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Cleveland Browns (2007 & prior)

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Dispatch

Home openers have been a lost cause
Browns hope to kick off season with a victory in Cleveland

Sunday, September 10, 2006

James Walker
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

<!--PHOTOS--><TABLE class=phototableright align=right border=0><!-- begin large ad code --><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE align=center><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
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</IMG> </TD></TR><TR><TD class=credit width=200>MIKE MUNDEN DISPATCH </TD></TR><TR><TD class=cutline width=200>Since returning to the NFL in 1999, the Browns have played the first game of each season in Cleveland Browns Stadium, but they have won just once in seven tries. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


BEREA, Ohio ? It?s difficult to determine which statistic is more surprising: The fact the NFL granted the Browns eight consecutive season openers at home, or that they are 1-6 in those first seven games.
The Browns will try to reverse their fortune the eighth time around against the New Orleans Saints today.
The Browns have opened the every season at home since re-entering the NFL in 1999. NFL spokesman Steve Alic said it is a coincidence in the scheduling.
Still, Cleveland has been unable to take advantage and get off to a fast start. The only time the Browns won their first game was in 2004 against the Baltimore Ravens.
The Browns are on their third coaching regime in seven years, and instability on the roster, coaching staff and front office have contributed to their slow starts.
Today, the Browns have another chance to reverse the trend against New Orleans, a team that is trying to rebuild after a 3-13 season.
"I think it?s real important, especially this year," Browns quarterback Charlie Frye said. "Last year, we came out and we didn?t win the opener, but we finished and won the last game, so we got a little momentum going into the opener and everybody is excited about it. I know the town of Cleveland is excited and everybody wants to go out and see a win."
The Browns went 6-10 last season and believe they can surprise some teams this season.
A lot goes into winning a season opener.
It starts with the offseason conditioning program, then minicamp and training camps. The Browns had good participation in all of the above, including getting all but one rookie (thirdround pick Travis Wilson) signed on time.
Teams plan for their first game all preseason and try to avoid injuries in camp. Cleveland?s main loss was center LeCharles Bentley (knee), who was one of several key free-agent signings.
"It?s been a long offseason," linebacker Andra Davis said. "We have a lot of new players in and it?s basically a new team. I?m anxious to get out there and see what we can do."
The Browns aren?t getting much preseason notice as playoff contenders. That doesn?t bother them, Frye said.
"That?s all right," Frye said. "We?ll just let our play speak for itself."
[email protected]
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Dispatch

BROWNS GAMEDAY
Sunday, September 10, 2006
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</IMG> </TD></TR><TR><TD class=credit width=200>JOHN RUSSELL </TD></TR><TR><TD class=credit width=200>ASSOCIATED PRESS </TD></TR><TR><TD class=cutline width=200>All eyes will be on Saints rookie Reggie Bush, whose gamebreaking abilities won him the Heisman Trophy at Southern California last season. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


The story line
Rookie running back Reggie Bush makes his highly anticipated pro debut when the New Orleans Saints open their season in Cleveland. Both teams made a lot of changes after struggling last season and look for better things in 2006. The Saints were 3-13 and signed former Chargers Pro Bowl quarterback Drew Brees, drafted Bush No. 2 overall and hired a new coach in Sean Payton. Cleveland spent more than $100 million in free agency heading into coach Romeo Crennel?s second season, trying to improve on a 6-10 record.
What?s at stake
Both teams are in need of a fast start, so winning the opener would be a nice springboard. The loser could be looking at another long season.
The series
The Browns lead the regular-season series 11-3, including a 4-1 mark at home. Cleveland has won the past three meetings, with the most recent a 24-15 victory on Nov. 24, 2002, in New Orleans.
On the hot seat
If Charlie Frye is the future quarterback of the Browns, this would be an ideal place to start proving it. Frye was 2-3 as a starter last year, and this game is tailor-made for a statement. The Saints were below average on defense last season, and Frye will be in front of his home crowd.
Key matchup

Reggie Bush vs . Browns linebackers :
Although the Saints didn?t show much in the preseason, expect them to move Bush all over the field today. He could line up at tailback on one play, in a split backfield the next, then at receiver to provide mismatches on the outside. He might even return kicks. The Saints will give Bush 15 to 20 touches today. It?s just a matter of how they plan to do it.
Streaks / slumps
Cleveland has lost six of its past seven season openers, all at home. It has been a major hurdle for the team since it returned to the NFL in 1999.
Browns win if ...
The supporting cast takes the pressure off Frye. Running back Reuben Droughns, tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. and receivers Braylon Edwards and Joe Jurevicius all need to make plays to give their inexperienced quarterback some early confidence. If Frye can get rolling, it could make all the difference.
Browns lose if ...
The Saints run wild. Cleveland struggled against the run last season, finishing 30 th in the NFL, allowing 137.6 yards per game. New Orleans has the potential to give the defense fits with the running back combination of Bush and Deuce McAllister. Cleveland believes its run defense is much improved with the additions of nose tackle Ted Washington and linebacker Willie McGinest.
Prediction

BROWNS 19, SAINTS 17
The Browns need this win for their psyche. Both teams are in transition and breaking in a lot of new starters, so it could be a sloppy game. Expect Cleveland?s home-field advantage to provide an emotional edge in a close victory.

