I didn't word that properly.....Our O-line clearly needs help. They are not good, but they are also not the only reason for all these QB injuries. Our QB's have to get the ball out on those three step drops. They can't hold it, or they WILL have to run for their life, and it would be that way behind any O-line....It's the nature of the short passing game. You gotta trust that your WR will be there, because hesitation means trouble....
Thirty years later, the emotions are hard to fight off whenever members of the 1986 Browns reminisce about Don Rogers. The young safety was coming off his second season with the Browns, and expectations were at an all-time high from the hard hitter out of UCLA. His interception of Dan Marino was a highlight in Cleveland?s loss to the Dolphins in a 1985 AFC Divisional Playoff game. He was once again expected to be a major piece of a Browns secondary that featured top cornerbacks Frank Minniefield and Hanford Dixon. ?Don Rogers was one of the most magnificent players that God?s created,? quarterback Bernie Kosar said. ?No disrespect to Ronnie Lott or anybody else, (Rogers) was in that league ? He was big, he was strong, he was fast, he was a fantastic person. ?It was a personal and professional tragedy.? About a month before training camp was set to begin for the 1986 season, Rogers died of a cocaine overdose on the night before his wedding. He was 23, passing away eight days after basketball star Len Bias suffered a similar fate from a drug overdose. As players from the 1986 team reflected on the memorable season in recent interviews, they spoke softly at the mention of Rogers? name. It was an exasperating blow that hung with the team throughout the most successful regular season in team history and left many to wonder what could have been for the promising defensive back. ?Everybody tried to look out for each other to do the right thing,? running back Kevin Mack said. ?And to hear that the night before his wedding was devastating, not just for our team but for his family and future wife.? Cody Risien was one of the last Browns to see Rogers before his death, as the two worked out together in California. One of the final conversations he had with the Sacramento native sticks with him still today. ?He seemed troubled to me. And I, I always think, you know, wow, I wish I'd had said more or wish I'd have dug more,? Risien said. ?You know, who knows, maybe I could have made a difference, but I always just feel sad that he seemed troubled and I wish I'd have picked up on it. He was such a talented young man and a talented player and well-liked.? Dan Fike played on the opposite side of the ball as Rogers at left guard, but the two grew close during their one and only season together in Cleveland. Fike?s locker was right next to Rogers? and they talked every day. Fike learned of the news while he was out to dinner with fellow Browns offensive lineman Mike Baab. He looked up at a television and saw a news report. ?I had the chills thinking about what happened,? Fike said. ?I just saw him, you know? He was a guy that I sat next two that whole first year in the locker room. And, he was missed. He was always being missed, just 'cause he was that kind of guy. What a player, what a talent. ?Who knows how far we could've continued to go if he'd still been on the team?? The way Minniefield sees it, Rogers would have changed the entire complexion of a Browns defense that featured four players who would eventually make the Pro Bowl. As Sam McManis of the Los Angeles Times wrote in August 1986, ?Mr. Rogers' neighborhood ... was not a friendly place for opposing wide receivers.? ?Don Rogers allowed us to do something that really would have changed probably the history of the Cleveland Browns as far as the Super Bowl is concerned,? Minniefield said. ?He allowed me and Hanford to play man-to-man. He could play the tight end 1-on-1 by himself. And that would have allowed us to add one extra person to the blitz package. But instead when we lost Don Rogers that meant we had to continue to double-team the slot and the tight end, basically never getting that opportunity to add that extra man to the blitz package.? The Browns, of course, had no choice but to press forward in what became a season to remember. They lost two of their first three games of the season but fell just twice more the rest of the way en route to a 12-4 record and another AFC Central crown. ?The team already had a strong nucleus, we just came together,? Baab said. ?You're only in football for a little bit, and if you worry about it too much, and you start thinking about other things, you'll be out of it real fast. You just have to absolutely focus on what you're doing, and make what you're doing in front of you work.?
are the WR getting any separation ? maybe that's a reason why the QB holds the ball a little longer . no ones open ? Erving MUST GO !
WS Facts: 1st Tribe shutout in the WS since 1920. Kluber set a WS record with 8K's thru 3 innings. Perez one of 3 Indians with a multi-homer WS game (Manny Ramirez, Thome) Bonus: 12 of last 13 teams to win the 1st game have gone on to win the World Series. *DRINK* Wahoooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!
