I'll be at the Cavs opener tonight, so this week's First and 10 arrives a little early.

1)      There were many reactions to my idea that it's time for the Browns to admit they made a mistake with Eric Mangini, that it's best to move on. Almost 90 percent of the e-mails and calls were positive. Folks said they agreed a change is needed. Some said thanks, others said well spoken, others criticized the owner for hiring Mangini, and some said my brains have less consistency than Jello. All is fine. As Mike Brown once said, I agree with what I said. But … just because I said … errr … wrote it doesn't mean Randy Lerner will do it. In fact, he's probably not going to do it. Which is fine. It is his team after all.

2)      That being said, the Browns have to be aware of the damage being done to their following. I've never seen a Browns crowd so apathetic as it was against Green Bay. The opposing quarterback said it was eerily quiet in the Browns stadium. People are acting like they've been hit too many times. Friends I know who have tickets can't give them away. The people I hear from are angry, which on one level makes sense because you usually hear from the angry people. But the fan base is sickened by what they see. The team's revenues could nosedive this offseason if the fans think 2010 will be more of the same. Yes, there are 11 draft picks. But if the Browns are hanging their hats on those draft picks they are fooling themselves. This regime traded three top six picks (Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow, the fifth overall choice) and the only first-round pick they got in return was center Alex Mack. So they got a center, second- and third-round choices, a bunch of mid-round picks and a bunch of ex-Jets. 

3)      Some criticized me for criticizing the Browns for lack of continuity, then asking for another change. Fair enough. I just think keeping on with a mistake makes the mistake worse. If you paint your living room and realize one-third of the way through that the color is ugly, do you keep painting? Didn’t think so. The Indians made quick moves with coaches in the past when it was obvious their hiring wasn't working (Eddie Murray, a pitching coach whose name I forget). It's time to bite the bullet and accept reality. It's not working. Chart a new course in 2010, and hope that the next hire (or hires) has (have) more success. Too… if a change is made, I'd advocate hiring a football guy to run football. Then said football guy can hire the coach.

4)      It's been opined that the Browns have no talent. I don't disagree. There is a serious lack of talent. But I said that last year, and many yelled at me and cried for Romeo Crennel to be fired. Much of the same talent is back, and Mangini supplemented it with 23 players he chose (as of opening day). Ten of them are ex-Jets he wanted and went and got — either via trade or free agency. So if Mangini was right on the new guys, the team should be better. Because he brought in players he wanted to a team that got screwed up last season by the coach. Doesn't seem like you can have it both ways — cry about the coach last season, then lament the talent this season.

5)      The Browns rank dead last in the league in defense, and they are giving up 170 yards rushing per game. Why, then, did I opine that Rob Ryan would be the choice for interim coach? Basically because he's the best option. The only thing that I think will get the Browns going this season is a different voice, a guy who approaches things far differently from Mangini. That would be Ryan, a coordinator with personality who's not afraid to take people on. I'd make the move, tell Ryan to try to make a name for himself and see what happens. Like I said, it can't be worse.

6)      Seems to me that the Browns keep forcing the issue with Josh Cribbs on offense. They've tried him at receiver, they've tried him at quarterback. Thus far, he's had a critical fumble against Minnesota, a big dropped pass against Buffalo, an interception against Pittsburgh and another fumble against Green Bay. Is it possible that forcing the issue with Cribbs is actually hurting the offense? Or that perhaps he's spread too thin? What would I do? Let him run from the Wildcat formation, but run different plays — not just the sweep and the fake-one-way-and-run-the­-other play they always run. Use some misdirection, something different. Last season's coaches did not believe Cribbs could handle a larger load on offense. At this point they appear to be right. You have to love Cribbs as a player, but more and more it's looking like as a receiver he makes a great kick returner.

7)      The Browns ran a quarterback sneak on second-and-1 against Green Bay, and some people defended it because it got them a first down. These are the levels to which we have sunk.

8)      My buddy who used to call Pete Franklin and identify himself as "Joe Fan" — he'd always take the side of the fans — called Sunday and offered this solution: Have the Dolans and Lerners trade teams. Give the Indians to the Lerners, who could operate with their financial resources in a system without a salary cap. Then let the Dolans run the Browns, because they could operate in a capped system and let the revenues dictate their spending. "Joe Fan" often suggests things like this.

9)      Someone smarter than me — and that's a lengthy list — will have to figure what happened to the two quarterbacks. Brady Quinn led the Browns to 59 points in two games last season. Derek Anderson threw 29 touchdowns two seasons ago. Neither look close to what they did. To say they've regressed is putting it mildly. Maybe the team needs a field trip to the Shedd Aquarium this weekend to help clear the mind.

10)  Here's another thing that bothered me about the Browns offense against Green Bay. Their way to "take some shots" down the field was to throw the go. Receiver lines out wide, and takes off straight down the field. Against Green Bay, it came against man coverage with two very good corners doing the covering. Maybe run a go once, but four times? Why keep trying such a simple route that is pretty easy to defend, especially when receivers are not that fast. This is a low percentage pass. Might it not help to go with a more high percentage passing game? What's that? Can't do it because Derek Anderson doesn't throw the short pass well? Well what about Brady … umm .. never mind. See what a mess this team is? I mean … they trade Kellen Winslow and then run an offense tailor made for Kellen Winslow. It's not a matter of effort or caring. Obviously everyone is trying. It's. Just. Not. Working. Oh … get ready to hear how the late-season games are a boost if the Browns somehow find a way to beat an Oakland or a Jacksonville or a Kansas City in December. Right here is where you roll your eyes.

A sampling of letters, mainly dealing with Eric Mangini …

Dear Pat,

When Eric Mangini took over as head coach I was "drinking the Kool-Aid" about players trying to get better every day on one thing and that we'd see steady improvement.  Well, that has proven to be just one more false hope for us diehard Browns fans, who have now been putting up with these emotional swings for 11 seasons.

 I sat at yesterday's game in Cleveland against Green Bay and I had pretty much made up my mind it would be my last game there as a season ticket holder.  The final nail in the coffin was watching that debacle.  The Browns are no better than the original expansion team in 1999.  I am no longer willing to throw my complete loyalty and money towards supporting the Cleveland Browns, so I won't be renewing my season tickets.  I'll have to eat my PSLs, but when you look at the cost of me traveling to games from St. Louis, Dallas or Chicago, walking from the PSLs is nothing.

Why would I continue to go to games when I don't have fun? 

All the time I put into supporting the team for 47 years and all the money spent just isn't worth it anymore.  I hope Randy Lerner does well.  He and his father brought a team back to Cleveland for which all of us should be grateful.  It's the so-called "football people" that have let him and the great fans of the Browns down.

Steve Bohnenkamp

Geneva, Ill.

Dear Steve,

To those who say making a move now is not fair to the coach, it might not be. But what is fair to the good and loyal fans of the Browns?

