Thoughts on Final Cuts, the QB Situation and Bernie Kosar

*Each time I listen to Bernie Kosar open his mouth, I die a little inside. I mean sure, he has some good insights and really knows defenses. I think he'd make a good offensive coordinator (though it's pretty clear his team would thrown 99% of the time). But either he has a real problem or he's pulling a Harry Doyle and keeping a nipper of Jack Daniels up there in the broadcast booth with him.

*No real surprises among final cuts. Derek Anderson made it for now and would likely step in if Charlie Frye gets injured in Week 1 and is out for awhile. Otherwise, he will get the most coveted job in sports...the 3rd QB. This is a pretty good life.

*Cutting Melila "Manu Manu the Slender" Purcell is disappointing, though not surprising, considering that Bird couldn't find him listed in any draft guide. My guess is that he'll end up on the practice squad. Chase Pittman and his hair were also let go. Pittman may end up on the practice squad, or he may end up in a boy band.

*Kudos to Kris Griffin for apparently making the team. He has become a fast favorite among those of us here at Metcalf up the Middle.

*Brady Quinn makes me feel giddy. He goes through his reads quickly and makes smart decisions with the football. We all remember Tim Couch dinking and dunking his way downfield, but he always appeared to use those outlets because he was panicked. Quinn calmly goes through his progressions quickly and seems to make the right reads most of the time. However....

*Charlie Frye starting game 1 is the right move. Charlie has some mobility and hasn't been terrible during preseason (Derek Anderson has). We play Pittsburgh, Baltimore and New England in the early weeks. No use throwing Brady to those wolves. If Frye succeeds against those teams, great. If not, look for Brady to start after the bye week.

*Look for the Browns to take a flyer on defensive end Bobby Hamilton, long-time Crennel protege in the 3-4, who was recently cut by the Jets. Seth Payne who went to Cornell (ever heard of it?) and sang in the group Here Comes Treble with Dunder Mifflin's own Andy Bernard, may also provide some help.

* One week until the bullets start flying for reals. Get your jersey out of storage (who am I kidding...you've been wearing it all year. Brown and orange looks good with everything).

Separated at Birth?

Willie McGinest and Lennie James from the show Jericho...separated at birth?

Browns Broncos Update

Separated at birth 1. Simon Fraser and Mad Dog Bob Golic

Separated At Birth 2 Leon Williams and the Predator

After the disgrace that was the Lions game last week, the Browns came out and solidified the team in a great effort against the Broncos. Here are some thoughts.

• Welcome to the season Joe Jurevicious. A virtual apparition so far throughout training camp and week 2, JJ showed up with some nice routes, good hands, and an almost perfect TD hookup with Brady Quinn (who I will discuss later).


• Amon Gordon is a starter in Denver. How many Browns can fill the Bronco D line. I bet their just salivating over the thought of Alvin McKinley as a FA. Oh wait, they already signed him. Next year we could see the dynamic duo of Simon Fraser and Babatunde Oshinowo in Bronco uniforms. Where is Mike Myers(cincy). He would be a much better DE that the fat Smith. Shawn Smith at DE has been a disappointment so far. He has been lost and has not made an impact. Although with Orpheus on the mend, he is better than the alternatives, i.e. Simon Fraser (aka poor mans Bob Golic).


• On the opening drive I noticed a few keys that I am very optimistic about. 1. The pass protection looks great. 2. With that being said, went it broke down, it is still nice to have the legs and athleticism of Charlie Frye.3. No more stupid penalties in the red zone. 4. Jamal Lewis is awesome running behind the left side of our line.


• If we can't get pressure on the QB, our zone is holier than the Pope. Our LB's don't drop far enough, and our CB's leave too much cushion. We can't keep giving up 3rd and 12's and hope to win.


• Braylon looks like a new player this year. He is a bona fide superstar this year.


• D'Qwell Jackson was an absolute animal this game. He is consistently around the ball, but tonight he came with authority. He played like a beast, and I hope to see it continue. His partner Leon "The Predator" Williams was solid again against the run, but he needs to get back in those aforementioned zone defensive schemes. We just can't give up those 30 Yard chunks on drag routes.


