So, realistic means "the wheels will fall off the bus"? lol! I mean c'mon. What happened? Our season went to shit in the second half...Thats no good. Hoyer must have got hurt on that Thursday night in Cincy.
I appreciate you taking the time to do that, Irish. I definitely agree with you on the Steelers . If the Bengals defense doesn't turn it around soon, I also agree that 9 wins would be their ceiling. Clearly I'd disagree with the Ravens as that's my team, especially losing to Atlanta and Pittsburgh. I'd agree with the rest. That said, I don't think the Browns lose to Atlanta, Buffalo, and Carolina either. Maybe 2 of them, possibly just 1 loss, but not all three. Especially not with Gordon back for all those games. I do think it'll be a close race for the crown minus the Steelers though if things keep pace as things are now.
Ceiling, 12-4/11-5. I get that I'm a homer so I'll try to explain in the most objective way possible. I apologies in advanced for this long right up Baltimore's biggest issue right now is the secondary. They are giving up a lot of passing plays because they have an entire stable of strong safeties and not one true free safety. The #2 and #3 CB positions have also been an issue because Webb spent most of the first 5 games inactive, #3 CB Asa Jackson has been decent but in and out of the lineup due to injury, and everybody behind him sucks. They've been playing safeties, strong safeties at that, as slot corners against WRs. Outside of Jimmy Smith, CB has been bad. Now, Webb finally back on the field and will hopefully continue to improve. True FS Will Hill is eligible after being suspended the first 5 weeks. Will was one of the highest rated FS last season (4 I think) and, on paper, should improve the secondary. Asa Jackson should be back after week 8 or so (IRDR) so that will be another boost to the secondary. On offense, we may have the best offense in Ravens history thanks to Gary Kubiak. Flacco is the #6 passer right now, Forsett is the #5 rusher despite never having more than 17 careers in any game, old man Smith is the #10 WR I think. Baltimore is 5th or 6th in yards and points on offense. Right now, the Ravens are #2 in scoring differential and still have more key players to get back in addition to those already named (Eugene Monroe, Kelechi Osemele, Chris Canty, Timmy Jernigan. 3 of them are starters). Honestly, outside of division games, I can only "expect" a loss to San Diego right now for the remaining teams. Things change easily in the NFL, but nobody else on the remaining Ravens schedule outside of the AFC North looks like a team we should struggle against. I also expect at least 1 loss in the division to an Ohio team, maybe both. That's it, so 12-4 or 11-5 is the ceiling to me Again, this is all going by how things are now.
*DONT_KNOW* The wheels didn't fall off, they just got a little loose... The Browns closed out at that point 2-2, including key wins against the Bengals and Ravens in division *SORRY* I thought I was doing well...After all, nearly every one on these boards have the Browns at 8-8 or 9-7...I had them ending 9-7 But, no, I have Hoyer finishing out the year healthy
BEREA, Ohio -- The tattoo on Browns center Nick McDonald's chest that bares the name of his late mother is a daily reminder of the tragedy he's overcome on his road to the NFL. Over the next few weeks, McDonald might be pressed into service to replace the great Alex Mack -- who's likely lost for the season with a broken fibula -- but nothing that happens to him on the football field will be tougher than what's occurred in real life. When McDonald was 14, his mom, Irene, died of colon cancer that spread to her liver. An admitted mama's boy, McDonald was crushed by her death. "We were extremely close,'' he said. His father, William, was so devastated that he left McDonald and his three siblings alone in their Sterling Heights, Mich., home and bolted for Louisiana. "He had a really hard time with it,'' said McDonald, an Army brat whose parents were both in the military - his mom as a nurse and his dad in intelligence. "She was the love of his life.'' The McDonald children, three boys and a girl, were left alone in the house to fend for themselves. At the time, they were 18, 17, 14 and 11. McDonald was second-youngest, followed by his little brother Chris. William was the oldest, then Kathy. The kids had moved from one Army base to the next as kids, and had learned to take care of themselves and rely on each other. "We were there by ourselves, but no one really ever said anything,'' said McDonald. "No one ever reported it, no one ever tried to just swoop in and take care of us. We basically had to figure it out for ourselves.'' William and Kathy worked to try to provide food for the kids, and McDonald did odd jobs when he could, when he wasn't playing football or basketball for Henry Ford High school in Sterling Heights. "We figured it out,'' said