Dear Pat,

I can only think that if Brady Quinn was given these last four games to play he could have developed and the team would be in a better place now because of it. But egos stand in the way of the Browns finding out if we have one quarterback that might be worth a damn. I have never rooted against the Browns in all my years. At this juncture I find myself pulling for them to lose. And to lose badly. This coach does not deserve his position and I would rather rebuild with a true GM and coach instead of someone that obviously is an egomaniac and control freak.

Sincerely,

Gerald Keefer

 Dear Gerald,

The only thing the Browns have learned about their quarterbacks this season is how not to handle them.

Dear Pat,

I cannot argue any of the points in your recent article.  However, as an educated reporter, what do you think will really happen to the new Browns coach?  Personally, I think Randy Lerner will never fire a coach in his first season, but I'm hoping I'm wrong.  This might actually surpass the Spergon Wynn days as the worst football in Browns history, and it makes me wonder if Lerner realizes the damage that's being done to the fan base.  Not only with the loyal customers, who have been kicked in the teeth for years, but also the next generation of kids who have never seen winning football in Cleveland.

Tom Crookston Stow

 Dear Tom,

Imagine this … 11 years of losing … three years with no football … the Belichick years. That's an entire generation of football kids, lost.

Dear Pat,

I am a Jets fan and have been all my life. My best friend is a dedicated Browns fan and I love to root for the underdog.  Believe me when I tell you, we (Jets fans) almost had a ticker tape parade when Mangini was fired. It was in my opinion at least two years too late.  For the Browns to have picked him up so soon was a mistake and it needs to be rectified now.  He saps morale, and he can't coach, as you can plainly see.  He needs to go. I hope for the fans sake that something happens soon.

Allison Norman

Dear Allison,

It's not about fines or laps or anything else. It's about what's happening on the field. And it's not working. 

Dear Pat,

If there are others like me, here, you can have a good laugh … I'm having second thoughts about Romeo Crennel.

Keith Vlasak Sandusky, Ohio

Dear Keith,

I never thought Crennel was as bad as people made him out to be, but I also didn't think he helped himself a lot. That being said, imagine the situation we are in now where Crennel has been vindicated.

Dear Pat,

Eric Mangini is embarrassing an already embarrassed city and franchise. This team is every bit as bad as the 1999 team and getting worse. Heck, we beat Pittsburgh in '99 I think.

Ray Lehotsky North Royalton, Ohio

Dear Ray,

You're right. Chris Palmer's expansion team beat Pittsburgh. In Pittsburgh.

Dear Pat,

Here we go … Mr. Know It Al is at it again. You are as crazy as they come. The best thing that can happen is the Browns shut the media OUT. Leave Mangini alone. He cleared out a large percentage of players from Davis and Crennel that you sportswriters said needed to go anyhow. Give the guy a chance to get what is needed. It's not going to happen overnight with things as bad as they were. Yu writers make me puke.

Rusty Kristen Sara

Dear Rusty,

Glad we got that straight. Hope you feel better tomorrow. 

Dear Pat,

It is amazing how pathetic a team can play. Name just one part of the Browns that may even be classified as average. The quarterback situation has been talked about even before the season started and yet that hardly can be the total problem. It just boggles my mind.

Ron Ferko

Dear Ron,

You're right. Nothing is even average on this team.

(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.)

I believe this is the moment where I get to say: "Gee, I hate to be negative … but …"

The Browns stunk up the joint in Denver on Sunday. They played a team that many thought they could beat, and they lost by 21. It wasn't even that close. Denver could have had two more field goals. Other than their first possession when Denver fumbled the opening kickoff, it's tough to find the rest of the points the Browns left on the field.

This was not Minnesota.

There's no finding a silver lining in saying the Browns a team ready for the Super Bowl.

There is no silver lining at all. Because this Browns team looks far closer to the one that Peter King predicted would go 2-14 than one that can even remotely think of challenging for the playoffs.

There are many problems on this team.

Just like there were many last season.

Let me list a few:

Suspect corners.

Brandon McDonald was torched on a complex out that Jabar Gaffney turned into a big gain. Eric Wright ran alongside Correll Buckhalter for seven yards without even trying to tackle him.

No nickel corner. Brandon Stokley made catch after catch after catch after catch on Hank Poteat.

Right side of the offensive line. Elvis Dumervil tied a Broncos record for sacks in a game with four, and John St. Clair added a false start penalty for good measure.

Tight end. Robert Royal catches some, doesn't catch others.

Depth at WR. Tell me who is dependable after Braylon Edwards, who is on again and off again when it comes to dependability. The Browns are forcing Josh Cribbs into the No. 2 receiver role and he's not a No. 2receiver. He's a great football player, but he's not a No. 2 receiver. It might be time to put Mohammed Massaquoi on the field, or take Brian Robiskie out of mothballs. Cribbs is an excellent returner and can contribute when used wisely, but it's not as a No. 2 receiver.

Brady Quinn has some wondering if it's time to go to Derek Anderson. Imagine that one. Quinn deserves time, but he's not inspiring confidence.

Coach Eric Mangini apparently is the fine master. Various reports have it that he fined safety Abram Elam $1,701 for taking a bottle of water from a hotel room ("I don't know where that came from," Elam said when asked) and other reports have Mangini fining guys for other middling offenses. A player should pay for his water, of course, but this team seems close to being fractured.

Second halves. They've belonged to the other team. Minnesota and Denver have outscored the Browns 41-7.

The offense has gone eight games without a meaningful touchdown. That's one-half a season.

Sunday the Browns called timeout down 21 with 1:52 left. Last season Romeo Crennel was lambasted for that kind of decision. When Mangini was hired, the quip was that the Browns had hired ""Romeo Light." Perhaps the quip had foundation.

Mangini looked anything but confident as he spoke after the game.

That's kind.

He looked like he'd been hit by 38 sacks of potatoes.

He's 0-and-2 and heading to Baltimore.

Meanwhile, Rex Ryan, whom the Browns didn't interview, beat New England and is 2-and-0 with the Jets.

Josh McDaniels, whom the Browns did interview, is 2-and-0 in Denver.

Early in the game, Denver had the ball at the Browns 2-yard-line and called timeout. They came out with tight end Tony Sheffler split and lined up opposite linebacker Kamerion Wimbley.

Touchdown.

The Browns got to the 7 after Denver fumbled the opening kickoff, ran Jamal Lewis twice and then Quinn followed Mike Furrey all the way across the field and overthrew him by five yards.

Mangini insited the Browns have enough players to win.

 He pleaded for consistency, consistency, consistency.

 He's getting consistency.

 t's just been the wrong kind.

 Random thoughts … 

   –Good thing the Browns brought in those ex-Jets to shore up the defense.

   –John St. Clair has struggled badly at right tackle. Elvis Dumervil tied a Broncos team record with four sacks in a game.

   –With Shaun Rogers back at nose tackle, the Browns have given up 225 and 186 yards rushing in consecutive games.

   –Quinn had a couple throws over the middle that he made with authority, but he had a few that sailed high and/or wide. He deserves time, but the next defense he's facing in Baltimore won't exactly be a salve.

   –The Browns do have excellent kickers.

   —Hoo hoo!

