Coaching Trees

So far, Bill Belichick disciples have not exactly caught the world on fire. Their combined record as head coaches is 94-109. Message to Mike Holmgren: Please stay away from the Belichick tree!








Charlie Weiss: Notre Dame - 2005-2009: 35-27
Fired after the 2009 season

Romeo Crennel: Cleveland Browns – 2005-2008: 24-40
Fired after the 2008 season

Josh McDaniels: Denver Broncos – 2009: 8-6

Eric Mangini: New York Jets – 2006-2008: 23-25
Fired after the 2008 season
Cleveland Browns – 2009: 4-11
Fired after the 2009 season???

The Browns are heading in the right direction

Nice defense for the third straight week together with the continuing
emergence of Jerome Harrison garnered our Browns their third straight win vs Oakland. But if we are trying to drop forever the heavy burden of losing, we have only just started the journey.

Brown's history: Paul Warfield

Who was the greatest Ohio born player in Cleveland Browns history? One could argue for several notable players like Bernie Kosar, Thom Darden, Dante Lavelli, Bill Willis or others. My choice would be Warren, Ohio and Ohio State great Paul Warfield. A student of the game and a great athlete, Warfield knew how to get into the endzone. The deciding factor for me is that Warfield was a member of the last Cleveland franchise to win a championship, the 1964 Browns.

Unfortunately Warfield spent only 8 of his 13 NFL seasons with the Browns because Art Modell in his infinite wisdom saw fit to trade Warfield, in the prime of his career, to Miami for Mike Phipps. Warfield was a key playmaker on the Dolphins, where he won 2 Super Bowl championships, including the undefeated 1972 team.

Thank you Randy Lerner

USA Today summed it up best in an article today. The Browns have hired a proven winner and taken a critical first step in moving this franchise towards it's first Super Bowl. A Merry Christmas to all!

The Playmaker: Josh Cribbs

Hats off to Josh Cribbs for an NFL record breaking performance and the Browns for a fantastic show yesterday. It's playmakers that win games in the NFL and rarely has that been more on display than yesterday.

3 wins in 2009 assure that the Browns likely will not finish with the worst record in the NFL this year however the goal of all Browns fans is not to avoid complete humiliation, it is to return Northern Ohio's NFL franchise to a level of football that honors our football tradition. Our expectations are to win our first Super Bowl championship. This won't happen in 2009 but as we march forward, the Browns have to put more playmakers on the field. That logically will require leadership in the front office and on the sideline. The rumors of Mike Holmgren's arrival are a reassuring sign, as he is a proven leader and winner. Let's cross our fingers..

Brown's history: Brian Sipe

Ask a Brown's fan who grew up in the 1970's their favorite Brown's player and you are quite likely to hear the name Brian Sipe. Compared to that era's best QB's like Dan Fouts, Terry Bradshaw and Roger Staubach, Sipe was relatively small in stature and while Sipe had great velocity on his throws and was accurate, he certainly couldn't wing it 70 yards like Bradshaw. Instead what made Sipe a consistent producer were his leadership skills, a lion's heart and his ability to read defenses as well as any quarterback of his generation. In few words, Sipe was a playmaker and a winner.

Is Archie Bunker running the Browns?

Most Browns fans grew up in northern Ohio working class towns. Values like hard work, common sense, sacrifice and honesty form the core of an Ohioan, and football is one of the favorite ways by which we express those beliefs.

Years ago, I was in a bar in New York City and had a sport conversation with a gent who believed that the only reason Joe Namath was successful in the NFL was that he often took a 7 or more step drop when going back to pass. It was with complete certitude that this old man explained how Namath's success in the NFL was soley due to the fact that the dumbass defensive linemen of that era, when pass rushing, would count to 5 steps and stop. This rather intoxicated New York bore strongly resembled the 70's sitcom character Archie Bunker and I still laugh as I recall that conversation.

In the NFL you score points with playmakers. With the exception of Josh Cribbs, today's Browns are completely lacking in playmakers and one has to wonder if players like Kellen Winslow that have been traded away, were dismissed with the same twisted logic that the great Archie Bunker might have come up with, over a beer or two.

