NFL FanHouse http://nfl.fanhouse.com NFL FanHouse http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/media/feedlogo.gif NFL FanHouse http://nfl.fanhouse.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Before Retiring, Jamal Lewis Wants Winshttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/05/before-retiring-jamal-lewis-wants-wins/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/05/before-retiring-jamal-lewis-wants-wins/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/05/before-retiring-jamal-lewis-wants-wins/#commentsFiled under: ,

Jamal LewisOnce Jamal Lewis returned to his hometown of Atlanta on Wednesday night, things looked the same from afar. Yes, he is retiring after this season. No, it was not an instant decision based on the Cleveland Browns' 30-6 loss at the Chicago Bears last Sunday -- after which Lewis announced his NFL exit plans.

He left the University of Tennessee after three seasons and the Baltimore Ravens after a Super Bowl XXXV championship and seven seasons. This third season with the Browns gives him 10 full NFL years.

Cleveland is 1-7, but Lewis said his choice would be the same if his team was 7-1.

And though the Browns have a bye this week and Lewis, 30, has quiet time to reconsider, he said he will not.

"Honestly, I had made up my mind before the season,'' he said via telephone from Atlanta. "I even contemplated whether to come back for this season with a new staff, new coach, not knowing if guys would buy in, hearing about what coach [Eric] Mangini brought to the table, not knowing if I could buy into that. It's a lot of moving parts. After that Chicago game, I didn't want to bottle it up any longer. I just put it out there. I want to hang up my cleats on my own terms.

"When you are 1-7, a lot of stuff gets magnified. That's the problem we have right now. Things happen. People get fired. People start self-evaluating, questioning themselves.''

Lewis said no one on the Browns coaching staff or in management has spoken to him about his decision to retire.

"I wasn't really looking for that,'' Lewis said. "They've got bigger concerns around there than me retiring. And I hope they figure them out, because I want to finish the season off right.''

Among those concerns are finding a replacement for recently fired general manager George Kokinis, igniting an offense that has a combined zero touchdowns from its wide receivers and running backs, and calming a fan base that is livid over this sloppy, putrid Browns season -- with plenty of voices insisting that Mangini should be fired, sooner rather than later.

Lewis said that would be a mistake.

"He [Mangini] came in and changed a lot of things around,'' Lewis said. "He was different from what guys were used to. There was a lot of philosophical stuff. A more physical approach from training camp on than we had before. The veterans got together early and said, 'We want to win. He is the coach and let's buy in.' We knew things could be rough. But things got bad, one loss after another. We put in the hard work. You want results. But you also realize that things take time to jell.

"He inherited a lot. I think we should keep him, see if it works after the first year. We should stick with him. He is a guy you can go talk to. What people think of him is not the type of person he is -- he is a very smart coach. He teaches intelligence on the field, how to be smarter than your opponent. I think there is a reason for everything he does.''


It says a lot that Lewis still believes in Mangini.

But Lewis has long been a self-starter, a team player, a leader by example in his work habits. As a rookie in 2000, he was asked by Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome if he could run with the top backs in the Ravens' division (back then, the six-team AFC Central): Pittsburgh's Jerome Bettis, Tennessee's Eddie George, Jackosnville's Fred Taylor and Cincinnati's Corey Dillon.

Lewis ran past that crowd and eventually to a rushing championship, when he piled up 2,066 yards in 2003, joining Eric Dickerson, Terrell Davis, Barry Sanders and O.J. Simpson as the only backs to top 2,000-yard plateau in a season. Lewis also had the best single-game performance of his career in 2003, a 295-yard performance against, ironically, Cleveland.

With 10,456 career yards rushing, Lewis is a legit Hall of Fame candidate.

Some believe Lewis is retiring out of frustration over losing, much like Sanders did from the Detroit Lions in 1999.

Newsome, a former tight end who spent his entire Hall of Fame career with the Browns, understands.

"When I decided to retire from the game, we had gone 4-12, and when you are not playing for playoffs and championships and Super Bowls, your whole drive can be taken away," Newsome said. "I've been where Jamal is. I'm sure he is frustrated. But he has always had a level of maturity about things. When he came here as a rookie, he ran with part of the group of veterans that included Rod Woodson and Ray Lewis. Rookies can't always crack that group. I have no idea what is really going on in Cleveland; I have been gone from there for 14 years. Whatever Jamal does will be good for him.''

Lewis owns a trucking business and an investment firm. He said he listened to his mother when she said football was not the end, just a stepping-stone.

Lewis arrived in Cleveland in 2007 -- the Browns finished 10-6, their best record since the franchise returned in 1999. But a follow-up 4-12 year cost head coach Romeo Crennell and general manager Phil Savage their jobs.

In with Mangini and Kokinis. A 1-7 start. Out with Kokinis.

Much of the Browns' disarray -- which has included season-long confusion and ineffective play at quarterback -- will be on national display when they host Baltimore on Nov. 16 in a Monday night game.

Lewis is hoping the first of his final eight NFL games provides the start of a Cleveland turnaround.

"The only way I would come back to play again is if a team gives me part ownership; a player/owner, that would be something that would get me in,'' Lewis said. "I know it's not going to happen that way, but that's a dream I have, NFL ownership. Our team is not 1-7 just because of the coaching. We can still have something good happen. We can still come out and build a better foundation for the Cleveland Browns.

"I'm going to fight, practice hard, keep fighting. This is not the result we wanted. We can do better.''
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Before Retiring, Jamal Lewis Wants Wins originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Cleveland BrownsFred TaylorJamal LewisRay LewisThomas GeorgeThu, 05 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST Dirty Dozen: What Have They Done With The Browns?http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/04/dirty-dozen-what-have-they-done-with-the-browns/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/04/dirty-dozen-what-have-they-done-with-the-browns/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/04/dirty-dozen-what-have-they-done-with-the-browns/#commentsFiled under: ,

Cleveland BrownsWhen Art Modell fled for Baltimore with his Cleveland Browns, the NFL's consolation prize was the new Browns, complete with colors, history and Dawg Pound.

If the NFL had known what it had created, it might have forced Modell to stay. Because a decade after the Browns were reborn, they remain one of the two or three worst franchises in the NFL, a status reaffirmed on Monday when George Kokinis, the newly hired general manager, was asked to leave 10 months after he was hired.

Why? He hadn't done anything anyway, other than stand by and watch as Eric Mangini, who failed as the New York Jets' coach, traded away impact players or guys with potential for a bundle of mediocre ex-Jets.

But the record speaks for itself.

Since leaving Cleveland, the Baltimore Ravens, formerly the Browns, are 118-107-1 with a Super Bowl title after the 2000 season and four other playoff appearances. Since returning in 1999, Cleveland is 55-112 with two winning seasons out of 10 (soon to be 11) and one playoff appearance.

A lot of this has to do with hiring by reputation.

