Does anyone understand what on God's Earth the Browns are doing right now? I've purposely been ignoring them for the last month or so but now I'm just so baffled that I feel like I need to talk about it.Lets quickly recap the last couple of months for our fine organization:
- Our only non-atrocious defensive player locked horns with our new coach and tried to piss and moan his way out of town.
- Our only talented (albeit a complete turd) offensive skill position player, fresh of his own campaign to get himself traded, is currently at the center of trade talks that reportedly have him going to New York for, among other things, a second round pick (hey now, we once got Quincy Morgan and Chaun Thompson in the second round!).
- Our gigantic bust (although can you really call someone a bust if the only person who didn't expect him to be terrible was the guy who signed him?) of a receiver got drunk in Miami and mowed down a pedestrian in his car...shortly after receiving his big fat bonus check from the team.
- We've let several sub-par young players leave in free agency . . . and replaced them with much older players of the same, or perhaps even lesser ability.
- We cut a beloved 34 year-old receiver who, in all fairness, was completely finished . . . and replaced him with a not beloved 34 year-old receiver who, in all fairness, is completely finished.
- We paid a boatload of bonus money to retain bad players because 1) we didn't have any better options, and 2) unbeknownst to us, the guy we've had managing our salary cap for the last four years didn't know anything about, well, the salary cap.
- We traded a former first round pick for a second round pick after several memorable years of motorcycle accidents, staph infections, and public throwdowns with the organization.
- We learned that we don't have a receivers coach, which really isn't a big deal because we don't really have any receivers either.
- Our director of pro player personnel stabbed a fan on a press tour after the fan questioned the direction of the organization.
Ok, I made that last one up but come on: You didn't even realize it there for a second. I just...I don't even know what to say. I'm speechless. I have absolutely no idea what the plan is for this organization. I mean, there is a plan, I presume. It seems foolish to think that those in charge of the Browns are just haphazardly making moves, but at the same time, I just can't see how any of this fits together and makes any sense.
I have 100% confidence in the fact that the Browns are going to be completely horrid this year....and the year after....and most likely, the year after that. If you look at this roster and the team's cap situation, how could you possibly envision them being successful at any time within the next 3 years? But that's not even the worst part. Teams get bad on purpose all the time. They cut unproductive veterans and replace them with younger guys knowing fully that they're going to experience years of growing pains before becoming competitive again. But that's not what the Browns are doing. They're cutting unproductive guys and replacing them with older, equally unproductive guys. I'm not even being smug when I ask all of you out there to help explain this to me. WHAT ARE THEY DOING!?And let's not forget, people are actually going to pay thousands of dollars for season tickets to watch this team play next year. I can't imagine what it must feel like to write that check these days. The economy is in the tank, everyone is feeling the pinch, and yet this team is going out of its way to antagonize the poor fans that are still loyal/naive enough to care about it. I looked over and starred at Browns stadium on my way in to work this morning; except today, for the first time ever in an offseason, I didn't feel sad that it wasn't September and the stadium wasn't filled to capacity. I felt sad that we couldn't knock it down and build a casino and hotels there instead. Right now, Browns stadium is just a hulking corpse, peering out from its perch on the lake to taunt us and remind us of how horrible our greatest love has turned out to be.
Come on Cavs. We need you.
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53 comments:
Excellent points Biff. I cannot even bring myself to think about the Browns at this point, let alone write about them because I've swung so far beyond frustration to that of resigned apathy. With the rumor of BE going to the Giants or the Eagles for a 2nd and 5th - at this point, I'm pretty much all for it. Edwards isn't staying here when his deal is up, we're not going to win anything with him next year - I say trade him, trade DA or Brady - load up on draft picks and hit the reset button again.
I'm tired of this team feeling like it has no direction, I'm tired of ManKok coming in and pretty much giving a big fuck all to the fans of the team by not really stating any purpose or direction, and I'm tired of investing my time and energy into a franchise that gives off the stink of indifference.