• In the roster battle between Chaun Thompson and David McMillan, CT found himself a spot in the game. He was in another gear tonight, chasing down QB's running backs, and being a stud on special teams. Kris Griffin also should earn a spot over Mason Unk, Clifton Smith, and Jason Short. He has been a sure tackler and is a special teams star.


• Our Defense is now littered with play-makers on the ends, the middle, and in the secondary.


• Brady Quinn instills confidence in me. He has command out there. Even his dump off passes came after he went through his progressions, and then he zipped it to the back. I really think he is going to be great for us. That being said, I think we wait to start him until after the bye week week 7. Let Frye take the beatings from Pittsburgh, NE , and Baltimore. If we can sneak out some wins, Quinn can emerge for the second half of the season with an easier looking schedule.


• Kenny Wright made some nice plays. I didn't think much of the signing in the off season, but the more I watched him, the more I think he can give us much needed depth at CB.


• Overall, a solid performance by the first teamers against a good team. Our offense was rhythmic and dominating. Our Defense was solid, but never was able to deliver the knock out punch. If they can figure out how to get off of the field on third down, we should look good.

Browns v. Lions Recap

The story, of course, is Brady Quinn coming in and leading two Browns drives for touchdowns. However, the rest of the Browns inadequacies need to be discussed as well. Here are some thoughts:

• The Viva Viagra commercial played 17 times during the game. If I am ever 40 years old and in a band singing about hurrying home to tap my wife.... kill me. I had nightmares about that advertisement. "This lonesome toad is sick of the road.... I can't wait to get home"...the bassist (awful).


• Bernie Kosar should be a coach. He recognizes defenses, and play calls before they happen. Our own coaches and players don't see them as well as he does. He seems to know before a play happens whether it will be successful or not. I feel like Payton Manning has that same diagnosis ability, and he has the ability to change plays to avoid the ones that are doomed from the start. Wish our QB's could do the same.


• On another note, Bernie was hilarious tonight. He had classic lines including, "Teddy Washington is 2 frosties short of 400 lbs." When referring to Lions DE Francis with the Hawaiian first name, he said," I have less than a zero percent chance of getting that right." He also claimed that he was not nearly the athlete that Leigh Bodden is. Good call Bernie.


• Jamal Lewis is going to have 1200 yards and 10-15 TD's if he is healthy. I love watching him crack skulls with defenders. DB's get out of his way. (recall Earl Little)


• DA has a great arm. That being said, he cannot manage an offense. He made great throws to Braylon, but his debacle from the one, was the worst Browns offensive display since a Doug Peterson led a Browns series. Timeout, false start, delay of game, timeout, interception. Wow.


• Braylon is gonna be great this year. He is gliding out there. Great block too. I am concerned that JJ is so lost. We need more production from another wideout. JJ hasn't been involved in the offense at all so far.



• Wimbley and Peek are as formidable a duo as Davey Boy and dynamite of the British Bulldogs. Wimbley is in the backfield on every play, and Peek mops up the messes he creates.

  

• Leon Williams and D'Quell Jackson are more like Jim and Bret Hart of the Hart Foundation. They are not quite as good, but they are showing some great promise on the inside.


• The Browns Defense is much better when Simon Fraser is not on the field. Every long run occurred up his hole. With the Smith's on the field and Teddy in the middle, the run defense was much better.


• Mike Adams got his ass handed to him by TJ Duckett. BTW is Duckett gonna make the Lions. I wouldn't mind him as a second back.

• Travis Wilson needs to take the reigns on the number three position at WR. He has the talent and the ability to get open. He needs to relax and play like he can. He can be our number two receiver by the end of the year.


• The amount of false starts by the Browns was tragic.


• After 3 straight unsuccessful fade routs thrown by Dorsey, how about a fade stop. Always worked in flag football.


• Jerome Perry should no longer be on the team. He was so abused today. The end of the first half showed how bad he actually is.