? James Walker
[email protected]
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Canton


Browns? Smith understands New Orleans? 2005 ordeal
Sunday, September 10, 2006 <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>[FONT=Verdana, Times New Roman, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]By Steve Doerschuk REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER[/FONT]


CLEVELAND - It?s a stretch to call Terrelle Smith the soul of the Browns? offense, but his soulful persona tends to attract an audience. Especially when he talks about his old town, New Orleans, and his old team, the Saints, before a New Orleans-at-Cleveland season opener.
The 28-year-old fullback broke into the NFL with the Saints in 2000 and spent four years helping to plow reputations for Ricky Williams and Deuce McAllister.
He lived a half-block off Bourbon Street and made friends whose lives got hammered by Hurricane Katrina last year, when he was in his second season in Cleveland.
?It?s not just a game for me,? Smith said before Thursday?s practice. ?I took a lot of life lessons from New Orleans, and from what happened with the hurricane.
?I haven?t been back since it hit. My family has, but I don?t want to go. It?s a bad feel. I had a few people who didn?t make it through that.?
One of Smith?s friends was a New Orleans hotel worker who lost his home.
?He moved to Houston,? Smith said. ?I was helping him find a place, but the whole thing was too much for him.?
The friend died of a heart attack.
In some ways, Smith?s current team and his old one operate in different universes. In a way, they?re cousins.
The Saints were an expansion franchise in 1967 and went through seven years with records of 3-11, 4-9-1, 5-9, 2-11-1, 4-8-2, 2-11-1 and 5-9. The Browns? expansion era has brought records of 2-14, 3-13, 7-9, 9-7, 5-11, 4-12 and 6-10.
The Browns have won one postseason game since 1989. The Saints have won one playoff game in their history ? Smith was a New Orleans rookie that year, 2000.
The Saints have a new head coach and not many players from Smith?s last year with them, 2003.
?Maybe one handful of guys are left,? Smith said. ?It?s musical chairs over there, and boy is that music going and stopping.?
Smith?s job in Cleveland is to get Reuben Droughns going again by throwing the right lead blocks.
?The thing about Reuben ... he?s still hungry,? Smith said. ?He still wants to prove his point.?
Smith will be in the huddle with his third opening-day quarterback in as many seasons with the Browns. First it was Jeff Garcia, then Trent Dilfer. His advice for the latest one?
?Just be Charlie Frye,? Smith said. ?He?s just like (Ben) Roethlisberger. I hate to say it like that because it?s the Steelers, but ... Roethlisberger did well with enough veterans around him.
?Charlie has enough veterans around him. He has a positive run game. He has some great talent at wide receiver and tight ends. He has all the tools. Why can?t he do what Roethlisberger did??
Recently, Smith saw Frye laying on the locker room floor.
?I thought he was sleeping,? Smith said. ?He looked up and said, ?No, I?m thinkin? about what passes I?m gonna throw.? ?I was impressed.? Reach Repository sports writer Steve Doerschuk at (330) 580-8347 or e-mail: [email protected]