Couldn't agree more Espy. The only point I would make is that, while I agree we should trade Braylon and stockpile draft picks (even though I'm almost sure he's going to make at least one more pro-bowl in his career), thanks to the fact that the NFL Players Union has been roadkill for years, the Browns pretty much have Braylon by the balls. If he sulks this year and underperforms again, he's going to cost himself millions in free agency. Remeber, if he craps the bed again this year, that would make two bad seasons in a row. If you have one, teams might view it as an abberation. At two, you're a reclamation project and will be paid accordingly.
On the other hand, if he plays for a contract this year the Browns can just franchise him and hold him hostage. Sure he'll get paid but it's not like this organization has ever concerned itself with that.
The bottom line is that Braylon can piss and moan all he wants. The Browns own his ass and he's just going to have to deal with it or suffer the financial consequences.
This post makes me want to not read this blog.
If you are tired of ManKok being a big fuck to all of the fans, perhaps youd prefer Romeo and Phil NOT being fucks and running such a successful organization.
The Browns have been a disgrace since 99, nobody disputes that. But this regime hasnt so much has held a minicamp and you guys cant wait to rip them apart, no matter what.
Edwards drops passes, people bitch. Then his name merely SURFACES in trade talks and you complain.
Winslow acts like the crazy person that he is and people complain, then he gets traded and you bitch.
I love JJ as much as the next guy, maybe even more since Im a PSU guy, but guys cmon. If you were rebuilding a team, youd keep him? Of course not.....
And its also not fair to criticize trading for draft picks merely because previous coaches / gms screwed them up.
I agree with your assesment of the talent level and the state of the team, but ManKok deserves a chance. its not their fault this team has been inept for the last decade.
Dont bitch just for the sake of bitching. And if you are so disgusted with them, then why dont you stop paying attention to them?
We all obviously have the right to critique and criticize all we want, and Im all for it. But when it comes off caddy and juvenile it loses credibility.
Sorry Art but you're way off base on several fronts.
First, it's insane to say that because I don't like Mangini, it essentially means I prefer Romeo's way of doing things. That's like saying if you don't like Bill O'Reilly, you must love Ralph Nader. We're talking about the two extremes here: total self-aggrandizing jerk vs. clueless grandfatherly players coach. I'm pretty sure there is a happy medium between these two styles and every coach in the league outside of maybe Belichick falls within it.
Second, I'm a paying customer of the Browns. If neither the coach nor the owner have the decency to come forward and keep me in the loop as to how they're trying to improve their product, I have every right to criticize them. If they eventually prove me wrong, that's great. I'll shut up and enjoy their success. But until that happens, unless they give me a reason to act differently, I'm going to voice my opinion as a paying customer that I disagree with what they're doing.
As for Edwards and Winslow, I'm afraid you missed my point. I don't disagree with the Winslow trade. I was merely commenting on how sad his tenure here was and how much of that was a reflection of organizational incompetence. Regarding Edwards, I'm complaining because I'm pissed that we're in a situation where we may have to trade our one truly talented skill position player for pennies on the dollar because he's essentially made it known that he doesn't want to be here. Is that Mangini or Kokinis's fault? Nope, they inherited the situation. But that doesn't make me feel any better about the state of the organization as a whole.
As for JJ, I'm not saying they didn't need to cut him. But what the hell was the point of signing another washed up 34 year old reciever to replace the one we already had? Neither one of them probably belong on an NFL field anymore so why cut one to sign another? I'm sorry, but that doesn't make any sense (and please don't tell me that Patten is going to contribute to our future success).
Here's the thing Arty: I'm done keeping my mouth shut while the Browns benefit from the unyielding financial support of this city, while at the same time, continuing to be the laughingstock of professional football. They've lost the right to get the benefit of the doubt from me, new regime or not. The Browns have been incompetent for an entire decade now. The burden of persusion has shifted to the organization. If they're getting it right, they can prove it to me. Until then, I have every reason and every right to scream at the top of my lungs that I think they're all a bunch of incompetent jerks.
Im afraid Arty is right biff, i cant stand browns fans like you who piss and moan about the front office, and claim that they hate the organization-yet they are ones there every sunday paying hundreds to watch. If you are going to piss and moan about them dont even write an article- as you said you tried not to, heres an idea stick to your word and dont write the article. I realize its hard to watch gm after gm come in and try to turn this around but if your not on board with this front office than dont write about it and dont support it! But since you did choose to write the article, i have some comments to discuss...