  —I got nothing left.

What they said:

Denver QB Kyle Orton: "They do quite a bit of stuff on defense, exotic stuff. You want to be aggressive, but you do not want to make mistakes early in the game. We took care of the ball and kind of figured out what they were going to do.

KR/WR Josh Cribbs: "'m a little embarrassed on how we played today, and how I played today."

LB Kamerion Wimbley: "We just have some little things to fix and we need to do that for next week."

Mangini: "We have plenty of players that we can win with. We need to adjust the problems that we have. It's not a big mystery. There are things that are correctable and controllable, and we need to get in control of them."

I wrote about Kent State's afternoon game Thursday for the Beacon Journal, and the story is that they basically picked the wrong day to have an off day. The Golden Flashes missed a lot of easy shots in their loss.

In the evening finale, Akron erased a 12-point first-half deficit and shot Miami back home to advance to the MAC Tournament semifinal with a 73-63 victory. Akron's win was most impressive. How impressive, you ask? The Zips were the only team that played Tuesday night that won on Thursday.

Things get no easier Friday night. Akron will play Bowling Green and its two-three zone. But they go into the game off a shooting high when many people — some unexpected, quite frankly — contributed to a win that came without Humpty Hitchens, who played just four minutes after aggravating his injured ankle.

Steve McNees took over for Hitchens and scored 17 points — making 5-of-7 threes and almost single-handedly bringing Akron back into the game as the first half wound down. Guard Darryl Roberts stepped in at the point as well and scored 15 points and had three assists. Freshman Nikola Cvetinovic had an outstanding second half, and finished with 12 points and eight rebounds. Nate Linhart played his usual strong game, but Jimmy Conyers stepped in when Linhart had foul problems and also contributed, especially on the defensive end where he had to guard MAC Player of the Year Michael Bramos.

The main reason Akron won? Its three-point shooting was outstanding. For the game, the Zips were 12-of-24 from three-point range, and 11-of-36 from two-point range. Kind of astounding.

The other reason: Work and hustle. The Zips outrebounded Miami 40-28, which largely is a product of hard work. As WKNR's Kenny Roda (nattily attired in a rarely seen Kohl's special rack tie) pointed out, Akron has not lost when it has outrebounded the opponent.

All this came after a poor start. Dambrot was right — the start was brutal and Akron really had no business being in the game. Miami controlled most of the first half — and Akron kept chunking shot after shot. The Zips missed their first nine shots, lost Linhart to fouls for eight minutes and lost Hitchens.

McNees made 5-of-6 first-half shots, including 4-of-5 from three-point range. His only two was on a nifty drive that ended with an underhanded that sat on the rim before falling in. Miami had a real opportunity to put the Zips away early, but didn't. And a 12-point Miami first-half lead had disintegrated into a one-point lead at halftime.

When the Zips came out with (as they say nowadays) energy in the second half, they were able to take control, spurred on by an 8-0 run with just more than six minutes that left that featured a Cvetinovic layup and threes from McNees and Linhart.

One other impressive stat: Akron had eight turnovers, which is really taking care of the ball.

Nice game, nice effort, nice win. The semifinal game against Bowling Green is scheduled to start at 10 p.m.

What did the principal (not Roda) have to say? Here are some quotes from coach Keith Dambrot:

"They hit us in the right. They hit us in the left. They hit us in the middle. They totally disrespected us early. Just beat the crap out of us. And our guys just rallied themselves."

On the three-point shooting: "I felt all year long we've underachieved shooting the ball. Once we quit quick-triggering it we started to shoot the ball well."

He does not expect Hitchens to play against Bowling Green: " He's an awfully tough guy, so if he couldn't play I think we have to move on and not use it an excuse and McNees will have to step up again. It's funny how the world is sometimes. You get opportunities you don't expect."

On guarding Bramos: "He was 5-for-13, which is about the best he's ever shot against us."

On the high-scoring game against Miami: " Seventy-three is usually two games for us against them."

The Browns just announced that Romeo Crennel had been let go as the team's coach. Randy Lerner — and others — are expected to address the media today.

This is not an inexpensive venture on the part of owner Randy Lerner. Crennel and former GM Phil Savage will cost the Browns almost $23 million in salaries remaining on contract extensions signed last offseason. If others are let go as well — like offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski — that figure will go higher.

More updates will be provided here and at the Beacon Journal web site during the day.

It didn't take long for the Browns to stat overhauling the team. GM Phil Savage was informed prior to the season-ending loss to the Steelers that he would not be back. Details on how the move came down were not available, but Savage knew prior to the game that his time had come to an end. Savage was very upset before the game – evidently because he had lost his job.

Romeo Crennel's future will be determined early Monday morning, and it seems likely he also will not be back. Even Crennel admitted that his record (24-40) might be too much to overcome when he meets with owner Randy Lerner.

The question is who fills those roles. Lerner will try to hire Bill Cowher, but the prevailing thinking is that Cowher will not coach in 2009, that he's enjoying TV too much and he likes watching his daughter play basketball and yada yada yada. If it's true that Cowher is not interested, that takes him out of consideration. But if Lerner can convince him to take the money and power and titles, the Browns will be led by the former Steelers coach.

A no from Cowher takes the Browns in the direction of Scott Pioli, whom the team would hope to lure from New England to take over the front office. Pioli then would hire the coach. Miami's win over the Jets knocked the Patriots out of the playoffs, which makes a possible change to Pioli possible in a fast, efficient manner. Who Pioli favors as coach is anyone's guess, but he's been around long enough to know the kind of coach he wants.

If Pioli and Cowher both decide they do not want to come to Cleveland, what happens is anyone's guess. But the swiftness of the move with Savage might indicate the Browns – and Lerner – have a pretty good idea of the future.

It will be interesting to see how things play out.

First and 10

1)      Anyone who honestly thought prior to the game that the Browns had a chance to win last night may now step into the cab that will take them to Never Never Land. There, they may join with Tinkerbell in flying to a distant galaxy far far away.

2)      The Browns with no defense and Ken Dorsey at quarterback were going to beat a team with one of the best defenses in the league that is going for a playoff spot? Please.

3)      Here's an e-mail I received Tuesday morning from an NFL personnel type: "This is the time of year when you can truly evaluate your personnel. And I didn't see many players that the Browns can continue to build around. They have no pass rush, lack a number one corner, an outside linebacker, an inside linebacker, maybe a free safety. Offensively, who's the quarterback of the future? They need a running back, a number two and number three receiver. A center, a right guard and a right tackle." That's about it.

4)      That's what Romeo Crennel meant when he said after the game the Browns did not have enough ammunition. He's right. Doesn't mean he coached a good game or he should have called a timeout with 1:54 left and his team getting drilled – strange one, that timeout, just like the previous week's timeout late in the game was strange. It just means the Browns as constituted cannot compete with a team like Philadelphia. Cincinnati in the home finale, maybe. Philadelphia and Tennessee, nope.

5)      Every game Jim Zorn loses in Washington makes it seem like he will be a one-year-and-out coach. Which makes the Bill Cowher competition that much tougher. For some reason, I still think he's going to wind up coaching the Redskins.

