I occurred to me that, apparently lost amid our ire, was the fact the the Bengals played one helluva game. I can't recall the last time I watched one team impose their will on another like Cincinnati did yesterday. Props to the Bengals players and coaches.
They imposed their will on a broken team....The same team that beat the hell out of them a month ago, laid down like a bunch pussies.... I'm pretty certain at least half the Browns' players gave up hope after the Colts loss.... Crazy year....We've seen the Browns play well enough a couple times to beat any team in the NFL....Unfortunately, too many times (especially yesterday) they were unwatchable... Oh well, at least half the Cleveland fans predicted another miserable season, and most said that seven wins would make them happy....So congrats. Hope it was enjoyable....
Dear God, Lyman!!!!! You're not allowed to compliment a division rival. I think that's a venial sin or something.
Guilty as charged, TD. However, expectations grew as they showed they were (at the time) a much better team than most of us had expected. I want 9-7, will settle for 8-8, and be disappointed with 7-9.
Browns coach Mike Pettine said Monday he doesn't know how healthy Isaiah Crowell is. Nursing a hip injury, Crowell was listed as questionable for Week 14, but played. He practiced fully all last week and played against the Bengals, but managed 17 yards on seven carries. He continued to play behind Terrance West, but out-touched him and out-gained him. Either way, the Browns' run game has become a major question mark. Crowell will be a flex option in Week 16 at Carolina.
Going through yesterday?s disastrous debut was bad enough. Coming in this morning and watching the film was hard for Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel to swallow. There wasn?t much Manziel could add after taking a 30-0 beating and throwing for two picks and leading an offense to 80 passing yards against the Bengals. ?Absolutely. Very humbling,? Manziel said, via Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. ?This game, obviously it has its ups and downs and yesterday was one of those days for us that didn?t go our way. It?s very humbling. I feel like they had good scheme and came out very aggressive and very ready for that game and we didn?t come out that way and match that intensity early. ?When you get down a little bit, it?s hard to claw your way back in and we just didn?t ever bring that intensity from the get-go.? Manziel was never shut out in college, and rarely lost (20-6), so it was hard for him to have context for what happened to him the day before. ?I?ve never ? it?s the first game I?ve ever not scored a point in and been shut out,? he said. ?I?ve played in a lot of games I feel like from high school through college and that one and never been shut out until then, so it was definitely tough.? How he responds to the beating might say as much about him as any mechanical criticism could. For a guy who came in with a big personality and a gleaming record, that first taste of defeat will linger, at least until he replaces it.
Browns LCB Joe Haden (shoulder) is day to day. Haden's Monday MRI apparently delivered good news. The Browns are an extreme long-shot to make the playoffs ? they'd need the Chiefs and Chargers to tie in Week 17 ? but they'll undoubtedly push their best defender to play this weekend as they strive for a .500 season. Haden's health is extra important since Justin Gilbert (concussion) is also banged up.
Criticizing Pettine for truning to Maziel, seems silly. Yeah, I think he may have suspected Johnny wasn't ready, but to put Hoyer in again, would signal accepting less than medocre as acceptable. Kind of a "no win" situation. I would be much more ciitical of the "team's performance" wihich is on him, than Johnny's . How the hell can we be that bad in every phase of the game? I guess that's not really true either, I think we could accept the secondary's play, but who noticed, since we couldn't stop the run at all. On the positinve side: we didn't lose because of our kicker. We didn't lose because of Hoyer. We didn't muff any punts. We didn't give up "the big play". No it was a slow torturous blood letting, and by the end you didn't even notice you were dead, like carbon monoxide poisining. Pettine's coaching viabillity will be more tested by how they play this week, when everyone knows we have nothing to fight for, and Little Johnny Lost at QB.
