First and 10
1) I've been thinking and thinking all day about the Browns and I just don't know where to start. Where does one start with this team?
2) It seems to be a team disintegrating in front of our eyes. The GM sends a completely inappropriate e-mail to a fan. He's taking fans' e-mails while the local media can't get hold of him. He suspended Kellen Winslow and let the coach do the talking for it, then let the coach speak for his e-mail as well. All while talking on the radio on his handpicked show with his handpicked interviewees. He left the coach with a team that lacks a secondary and any kind of quality depth at receiver. He has not spoken to the media at length since he talked about Winslow's unsuspended suspension. For years he's chosen times to speak to the fans and media, and he's done it at irregular intervals. The thinking has been that the coach speaks during the season and the GM in the offseason, which is fine. But when the GM does not talk at critical times, at times of difficulty, it leaves the team looking leaderless, with no firm control at the top.
3) The GM has had his hits in drafting and trading, like Shaun Rogers and Brady Quinn and Joe Thomas. But when the team loses the ones who aren't playing up to par look worse – Kamerion Wimbley and D'Qwell Jackson and Eric Wright – and the hits don't seem as strong. But like anyone he's had his misses. Melvin Fowler started a bunch of games after being traded for Nat Dorsey, who is no longer a Brown. Jeff Faine went to a Pro Bowl after he was traded. The GM's third-round picks included Charlie Frye and Travis Wilson. Antonio Perkins never played. That's too few hits in the middle rounds, which is where people like Ozzie Newsome build their team.
4) The coach, meanwhile, confesses he does not know what kind of effort he is going to get from his team. And what kind of team will show up. But the coach is working with a roster he can not alter, and moves are made for him. He didn't get rid of the coaches fired a year ago, nor did he hire the new staff. It's no secret the coaching staff wanted a veteran defensive back and a veteran receiver this year. None arrived. Every single game the voids in the secondary and receiver have shown.
5) At times, it seems like the coach is a policeman trying to direct traffic at a demolition derby, with cars smashing into each other from all directions. He's respected, liked, and he's doing his best, but it's just a chaotic mess around him.
6) But the coach's situation is compounded by curious on-field decisions, like pulling a quarterback after three quarters in his third start. I see it this way: The coach knew his job was in real danger. He knew if he was going to make anything of this season he had to beat Houston at home. He didn't see much from Brady Quinn. He figured it was do or die, he had to try something. So he did.
7) Except that the coach went all week with Quinn working with the starters (according to Jamal Lewis). So that change makes even less sense given that fact. Derek Anderson did not help himself or his coach, but it sure seems like he was thrown into a pretty difficult situation. Then again … it was Houston.
8) Then there's the play-calling. Cold day. November day. Cleveland day. Run the ball. Pound it at them. Jamal Lewis finally, finally, looks like the Lewis of last season in a third-quarter drive. He finishes with 10 carries. Ten. And he averaged 5.8 yards per carry. Give him the ball 22 times! Give it to Jerome Harrison 14 times. Run the ball. The offensive coordinator did not go from a good coach to a bad coach in a year, but when times are tough it's best to go back to basics.
9) Last offseason the offensive coordinator was going to interview to be head coach in Baltimore. The night before the interview the Browns paid him gobs of money to stay. I haven't absolutely confirmed it, but I've been told by very reliable sources that his contract calls for him to make $2 million this year, $2.7 million next and $2.9 the following. This is Hall of Fame money, meaning a guy heading to the Hall of Fame gets that kind of pay. Until Dallas retained Jason Garrett, I'm told the Browns offensive coordinator was the highest paid assistant coach in the league. After one season as an NFL coordinator. Rob Chudzinski is a good, bright coach. The Browns were wise to keep him, even if he did struggle last Sunday. But what team operates that way? What team, at the threat of an interview (not a job offer), reacts with that kind of offer? And what does that say to other coaches on the staff? Did they get a raise too?
