Browns Sitting In the Basement of Sportsline Power Rankings

Posted May 09, 2007 10:29PM By JJ Cooper (RSS feed)

I don't think even the most optimistic Browns fan expects to see the Browns in the Super Bowl this year, and the realistic ones will be quite happy with some steady improvement and maybe a .500 record.

But Pete Prisco's new offseason power rankings show the Browns no respect at all, ranking them dead lost, behind even the Ravens.

I'm trying to figure out how the Browns could possibly rank behind the Raiders. During the offseason the Browns have completely revamped and improved their offensive line, added a talented if aging Jamal Lewis and should be able to count on improvement from a very solid 2006 draft class. That should make them at least a little better than last year.

The Raiders on the other hand have traded away the team's best receiver, not fixed the team's massive offensive line problems and still show signs of being a dysfunctional team. Prisco's logic is that JaMarcus Russell will be ready to help bring the Raiders close to .500, while Brady Quinn's arrival ensures another complete rebuilding year in Cleveland. This is even though seemingly everyone agrees that Quinn is more NFL ready than Russell, even if Russell has more long-term potential.

The Browns may be bad, but 32nd? It's hard to buy that.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

5-10-2007 @ 1:25AM

Herman Munster said...

Why wouldn't the Browns be ranked behind the Ravens?

5-10-2007 @ 12:53AM

Icheb said...

"behind even the Ravens"

Yeah, the RAVENS really suck.

5-10-2007 @ 1:38AM

Troels said...

I is clear that most of the big prower ranking porducers just hate the Browns. My guess is 7-9

5-10-2007 @ 6:12AM

Ed Cranswick said...

Well actually the Raiders have added a former broncos starting O-Lineman of the last two years and a former two time pro bowl selection O-lineman. And they got rid of their archaic man blocking scheme which was a large part of problem. Oh, and remember last year when they said "Matt Leinart is more NFL ready than VY"? Well VY won the rookie of the year and had a better record, why? Because neither was instantly going to be a good passer, however VY's physical skills were able to get him over some humps with a bad O-Line. And the Browns, where...Where did the defense go? The Raiders on the other hand have a good improving D. So pretty much the browns deserve to be on the bottom, where they belong.

5-10-2007 @ 4:13PM

Joe said...

JaMarcus Russell is a dummy who is going to take a long time to learn.

5-11-2007 @ 4:39PM

Curt said...

To Ed Cranswick: You know NOTHING about football, let alone power rankings. The Browns also have improved their offensive line. Last time I checked, we beat the Raiders, and had a better record ( not by much ).
So to say the Browns deserve to be on the bottom is an ignorant statement.