I would like to give the benefit of the doubt to the right kind gentleman from Brooklyn who owns our Cleveland Browns though it is unthinkable to forgive his boss, the "Coach" from Connecticut who in fact runs our team. We are still with you Mr. Lerner but this January when you start the searching for the next coach and general manager of the Browns, please search for a person who brings a little bit of Ohio common sense to the table. Study the thought process of our next leader and avoid going for the all show no substance types that so commonly litter the East Coast of our great nation. It might make sense to go have a beer with each candidate because it's amazing what we reveal about ourselves once we've pounded a brew or two.

The Miracle of Cleveland

Our 2009 Browns finally gave us a performance to be proud of with a sterling defensive effort on Thursday night, all the better that it came against a hated rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers. Best of all, the Steelers found themselves on the ropes and were desperate for a victory. The beating at the hands of the Browns effectively pushes the Steelers completely out of post-season contention.

And finally, the Browns now have a chance to avoid being the worst team in the NFL during the 2009 season. While this is hardly something to be proud of, it seems a miracle compared to the team's pathetic state of only a few weeks ago. So let us all extend our heartfelt gratitude to "coach" and his right hand man, Brown's owner Randy Lerner for providing us one of the most unforgettable miracles in Cleveland sports history, "The Miracle at Cleveland"!

Cleveland Browns "football" and the national media

It is just a few hours before kickoff. The staggered Steelers come to town to battle the beleaguered Browns. The weather is going to an added opponent for both teams. I viewed the following video to get a feel for what the national media thinks of our Browns. If you bristle at statements like “The Browns have no talent” and “There is no chance the Steelers can lose to the Browns” then DO NOT watch this video. Rarely do you hear such definitive statements from prognosticators. They usually hedge their bets to some extent. But the Browns SUCK and everybody knows it so no hedging necessary. Way to go Randy and Eric. You make us so proud!

Brown's history: Jerry Sherk

I didn't have the honor of following the Browns during the dynasty years of Paul Brown so I have to exclude many incredible players when asked my opinion on who was the greatest Brown's player I have ever seen. From the highlight films, it's clear that Jim Brown was probably the greatest player in NFL history, not just Cleveland Browns history, but I only witnessed Mr. Brown winning the war in Europe together with Trini Lopez and Charles Bronson.

For me, amongst those I have seen nobody topped Jerry Sherk. Even if I was a teenage kid, who knew little about football, Sherk was simply so good that it was impossible not to watch him. Cat like quickness and instincts, and a natural nose for the ball, he was always in the middle of the action in spite of constant double and triple teaming by opponents.

Big Ten rejects Browns entrance

Sources close to The Brown Log reported that Randy Lerner met with Big Ten commissioner Jim Delaney in Chicago last week. They discussed the possibility of the Browns joining the Big Ten. The conference has been looking for an additional team for several years now. A twelfth team would permit the Big Ten to hold a conference title game which translates into big bucks for the entire conference. Lerner has been shopping around for a league the Browns could actually compete in and bring the Cleveland fans that well deserved championship.

The Big Ten athletic directors and coaches were asked about the possible Browns admission into the league. Penn State coach Joe Paterno was quoted as saying “Ah jeez, not those clowns!” He also expressed concerns that the locker rooms (and toilets) at Cleveland Stadium were extremely far from the sidelines. Coach Paterno does not want to repeat his “poopy pants” incident he had at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State coach Jim Tressel expressed concern that the Buckeyes strength of schedule would take a considerable hit by playing the Browns every year. Ohio State’s perennial BCS bowl appearance could be jeopardized.

In the end, The Big Ten realized that admitting the Browns into the Big Ten would be a downgrade not an upgrade. Browns coach Eric Mangini was not too disappointed by the snub when he learned that players could not be fined in the Big Ten. Teams still being considered for Big Ten admission are the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, The Grand Valley State Lakers, and the Mount Union Purple Raiders. An anonymous source reports that Randy Lerner admitted “Those three teams would wipe up the field with the Browns and would be much more competitive in the Big Ten then the Browns could ever hope to be”. The search goes on.