The late Al Lerner, who was awarded the new Cleveland franchise, got things off on the wrong foot by hiring Carmen Policy to run the team based on his "success'' as president of the 49ers. Policy brought along Dwight Clark, who made "The Catch'' on the receiving end of Joe Montana's throw, as his general manager.

There were a few problems.

Policy, whose roots are in Ohio, is a lawyer turned vintner -- he now has his own winery in California's Napa Valley. His considerable acumen was as an administrator and organizer -- not a football man. Clark was an excellent player whose expertise was NOT running a personnel operation -- call him the Matt Millen of his day without the skill as a broadcaster. They took Tim Couch with their first pick and he proved NOT to be a franchise quarterback, the first of a long line of failures at that position.



Since the Policy/Clark regime, Lerner and now his son Randy have gone for guys who worked for other guys -- Chris Palmer, the first coach, was a Bill Belichick disciple; Butch Davis was a Jimmy Johnson guy and, most recently, they have gone for members of the Belichick and Ozzie Newsome trees (Romeo Crennel and Mangini in the first case, GMs Phil Savage and Kokinis in the second.). The worst part of that is that the originals were both Browns -- Belichick as a (not very good) apprentice coach; Newsome as a Hall of Fame tight end, and later as one of the game's most astute personnel men.

But it's become clear that Lerner doesn't get it -- the principal job as an owner is to find someone good to run the operation and get out of the way. Ernie Accorsi, who was the Browns' GM in the '80s and early '90s and ran the Giants from 1998-2006, is trying to help him.

But Accorsi is not a Mangini guy, and right now, Mangini seems intent on getting rid of playmakers and rebuilding his team with former Jets backups. And Accorsi is happily retired, likes living in New York City and working as a consultant to the league, and wants no part of a full-time GMs job.

In any case, the Browns get No. 32 this week for a 1-7 team.

The others, from the bottom.

Bottom 6

32. Cleveland (1-7)

31. Tampa Bay (0-7)

30. Detroit (1-6): Edging back toward its accustomed spot.

29. St. Louis (1-7): James Butler tried to emulate Dan Orlovsky '08 with a self-inflicted safety. It actually helped the Rams get a win -- the safety saved at least a field goal..

28. Oakland (2-6): Tom Cable has more to worry about than his team.

27. New York Giants (5-3): Every year, someone who started in the top six makes a cameo (they hope) appearance at the bottom. This really should be Kansas City, but off three straight losses ...


Top 6

6 (tie). Dallas (5-2), Philadelphia (5-2): Sometimes teams luck into a Miles Austin, as Dallas has done.

5. Denver (6-1): The loss was coming. The secret is the bounceback. Not easy with Pittsburgh coming in.

4. New England (5-2): Seems like old times.

3. Minnesota (7-1): There's a lot more to this team than that Favre guy. But without him it's maybe 5-3 or 4-4.

2. Indianapolis (7-0): This is why teams don't go unbeaten -- Payton Manning, no TD passes; Joseph Addai, one in a home win over the 49ers. There's a loss or two coming, but Jim Sorgi will get his customary workout the last couple of weeks.

1. New Orleans (7-0): Win the next three: Carolina, at Tampa Bay and at St. Louis. Will finish 14-2. How's that for a limb to climb out on?

Dirty Dozen: What Have They Done With The Browns? originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Dave GoldbergWed, 04 Nov 2009 21:30:00 EST Pocket Presence: Russell Still Strugglinghttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/04/pocket-presence-russell-still-struggling/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/04/pocket-presence-russell-still-struggling/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/04/pocket-presence-russell-still-struggling/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It's often said that a team with two quarterbacks really doesn't have any. With that spirit in mind, FanHouse will keep you updated weekly on NFL teams facing potential quarterback controversies.

Stubbornness sometimes pays off. The Carolina Panthers found this out on Sunday.

One week after giving up on the run way too easily in a loss to Buffalo, the Panthers mercilessly pounded Arizona's run defense into the ground, and their reward was an easy win. Of course, it doesn't mean Jake Delhomme has magically turned his season around. It just means the Panthers have found a way to hide him, while keeping him on the field. Delhomme is off our magical list for now, but other shaky starters aren't so lucky.

Oakland Raiders: JaMarcus Russell and Bruce Gradkowski

Surely, Russell is hampered by a complete lack of playmakers. Darrius Heyward-Bey has been a disaster so far, and outside of tight end Zach Miller, Russell simply doesn't have anyone to throw to.

However, he's earned every bit of that 48.3 quarterback rating, a rating that is barely above the 39.6 that you'd get by throwing every pass into the ground. Russell makes bad decisions, surpassed only by the simply awful throws he's capable of.

Whomever is coaching the Raiders next year is likely to have Russell around, only that coach will be facing the challenge of getting him off all the bad habits he's picked up, along with restoring what has to be a non-existent confidence.

Russell is only 24, so there's no point in giving up. However, there's also no point in leaving him out there to further destroy the mental part of his game.

Status update: Very warm

Cleveland Browns: Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn

Surely, the Browns weren't planning on firing a general manager before his first season was over. That's exactly what happened this week, though, as the team's embarrassing slide towards another high draft pick continued with a 30-6 whomping by the Bears in Chicago.

First-year coach Eric Mangini should be shown the door once this disastrous season ends. So far, the only thing he's done to try to inject life into his team was switch quarterbacks. To the coach's chagrin, Anderson looks to be a worse fit for this offense than Quinn was. That's not saying much, because no quarterback could do much of anything positive with this team.

Now what do you do? The season is a lost cause, and Quinn won't approach his contractual incentives if he takes over now. Anderson obviously isn't the answer, so now it's simply a question of whether Quinn can show enough to justify keeping him around for the next regime.

Status update: Very warm

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Josh Freeman and Josh Johnson
Tennessee Titans: Vince Young and Kerry Collins
Carolina Panthers: Jake Delhomme and Matt Moore

Freeman gets his first start this weekend against Green Bay. It's not common for coaches to go back to a veteran once they start the rookie, so one has to assume this is Freeman's gig.

Young actually looked pretty good in helping the Titans get their first win. No way they go back to Collins now, even if the team starts losing again. Young's athleticism is perfect for this offense -- if he can stay healthy and throw with any kind of accuracy.

As for Delhomme, as mentioned above, the Panthers rode the running game, but Delhomme did throw for 90 yards in just seven completions, and Steve Smith got his first touchdown of the year. Odds are he sticks around.

Pocket Presence: Russell Still Struggling originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>brady quinnbruce gradkowskiderek andersonjake delhommejamarcus russelljosh freemanjosh johnsonkerry collinsmatt moorevince youngBruce CiskieWed, 04 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST Browns Fire GM George Kokinishttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/02/browns-fire-gm-george-kokinis/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/02/browns-fire-gm-george-kokinis/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/02/browns-fire-gm-george-kokinis/#commentsFiled under:

George Kokinis has been removed as general manager of the 1-7 Browns, the team confirmed in a statement Monday night.