6)      Naturally many will want me to fire Romeo Crennel today. Well I'm not. So there. BUT … this does not mean I'm making a staunch defense of him either. Clearly every blowout loss like that makes it tough to defend anything about this team. I will say this: If Crennel goes, I think Phil Savage should go too. This has been a team collective effort this season that started with the players the team depended on not coming through. When this season ends, I either keep both Crennel and Savage and accept what that means in terms of fan reaction, or I get rid of both, and accept what that means in terms of starting over. All or none, one for all or none for all. They came in as a team, advertised themselves as a team, and they both shared in the contract extension euphoria after last year. They both should share in the negatives from this season.

7)      I think we know what the decision will be regarding Crennel. I mean, Crennel's forte is defense, and the Browns played like their defense was not even on the field Monday night. Too, it's hard to argue when the numbers are presented: an overall 24-38 record, 5-17 in the AFC North and 0-7 against Pittsburgh. Those are not winning numbers, and they come in the fourth year. But I don't understand how those same numbers don't apply to Savage.

8)      This is the question everyone (including me) must ask: Would a fully healthy Browns team, with players playing like they should, have been able to compete Monday night against the Eagles? The secondary was healthy, after all. So were the linebackers. And the defensive line. Donovan McNabb simply ate up the Browns defense. Changing the coach may bring a fresh start, and given the negativity surrounding this coach from outside the team, it might be a necessity. But changing the coach isn't going to make that personnel any better. They are what they are.

9)      Braylon Edwards actually had a good game, with more than 100 yards receiving. He played the way he was expected to play all season. As he said: "I've got a job to do. My job is to catch the football." He's right. But he didn't stop there. He continued: "I've learned being here that I'm very unappreciated. Not in the organization, just in the eyes of the fans, the city. Since Day One I've been a marked man coming from Michigan. It's just gone that way. Even when things are good, there's heckles." Unappreciated. Marked Man. Heckles. OK then … just … OK then.

10)  Can we possibly forfeit the last two games and end this miserable season today?

And since it's been a long season, a bonus two:

11)  Two plays that might have helped – not changed things, mind you, but helped – were Darnell Dinkins' drop on the Browns' first possession and Brandon McDonald's first interception. Dinkins drop was a major brain cramp. McDonald should have scored. Or at least tried to. McDonald slowed up and let Brian Westbrook catch him. Maybe he doesn't score if he goes all-out the entire way, but slowing down pretty much ensured he didn't score. Heck of an interception, though. Have to say that.

12)  It's not the end of the world, but McDonald's somersault into the end zone surely didn't go over in Philadelphia. No doubt some of the Eagles had something to say to him about him somersaulting while his team was getting drilled. And no, on the scale this one does not rank very high among the problems.

Three and Out

Dear Pat,

I have been a Browns fan for 50 years. I do not claim to have any expertise in the coaching of an NFL team.  However, I do have some management expertise.

When players underachieve and also state that they really are happy with their coach,  that leads me to believe that they are not held accountable.  Crennel's response to their errors is always the same – we will talk to them about it.

As Mark Twain stated – If telling were teaching we would all be so smart we couldn't stand ourselves.

Do you really believe Bill Cowher or Bill Parcells would tolerate these constant mistakes.

Most effective NFL coaches put an adequate amount of fear in their players.

Players don't like it, but they respect it.  Crennel seems to lack the "it" when it comes to accountability.

Jim Jones

Las Vegas

Dear Jim,

I've said it before and I'll say it again: The one thing that's surprised me about Crennel is that he's not brought great discipline to the Browns and instead has been more grandfatherly. This didn't bother people last year because the Browns won 10 games, mind you, but it has been surprising.

Dear Pat,

I'm not a big Crennel fan. They won last year with some luck and a really easy schedule. Winning snowballed just like losing but they did come back to earth at the end of last season.

This year, there are no excuses, especially starting the way they did in preseason and getting hammered at New York, which set the tone. This team has no consistency, strategy, fire, etc.

However, I'd be willing to listen except for one thing – the defense. Crennel is a supposed defensive specialist. That's why he got the job. I have to believe Savage has listened to what he needs for the most part. I see big, slow, fat defensive lineman, slow linebackers, slow defensive backs taking an extremely soft "bend but don't break approach," especially since the Denver game.

They have never figured out a pass rush from anyone not on the d-line, they have never stopped the run, which the big, fat, slow defensive lineman are supposed to do. There is just no excuse here. It is a bad defense, has been since Crennel arrived. Look at some of the better defenses in the league, they are moving away from huge, slow guys to tall, lean, quick guys, even on the d-line.

Do you really think, if we ever got good, that you would have confidence that a Crennel defense could stop a good team in the last two minutes? I don't, ever.

He is a play-not-to-lose guy, keep it close. We've seen it over and over.

Comparing Crennel to Jeff Fisher and others is not fair, Fisher has a winning track record and went to a Super Bowl as a head coach. He instills confidence and Crennel does not.

I just don't see Crennel gets us to where we want to go, even with more talent.

Kyle St. Peter

St. Louis

Dear Kyle,

You raise valid points. If Randy Lerner agrees, then a change is needed.

The defense is just bad.

Period.

Dear Pat,

Your observations are generally correct.  However, having watched NFL football closely and studied the game at this level for 50 years, I must remind you that the most important element to be considered after this season is the status of the defense.  Is the secondary weak?  I'm not so sure.  The Browns probably do need a tall "shut down" corner so that Brandon MacDonald can return to the role in which he enjoyed success last year: covering the slot receiver.

The most glaring problem with the defense is that the players Phil Savage has
added are not up to the scheme.  Does that mean the defense needs to be "blown up" and rebuild from scratch (as Crennel did when he came here in '05)?  Not at all.

Even a cursory analysis of the defensive personnel on the all-important front seven reveals that the Browns have some very good talent there.  But it is 4-3 talent, not 3-4 talent.

It is at linebacker where the weakness of the Browns' 3-4 is most glaring.  And, again, it's primarily due to a lack of fit with the scheme, rather than a lack of talent.

I spent four years on active duty in the Army and was a very good marksman.  That doesn't qualify me to serve as a Navy seal!  What the Browns most lack is a bona fide "thumper" in the middle.  Were they to return to a 4-3, given the draft order in '09, it is quite possible that Ray Maualuga (MLB, USC) might be on the board when the Browns first round pick comes up.  At 6-3, 260, this guy is a beast and a virtual tackling machine.  He could quickly adapt to the pro game and this would free up D'Qwell Jackson to play either the Will or the Sam OLB in a 4-3.  That leaves either Antwaan Peek (if his rehab is successful) and/or Leon Williams to compete for the other slot at OLB and Beau Bell to back up in the middle.  One additional free agent linebacker and this crew would be "good to go."

The offense is more complicated for several reasons, but suffice it to say that Brady Quinn is likely to be a very serviceable QB — a leader who can manage the offense and play ball control, "eat the clock" offense which is clearly preferable to the "long bomb" style of DA.