It's the most wonderful time of the year

The holiday season is truly the most wonderful time of the year. Friends and family come from all parts to share in the warmth and fellowship of the yuletide lore. What better time to recall one of the most beloved players in Brown's history, future member of the Professional Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio: Turkey Joe Jones.

Back in the 1970's more often than not, the Cleveland Browns sucked, but unlike today's Browns, they were never the worst team in the NFL.

In stark contrast to 2009, way back then, occasionally the Brownies gave us something to be profoundly proud of, like this classic play from days gone by. Ti saluto, Don Turkey Jones......

CFL rejects Browns entrance

CFL officials have closed the door to any potential entry of the Cleveland Browns into the Canadian Football League.

CFL sources, citing the import of the passing game in Canadian football, said the Browns don't have the talent to win games on a regular basis in the Canadian game. CFL rules incentivize passing and teams only have 2 downs to get 10 yards and first down.

"Coach" and his right hand man, Browns owner Randy Lerner, had made an exploratory visit to Canada (see photo) and were said to be terribily disappointed at this rejection because, quote "We wuz lookin forward to some good fishin' and shit" unquote.

Lerner stated however that the CFL rejection will not stop his 5 year plan to bring Cleveland Browns fans a championship. Rumor is that a meeting is now planned with the Big Ten conference.

BREAKING NEWS: Coach Mangini Resigns

It was reported on ESPN tonight that Coach Mangini has resigned. Note the screen grab for confirmation of the report. Thank you Sweet Jesus! Thank you! What a happy day. Finally, that no-talent megalomaniac will no longer drag our beloved Browns down and further embarrass the franchise. It will be a long road to travel but the Browns organization can finally start on a path back to respectability. There has been no word on an interim head coach for the remainder of the season or a replacement for next year. Please check back with the Brown Log for further reports.
UPDATE: Correction. Head coach Mark Mangino (that's with an "o") resigned as head coach of the Kansas Jayhawks earlier this evening. Head coach Eric Mangini (that's with an "i") is still the head coach of the Cleveland Browns. Crap.
You say Mangino, I say Mangini. Well, we can dream can't we!

HE WILL-GO-ALL-THE-WAY!

Eric Mangini’s football acumen never ceases to astound. Besides the 13 man field goal block, Mangini has come up with many other great schemes to get results on the gridiron. The Brown Log has acquired a Cleveland playbook for the upcoming game against the San Diego Chargers. Mangini has used his super-genius secret statistical formula to determine the Browns will be down by a score of 37-3 at the two-minute warning of the second half. At this point Mangini plans to pull Norv Turner aside and tell him that the Browns have (how shall I put this) a special needs player. If this player could score a touchdown on the last play of the game it would mean the world to him. Norv being the good guy that he is will certainly oblige. Boom! Touchdown! Man-genius does it again! The trick will be finding the right player to pull of the “special needs” player role. Dwayne Rudd was contacted and is practicing with the team this week. You can see the play being executed in this unauthorized Browns practice video. This play is called Rudd-Right-88 and is code-named "Matt Ziesel's Touchdown Run"

BREAKING NEWS: Browns are looking to change leagues

A stunning development has been leaked today to The Brown Log. The top management of the Cleveland Browns, have launched a project to change leagues, leaving the NFL for greener pastures. An insider confided to The Brown Log that the target of this project is "to deliver a long overdue and well deserved championship to Cleveland fans". Rumor is that the primary objective would be to join the Canadian Football League.

Browns representatives watched yesterday's Grey Cup to build insight into this new potential partner. In fact rumor has it that on the next to last play of the Grey Cup, the Saskatchewan Roughriders used a scheme designed by Eric Mangini, the 13 man field goal block.

We'll have more on this development in the coming days, stay tuned.

Browns are Super Bowel Champions!