• Chaun Thompson actually showed some speed. He made some nice plays. Got blown up on the Duckett touchdown, but he was getting nice pressure on the QB in the second half.


• Isaac Sowells showed why he was a fourth round selection. He was a beast on the screens, and played tough all night. I think he makes the team over Hoffman, Matua, and Rob Smith.


• Brady Quinn looked fantastic. Many will say it was a prevent defense against sub par talent. That is true, but the decisions he was making were very encouraging. He moved through his progressions quickly, and made the smart decisions. He has command out there. When you watch Frye and Anderson, there are some management issues that Quinn doesn't seem to have. He didn't have to look to the sidelines to find out whether or not to spike it. He took what the defense allowed, and made solid throws. I was very encouraged by his performance.


• All in all, the game was not good for the Browns. False starts, poor timeouts, turnovers, and awful red zone play again all led to being beaten by the Lions. They had 3 wins last year. Not good for us.

Brady Quinn Debut

For those who didn't get to see the game yet, here are the BQ highlights.
I will have more thoughts after I get to watch the replay tonight on NFL network.
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80196b4f

Pre Season Browns Chiefs Thoughts

• By the way.. is that guy wearing a Clifton Smith, Kevin Bentley, or a Mike Johnson throw back jersey. Notice the WR gloves.. nice touch
• My thoughts............
• Bernie Kosar sounds like a muppet


• Antwaan Peak is gonna be a huge addition to Kam Wimbley. They both got solid pressure. Take your time to heal Willie McG.


• Eric Wright is an athlete. His play on the deep ball was sweet, and he showed some solid tackling technique


• B. Pool fills the holes nicely


• Mike Adams really gets down field as the gunner. He better hope he makes some plays on ST's because with Baxter probably making the roster as a safety, he won't catch on there.


• Jamal Lewis makes me confident. He is the first Browns back ot break tackles in a while.


• On the other hand J wright goes down too easily. I would like to see more of the Ghost and Chris Barclay. Did he get through the hole on that touchdown return or what. He showed some serious wheels. Lets give him some more carries


• Joe Thomas looks like the real deal. Yes he was penalized twice, but he shows amazing ability to to keep blocks going with his athleticism. He manhandled his defender on that DA 11 yard run. He recovers quickly from being in bad position too. Feels good to know he is going to be here awhile


• McKinney and Fraley looked great on the long run by Lewis and the screen pass to Wright. They were both downfield creating some of the bigger holes weve seen in over 15 years.


• Vickers must have something on the coaches. We really trust him in big play situations.


• DA looks skittish. His throws were badly off mark.


• Frye looked a little wobbly on a few balls, but also zipped one in to Steptoe. He showed good game control until his Akron education caught up to him at the end of the first half. Taking that sack is unfathonable. He is just not that smart.


• McMillan is a training camp hero. He made lots of plays.


• If Travis Wilson can hold on to the ball, he is gonna be greeat. He is a big target, a beast when he gets the ball, and always seems to be open. If it wrere up to me the Depth chart at WR would look like this. BE, JJ, Tim Carter (MIA tonight), Travis Wilson, Josh Cribbs, Syndric Steptoe, Kendrick Mosely, Buck Ortega (greatest name ever.... has a career in porn with a name like that once he gets cut)


• Leon Williams can get to the QB...Id like to see him at OLB a little more


• Steptoe is no Northcutt at returning punts or being a shifty receiver. MacDonald has to fair catch that ball on the 11. Stupid play.


• Does U of Nebraska Omaha TE Krausse remind you of Omaha Beef TE Chad Mustard. I think so. He looked better that Darnell Dinkins tonight.


• Harrisson is learning to pick up blocks.


• OG Fred Mutua looks like a warrior, and he played with a tremendous motor today.


• Kris Griffin, from KC, looked really solid. He got to the ball against second team talent, but his play overshadowed 5th year idiot Chaun Thompson. I think after 4 years we can stop calling him a project... maybe we will call him unemployed soon.


• Ken Dorsey is about as exciting as a plain piece of toast.