10) Where do we finish with this sour, sour year? With the legitimate question: Does the pain of not winning for so long in Cleveland make losses like this and situations like this exponentially worse? Of course it does. But that doesn't meant the Browns have a firm hand on their organization. It's hard to believe any organization would do the things that happen in Cleveland, but they happen. This season the responsibility goes to everyone. There is an inherently good man as the coach, a man who stands for much that is right and who deserves to win. But he's not winning. And he knows what that means. There is a leadership void at the top, with no firm hand on the ship's wheel. There is a GM who laments his job description on the radio one week and e-mails a fan an obscene message another. There are good coaches on the staff, but watching them walk out of the press box Sunday after losing to Houston was like watching guys heading to their funerals. Apparently the GM looked the same way. The coach who spent part of the week talking about the GM's e-mail? He looked bewildered. It was like nobody could believe, in the words of Jack Buck, what they just saw. Making changes now is silly. But there need to be some changes – and if it's not in people it should be in approach. In bringing leadership at the top. Real leadership that doesn't leave the coach to clean up all the messes and does have the man on the top answering questions — and leading.
11) Cripes, I didn't even get into the players, many of whom have completely and totally let down their team and themselves. Cripes. What a season.
You're an Idiot
Too many possibilities this week. Plus it's a holiday. I'm not going there.
Three and Out
And we're letting them run this week because … well … the fans deserve a place to vent.
Dear Pat,
I don't envy someone having to write about the Browns at this point, but I guess someone has to do it. Is it my imagination, or does the defense just kind of stand around like bumpers on a pinball machine, waiting for someone to bounce off them?
I told a friend of mine I was thinking about going to the next open tryouts; of course, I got a weird look. I said well, look what they're paying Kellen Winslow to drop passes. I could drop at LEAST that many and for a who-o-o-o-le lot less money.
OK, that's the end of my rant. I'll bet you've had some real doozies.
Steve Shonk
Navarre
Dear Steve,
Folks … I must confess. I cut Steve's rant short a bit.
But any rant that includes the word "doozies" demands inclusion.
They must grow ‘em smart in Navarre.
As for me, I have a great job. And truly it is no fun at all writing nasty things. The Browns folks work their you-know-whats off to make it work. They care. They try. For whatever reason it's not working, which is frustrating. But what really gets frustrating is the extra stuff that comes along, the stuff that's not needed or not necessary.
Dear Pat,
As bad as the Browns are, there are teams with worse records – the Lions, 49ers and Bengals. The Jags have the same record with a more stable ownership and a better head coach. Three of their wins are against two decent teams and the Super Bowl champs.
There is hope, Just rebuild the engine. Don't replace the whole car.
KP
Port Saint Lucie, Fla.
Dear KP,
Well there's the half-full view.
Hoist the flag because the Browns are better than the Lions, 49ers and Bengals.
Hoo hoo!
It continues to amaze me that the Browns garner attention from all over the country after these sorry performances. I don't think the fans will ever say ‘enough.'
Dear Pat,
I feel that the biggest difference between last year and this year is the lack of Joe Jurevicius on offense. He was the guy you could count on to keep drives alive. This year, Braylon Edwards either drops it or Kellen Winslow gets an offensive pass interference call. Converting on third down keeps the chains moving and keeps the defense off of the field.
The only Browns offensive player that consistently shows up every play and can be comparable to Joe Jurevicius is Steve Heiden. But he is way under-utilized. He blocks, he catches, he runs the right routes. He just does his job. Play him more.
As far as the management of the team, I think that because this city is so starved for a winner that the Browns organization have dug themselves a financial hole by giving contract extensions to those who haven't been consistent winners. Derek Anderson goes 10-5 as a starter. Boom, new contract. Romeo has a winning season in three years. Boom, contract extension. If I were in charge of the Browns, I would have told these people "Do it again and then we'll talk." D.A. started to falter at the end of last year and that would have been a red flag saying that maybe this guy can't win "big" or "must-win" games. How will he bounce back? If Brady Quinn would have stepped in and won every game the rest of the season, he would have been given a contract extension through 2016.
