Written by Chris Hutchison

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When it comes to one comprehensive weekly column on the Cleveland Browns, one that incorporates the past week's game, the coming affair, and commentary on the state of the team in general ... I know of none better than Hiko's "The Browns Outsider". And this week's piece is no exception. Hiko knows this team like few people I know. And delivers his weekly commentary with high levels of humor and insight.

A View From The Cheap Seats

Week 6 - Cleveland at Washington

We've all heard that little quote by Albert Einstein that goes: "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result." 

I've never understood that quote, since people do the same thing over and over again all the time, and once in a while they DO get a different result.  Ugly guys hit on drunk girls at bars over and over, and, very rarely, they might score.  People play the lottery every day, and, very rarely, they might win.  Children wish upon stars, and, very rarely, their dreams might come true. 

The Cleveland Browns insist on staying a tired and self-defeating course, and, very rarely, they might look like a good team.  Like last week. 

But, more often than not, the Ugly Guy will get shot down, the Lottery Player will blow another $5, the Child will see their dreams dashed by reality, and the Cleveland Browns will lose. 

See?  Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result isn't insanity.  It's just stupid, counter-productive, stubborn, and naïve.   

Yet the powers that be will re-endorse staying the course.  Derek Anderson will continue to start.  Romeo Crennel will continue to coach. Phil Savage will continue to administer propaganda.  Randy Lerner will continue to wring his hands in silence. 

This whole process will carry on ad nauseum until one of the powers that be finally decides that enough is enough, and makes a change.  But that won't be this next week, and it probably won't be for a while.  The powers that be feel that they somehow "proved a point" by staying the course and winning last week. 

Yeah - you proved that doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result DOES actually sometimes produce a different result!  You disproved Albert Einstein!  You are freakin' geniuses! 

Honestly, it's difficult for me to muster the energy to be angry.  I've already been angry.  I've already called for DA to be done.  I've already called for Romeo to lose his job.  I'm not going to keep pissing in the wind.  Screaming about it continuously ain't gonna help.  The definition of insanity is saying the same thing over and over again and expecting someone to listen. 

So now that my anger is spent and the road to the immediate future remains bleak and unchanging, I become numb. 

Honestly, the season is over.  They're 3 back with 10 to go, but they already lost to Pittsburgh, and they show no signs of being anything as consistent.  A Derek Anderson-led Cleveland isn't catching the Steelers, and they're not getting a Wild Card.  They're just not.  Sure, the Browns will win one here and there, and some of the wins will be surprising, wins where they'll play like they're capable, and we'll all get our hopes in a bunch again. 

But that is fleeting.  That's dust in the wind.  This team is destined for mediocrity. 

With the Playoffs out of question and the team flatlining under Derek Anderson, I find it hard to be interested.  DA's the past.  He won't be back next year - even Phil Savage wouldn't be so dense.  So we're watching the Dead Man Walking just playing out the string.  Combine that with the drab and error-laden coaching of Romeo Crennel (possibly another Dead Man Walking), and there's little of note to see, except a game or two where their frailties briefly are masked.  There's no growth, there's no progress.  There's just the endless repetition with the hope that doing the same thing over and over again will, well, you know. 

As long as the Dead Men Walking remain in control, you can expect nothing out of this team. 

Most of the time, you'll get it.

Pregame

Foolishly, I allowed myself to be excited.  Noticing this emotion, I tried vainly to check myself. 

Hmmmm... what's this I'm feeling?  Is this?... I think it is... excitement?  This is the first time I've been excited all year.  That must mean I have hope, which means I have EXPECTATIONS!!!  OH LORDY NO!  NOT EXPECTATIONS!!!  OK... count down backwards from 10!  Hold your breath!  Stick your head underwater!  Wrestle an aardvark!  Do whatever it takes to get rid of these expectations before the game starts! 

Quickly, I threw in the tape of the Dallas game, then the Baltimore game, then the Cincy game, watching chunks of each, viewing enough Offensive vomit to sober even the most rampant apologist. 

I was cured.

First Quarter

I'm not sure I should even bother re-capping the 1^st Half.  A whole lot of nothin' went on.  Feel free to skim down to Conclusions. 