• Jeremy Laseur may find his way back into the mix with some nice plays. He was better than Jerome Perry tonight.


• Bottom line, our offense has to get better. Too inconsistent. I am excited to see #10 next week. Go Browns
• "Run Barclay Run" A win at home is big in Cleveland, even if its preseason

GET IN CAMP

4 reasons Brady Quinn needs to regain my love.

1. He spent the off-season taking pictures of himself in some of the gayest situations possible. His friends must be idiots or tools for allowing pictures of BQ grabbing crotches, posing with no shirt on the cover of Men's Health, or rear ending rock stars. Although they are ND students, so if you have met any like I have in Chicago, you would understand. Just terrible dorks.

2. On draft day, the player we chose over Quinn was out fishing with dad. Brady Quinn on the other hand looked like he had a stylist pick out his clothes, do his hair and makeup, and even got him a girl for his arm so he didn't look so gay. In contrast, Thomas has an aunt who comes to every training camp practice with an orange mohawk and 50+ tattoos. Which player do you think will endear themselves to Clevelanders.

3. We went out on a limb to draft him. As draft day went on, and Brady looked more and more pathetic, the Browns took a huge gamble giving up a probable early 1st rounder to bring him to the team he wanted to be. Brady Quinn was drafted 22nd and wants top 10 money. Sorry, Mr. Condon, but we did your client a favor. Try getting top 10 money from the team that selected him 25. Quit jerking us around.

4. He can start. Lumbering Derrick Anderson and jittery Charlie Frye are in a battle for who is the worst starting quarterback in the league. If Quinn stepped in (and snuffleupegus Charlie Weiss isn't full of shit about BQ being so NFL ready) and showed us anything , he could lead a new offense with healthy talent both at skill positions and the o line. Get your ass, and abs, and sweet hair in camp.

Bentley Is The Real Deal

LeCharles Bentley is the real deal. If you haven't seen it, check out this article on him from the Plain Dealer. I'm truly amazed at his recovery and work ethic, and can't beleive that he had two seperate stays in the Cleveland Clinic of 30 days. That's incredible. What a nightmare year this guy has had, and he's still sounding up-beat. I really hope he's able to play a little bit, and that those knee doesn't fail him again.

Lets Go Cavs. How much do you want the James Gang T Shirt

Look at My Boobie

The Cavs win. As much fun as the celebration was last evening after LeBron and the Cavs completed a four game series win over the cry baby Pistons, we still have one more series. It would appear from the celebration that the Cavs and the fans (myself included) partied like we won the whole thing. From how I am feeling right now, I can't imagine the hangover after an actual championship. After watching young Boobie Gibson splashing threes for a huge fourth quarter, there were many man hugs between my good friend and I. However, as Cleveland fans, we waited until the actual buzzer to actually feel like the game was ours. We were not in Cleveland unfortunately where the party must have been awesome. I can just imagine the treats hanging out at the Blind Pig. How many girls got laid last night in their LeBron Jerseys? We happened to be in the heart of Red Sox nation in a bar playing techno while we were watching the game. How did we celebrate? Bottle of Champagne at the bar (after numerous Coors Lights with a lime (a la MFH) and victory shots and Jagger Bombs. It was quite a scene. A bunch of Massholes grinding behind us while we were toasting and hugging and swilling Champagne. The hot bartenders were puzzled as we literally were waving goodbye to the TV as the big baby Rasheed was ejected. All I can say is I think in our bar in Boston, we celebrated like we were sitting court-side at the Q. I think we did Cleveland proud, and I'm sure Cleveland fans across the world did likewise. As fun as last night was, it all means nothing without 4 more wins. Lets go Cavs.

Add Your Best Caption to this Picture..speaks for itself

"Anybody know where my legs went?"

"Come back here and I'll gum you to death!"

Edwards Puts His Money Where His Mouth Is

Braylon Edwards has gotten some great press lately. Sadly, it's all been off the field. But in a league where not getting arrested is practically grounds for commendation, Edwards' off-the-field endeavors are practically grounds for sainthood.