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ABJ

All calm on the center front; time to play

Browns finally recover from loss of Bentley with late signings to ease pain

By Patrick McManamon

<!-- begin body-content -->BEREA - Only in Cleveland can the first-day loss of a center be cause for hand-wringing and tears.
Never mind that as the Browns open the 2006 season today most of their starting lineup is intact -- and its offense is buttressed by the return of tight end Kellen Winslow and wide receiver Braylon Edwards.
But in Cleveland -- or Akron as the case might be -- there was much preseason angst.
There's reason for it of course.
Fans inured to ``The Drive'' and ``The Shot'' and ``The Burning River'' and all that other gobbledygook normally think the worst when a premier player on a team goes down on day one.
That's exactly what happened to the Browns when Pro Bowler and local product LeCharles Bentley was lost for the season.
The center position from that point became a comedy of errors -- until the last week or two when the Browns acquired Lennie Friedman and Hank Fraley.
Had the team acquired Fraley a week after Bentley's injury, fans would have breathed easy.
Now he's in Berea, and there is a feeling of quiet and calm that wasn't present early in camp.
In short, the vibes with the 2006 Browns are better. Not Super Bowl-better, mind you, but better.
As General Manager Phil Savage said: ``We've weathered the storm.''
Other teams lost players in preseason, but none had the angst of the Browns. By plodding forward, coach Romeo Crennel and crew got through the tough parts, and the team can be evaluated as an entity as opposed to a doughnut (big hole in the center).
That's good because it gets beyond all this center stuff.
But it's also bad because the same questions exist now for the 2006 Browns that existed when camp started.
Yes, two questions were answered in camp.
Rookie linebacker Kamerion Wimbley can play, and rookie Jerome Harrison appears to be a legitimate change-of-pace running back to Reuben Droughns.
But the Browns are still built on a lot of ifs...
If Charlie Frye can grow and play like an NFL quarterback...
If Edwards is back...
If Winslow is back...
If the offensive line can gel...
If veteran defenders Ted Washington and Willie McGinest can help...
If cornerback Gary Baxter is healthy (``We need him,'' Savage said)...
If, if, if.
If all goes well, the Browns could find themselves competitive in the AFC North. But if Frye falters or Winslow isn't back or Edwards pushed himself too hard or the line is aging or the milk on the Cheerios is sour, then it could be a long season.
Savage called 2005 a transition year and said this season is about improvement. That sounds like a GM trying to underplay playoff hopes.
And that's being done for good reason.
A walk through the Browns locker room shows more talent -- Washington, McGinest, Edwards, Winslow, Wimbley -- but it also shows a growing team that needs time to coalesce. Quarterback Daunte Culpepper's struggle with a new team (Miami Dolphins) against a veteran team (Pittsburgh Steelers) in Thursday night's NFL opener was evidence that time is a necessity.
The Browns' schedule includes six games in a very tough division, as well as trips to Carolina, Atlanta and San Diego.
The Browns might be an improved team this season.
It just won't show in the final record of 6-10.
Today's game
A friend once took a trip to London and planned a visit to the Tower. ``I know it's touristy,'' he said to the family he was staying with.
``It's touristy because it's worth seeing,'' the man of the house said, stating the obvious.
So it goes with the Browns opener. No, it has nothing to do with ravens or Beefeaters, but with the obvious.
The New Orleans Saints have a quarterback coming off shoulder surgery in Drew Brees, a rookie Marques Colston at receiver and two outstanding running backs in Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush. So you expect the Saints to throw 50 passes?
Expect the Saints to keep the ball on the ground, use Bush in creative ways and try to use the clock to keep their defense off the field.
So everyone should find out if the Browns' run defense really is improved.
One key, though, will be Browns safeties Sean Jones and Brodney Pool. If they get sucked up to the line to defend that running game, the Saints have enough savvy in Brees and Pro Bowler Joe Horn to try to go deep.
Brownies ...
? If Droughns tops 1,200 yards this season, he'll be the first Browns back to top 1,200 in consecutive years since Leroy Kelly did so in 1967 and '68. The last consecutive 1,000-yard back for the Browns was Mike Pruitt (1980-81).
? Droughns is putting his money to work with his foundation. Droughns wants to build youth recreation centers in inner-city Cleveland to help kids, and to publicize his effort he and his foundation will unveil a 17 by 110 foot banner in downtown Cleveland today. The banner at 1229 West Ninth St. will feature a picture of Droughns running in front of an urban setting. ``This is the first step in creating something special, and showing my appreciation to the city of Cleveland,'' Droughns said.
? A new Browns Backers club has been formed in Northern Summit County. The Northern Summit Browns Backers will start to meet for games Sept. 24 at the Wing Warehouse on Wyoga Lake Road in Cuyahoga Falls. For information contact Tim Haubert at [email protected]
? The Akron Browns Backers will meet at 7 p.m. on Monday at the 356th Fighter Group restaurant near the Akron-Canton Airport. Guest speaker is former Browns running back Cleo Miller. Call Jim Iona at 330-630-2311.
? All indicators point to Lennie Friedman starting at center today, but Savage said the goal is make Friedman a versatile backup with Hank Fraley the starter.
? Savage touched on a few items of interest on Friday:
On the pressure on offensive coordinator Maurice Carthon: ``Who's been a popular offensive coordinator in Cleveland other than maybe Lindy Infante?''
On whether Winslow will get back to what he was: ``You go back to his pro day (at the University of Miami) and I was there. He put on an absolute show that day. I was standing in the end zone and he was releasing and coming full bore downfield. You try to imagine what it would be like as a safety to try to cover that guy. I think he can get to that point. Is he there yet? I'm not sure.''
On his backup quarterbacks, whom he obviously feels are not as bad as some: ``I watch other games, and there's some atrocious quarterback play in this league.''
Click to expand...