This cannot, however, happen without a defense which can:  (1) stop the run;  (2) put pressure on the QB; and (3) get off the field on 3rd down — NONE  of which Mr. Crennel's 3-4 has been able to do since he arrived in '05.
The old golf adage (you drive for show and you putt for dough) can be reworked for the NFL: "You play offense for show; you play defense for dough." High octane offenses thrill the fans, but defense wins championships.

Just ask the offensive units on the losing end of the last several Super Bowls.  They'll confirm that for you.

Old Chuck

Mayfield Heights (Browns fan since 1962)

Dear Old Chuck,

Interesting analysis. I'm not a big fan of the three-four, but Bill Belichick and Bill Cowher both have been successful with it so the scheme can't be horrid. That being said, perhaps a front four of Robaire Smith, Shaun Rogers, Shaun Smith and Corey Williams might be a step forward. It sure can't be worse.

(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)

First and 10

1)      Maybe I'm stupid … well I am stupid but that's not important right now. I don't get the uproar over the loss to Tennessee. I mean, what did anyone expect?

2)      Tennessee started the game 11-1 with the chance to clinch their division and home field advantage in the playoffs. The Browns started 4-8 with a third quarterback playing. Tennessee runs the ball as well as anyone in the league. The Browns don't stop the run. I mean, what did anyone expect?

3)      It's beyond me how anyone can think a team can win in the NFL when it gives up 145 yards rushing per game. And gives up 235 yards rushing in one game. It's just not going to happen. A team that does that is a team that is destined to struggle.

4)      Let it be noted I do not listen to TV while watching a game. I might watch a replay … well I will watch a replay … but I don't want to be influenced by what the announcers say because they are there in the same capacity as me. They are there to observe and state their opinion and impressions. Doesn't make them right – ask LeBron James what he thinks of Charles Barkley – but they are entitled to state them. I'm getting the impression from e-mails and comments that Dan Fouts was very hard on Romeo Crennel during the game. I'd like to think Fouts saw how little Ken Dorsey could get accomplished, but perhaps he wasn't watching that facet of the game. Me, I think Dorsey's limitations will be exposed even more Monday night against the Eagles' array of blitzes. But that's me. The other thing I didn't get was the outcry over the fact the Browns did not challenge the Braylon Edwards catch down the sideline. That play was right in front of me, and it wasn't close. Edwards was out of bounds. Challenging would have been silly. Coaches upstairs saw the replay and never suggested a challenge. Crennel was all the way across the field, and could not see it the play. The Titans did not show a replay. He had to go on what he was told. Edwards landed out of bounds. Had their been a forceout rule, he might have gotten the call, but that rule was eliminated in the offseason. Edwards was out of bounds, I don't care what Dan Fouts said.

5)      The carpet guy was working at the house as I wrote this, and he mentioned what a huge Browns fan he is. I asked if he'd fire the coach. You can learn a lot from a talkative carpet guy you know. And he said, "Well they're still playing hard for him and that's half the battle." He then gave a position-by-position rundown on the team and concluded by calling this Browns 10-year venture the "decade of excrement." Carpet guys often have great insights.

6)      Anyone know who picked these 53 guys? This needs to be clarified.

7)      I made a big deal out of the fact that Josh Cribbs didn't play more at quarterback. After further review, I'm starting to wonder if there are reasons for that we don't know. For one, the Browns hardly use Cribbs at receiver, which tells me he's not a real "read the defense" kind of guy. This might be one reason the coaching staff does not want to have him pass more. Romeo Crennel said Cribbs doesn't get enough practice to handle reading defenses, but if asked to throw a "go" route he can do it. Perhaps this makes the coaches leery of asking more from him. It also seems like Cribbs doesn't play more than three or four plays in a row. Why this is, I don't know. But perhaps it's time to back off this Cribbs thing and just assume that the coaching staff, which sees him every day, has its reasons and maybe (gasp!) they are legitimate.

8)      Flew Southwest for the first time in a long time, and doing so leads to a question: Why can't all the airlines be like Southwest? One can actually sit in a Southwest seat without having his or her knees smashed into the seat in front of him or her. They give you the option of paying a little more to get on early – if you so desire. They have this orderly boarding process that goes by number and does not mess things up even though they (horror of horrors!) do not board from the rear of the aircraft. The flight attendants are … actually … (drum roll) friendly. And they leave on time and arrive on time. These are novel concepts for the airline industry.

9)      Both teams complained after the game that the other team did a lot of woofing. QB Kerry Collins said the Browns did a lot of talking and "maybe that's their style." Browns C Hank Fraley said on his radio show that Tennessee was being talky and chippy the entire game. And the big brown pony will jump over the moon on New Year's Eve.

10)   The more I watch this team, the more I believe that if the Browns think this group can compete in 2009 without significant improvement then it's believing a mirage. Bill Parcells said a long time ago that a team is its record. Well guess what … the Browns are 4-9. The defense is porous. The offense has seen its best players go south. It's down now to a third quarterback. Romeo Crennel is criticized for everything from the way he stands on the sidelines to the way the team ties its shoes. A lot of people want me to fire him. Well, I'm not going there. For one, I don't have the authority. For two, given the talent on the team I don't know if 4-9 isn't an accurate reflection of where it should be. Would going for touchdowns instead of field goals help the right side of the line block any better? Next season's coach, whoever it may be, will have to do the following: Decide on a quarterback, figure what to do with Kellen Winslow, decide if Jamal Lewis still has it, figure what to do with Braylon Edwards, find a second and third receiver, shore up the right side of the line, decide on a center, figure out a run defense, find linebackers who can run, find corners who can cover and then figure a way to get the fans from jumping off buildings after one or two losses. Perhaps said coach would prefer a job saving the auto industry instead.

You're an Idiot

Alan T wrote online …

Dear Pat

I think newspaper sports columnists should have a bi-monthly published assessment of their past columns to review if they were right or wrong. Because many get on their high horses when they write their stuff.

They almost always refer to when they were subsequently right, but they rarely admit when they're subsequently found to be wrong.

Columnists are supposed to judge others, I think one column every other month should be devoted to judging themselves. By extension, the readers can then judge the columnists' credibility. Six columns every calendar year.

I nominate Pat to take this idea and be the first to run with it.

Alan T.

Dear Alan,

I include this letter in the ‘You're An Idiot' section only because it is a good place for it.

And because if you think I'm going to start owning up to my mistakes, well you've got another thing coming, buster.

Actually, Alan, you have a good point.

And it is something I shall consider.

The problem is that it would be a very short story pointing out my mistakes.

Hey … that's a JOKE.

Three and Out

Terje wrote online after the loss to Tennessee …

Dear Pat,

Are you honestly telling me that the Titans have more talent on the offensive side of the ball? I'll give you the defense but the offense??? Come on!!!

Kerry Collins?? Lendale White is nothing more than a bowling ball! What about Joe Thomas and big free agent Eric Steinbach? These guys have gone from great to lacking talent in one year? And Braylon Edwards? I'm sorry but his poor play is not caused by a lack of talent. Jamal Lewis has a ton of talent too; he's just on empty. Name me one player on the Titans offense with more talent than Josh Cribbs.