At the beginning of the season, there was talk of Kellen Winslow wanting to re-structure his contract. What the hell for? He breaks his leg early in his career (not his fault) and then goes out stunt-riding and misses the next season. He did make a number of big plays last year, but this year, he hasn't been as big of a "soldier" or "warrior" on the field as his mouth has been off the field. He is too much of a distraction.
Why hasn't Braylon been benched? Answer: Because they don't have anyone else. Who's going to step up? Steptoe? Stallworth?
Knee-jerk decisions have caused this organization to start over time and time again.
I'm just so frustrated. Paul Brown set up this organization as one of class and yet time and time again, the Browns embarrass themselves on and off the field. It could be worse, I could be a Bengals fan.
Adam Gannon
Dear Adam,
Outstanding letter.
Could not agree more on Jurevicius, Edwards, the receivers, the reactions on contract extensions, etc.
I do wonder, though, if it's worse in Cincinnati.
Dear Pat,
Isn't it funny how the lack of attention, execution and finger pointing all lends itself to the Butch Davis era? Isn't this exactly the way things were going then? Only after his exit did the locker room and inter-team issues come to light.
I think we have all had a belly full of Kellen, Braylon, Jamal pointing fingers when they are the ones not performing. I also think the team has long left Romeo behind.
This is not a team but a group of individuals posing as a team. Real teams come together under adversity; unfortunately for us fans this team is coming apart.
Mike Dezort
Dear Mike,
Unfortunately for you fans, you keep believing that things will change.
They don't.
Dear Pat,
F*&# you. Go root for Houston.
Love,
Phil Savage
Dear …
OK … It was a joke! And it came courtesy of Tom Crookston, who wins the "Clever E-Mail of the Week Award." Nice touch in a tough week, Tom.
Dear Pat,
How could you leave out Randy Lerner for criticism? It is his team and his mess and he does nothing, says nothing, knows nothing. That's where the change has to be.
W. E. Greenfield
Bradenton, FL.
Dear W.E.,
I would respectfully disagree with two of your premises about Lerner. He does not say "nothing" and he does not do "nothing." He says and does a lot, it's just not publicized.
The main thing he does do is let the people he hires do their job. He bends over backward, in fact, not to interfere.
In most cases, this is a strength.
But when the people you hire let you down it becomes a problem.
Much like when the players the coach trusts let him down, the coach looks bad.
Everyone shares responsibility for this season – from Lerner to the players. I think Randy would admit that.
Dear Pat,
Don't you think based on his comments after the game and the number of drops that it's time for the coach or GM to bench Braylon Edwards for a game?
Just another reason to not attend games (season ticket holder) or even waste an afternoon watching on TV.
The dysfunction of this team from the top down just seems to get worse and worse each week!
And … why was Phil Savage replying to any e-mails from fan(s) during the game or anytime. One would think he has more important things to do, no?
John Lubinski
Akron
Dear John,
I've asked about benching Edwards and the answer I got was: Who do you want us to play? Syndric Steptoe? Josh Cribbs (not a polished receiver yet)? Steve Sanders? Those are the choices.
It highlights the lack of depth at receiver.
As for your question about Savage, I wonder the same thing. I really do.
Dear Pat,
Why shouldn't that e-mail from Phil Savage happen? Why shouldn't he be allowed to be frustrated and upset and respond to meanness. You wrote in the Beacon Journal: "Let's also be honest and say that there's no doubt fans can say some mean and nasty things. Media, too, for that matter." But we cannot forgive when the person the mean and nasty things are said to gets fed up? That is wrong. If it is unforgivable and embarrassing for a GM to do it, it should be just as embarrassing for a fan or the media.
I do not like the double standard that is set here. It is wrong to make the GM the whipping boy and make him take the abuse.
I like the way Savage handled it. Both he and the fan apologized to each other. It was between them that it occurred and should stay there. The matter should be closed.