The Browns have done it! They are Super Bowel champions of the football world! In one of the greatest games in Super Bowel history, the Browns dug deep and showed the kind of character and fortitude we all know they possess. It did not look good at first. The offense, which has been the strong suit for this team in its quest to be the worst, scored three touchdowns in the first quarter. But the defense picked up the slack and quickly got the Browns back into contention by giving up three quick touchdowns themselves. With the Browns on top 27-24 at halftime, the outcome was in question. But the defense came through. On a Hail Mary pass at the end of the game Hank Poteat was called for pass interference. On an un-timed down Matt Stafford threw his 5th touchdown pass of the game to tie it up at 37. The last rookie to throw five TDs in a game was Ray Buivid of the 1937 Bears. What an added honor for the valiant D! The Lions kicked the extra point to win the game 38-37. Everyone from the ball boy to the head coach can share in the title. They have all contributed and should all be very proud. Now the Browns can say without dispute that they are one of the worst teams of all time! Way to go Brownies! We love you!

Dog fights on the gridiron: Penguin's inferiority complex

Are Cleveland Browns players suffering serious injuries in after practice "opportunity periods" because former ballboy Eric Mangini hopes that ridiculously tough drills will convince players that he is a tough guy like John Wayne, Clint Eastwood or Woody Hayes instead of Burgess Meredith's version of The Penguin? I'm very concerned that the answer to that question is a resounding "YES!"

This week the Cleveland Browns were required to meet with NFL Players Union officials over concerns about player safety related to Eric Mangini's now infamous "opportunity periods". This season alone, at least two players have been maimed with serious injuries in these drills.

The Browns have been hush hush about providing details into the after practice drills but from the sounds of it, the opportunity periods are an excessively violent drill that young players must "volunteer" for to show their bloodlust and to impress their "leader", who dangles the incentive of increased playing time in front of those who complete the drill most successfully.

People from Ohio love football and we love tough coaches. I personally own nearly every film, book, article and piece of memorabilia about one of football histories toughest coaches, Woody Hayes. Hayes was known to have brutally tough practices, but if you dig deep into his preparation and read the many books Hayes wrote, you'll find Hayes was thoughtful in planning practices that did not unnecessarily risk the safety of his players. So yes, Hayes was tough, but he was also wise. What about Mangini? Well, Eric Mangini is clearly no Woody Hayes. Hayes' toughness seemed natural, it came from a place deep inside him. People call this character. Mangini's toughness appears to be more the play-acting of a person who is just not up to a challenge, and has to demonstrate false bravado for fear that everyone will realize he is without substance.

The opportunity periods must be completely devoid of the kind of careful planning that Hayes was known for. Frankly the drills sound depressingly similar to Michael Vick and dog fighting. Vick went to prison for organizing dog fights that maimed and sometimes killed animals. As a dog lover, I felt compassion and anger when I read what those poor animals endured. Reading Jamal Lewis' complaints about Mangini, it occured to me that perhaps if we knew every detail about the Brown's opportunity sessions, we might all feel the same shame and pain for the human beings that Mangini might be abusing.

When all the details finally come out, we may be faced with a Mangini scandal. From what we already know about the two serious injuries that occured during the opportunity periods, it's apparent that at a minimum this represents irresponible behavior by Mangini, who is entrusted with the duty to safeguard his players health, not to brazenly abuse them. Yet another sign that the Cleveland Browns are on the wrong path!

Ray of Light

Well, we were all cringing, waiting for that defining shameful moment during the Monday night game against the Ravens. It came late in the game after a Browns interception. A frustrated Brady Quinn chopped blocked Terrell Suggs after he threw the pick. That’s right, the golden boy, golden-domer was flagged for a cheap shot. I can understand why he was frustrated. He sucks and everybody around him sucks. That had to be embarrassing in front of a national audience. There is a debate as to whether it was a dirty play. Ray Lewis thinks so. Lewis is screaming for Quinn to be fined. That is rich Ray. Why don’t you have your posse stab him in the chest? That would be proper retribution right? Ray Lewis was convicted of obstructing justice in a case where members of his posse allegedly stabbed to death two men from Akron, Ohio. This tragic event occurred in Atlanta during Super Bowl weekend about 11 years ago. No one was ever convicted of the murders. So the convicted felon who covered up two murders in order to protect his buddies demands justice concerning a cheap play on the football field. Why don’t you drive 30 miles south of Cleveland Stadium and complain to the families of the two murdered men. The following SNL clip says it all.

