Cleveland Browns: When an Athlete Gets It
Posted December 25th, 2006 by George Thomas
I haven't tooled around sports teams lockerrooms long enough to know whether what I witnessed yesterday after the Browns 22-7 butt-kicking courtesy of the juggernaut that is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was common.
That part of me that is jaded about pro athletes probably says, no, what Browns Joe Jurevicius did yesterday is far from common. You see, Jurevicius spoke from the heart.
When the two-ton gorilla in the form of Braylon Edwards was just a couple lockers down, Jurevicius showed professionalism blended with emotion, a unique combination. For the uninformed, reports say that Coach Romeo Crennel benched the former first round draft pick after he showed up late for a team meeting. Edwards apparently informed the FOX broadcast team that he had a dislocated thumb. Ummmm…yeah. I'll concur with my ABJ colleague Patrick McManamon and toss in my "whatever."
You see, Edwards doesn't get it. From the minute he showed up with the camera crew on draft day to explain how he planned to market himself, you knew that the game wasn't thing that it was about the bling. With Edwards it seems to be all about the money, the fame and him getting the ball. He'd probably see the ball more if he didn't drop it so often.
Contrast that with Jurevicius. Yes, he's a hometown guy, having been born in Cleveland and attended Lake Catholic High School in Mentor, so he gets a pass in some corners for that for wanting to come back to a team wallowing in mediocrity to try to show some of these players who don't understand what Cleveland Browns football should be.
But when an emotional Jurevicius told the media that he knew how fortunate he was. That he knew what Cleveland Browns football meant. That he knows that this city more than any other deserves a championship team, it came from the gut. The words weren't hollow, they weren't contrived and they weren't unheard by those members of the media who have lived here for more than a minute or who came back here to work.
Yes, while Edwards worries about things other than what transpires on the field and it shows on the field, players such as Jurevicius and others who are giving blood, sweat and tears have to deal with an utter lack of professionalism.
Unless he turns it around next season, I'm officially ready to label Edwards General Manger Phil Savage's first huge draft bust.
December 25th, 2006 at 10:03 am
I think that the bowns need to get rid of both edwards and winslow. Until they address their needs on the offensive offensive line and the defense's shortcoming this team is going nowhere. Maybe the fans should boycott the games. I would rather not have a team than to continually watch tis crap. This team is beyond mediocraty!!! How many QBs do we have to ruin before Lerner gets off his wallet and does somethig to remedy this!!
December 25th, 2006 at 12:39 pm
My thought on Edwards and Winslow is this: addition by subtraction. I doubt we could even get anything in trade for Edwards, but cutting him sounds pretty good to me. Winlslow could maybe be dealt for a draft pick we could use on a linemen, but probably not higher than a third round pick. Before hearing Jurevicius' words, I hadn't understood how bad it really was in the locker room. Sure, Savage drafted Edwards and that might have been a mistake, but its more apparent that Crennel is a man who cannot control his players, and may not be intelligent enough to manage an NFL team. He definitely is not able to make changes on the fly (or even over the course of a season), as can be seen in keeping Carthon, not using Jurevicius at the beginning of the season, and having no clue what to do with Cribbs or Jerome Harrison. Whatever it may cost to bring in a true, proven NFL coach (like Jeff Fisher) to such a pitiful job like the cleveland coach it would be more than worth it. Except our owner is now too busy to be bothered to even show up at all the home games while he's out buying european soccer clubs. Until this organization can show commitment to me as a fan by acting like an actual professional team, I just can't waste my time with them any longer.
December 25th, 2006 at 7:43 pm
Larry:
If you're out there, still think Edwards will be all right?
December 25th, 2006 at 8:50 pm
Ed makes some great points, esp. about not using Cribbs, Harrison & Jurevicious properly. Why can the FANS watching at home see these oversights, when the coaching staff cannot? I mean, Harrison led the PAC-10 in rushing with nearly 2000 yds. Are you telling me our current RBs are so good, this guy could not have been given a fair shake? Cribbs throwing ONE pass all year? Criminal. Braylon Edwards has proven to be the biggest BUST since Ryan Leaf. So self-centered and non-team oriented. I believe it's what's known as being a "cancer." So sorry any of his $ was guaranteed, because Dropsy, as he's now known, has earned ZERO. He's trash that needs to be shipped to Oakland, where all losers go to die.