McDonald. "We had our ways of trying to survive. We stuck with each other. We had some issues here and there, but we were all right.'' Occasionally, neighbors would bring food by, but mostly, they were on their own. "We seemed to always find a way to eat or do something,'' he said. "It was never a huge struggle for us.'' The McDonald children, prone to the occasional party at the unsupervised home, somehow managed to keep things going for a couple of years. Finally, it all unraveled. "We actually didn't make a house payment,'' said McDonald. "That's why we had to leave, because we ended up getting evicted from the house. The water was shut off, the electricity, the heat, eventually all of that. That's when we all had to split up.'' McDonald bounced around from place to place, to his grandmother's house and to the homes of some friends, but nothing seemed to stick. Finally, he was taken in by his then-girlfriend's mother, Gayle Joseph, who remains like a mother to him. "I knew things weren't going well at home just by little things that he said," Joseph told Packers.com in 2010. "The reality was that I was dropping this boy off at a home where there were four kids and no parent and no money and no phone. It was really hard for me, but I was a little reluctant (to take him in) because he was dating my daughter." Finally, she knew what she had to do. "My motherly instincts just took over," Joseph said. "I said, 'You know what, I'm going to be his mother because he needs that. It was hard to watch the pain that Nick was going through. We talk about his mom, and I don't in any way try to replace her. She was a wonderful mom and has four wonderful kids.'' At the time, she'd remind McDonald, "You know what, your dad's messed up, but he does love you.' I want Nick to know that because it's hard for a kid to think they've lost one parent and the other parent isn't there for them,'' she said. McDonald's little brother Chris moved just down the street from where they grew up. "They had five kids, so they added a sixth and it worked out great,'' said McDonald. "He was happy.'' Even though the kids were scattered "we tried to keep in touch. We stayed really close.'' McDonald also found a father figure in his high school coach, Butch Wagner. Between Wagner and Joseph, they helped McDonald get through high school, get his driver's license and eventually get recruited by Division II Grand Valley State in Allendale, Mich. "He was a huge mentor for me,'' said McDonald. But McDonald, still grieving over his mother's death, faltered at Grand Valley, almost flunking out as a redshirt freshman and getting in trouble for underage drinking. His coaches pulled him aside and gave him an ultimatum: Get it together or you're out. A criminal justice major with plans to join the military, he pulled himself together enough to become the starting left tackle and and earn conference Offensive Lineman of the Year as a senior. "I was raised a certain way with my mom,'' he said. "Very religious, very family-oriented. I saw my mom battle cancer and she fought really hard until her last breath and that's always kind of been my motto in life, never give up and to always fight no matter how long it takes and what you have to do. That's just kind of how I've always lived my life since then.'' When McDonald was in first grade, his mom had made him a scrapbook, and in the space where it asks what he wanted to be when he grew up, he wrote "Football Player.'' But the dream mostly died until his senior year at Grand Valley, when it actually seemed possible. McDonald wasn't invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, but signed with the Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He was inactive the entire season, but still earned a Super Bowl ring at the end of the year. The following summer, the Packers released him in the final cuts -- a move that shocked him -- but he was signed to the Patriots' practice squad two days later, on Sept. 5, 2011. On Dec. 3 of that season, he was promoted to the Patriots' active roster and pressed into service at center because of injuries, starting two games that season. At the end of the year, he went to the Super Bowl again with the Patriots, who lost that year to the Giants. Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer was also on the Patriots that season, his last year with the club. McDonald remained in New England through 2012, playing in 12 games that season and starting one. In May of 2013, his brother Chris, who starred at Michigan State, signed with the Patriots as undrafted free agent and the two spent the offseason there together. Ultimately, they were both released by the end of camp that year, "but it was pretty special,'' said McDonald. McDonald signed with the Chargers in January, and was released in July after breaking his wrist in a car accident. The Browns claimed him on waivers the next day, knowing that he'd be out at least four to six weeks with the wrist. McDonald came off the non-football injury list this week, practicing for the first time on Wednesday, and is gearing up to start at center for the Browns this season if needed. Although he's only started two games at the position, it's more than anyone else on the roster. John Greco, who will start there Sunday in Jacksonville, never snapped the ball in an NFL regular-season game until he did so last week when Mack went down. "Alex is a guy you can never replace,'' said McDonald. "He's an amazing football player, he's super-intelligent, he's a warrior. Coach Pettine said that. You can't replace the guy. All you can do is give your best efforts and learn the offense as fast as possible and try to help the team win.'' McDonald's incredible real-life drama --- similar to NFL tackle Michael Oher's in the movie The Blindside -- has been featured nationally, including on the Today Show. Whenever he gets the chance, he shares it in hopes that it will reach someone like him. "It's an inspirational story,'' he said. "I don't mind talking about it. Any way that it can help some kids in need, that were in the same situation, I'll do my best to make them understand that things can be OK and to keep fighting through it, and eventually it will all work out.'' McDonald has recently reconciled with his father, whom he resented for years. "He's definitely in my life,'' said McDonald. "He feels terrible for the past and what happened and he wants to work on our relationship and it's going well.'' McDonald knows he might not be in a Browns uniform -- or in the NFL at all -- if he hadn't experienced such tragedy. "I've dealt with a lot in my life and it kind of led me to where I'm at,'' he said. "I'm grateful and blessed.'' And he knows Irene would be proud.
Hey, dawgs. It's a long time after the fact, I know, but congratulations on a very decisive win. I've been sick about it all week, but the Browns are better than the Steelers and deserved the win. Please excuse me while I slink back into my hole now.
Jags jinx? Not this time Over the years, the Browns have had all kinds of problems with the Jacksonville Jaguars. They began even before the original Browns moved to Baltimore following the 1995 season The Jags debuted as an expansion team in the National Football League in 1995 and were placed in the AFC Central with the Browns. They won four games that season ? two against the Browns. That?s when the problems commenced and they still exist. Even though they have received some competition from the Browns for the label of ?worst team in the NFL? the last six seasons (not including this one), the Jags somehow manage to play well beyond their capabilities against Cleveland. In their 15 meetings, Jacksonville owns a 10-5 lead over the Browns, who have averaged just 16 points a game against them. Makes no difference where they play, although the Browns have fared slightly better (3-4) in Jacksonville than at home (2-6). The Jags won the first six games of the series and eight of the first 10. Perhaps the most famous game ? for all the wrong reasons ? in the series was the Dec. 16, 2001 meeting in Cleveland. That?s when replay, an officiating tool in its infancy at the time, became the cause c?l?bre for fan anger. It resulted in what was immediately called ?Bottlegate? by the media and brought infamy to the lakefront. But that was then. This is now. When the two teams meet again Sunday in northern Florida, the Browns will be overwhelming favorites. By all rights, they should win this one handily. The winless Jaguars are a very bad team. The talent difference between the two teams is huge. The Jags average slightly more than 13 points a game (worst in the NFL) and have allowed 31 points a game (2nd worst in the league). Their minus-104 point differential is comfortably the worst in the league. A defensive surge in the last two games has enabled them to become competitive, albeit in a losing vein. That defense, which surrendered 38 points a game in the first four losses, has rebounded nicely and allowed just 33 points in the last two outings (the offense scored only 23). The one area the Browns should be mindful of is the Jaguars? pass rush, which has produced nearly twice as many sacks (19) as the Browns (10). But the way the Cleveland offensive line has played in front of Brian Hoyer, that should not be much of a problem. On the other hand, the Cleveland pass rush, which has generated just 10 sacks (where is that famed Mike Pettine pass rush he promised?), will face an offensive line that has permitted 27 sacks. Time to fatten those stats. Hoyer, who has been sacked only six times, will throw against a defense that yields 314 yards a game through the air. His quick release, as well as his ability to extend plays, should negate the Jacksonville pass rush. Playing pitch and catch with his receivers against a secondary that has only one