Multiple news organizations, including the Cleveland Plain Dealer and WKYC-TV reported earlier that the Browns had made a move in the front office, and that Kokinis' short tenure with the team was believed to be over. Head coach Eric Mangini, who received the support of team owner Randy Lerner on Sunday, hand-picked Kokinis as GM in January.
More Coverage: Full Details of Situation Unclear

The Browns' statement on Kokinis' removal:
Cleveland Browns General Manager George Kokinis is no longer actively involved with the organization. In response to rumors and reports that Kokinis was escorted out of the building today, the Browns deny those reports. In the interest of protecting the parties involved we will withhold further comment.
Cleveland did not announce who would inherit Kokinis' duties as GM, though Mangini may be handed those responsibilities.

Mangini is in his first season as Cleveland's head coach. The Browns have a bye in Week 9.
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Browns Fire GM George Kokinis originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>George KokinisChris BurkeMon, 02 Nov 2009 23:15:00 EST Browns GM George Kokinis Escorted From Building, Firedhttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/02/browns-gm-george-kokinis-reportedly-escorted-from-team-facility/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/02/browns-gm-george-kokinis-reportedly-escorted-from-team-facility/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/02/browns-gm-george-kokinis-reportedly-escorted-from-team-facility/#commentsFiled under:

George KokinisMDS pointed out on Twitter on Sunday that people bemoan the Raiders' state as a team too often, when there are far worse franchises out there. Case in point: the Cleveland Browns, who reportedly escorted GM George Kokinis off of the team premises and have now fired him.

Update: The Browns have issued a statement saying that Kokinis is no longer an "active member of the organization" but are denying the reports that Kokinis was escorted from the building. I stand behind my final two paragraphs below.

The Plain Dealer first reported that Kokinis was removed from the premises by Browns' human resources personnel, although it could not confirm that he had been fired. TheOBR.com, Scout's Browns site, reported later Monday evening that Kokinis was indeed axed (and Jay Glazer has cited sources that believe Kokinis was fired as well).

However, Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio received an e-mail from Browns' PR Director Neal Gulkis that said, "I have not heard anything."

So, yeah, there's a touch of confusion as to what's happening in Cleveland from the media/media relations side of things.

But here's what's abundantly clear: Kokinis wasn't doing a great job of turning the Browns around, nor was he doing an effective job of managing the guy who hired him, Eric Mangini (which should be a pretty good indication of his status, no?), as made evident by Mangini's failure to decide between Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn.

Remember, too, that owner Randy Lerner gave Mangini the dreaded vote of confidence earlier Monday.

And if the team managed to escort its GM off the premises, while also somehow allowing the media to find out about the firing before the Browns made an announcement, it becomes even more apparent that the Browns are a trainwreck of a franchise with little hope for a future turnaround.

And really, if Kokinis somehow isn't fired, well, it might be even worse than even the most pessimistic person could imagine.

Browns GM George Kokinis Escorted From Building, Fired originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Eric ManginiGeorge KokinisWill BrinsonMon, 02 Nov 2009 21:25:00 EST Eric Mangini's Job Somehow Safehttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/01/eric-manginis-job-somehow-safe/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/01/eric-manginis-job-somehow-safe/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/01/eric-manginis-job-somehow-safe/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Eric ManginiAfter yet another embarrassing beatdown for his Browns -- this time a 30-6 loss at the hands of the Chicago Bears -- Eric Mangini received a vote of confidence, at least for the remainder of this season. Randy Lerner, owner of the Browns, indicated he isn't willing to dismiss Mangini right now, but admitted to the Associated Press that he is "sick" about the state of his franchise.

Even if Mangini's safe, Lerner did express interest in making one change -- he wants to bring in a football-tested authority figure to help run the franchise. The way he's phrasing everything, it sounds like he wants to hire someone in the Bill Parcells-in-Miami mold.
"There's absolutely no question about that," he said. "The highest priority that I have is a strong, credible, serious leader within the building to guide decisions in a far more conspicuous, open transparent way. I can maybe defend decisions by saying I've sought advice and I've brought people in, and we've gone to see people -- and I think my highest priority is to have a stable figure that represents the voice that explains the decisions."

Update: Browns Fire GM George Kokinis
Lerner also admitted the Browns' quarterback situation isn't even remotely close to working.

No matter how they proceed, it's obvious some serious changes need to happen in Cleveland. The Browns are 1-7 and the franchise is currently in as bad of shape as any other team in football. The game in Chicago was just another in a string of embarrassments for the Browns -- as they turned the ball over five times and even missed their only extra point attempt. This was a 30-6 beatdown from a team that lost 45-10 to the Bengals last week.

They don't seem prepared and have no real general direction. The personnel is pretty awful, too.

The Browns have a bye next week, but will face the Ravens at home in Week 10. They likely have three more realistically winnable games left on the schedule. They travel to Detroit in Week 11, go to Kansas City in Week 15, and host the Raiders in Week 16.
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Eric Mangini's Job Somehow Safe originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>eric manginirandy lernerMatt SnyderSun, 01 Nov 2009 22:55:00 EST Jamal Lewis Says He's Retiring After 2009 Season Endshttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/01/jamal-lewis-says-hes-retiring-after-the-2009-season-ends/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/01/jamal-lewis-says-hes-retiring-after-the-2009-season-ends/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/01/jamal-lewis-says-hes-retiring-after-the-2009-season-ends/#commentsFiled under: ,

Jamal Lewis told reporters following the Browns' loss to the Bears Sunday afternoon that he is planning to retire after the 2009 season. Yes, I know what you're thinking: "Woah. Jamal Lewis is still playing football?"

But he is.

And apparently, this will be his final season -- after telling reporters of his intentions, he also added "I mean what I say" which, presumably, is to ward off the possibility of people mistaking him for Brett Favre.

Lewis is most famous for two things: rushing for 2,000 yards in one season and going to prison. Drafted out of Tennessee with the fifth overall pick in 2000, Lewis was a catalyst in the Ravens' Super Bowl run that year, rushing for 1,364 yards with a 4.4 yards per carry average. Then, two years later, Lewis went b-a-n-a-n-a-s, posting 2,066 yards (the second-highest single season total in NFL history, mind you) and averaging an obscene 129.1 yards per game.

But then Lewis went to prison in 2005 for four months over a cell phone/drug issue and was never the same. Well, that's not entirely fair -- when Lewis left Baltimore for Cleveland, he posted over 1,300 yards in his first season and seemed to be in the midst of some sort of resurgence. It didn't last long though, and in 2008, Lewis was held to 3.6 yards per carry over the course of the season as the Browns struggled.

