Comments on: The situation in Berea

By: alan t.

alan t. — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:17:50 +0000

Free agents???? Here's the problem, apparently even my imposter is unaware (by the way, this particular imposter (of the 67 I've already had) I kinda like. Seriously. Anybody who has enough sense to see beyond the facade and sees Gilbert's snake oil and sleaze for what he really is OK by me. Seriously.) Which reminds me, I have a clever name for Gilbert's two casinos, and I hope he takes it to heart: The Michigan State Dormitory. It's catchy. Just like that Italian restaurant called The Spaghetti Warehouse. And in the spirit of Italian restaurants, if somebody doesn't pay up, he could shove him against a wall, threaten him with violence, and put manure in the poor sap's car. Just like the detective said Gilbert actually did at Michigan State. Just like old times.

But back to free agents. Here's the problem: in an uncapped season, which apparently there will be unless there's a lockout, a player has to have six seasons already under his belt to be a free agent. And the top three guys of those guys, teams can designate as their prisoner. So then, what's left from which to throw money at? Beat-up running backs, total has-beens at every position, and new and improved ex-Jets.

No, they have to ace the draft. Ace it. With next to nothing but mid to low-level draft round selections available. So the reality of the situation? There's a greater chance that Gib Shanley will come back to life to mud wrestle naked with Terry Pluto.

By: Marc

Marc — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:30:18 +0000

If Lerner is still fretting about all the money he's paying Savage, Romeo, probably Butch Davis, Kook-clueless, and soon Mangled-team….here's a thought:

Imagine how many TENS OF MILLIONS Lerner will have to OVERPAY free-agents to come here and play under the WaterBoy. By getting rid of the problem, i.e. WaterBoy, there will actually be SAVINGS that he would've had to overpay to players.

At this juncture, getting Mangini out of Cleveland is worth just about anything he is still owed. Pay him to go away and stay away.

By: terje

terje — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:58:00 +0000

what free agent signings alan t's imposter? there aren't going to be any of consequence! do you really think that the fans are the only ones who are baffled and angry over this idiotic owner and his pet coach? there are going to be ZERO agents bringing talented players to cleveland.

and judging from mangini's first draft you'd be better off giving him the keys to a ferrari, a bottle of cabo wabo, an eight ball of blow, a hooker and then expect him to, "drive safe! be home before 11 p.m.!".

By: Joyce B

Joyce B — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:41:30 +0000

I see, Imposter……you feel that a couple years will get things back on track for this team. But you take shots at the guy trying to straighten out the mess that Bush left him. I see…..real consistency on your part. At least Alan is a thinker.

By: alan t.'s imposter

alan t.'s imposter — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:23:52 +0000

You guys are serious, aren't you. There's no way he'll sell. He shouldn't have to. IT IS HIS TEAM.

Unless Comrade Obama takes over the NFL (which is possible since he took a lot of our banks and 2/3 of the big 3 automotive suppliers, plus mortgage companies), there's nobody that will force a SALE of the Browns.

Just sit tight for a couple of years. You think this thing can be fixed with new leaders, you're just DEAD wrong. You need players to win. The team just doesn't have them. Two years of building role players followed by a year of free agent signings and everything is right back on track. Nothing you say or do this year will change anything, except 4 games with the Raiders, Lions, Chiefs & other bottom feeders.

By: ken price

ken price — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:35:58 +0000

Maybe they should sell the team to the fans,ie.the Packers. I can't say this enough,this not the Browns of Paul Brown or Modell;it's an expansion team! Better off rooting for the Ravens or the Bengals.That being sais it comes down to a cohesive ownership and coaching staff with scouts who recognize talent and not just draft by a players success in college. Some of the best players in the league came form small schools or were not that well known.
All I can say ,for the fans sake, is something miraculous happens to get this franchise back on a competitive track. Port Saint Lucie,Fl.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:35:09 +0000

Miguel — the irresponsible people are the ones who can't join the rest of us in reality and separate their sanity from this blind and unabashed attachment to a sports team that seems to be their sole identity.

It was a great article, and these days I appreciate a different point of view or take on a situation that is hashed and rehashed and rehashed to the point we all know the weak talking points. Some reporters have challenged the readers to grow up and look at this situation responsibly.

Great posting, Pat. I saw this yesterday in the Morning Journal, and along with the post about covering Delonte, you've given people something to think about. Which, judging by the same lame "Anderson sucks" rants and the like that I've heard, doesn't seem to be up the majority of Cleveland's alley.

By: Miguel

Miguel — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:56:21 +0000

People need to wake up and realize that Lerner selling the team is NOT going to happen. Not in this economy, and not with the franchise at its lowest possible value. It's just completely and totally out of touch with reality to even entertain the merest hint of an idea that Lerner would sell the franchises at a time when his asking price could be as much as half a billion dollars lower than what it should be.

People like Jim Ingraham need to do a little bit of research before they write pointless articles such as this one. All Jim is doing is instilling more false hope in people who have lived on false hope for decades now. He should know better, and so should you, Pat. It's time for this line of thinking to be put to bed. It's as irresponsible as it is out of touch with reality.

By: Marc

Marc — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:38:15 +0000

Lerner emailed T. Grossi that no, he could not foresee any circumstances under which Mangini would not be the Browns coach in 2010.

Therefore, my support of the franchise is dead.

I completely concur with Ingraham…the league itself must now step in and rid Cleveland of this Stepien-ish owner and his joke of a coach. This just isn't good for business. Why is Lerner holding on? More to the point, why is he backing a guy who is the literal laughingstock of the nation?