interception should enable Hoyer to come up with what could be his biggest statistical afternoon of the season. Throw in the running of Ben Tate and Isaiah Crowell against a Jags run defense that gives up 117 yards a game and you have, in theory, a solid formula for what should be an easy victory. On offense, the Jags? biggest hope is quarterback Blake Bortles, who relieved ineffective Chad Henne midway through game three. The big rookie has completed nearly 70% of his passes for 781 yards and a pair of touchdowns (and three picks) in three games as a starter. He has been sacked 11 times. In last week?s 16-14 loss at Tennessee, Bortles completed 32 of 46 passes for 336 yards and a touchdown. The week before, Hoyer was 21-of-37 for 291 yards and three touchdowns in the come-from-behind 29-28 victory over the Titans. The focus of the Jacksonville offense, which has scored just nine times this season, quite clearly is the pass. The Jags run the ball only 20 times a game, a break for a Cleveland run defense that has given up 150 yards a game and has been soft at best. Toby Gerhart, the Jags? lead back who has carried the ball just 48 times this season, will not play due to a foot injury. Storm Johnson and Denard Robinson most likely will split carries. To give you some idea on how bad their ground game is, Bortles is the second-leading ground gainer with 106 yards. Cecil Shorts III?s return to the lineup from hamstring problems provided a boost for Bortles against Tennessee last week. Shorts, who caught the game-winning pass against the Browns last season, was targeted 14 times and caught 10 for 103 yards. Other favorite targets are rookie wideouts Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns, who has scored three touchdowns, and tight end Clay Harbor. It will be interesting to see how Pettine schemes this one. Does he dial up some sophisticated pass rushes to confuse the rookie? Or will he play it safe and routinely drop six and sometimes seven men back in coverage? The Browns have proven thus far they could hang and bang with the big boys. That was the easy part. The hard part is doing it again and again and again. Sunday will be their first opportunity against the so-called dregs of the NFL. And they will succeed. All they have to do is start strong. Or prevent the Jags from starting strong. In the first half of their two road games this season, the Browns have been outscored, 55-13. In the second half of those games, it?s the polar opposite. They own a remarkable 43-3 point advantage. This is not a trap game, as some believe. The Jaguars are really that bad. The Browns, who seem to play their own brand of football no matter the opponent, will drop the Jags to 0-7. Convincingly. Make it: Browns 34, Jaguars 13 Posted by Rich Passan
Here we go again: The Browns are 3-2 and poised to make their move after a big home win. A new coaching staff has everyone buying into the new program. The offense is scoring. Optimism is sky high. But enough about last year. That?s right. A year ago, the Browns were in the same position as today. Fans, media and maybe some players were peeking ahead to upcoming games and thinking, ?There?s no reason this team can?t be in it to the end.? The front office was extolling the jobs being done by the first-year coaching staff. ?We were sitting at the same point last year and a lot of people were feeling good about it, and we were too,? said offensive lineman John Greco. What happened from that point? One win, 10 losses. The explanation doesn?t take much analysis. The coaches didn?t all of a sudden become dummies. The wheels came off because of one reason. Brian Hoyer tore his right ACL, and the Browns? quarterback merry-go-round started turning again, complete with calliope music and flashing carnival lights. An old vibe returns: In just two complete games last season, Hoyer injected the locker room with a blast of confidence that I had not seen in the previous 14 seasons of the expansion era. Losing him in Game 5 ? in the game witnessed by future Browns coach Mike Pettine ? changed everything. ?Brian came in last year and provided a spark,? Greco said. ?We had some success and people were feeling good about it. Then, obviously, when he hurt his knee, there was ? not a lull, but when you have momentum like that and something tragic happens like that, it kind of stopped us and we got out of our rhythm, our chemistry.? There are only 29 players on the Browns? active roster right now who were in this same position a year ago. They know the prospects going forward with a healthy Hoyer playing even better than before the injury. ?I definitely think there?s a different energy we?ve got, and it?s something personnel?wise, obviously, with our quarterback,? linebacker Paul Kruger said. ?Our defense, we believe in Hoyer,? said cornerback Joe Haden. ?He?s been doing everything -- a real good job of not turning the ball over, controlling the