The Browns got the ball first.  After an incomplete screen and a 4 yard run, Derek Anderson threw the ball in the general vicinity of Kellen Winslow, meaning he threw it way over his head.  It could've been a miscommunication, but who's to know?  Punt # 1. 

On the first Redskins' play, Brandon McDonald almost got a pick, undercutting Santana Moss.  But Chris Cooley got the 1^st on a short pass over the middle, and Clinton Portis got another 1^st on a 5 yard run to midfield.  However, on 2^nd and 5 from the CLE 36, the Browns got pressure on Jason Campbell, and Campbell's screen pass to Rock Cartwright got sniffed out by Leon Williams for a loss of 7.  The 3^rd Down check down to Portis was ended by a good tackle by Brandon McD, and we got Punt # 2. 

If it's 3^rd and Short, that means a quick handoff to Lawrence Vickers.  It's as predictable as the sunrise.  It worked this time, and the Browns had their initial 1^st Down.  But on 3^rd and 4 at the CLE 37, DA's pass towards Jerome Harrison had no chance and fell incomplete.  Punt # 3. 

The Redskins got nailed for Holding on 1^st Down, and they went very conservative on 3^rd and 13 from their 15, handing off to Portis for a gain of 1.  You knew you weren't in Cleveland because the crowd did not Boo.  They just don't care in Washington.  Punt # 4. 

The Browns were now winning the Field Position battle, starting at the WAS 46.  But Anderson missed Jamal Lewis on an easy screen that would've gone for a lot of yards, and the Redskins realized that Bad DA was ruling the roost, so they brought 9 into the box.  The 3^rd Down pass to Winslow was nowhere near him - a weak pass to the outside when Kellen was running free on the inside.  Ugh.  Punt # 5. 

Washington ran Portis a couple times with little effect, and McD had great pass D on 3^rd Down, so...  Punt # 6. 

Once again, the Browns started in Washington territory.  And, once again, they did diddly-poo.  On 1^st, DA got blitzed and hit as he threw - incomplete.  His 3^rd Down pass to Braylon was dropped, but it would've been way short of the 1^st anyway, thus... Punt # 7. 

End of 1^st:  Browns 0, Redskins 0. 

Second Quarter 

The Redskins had 3^rd and 4 on their own 26, but the Rule of Thumb is that if Terry Cousin is guarding someone, throw it there.  It worked for a 16 yard gain to Santana Moss.  I used to like the number 25.  Now it is tainted. 

But Washington showed some Mo Carthon-esque brilliance by running a reverse to the Tight End, which is like throwing a deep ball to your Punter.  That lost 3, and the 3^rd and 10 play resulted in Kamerion Wimbley almost being in on a sack, Campbell getting away, and Wimbley showing perseverance to take him down for just a 2 yard gain.  Punt # 8. 

The Browns got their second 1^st Down of the game on 3^rd and 2 with a 2 yard run by Josh Cribbs out of the Flash package.  The City of Cleveland held a parade.  However, the joy was short lived as Carlos Rogers knocked the ball away from Braylon Edwards on a slant on 3^rd and 2, and the parade turned into a riot.  Punt # 9. 

Washington finally got a long play to Antwan Randle-El for 25, but Shaun Rogers' pressure on 2^nd and short cause an incompletion, and my boy Alex Hall made a great play on a sweep on 3^rd and 3, throwing Cartwright out of bounds for a nada gain.  Punt # 10. 

On 1^st Down, DA threw an absolute horrific pass towards K2, way over his head, and Braylon dropped the bean again on 3^rd, but they got bailed out by an Illegal Contact penalty, and the Browns "earned" their third 1^st Down.  Jamal followed that by a nice run outside the Tackles (ever notice how switching things up every once in a while sometimes results in something positive?).  Then, on 1^st Down from the CLE 31, Anderson heaved once deep towards an open Donte Stallworth... but it was out of bounds.  Nice throw, dillhole. 

On 3^rd Down, DA's pass was deflected at the line of scrimmage and incomplete, which was a good thing because the WAS corner would've had an easy Pick 6 had it gone through.  Punt # 11. 