This year has been even worse. Lewis is on pace for less than 1,000 yards rushing and has been more or less nonexistent. So, really, his retirement should come as no surprise and, most importantly, a reminder of how quickly high-profile running backs can decline.
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Jamal Lewis Says He's Retiring After 2009 Season Ends originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>jamal lewisWill BrinsonSun, 01 Nov 2009 18:30:00 EST Cleveland Fans Plan Nov. 16 Protesthttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/29/cleveland-fans-plan-nov-16-protest/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/29/cleveland-fans-plan-nov-16-protest/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/29/cleveland-fans-plan-nov-16-protest/#commentsFiled under:

Cleveland BrownsBEREA, Ohio (AP) -- One of the most loyal Dawg Pounders is done barking about the sad state of his beloved Cleveland Browns. It's time to bite.

Lifelong Browns fan and season-ticket holder Mike Randall, aka "Dawg Pound Mike," is encouraging other Cleveland fans to stay away from their seats for the opening kickoff of the Browns' Nov. 16 home game against Baltimore.

Sickened by the nearly constant losing since the NFL team's return in 1999, Randall hopes the sight of empty seats for the start of the nationally televised Monday night game will send a loud message to owner Randy Lerner and club officials that fans have had enough.

"We're tired of losing," the 39-year-old Randall said. "We're tired of the booing, of seeing fans leave in the fourth quarter. There are fans who have had tickets for 30 years who are turning their seats in because they can't take it anymore. So many fans are fed up."

Randall and his friend, Tony Schafer, decided to go ahead with plans for the protest following last Sunday's 31-3 loss to the Green Bay Packers. As they walked out of the stadium, they heard fans grumbling about how they're wasting their Sundays and money.

Their hope is that fans stay outside the stadium, on concourses or in the restrooms for the start of the game.

The Akron Beacon-Journal first reported the protest, which Randall and Schafer announced on the Web site http://www.mobiledawg.com.

"We don't want to see fans with bags on their heads or booing," Randall said. "We love the Browns and will do anything to support them. But we're not being heard. Our goal is to say to the Browns' organization, 'Hey, listen to your fans.'"

Under first-year coach Eric Mangini, the Browns are 1-6 this season and have scored four offensive touchdowns in 81 possessions. Cleveland's defense is the league's worst.

Since coming back as an expansion team 10 years ago, the Browns are 55-113 with one playoff appearance and appear to be on their way to their eighth season of double-digit losses since '99.

Lerner is aware of the response and said in an e-mail that he understand the fans' frustration.

"On the grounds of frustration and irritation with performance, then that's the medicine I (we) are going to take, and I accept that," he said. "The goal this year was to rebuild the culture at the Browns. We felt at the end of last year that we lacked any overall philosophy, approach or direction regarding recruiting, drafting, coaching, preparation or training. As a result, each season was feeling like starting over and 4-12 following 10-6 felt painfully not all that surprising."

Lerner added the team remains open to feedback and support to help the Browns improve.

"We won't become entrenched or stubborn and despite my allergy to be more conspicuous, I do remain eager to seek help and guidance from any and all corners," he said.

Randall, who sits in the front row of the Dawg Pound, the notoriously rowdy bleacher section, doesn't know where to assess blame for the Browns' misery. He has met Lerner and appreciates the ultra-private owner's attempts to turn the franchise around. He knows Mangini needs time, and Randall wishes general manager George Kokinis would let fans in on the team's intentions.

"We have no one who talks to the fans," he said. "Randy isn't out front. The GM is invisible and Mangini has said this was going to be a process and that things would improve. Well, nothing has improved."


Randall said there is no energy in the crowd at home games and that fans are still being told to sit down in their seats or risk ejection. He has spoken to Browns officials about reconnecting to the team's past, but has met mostly with resistance.

"There's nothing in the stadium that even shows the eight championships we did win," he said. "This team has lost generations of fans."

During last week's game, Randall said a young fan approached him and asked, "Will we ever win?"

Lerner recently brought in former quarterback Bernie Kosar to serve as a consultant to the team. Although Kosar's role with the team has not been clearly defined, Randall sees his addition as a positive.

"I love it," Randall said. "Bernie is an offensive mastermind and I think Randy is seeing we need to bring some of the former guys back. It's a good first step."

When Art Modell took his NFL franchise to Baltimore in 1995, Browns fans fought to get their team back. Randall was one of the fans who helped jam the league's fax machines and carried thousands of signatures to meetings, hoping to get pro football back in Cleveland.

It worked, and Randall, who wears something shaded in Cleveland's brown and orange colors every day, is hoping this protest helps the Browns get back to winning.

"We did this as a positive," he said. "We want to send a statement that the status quo cannot go on."

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

Cleveland Fans Plan Nov. 16 Protest originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>FanHouse NewswireThu, 29 Oct 2009 20:01:00 EST Pocket Presence: Teams Putting Quarterbacks in Position to Failhttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/28/pocket-presence-teams-putting-quarterbacks-in-position-to-fail/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/28/pocket-presence-teams-putting-quarterbacks-in-position-to-fail/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/28/pocket-presence-teams-putting-quarterbacks-in-position-to-fail/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

It's often said that a team with two quarterbacks really doesn't have any. With that spirit in mind, FanHouse will keep you updated weekly on NFL teams facing potential quarterback controversies.

Some teams are entirely too stubborn. Not only will they leave bad quarterbacks in to take mental and physical beatings, but they'll insist on running offensive plays that don't seem to take the team's strengths into account, oftentimes leaning way too much on a struggling quarterback to make plays. As the Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns (among others) have now learned, this is a recipe for disaster.
More: Carolina Sticking With Delhomme | Freeman in for Tampa

Carolina Panthers: Jake Delhomme and Matt Moore

Delhomme has done a lot for the Carolina franchise, and loyalty is rarely a bad thing, even in a cutthroat industry like the NFL.

However, can anyone explain why Moore hasn't gotten a shot at saving the Panthers' season yet?

If Moore is so terrible that he can't be trusted to start, why is he serving as the primary backup to an aging veteran who melted down severely in the playoffs last year and has shown little life so far this season? It just doesn't make sense.

In Delhomme's defense, neither did Sunday's play-calling.

The Panthers ran for over 200 yards in a win over Tampa Bay. The response Sunday? Delhomme put the ball in the air 44 times, while star running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart combined for 23 carries. That makes sense, right?

Didn't think so.

Status update: White hot

Cleveland Browns: Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn

Anderson was simply awful again Sunday, this time in a 31-3 home loss to Green Bay. While he failed to hit half his passes, throw for 100 yards, or lead his team into the end zone, it wasn't all his fault. For some reason, the Browns decided to use the wildcat with Josh Cribbs exactly once against Green Bay.

Maybe the Packers showed a wonderful ability to stop the wildcat on that one play. Perhaps there is something about the Dom Capers' 3-4 defense that lends itself to stopping that gimmick, because the Vikings didn't use it in their matchup with the Packers on Oct. 5. However, Cribbs is the Browns' best offensive player right now. It's not even close.

Why isn't the ball in his hands more often?

