If there's anything to savor when this long-lost Browns season ends, it will be this reality: Riding a seven-game losing streak, the Browns effectively ended the playoff hopes of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
And they did it by playing hard-nosed, physical football against a team known for hard-nosed, physical football.
Pittsburgh seems to have lost its heart, its iron will that allowed them to win these kinds of games.
This season the Steelers have lost to Kansas City, Oakland and the Browns.
Those three teams have won a combined total of nine games (and lost 28). Three of those wins are over the defending Super Bowl champion Steelers.
Amazing.
What is equally amazing is that the Browns defense has lost its three interior starters, and it's playing better than it has all season. Rob Ryan's group sacked Ben Roethlisberger eight times, and many of them were caused by Roethlisberger looking confused and unsure where to throw the ball.
The Browns defense also stopped the run, limiting the Steelers to 75 yards rushing on 22 carries.
These are numbers never worthy of the Steelers, especially when it comes to facing the Browns.
The Browns offense produced a rushing touchdown and had the incomparable Josh Cribbs doing just about everything possible to get his team a win.
Cribbs averaged 10.9 yards per carry running from the Wildcat, and he brought back a punt 32 yards to set up a field goal.
Brady Quinn wasn't sharp, but the wind was howling and he's now beaten the Steelers, something a lot of other Browns quarterbacks cannot say.
Pittsburgh left town in a way it has not in years. It left with its head down, with talk of being embarrassed at its five-game losing streak and at losing to the Browns.
The Browns left the stadium proud.
Every player, coach, and employee can and should enjoy every moment of the win.
Including Eric Mangini, who has been beleaguered all season long. Finally, something went right for him. He should enjoy the night as well.
I still don't think it's going to affect his future with the team one way or the other. Not because the win wasn't meaningful, but because the new director of football will make the decision based on what he wants and not on whether Mangini beat or lost to the Steelers on a winter night in Cleveland Browns Stadium worthy of igloos.
That being said, any win over the Steelers is a good win.
Given the losing streak to Pittsburgh, the weather, the nature of the season … this one was especially good.
The Browns proved something.
They didn't play close.
They didn't compete.
They went out and they won. Over Pittsburgh.
And that's an achievement.
It's kind of nice, actually, that they all have a few extra days to appreciate it.
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Tim, literally at least half of the roster won't be on the roster at this time next season. So what's to continue? Is Jamal Lewis going to bemoan no Browns continuity while he's selling China white out of his mansion? Is Robert Royal going to shed crocodile tears about no Browns continuity while he's shoving a tackling dummy during an "opportunity drill" with the St. Louis Rams' practice squad? Are the 80 current ex-Jets on the roster going to cry about no Browns continuity when they're ladling soup during the 2010 holidays? Continuity?
I wrote it in an earlier post. Why did Mangini accept that 5-yard penalty when it would have been fourth down? Perfect example of a guy who doesn't know what he is doing. This is his fourth full season as a head coach, and you can't grow new brain cells after 40.
Alan, I already addressed the penalty in a previous post. It wasn't a 5-yard penalty – it was a 10 yard holding penalty. I agree with you that it was a bad move. If he declined the penalty, it would have been 4th and 8 at about our 34 yard line. The only reason that I could think of for him accepting it was that he didn't want Pitts to have an opportunity to attempt a 51 yard FG. It would have been a real tough kick to make against the wind, but I guess he thought that the way the defense was playing, it was better to back them up for a 3rd and 18 and we'd be able to hold them back further.
As far as the roster goes, I don't think Mangini will turn over half of it again if he's still here – probably about a third. The players that remain won't have to learn whole new systems again and they'll be much further along heading into camp with Mangini than a new coaching staff. I know that you hate Mangini, but you have to admit that we played one heck of a tough, physical game last night. When's the last time you've seen a Browns team play that physical? The late 80's teams come to mind for me. If that's not encouraging, I don't know what is.
I want the Browns to win because it's more fun to watch them win than to watch them lose. That Nebraska tackle would be nice (if they go to a 4-3, otherwise he'd be passed over by the Browns anyway since he wouldn't fit the 3-4 … oh, maybe he would as a project, but would they use the No. 1 pick in the whole draft on a project?).
I think Cribbs is sincere — but in a way of most players look up to any and every coach. Cribbs doesn't need to kiss rear to get a new contract. If there are changes again and a new regime hesitates, he might have to hold out and demand a trade and bad mouth the Browns in the press so he can force it to happen. An injury could destroy his career; so he better get his money now — meaning a signing bonus he can live the rest of his life on.
Tim, maybe the biggest thing to fear about Mangini is that he WON'T turn over the roster again next year, but not only keep the unimpressive ex-Jets, but pick up anyone else the Jets cut. I'm not sure of the exact name or the spelling of the QB — Kellen Clemens — that Mangini supposedly wants from the Jets more than anything. If someone can get Mangini under control and take drafting and trades away from him, again, maybe he can be brought back.
sweet win against the worst team in PA.no,the browns are not going to the playoffs,and no,we don't expect the team to start a dynasty from this point forward….but,they played with passion and heart when they could have laid down and not given the full effort.the team as a whole seemed to feed off of some energy to get it done.for that i applaud them all.thank you for giving me hope at christmas time.i love my browns!