With the Browns D starting to get worn down, Portis finally started to get effective, picking up big chunks.  Cousin gave up another 1^st Down on 3^rd and 7, and Washington seemed primed to score with 1^st and 10 at the CLE 17 with 17 seconds left.  However, Campbell slipped on the next play, and Shaun Rogers sat on him for the sack.  They might not have had time to get the FG unit on the field, but Rogers sat on him a little too long, nabbing the Delay of Game penalty.  So that set the Redskins up for an easy 36 Field Goal as the 1^st Half died... and the kick hit the crossbar. 

At least there wasn't another Punt. 

DA was 3 of 14 for 17 yards in the 1^st Half.  Hall of Fame, start bronzing a bust. 

Halftime:  Browns 0, Redskins 0. 

Third Quarter 

The Skins moved the ball well to start the 2^nd Half, but a Holding call killed their drive.  Campbell hit Cooley for 9 on 3^rd and 11, and... Punt # 12. 

Cleveland had bad Field Position again (started at their own 17), and did little with it.  Anderson's 2^nd down screen to Stallworth was high and outside - a horrible pass.  His 3^rd Down attempt long to Braylon was little better, way short and easily broken up.  Punt # 13. 

Losing the Field Position battle and subjecting the Defense to continued onslaught, we all knew the Browns would eventually break.  The first play of the Skins drive was a 12 yard pass to Moss, but McD missed the tackle and it ended up going for 35.  A couple runs later, and another play where Cousin gave up an easy 13 yard pass (I shall now nickname him "Sugar" because he "gives it up so sweet"), and Portis was in for a 3 yard TD.  Redskins 7, Browns 0. 

After that TD, the Browns looked around at each other on the sidelines, mystified.  "I didn't think scoring was allowed?" Derek Anderson asked Braylon. 

Shrugging, Braylon replied, "I didn't think so either." 

He walked over to Romeo and nudged him.  "Hey, Coach," he said.  "Are they allowed to score?" 

Romeo stared at him for a moment, the said, "I dunno.  Let me check." 

He talked into his headset (the first time all season), then nodded, telling Braylon "Yeah, I guess that's legal." 

"Huh," Braylon said.  "Are we allowed to do that too?" 

Romeo stared at him again.  "Let me check." 

After a moment, he nodded again.  "They said we are." 

Braylon asked, "Do you think we should try?" 

"Yeah, why the hell not?  Good idea!" responded Romeo. 

The Browns got the ball back and Jamal started to run.  DA even completed a 3^rd Down pass to Braylon.  It was uncanny.  A 22 yard run by Lewis led the Browns to the WAS 19, where DA threw a horrendous pass in the general vicinity of Steve Heiden (who was open), then got sacked on 3^rd and 8.  Phil Dawson time.  Redskins 7, Browns 3. 

Washington responded by moving the ball right down the field on the tired Browns D, but stalled when they reached CLE 37.  Wimbley almost (should have) had a pick on 3^rd and 8, and we got to see Punt # 14. 

End of 3^rd:  Redskins 7, Browns 3. 

Fourth Quarter 

The Browns were pinned deep after the punt, and DA responded by missing a wide open Edwards over the middle.  Or did Edwards drop it?  It's hard to tell with those two.  On 3^rd Down, the Time Clock was running short, and Cleveland had to take a Time Out.  On the way off the field, DA grabbed Vickers - twice - and Vickers threw his hand off violently both times. 

After the game, both claimed they had no issues.  But it doesn't matter who was at fault, I can't recall a time where a Fullback threw off Peyton Manning.  Or Tom Brady.  Or Brett Favre.  Or... well, the list is long. 

Following the Time Out, Anderson's pass was tipped and lucky not to be picked.  Punt # 15. 

Washington had great Field Position, starting at the CLE 49.  A 27 yard run by Portis (nice angle, Sean Jones) and an 18 yard pass to Moss (nice coverage, Sugar) and the Redskins had their second TD of the game.  Redskins 14, Browns 3. 