As long as the team continues this failing strategy, it probably doesn't matter who the quarterback is, though it would likely behoove Cleveland to go back to Quinn. Anderson threw 11 passes at either Mohamed Massaquoi or Brian Robiskie on Sunday. They combined for one catch.

Status update: Very warm

San Francisco 49ers: Alex Smith and Shaun Hill

While head coach Mike Singletary might have made up his mind quickly, the smart money is on this not being the last change he has to make.

Yes, Smith played well in a second-half stint Sunday at Houston. However, it's typically harder on guys like him when they have to actually start the game. Smith was the backup to Hill for a reason, and now he has to prove that he can do things he failed to do in training camp or preseason games, or in any of his other starts for the 49ers.

Smith is getting thrown right into the fire, as San Francisco has a Sunday date with unbeaten Indianapolis.

Status update: Very warm

Oakland Raiders: JaMarcus Russell and Bruce Gradkowski

Russell has flat-out stunk all season. He's been terrible. Finally, head coach Tom Cable had enough. While replacing Russell with Gradkowski didn't do the Raiders any good on the scoreboard, it may be a message to Russell that he has to put in the time and make the commitment to get better now, or he will run out of chances.

No, Oakland isn't a playoff contender. But they have to do something to put a jolt into Russell. Otherwise, they'll never know for sure what they have in him.

Status update: Very warm

Tennessee Titans: Kerry Collins and Vince Young

Titans owner Bud Adams has come out and said he wants Young to be the starter. Meanwhile, it appears that Collins is going to keep the job for at least another week (though head coach Jeff Fisher hasn't really said).

While it's hard to blame everything that has gone wrong on Collins, he hasn't played well. Not only that, but the Titans owe it to themselves to give Young a shot at some point. It's not much different than Russell, really. They have to find out what they have.

Plus, the owner wants it to happen, and he's the owner. It's likely that Young starts sooner rather than later.

Status update: Very warm

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Josh Freeman and Josh Johnson

It was made official Wednesday that Freeman will get the nod out of Tampa's bye week. The Johnson experiment was an unmitigated disaster, as Tampa Bay did virtually nothing with him leading the way.

Now, it's up to Freeman, the rookie first-rounder out of Kansas State. While it's hard to predict what the result of this experiment will be, it probably doesn't matter in the end. Once you put the rookie out there, you typically don't switch back unless he gets hurt.

Status update: Lukewarm

Pocket Presence: Teams Putting Quarterbacks in Position to Fail originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>alex smithbrady quinnbruce gradkowskiderek andersonjake delhommejamarcus russelljeff fisherjosh freemanjosh johnsonkerry collinsmatt moorepocket presenceshaun hillvince youngBruce CiskieWed, 28 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST Report: Braylon Edwards Charged With Misdemeanor Assaulthttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/26/report-braylon-edwards-charged-with-assault/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/26/report-braylon-edwards-charged-with-assault/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/26/report-braylon-edwards-charged-with-assault/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Braylon EdwardsBraylon Edwards has been charged with misdemeanor assault after an investigation into an incident outside a Cleveland nightclub, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported.

Early on the morning of Oct. 5, Edwards was allegedly involved in a disagreement with Edward Givens, a Cleveland-area promoter. According to Givens, Edwards punched him in the face because "Braylon has a problem with LeBron [James]" and Givens is James' friend.

The Plain Dealer also reported that the Browns contacted the FBI following the incident because of alleged threats being made to Edwards.

Two days after the initial incident occurred, Cleveland traded Edwards to the Jets. He has nine catches for 118 yards and a touchdown -- but just four grabs in the two games since a great effort in his New York debut -- as the Jets have gone 1-2 since his arrival.

If he's convicted, Edwards could face a maximum penalty of up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine, though the jail time is especially unlikely.

Report: Braylon Edwards Charged With Misdemeanor Assault originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Braylon EdwardsCleveland BrownsNew York JetsChris BurkeMon, 26 Oct 2009 17:30:00 EST Pocket Presence: Derek Anderson Plays Better, Still Stinkshttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/21/pocket-presence-derek-anderson-plays-better-still-stinks/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/21/pocket-presence-derek-anderson-plays-better-still-stinks/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/21/pocket-presence-derek-anderson-plays-better-still-stinks/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It's often said that a team with two quarterbacks really doesn't have any. With that spirit in mind, FanHouse will keep you updated weekly on NFL teams facing potential quarterback controversies.

Give Derek Anderson credit. He got better. He put that "15 incompletions in 17 attempts" disaster behind him with a much more quarterback-like effort against Pittsburgh Sunday. It wasn't enough to take the Browns off this list for the first time this season, but there are indications that Cleveland has settled on their guy, no matter how many of his passes bounce off the grass.

Cleveland Browns: Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn

Anderson hit nine of 24 passes against Pittsburgh, even topping 100 yards and managing a touchdown pass. However, the Browns scored one offensive touchdown, relied way too much on the wildcat, and lost convincingly to Pittsburgh. While it is starting to sound like this is Anderson's job to completely screw up, the Browns would be delusional to think he deserves that kind of consideration.

Quinn, it could be argued, hasn't gotten nearly a fair shake in this battle. He faced elite defenses in each of his three starts, two of them on the road. Anderson is hitting 44 percent of his throws, averaging less than five yards per attempt (despite his "big arm" reputation), and has thrown three picks for every touchdown he has so far.

At this point, however, it probably doesn't matter who the quarterback is. This team is a lost cause at 1-5.

Status update: Very warm

Buffalo Bills: Trent Edwards and Ryan Fitzpatrick

It wouldn't take much to outplay Mark Sanchez on this day, and Fitzpatrick got it done. Filling in for an injured Edwards, who had started the day by hitting his first five throws, Fitzpatrick was erratic but still a winner. The Terrell Owens failure continues, and the insertion of rookie Jamon Meredith at right tackle didn't solve much up front. But a win is a win, and now the Bills have a decision to make.

It's been said that you can't lose your job over an injury. However, Edwards seemed well on his way to losing the job before he was injured. Not only that, but while it wasn't at all pretty, Fitzpatrick at least found a way to win a game. Of course, they needed Sanchez to throw five picks to make it happen, but Fitzpatrick did have his good moments. At the very least, this should give Dick Jauron something to think about.

Status update: Very warm

Washington Redskins: Jason Campbell and Todd Collins

Campbell got the hook in the Redskins' disastrous loss to Kansas City Sunday, but it is likely not the end of him. It's not like Collins lit up the Chiefs. Actually, he was statistically worse than Campbell. Collins pulled an Aaron Rodgers on a late snap deep in Redskin territory, as he held the ball entirely too long and took a sack for a safety that ended whatever minuscule chance the Redskins had to win the game.

Coach Jim Zorn has said Campbell is likely to start Monday night, and perhaps the offense will get a jump-start with consultant Sherm Lewis taking over as the play-caller for Zorn. Campbell has shown some real upside in his short career as a starter, but the reality is that he may not be best-suited as an every-down starting quarterback in the NFL.