If Randy Lerner has a problem with what Savage did, then as his boss he has every right to require Savage to act differently and deal with Savage as an employee. The media and the fans have no part of this incident.
If you wish to comment on Savage and his position please stick to the things he does do try to improve the team.
Thank you,
Mike Abdoo
Dear Mike,
Interesting thoughts, and a well-written letter.
I just respectfully disagree.
And here's why: Someone has to be the final arbiter of taste and what is appropriate. It happens everywhere. TV, in stadiums, in arenas, everywhere. Teams can call a halt at chanted obscenities. I know if the Indians see a shirt that has something inappropriate – like the word referring to what vacuums do – they will give said fan a free Indians shirt to wear over it. They are deciding what is appropriate.
When a person is in a position of leadership, he has to stand for something. And he has to call a halt. It's not OK for a fan to be belligerent. But it's less OK for the GM to sink to that level.
He sets the standard. For the team and the way it will represent itself in the community.
(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)
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
terje's run, run, pass and punt:
1. i still fail to see what romeo being a good guy has to do with his coaching skills. we love ya romeo, just not as the head coach of the cleveland browns.
2. faine was a butch pick. butch, by the way, looks a lot better in retrospect than the crap phil and romeo have been dishing out for 4 years.
3. hey adam gannon, mike brown may be a turd of an owner and marvin lewis is the nfl's colonel clink in charge of the prisoners in stalag ocho cinco but at least they made it to a couple super bowls. that's two more than the cleveland browns.
4. if randy lerner is saying and doing all these things but they are not being made public then he is in essence doing nothing.
as you said pat, "there need to be some changes – and if it's not in people it should be in approach. In bringing leadership at the top. Real leadership that doesn't leave the coach to clean up all the messes and does have the man on the top answering questions — and leading."
if phil savage isn't going to take responsibility and do the right thing then it is up to the owner to go public and clean his g.m.'s mess. he has failed to do so and has eroded the trust of the fan base. jim ingraham's article couldn't have been any more right. randy lerner either needs to address the fans—-now—–and even that is too late—–or find someone who cares enough to do what is necessary for the team and the fans in cleveland.
Hey Pat
Let's not forget the defense. In the offseason, the thinking was, just like
the offense last year, if rebuilding starts at the line, then the whole defense gets better. But 2 additions do not a defense make…where do we start? one of the smiths gets injured, then ther other smith misses time, then sean jones gets sidelined….a couple of rookie cornerbacks (forgivable if that was
the only thing wrong with the defense)…wimbley not having a good year…Adams? who's he. Terry cousin? my cousin plays better then him, even pool was out for a bit. U get my point. The puzzle will only be finished with several pieces to add to the defense….along with a better coach.
take care
joe
Why isn't Cribbs a 'polished' enough receiver to get some throws?
Hopefully with some intense training he will be able to run a slant in 2009, and maybe even a post by 2010. Then in 2011 they can start teaching him to catch the ball and sign him to a long extension.
Thanks, Pat, for reminding readers that the coaching staff had campaigned for veteran reinforcements at both CB and WR as far back as training camp. Phil ignored them on the latter count and got only Travis Daniels for the former. How much he has played tells you quite a bit about his viability, at least insofar as the staff is concerned.
Thanks, too, for reminding readers that those two positions have had the club disadvantaged all season long, underscored by the complete inability to sit Braylon because of what alternatives exist behind him.
Meanwhile, the GM has not drafted at all well but has already spent three of next April's draft picks on individuals who do not participate, even on a floundering club.
So, the idea that this coaching staff has not exactly received helpful support from its personnel chief should be amply clear, ironic in that the same GM has the coach speaking in his defense.
As outrageous as it may seem, it is possible the head coach outlives the GM, with the former justifiably arguing it has been the front office man who has undermined his attempts, failed in his duties and imposed upon him important assistants who don't necessarily conduct themselves in the best interest of the entire staff, the provided talent or with the appropriate approach/philosophy.