Did an experiment this morning: 6:00am to 7:00am edition; Cavs/Knicks 16 minutes of ESPN time Golden State 6 minutes of ESPN time (Including the lead into Sports Center) John Daly 5 minutes of ESPN time Florida/Penguins 3 minutes of ESPN time MLS cup 1 minute of ESPN time Obscure ESPN top ten list, which included Lebron, a dog, an announcer(only Indians reference), womens soccer, a marathon runner, a reality TV show, a couple of kids and a surfer, 7 minutes of ESPN time Indians WORLD SERIES ESPN air time, 4 minutes Cubs World Series, how did they lose it air time, 3 minutes... Yes, that's 7 minutes of ESPN air time for game 1 of an Indians win World Series... (edit: I thought is was over...came back from commercial, Jazz/Blazers 1 minute of ESPN time, NBA ad 30 seconds of ESPN time, SC@NIGHT ad 1 minute of ad time, Cleveland beat writer jumps in Lake Erie 20 seconds of air time) Oh yeah, and the ONLY College Football reference in an hour long tv show? A replay of the Nittany Lions beating tOSU Buckeyes, why you ask? Who knows, they just added it in when they came back from commercial as their ESPN play of the week. It really is OHIO vs. the World... Espn Sucks Pig Nuggets (edit #2) OK, credit where due...on ESPN AM, which airs at 7:00, the first 13 minutes included 8 minutes of World Series coverage...I may have jumped the gun a tad..
Cleveland fan gives up plane ticket so Kenny Lofton can throw first pitch at World Series Kenny Lofton is currently in Cleveland to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Game 1 of the World Series between the Indians and Cubs, but it took an act of kindness from a random fan to get him there. The longtime Indians outfielder had to take a red-eye out of Los Angeles to make it to Ohio in time for the game, but he was stuck on standby waiting for a spot to open up. Luckily for Lofton, an opportunity came via a man named Ken Kostal, who just happened to be an Ohioan on the same flight. Kostal reportedly generously offered up his seat to Lofton in exchange for a selfie.
Josh McCown (collarbone) practiced in full Wednesday. According to beat writer Nate Ulrich, it's a "sign" McCown is expected to start against the Jets this Sunday. With Cody Kessler still in the concussion protocol and not practicing Wednesday, the Browns are gearing up McCown for the start over former practice-squad rookie Kevin Hogan. McCown gives the Browns a much better chance for offensive success and boosts all of the Cleveland skill players, including Terrelle Pryor and Gary Barnidge.
I wuld really like 2 know what McCown playing does for the future of this team? Let Hogan play w a full week of practice and give him a game or 2 until Kessler is ready...hasnt everybody seen enough of McCown?
An underwhelming QB draft class Teams looking for a franchise quarterback in the top rounds of this draft might be out of luck. Each week I hear less and less positive remarks about the seniors and juniors in this class, and I don't hear anyone who thinks any of them merit consideration in the top half of the first round -- though we know some will be taken. It's always supply vs. demand with this position. Teams like the Browns just might end up having to stick with what they have for another year. More NFL notes: Cleveland Browns Speaking of the Browns and QBs, it's a pretty simple reason why the Browns are getting so many quarterbacks killed. Sure, bad luck plays some part in it, but they went super cheap in letting a quality right tackle walk in free agency (Mitchell Schwartz) and they determined former Pro Bowl center Alex Mack was done (the Falcons would disagree) and they figured Joel Bitonio would stabilize things but he got hurt. The Browns can't keep a center healthy, and they had like 15 rookies make their roster, so, yeah, it stands to reason you may go through your fair share of passers. Wonder where all that saved cap space and money goes?
No I haven't . if Josh is healthy let him start . I want to WIN a game and McCown gives the best shot at that . Hogan has a flunk delivery .I would climb in a fox hole with McCown ! Hogan is not future QB . at best a solid backup . after last week make him a RB . he looked better running the ball than he did throwing it .
To update...a Cubs Series win brings on the Lead In on Sport Center and the first 8 minutes praising the Cubs for their dominance. Also, a more to come statement... Indians win = 7 total minutes(only 4 minutes on how the Indians won it, the other 3 on how the Cubs lost it) over a 60 minute program, first mention about 17minutes into the program Cubs win = 8 minutes of praise to the Cubs over the first 8 minutes of the program, with a promise of more to come on the show from the anchor. I'm done...not sticking around to watch any more...