Status update: Very warm

Oakland Raiders: JaMarcus Russell and Bruce Gradkowski

Carolina Panthers: Jake Delhomme and Matt Moore

Yes, their teams won Sunday. However, it's hard to feel good about how the starting quarterbacks played. Neither Delhomme nor Russell were effective, and both have to continue to be on thin ice with their respective teams.

The Panthers can't count on the running game to carry them to victory every week, and while the Raiders' defense put on a bit of an eye-opening performance, it's hard to imagine them repeating it given how inconsistent their effort and level of play have been in recent years.

Status updates: Warm

Pocket Presence: Derek Anderson Plays Better, Still Stinks originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>brady quinnbruce gradkowskiderek andersonjake delhommejamarcus russelljason campbellmatt moorepocket presenceryan fitzpatricktodd collinstrent edwardsBruce CiskieWed, 21 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST Browns Dealing With Flu Outbreakhttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/21/browns-dealing-with-flu-outbreak/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/21/browns-dealing-with-flu-outbreak/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/21/browns-dealing-with-flu-outbreak/#commentsFiled under:

Eric ManginiWith their team off to a miserable 1-5 start, Cleveland fans are pretty sick and tired of the Browns' effort. As for the players? They're just sick.

The Associated Press reported Wednesday that 12 players -- including six starters -- were not participating in Cleveland's practice because of flulike symptoms. No one on the team had yet been tested for the H1N1 "swine flu," according to head coach Eric Mangini.

"We're trying at the first signs of any kind of illness to get the guys home and out of the building," Mangini said. "We're working as hard as we can to promote things to prevent the illness and impressing the importance of things like sleep. It's that time of year and unfortunately we have quite a few guys who are dealing with it. We'll adjust practice, we'll work around it and continue to move forward."

Among those missing Wednesday were running back Jerome Harrison, rookie center Alex Mack, nose tackle Shaun Rogers and wide receiver Chansi Stuckey, who came over in a trade with the Jets last week.

Anthony Madison, Brodney Pool, Robert Royal, Jason Trusnik, Brian Schaefering, Lawrence Vickers, Corey Williams and Kamerion Wimbley made up the rest of the sick dozen.

According to the AP, both Wimbley and Rogers were already sick when Cleveland lost 27-14 at Pittsburgh on Sunday. Wimbley was kept isolated from the team -- he traveled, but did not play in the game. Rogers, meanwhile, recorded five tackles, then was driven back to Ohio seperately, while the rest of the Browns rode the team bus.

Cleveland hosts 3-2 Green Bay in Week 7. Mangini offered no definitive word regarding which of the 12 sick players might be available for Sunday, but several of them will have to go if the Browns are going to avoid making multiple roster moves. The one good piece of news for the Browns is that running back Jamal Lewis is back and healthy (for the moment), so he can shoulder the load on the ground if Harrison is unable to go.

Browns Dealing With Flu Outbreak originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Chris BurkeWed, 21 Oct 2009 14:35:00 EST Ref Says 'Close Enough,' Gives Steelers First Down vs. Brownshttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/19/ref-says-close-enough-gives-steelers-first-down-vs-browns/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/19/ref-says-close-enough-gives-steelers-first-down-vs-browns/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/19/ref-says-close-enough-gives-steelers-first-down-vs-browns/#commentsFiled under: ,



In the second quarter of the Steelers' win over the Browns on Sunday, Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger plowed into the line of scrimmage on a fourth-down sneak and appeared to be stopped short of the first down.

Referee Walt Anderson called for a measurement and the ball looked like it was about an inch short of a first down, and the Cleveland defense started to celebrate. And then Anderson signaled first down, Steelers.

"It was a close play - and we got lucky," Roethlisberger told the Associated Press after the game.

Browns linebacker David Bowens said he had no idea how the play could have been a first down.

"He made the call; you have to live with it," Bowens said. "I don't know if there was (an explanation). He just said first down and that's it."

Anderson claimed after the game that he stood by the call, and he said people watching on TV might have been fooled by the camera angle.

"If you shot that angle from the other side, it might actually look like it's further in advance of the stake of what it was," Anderson said.

I dunno. Anderson had a better view of it than I did, but it sure doesn't look to me like it could be a first down from any angle.

Ref Says 'Close Enough,' Gives Steelers First Down vs. Browns originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 07:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Ben RoethlisbergerBenRoethlisbergerMichael David SmithMon, 19 Oct 2009 07:15:00 EST Browns' Futility Is Simply Embarrassinghttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/18/browns-futility-is-simply-embarrassing/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/18/browns-futility-is-simply-embarrassing/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/18/browns-futility-is-simply-embarrassing/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Ike TaylorThe Browns may have only lost by 13 points on Sunday, but the final score doesn't explain the complete lack of respect the Steelers showed their one-time rivals.

Fourth and one within easy field goal range during the first half? Go for it. A close call on a seemingly meaningless 11-yard catch by the Browns? Challenge it. Against a team with a real offense, Mike Tomlin would have kept the challenge flag in his pocket -- as it might be needed on a play that actually matters. Against a Browns team that had 14 yards and no first downs through the air in the first half, Tomlin was worried about keeping Cleveland away from any moral victories -- like a first down.

It's been six years and 14 games since Cleveland beat Pittsburgh. Tim Couch was the Browns quarterback for the last win -- Ben Roethlisberger was still quarterbacking at Miami (Ohio) University. Maybe tight end Steve Heiden can gather the team together and tell them the story of the win. He's the only position player from that game who's still on the Browns roster (kicker Phil Dawson and long snapper Ryan Pontbriand were also on the roster for the last win). There's good reason to cherish that win -- it's Cleveland's only win against Pittsburgh since 2000.

Since 2003, the Steelers have won two Super Bowls and have made four playoff appearances. The Browns have had four coaches.

It's sad to see what's happened to what was once a great rivalry. Going back to the days of Jim Brown, Cleveland was clearly the alpha dog of this rivalry (they won 31 of the teams' first 40 meetings). The Steelers' success in the 1970s managed to bring the rivalry some needed balance, but Bernie Kosar, Ernest Byner and the rest of the late 1980s Browns gave Cleveland the edge again.

Now, it's just a guaranteed win on the Steelers' schedule. And with the way the Browns are going right now, it is hard to see that changing anytime soon

Browns' Futility Is Simply Embarrassing originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:56:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>JJ CooperSun, 18 Oct 2009 19:56:00 EST Wildcat Can't Spark Browns' Offensehttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/18/wildcat-cant-spark-browns-offense/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/18/wildcat-cant-spark-browns-offense/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/18/wildcat-cant-spark-browns-offense/#commentsFiled under:

Josh CribbsBrowns coach Eric Mangini has spent the 2009 season unable to decide between his two mediocre-at-best quarterbacks, Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn. So on Sunday he got a novel idea: He benched them both, and made the wildcat -- featuring wide receiver Joshua Cribbs taking the snaps -- the base offense.