The Browns are Making History

The Cleveland Browns have scored just five offensive touchdowns in the last fifteen games. The last team to be that astonishingly inept was the 1933-34 Cincinnati Reds. Randy and Eric were definitely inspired by that team of days gone by.

The worst offense ever

You have a better chance seeing the Browns score a touchdown on the Tudor electric football field then you do in actuality. Stay angry Browns fans.

Are you ready for some pratfalls?

On September 21, 1970, The Cleveland Browns defeated the New York Jets 31-21 at Cleveland Municipal Stadium in the first- ever Monday Night Football Game. At the time, the weeknight game was thought to be a fleeting gimmick. But as we all know, MNF quickly developed into an American institution and Cleveland was there to usher it in. Back in the good old days when the Brownies were a legitimate NFL team, I would get so excited to watch them play on the national stage. Sometimes they won, sometimes they lost but it was always a thrill to listen to Dandy Don, Frank and Howard focus on our beloved Browns. My personal favorite was a 1979 game against the Cowboys. It was all Browns that night in a 26-7 victory. And there was the added bonus of watching Drew Pearson vomit through his facemask. Flash forward to the present. I have never dreaded a game more then the upcoming Monday nighter against the Ravens. The story lines will be dominated by the “brown out”, the debacle that is the 2009 season and what an inept buffoon Eric Mangini is. The question is not will the Browns win or lose. The question is not will the Browns get blown out. Both are forgone conclusions. The question is what embarrassing, memorable event will occur that shames us all. I sense something epic. Will Eric Mangini’s hair catch on fire a la Mayor Ralph Perk? Will Lake Erie catch on fire behind the stadium? Just when we think it cannot get any worse, it gets worse. And to top it off, the shellacking will be at the hands of the hated ratbirds of Baltimore. Stay angry Browns fans, you have every right to.

Jim Brown: Intimidation and domination

Once upon a time, a long, long, long time ago, the Cleveland Browns inspired fear and awe in their opponents.

Home Is Where The Heart Is

What do trailer parks and Cleveland sports have in common? God REALLY hates them both! If we didn’t have bad luck, we’d have no luck at all. Perhaps luck has nothing to do with it. Luck always seems to be against those who depend on it. Successful men subscribe to cause and effect. Owner, Randy Lerner hired an unqualified head coach. Head Coach, Eric Mangini then convinced Lerner to hire an unqualified (and powerless) GM, George Kokinis. We have three men (now two, thanks for the memories George) using poor judgment and making bad decisions. The result: a 1-7 team with no hope of salvaging the second half of the season. Consider this. The Chicago Bears sandwiched a 30-6 victory over the Browns between a 45-10 drubbing by the Bengals and a 41-21 smackdown at the hands of the Cardinals. The Browns’ offense is on track to set some dubious records. The fewest points scored in a season by an offense, fewest touchdowns scored in a season by an offense, and the lowest quarterback rating for a season by a starting quarterback are all within reach. Brian Daboll and his merry gang have scored five offensive touchdowns. The New Orleans Saints’ defense has scored six. And if the putrid play on the field weren’t enough, there seems to be a daily avalanche of criticism heaped on the Browns, Lerner, Mangini and Derek Anderson in the national and local media. Every bit of the criticism is justified but it is hard to take. Just once I would like to read something positive about my Browns. I will work on that in the next entry.

Many fans are hopeful that the Browns can sneak up on the staggered Ravens next Monday night. But the Browns seem to save their most ludicrous moments for the bright lights of the national stage. I expect to see the players file out of a tiny car like midget circus clowns. Then they will run up to Ray Lewis and spray him in the face with a seltzer bottle. Actually I would like to see that. So Browns fans just half to grin and bear this surreal, nightmarish season. But come January 4th, Randy Lerner better fire Man-dumbass, do his research, check all references and hire both a qualified general manager and a competent head coach (yes, in that order) and turn this franchise around. Manufacture some Browns good fortune Mr. Lerner by making a careful and measured decision just once.