offense, getting first downs. ?The sideline?s different. We?re on the sideline and when third downs come up, you hear that call ?Punt team (get ready),? but me and Donte (Whitner) are like, ?We?re gonna get it.? Just knowing he?s moving the ball and the offense is making progress, it just makes us feel a whole lot comfortable.? Managing success: On good teams, the starting quarterback is the conscience of the locker room -- the inner voice, the guiding light. The good ones stand in front of the cameras and microphones two or three times a week and deliver the right messages to their teammates through their public comments. They spout the clich?s about teamwork and keep their teammates focused on the game at hand and away from getting too full of themselves after big wins. Basically, they reinforce the talking points of the head coach. They carry themselves in a manner ? totally focused and driven to keep the team winning -- that sets the example for their teammates. After Hoyer went down last year, this essential role was left first with Brandon Weeden and then with Jason Campbell. Weeden couldn?t command respect because of his performance on the field. Campbell earned it early, and then the responsibility ate him up. The beauty of Hoyer is that he has the experience of a seasoned veteran, one who soaked up the wisdom and example of Tom Brady for three years, and yet he is still growing as a player on the field and not nearly at his peak after just eight career starts, seven with the Browns. So the Browns, having weathered the tough opening portion of their schedule, now embark on a stretch to establish their legitimacy as a playoff contender. And they have a strong veteran presence at the crucial position, which is a comfort to all. ?I?d agree with that,? Pettine said, ?because that?s the natural position of leadership. That?s the guy when you?re on offense, you?ve got 10 guys looking at one for the play call. You want that guy because I think it comes with the position.? ?Absolutely,? Kruger said. ?I mean, it?s pretty clear. Success breeds confidence, and it allows you to play loose and relaxed. It makes a difference no matter what team you?re on.? This 3-2 Browns team is better than last year?s 3-2 team in other ways. The running game is a thousand percent better. The offensive line in the Kyle Shanahan zone-blocking scheme is a certifiable force. The coaching is sound all over. The head coach has that rare communicative gene able to cut through all the divergent cultures in a locker room. But the single reason why this 3-2 Browns team can achieve so much more than last year?s 3-2 team has to do with the quarterback. If Hoyer can stay on the field, the Browns can be the surprise team of the NFL.
How many Irish fans we have out there tonight?? Come on fellas, help a brother out!! BEAT the NOLES!! Sorry stopper, hoping this is our year!!
The Seahawks apparently didn?t put Percy Harvin on the trading block, by declaring that they have ?no intent? to trade him or otherwise. But the Seahawks reportedly talked to more teams than the Jets about a deal for the highly talented but apparently even more troubled receiver. According to Peter King of TheMMQB.com, the Seahawks also spoke to the Browns and the Buccaneers about a trade for Harvin. Per King, the Jets ultimately offered the most for Harvin. If the band of teams had been much broader than those three, someone would have blabbed before a deal in principle had been completed with the Jets. And it?s likely that the Seahawks were selective because they didn?t want to worry about seeing Harvin again on the other side of the field, especially during the postseason. It seems odd that Tampa would have had interest, given the presence of Leslie Frazier as defensive coordinator of the Bucs. Frazier had a front-row seat for all of the Harvin-induced dysfunction in Minnesota. Harvin would have been an intriguing addition to the Browns, who eventually will get back Josh Gordon. Those two players combined with the team the Browns already have put together could have resulted in a reunion with the Seahawks in February, at the Super Bowl. But Harvin could have torn apart the locker room in the process. In the end, that?s a risk only the Jets were sufficiently desperate to assume.
Winston is a TRUE leader...we have some problems in certain areas, but the young fellas are emerging(Rudolph, Featherston, Ramsey, Cook, Pugh and Thomas)
The problem is how the local authorities handled it. I have to agree with blues on that a aspect...for the record it is an ongoing investigation, he wasn't found not guilty But purely football, great game and congrats on the victory.
Gmae Day ! Chores done. prepping football food, checking the pre game shows out, looking for fantasy last minute info., Cleaning googles, arranging the pillows on the coudh in case I need to throw something, and generally getting my heart rate up. GO BROWNS !!!!