Gerard Lawson came on for Cribbs for some reason, and returned the ball to the WAS 44.  Finally, we saw some Jerome Harrison runs, and DA got a 1^st on a sneak.  DA did miss Winslow again on an out route (does he think K2 is 10 feet tall?), but hit a good pass over the middle to Edwards for 14 to the WAS 32.  Anderson then avoided the rush nicely and hit Heiden for 10 and another 1^st Down.  The following screen pass to Lewis ended up just short of the Goal Line - 1^st and Goal at the 1. 

Then futility set in.  Jamal was stuffed on 1^st.  A stupid screen to Charles Ali (Charles Ali?) lost 2.  On 3^rd Down, DA threw an incompletion towards a double-freakin'-covered Jason Wright (WTF?).  With just 5:53 remaining, Romeo decided that it was high time to go for it, but the 4^th Down pass was batted down.  Curse words. 

Starting at their own 3, everyone this side of the Pacific knew that the Skins would run Portis, yet he still ripped off a 24 yard run.  However, Eric Wright alertly swatted at the ball, Portis fumbled, and Brodney Pool picked up the ball on his 3^rd attempt.  The Browns lived. 

From the WAS 29, Anderson threw his best ball of the day, splitting double coverage down the middle to Braylon down to the 9.  Winslow then caught a pass to the 1, bringing up 2^nd and Goal.  And then we got to go through it all again. 

Jamal got stuffed on Goal to Go from the 1 (déjà vu?).  Then he was short again on a pitch-run on 3^rd and Goal (tick tick tick - 3 minutes left... hurry the F up!).  And, God bless, DA rolled out to his right (he always seems effective doing that) to hit Cribbs for the TD on 4^th Down.  The 2 Point Conversion was - ahem - converted on a quick pass over the middle to Edwards.  Redskins 14, Browns 11. 

With just 2 Time Outs left and only 2:37 remaining, the Browns had to come up big on Defense.  And they did.  Portis ran it 3 times, and none of them did much.  The Time Outs were spent, the 2 Minute Warning was taken, and Cleveland got the ball back at their own 29 with 1:51 left. 

Ah, the stuff legends are made of.  Down on the road, outplayed all day, and still a chance to pull out the Victory.  DA hit Donte for 18, moving the ball to the CLE 47.  Then the Skins got hit with Defensive Holding.  After a 9 yard pass over the middle to Winslow, Anderson sneaked the ball ahead for a 1^st Down to the WAS 36 with 1:16 left. 

And then the Browns decided to nurse the clock.  Instead of spiking the ball, they didn't snap the ball again for 30 seconds.  DA's 1^st Down pass was knocked down.  He threw a hot route towards Edwards on 2^nd Down, but Braylon wasn't looking.  His 3^rd Down pass to a WIDE OPEN Edwards deep over the middle was, how do I put this?, uh, AWFUL.  And incomplete. 

Dawson trotted out to try the 54 yarder to tie it.  The kick was plenty long enough.  But he pushed it right, and it stayed there.  No dice. 

The Redskins got into the Victory Formation and it was all over. 

Final:  Redskins 14, Browns 11. 
 
Offensive MVP:  Jamal Lewis.  Everyone else should be crucified. 

Defensive MVP(s):  Brandon McDonald & Shaun Rogers.  Neither had what I'd call a "sensational" game, but no one else really stood out, and they both made some nice plays. 
 