Alas, it appears all things are status quo until the final five games are played, with wholesale changes to follow. A proven football man overseeing the entire operation, including the GM, is the recommended way to go, with a departure from finesse to physical toughness the prescribed attack.
As for Savage himself, he'd garner a lot more respect if he showed the courage of his convictions by appearing up-front as a stand-up guy for an organization he supposedly leads, much as Mark Shapiro is always there when Tribe issues arise. (Not an original thought.) His chosen manner speaks volumes about the Browns' desperate need for organizational leadership. Weak, cowardly, timid, reticent—way to set a tone, little man.
Pat:
I am one of those fans who has followed Cleveland teams my entire life. I don't normally participate in internet forums, call radio stations or otherwise communicate my feelings. I just suffer in silence.
That being said I can no longer stay a fan of the Browns. It is not that they have been unsuccessful since their return in 1999, it is because they do not play with any kind of noticeable passion. I want my team to play like they care about the outcome of the game.
I believe a team is a direct reflection of their coach. Romero may be a great guy but he stands on the sidelines without showing any emotion and I have never seen him get angry at the play of the team. To me that tells players there is little consquence to their actions.
The Houston game was the end for me. Bad game plan, terrible execution, no passion, lousy coaching – and one lost fan.
terry, the chances of recovering from a lifetime of following cleveland browns football are slim to none. if you manage to beat this self-destructive addiction please report back and tell the rest of us how you did it. i know that after i saw brian sipe and the kardiac kids that i was destined for a life filled with football misery. it's too late for me. but if you manage to get clean your story could possible help the young kids who are being mislead into this life of shame by their parents or friends.
i had to move thousands of miles away to attempt to break the cycle in my family. my wife looks at me with pity as i tune into losing seasons year after year while she has had the satisfaction of seeing her team (the g-d cowboys! ugh!) hoist the lombardi trophy in her lifetime. i hope my daughter never knows my pain. but i catch her, sneaking peeks as i watch a stream of the game on my laptop. she's not even 2 yet but she seems to have a mild interest in the brown and orange. terry, good luck. if you are successful you may be able to help my daughter and many other children avoid or beat this terrible addiction.
Right, Terry Grant. You are gone. I chuckle at that just like I chuckle at Mayor Frank Jackson's hairpiece. Just like everybody else after every sports strike and/or lockout announces they are gone, only to magically reappear at the first post-strike/lockout game and/or are otherwise found eating chips and drinking a beer while watching the game in front of a TV set.
Do folks really want to know more about Lerner and the inner workings of the Browns and the revenue that drops into the local cash registers? You'll never read about any of this in this blog or in any mainstream local newspaper. You never attack a titan in this town. Who knows, Lerner could order Lew Merletti to have Pat killed. Or, at the very least, Pat's dog. Or whatever kind of pet Pat has. A ferret, possibly. Or possibly one of those box turtles?
http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/5900
Oh, and Adam Gannon, pet peeve here. It's a different "organization." What does Paul Brown have to do with anything? It's like calling the Charlotte Bobcats organization the same organization as the Charlotte Hornets organization. Or the St. Louis Rams organization the same organization as the St. Louis Cardinals organization. Or the Seattle Cavaliers organization the same as the Seattle Supersonics organization …. uh, whoops, took a time machine vacation for a moment. Sorry.
Is it just me, or does anybody else find it kind of shady that Marla Ridenour seemed to imply that she had an exclusive "rare interview" with Lerner. It apparently was actually a conference call with NFL sportswriters from all over the country. Not cool.
Wow. I just read that Quinn and his agent took it upon themselves to fly to Dr. James Andrews in Alabama without the Browns' knowledge, and he diagnosed an injury in Quinn's finger that the Browns' team doctor completely missed.
Seriously, where do the local sports franchises find their doctors? They seem to universally suck. Starting with the moron who practiced malpractice on Brad Daugherty's foot, it hasn't stopped. The Browns, the Cavaliers, the Indians. Did any of these jokers attend medical school in the United States, or what? It's beyond ridiculous.