Brown's history: Don Shula

There are countless Paul Brown disciples that became successful head coaches. My favorite is Hall of Famer Don Shula

Shula, who was born in Grand River, Ohio, played defensive back for the Cleveland Browns under Paul Brown from 1951 to 1953. Interesting to note is that in the history of Pro Football only two coaches have had perfect seasons. Don Shula with the 1972 Dolphins in the NFL and Paul Brown with the 1948 Cleveland Browns of the AAFL.

Shula became a head coach in the NFL at the ripe young age of 33. Sound familiar? If so, the question in everyone's mind is, why was Shula such an instant success? My answer would be Shula's depth and variety of experience was notable even at 33 years old.

Shula played and studied under Paul Brown and another Brown disciple named Weeb Ewbank at Baltimore. Shula began his coaching career as an assistant coach at the University of Kentucky working for yet another Paul Brown disciple named Blanton Collier. Shula also was an assistant coach at the University of Virginia and defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions.

What does this all say?? Anyone who has run a business knows that as a check and balance to your own first impressions, when you hire someone you look to find several references. Shula at the ripe young age of 33, had served as a coach under 3 different men, and played for 2 more, all whom recommended him highly. It's a basic rule in business to hire persons with multiple good references.

Eric Mangini worked as a ballboy and gopher for Bill Belichick and obviously knew how to kiss up to Belichick but one has to wonder if Mangini learned anything other than how to impress in a short interview and perhaps while working for Belichick, how to cheat. In a sad and final irony, I've read articles in which Belichick himself is quoted as stating he never viewed Mangini as head coach material.

Mangini's results lead fans to question just how professional the Browns hiring practices are. Why did the Cleveland Browns hire a person with such a thin resume? It's just not consistent with lessons anyone could learn from studying Brown's history.

Learning from Brown's History

Many football historians refer to the Cleveland Browns in their early years as "the New York Yankees of football." With the 2009 Yankees just winning their 27th World Series title it's worthwhile to reflect on the Brown's historical achievements. It's said that history is filled with lessons we can all learn from and those great Browns teams from the past offer many lessons that contrast to the pitiful situation we have today.

Today let's pay homage to one of the greatest coaches in football history, Paul Brown, the man, according to many, for whom is team is named.

Brown's achievments are long enough to fill pages and pages of blogs among them player intelligence tests, helmet radio transmitters, and the facemask. He is also credited with developing the genesis of the west coast offense later made famous by one of his many disciples Bill Walsh. What today's Cleveland Browns could learn from this great figure in football history is that a coach must be able to organize, create, innovate and execute. He should command respect but know when to use common sense in dealing with people and most of all, he needs to produce results. In their first 10 years under Paul Brown, the Cleveland Browns played in the championship game 10 times and won 7 of them.

Ohio is home to an incredible football legacy. We are the birthplace of pro football and home to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. We deserve to be home to a football franchise that honors that legacy.

Burning Up The National Football League

Well the dumpster fire that is the Cleveland Browns continues to burn out of control. This past week Randy Lerner attempted to overcome his agoraphobia. After watching the beat down at the hands of the Bears, he let us fans know that he wants to add a “credible football presence”. And Casper the Friendly Owner did meet with two longtime fans and listened to their concerns/complaints/criticisms. Rumor has it he floated through the wall to enter the meeting room. Whoopi Goldberg served as medium. Seriously, I applaud Lerner for meeting with those fans. Most owners’ egos would not allow them to pull that off. It is about time we got some reaction from the brass. Even Captain Smith of the Titanic let those in steerage know they were f’ed. This pow wow came the day after The Browns let general manager George Kokinis loose. "Reclusive" George makes Lerner look like Kanye West at a Taylor Swift convention. No one knows what he did if anything. Maybe he was the Michael Scott of the Browns and planned all the birthday parties. Coach Man-dumbass made ALL the personnel decisions. This is evident by the team’s 1-7 record and the fact that both the offense and defense rank no higher then 31st in virtually every statistical category. Now Captain Ahab says he will be involved in the hiring of the next general manager. Oh, no you don’t! This next GM needs to evaluate the situation without any obligation to Man-dumbass. And I expect the next general manager (whomever he/she may be) to throw Ahab overboard. So for Mangini to have input in the process would be like Louis XVI helping out with the executions. Now if I’m wrong and Man-dumbass is still here next year, throw another couch in that dumpster and watch it BURN, BURN, BURN!