Edwards recently pledged $1 million to help fund scholarships for kids in the Cleveland Municipal School District. (Edwards Article)

I think it's refreshing to see someone in the NFL doing some good. I know Edwards isn't the only one donating money, time, and notoriety to good causes in the NFL, but it seems to be something very near to his heart, and there's a real urgency to help others. In short I think Edwards will follow his financial gift with time and care, and see that his foundation really does some good for underprivileged Cleveland kids.

Now lets hope he continues to bring that drive, care, and commitment to playing wide receiver for the Browns. Less drops, and more plays like the one pictured above. So, well done Braylon, you put your money where your mouth is off the field, now let's have you do it on the field as well.

PS - If you haven't checked out Braylon's website, do yourself a favor and click here! It's ridiculous...in a good way...I think.

Don't know if I should look

You know when you are "researching" the internet, and something really vile pops up. Something with maybe some strange picture that you know should disgust you, but you have to look just to see if it is even possible.

..... Well, here is an example of on of those pictures. You know you want to puke, but there is something quite beautiful and intriguing about this really.

RIP -- Orlando Bobo

While we all prepare for the wedding of Kevin Mack this weekend, we take a moment to pour some out for our homeboy Orlando "Sonny" Bobo, who passed away yesterday at the ripe old age of 33. Bobo was the 27th player selected in the 1999 expansion draft, just after Antonio Anderson and just before the immortal Scott Milanovich. Please send us your recollections and favorite moments of the Orlando Bobo era.

The Clouds Over Cleveland Are Lifting

Some of you may have been fans of the show Seinfeld back in the day, when the show was pure genius, and Kramer hadn't gone completely Ryan Tucker on us. I want you to recall an episode in which George Costanza finds himself on a run of good luck, as Elaine goes the other way and becomes stupid. His rise is her downfall. Well, this weekend, I was attending a bachelor party in Austin Texas, and as I was fumbling to eat a cheeseburger at 4 in the morning in a very David Hasselhoff like state, it came to me. As I sit here, unemployed, waking up at 11 am every day, unshaven, it seems as if my good fortune has gone dry. As I go downhill something amazing has happened along the shores of lake Erie. Cleveland sports are enjoying a great streak of good luck. The Cavs have won six straight playoff games. The Indians hold the lead in the Central and are playing as well as any team in baseball. And the draft fortunes of the Browns have finally led to a very optimistic Berea. It dawned on me as I mumbled to my Cleveland friends incoherently that Cleveland is like Costanza and I am like Elaine in that episode. For the past 29 years, as Cleveland sports floundered for a championship, my life has been pretty easy. Now, as I skim through job listings and spend my days playing pick up hockey, doing crosswords, and occasionally bathing, I find myself thinking that Cleveland is thriving at the expense of my success. So, I feel it is my duty to remain in this state of disarray for the great fans of Cleveland. I fear that if I find success in a new career, Brady Quinn may get shot at The Colony, Grady Sizemore will take a fastball in the face and ruin that beautiful smile, and Lebron will get run over by a lawn mower shooting a commercial. Good Luck to Cleveland. I sacrifice myself for you.

Andruzzi Gone...Thoughts

"Inneresting, very inneresting!" That's what my 95-year-old grandfather says when something comes up that doesn't make total sense, but for some reason, is OK. That's how I feel about the Andruzzi news. It would seem on paper that having an O-Lineman of Andruzzi's experience and leadership, at the fairly cheap price of 1.5m (this coming season) would be a good thing. Even if he doesn't start, having Joe come off the bench wouldn't be all that bad. That's why this move by the Browns doesn't seem to make much sense on the surface. But at that same time, it feels OK...

The Browns are getting younger, and there must be a reason why they don't want Andruzzi around any longer. Whether it's the fact that the Browns know he wouldn't like coming off the bench, or that they know his skills are declining so fast that staying on the bench is better for the team, (at least they'd know that rusher had no one blocking him) they believe they're better off without him.