The most glaring piece missing Sunday was a coach who was willing to go for six instead of three, a guy who was willing to lose a timeout to challenge a call. Not only is Romeo playing to lose he is sacrificing the team's future to play Willie McGinest and other stiffs who will be nowhere near a Browns uniform next year.

They scored nine points. Not because of a lack of talent on the offensive end, but because of poor coaching. Phil Savage is a joke but your undying love for Romeo Crennel is getting sickening. Nice guys don't shaft the fan base just to stick it to the GM. Your nice guy Romeo is a fraud.

Terje

Dear Terje,

OK then.

Actually Terje is one of my faithful blog readers and commenters, and I appreciate all his remarks. He has regularly taken me to task for supporting Romeo Crennel.

I'll try to answer some of your claims, Terje, but first I must state that I do not believe Romeo Crennel would sacrifice a game to stick it to the GM. He plays the guys he thinks will help the Browns win. You and I have the right to disagree, but he's been a supporter of veterans since he got here and will be until the day he leaves.

As to the other stuff:

1)      As best I could see, the Browns were overpowered on both the offensive and defensive fronts. That alone spelled out more talent, and that alone made the difference in the game.

2)       I have no problem with the way Joe Thomas and Eric Steinbach are playing. It's the other three on the line that concern me.

3)      LenDale White has scored 14 touchdowns, best in the NFL. That's a lot of beaching.

4)      Whatever the reason for Braylon Edwards' lack of production, it's not helping the cause.

5)      Do you honestly believe that with Ken Dorsey at quarterback that anything would have changed had Crennel gone for touchdowns instead of field goals? I don't. I don't think the game was winnable with Dorsey playing, and the Titans almost said the same after. Their defenders actually felt bad for him, given they were playing for a division title. The most glaring piece missing Sunday was actually two pieces: A legitimate quarterback, and a run defense.

6)      I don't agree with the challenge, but I think you are one heck of a guy Terje.

7)      Finally, I think they scored nine points because the Titans are simply that much better of a team.

Terje, I wish we could share Christmas gifts every year … but for crying out loud, the Browns are 4-9. At some point we all need to accept the fact that they are just not that good this season.

And Terje … keep the cards and rips coming!

Dear Pat,

I want to be the first person (maybe) to say that hiring Marty Schottenheimer is a stupid idea.  He is sixty-five years old. I don't care about his 14-2 record the last season in San Diego.

Perhaps that had much to do with his coaching, but with what LaDainian Tomlinson did that year, you might as well have had Mr. Belvedere as the head coach.  They were going to win.  Teams that run win games.  If you can't run, then good coaching wins games.

The Browns have neither — but I for one am firmly an 'ageist' about this coaching slot. He's too old to command respect from 22-year-olds on a team without the talent to naturally win.  Why not hire Joe Paterno?
I mean, let's say he's hired, at sixty-four, and has one good season.  The next season, he'll be three years from seventy!  Do we want to do this coaching carousel all over again, four years after we hire him, when he's seventy?
If we can't get the chin, I want someone young, and from the NFL.  Maybe they should just promote Ken Dorsey.  At least he already knows what it feels like to be eating dirt fed him by an Ohio crowd (see 2003 Fiesta Bowl).

Parker Staley

Dear Parker,

Ken Dorsey has enough problems right now.

I got a few e-mails lamenting the notion of brining Marty back. He seems to have quashed the possibility anyway.

As for the Browns, I don't get how good coaching can overcome the lack of a running game. Is a coach a magician with a wand who can make average players good merely by waving it? If the team can't run, it can't run.

And if the team can't stop the run, it can't win. And the Browns are not doing either.

Dear Pat,

As you've said this is an organization in disarray.  Tell me they aren't serious about bringing back Marty Schottenheimer. Yes, I know his regular season record would be a major improvement, but his post-season record is as dismal as the Browns regular seasons have been: 5-13.  This will just lead to more frustration and disappointment to the Browns fans.

We've all heard the rumors concerning Bill Cowher, and that would seem to be a good choice.  Other than Cowher, where to turn?

Does anyone besides Phil Savage believe he's getting the job done?  He's tried to point the finger at Romeo Crennel, of course, as the reason the Browns aren't winning, but for all his supposed expertise at drafting talent,  his picks overall have been so-so.  The good teams build through the draft and supplement with a free agents, unlike all the free agents the Browns have brought in.

As to Romeo, he seems to be a nice guy, but even he seems to have packed it in. As noted by the TV play by play announcers, why they didn't throw a challenge flag on Cribbs pass to Edwards certainly raises a question.  They sure didn't have anything to lose other than one timeout, which at that point in time in light of a lack of offense was worth trying.

One can question why not try something other than the long field goals, and yet in light of the way they have been playing from the other side of the coin it makes as much sense to kick and at least make three points.

I'd say Randy Lerner needs to start at the top and replace Phil Savage.  His rantings on radio and in the press sounds like a guy who's trying to save his job by pointing the finger everywhere else when in fact he's a major part of the problem.  Crennel has to go simply because someone else will want their own person.

Again, if Cowher is available that would make sense.  If not,  please don't bring in another retread like Norv Turner, or others like him.  Find a good program with a young and upcoming coach like the Steelers did with Mike Tomlin and hire him.  Bring in a respected personnel man from another organization if they will let the Browns talk to them.  Randy Lerner has shown he will spend the money, so that's not a problem.

Thanks for a bit of your time and allowing me to vent.  I appreciate your columns.

Gaile Wilkinson

Dear Gaile,

Vent away.

If you mention a young coach, how about Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz? Or New England quarterback coach Josh McDaniels? Both are unproven head coaches, but either could be this year's John Harbaugh.

Then again, would the fan base be excited by anyone not named Cowher?

Why not Brian Billick? If it were him Savage would go, because those two have been-there, done-that.

And if the Browns can't get Cowher, is one more year of Crennel at all acceptable?

Crennel has not packed it in. I promise that much.

I've packed it in, but not Romeo Crennel.

(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)

]]> http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/mcmanamon/2008/12/09/first-and-10-we-expected-different-in-tennessee/feed/ 4 http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/mcmanamon/2008/12/07/the-browns-are-overrun-in-tennessee/ http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/mcmanamon/2008/12/07/the-browns-are-overrun-in-tennessee/#comments Sun, 07 Dec 2008 23:22:47 +0000 Pat McManamon http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/mcmanamon/?p=825

I was all set to write in tomorrow's Beacon Journal that the Browns lost to Tennesese because they only gave Josh Cribbs the ball seven times at quarterback.

Then I saw the stats. Set aside Cribbs' six runs, and the Browns ran 13 times for 11 yards. The Titans ran for 235 yards. Pitiful. Just pitiful. On both sides of the ball.