You must not know business- you dont make your "plan" known to the public when you are in the offseason and the draft is a month away. What do you expect them to come out and say "hey this is what our plans and hopes are for this offseason, if any NFL team would like to help us and out and fulfill this plan, call us" thats a joke, theres a reason why fans/media are not in the loop to what the team is doing, because it would ruin their business plan.
Post your phone number on ur site so Kokinis can call you tonight to personally let you know him plans for the next month up until the draft, as your an extremly important "paying customer".
Ya i agree with art and lenny, dont piss and moan about the browns give the new regime a chance
at least wait until the draft, damn!
How am I not giving them a chance? I disagree with some of the things that they're doing and I'm voicing my opinion about it. I'm not saying "screw these guys, I don't care what they do from here on out because I'm done with them." I'm saying that this doesn't make sense to me, and I'm going to remain skeptical until they start winning games.
And as for you Len, I don't see why we have to continue giving this franchise a pass on their horrific attempts at media relations. This is the same franchise that had a GM and a star player engaging in public pissing matches just a few short months ago. Now they've brought in a coach and GM without track records and have made no attempt to sell the new regime to the fans. I'm not saying they need to give up the company secrets Lenny. But when you're talking about an organization that has screwed its fans for years and a coach who was just run out of town by his old employer, I don't think it's asking too much for them to get in front of a microphone once in a while and sell themselves and their philosophy to the fans.
It's not like they've earned our trust just by being hired Lenny. People with track records get that type of benefit of the doubt....not a continuously terrible organization and a coach and GM without resume's.
You just you are skeptical of this regime...how are you giving them a chance??? all i ask is you wait until they at least hold the draft to criticize, give them a chance-which is hard to do considering we have a revolving door for our front office positions.
Your not giving them a chance because they have not held the draft, minicamp, nothing, it hasnt even been 3 months and you are pissing and moaning abuot the new front office.
Yes, I'm critical and as well I should be. These guys got their jobs because they apparently convinced Lerner that they didn't think a complete overhaul was necessary. This looks like a complete overhaul, except instead of rebuilding, they're just, I don't even know, exchanging youg players for older ones.
The point is, it's season ticket renewal time. These guys ought to be making an effort to sell themselves and their philosophies to the fans. But they don't, because this is Cleveland, and the Browns know that no matter how much they shit on the fans,when push comes to shove, they'll still pony up the $$ and support the team.
I'm just demanding a little bit more from my franchise? Havnen't had time to prove it yet on the field? Fine, but at least make an effort to make me feel like I have a reason to care. Talk may be cheap but it's better than silence amid a flurry of seemingly nonsensical and disjointed moves.
So if they do not offer any insight to the fans of their plans, are YOU going to renew season tickets?
You act like I want Mangini, Kokinis, and Lerner to consult me before making moves and then go over the playbook with me. I assure you, I'm really not asking for much.
How about holding press conferences and answering questiona after you sign players. That would be a good start. How about an owner that actually gets up on the podium when he hires a new coach? Are these things too much to ask?
And no, I will not be buying season tickets to the Browns this year. Sports fans who call themselves diehards love to talk about loyalty but I'm sorry: Pro Football is a business. If you're going to put a crappy product on the field year in and year out, don't expect me to buy it.
So your response to Art is nullified as you are not a "paying customer" as you put it, to the browns this year. I have no problem listening to fans who go to every game in past and future who are upset about the teams direction, and who dont jump off in the hard times...when the teams in the playoffs in future years Ill reserve a spot for you on the bandwagon biff.
No no Lenny K, that's a good plan. Let the Browns keep serving you piles of shit while you say "mmmmm, delicious. Can I have another!"
It's a business Lenny. Of course we get emotional about it because that's the fun of sports but there comes a time when you have to be reasonable. If one of your other entertainment outlets started being consistently terrible, you would stop supporting it, wouldn't you? If you had a favorite restaurant and all of the sudden, every time you went there, the food was terrible, you'd stop going until they changed it, wouldn't you? If every time you went on vacation, you stayed at a hotel, only the last 10 times you went there, the room wasn't clean and it was infested with roaches, you'd stop staying there, wouldn't you?