ABJ

Leader role is good fit for Frye

Browns quarterback steps into starting job, quickly gains confidence of team

By Patrick McManamon

Beacon Journal sportswriter

<!-- begin body-content -->BEREA - If there's any doubt that Charlie Frye is ready to take over as the Browns leader, consider this:
Frye was talking about audibles Friday, and it was recalled that a year ago Trent Dilfer bristled at the limitations on his ability to change the play at the line.
``That was his opinion,'' Frye snapped. ``This is my team now. And this is my opinion.''
OK then.
As Frye sat at his locker before the final practice for Sunday's 2006 season opener against the New Orleans Saints he said he was tired of talking about the game: ``It's just time to play.''
Clearly, Frye is ready to take hold of the quarterback job, and the Browns are comfortable giving it to him.
General Manager Phil Savage ticked down a list of attributes he wants a quarterback to have -- in varying degrees.
Arm strength.
Accuracy.
Mobility.
Mental ability.
Work ethic.
Get along with teammates.
Have support from the organization.
After each, Savage said ``yes.''
``When you factor all those things in, there's really not a reason to think he's not going to be successful,'' Savage said.
It's not that Frye has all attributes in outstanding degrees. As Savage said, for each attribute the circle labeled ``in some degree,'' is colored in.
But one thing the Browns can count on is the quarterback getting along better with the coordinator this season. The worst kept secret in Cleveland a year ago was that Dilfer felt constrained playing for Maurice Carthon.
Frye said it's not his job to feel constrained or ``to disagree with (Carthon).''
``My job is to execute the play that is called and move the offense down the field,'' he said.
Dilfer had the same job, but felt his experience should have allowed him more leeway to change plays. He couldn't so he simmered.
This year's system is the same. Frye will have the ability to change to pre-determined plays based on the defense.
``What I do is tell him, `If they give you this, you can change the play. If they don't give you this, you can't change the play,' '' coach Romeo Crennel said. ``We give him indicators.''
``It has to be something we worked on all week,'' Frye said. ``I can't just change it to anything.''
Frye sees players like Peyton Manning calling every play at the line, something he did for one season at the University of Akron. But he admits he might not be ready for that kind of responsibility.
``This is only my second year,'' he said. ``Peyton Manning, I think this is his ninth year. The game is real slow for him. Bernie (Kosar) was able to do that.
``This is our offense. This is the way we do things. I'm going to go out and make it happen.''
At center
Look for Lennie Friedman to start at center against the Saints.
Friedman has gotten a lot of work with the first team in practice this week, and the coaching staff evidently feels he's more comfortable with the blocking schemes since he's had more time with the team.
Friedman was acquired from the Chicago Bears on Aug. 22. Hank Fraley was acquired Sept. 2 and arrived a week before the opener.
``I don't expect anything,'' Friedman said when asked if he thought he would start. ``They'll make the decision and tell us when it's time.''
Crennel said he wouldn't make his decision on the starter known until game time.
Green gone
The team reached an injury settlement with William Green.
Green now is free to sign with another team. If he doesn't and the Browns need him, he could re-sign with Cleveland -- but not until midseason.
Savage said dependability was the key to Jason Wright making the team and Green and Lee Suggs being let go.
``At a certain point we just grew weary of waiting,'' Savage said. ``There would be a flash here and a flash there. They both have the ability to do it, but they could never sustain it over any length of time. As you backed away from the situation, while those two guys had this or that, Jason Wright was doing everything to make this team.
``He can run inside, outside, catch, cover kicks and return kickoffs. Is he great at any of them? No. But he's a guy who shows up every day.''
Brownies . . .
Brian Russell was in shorts and a jersey at practice, but his right elbow was wrapped and Crennel said he would not decide if Russell would play until game time. The likelihood seems slim.... It will be a game-time decision on the other inside linebacker and backup quarterback as well.
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ABJ