Browns Scouts Have Found A Gem

The Browns are in dire need of talent. So the scouts have been dispatched far and wide in search of prospects. They are very high on Mauriece McIver currently #52 with the Las Vegas Cobras. His instincts are uncanny, his football I.Q. off the charts. This type of player would fit perfectly into the Browns' system. Check out his highlight video.

Browns top prospect @ Yahoo! Video

Be Careful What You Wish For

Browns fans are pissed! Coming off of another horrific loss (this time to the Bears 30-6), the Browns again demonstrated that they are the worst team in the NFL. Five turnovers and dropped passes were the key this ugly loss. I do not think you could assemble a more incompetent football team if you tried. But I will get to that point in a moment. Dawg Pound Mike has decided to do something about this travesty. On the November 16th Monday night game against the Ravens, Mike proposes that all fans stay out of their seats until after the opening kickoff. I like the idea. It is a non-violent protest that makes the point. Gandhi would be proud. Check out his website here http://www.dawgpoundmike.com/id89.html and by all means support him. I am afraid that in a few more weeks no organization will be necessary for such gridiron disobedience. You will not see the fans after the opening kickoff or for the rest of the game! In fact it is looking like Cleveland area fans will experience multiple blackouts this season. This makes me very nervous. The city of Industry just outside of Los Angeles has unanimously approved a proposal for a new NFL stadium to be built. The idea is to build the stadium then lure an existing team to the area. The Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers, St. Louis Rams, Minnesota Vikings and Jacksonville Jaguars have been named as possible teams to move. To be targeted, a franchise has to meet one or two or both of the following criteria. Either they are without a new stadium deal or their attendance is poor. This is a horrible time for Browns fans to be turning away from the team. Don’t get me wrong. The snubbing is justified. The Browns suck. I have never been more frustrated with the team in my life. And I don’t want to get all Area 51 here but is it possible that someone thinks it would be a good idea to move the Browns to Los Angeles? A way to accomplish this would be to make the team so pathetic that fans finally walk away. This would be a difficult task given the loyalty of the Browns fan base. The team would have to lose virtually every game, get rid of all talented players, never score touchdowns, drop passes, give up big plays on defense, lose all home games, never beat the Steelers, Ravens or Bengals and wear all brown pants before the fans would even consider not following the Browns. So I am putting the Browns on notice. As crappy as this team is do not even think about taking it away! We need to all band together with a very loud voice and say “Randy Lerner, get your win on NOW!”

Browns Fall To Tuskers

The Cleveland Browns were trounced by the Florida Tuskers Sunday 31-3.

A Glance At The Standings

With a glance at the standings we see that the Browns, while not the worst team in the league, definitely have their work cut out for them. If the Brownies could some how figure out to block, run, tackle and catch, they just might be able to catch the Redwoods and possibly overtake the Locomotives in the standings. However, surpassing the Florida Tuskers would be a tall order at this point. Hey wait a minute! The Browns could not beat the New York Sentinels or the Florida Tuskers. Who am I kidding? They couldn’t beat the Memphis Maniax of the XFL, the San Antonio Gunslingers of the USFL or the Shreveport Steamers of the WFL. Now if the Steamers moved to Cleveland, they would be the…..oh nevermind.

