 0-4, the second time in team history they went winless in preseason. But as Romeo Crennel said: “We could've been 4-0 and if we lose to Dallas you're going to ask what went wrong."
Someday we will all look back on this date and remember it as the day that Martin Luther King gave the “I Have a Dream” speech, the night that Barack Obama accepted the Democratic nomination and the night when the Browns concluded the preseason that seemed to drag on forever.
Where is Adriana Lima when you need her?
Whoopie. The second time in team history they went winless in the preseason. That first time, they would have beaten the unbeaten Dolphins if a Stevie Wonder-like Mike Phipps didn't have an absolutely pathetic playoff game, throwing balls around the field like Charlie Sheen in "Major League."
By the way, major pet peeve here, and you're far from the only guilty party when it comes to the local yokel sportswriters. "Team history?" It's a different team. Just because they have the same name doesn't make it the same team. If the Charlotte Bobcats were named the Charlotte Hornets, would that make them the same team? I know, I know, maybe I need tons more fiber in my diet, but when people refer to it as if they're in any way, shape or form related to Paul Brown's Browns or Art Modell's Browns, it bugs the hell out of me. Start the team records from scratch, it's a different franchise. Same town. Different team.
Not sure how one would handle bringing up statistics then. Are you suggesting to qualify every statement with "Since the team returned…"? That's ridiculous. With your suggestion, anything ever written or word spoken about the Browns must have that qualifier. Just not worth the time and I can't even believe I'm wasting my time responding to you.
Easy answer. I'd handle "bringing up statistics" beginning with 1999, the year the new franchise was born. You don't "bring up statistics" of the Browns' Kellen Winslow by mentioning the 13 passes he caught in the 1982 playoff game against Miami, do you? Why not? It's Kellen Winslow, isn't it?
You don't because he wasn't even born yet, and it's not the same guy as this guy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I82BPA5QAaQ