SICKENING START

By Patrick McManamon

Beacon Journal sportswriter

239893181848.jpg

Ed Suba Jr./Akron Beacon Journal
A large group of local Marines and their families hold a giant American flag during the national anthem before the game between the Cleveland Browns and the New Orleans Saints at Cleveland Browns Stadium on Sunday. The Saints won the game 19-14.
More photos
<!-- begin body-content -->CLEVELAND - Watching the Browns in Sunday's season opener, a thought came to mind: What in the world were they doing at practice the past six weeks? The Browns looked and played like a team ill-prepared for the season. It showed in a depressing and disheartening 19-14 loss.
The New Orleans Saints started the game by disrupting the Browns' passing game, forcing a holding call on the first play that negated a touchdown pass to Braylon Edwards.
The Saints finished with an interception on a pass that ticked off Edwards' hands.
In between, the Browns stumbled around like they had never practiced, especially in the first half.
``We were awful,'' tight end Steve Heiden said of the first 30 minutes.
``That was as bad as we could have played,'' tackle Ryan Tucker said.
The Browns came back to score twice in the second half, but coach Romeo Crennel called it ``too little, too late.''
The team's play and approach clearly has Crennel's attention. The coach was visibly upset after the game.
Are you angry, Crennel was asked?
``I'm just peachy,'' he said with a decided edge as he glared at the reporter.
What are you most concerned about?
``That we lost,'' he snapped.
And lost in such a bad way to a team that was 3-13 a year ago.
Quarterback Charlie Frye was under constant pressure, the running game was nonexistent, and the defense allowed Saints running backs Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush to combine for 151 yards rushing.
A team whose run defense was supposed to be improved saw Bush and McAllister average 4.2 yards per carry. Much of the running was up the middle and behind center Jeff Faine, whom the Browns discarded in the offseason.
``I had a pretty good day,'' Faine said. ``I enjoyed it.''
The Browns used a rookie fullback (Lawrence Vickers) to run wide on third-and-1, had big plays negated by penalties and made silly mistakes -- including needing a timeout prior to a punt and after a penalty.
They completely botched a two-minute drive at the end of the half, used two fullbacks three times on short-yardage and might have lost receiver Joe Jurevicius for a few weeks with a rib injury.
There was head-shaking in the locker room and verbal squabbling on the field -- typical products of a bad loss.
Too, Reuben Droughns did more running to the sidelines than he did on the field.
Droughns, who rushed for 1,200 yards a year ago, ran just 11 times for 27 yards. The team's leading rusher was Frye, with 44 yards on six frenetic scrambles.
That can't make Droughns happy. He was not present after the game to talk.
``I don't know what stopped us from running the ball,'' Frye said. ``But being down 9-0, that isn't very much. We still should be able to run the ball.''
The Browns' only real offense came when Frye moved around and out of the pocket. He ran three times for 34 yards on a third-quarter touchdown drive that ended with an 18-yard pass to Kellen Winslow (eight catches, 63 yards).
He then avoided a couple tacklers to score from the 1 to cut the Saints' lead to 16-14.
Without Frye's scrambles, the offense would have been moribund. The players admitted that is not ideal.
``That's one thing if he's doing it every once in a while,'' Heiden said. ``But when he does it every down, that's not your offense.''
After the Saints added a field goal to go ahead by five, Frye had two chances for a game-winning drive. The first started with a sack and ended after three plays.
The last chance started at the 50-yard line with 1:57 left and was downright ugly, as Frye made three poor throws. But an illegal contact penalty bailed out the Browns, giving them a first down.
On the fourth play, Frye's slant to Edwards went off Edwards and into the hands of Saints safety Josh Bullocks.
``We gave the Saints the game,'' Winslow said.
The first series set the tone for the game.
Will Smith's upfield speed forced a holding penalty on Kevin Shaffer that negated a 74-yard touchdown pass to Edwards.
A run went for no gain, and on the next two plays, Frye was sacked. The Browns' first three possessions went for minus 19, minus three and minus two yards.
``There was no real hocus-pocus out there today,'' Saints safety Mike McKenzie said. ``It was our front four creating chaos in the backfield.''
Frye was sacked five times, forced to run six times and just missed being sacked at least a half dozen other times.
``He was constantly running around the field,'' Saints defensive tackle Hollis Thomas said. ``That's OK because I didn't get tired chasing him.''
The Saints are a line built on speed, and their speed did in the Browns' front, which is built on strength.
Smith and Charles Grant are former first-round picks, but tackle Brian Young had three sacks -- more than he had the past two years combined.
When it was over, Crennel stated firmly: ``We've got a lot of work to do.''
Which was just what he said after the first preseason game in August.
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ABJ