And for pete's sake, Savage, don't waste your time with another 3rd Pick prima-donna who doesn't deserve to be paid. Trade the pick for more choices. One player at #3 or 4 will do nothing but tie your hands, cap-wise, and could be another Edwards. Someone needs to smack that smug pious smirk off the jerk's face. Preferably a teammate. Go Joe!
December 25th, 2006 at 9:57 pm
Well George, Braylon's still 23 years old or so and just hasn't matured much these past three or four weeks so I guess I'll say the jury's still out. I've been late for a meeting once or twice myself.
He disappoints and irritates me too, but you've got to give him another year, hopefully with a legitimate starting QB, a decent running game and a real offensive coordinator.
This is pretty much Edwards' first year, and probably his first real experience with failure, and he's frustrated, I'm sure. But he seems to care more than most pro athletes in this town and when he does make a play he sure looks like a big-time talent to me.
December 26th, 2006 at 6:32 am
Ahhhh Larry:
But given the criticism that's been levied in his direction those short four weeks ago you'd think that there'd be a fundamental ability to learn from his mistakes. Right now, he's consciously choosing not to do that.
Using the excuse that he's only 23-years-old doesn't wash in this corner. Sorry, he's getting paid, he needs to play the part.
As for making plays, that's a mighty big WHEN. Sorry, but in the age of Terrell Owens and other spoiled athletes, I'm not willing to put up with one on this team. There's a basic lack of maturity and he needs to grow up - quickly.
December 26th, 2006 at 6:45 am
To those out there who want to give up on Winslow: are you nuts? As of the Ravens game, Winslow had 76 receptions for 755 yards and three TDs. Sure I'd love to see the touchdown numbers up greatly, but that goes for the entire team. Edwards could learn a lot from Winslow and Jurevicius. He's pretty much kept his mouth shut and allowed his play on the field speak for him. Sorry, but with him and Heiden, tight end isn't a position where we have a problem.
December 26th, 2006 at 11:59 am
Dare I say it, George, but isn't Winslow keeping his mouth shut a fairly recent development? Didn't he have some shaky moments along the way? Maybe he's matured some, much like Keyshawn Johnson or other loudmouths who have gone on to have very good careers.
And I don't like to be argumentative, but the tight end position did produce a couple key drops Sunday, which made Winslow's jawing at Pro Bowler Ronde Barber (after one of two catches on the day) a little ridiculous.
As far as Jurevicius goes, I'm not sure how his rant reflects old school leadership. When it comes time to say something directly to Braylon, or even take the young fellow under his wing, he seems to prefer to "lead by example." Then he blasts his teammate with some thinly veiled fingerpointing in the local press.
Maybe the coaches wanted him to call Braylon out, and maybe they wanted the reason behind Edwards' benching "leaked" like it was, all while pretending to try and keep it in house. It all smells a little like the old Butch Davis days to me.
December 27th, 2006 at 6:09 am
So far, Savage hasn't been very lucky or wise in getting the talent needed to get the Browns regularly competitive. Edwards was not a good choice at the time, and he's not a good player to keep around UNLESS he shuts up and makes plays. Maybe Ozzie was the the major reason Savage looked so good when they helped build the (blech) Ravens (ugh) through the draft. Hopefully, in the next draft the Browns will make the right moves and choices to get down linemen - say 3 OL, 2 DL and another LB. Other teams have been doing it - why, oh why, can't we?
December 30th, 2006 at 11:45 am
I can't figure out why some people are lumping Winslow and Edwards together as problem children.
Winslow produces. He's brash and a little arrogant but I think he's coachable. He's playing in a lot of pain and making catches with no real quarterback.
Edwards has been a distraction and hasn't produced. He seems to be at odds with Crennel. The coach needs to figure out a way of getting through to this guy.