There is an axiom in the NFL that was true back in the days of Bronko Nagurski, and it's true through Marion Motley and Jim Brown and today: In the NFL, teams that run the ball and stop the run win the games. The corollary, of course, is that teams that ask their third quarterback to throw the ball 43 times because they can't run the ball will almost always lose the game.

The Tennessee Titans are the 2008 embodiment of this axiom. They run the ball and they win. They also stop the run with a defense that flies around and plays with an aggression that the Browns lack.

The team that is the reverse embodiment of the axiom is the Browns. They are giving up a pathetic 145 yards rushing per game, and running for 100 yards. Over time, these numbers will cost a team, and clearly they cost the Browns Sunday. Cribbs could have run more often from the "flash" formation (named after his college alma mater, Kent State), but not enough to overcome 235 yards by Tennessee. He could have thrown seven or eight more passes, but that would not have been enough to overcome the Titans power offense.

Tennessee simply is better. It has more talent, and it knows what it wants to do with the talent. Romeo Crennel surely can be second-guessed for playing cautious, and the second-guesses are justified. Trying Cribbs more could not have been worse. Heck, I'd have gone lights out with Cribbs the way Chris Palmer did against Philadelphia in 1999 when he had Kevin Johnson passing and Dennis Northcutt running. But if you remember that game, the Browns still lost. Everyone was happy that they tried something, but they still lost.

And they lost because they did not have the talent on the field to compete. Just like the Browns on Sunday did not have the talent on the field to compete. The most glaring piece missing Sunday: A third quarterback signed in case he needed to play (like the Titans' Chris Simms) as opposed to a third quarterback signed to be a mentor and semi-assistant coach (Ken Dorsey). Dorsey is an amazingly nice and good person, but he's simply not a viable quarterback.

But then again the Browns run defense is not a viable run defense – less you consider 145 yards per game "viable." And the pass rush is lacking. And the depth at receiver is problematic. And the secondary has issues. And, as the season goes on, the offensive line is becoming a bit more of a question mark.

Crennel's cautious approach didn't help the cause much on Sunday, but the bottom line is the talent differential between the two teams was what determined the outcome – exacerbated by the fact the Titans were using the guy who started the season as the backup QB and the Browns were using No. 3.

Tennessee simply is better.

This really does not bode well for Monday night's game in Philadelphia, does it?

First and 10

1)      Derek Anderson asked if we were on crack when someone suggested to him that Josh Cribbs play quarterback for the Browns this Sunday in Tennessee. Ahem. For the record, crack has never once been the drug of choice on my kitchen table. And to be quite frank, anyone who followed Kent State when Cribbs was there knows the guy can flat out play. He might not be the prototype NFL quarterback, but in the situation the Browns find themselves they may need to find something new and unique.

2)      Cribbs might not be ready to run a full set of the "game plan," but he sure can be ready to run 20 or 25 plays. And they don't all have to be runs. To this point, every time Cribbs lines up in the "wildcat" he's run the ball. Or handed off. Pretty much the same play every time. And it's gone nowhere. It's time to expand his responsibilities and try something different and clever.

3)      Here's the thing with a lot of NFL coaches: They go by what a guy is supposed to do. A quarterback is supposed to be tall with a strong arm so he can throw the "out." He's not supposed to run, because the other guys are supposed to be bigger and faster. And he's supposed to spend hours and hours watching film and studying breakdowns both at work and at home. In fact, he's not supposed to have a home life, because he's supposed to spend it all studying and thinking about nothing but football. That way when he gets on the field he'll be programmed to do nothing but what he's been told to do. Eliminate athletic ability, instincts and the ability to react … just do what you've been "coached up" to do.

4)      This is not to make fun of the coaches, now. The Browns have some excellent ones who work hard and do all possible – if fans could see the looks of anguish on their faces after these last couple games they might tone down the anger a bit – to win games. There are several coaches on the Browns staff I would like on mine were anyone stupid enough to hire me. But difficult times call for a different approach and a different thought. And this is one of them.

5)      Start Ken Dorsey, of course. Let him take the first few snaps. Perhaps he can get into a rhythm, and perhaps the defense can play like it did against the Colts and keep the Browns in the game. But use Cribbs as well. Let him run, let him throw, let him improvise and let him be a football player. If the Browns are smart about it, it can work. And anyone who watched Cribbs play at Kent State is aware how well it can work. For crying out loud, try something.

6)      As for those who have commented on this crog or e-mailed to say the Browns should not play Cribbs to protect him from injury, I say this: Poppycock! Yes, that's a word you don't see too often, just like you hardly ever hear "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean" played on the radio. Guys sign contracts to play the game. It's what they do. They practice and prepare to compete on Sunday. If there's a guy in the locker room who does not want to play in the game on Sunday, he shouldn't have a signed contract.

7)      Someone needs to explain to me how Sage Rosenfels can look so calm and poised in the pocket against the Browns one week and then how Peyton Manning can look so confused the next. Isn't one a future Hall of Famer?

8)      Honest question: Is there an NFL game right now you'd set aside time to watch? Think of the Thanksgiving games. I gotta think Sunday's Dolphins-Rams game had the TIVOs working overtime.

9)      Is there a much bigger free agent bust than Donte Stallworth? Yes, he has the potential to turn things around in future years, but this year … wow.

10)   That Bengals-Browns season finale should be a tough ticket to come by. Of course at some point in the third quarter, the Browns will announce 73-thousand-whatever "tickets distributed for today's game" in the press box. As opposed to actual attendance, because of course stating how many people actually showed for the game might indicate the number of people who did not come. Because of course when anyone is at the game they can't see the empty seats. Heck with it … let's look for one bright side for Sunday. In 2001, Ken Dorsey had an outstanding season for the University of Miami. His offensive coordinator that season was Rob Chudzinski. So if anyone knows Dorsey well and what plays he can run and what plays he can't, it's the guy calling plays for the Browns now. Call me nuts, but I've gone from thinking the Browns have no chance on Sunday to thinking if they are smart with their use of Dorsey and clever with their use of Cribbs, they might just pull off an upset.

Three and Out

Dear Pat,

A couple of points about your Monday article — www.ohio.com/sports/mcmanamon/35298334.html

Let me ask you, what is Rob Chudzinski supposed to do?  If he doesn't run it enough, Lewis complains.  If he doesn't pass it enough, Winslow complains.  And everybody complains to the press who are just giddy to get a story about how someone is not happy.

Let's talk about the running game.  Having seen the Browns on TV every game this year (and this game in person), haven't you or somebody notice that Lewis is not hitting the holes the line gives for him because he's just too slow?  But if Harrison or Wright are put in too many plays, Lewis will start to complain to the press.

As far Shaffer is concerned, is it Savage or Crennel's fault that Tucker was hurt the whole year?  Pro-Bowl right tackles don't grow on trees do they?

And as far as the loss on Sunday, if Steve Heiden makes the catch for a first down, the fumble/touchdown play (what came the play after) doesn't happen.  Did Marla or yourself write an article about that? Or the illegal procedure play he also had?