Browns really need game plan because this offense is offensive

By Terry Pluto

<!-- begin body-content -->CLEVELAND - This morning, Browns coach Romeo Crennel needs to sit down with his offensive coordinator and ask this question -- just what was the game plan Sunday?
It's easy to pick on the guy calling the plays, and it can lead to some unfair criticism. But not in the case of Maurice Carthon, considering what happened in the Browns' 19-14 loss to the New Orleans Saints in the opener for both teams Sunday.
Too many times, the Browns' offense appeared confused, disorganized and ill-prepared. There were costly, silly penalties. There were wasted timeouts. There were moments when the players were pointing at the opposition, then pointing at each other.
Not only were the fans wondering what the team was doing, that also appeared to be the case with the players.
A timeout was used because they had only 10 men on the field for a punt. Two were used when they didn't have some of their offensive players standing in the proper places. This is extremely disturbing since they had all of training camp to prepare for this game.
On their first offensive play, quarterback Charlie Frye delivered what he thought was a 74-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Braylon Edwards. Only it was waved off because left tackle Kevin Shaffer was flagged for holding.
It was a long day for Shaffer and left guard Joe Andruzzi, who seemed to be pushed around by the Saints' defensive line. That led to Frye receiving pressure from the worst possible place -- his blind side.
The mobile Frye was sacked five times.
He also was the team's leading rusher with 44 yards in six carries.
Those two facts are a major indictment of the offense, which couldn't create holes to run or time for Frye to pass.
If Frye has to keep playing like this, he'll be lucky to be upright by midseason. He admitted he was ``a little sore'' after the game. If you know Frye going back to his days at the University of Akron, that means that he's really, really sore.
Hey, he had some IVs because ``I was a little dehydrated'' after the game.
A few more Sundays like this, and he'll need oxygen.
Frye did gallop into the end zone for a touchdown. He fueled a couple of drives with his sheer will and strong legs. That's because the blocking and designed plays were breaking down.
Frye was far from perfect and had some poor throws, including one for an interception. His other interception -- this one late in the fourth quarter -- was a good pass that bounced off the hands of Edwards and into the claws of the Saints' Josh Bullocks.
Bizarre decisions
Strange play-calling also was a factor.
In third-and-short situations, Carthon unleashed his new two fullback set. For the past two years, Reuben Droughns has gained more than 1,200 yards. He's a bullish back, a former fullback early in his career. He's strong enough to chew up some yards inside with just a little help from the line.
But the Browns had him off the field in some critical situations.
Twice in the first half, the Browns were in third-and-1 spots, and they gave the ball to rookie Lawrence Vickers. In fact, they tried to run him around end as if he were supposed to be Jim Brown on a fullback sweep.
Guess again.
Vickers was stopped both times for no gain, forcing punts.
Another fullback, Terrelle Smith, was stacked up in a second-and-1 situation.
Carthon is a former fullback, and the temptation is to say that he wanted to prove you can do something different (and tricky) with fullbacks. Or perhaps he simply thought too much about his game plan.
Why not hand the ball to Droughns, especially in the first half? The Browns want to have a power-running team, so give it your power runner.
Is it that hard? Or just too obvious?
``If you ask what kind of team we are, we run the football,'' Frye said. ``We worked on it a lot in practice.''
Frye added that when the Browns were down 9-0 in the first half, he still believed that they could run the ball effectively.
Carthon thought otherwise.
Droughns ineffective
Droughns had 11 carries for 27 yards. Nothing inspiring about that, but Droughns does have a history of running better with more carries. In only one game last year (that 41-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers) did Droughns carry the ball less than Sunday.
Obviously, there are many reasons besides Carthon for this defeat.
The offensive line has only three returning players in Cosey Coleman, Ryan Tucker and Andruzzi. Starting center Hank Fraley has been with the team less than a week, and left guard Shaffer is new this season.
There were missed blocking assignments, and it makes sense that it will take them a while to blend together.
The defense struggled against the Saints' running attack of Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister and there were no sacks of quarterback Drew Brees.
As Crennel said after the game, hardly anyone played well.
But there are physical mistakes and there are brain belches leading to mental breakdowns. And those problems are causing the most indigestion for the Browns and their fans this morning.
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ABJ