What is it about professional sports that are different Lenny? You're ok with the fact that wealthy owners can produce a consistently horrible product and continue to make money because demand is completely inelastic? I'm sorry man but I'm not gonna be a part of that. Randy Lerner is in the entertainment business and his show stinks. Fix it and I'll be waiting in line to see it, checkbook in hand.
Fans like you hide behind words like "loyalty" and "bandwagon" because you're too naive to hold business owners accountable for the products they produce.
alright, point taken biff, everyone is entitled to their respectful opinion.
Is it not true that a loyal fan supports their team in good and bad? Dont worry the bandwagon will always welcome fans like you back on board when this is a playoff team. You are the type of fan i dislike, stop supporting the team when they are down, unbelievable.
One final thing- You must have an easy life, quiting on something in the hard times, how about you stick it out in the bad times...spineless...
Ahh, ya now i get why your thoughts are ridiculous about the browns, your not a diehard, loyal fan. Well that explains it, sorry for the earlier post, you and your type of fans are the fair weather fans...which explains your blog.
Lenny, you have to distinguish between an organization that's having "bad times" and one that is just completely inept and continually embarassing. The browns have had more inexcusable gaffs, both on the field and off, since their return than they've had wins. These aren't bad times Lenny. They're just further evidence of the fact that we've been supporting a disfunctional organization. Bad times are when your team has to dismantle and rebuild after a period of success. That's how most franchises work. They build, get good, then get old and expensive, and have to tear down and start all over again. As a fan of a team like that, you owe it to the organization through thick and thin (hence the reason I didn't make a peep when the Indians were dismantling and rebuilding in the early 2000's).
But, some organizations (Browns, Clippers, Lions, Nationals to name a few) are just poorly run. The owners of these teams prey on people like you and Mikey who are so concerned with labeling yourselves as "die hards" that you neglect to use your heads and hold then accountable for their actions.
You guys may be diehard fans, but you're also easy markets. A fool and his money are not long for each other. Randy Lerner can and already has taken that to the bank.
If you want to spend money to line the pockets of an organization that doesn't give a shit about you, you go right ahead. But don't question my love for the sports teams of this town because I'm tired of playing the fool.
*easy marks
haha...well you leave me no choice to call you a fair weather fan, after the browns regressed from 2007 season and had a disappointing 2008, you have decided to not renew your season tickets...I, along with the rest of civilization, call that a fair weather fan. Look i was disappointed to last season, but if the organization didnt give two shits they would have kept savage and crennel- which didnt happen b/c they want to change things. Starting over sucks, i know, but not sure why you are jumping ship when these guys havent even had 2 months in their positions- and for that you are a fan who only comes around in the winning times...pathetic man.
And dont compare football and baseball franchises, thats just asanine- there are no hmm...SALARY CAPS in baseball, which is why a team like the New York Yankees has to go into "rebuilding" mode. Football is different as there is a cap and is a reason why most teams have these rebuilding phases. I know your not a big "diehard" browns football fan, but i would hope you could see these two sports have nothing in common in terms of monetary situations, biff.
*never has to go into rebuilding mode
You're supporting my point Lenny. It makes sense for some baseball franchises to be also rans year in and year out. In a salary capped league like the NFL, it should be far more cyclical...and it is, for just about every team other than the Browns and a few others. The salary cap means the Browns have even less of an excuse to be terrible every year.
You're supporting my point Lenny. It makes sense for some baseball franchises to be also rans year in and year out. In a salary capped league like the NFL, it should be far more cyclical...and it is, for just about every team other than the Browns and a few others. The salary cap means the Browns have even less of an excuse to be terrible every year.
no, Supportin MY point- a cap means the browns have to be patient and build their teams through drafts (NFL) rather than free agency (MLB) how is that supporting your point? what did i say about this years draft being a month away, wait until then to criticize mankok.
Please be patient Fair Weather fan (biff), us real fans(myself, mikey) will support the team until they "good" enough for fans like you to join us at the games.
Yes, becuause the Indians are such a big market team that they can reload through free agency. That's why I had the patience to supoprt them through their rebuilding.
Have fun paying to go to those games this year. Randy Lerner appreciates your support. He meant to tell you that but he's on vacation until the end of the month and didn't feel like getting on his jet to come back here to thank you for your measley few thousand bucks.