I just want the press to be fair. I think it's a fair criticism that Crennel has not melded the offense to buy into a "team concept" in which, whatever the game plan is that day, the team buys into it. If that mean Winslow gets twenty passes, he gets twenty passes. I think it's a fair criticism that Savage has missed with draft picks (Travis Wilson comes to mind) and personnel moves (Donte Stallworth).

I guess the question Marla and yourself have to ask is, "If Lerner implements Marla's ‘Plan A' or ‘Plan B,' do you really think we're going to win the Super Bowl in 2009?"  Didn't we have the same conversation back in 2005 during Butch Davis' last year?  Oh, and I forgot, the owner needs to sell the team now right?

Thanks for reading my email.

Pete Podnar

Hobart, Indiana

Dear Pete,

Thanks for writing your e-mail.

I'll go in reverse order. Quite frankly, I had forgotten about Heiden's drop. Because everyone will drop one now and then. It's when the drops and mistakes keep happening, especially at key situations, that they become bigger issues. I think that's what you have found with Braylon Edwards (drops) and Winslow (pass interference penalties and the key plays against Denver).

Shaffer is not anyone's fault, it's just that he was the guy who was involved in a key play. Guys can be bull rushed, I get that. And when a smaller guy bull rushes a big guy the way Robert Mathis did to Shaffer, the smaller guy also has leverage. Mistakes happen, but it's our job to write about them. To his credit, Shaffer "manned up" after the game and talked about it.

Regarding Jamal Lewis, I have started to wonder the past couple games. When a back loses it, it goes in a hurry. But I also thought the same thing about Lewis at times last year. He's the kind of guy a team needs to keep using. The first quarter the gains might be two, three yards, but when he keeps pounding the defense those gains are six, seven, 12 yards in the fourth quarter – provided the team is winning.

As to all the guys complaining and the team concept, you may have hit a key point. When guys are more interested in their numbers the team suffers. If guys are interested in winning, the team benefits. That's why character and maturity are considerations as important as talent when selecting players.

Good e-mail.

Dear Pat,

I agree – the Browns should give Cribbs a chance at quarterback.  Like he could do worse than throw passes to someone's feet from less than ten yards away.

I'm curious about the charge that fans cheered when DA got hurt.  I've heard from people at the game that they didn't cheer when he got hurt, they cheered when he got up and was coming off the field.  But I wasn't at the game and the TV announcers never said anything about fans cheering the injury.

What's your take on that?

John Brodie

Galt, CA

Dear John,

I know that Anderson talked about this after the game, but I have to be honest and say I did not notice derisive cheers or boos when he got hurt. If anything, I thought the crowd showed respect. They cheered as he left the field, and many stood. It seemed to be part the traditional show of respect for an injured player and part recognition that they may have been seeing the last of Anderson, and they appreciated his efforts for the Browns.

That was my take at least.

Dear Pat,

With 12 games behind us, this is late to be asking this but I wonder how many yards receiving Braylon Edwards would have if he actually received instead of waved at the ball as it falls to the ground?

I can't forget the air guitar celebration when he finally caught one …

Eddie Vidmar

Dear Eddie,

That air guitar thing was quite a sight, wasn't it?

As to your question, I'm not sure where to find the exact stat, but I did go to footballoustiders.com to check Edwards' performance through their unique stats.

Edwards ranks 74^th in the league in DYAR (Defense-adjusted Yards Above Replacement). This values the player's performance compared to the average, so Edwards is well below average.

He is 68^th in DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average). This represents a player's value, per play, compared to the average receiver.

All this means he's well below average in his performance.

Edwards is 10^th in the league with 106 passes thrown his way. He's caught 42, dropped 16 (first in the league) and not caught 64 (also the highest number in the league).

Talk about wasting some amazing talent …

Dear Pat,

Even with this disappointing season becoming more absurd every day, there are still a few things that Browns fans can be thankful for:

*The name on the door is still Cleveland – not Cincinnati or Detroit.

*Since 1999 the Browns have as many playoff wins as the Dallas Cowboys.

*None of the Browns have accidentally shot themselves with their own guns.

I know it's not much, but being a Cleveland fan means having to find joy where you can.

Thomas Moore

Stow, Ohio

Dear Thomas,

Ho ho ho!

It's just amazing to me that more of us don't shoot ourselves with our own guns, but perhaps we're just lucky.

(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)

]]> http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/mcmanamon/2008/12/02/first-and-10-why-not-cribbs-at-qb/feed/ 15 http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/mcmanamon/2008/11/30/indianapolis-does-not-get-a-td-and-still-beats-the-browns/ http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/mcmanamon/2008/11/30/indianapolis-does-not-get-a-td-and-still-beats-the-browns/#comments Sun, 30 Nov 2008 23:25:12 +0000 Pat McManamon http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/mcmanamon/?p=791

The Browns lost 10-6 to Indianapolis, making this a season when they have lost when they scored 27 and 30 points and lost when they scored six and six points.

The Browns held the Colts vaunted offense without an offensive touchdown for the first time in more than five years, and lost.

At times it was hard to believe. You'd look at the field and see Joseph Addai and Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne and Anthony Gonzalez and Dallas Clark and … who knows what the Colts and Peyton Manning were doing? The Browns defense played well enough to win, but the team played well enough to lose.

For those counting, that's now 135 minutes for the Browns without a touchdown. The last one was that long run by Jerome Harrison in Buffalo. The last touchdown drive took place early in the second quarter in Buffalo.

Switching quarterbacks sure made a difference, eh?

By the way … Kevin Shaffer … rough season. Very rough season.

Now the Browns head to Tennessee with Ken Dorsey under center. Does anyone think the Browns can compete to win in that game? An offense with its third quarterback coming off two six-point games in a row against perhaps the league's best defense? It's reminiscent of the days in 1999 and 2000 when the Browns could not field a legitimate team.

Me, I'd go back to the 2000 season when Dennis Northcutt was under center quite a bit and try Josh Cribbs at quarterback. He's played the position. He can run some different plays than he's been running. Really, all he's been doing is coming in the game, taking a snap and running. The guy can throw. I'd get Cribbs 25 plays (pass and run) and have him ready to play. Be creative. Think, as they say so annoyingly, outside the box. Why not? Really … why not?

I'm running out of things to say about the Browns, so I'm going to let the Browns speak.

Here are some quotes:

CB Brandon McDonald (who had a pretty good game): "I am just trying to do my job. I am not trying to do too much. I am just trying to be in the right spot to make the plays. If you just do that, the plays will come to you."

QB Derek Anderson: "A lot of the things we were able to do were underneath. I knew if I controlled the ball and got it to the backs we would have a chance to win the game. It was unfortunate for the fumble, because I thought I managed the game pretty well."

QB Ken Dorsey: "I want to play. I don't think there is one person in this locker room who wants to stand on the sideline."

KR Josh Cribbs on playing QB next week: "Dorsey will play and he will do well. If anything happens to him, I'll be ready. It will be an emergency only. I'm just a player, a blue-collar guy on the team. I'm going to do what they tell me to do and go hard at it."

Coach Romeo Crennel: "The team played their hearts out today."