Tough opener for tough QB in tough town

Dehydrated Frye draws praise from Saints coach, has look of playmaker

By Marla Ridenour

Beacon Journal sportswriter

<!-- begin body-content -->CLEVELAND - It was more than an hour after the game ended and Browns quarterback Charlie Frye still hadn't appeared in the interview room.
When he finally came in and sat down, his cheeks were flushed, and he was shivering.
He had enough presence of mind to dispel the notion in the minds of doom-and-gloom Clevelanders that something serious was wrong.
``I was just a little dehydrated, getting some IVs,'' he said. ``I'm pretty tough. I should be able to shake it off and be ready to go Tuesday or Wednesday.''
The University of Akron graduate made his sixth career start Sunday against the New Orleans Saints and his first since being anointed the Browns' starter after the off-season trade of Trent Dilfer to the San Francisco 49ers. It was a challenging day for Frye in the 19-14 home loss.
His first play, a 74-yard scoring pass to Braylon Edwards, was called back when left tackle Kevin Shaffer was flagged for holding. His last play, a first-down throw from the Saints' 45 intended for Edwards, was intercepted by free safety Josh Bullocks.
Frye led his team in rushing with six carries for 44 yards. With a 1-yard fourth-quarter run, he scored just the second touchdown on the ground in his two-year career and the Browns' first since Week 13 last season. The Saints held running back Reuben Droughns to 27 yards on 11 carries, and he didn't see the field on third down or in short yardage.
``We thought we might be able to run the ball better. That's what we are,'' Frye said. ``When Reuben gets the ball, he's able to make plays. We work on the running game a lot in practice.''
Frye seemed uncomfortable with the fact that he accounted for 44 of the Browns' 85 rushing yards. He said none of those plays was called as a run.
Absorbing five sacks, he was scrambling behind an offensive line that had new starters in Shaffer and center Hank Fraley. Right tackle Ryan Tucker also missed most of the preseason after arthroscopic knee surgery.
``I knew I had to make some plays,'' Frye said.
He completed 16-of-27 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions and a lackluster passing rating of 53.3. That was an improvement from the first half, when he completed 5-of-8 for 26 yards and an interception -- a 28.1 rating. In the first 30 minutes, the Browns' only first down came by penalty.
They trailed 9-0 at halftime.
Frye also lost a fumble at the Saints 15 with 36 seconds left in the first half.
``We don't want to make excuses,'' Frye said. ``You can make 100 excuses up. We've got to get things cleaned up.''
Frye came out in the second half and promptly directed a 10-play, 67-yard drive that included three carries for 34 yards and two first downs. He also completed 3-of-4 passes, including an 18-yard scoring pass to tight end Kellen Winslow to cut the deficit to 9-7.
``The timing is there,'' Winslow said. ``Charlie's a baller, man. He makes stuff happen when it's not supposed to happen. As a team, as a unit, we didn't make it happen.''
Browns coach Romeo Crennel was in a foul mood, but he wasn't overly critical of Frye's effort.
``Charlie made some plays, especially in the second half, but some of those were on the run, which is not good,'' Crennel said.
Saints rookie coach Sean Payton was much more complimentary.
``(Drew Brees) can bring the presence of a coach on the field,'' Payton said of the Saints quarterback. ``I think their quarterback has that presence as well. I think he is going to serve them well in the future.
``He's a good player and a good young talent,'' Payton said. ``When he breaks the pocket and moves around, a lot of good things happen. I think he is only going to get better. That's what you look for in that position.''
Despite the ineptitude on offense, Frye was not ready to accept that this might be a year of growing pains.
``I sure hope not,'' Frye said. ``I hope to make a lot of plays for Cleveland.''
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ABJ

Winslow a bright spot on dismal day

Tight end provides highlights, commentary in return to lineup for Browns

By Tom Reed

<!-- begin body-content -->CLEVELAND - The blocking was bad. The play calling was worse. The running game, save for Charlie Frye's mad dashes of self-preservation, was nonexistent.
For awhile Sunday it appeared Randy Lerner's English soccer club would outscore his American football team. Aston Villa managed one goal. The Browns were pointless until the third quarter.
It was that kind of ugly for the Browns in a 19-14 season-opening loss to the New Orleans Saints.
Fans had plenty of reasons to feel lousy and perhaps only one to be encouraged. The franchise might finally have the dynamic playmaker it has lacked since returning to Cleveland.
Kellen Winslow was a beast. Appearing in his first regular-season game in nearly two years, the Browns' tight end played with a level of intensity and fearlessness seldom witnessed at Cleveland Browns Stadium.
He caught eight passes for 63 yards. He scored a touchdown. He nearly made an outrageous, one-handed reception in the end zone that drew an interference call and led to the Browns' second touchdown.
Winslow also had the Browns' most memorable tackle. He raced to the sidelines after his third-quarter touchdown and bear-hugged team trainer Marty Lauzon. The trainer helped the tight end rehabilitate his knee after a 2005 motorcycle accident.
It was the closest the Browns came to a feel-good moment Sunday.
``I was just thanking (the trainer) for all that we have been through,'' Winslow said of the sideline celebration. ``He has been there every step of the way with me.''
Sunday marked the much-anticipated NFL debut of the Saints' multi-talented running back Reggie Bush. Remarkable as its seems, Bush has played only two few regular-season games than Winslow, the Browns' 2004 first-round pick.
Winslow broke his right leg early in his rookie season and the hearts of fans in the spring of 2005 with his ill-advised motorcycle antics. He essentially was starting over against the Saints.
It was quite the rebirth.
Almost all of Winslow's receptions came in traffic. He not only withstood contact, he initiated it. Winslow terrorized safety Roman Harper like a playground bully going after an asthmatic teacher's pet.
He steamrolled a Saints defender along the sidelines in the fourth quarter while running a route.
``Nobody can guard me one-on-one,'' Winslow said after scoring his first NFL touchdown.
Winslow needs more confidence the way Bill Gates needs a secondary income. He recently told reporters that even at ``90 percent'' he is better than any current tight end.
Former Browns defensive tackle Gerard Warren made similar brash remarks but never supported them on Sundays. Winslow appears intent on backing up his bravado.
The Browns certainly can use it. They have been the very definition of meek since 1999.
The Winslow-Braylon Edwards combination should give them an injection of passionate playmaking. Edwards, of course, contributed to a bumbling offensive effort against the Saints. The receiver turned a catchable pass on the Browns' final drive into a Saints interception. It punctuated an offensive output littered with mistakes and questionable play-calling.
(Showcasing Reggie Bush's varied talents is one thing. Showcasing Lawrence Vickers' limited range is quite another.)
Throughout the four-quarter struggle, Frye and Winslow kept battling. Sacked five times, Frye sadly led the team in rushing with 44 yards. Winslow caught half of Frye's 16 completions.
The tight end was vocal on the sidelines and in the huddle, his mouth clearly functioning at 100 percent. Edwards said Winslow was so pumped up before kickoff he ``was gasping for air.''
``That is the type of player that Kellen is going to be,'' Frye said. ``We've got to get him the ball.''
Winslow said he's keeping the one that he caught for his first touchdown as a souvenir. He wishes there were a way to slice it in half and share it with the team trainer.
``It felt great,'' Winslow said. ``All the hard work I have put in the last two years, it felt good to get back in the end zone.''
Winslow proved he was back on a day his teammates showed they were far from it.
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Canton