You're right, I misspoke, it was a 10-yard-penalty, not a five-yard. Regardless, your reasoning doesn't wash, since the Steelers were already lined up to go for the first down. There was not going to be a field goal attempt. There was no logical reason to accept the penalty, other than the guy does not know what he is doing. That was not a rookie mistake, but a decision made by a guy with four years of head coaching experience. There is no justifiable excuse. And it happens far too often.
Keith, I think he will turn over the roster. As far as the ex-Jets go, I really think he brought many of them in to just either be guys to fill some spots to help the existing guys with the transition or be role players on the team. There are some veterans to keep around next year to add depth such as Barton, Bowens and Coleman. There's the young promising ones – Trusnik and Stuckey. 1/3 of the roster means around 18 new players, which is about right. 11 new draft picks will fill many of those spots, while a few guys will be released and some free agents will be brought in.
Where did you hear Mangini wants Clemens so bad? If he wanted him that bad, I'm sure he could have demanded Clemens instead of Ratliff in the Sanchez trade. I don't think the Jets would have passed on a potential franchise QB to hold on to a back-up.
Mangini brought in ex Jets to change the culture, which is why he also cracked down on stealing water, etc., etc. If the Browns players hated Mangini, they could easily revolt/quit to get him fired at this point, considering all the slanderous press and terrible record, yet they play hard. Maybe it just took a year to tear down the mess before it starts building. By the by, didn't Bowens come from the Jets? Seems like whenever the Browns finally win there's one of these horrible old Jets making big plays or around the ball at the end of the game.
As for the penalty, it was a gut call. From the other side of the ball, completing an eight yard pass play seems like a 50-50 proposition. Completing two 9 yard plays, or one 20 yard play in two tries, seems like a harder task. It worked out for the best, didn't it?
Tim, I've see the Clemens speculation on one of the sites I check online for Browns news — and more than once. I honestly don't remember for sure who says Clemens will be here next year (but it sounds like Grossi). If/when I hear it next, I'll take note and get it into a post.
If Mangini can tell which ex-Jets to get rid of and not bring in any more, then that's a point in his favor. All the local writers love Jamal Lewis, but he cried last year about the team quitting and this year about practice not being like it was with the Ravens — so I don't put any store in what he has to say. Maybe Billick let him coast as a veteran?? The Indians let Gaylord Perry coast until Frank Robinson came in … and then he was traded. All the local writers hated Winslow, but to me he never sounded like the over-the-top diva Lewis sounds like when he calls out his teammates and cries about practice being too hard. But that's another story.
They need to get in an overseer for any coach — but especially Mangini.
larry – I'm not sure any of the Browns who are left hate Mangini. I don't know if they love him, but all the athletes who get as far as the pro level have been listening to/working with/obeying coaches for a long time and many different types. They've all also watched enough sports on TV to have some sense of how to say the right team-first thing to the media, too.
His game day coaching seems better than Crennel's (where the details are concerned — like not waiting twenty seconds to call a time out … and then run out of time outs). His teams don't adjust on the fly, though (and I have no problem with taking the 10 yard penalty), and if Robiskie wasn't good enough (or had learned enough) to be on the active roster, then it is absolutely Mangini's fault for not seeing he knew/learned/did what was necessary right from the first day of practice. Coaches coach. Mangini failed to do so!
There are lots of things like that against him — but the fines and discipline, for instance, ARE good things. You're right there.
Why wouldn't they play hard for Mangini? I wouldn't care if Saddam Hussein was Owner/Czar GM/Head Coach/Chief Electrocutionist, if I was a barely marginal NFL player, I'd be busting my butt just to try to keep my football career, too. If you'll notice, the only guys you'll ever hear publicly quoted, as if they're something special instead of the incredibly self-centered guys they really are, are the guys the local sportswriters worship, like the McGinests and the Lewises. And Cribbs.
And discipline? Sounds good in the press, sounds good with PR. The Bengals are a prison halfway house, but that doesn't seem to matter this season. Wear a poncho and a sombrero and punch your girlfriends and wives in the face and steal all the water you want. Who cares? The Cincinnati media certainly doesn't, the Cincinnati fans certainly don't. And neither would Mangini if the Browns were in first place.
What's your point Alan? Its seems you are just blathering to blather. So what if a guy works hard for his job. I have more respect for that individual than the guy who bitches about it. What are you, the moral police?
The Bengals are on top of the division, great, good for them and their fans. I hope they win the SB. I like watching the antics of Ochocinco, its only entertainment, not brain surgery.
Change your routine, eat waffles or pancakes for breakfast. That piss and cereal that you eat makes you a hater.
You're contradicting yourself … seems to me the three guys I mentioned indeed did "bitch about it." As far as Cribbs is concerned, isn't it odd that he didn't speak up for Mangini while they were losing?