Anderson may still be listed as the Browns' starting quarterback, but it was actually Cribbs who took the first snap of the game at Pittsburgh, and in the first quarter Cribbs took more snaps than Anderson did. For the Browns, it was a desperate attempt to get something going on an offense that has been as futile as any in the league this season.

Unfortunately for Cleveland fans, it didn't work: Cribbs did run for 18 yards on the first play of the game, but once the Steelers figured out that they were going to see a healthy dose of the wildcat, they figured out how to stop it. After that 18-yard scamper on the first play, Cribbs didn't have any big plays with his feet, and his two passes consisted of one incompletion and one interception. (The interception was courtesy of Troy Polamalu, who came up limping but appeared to be OK.)

Early in the second quarter, the Steelers lead the Browns 7-0.

Wildcat Can't Spark Browns' Offense originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 18 Oct 2009 13:34:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Michael David SmithSun, 18 Oct 2009 13:34:00 EST Browns Contacted FBI Over Threats to Braylon Edwardshttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/17/browns-contacted-fbi-over-threats-to-braylon-edwards/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/17/browns-contacted-fbi-over-threats-to-braylon-edwards/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/17/browns-contacted-fbi-over-threats-to-braylon-edwards/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Braylon EdwardsBraylon Edwards' stay in Cleveland came to an unceremonious end -- he was accused of assaulting someone outside a local night club, then traded to the Jets two days later.

The alleged assault incident's been somewhat brushed aside to this point, but it may have been more serious than it sounded initially. According to the Cleveland Plain-Dealer, the team contacted the FBI because of fears about Edwards' safety.

"They were concerned regarding that incident," FBI Special Agent Scott Wilson said. "We had some conversations with the Browns about possible threats."

Wilson added that there has been no investigation into the threats.

The Plain-Dealer was the first to report on Edwards' alleged run-in, quoting Edward Givens, who works as a promoter, as saying that Edwards punched him in the face. Givens said that it was because Edwards "has a problem with LeBron [James]" and Givens is a friend of James'.

Edwards did not comment on the report and no charges have been filed.

In his first game with the Jets last Monday, Edwards made five catches for 64 yards and one touchdown -- his second-best statistical game of the year, behind a six-catch, 92-yard effort at Denver in Week 2.
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Browns Contacted FBI Over Threats to Braylon Edwards originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 17 Oct 2009 13:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Braylon EdwardsChris BurkeSat, 17 Oct 2009 13:30:00 EST Pocket Presence: Beyond Badhttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/14/pocket-presence-beyond-bad/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/14/pocket-presence-beyond-bad/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/14/pocket-presence-beyond-bad/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It's often said that a team with two quarterbacks really doesn't have any. With that spirit in mind, FanHouse will keep you updated weekly on NFL teams facing potential quarterback controversies.

Yes, he won the game. However, there's no stopping Derek Anderson from showing up high on the list of quarterback controversies every week. Right there with him is the guy Anderson inexplicably beat Sunday despite only completing two of 17 passes -- Trent Edwards. After all, if you can't beat a quarterback who couldn't even complete 12 percent of his throws, who can you beat?

Cleveland Browns: Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn

We'd all love to believe that a win solves everything. Just get something positive on the left-hand side of that won-loss record, and it's looking up from there.

But when you throw 17 passes and only find your teammates successfully with two of them, it masks nothing, except how hopelessly inept your competition must be. Anderson is no safer or more secure in this job now than he was last week, nor should he be.

Anderson had a performance that fits a 35-0 loss perfectly, but instead gave his team a 6-3 win, Anderson knows that his position is likely not stable. In order to show that he deserves to quarterback this team for the rest of the season, Anderson should consider completing at least a higher percentage of throws than JaMarcus Russell. That would be a good start.

Status update: Hot

Buffalo Bills: Trent Edwards and Ryan Fitzpatrick

Yeah, remember that 6-3 game Sunday? Edwards was on the other end of that one. Turns out Browns defensive coordinator Rob Ryan was right when he said Edwards was no Carson Palmer. Ryan could have said Edwards was no Jordan Palmer and probably been correct.

Edwards gets to throw footballs to Lee Evans and Terrell Owens, and he has Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch available to run. Seriously, how is this offense so bad? You can blame the line all you want, but when you watch this team, you see plenty of instances where Edwards has time to step up and throw, only to see that he takes a checkdown or holds the ball too long.

Fitzpatrick might not be Carson Palmer, either, but on a team with expectations much higher than 1-4, it's time to start looking for immediate help wherever possible. Including the bench.

Status update: Hot

Oakland Raiders: JaMarcus Russell and Bruce Gradkowski

The Raiders need to do something. Yes, they have plenty of other problems besides Russell. However, the organization has to believe that they can put Gradkowski out there and not get as embarrassed as they do by Russell.

At least Russell's quarterback rating is higher than Anderson's. He has that going for him.

Gradkowski is not a star in the making for Oakland. However, every time Russell bounces a pass off the grass, it becomes more and more obvious that he isn't, either.

Unless there is a stunning turnaround on the way, Russell will go down as one of the biggest busts in draft history, despite his enormous physical stature and ability.

Status update: Very Warm

Washington Redskins: Jason Campbell and Todd Collins

Campbell isn't the problem, but the 2-3 Redskins have played far too easy a schedule to only be 2-3. They can't play winless teams forever.

The times that Collins has played, the team has usually responded well. He's a veteran who knows both this offense and his Redskin teammates very well. If Campbell underperforms against Kansas City Sunday, there could be a push to make the switch. After all, Washington hosts Philadelphia in Week 7, and even if they beat Kansas City, there will be tremendous pressure to take care of business at home and get above .500.

Status update: Lukewarm

Pocket Presence: Beyond Bad originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>brady quinnbruce gradkowskiderek andersonjamarcus russelljason campbellpocket presenceryan fitzpatricktodd collinstrent edwardsBruce CiskieWed, 14 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST Coach Killers, W5: Browns Pass-Catchershttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/14/coach-killers-w5-browns-pass-catchers/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/14/coach-killers-w5-browns-pass-catchers/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/14/coach-killers-w5-browns-pass-catchers/#commentsFiled under:

Every week, NFL FanHouse hits the lowlights from Sunday's action, looking at those players who did the most to move their head coaches that much closer to returning to the Bed and Breakfast business.

Derek Anderson is by no means Tom Brady. Matter of fact, as far as quarterbacking skills go, he's probably just a notch above Kyle Brady. And when you lead your unit in posting such a pitiful day -- six points, 193 yards, 3.3 yards per play, 22 net passing yards on a 2-for-17 performance -- you're at least partially to blame.

That being said, in the Browns' 6-3 win over the Bills, Anderson got by with no help from his friends. He sang out a tune, and his pass-catchers stood up and walked out on him.

