Cleveland Browns (2007 & prior)

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Robaire Smith has cure for Allenitis Defensive end sends message to Browns teammates as he prepares for veteran Larry Allen on Sunday
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sportswriter

Published on Saturday, Dec 29, 2007
BEREA: Opponents slated to line up against San Francisco left guard Larry Allen have been known to come down with ''Allenitis'' before facing the 14-year veteran.
Allen, 36, a 6-foot-3, 325-pound strongman probably headed to the hall of fame, has been to 11 Pro Bowls and was named to the NFL's all-decade team for the 1990s.
''Guys get sick all of a sudden before they play him,'' New York Giants defensive lineman Michael Strahan once said. ''Whether it's the flu, ankle, foot, shoulder or back. The man has diseases named after him, so that tells you everything you need to know about Larry Allen. I have all the respect in the world, but he's a legalized killer.''
That makes what Cleveland defensive end Robaire Smith did Thursday all the more impressive.

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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Browns notebook: Lewis wants to end year on high note
His future in doubt despite solid season
Saturday, December 29, 2007 2:59 AM
By James Walker


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Al Behrman associated press
Cleveland running back Jamal Lewis has helped anchor the Browns offense with 1,176 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns.



BEREA, Ohio -- Cleveland Browns running back Jamal Lewis doesn't know whether this will be his last game in Cleveland, but he wants to make it a memorable one.
"I'd like to go out with a win," Lewis said. "This is the kind of game that sets the tone for the next season if that's where we're going. So that's my main goal."

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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Browns ready to play, then wait and watch

Sunday, December 30, 2007 3:40 AM
By James Walker


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

BEREA, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns will play the San Francisco 49ers today in their season finale. But that game is just an appetizer to the main course.
Afterward, all eyes in Cleveland will be on the game tonight between the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans.
No matter how the game in Cleveland Browns Stadium plays out, Tennessee (9-6) must lose in order for Cleveland (9-6) to get the final wild-card playoff spot in the AFC. A win by the Titans would give them the sixth seed.

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[osugrad21]

CPD

For the Cleveland Browns, the waiting is the hardest part

Titans at Colts 8:15 p.m., WKYC Channel 3
Sunday, December 30, 2007Mary Kay Cabot
Plain Dealer Reporter
Browns linebacker Andra Davis, who's been to the playoffs only once in his six seasons here, can't bear to watch the make-or-break game between the Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts at 8:15 tonight.
If the Titans win, they go to the playoffs and the Browns are eliminated. If the Titans lose, they go home and the Browns are in.
Adding to the drama is the 13-2 Colts already have clinched a first-round bye in the playoffs and most likely will pull quarterback Peyton Manning and other starters during the first half.




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[osugrad21]

CPD

Cleveland Browns playoff hopes? Just wait and see -- columnist Bud Shaw


Sunday, December 30, 2007Bud Shaw
Plain Dealer Columnist
Procrastination is apparently a tough habit to break.
Just about everything the Browns did this season they did at the last possible moment.
They won games late. They lost games late.




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[osugrad21]

CPD

Dorsey's sideline time might be career move


Sunday, December 30, 2007Tony Grossi
Plain Dealer Reporter
If you polled the Browns' locker room to name one player who has "future coach" written all over him, third-string quarterback Ken Dorsey would be a near-unanimous choice.
He does aspire to it.
"It's always a definite possibility," Dorsey said. "I just like being involved in preparing to have success against the next team you're playing. It's a lot of fun to be able to get ready for that week. It's a great challenge to find new ways to get people open."




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[osugrad21]

CPD

For now, Quinn's worth the wait


Sunday, December 30, 2007
The Browns have been very impressed with Brady Quinn's attitude and approach this season, a year where he's not taken a snap. Remember, he has always been a starter and a star. For him to sit is a culture shock and for some guys, it could be a problem. Not him. Next year might be a different story as he no doubt wants to play, but he has been patient and preparing hard this season.
Once the regular season began, it was hard to get a real line on Quinn's practice performance because he often was running the opposing team's offense. That means he was pretending to be Carson Palmer one week, Ben Roethlisberger another and Steve McNair another time. He also was throwing to receivers who are backups or practice squad players. That's why he sometimes didn't appear crisp; he wasn't in the same offense from week to week throwing to the same guys.
In his last two bowl games, Quinn struggled at Notre Dame. Against LSU in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 3, 2007, he was 15-of-35 passing with two touchdowns and two interceptions as Notre Dame lost, 41-14. In the 2006 Fiesta Bowl, he was 29-of-45 passing, but none for TDs. He was sacked five times and mostly threw short, averaging 6.2 yards per completion in a 34-20 loss to Ohio State. There is no reason to make those games a final verdict on his career, just as there is no reason to bury Derek Anderson for his four interceptions in Cincinnati. They were just bad games. And both QBs did so much to get their overachieving teams into position to play those big games.




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[osugrad21]

Canton

To put exclamation point on season, Browns need help from Colts
Sunday, December 30, 2007
By Steve Doerschuk
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

CLEVELAND Is it worth hyperventilating over the Browns? Sunday of the Century?

Probably not.