I would like to ADD to bluez, I agree with everything you said. I REALLY want to see a win, and with this young of a team, they need it worse than the fans do. They need to get that taste. McCown, by far, gives them a better chance to experience that. Now to answer your question directly Stopper... No, McCown is not the future of this franchise, but do you for a New York minute believe Kevin Hogan is the future of this franchise? That's rhetorical, I know you don't believe that..don't try to spin it that he's young and we don't know...We know... There are players on this team that ARE in this team's future though, and if they are to grow and learn, McCown will help their development much more than a Kevin Hogan will. That is the reason McCown needs to be in the starting role. Now if you were asking about Kessler, I might have a different answer...but no way, no how, when discussing Hogan.
What's the difference who starts? At the rate we go through QB's, there's a solid chance we will see both play Sunday....and I wouldn't count out a Kessler and or Callahan sighting either.... He Irish, did you catch ESPN's fantasy "start em/ sit em's" for this week....basically they are just reminding everybody that the Cleveland Browns exist, they suck, and you should start everybody you can against them...Fitzpatrick, Forte, Marshall, Folk, Jets D, Jets cheerleaders, they are ALL recommended strongly by the wizards at ESPN...smh. The sad thing is, they are right...Not very original or creative, but they are right....You just know the Browns D is gonna make them look smart... Not saying we can't pull out a high scoring win though. The Jets aren't all that, it's just Cleveland's D is SO bad....Or maybe "over-matched" is a better way to put it. All I know is, every time we've ever gone against Fitzpatrick, we make him look like the greatest QB that ever played... Kidding aside, you can count me as one that wants to see Josh McCown play. We need a win. He's our best shot....Plus I have Pryor, Barnidge and Crowell in various fantasy leagues and I think they all get a boost with McCown in... GO BROWNS!!!
I think they went all in last week against the Ravens...a 30 year old Matt Forte had 30 carries in that game, he isn't used to that any longer and I believe he will be feeling the repercussions this week. The last time he had a 30 carry day, it was followed up by 4 straight weeks of 15 carries or less. Look for Bilal Powell to have a big day, or nothing at all for the Jets, imho. (edit Just read that Bilal Powell is dealing with turf tow, so I am even more confident that the Browns can put together a game plan to limit this Jets offense... The Jets are coming into this game on a 1 game winning streak, but they just don't have strong leadership from Fitz. Honestly, if McCown starts this game, I give the Browns a better than average chance to come out victorious...regardless, I see it as a low scoring affair, not a high one...my over/under would be 32 points. I think the Browns come out on top 20-12 This is the first week since week 1 I have picked the Browns to actually win...not being a homer here. Looks like the Browns will get back McCown and possibly Haden and Coleman. Carl Nassib should be another week better, getting used to that club on his hand. I think he finds a way to be effective this week, which would be a boost to the ailing defense. If they don't get a win this week, I am very worried about getting one at all...
I would LOVE to see Corey Coleman back on the field. That would help tremendously...All the Browns offensive players would get a big lift if Josh McCown starts Sunday....
I'm only going to say one thing and I'm only going to say it once. Do not sleep on either Kessler or Hogan.
Well, I will say, Kevin Hogan has begun to mow down the Cleveland Browns record book...One game, one record already earned. That said, I'm not going to sleep on either one of them...I like girls, especially my wife. I can see potential in both after watching their initial pro film. But they are a long way from resembling a QB that a team can count on to lead them to victory week in and week out. If anyone can do it, I think Hue Jackson gives them the realistic chance to become just that. But, I can't hold my breath long enough to expect it from either one of them.
Keep doing this, Irish (unless you've come to the point you just can't take it anymore). I'm rather enjoying this off-topic post rather than the usual dreary Browns stuff. Nice little distraction along with the Tribe. I always knew ESPN had a spin their reporting, just never knew exactly how much they pandered to certain aspects (except for their SEC football coverage AKA their SEC "twig and berries" suck-fest). It's nice to actually have it quantified. *DRINK* But again......if you've grown tired of it, then never mind. Let me know if your stopwatch breaks. I'll chip in to buy a new one.