Conclusion 

~~~On Monday, the day after this game, my 8 year old daughter insisted on wearing her #17 Braylon Edwards jersey to school.  She doesn't really watch football yet, but she knows how much Daddy loves the Browns, and she wanted to wear it to please him.  Because, as Daddy always tells her, We Are Cleveland Browns Fans. 

However, when I picked her up after school, a school located in Akron, OH, she was no longer wearing the jersey.  I already knew why, but dejectedly asked her the question anyway. 

Me: Why'd you take your jersey off, honey? 

Her: Because. 

Me: Because why? 

Her: Because all the kids were making fun of me. 

Me: The kids were making fun of the Browns jersey? 

Her: They're all Steelers fans.  I'm the only Browns fan. 

Me: That's not true, honey.  There's probably lots of other Browns fans there.  They just won't admit it. 

To reiterate - my daughter's school is in Akron, OH.  That's NE Ohio.  That's less than an hour from Cleveland Browns Stadium. 

I gave her the ol' loyalty speech again, how you should love your team no matter what, how you should always be proud to be a fan, win or lose.  But I'm sure it rings hollow for an 8 year old that only knows that showing her Browns pride means enduring ridicule. 

I have been pissed off at this organization before, at the coaches, players, front office types, and owners that have allowed this situation to fester - but never like I was after confronting the reality that my children cannot show their fanhood in a school in Northeast Ohio without being made to feel like outsiders. 

I would like to thank the following individuals for being part of bringing this once proud franchise to its knees:  Art Modell, Al Lerner, Carmen Policy, Dwight Clark, Chris Palmer, Tim Couch, Courtney Brown, Butch Davis, Gerard Warren, Randy Lerner, John Collins, Phil Savage, and Romeo Crennel. 

With a track record like that of these "leaders", who needs derailment? 

And if any of them tell me again that the Browns need to "stay the course", then I respond with a hearty double-bird. 

Look where your course has brought us.  What is this, the River Styx?

___________ 

~~~I wonder what Jeff Gillooly is doing these days? 

You remember Jeff, don't you?  The ex-husband of infamous figure skater Tonya Harding?  The guy that hired another guy to whack Nancy Kerrigan in the knee with a lead pipe or crowbar or something, thus allowing Harding to win the following skating competition?  Good guy, that Jeff. 

Now, I'm not saying that I endorse violence as a means to an end (I'm not not saying it either).  But if someone were to get in touch with Mr. Gillooly and we later get some video of Derek Anderson sitting in a Berea parking lot, holding his knee, crying, mascara running down his face, yelling "Why God Why?"... well, I don't know nothin' about it.

___________ 

~~~I shall now be an arrogant ass and highlight pertinent passages of my view of Derek Anderson from last week: 

This game is why Derek Anderson drives me to insanity.  The guy has more than enough potential to be a great QB, but he's got more peaks and valleys than the Adirondacks.  He shows you how good he can be in a game like this, then turns around the next week and makes you long for the steady consistency of Charlie Frye. 

Surrounded by this Offense, if DA were able to maintain his focus and confidence (and accuracy), he could be one of the best QB's in the NFL.  But he doesn't do that. Therefore, more times than not, he's a liability.  There's either Good Derek or Bad Derek; there is no middle ground.  And there's no consistency.   

Most of the time, Good Derek and Bad Derek take over for several games at a time.  But Good Derek can also be replaced by Bad Derek in a damn hurry, sometimes in mid-quarter.  And when Bad Derek takes over, well, you're likely stuck with him for at least the rest of the game. 

But the glimpses of Good Derek are just tantalizing enough for coaches to stick with him a little longer, and then he buys himself a couple more weeks by going ballistic every once in a while. 

I have a sinking feeling that Bad Derek will return again at some point this season, and probably in a spot where it is least convenient.  I can expect nothing else since that's the data I have to compute.  That's his history, such as it is.  He's up.  He's down.  He's Pogo. 

I've said it before and I'll say it again - I do not care who plays QB for the Cleveland Browns.  I only want production out of the position, and DA was not even getting close to providing it during the first 4 games. 

He did provide it in Game 5. 

If he is able to continue his confident, consistent play in Game 6 and beyond, then I say "Bully for you, Derek!  Atta boy!" 

But if he's gonna make like a human yo-yo, then he needs to sit, because no one needs a Cleveland Browns squad with only a sporadic chance of winning.  Especially not after what we saw from the team as a whole on Monday.

___________ 

~~~Unfortunately, it's not like replacing DA with a potentially competent QB will solve all that ills.  The Linebackers, specifically the Middle Linebackers (but you're not far behind, OLB's), are just not good enough to take this team where it wants to go.  They don't rush well, they don't hit the gaps to stop the run, they don't cover the Tight Ends or Backs over the middle.  It's Wali Rainer all over again - rack up the tackle stats by dragging the RB down after a relatively easy 6 yard gain. 