The Bills were missing three starters -- Leodis McKelvin, Donte Whitner and Bryan Scott -- from its secondary, as well as starters from a front seven that could also conceivably make Anderson's job harder. While the Bills' pass defense has been very good thus far, a legitimate offense would exploit such a wounded unit.

Instead, the Browns -- who jettisoned Braylon Edwards earlier in the week due at least in small part to his inconsistent hands and trumpeted Mohamed Massaquoi as an emerging player -- saw its pass-catchers drop nine of Anderson's 17 pass attempts, according to most unofficial counts.

Let's pause for a second to remember Edwards' stellar debut with the Jets the following day -- nine targets, five catches, 64 yards, a remarkable touchdown, another catch that was originally ruled a touchdown before being determined out of bounds a couple of yards short, and a 49-yard pass interference penalty drawn that led to a go-ahead field goal. In fairness, if he was putting up performances like that in Cleveland, they probably wouldn't have traded him (his penchant for swinging away at puny, well-connected civilians aside). But the team obviously doesn't have anyone behind him to step up and do anything. According to Football Outsiders, Mike Furrey is the team's most reliable receiver with just a 52 percent catch rate, and the heralded Massaquoi is only pulling them in at 44 percent.

While 11-for-17, assuming all nine of those drops are caught, isn't exactly a prolific day either, it would have obviously made an impact in the team's fortunes. Especially considering that two of the drops came from Robert Royal -- one on a 3rd-and-5, and another a sure third-quarter touchdown that Mangini lamented after the game as "a beautiful throw." Royal's playing with a broken finger, but if you're on the field it's assumed you can make plays.

"Some of the throws could have been better. Some of them were a function of not looking the ball into the tuck, trying to run," Mangini said. "That was a couple times, guys were more worried with what was going to happen after the catch than securing the catch. There were some throws that were right on target, we had great opportunities and we didn't bring it."

There's already speculation that the seat is hot for Eric Mangini in Cleveland. While it's not his fault Edwards burst onto the New York scene (he had to trade the player he had, not the player at his most idealized), the unfair reality is that the immediate returns on the trade, the duality of its impact on each team, makes him look worse. (Though it can be argued that, given all of the ham-fisted dictatorial stuff he's pulled so far, he's still to blame because of the bad karma he's brought upon himself.)

The simple fact -- contrasts to Edwards the Jet aside, the Browns' pass-catchers have to catch the ball. But that contrast exists, and the early results show the Browns offense, and Mangini, as failures.

Coach Killers, W5: Browns Pass-Catchers originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:08:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>braylon edwardscoach killers 09coachkillers09derek andersonmohamed massaquoiTom MantzouranisWed, 14 Oct 2009 12:08:00 EST Browns Complete 2 Passes, Score 6 Points ... And Winhttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/11/browns-complete-2-passes-score-6-points-and-win/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/11/browns-complete-2-passes-score-6-points-and-win/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/11/browns-complete-2-passes-score-6-points-and-win/#commentsFiled under: ,

Derek AndersonConsidering that Cleveland and Buffalo entered Sunday a combined 1-7 on the year, no one could have been expecting the two teams to wage an all-time classic. But what resulted instead was so far at the opposite end of the spectrum that it may go down as one of the worst NFL games in recent memory.

How bad was it? Well, Browns quarterback Derek Anderson completed 2-of-17 passes for 23 yards, threw an interception -- and won.

Cleveland took advantage of a fumbled punt by Buffalo's Roscoe Parrish with three minutes left to boot a game-winning field goal and claim a 6-3 win.
More: Check Box Score | Dallas Wins in OT | Philly Pummels Tampa Bay

If you want to play devil's advocate for a minute, and argue that the Cleveland and Buffalo defenses were simply that good, go ahead, we'll wait.

Done? Ok, now back to the actual facts ...

Buffalo committed three turnovers -- two fumbles and one Trent Edwards interception -- and ran two plays inside Cleveland's red zone. On the first, they committed a false start, backed up to the 22, lost three yards on the next snap, and wound up throwing an interception on 4th-and-24. The second, from the Cleveland 19, came on a Rian Lindell field goal.

The Browns, meanwhile, only got inside the Buffalo 40 on two occasions -- with both trips ending in Billy Cundiff field goals.

And that was enough to win!

Back to Anderson for a minute. His unbelievable miserable stats were good for a mighty 18.2 passer rating. Compare that to Eli Manning's Week 5 effort -- a perfect 158.3 -- and you can about estimate the gap between the Giants and Browns squads in this 2009 season.

Eric Mangini may never forget this contest, his first win as Cleveland's head coach, but everyone else would probably prefer to never think about it again.
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Browns Complete 2 Passes, Score 6 Points ... And Win originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Billy CundiffDerek AndersonEric ManginiRian LindellRoscoe ParrishTrent EdwardsChris BurkeSun, 11 Oct 2009 16:50:00 EST Browns' D Coordinator: Trent Edwards Is No Carson Palmerhttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/10/browns-d-coordinator-trent-edwards-is-no-carson-palmer/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/10/browns-d-coordinator-trent-edwards-is-no-carson-palmer/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/10/browns-d-coordinator-trent-edwards-is-no-carson-palmer/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Trent EdwardsCleveland's off to an 0-4 start, thanks in no small part to a miserable defense that has allowed more yards per game (403.2) than any team in the league and is No. 31 in points allowed (118).

But the Browns' bumbling hasn't kept defensive coordinator Rob Ryan from flapping his gums prior to this week's game at Buffalo. Friday, Ryan -- twin brother of loud-mouthed (and, thus far, more successful) Jets head coach Rex Ryan) -- called out Bills QB Trent Edwards.

"I don't think that's [Bengals quarterback] Carson Palmer back there by any stretch," Ryan said of Edwards.

"The guy can run and do some things, but we've played Brett Favre, we've played Carson Palmer. Those are two pretty good quarterbacks right there. This guy [Edwards] always seems to have a lot to say, so I'm going to say the same thing: Let's go. Let's get it on, see what he's all about this week.''

Hard to say what exactly brought on Ryan's diatribe against Edwards, but The Buffalo News speculates that it may be an after-effect of a game last season when Edwards' Bills rallied past the Raiders, where Ryan was coaching the defense at the time. After tossing for a career-high 279 yards in that Buffalo victory, Edwards said that the Bills' offense wore down Oakland's D.

Hopefully, there's some other background story that we're not aware of, because that's about the weakest bulletin board material ever.

It's also a bit hard to figure how Ryan could be bad-mouthing anyone at this point, given what his defense has done through four games. No one's going to argue that Edwards is an MVP candidate, but even he might find some openings against a Cleveland defense than ranks 29th against the pass.

Browns' D Coordinator: Trent Edwards Is No Carson Palmer originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 10 Oct 2009 11:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Chris BurkeSat, 10 Oct 2009 11:35:00 EST