Even if they beat the 49ers today and get a break tonight, they?re doomed to the knowledge that no 10-6 team has ever won a Super Bowl.

On the other hand, who can deny the fun to be had in getting out of the regular season alive after almost everybody in June pronounced them dead?

The Sporting News hit them straight in the mouth, forecasting a 3-13 year. Sports Illustrated put a suck-up preface (?a superb draft and some savvy offseason pickups ...?) on a bottom-line chops-buster, calling it a 5-11 year.


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[osugrad21]

Canton

Browns linebackers Jackson, Davis have fun with tackles battle
Sunday, December 30, 2007
By Steve Doerschuk
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

CLEVELAND They?re like buddies in a boat, seeing who can catch more fish.

D?Qwell Jackson leads the Browns in tackles heading into today?s regular-season finale against the 49ers. Fellow inside linebacker Andra Davis is No. 2, five stops behind Jackson?s 105.

They always have a little Sunday fun with each other.

?Dra is a competitor. I?m a competitor,? Jackson said. ?During the game, we?ll have a personal competition.

?I?ll say something like, ?OK, Dra, I?m up one on you.? Or vice versa.

?It?s just fun. It just helps us push each other.?

Davis, a Round 4 pick in 2002, led the team in tackles in 2003, 2005 and 2006, a reign interrupted only in 2004 when he was hurt.

Jackson, a Round 2 pick in 2006, was asked what it will mean if he holds off Davis and take the tackles championship for 2007.

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[osugrad21]

Canton

Browns' playoff scenario is simple: Go Colts
Sunday, December 30, 2007
By Steve Doerschuk
Repository sports writer

Five of the six AFC playoffs spots have been clinched. Cleveland and Tennessee are the only teams in competition for the last one.

-- If the Titans win at Indianapolis tonight (8:15 kickoff, Channel 3), Tennessee is in.

-- If the Titans lose at Indy, the Browns are in.

-- It matters not whether the Browns win or lose against the 49ers ? as long as the Titans don?t tie. In that case, the Browns must beat or tie the 49ers to get in.

-- The first-round game would be at San Diego (with a win at Oakland) or Pittsburgh (with a win combined with a Chargers tie or loss).

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[osugrad21]

DDN

Browns chase 7th straight home win

​

By Sean McClelland
Staff Writer

Sunday, December 30, 2007

What you need to know about today's 49ers-Browns game at Cleveland Browns Stadium:
Overview
The Browns have won six straight at home and would like to reward their fans with one more. That accomplished, they will then retreat to homes or nightspots and root for the Indianapolis Colts to knock off the Tennessee Titans (8 p.m., NBC) so their season can continue with a playoff game next week at either San Diego or Pittsburgh. For the 49ers, despite having won two in a row, the season can't end soon enough.



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[osugrad21]

DDN

Browns prepared to win, wait

Picking up 10th victory won't get the Browns into playoffs if Colts can't beat the Titans.

​

By Sean McClelland
Staff Writer

Sunday, December 30, 2007

CLEVELAND ? Hank Fraley's routine won't change.
Shortly after the Browns end the regular season today against the San Francisco 49ers, their center plans to be tailgating in a parking lot adjacent to Cleveland Browns Stadium.


"Usually for about two hours, to let the traffic die down," Fraley says. "It's a better tailgate when you win."
Soon it will be time to watch Indianapolis play Tennessee. You know, the game that determines whether the Browns begin playoff preparations Monday or start their offseason.
All the Browns will be watching, but not all together. Curiosity is their bond.



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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Link

Anderson, Dawson honored

Steve King, Staff Writer
12.28.2007

A player who is arguably the biggest surprise in the NFL this year, and one whose good performance -- and demeanor -- are hardly surprising, are this season's winners of the awards handed out annually by the Cleveland Chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America.
Quarterback Derek Anderson is the recipient of the Player of the Year honors, while kicker Phil Dawson was voted the Good Guy.

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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Link

Browns might travel early

Steve King, Staff Writer
12.28.2007

NFL head coaches are creatures of habit.
That's just the way they are.
But it doesn't help anything to be a creature of habit if it's a bad habit.
So, looking ahead, should the Browns make the AFC playoffs this year, it is likely they will change their normal travel plans.
If the Browns get in, a likely scenario would have them playing in San Diego against the West champion Chargers next weekend, and should that happen, Crennel said Thursday that the Browns would probably travel earlier than normal.
The Browns were a disappointing 3-5 on the road during the regular season, and Crennel wants to change that.

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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Link

Browns aim to win, then they'll wait

Zac Jackson, Staff Writer 12.29.2007

Win and wait.
It's not the situation the 9-6 Browns wanted, but it's the situation they're facing Sunday. First comes the regular season finale against the 49ers (1 p.m., FOX), then comes the waiting game. If the Colts beat the Titans (8:15 p.m., NBC), the Browns are in the playoffs.
If the Titans win, the Browns are out.
"We've put this on ourselves," Kellen Winslow said. "We didn't come out and win last week. It's not what we wanted, but it is what is.
"We can't worry about the Titans. We are worried about it, but we can't control it. We have to worry about beating the 49ers."


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