Regrettably, there's no one on the Linebacking bench save Alex Hall whom I believe would even be the slightest improvement to what is already out there.  And there is absolutely no reason to deceive ourselves by theorizing that the existing LB's will somehow "get better".  At least, with the QB position, there's a guy on the bench that might be an improvement.  That is not the case at Linebacker. 

The position is as good as it's gonna get this year.  So get used to what you see. 

I'm not complaining about the Defense as a whole, and I think they've done an admirable job.  But it's so blatantly obvious that they could be so much better with a couple of viable starting-quality NFL Linebackers.  Sadly, we must wait until next year to hopefully realize this potential.

___________ 

~~~The Browns are 1-0 on Monday night games.  They're also 1-0 in games played on Sunday in the 1 pm (EST) slot. 

They're 0-1 on Sunday night, and now have dropped to 0-3 on Sundays at 4. 

Someone please speak to the scheduler about getting our games earlier in the day.

___________ 

~~~And apparently, Braylon Edwards has some kind of mind meld with DA.  When DA is on, Braylon is catching everything that comes his way.  When DA is off, Braylon is off too. 

To compound this, when Anderson plays badly, he doesn't seem to see any other Receiver on the field except Edwards.  So even the 30% of his passes that are somewhat catchable are being batted around, butchered, and thrown to the turf by his one and only Receiver.

___________ 

~~~Well, we finally know what sent Kellen Winslow to the hospital last week.  No, it wasn't an STD or swollen testicles, as reported by various wannabe news sources.  Nope, it was... 

STAPH! 

Damn right. 

What's the infection

That can screw up your direction? 

STAPH! 

Can ya dig it? 

Winslow went vocal, apparently angry at the loss, his treatment, and his verbal confrontation with Phil Savage after the game, revealing his mystery ailment and complaining that Savage hadn't visited him in the hospital and that he felt like "a piece of meat." 

Now, I'm not saying that Winslow is a whiny prima donna. 

Well, actually, yes, I am.  You think my boss is gonna come visit me during a 3 day hospital stay?  Romeo called Winslow.  Several other players called.  But it seems that Princess Kellen (so dubbed by my girlfriend) requires a personal appearance by all his subjects. 

Professional athletes have become so pampered and so adored by the masses that they have lost complete touch with reality.  They remind me so much of actors/actresses, whom, I am not ashamed to admit, I despised during my time in Film/TV Production.  Their attitude was nausea inducing.  Love ME.  Worship ME.  Need ME.  Care about MY needs.  Tell me I'M beautiful.  Tell me how great I am. 

Quoth Tool: "F* these dysfunctional, insecure actresses." 

That goes for some of the glamour athletes as well. 

However, it's hardly a secret that Winslow is High Maintenance.  In a perfect world, a GM shouldn't have to be catering to a piece of meat.  But if you're Phil Savage, and Winslow's good will is important to you, then one of your jobs is to give him a quick ring while he's laid up with the Staph, just to say "Hey, how ya doing?  Yes, it's totally our fault that you have the Staph again.  I will have all the Janitors flayed for allowing this bacteria back in.  I will have the Halls of Berea inlaid with gold to ensure that this foul affliction shall never accost you again." 

Sometimes it's in the best interest of the team to humor the children.  You'd think Savage would've learned after the permanent ill will of failing to contact his last Staph-infected prima donna laid up at the Cleveland Clinic, longing to be missed. 

And, truly, asking Winslow to hide his Staph infection - claiming that Kellen wanted privacy and subjecting him to endless speculation - was really uncalled for.  It ain't coinky-dink that the Browns have led the league in Staph infections over the last 4 years.  Something is amiss there. 

To make things worse, Phil Savage turned around and suspended Winslow for the upcoming game for going public with his complaints.  I am all for suspending players that don't follow the rules or need a slap in the mouth, but I'm not sure that Winslow crossed the suspension line on this one.  It more looks like Kellen's admission that he 1) had the Staph and 2) was asked to keep it quiet embarrassed poor little Phil, who obviously has insecurity issues.  Issues which probably led him to ask Winslow to bury the Staph news in the first place. 

So Phil's floppy ears got red with humiliation, and he "put his foot down" on Winslow, claiming that his comments were "detrimental to the team", when the truth is probably closer to "I'll show you to make me look bad!" 

Hey Savage, you what else is detrimental to the team?  Disharmony in the locker room.  Asking players to do things that they shouldn't be asked to do.  Looking like a petty liar and an ass in front of your team, the NFL, and the whole world.  Embarrassing the franchise.   

Suspend yourself a game while you're at it, Phil.  Actually, go ahead and suspend yourself for the rest of your life. 

Obviously, one cannot deny that the root of this problem is money.  The issue is born of the contract dispute between Winslow and Savage.  Definitely not saying he should, but had Savage paid Winslow like Kellen feels he deserves to be paid, then all would be hunky-dory.  Phil wants to wait.  Winslow wants it done yesterday. 

One can hope that the two of them act like adults, get together, and hash out their concerns. 

However, in the world of high-profile athletics, sense of entitlement - on both sides - usually trumps common sense.

___________ 