Today I heard an interesting conversation on 92.3 with the host and a guy from Sports Nation. The topics were Johnny, Gordon and the direction of this football team going forward. Now before I get into this I will say that I am a fan of Manziel and the Browns needed a change at QB. I think Hoyers stats the last 6/7 weeks warrants that. But here's what was said between the 2 host. 1. The whole team is to blame for the arse beating that they took this Sunday. 2. Johnny Football didn't look ready to go, it showed and Haslem did make that call to play him. Here's where the conversation get's interesting! 3. They talked about without Gordon the WR corp played as a team and did well. We won football games WITHOUT GORDON. 4. The RIGHT SIDE OF OUR LINE NEEDS HELP. That's when they said Bitonio was actually drafted to play RT but we decided to make the left side strong and deal with it next year. 5. They talked about needing defensive line help. They need more athletic bodies up front. After that conversation the guy from Sports Nation said that the Browns SHOULD TRADE GORDON! He still has a year left on his contract, its cheap for his talent level and he is a cancer in the club house. Then he said he is not a team guy! That has been shown through his drug problem. He said the Browns could get a 1st rd. pick or a 2nd rd. pick for him all day. That would give us 4 picks in the top 2 rds. We could then draft many of our needs. Now the same thing was said about JF. That he is a me 1st guy who doesn't come in early and doesn't stay late. That those 2 players are dividing the Browns locker room. Manziel is 22 they said. He could still grow out of his immaturity. That maybe this weeks beat down will humble him some. But the guy said the Browns should trade Gordon! Guy's I couldn't believe what I was hearing but I agree with it. Football is a team sport. We all know Gordon isn't the sharpest tool in the shed and he takes plays off. Yes he is very talented. But does he want to be great like Calvin Johnson? Does he demand better from his team on the sidelines like Dez Bryant? Does he give up his body like even a Miles Austin? That was the questions that were asked by the guy from Sports Nation. The answer to all those questions are NO! Fellas, he doesn't. So while I was taking the kids to the Christmas Story house and dinner I thought about it. Yes I would trade him. Nothing less than an early 2nd rd pick. We are losing with him anyway. He is not making this team better by his play and his attitude is bringing the team down, I say TRADE BAIT! We need all the picks we can get to fill those other 3-5 holes we have on this team. So what do you Lounge Houndz think? Remember he could walk away after next year or get caught smoking dope again! I say trade him this off season to get an extra pick and let someone else deal with him. Then I draft another WR and bring in a WR. Like always GOOOOOOO BROWNIES!
I think you need to stop taking what the idiot talking heads on radio say as gospel. They know about as much of what's going on in the locker room as my great-grandson does. You asked . . .
I don't know what to make of these Browns. They are total Jeckyl & Hyde....Sometimes they play inspired football. Spirited from the opening kick-off, you can just sense that they are confident and prepared....And then you have those inexplicable performances like yesterday, and the Houston game, and the forgettable trip to Jacksonville, where the entire team plays like they could care less. I've never seen a football team so schizophrenic....Seriously, can ya ever recall a team whipping an opponent on a national stage in their own home stadium by three TD's, only to turn around a month later and get blown out by the same opponent on their own field?? WTH??? That makes no sense.....
Lym What has Josh Gordon done this year right now today for the Cleveland Browns? NOTHING!!!!!!! It doesn't take an engineer to see he's lazy as F%$#! And STUPID as F#$@! I can engineer to build a building to man. Or a hospital or a school or a building for NASA! So what the F$#% is your point! NONE of us know S^&%! I believe I said they would go 7-9 and I'll be happy! I hate to tell you and everyone else! That's what they are going to be. Their best offensive weapon is a LAZY POTHEAD F@#$! PERIOD! He admitted to running the wrong F%$%#@# routes! Trade his LAZY ASS! He is going to leave anyway. You win more WITHOUT HIM! So please man save your wise ass comments for your grand children! I really dont give a F#$% what you have to say! Remember wise ass you attacked me first! So calm the F#$% down! that wasn't me. it was the radio that I heard it from! Just because you dont like it dont F$#@$@# berate me and start making smart ass comments! That's mature! What it is LYM either agree with you or don't come on here? Get real man! You ever wonder why more different people don't come on here? It's because of smart ass comments you make to people like the one you just said to ME! This is a sports forum! People write what they see, know, heard and read! That's what I heard! F%$^ off if you don't like it! that's what I heard! I'm not a child so dont talk to me like one! I'm not your grand child! So save the rude smart ass remarks for them! Or dont address me! But don't spout off at the finger tips at someone and not expect them to come back at you! Didn't YOUR PARENTS OR SOMEONE ELSE TEACH YOU ABOUT RESPECT! If not then now I know why you became an engineer! Are you the smart kid everyone picked on? I defended that smart kid in school! So see we would of been friends, SMART GUY! LOL But stop your smart ass F$%$#$@ comments!