Bottom line, I was responding to larry d., who for some reason believes Mangini is a collegiate Lou Holtz, including the lisp, but minus the cheating part. My point is that so what if they play hard for Mangini? This means that Mangini is a worthy head coach simply because stiffs fighting for their very careers don't mutiny on a ship that hasn't even left the dock? This means they're playing hard for *him*?
please refrain from using the word "hater".
and keith, mangini is equally as bad as crennel when it comes to in game management. we've seen it several times this year where he's either neglected to call time out or called time out at the wrong time.
and alan, you can include the cheating part for mangini. he certainly didn't have any problem with belichick's spying while he worked for him.
You fellows sure have it bad for the Manweenie.
Ok, terje, there have been some strange time outs. I can't really make a case for Mangini being a better in-game manager. Thinking about it, some of what looked like time management problems last year might have been more Derek Anderson (as I've notice Quinn is snapping the ball sometimes in a hurry with the play clock hitting zero, which makes me recall that several times Anderson didn't last year).
One problem the Browns have had (in losing) is not making halftime adjustments (or reacting to the other team making halftime adjustments). There have been games where the Browns seemed to keep doing things on offense that weren't working and still weren't working and still and still and still weren't working.
In the Notre Dame vs. Ohio State Fiesta Bowl a few years back, Weis had Quinn run a normal offense, then when there was too much pressure changed the offense to a three step drop quick release, then when that still wasn't working, juggled in some no huddle. What has always stood out to me about that, and Notre Dame did lose, was that Weis, known for being an offensive coordinator, changed his offense over and over right in the middle of a game to try to get something going (and I thought it was a point for Quinn that he could change, too). When the Browns offense doesn't react to whatever the prevailing reality is out on the field at any given time, I wonder if coaches who are really known for their offensive play calling would??
Keith, about Winslow – I agree with you that even though he was an emotional guy, I don't think he was the diva the media made him out to be. He seemed much more like a team guy than Edwards ever was. I think the only reason why Mangini got rid of him was because Winslow wanted a huge contract extension, which Mangini didn't think he was worthy of since his knee is held together with silly puddy and his career can end at any moment. If Winslow didn't do the stupid bike thing that tore up his knee, I truely believe he would still be a Brown today and we would have gave him the huge contract that he wanted. Actually, if Winslow never tore up his knee he probably would have been one of the greatest (if not THE greatest) tight ends to ever play the game.
Tim, I liked Winslow and do think he might have been great without the injuries and infections and that he was, for the most part, about winning. I do understand those that criticize his PLAY (rather than those who criticize his personality, and some of what Pat criticized him for was cussing out female Browns employees in front of reporters in particularly foul language) that he made motion penalties and got caught pushing off and didn't block like a tight end is required to. I think it would have been nice for Mangini to try to coach him out of some of that, but he chose not to — which kind of shows a double standard because Mangini wouldn't take any of the evidence concerning Derek Anderson from tapes of last year's games, but unloaded Winslow as quick as he could.
Back on subject about how the Browns (and their fans) should enjoy this moment, here's something I saw on a Steelers site that is encouraging for future moments, like the worm or the wheel or something is turning:
By Ed Bouchette, from Sunday's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
>quote>
Here are the ages next year of some starting defenders: Casey Hampton, 33; Brett Keisel, 32; Aaron Smith, 34; James Farrior, 35; James Harrison, 32; Ike Taylor, 30; Ryan Clark, 31. And the ages of their top replacements: Tyrone Carter, 34; Deshea Townsend, 35; Travis Kirschke, 36; Chris Hoke, 34; Nick Eason, 30.
Even if all were playing at their top level, those ages would be cause for concern. The problem is the decline in play on defense combined with their getting old. Another year would not make the same group a better defense than it has been this season. The other problem is there are few replacements on the roster."
<unquote<
The whole story is at …
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09347/1020571-66.stm
Keith, I think the pushing off penalties and the lack of blocking by Winslow had much more to do with his bum knee than coaching. I'm sure he could be a great blocker, but it's hard to get leverage against a 300+ pound defensive lineman or strong linebacker when you have a bum knee. Same thing with pushing off to get open – hard to make the sharp cuts on a dime when you need to with a bad knee. In 2007 when he had his great year, his knee was bad then but it's been getting worse. The fact he's still productive now with Tampa Bay this year is a reflection of his great talent and desire to play, but like I said before, his career could be over at any moment. Is he worth the contract he signed with Tampa? I think not. I don't remember the final #'s but it was a significant contract with alot of guaranteed $.
Tim,
Saw this on Clemons on the "Hey, Tony" at the PD. I'm sure then that stronger comments than this on Mangini and Clemons (that I referred to) can be found in the Hey Tony Archive ….
Hey, Tony: I know you mentioned Kellen Clemons as a QB that might land with the Browns next year. I am more interested in former Jets QB Chad Pennington, if he is healthy. Do you like Pennington as a fit in Cleveland, and do you know if he plans to play in 2010? — Rusty Stoner, Columbus
Hey, Rusty: Pennington is under contract with Miami and is on the Dolphins' injured-reserve list with another injury to his right shoulder. At this point of his career, I believe Pennington's arm resembles the consistency of cooked spaghetti.
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