First and 10: Wisdom (?) from a taxi driver

First and 10 …

Written from Boston where I will view the Cavs season opener … (HEY … it's a business trip!)

1)      So I'm walking to the car in Jacksonville after the game on Sunday and I run across Chris Gardocki, the team's former punter who attended the game. He was out in the parking lot with a friend throwing the football around with their two sons. We were chatting, and a lone cab appeared from nowhere. It drove aimlessly, then slowed about 15 yards from us and stopped. The window rolled down and a voice yelled from the darkness inside: "Did the Jaguars win?" No, we said, they lost. "You're kidding?" he said, and he was quite astounded. We told him the score. And he responded: "To the (insert bad word here at this point) BROWNS?" The outrage in his voice pushed at the roof of the taxi. I tell ya … a team just gets no respect.

2)      As the cab drove away, Gardocki said with a laugh" "Write about that story in the paper."

3)      In light of that, it's time for a prediction: The Browns are about to make a playoff run. And the worst they're going to do is come very close to the playoffs. Me, I believe they are going to be a playoff team. The AFC is that much of a mess. And I think the only thing that will stop them are too many injuries.

4)      It's going to take a lot of scratching and clawing and climbing and all that kind of drivel to make it. But they appear to be finding themselves, their identity. It's taken a while, but things seem to be coming together.

5)      People will ask what I base this on, and it's based a lot on the feeling coming from the team. For a while they seemed rudderless, a bit overwhelmed by the early schedule and the early losses. They now seem to have found a direction. Is it perfect? Heck no. It won't be all year. That's just the way the NFL is this year. But it should be good enough to win nine or 10 games and make a playoff push.

6)      A lot of this is predicated, of course, on the Browns beating Baltimore on Sunday. If they can't do that at home, I'll just say, ‘Never mind.'

7)      But right now the veterans on the team seem to have taken firmer grasp of things. Steve Heiden playing for Kellen Winslow has calmed things in the offense. When Winslow is out, Braylon Edwards seems to be a lot more relaxed, as if he doesn't have to one-up his teammate. Hopefully the team can re-integrate Winslow back into the offense in a positive way, unlike what happened in Washington. Willie McGinest has been a calming force, as has Jamal Lewis. At some point with every good team, the veterans take charge. For whatever reason, that seems finally to be happening in Cleveland.

8)      Happened to be flipping through channels at the Courtyard Sunday night and caught Bewitched with that tall goof playing Darrin. That show really was not the same without Dick York, now, was it?

9)      God bless Mike Singletary, who threw Vernon Davis off the field after Davis was penalized 15 yards for smacking a Seattle player and then feigning ignorance when Singletary was upset. Until players like Davis learn that their actions hurt someone besides themselves, they will keep doing it. Respect for the team and for the game demands reactions like Singletary's. Isn't it good to see someone taking such a strong stand, then speaking so honestly about it after?

10)  Last week I felt very confident the Browns would beat Jacksonville. Well this week I'm just as confident they'll beat Baltimore. It's two weeks late, but they will be .500 after this weekend. And after starting 0-and-3 that's not too terrible a place to be.

You're An Idiot

Dear Pat,

Are you going to ignore everything that came out in the Plain Dealer in order to make Kellen Winslow the bad guy?

Your Friday article on Winslow seemed like you swallowed the Browns point of view — hook, line, and sinker … and then it was proven it was all false accusation (that Savage said he didn't know about) and exaggeration (the profane tirade?).

So, did Winslow lie when he said he only thought about asking for a trade … or was Savage trying to move him on his own?  What is the truth of all your comments and your knowledge about things you can't print?

I guess, sir, I'm asking if you think you're an idiot now, or if not, why not (and I mean what isn't being said now and are you really sure Savage, who I think thinks he's bigger than the team, etc., is really telling you the truth or only the part that makes him a martyr)?

Keith Vlasak

Sandusky, Ohio

Dear Keith,

Your note qualifies as the first serious letter in the ‘You're an Idiot' section. For future reference, we try to keep these tongue-in-cheek.