You asked a question and he answered it. The talking heads post rumors and speculation. That's it. Let's think about this logically. What team in their right mind would trade a 1 or a 2 for a guy that is an unprescribed dose of cough syrup away from a life time ban? Lyman didn't attack you, or call you names there, he called the talking heads out. What part of his statement was disrespectful? I don't see it. I do, however, see a lot of it in your response. I'm not attacking you here either, I'm just pointing out what is in black and white on my screen.
Methinks a few adult beverages came into to play. What say you, Els? Along with Dvl, I didn't see any attack on you or your opinions. It was just Lyman showing his usual disdain for the talking heads. I share his same "enthusiasm" towards these bozos. If you ask me (or even if you don't), I think an apology is warranted here.
Thats alright but this is now a handful of times off the top of my head that he has used smart ass comments towards me! RESPECT! This is a sports forum! Why get personal about anything? I was writing about what I heard on the radio and wrote it here on here! I agree that the Browns should trade Josh Gordon! totally agree! Talented as he is he is LAZY! Mentally and physically! That's the best way I can put it! Our WR corp was better without him. Look at the stats! I would trade him before he starts smoking dope again or bolts for greener pastures in FA and we get nothing for him! This is the ghetto NFL here. There will be tons of teams wanting his services! You all know that! So trade him! Ask for a 1st rd. pick but settle for a high 2nd rd pick. Get the CANCER off the sidelines! Far as an apology no! He said something to me first on here. If you write something he doesn't like then you will get a smart ass comment from him. Ever since I've been on here! I have been very positive about the Browns this year. I haven't attacked no one on here. But Just like you LYM! If you write something to me that I think is some type of attack I will call you out on it! You need to calm down on the sarcasm, man! keep it about the Browns! If you cant then don't say CHIT about my comments. Don't direct comments to me! I'm fine with that! But towards me keep the sarcasm, whinny comments to yourself! And I will do the same!
Els, If you interpreted my response to your question as an attack on you . . . then I apologize. Never for one second did I think posting my opinion of the talking heads would set someone off like that. As far as Josh Gordon goes - I almost agree with you. He's one Dixie cup away from selling cars again. However, regarding his stats this year - I have to believe that he is simply out of touch with the rest of the offensive unit. He hasn't had the reps in practice because he wasn't allowed to practice. Then he (along with every other receiver) had to get in synch with a new starting QB.
Els, can you please point out what exactly in Lyman's post you consider an attack? I've read it a couple of times and I'm at a loss as to what you're getting all bent out of shape over. The only smart-azz remark I see is directed at all the hot gas sports analysts constantly spew, in general. Just not seeing what you're seeing.