Why are you guys wasting your breath talking about the Browns?!? They aren't even remotely relevant right now. I'd rather talk about the NHL right now than the Browns (not really). I'm a big Browns fan but can we please let the organization hibernate until the draft?
Look at where we are as a sports city right now, the Cavs are the best team in the NBA and the playoffs are coming up, the Indians are getting cranked up with Opening Day around the corner, and the Browns are signing David Patten. Hmmmmmmmm, which sounds like a more intersting subject to discuss right now?
Biff: Some of your Browns posts are coming perilously close to sounding like bitching for the sake of bitching.
Lenny and Mikey: A bandwagon fan doesn't write Op-Ed pieces in the smack middle of the offseason about a team he doesn't care about.
I know that this is Browns Town and all that but I'm shocked that this is what you guys are discussing right now. Instead why don't we discuss parade routes in late June for a certain juggernaut also residing in our fair city. I'd rather talk about something that makes us collectively happy then one that frustrates and saddens us.
have fun pretending to be a browns fan, you wont have any sense of proud when they are good again, just says alot of your character to quit on something so easily...actually kinda feel bad for you- and yes i know your going to say "dont feel bad for me"- but for some reason i do, must suck to feel that way about things in life.
Im all for that, but this is what was written so im responding towards this subject...that was also my point exactly, be patient until the draft happens, this regime hasnt/wont do anything worth discussing/criticizing until draft day
Yeah I should've been more clear Lenny, obviously you can only respond to what's written.
Biff on the other hand, if you are that upset at the Browns right now then take a time-out for a few weeks. They will still be there, Mediocre as ever when you return.
In the meantime I find your analysis of the cavs to be wonderful, even dare I say Livingstonesque. Write some more about them.
Lenny, being robbed by an organization for a decade and then deciding to watch them from home instead of shelling out for tickets until they demonstrate some competence and direction is not "quitting so easily." It's common sense.
Alright Larry, although I disagree with the way you cavort with coeds, your point is well taken. No more wasted words on the Browns. Only Cavs and Indians until the draft (or until one of the Browns' players kills again).
So i dont have to read biff pissing and moaning about the browns anymore? Maybe i will stick around on ur blog.
HAHA...it must suck being a fair weather fan for the browns...thankfully Ill never know the feeling- have fun jumpin on the bandwagon in the future...
I think that more embarrassing than getting caught cavorting with co-eds on camera was the fact that a millionaire such as myself got caught on camera drinking Natty Light. That was a life lesson for me.
Lenny, hundreds of thousands of people watch the Browns play every Sunday. About 70,000 of those pay top dollar for the honor of doing it in person in a freezing cold stadium with lines for the bathroom and $7 beers. The people watching the game at home are not necessarily fair weather fans. They're just making a rational economic decision. When the Browns are winning, or at least on some sort of discernable path toward doing so, that decision becomes a lot tougher. Right now, it's a no-brainer.
Name me 10 people out of those thousands who have a cleveland sports site who bitch about how much they wont support the browns and be caught at browns stadium this upcoming year because they are pissed at the front office. I will wait for 10 names dont worry, ive got all week.
Your right most of those people would love to have season tickets but havent been able to afford it for their entire life...you could afford it for the past ten years,,,all of the sudden you are done? Just dont get your reasoning here biff.
I feel bad I missed all this conversation while i was working today....
I am not questioning anyones loyalty as a fan or accusing anyone of being bandwagon fans like Lenny K.
My point is only that professional sports teams deserve to be judged objectively, even during hard times. In no way am saying we shouldnt be critical or question what they are doing. I am merely saying that constantly and aimlessly ripping the organization and stating you would rather see casinos built there is not productive or rational.
The Browns are terrible and poorly run. It happens. The cavs were horrible not even a decade ago. Apple was in the tank in the not so distant past. Things can turn around, and I think we all see the common denominator in both of those examples.
Biff is spot on about attending games. Consumers dont pay top dollar for sub par goods, and the Browns performance is sub par. Lerner has been riding the fans blind love for a while, but eventually it will run out.
Biff I will take issue with the statement we are "being robbed by an organization for an entire decade."