Seriously, this has to be one of the worst teams ever to take the field. The 1999 expansion Browns scored 28 offensive touchdowns while going 2-14. That is 1.75 TDs per game. The 2009 Browns are on pace to score a little over 9 touchdowns for the entire season! That comes out to about half a touchdown per game.
Let’s see what our fearless leader Randy Lerner has to say.












Thank you, Randy for those soothing words. I feel a lot better now. Does this guy even exist? Maybe Keyser Söze owns the Browns. The only thing rarer then a Randy Lerner sighting is a Browns TD. If anyone has evidence of either, please let me know.

The Peter Principle

As I watched Butch Davis's North Carolina Tarheels blow an 18-point lead to struggling Florida State the other night, curiously, I began to wax nostalgic. At first I was perplexed by these unexpected feelings. But as I thought about the current Browns I began to understand why. The 2009 Browns are horrific. Coach Mangini has fans crying out "Romeo, Romeo, where for art thou Romeo?"! These Browns can't run, run block, pass, catch, pass block, defend the run or rush the passer. Consequently, they are out of every game. Even if the score is relatively close, you know the Browns will never pull it out. This is BORRRING! Now the Butch Davis Browns knew how to lose. Under Butch the Browns engineered some of the most memorable, excruciating, unbelievable, unthinkable ways to lose NFL football games. My question to you is what is the most incredible Browns loss in the Lerner era? My vote goes to the Dwayne Rudd helmet game. It was opening day 2002 against the Kansas City Chiefs. With 29 seconds left Phil Dawson kicked a field goal (his fourth of the day) to put the Browns on top 39-37. Dawson and Gardocki (the place kick holder) were called for unsportsmanlike conduct. That's right the kicker and the punter were called for taunting. As a result Dawson had to kick from the 15 yard line. The Chiefs ran the ball back to their own 35. After a twelve yard scramble Trent Green spiked the ball with four seconds remaining. Then, Dwayne Rudd blitzed on the following Hail Mary play. As Green was being pulled down by Rudd, he flicked the ball to lineman John Tait. Tait had never run with the ball in his football life dating all the way back to Pop Warner. But on this day against the Browns he rumbled 28 yards down to the Browns 25 yard line. Rudd thought he had sacked Green and the game was over. So he did what any classless football player would do. He ripped his helmet off and strutted around. Why wouldn't Rudd want to bring attention to himself? He was part of a defense that gave up three Priest Holmes rushing touchdowns in the last 9 minutes of the game. Since the game was not actually over Rudd was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct for taking his helmet off. The ball was moved half the distance to the goal line. Morten Anderson kicked the game-winning field goal with no time on the clock. That Browns fans is how to lose an NFL game.

Maiden Voyage of The Brown Log

Welcome to my first ever blog. This blog will be all about the Cleveland Browns and how completely and unbelievably inept the franchise has become. I started this thing not because I hate the Browns, but because I love the Browns! Hell,my DNA strands are orange with white and brown stripes. I just think we fans deserve much better. Like many fans I inherited this passion from my Dad. He grew up on the Browns and imparted to me the proud history of the team. Paul Brown, Jim Brown, Otto Graham. They were the New York Yankees of the NFL, the model franchise. Fast forward 45 years later and what happened? They are now the laughing stock of the league and arguably the worst franchise in the NFL. Matt Taibbi of the Rolling Stone thinks so. Matt usually warns us of the greedy bastards on Wall Street or the war pigs that get us into all kinds of trouble around the world. But in the current issue of Rolling Stone he felt compelled to deviate from his usual geopolitical themes to let the world know that Coach Eric Mangini has taken our beloved Brownies to new depths. Rock on Matt!
At first, I tried venting my frustrations by writing letters to Randy Lerner. I have written three. He never wrote back. I cannot believe it! That one-way correspondence was not cathartic at all for me. My hope with this blog is that we Browns fans can create a loud enough voice to be heard. We can tell Lerner and Mangini and whoever else screws up the Browns that we are mad as hell and we are not going to take it anymore! I will post after every game and any other time Browns news is made. Hopefully I will occassionally have something positive to comment on. So go Browns! Beat the Packers! Or at least keep the Green Bay offense to under 500 yards.