~~~At least we're finally getting some national attention.  That has to be a good thing, right? 

Right? 

Oh.

___________ 

~~~Some of you are out there right now, freaking out.  I can see you.  You're spazzing out about hypotheticals such as "No Free Agents are going to want to come here because of the Staph" and "No Free Agents are going to want to come here because of the dishonesty of the Front Office" and "Kellen Winslow is not going to want to sign an extension now." 

Horsefeathers. 

Here are the four reasons Free Agents sign with teams:  1) Money, 2) Opportunity to start, 3) Chance to win a championship, 4) Money. 

If the check is big enough, the Free Agent will say "I don't see no Staph." 

If the check is big enough, the Free Agent will say "Phil seems like a good guy to me." 

If the check is big enough, Kellen Winslow will say "We both said some things we didn't mean, but we're over it now, and I'm happy to be a Cleveland Brown for the rest of my career." 

Didn't Lance Briggs swear he'd never play for Chicago again?  And whom does he play for now? 

Money makes the NFL world go ‘round, and Randy Lerner's got a lot of it.

___________ 

~~~In the bizarro world where the Browns Defense carries the team and allows very few points per game, the weakness that is the impotent Run D still worries me.  That goes back to the Linebacking issue I mentioned above.   

And it too will not be fixed this season.

___________ 

~~~Quoth Derek Anderson:  "Ever get writer's block?" - When asked by a journalist about his inconsistency. 

Every writer has a bad article here and there, and they usually know which ones they are.  Maybe they aren't inspired, maybe they aren't interested, maybe they just don't have their A game that week.  It happens to me all the time. 

But if you were to translate DA's bad performances into articles, they would read "Me no did guud" or "Splat!" 

That's more than just writer's block.

___________ 

~~~Quoth Braylon Edwards:  "We might've underestimated the Redskins." 

How does a 2-3 team underestimate a 4-2 team that's playing at home?  How.  Does.  That.  Happen? 

I just... sigh...

___________ 

~~~Is Josh Cribbs healthy?  Why is he so ineffective?  The only Special Teams return of note came from Gerard freakin' Lawson, not Cribbs (and why is no one asking why Cribbs was benched on that return?).   

Josh hasn't done much all season.  That's a big reason why they're struggling.

___________ 

~~~In the end, the Washington Redskins are 5-2, and the Cleveland Browns are 2-4.  And I can't help but think that the Browns are by far the superior team. 

But I guess you are what your record says you are. 

Next Up 

~~~The Jacksonville Jaguars. 

Seeing as my fantasy league Defense is Jacksonville, I would assume that I'm in for a nice high score next week.  But you never know when the Cleveland Hyde will become Jekyll again, so I'd not be shocked at a surprising Offensive showing by our Browns. 

Jacksonville is really just about as middle of the pack as Cleveland.  Their Defense is OK, their Offensive Line is weak, and their Receivers are awful.  They don't have the same deficiencies as the Browns, but they have as many.  Unfortunately, they do have good Running Backs, and we all know how Cleveland is doing against the Run this year, so I'd recommend starting Jones-Drew or Taylor. 

We have no clue which Cleveland Browns squad will show up next.  Predict this game at your own risk. 

However, since the game is in the 4 pm time slot, if you are compelled to wager (which I often am), bet the house on the Jag-wires.