After Saturday, I'm inclined to trust Savage. I've always felt the weak link in this management chain has been Crennel. I think that Savage has done a decent job of re-working the Browns roster, and he's given Crennel some decent talent. But, the most telling sign to me is the inconsistency with which the Browns play from game to game. As Savage said the other day, last year "we won some games we weren't supposed to win, and we lost some games we weren't supposed to lose." Of course every team in the NFL does this to some extent, but I think you'd be hard pressed to find a team that does it as reliably as the Cleveland Browns. That's coaching. Period.

So maybe it's a good thing that the Browns released Joe Andruzzi. Maybe it means there's no place on our roster anymore for aging, over-the-hill linemen. Maybe we're at a point where the talent level has reached a critical mass, and we'll be able to compete with more consistency throughout the season. (Hey Teddy, you'd better pack a lunch...a big-ass lunch!) But I can't tell you that for sure...so for now it's just "inneresting, very inneresting."

Andruzzi Gone

This may mean that Romeo is losing juice in terms of personnel. Or it may mean that even Romeo realizes that Andruzzi now specializes in the lookout block. As in "look out, QB!"

The Grades are Coming in

The grades are flowing in from various news sites. To be honest, even my skewed view of things wouldn't give the Browns as high a grade as most are. CBS sportsline gave us an A+. To quote Tommy Boy, "That's not a grade they like to give out" Fox sports gave us an A-. Jesse Palmer, that's right, the bachelor himself called our draft the best of any team. Basically the Browns, Panthers, Falcons are the teams that are the consensus top draft teams. We played it agressively day one, and smart on day two filling needs with solid players who will come in and compete for spots and add depth.
In addition they have added some UFA's, including Miami running back Tyrone Moss. The last few Hurricane backs have made out pretty well in the NFL so maybe we just found a gem in free agency.

Go Cavs

2007 Draft Day One Thoughts

Top Dawg here. After returning from a recruiting trip to the Big Easy (never too early to start working on the 2008 Draft Report), I wanted to share some thoughts on the Browns draft with you...Wow! This has the makings of the best day 1 of the NFL Draft for the Browns since 1978, when the Brownies nabbed The Wizard of Oz and Clay Matthews in Round 1. Let's break down the selections on Day 1.

Joe Thomas -- The fact that this guy went fishing rather than attending the draft will endear him to Browns fans. The only thing they would have liked better is if he had gone bowling at the Eastgate Coliseum. Let's face it...the Browns have needed help on the offensive line since anyone reading this blog has been a fan, and this was the most significant draft day move they've made to address it. Pencil Thomas in as a starter at LT for the next ten years.

Brady Quinn -- What a difference 20 picks makes. We here at MUTM were adamantly against taking Brady Quinn with the 3rd pick, but at 22, we love him! And don't worry about the sycophants in the media who will say the Browns gave up too much. G-d willing, we won't be picking in the top 5 next year, and that pick won't have near the value we got in Quinn. Some folks will let their hatred of Notre Dame color their perception of Brady, as they have with Braylon Edwards and Michigan. I urge you to remember, WE ARE BROWNS FANS FIRST! Get on board with these guys.

Eric Wright -- The bottom line with Eric Wright is that we got another first round talent at perhaps our biggest area of need. Of course, you'll read a lot about his character red flags over the next couple of days. But by all reports, he stayed out of trouble entirely after his single incident. This is NOT Butch Davis drafting Jeremiah Pharms. Guys are getting second chances. Brandon Merriweather stomped on a guy's face on national television and the "Holier than Thou" Patriots made him a first round choice. More than one general manager had Eric Wright listed as the top corner (character issues aside) on their board.

Final 2- Chase Pittman DE LSU, Syndrice Steptoe WR Arizona

Finally done. The Browns addressed need positions today. They added D line depth with a rotational D end guy like Pittman from LSU, and a small 5'8'' receiver and punt returner who looks like Dennis Northcutt's replacement. Now, the greatest time of the draft.... Free Agents. Hopefully the Browns can bring in some guys who could surprise us and contribute to the team.