Make no mistake, Browns fans who attend games are NOT being robbed. They buy their tickets under their own free will.
The only way Browns fans can flex their muscle is to not buy tickets, merchandise, etc. I doubt that will ever happen.
Ya i agree art, people CHOOSE to purchase season tickets, why spend thousands on a shitty team who won 4 games last year?
I know its hard for you to grasp biff- B/c they love watching the browns and will support the team no matter what front office does.
No is getting taken advantage of here, or getting robbed here biff, and no one but you wants to tear down browns stadium and put a casino there-idiotic.
Yeah, I'm sure when people renewed their season tickets in the spring of 2008, they were anticipating getting to watch a 3-11 Bruce Gradkowski led team mail it in against the Bengals in a lifeless and meaningless December game.
well guess what biff, those same people have again spent the thousands to watch the team im '09...i guess you just dont get it.
let me take a wild guess- You went out and bought some browns gear after they beat the giants on mon night last year...only to return them after they lose shortly after. Im sure you will start going to games next year once they win there first couple games-you'll be the first to hop on the bandwagon.
Get off your soapbox biff- I agree with lenny. Why you want to replace browns stadium with a casino and hotels shows you hate the browns. you also claim you are not "loyal/naive" anymore, so what kind of fan are you if you are not a loyal browns fan? you obviously dont love the browns anymore as you want the stadium torn down and replaced with a f'ing casion?????
In the words of savage, F*ck you, go root for buffalo!
Biff that comment holds zero water.
There is an inherent risk in buying ADVANCE tickets. Sometimes you have a good season, sometimes you have a poor one. In the Browns case, its usually the latter. When you buy season tickets, there are no guarantees whatsoever, which should obvious since the games are yet to be played.
Fans who buy seasons tickets are doing so because of their love of the team, and their love of the overall experience of attending a Browns home game. It only happens 8 times a year, and despite your opinions (which you are obviously entitled to) there are still lots of people who enjoy that experience, myself included. I root for the jersey, not the billionare owner. I would never want a casino built there due to a bad decade of football. I hold out hope that someday, it might get turned around. It might not, but I hope it does.
Again, I am not saying we shouldnt criticize or objectively evaluate the team. But it should be done objectively. Whether your points are good or bad, they get lost because your Browns rants are typically aimless and arrogant.
Couldnt have said it any better Art! Well done sir.
I think biff just doesnt get it- he's being selfish.
Football games come 8 times to cleveland browns stadium, unlike any other major sport, I love going there in 5 degree weather, not being able to feel my face as i root on our team in defeat and victory. its something bigger than me, our season tickets have been in my family for countless years...this will never change because Im a real fan, enjoy the tailgating with other true fans in victory and defeat, something you obviously know nothing about.
I wont have it any bit for you to make such posts requesting browns stadium be torn down and about how they suck, wont stand for it. Post about something else
I'll stop writing about the Browns because it's impossible for people to differentiate between love for the idea of the Browns and my hated for the actual organization.
Cavs and Indians only from here on out (except for maybe a Draft review).
Frontrunner!
"My hatred for the organization"
Biff do you not see how that comes across?
The Browns arent an "idea". They are an actual team, a real live entity.
The Browns have been around for decades, and they will continue to be around for decades....long after Lerner is gone. I will still be rooting for them then too.
Nobody is disputing your criticisms of the team, roster, talent level, etc. What people get irritated by is the manner in which you attempt to get your points across. They arent objective or entertaining.
Actually its easy to get your hatred for the browns- You want Browns stadium torn down for a casino and hotels, which is easy for everyone to get your stance on the browns, am i wrong??? Statements such as this is why no one wants you to comment on the browns.
I'm glad to see you're quoting Phil Savage. Lord knows with what he did for us, his words should be immortalized.
Your right, i should be quoting..YOU? you have some words of wisdom on your posts...Hey lets tear down browns stadium and put a casino up! gosh what an insightful thought. Or "while I agree we should trade Braylon and stockpile draft picks (even though I'm almost sure he's going to make at least one more pro-bowl in his career)" Everyone should take such a bold stance as you do on the braylong edwards. Are you sure, or almost sure? your rhetoric is hard to decipher.
At least we still have Phil Dawson!!!!!
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