ormer Cleveland Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar is frustrated with the team's front office, believing no quarterback can succeed with the current situation. Kosar went on The Mike Trivisonno Show on WTAM 1100 in Cleveland and ripped the organization following its 30-0 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, saying that Johnny Manziel needs a better system in place around him. The Browns have only made the playoffs twice since Kosar was released by the team in 1993, winning their last postseason contest in 1994. Kosar, who used to do preseason broadcasts for the Browns, is particularly sick of seeing a procession of quarterbacks without the team fixing the issues around them. Kosar took aim at the front office instead of Manziel, who has faced criticism in the wake of his disastrous debut in which he threw for 80 yards and a pair of interceptions. Kosar says it does not matter who is under center, because the team is without weapons. After leading the division through 10 weeks, the Browns have dropped four of their last five and at 7-7, are all but eliminated from playoff contention. Fed up with the situation, the former Pro Bowl quarterback and Ohio native unloaded, per Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer: "You can't put these kids (the quarterbacks) in these spots,'' Kosar said. "It's almost abuse. If you're going to keep running it the way we're running it, we may as well do nothing (to fix the quarterback situation), because you'll kill two more kids coming in here. It'll fail. It does not matter right now.'' Kosar continued by saying expectations were artificially pumped up by the organization before Manziel's first start, stating that good teams would have gone about the situation differently. "They've been talking so positively like 'this is the savior' and that's what bad organizations do,'' he said. "They set these quarterback controversies up and it kind of takes the heat off of them and it gives everybody a little glimmer of hope. ...The organization and the players and coaches actually thought he was going to do good. I know they believed he was going to do good.'' Johnny Manziel MMBM Week 15: Let Johnny Manziel play drunk Johnny Manziel says his NFL debut was 'a fail' Kosar did defend head coach Mike Pettine, who is in his first year on the job. Kosar believes Pettine doesn't have much of a chance considering the men making decisions above him. "For all the reporters that listen to our show that want to say I'm dogging him, absolutely not,'' said Kosar. "He was hired under this set of rules where everybody gets to giggle and laugh and talk about things and everybody is involved in everything. He was hired in a tough, tough spot in a culture above him that is not a football culture. It's not a winning football culture. It goes above that.'' However, he's not thrilled with the sideline attitude during a defeat like Sunday's. Manziel and Brian Hoyer were filmed in the closing minutes of the game sharing a laugh on the sideline. Kosar believes winning franchises like the Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots don't act like that during a loss: "You didn't see any chuckling or smiling (out of the Patriots or Packers) like we saw on the sidelines yesterday,'' he said. The Browns face the Carolina Panthers on Sunday before closing out the regular season against the Baltimore Ravens.
My opinion on Gordon is that he came in thinking he knew the playbook and it had changed so much that he is confused right now. He is only 4 games into his season...The rest were where he is now during the 2nd preseason game...NOW they have evolved with the playbook and he is getting the old confused with the new. The man had over 16 yards in 12 games last season, and despite his confusion with the playbook is leading the team in yards per game. What is happening on the field is just as much the fault of the QB as it is Gordon. Despite the fact they know he is still learning, they seek out their "PLAYMAKER" and try to force plays. As far as dogging it...Look at the plays in question, almost down to the last play he is behind the defender..please explain to me how you get behind a defender while being lazy? This is what Lym was talking about, the talking heads want to paint a picture that is simply not accurate. We can all choose to listen to them or actually look at the tape and form our own opinion. BEFORE YOU GO OFF ON ME>>>>>> I am not saying you didn't form your own opinion, you may see things 180 degrees differently than I do...but it does mimic what is being said in national media, and you also admitted to hearing it on the radio and pretty much agreeing with what they said. Gordon is a phenominal athlete that only comes around every now and then...It will look much different to the naked eye simply because he is so smooth it looks like he is jogging, yet 4.4 DBs are being left behind after his initial moves...explanation a) these DBs are even lazier than he is or b) your eyes are seeing the working of an athlete that they don't see very often and it looks different than what it is used to... Now, I personally, believe once he is on the same page with a QB, what we saw last season will be the norm once again. I hope that is with Manziel, as I also believe what we saw on Sunday to be a result of changing the offense way more drastic than the coaches should have. Every player has mentioned the entire new scheme installed last week. The offensive line has gone as far as taking blame for not being on the same page and causing the issues with Manziel. Given another week together, I for one expect to see drastic improvement..then I will be looking for even more improvement in week 17. This will help my comfort level entering 2015. Let's face the facts, this team was overachieving due to an historically easy first half schedule. They began their descent with the injuries piling up and facing above average teams...Johnny Manziel didn't cost this team a playoff birth and Josh Gordon certainly didn't cause it...They were in a situation 6 weeks ago, where they would have needed to win 4 out of 6 to make the playoffs and with the schedule, they weren't going to do that anyway. We need to begin getting this team ready for 2015 now... I am looking for improvement.