In this instance I'll make an exception.

As for your points:

1)      I'm not ignoring anything; I just felt like I made my point and re-stating it would have been repetitive … saying the same thing over and over again … redundant …

2)      In my mind it was not proven to be false accusation.

3)      There was a profane tirade.

4)      I believe what I wrote was the truth, and I'm not backing away from it.

5)      I stand by my position, but at this point my position is pretty irrelevant because he's back with the team now and the best thing the Browns can do is utilize him and the rest of the offensive players the best way possible to win games.

6)      If I have knowledge of things I can't print, it's hard to print them, no? I know what you know, I saw what you saw. I believe it's absurd to think the Browns would not do everything possible to avoid and prevent staph, and to accuse them of such is disruptive and unnecessary, especially in the forum selected.

7)      And yes, I well could be an idiot.

8)      But that is nothing new.

Three and Out

Dear Pat,

Why don't the Browns use Shaun Rogers near the end zone like the Bears used William Perry?  I'm sure that three handoffs to him would do the job.  That way he could inflict pain on both lines of the opposing team.

Jason Blankenship

Medina

Dear Jason,

This is one heck of an idea!

Who among us wants to be the linebacker who steps in front of that freight train going fullspeed?

Dear Pat,

Due to circumstances beyond my control, I didn't get a chance to watch the game and the Browns won, but it won't keep me from watching the game against the Crows.  I now know it wasn't my watching that kept the Browns from winning.

I'm not sure Kellen Winslow, Jr. can say the same thing.

Wow…what a month this has been.  First I get to meet and talk guitar playing with Don Felder (formerly of the Eagles and the guy who wrote the music for "Hotel California"), then I get immortalized in Three and Out.

John Brodie

Galt, CA

Dear John,

Immortalized not once, but twice in two weeks!

I daresay though that meeting Don Felder pales in comparison.

Next thing you'll probably trot out one of the Lennon Sisters.

Dear Pat,

As I sit down each Sunday to watch the Browns I never know what to expect.  Good or bad!  It is a weird feeling … at least when they sucked we knew they sucked.

After last season and with the great expectations they came into this season with … well it has been a roller-coaster ride supreme.

Actually, I was quite impressed to see coach Crennel get emotional on TV for once. He actually swore during the Browns second-last series. They showed Crennel storming toward the camera in a tizzy when he let out the swear word!  All I can say is: ‘It's about time coach.'

Believe me, there have been many "swear words" coming out of my mouth directed at the offense during this up-and-down season!

Cheers,

Ted Arichteff

Winnepeg, Ca.

Dear Ted,

Swearing seems to be a popular topic this week. Ted is happy to see Crennel get emotional, and that's understandable. But are we now to lionize that Jacksonville cab driver because he swore? Is it OK for a player to take part in a profane tirade with a co-worker? Alas, I digress.

Crennel's sideline demeanor and the interest in it continue to interest me.

Is Tony Dungy demonstrative? Does he ever swear or rant? Bill Belichick isn't exactly animated, is he? Bill Cowher was energized when he coached, and Mike Singletary obviously speaks strongly as well.

Some coaches are well aware the camera is on them, so they make a sideline show. I've had people tell me Crennel should be more flamboyant on the sideline because it would look better on TV.

My answer: Huh?

There are many ways to win, and to judge a coach.

I hear your point about being happy to see him show some emotion. But rest assured Crennel has emotions. His style is merely his style. I doubt very much his swearing once or twice is going to win or lose a game, though.

Oh … as for all the people out there calling for me to call for Crennel to be fired, I have to say this:

1)      I don't think he should be fired, and …

2)      Even if I thought that, it would be pretty irrelevant because Crennel is not going to be fired during the season. It's not going to happen. Advocating for it would be comparable to advocating for turnips to start dancing in the Rose Parade. It's just not going to happen.

(Want to be recognized in "Three and Out"? It's a rare treat. Comment here or send an e-mail to pmcmanamon@thebeaconjournal.com, and put "First and 10" in the subject line)