Browns terrible first half leads to loss
Monday, September 11, 2006 <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>[FONT=Verdana, Times New Roman, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]By Steve Doerschuk REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER[/FONT]
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Browns quarterback Charlie Frye was sacked five times in Sunday?s 19-14 loss to the Saints at Cleveland Browns Stadium, including three by Brian Young. ​
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CLEVELAND - Up, down. Up, down. Up, down. Out.
Out? Out! Against the Saints!
In Sunday?s 2006 opener, the Browns kept doing one thing right and the next terribly wrong.
Staggering momentum shifts left them with a 19-14 defeat.
?The old saying ... (stuff) happens,? guard Joe Andruzzi said. ?It happened a couple times today.?
Losing happened for the seventh time in eight expansion-era openers.
There were other stinkers and wrenchers: 41-0 to Pittsburgh in the 1999 wakeup call; 9-6 to Seattle on a 51-field goal; 40-39 to the Chiefs on Dwayne Rudd?s famous helmet heave.
This one was as bad. This one was to ... the Saints?
?We shoulda won that game, 100 percent,? said return man-wideout Joshua Cribbs.
?I mean, c?mon ... c?mon. Games like that, we?ve gotta win.?
The Saints are starting over with a new regime after a 3-13 year. The Browns hoped to show a crowd of 72,915 that Coach Romeo Crennel has things rolling in his second year.
Instead, Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister racked up 209 rushing-receiving yards. Reuben Droughns and Jerome Harrison totaled just 41 yards for Cleveland.
Crennel walked into his press conference with the expression of a television screen tuned into static.
?You don?t look very happy,? a writer said.
?I?m just peachy,? Crennel said, trying to be civil.
Crennel didn?t begin to glare until another writer asked him what concerned him most about the loss.
?We lost,? he said, his steamed expression speaking volumes.
The Browns fell into the worst-case scenario of trailing a bad team by two possessions going into the fourth quarter.
Down 16-7, Frye drove the Browns 74 yards for a touchdown, his 1-yard run; he had more yards rushing than Droughns, 44 to 27.
Brees countered by taking the Saints 70 yards to a John Carney field goal that made it 19-13 with 5:45 left.
The Browns? last chance began at midfield after a punt and face-mask penalty at the two-minute warning. With reliable Joe Jurevicius long since sidelined by a rib injury, Frye?s young receivers failed him.
Finally in a rhythm, Frye threw a first-down pass to Cribbs, but it went off his fingertips.
?That was an out,? Cribbs said. ?I stopped but I shoulda kept going, because we were trying to stop the clock. I can?t do that.?
On third-and-10, Frye put a pass right on wideout Braylon Edwards? No. 17 inside the Saints? 40, with room to run. The pass bounced off Edwards? hands and into the mitts of Saints safety Josh Bullocks.
?It?s pretty crushing,? said Edwards, who blamed himself for the interception.
Many were to blame in a first quarter from hell.
The first play call of 2006 tricked the Saints? secondary and let Edwards break ridiculously open. Edwards made an easy 74-yard catch-and-run. But ...
On his first real snap as a Brown after signing a $36 million contract, left tackle Kevin Shaffer had to hook former Ohio State star Will Smith?s right arm to keep him off Frye. The holding penalty erased Edwards? touchdown.
On the defense?s first down of the new year, Orpheus Roye batted down a Brees pass. The Saints converted a third-and-long, picking on nickel back Ralph Brown, and wound up with a field goal.
A short while later, on punt coverage, a band of commandos surrounded Bush, forcing the rookie backward. Three Browns engulfed Bush in front of the Dawg Pound. The roars stopped when an illegal-man-downfield penalty was announced. On the re-kick, the Browns lost 40 yards.
Completing the awful good-news, bad-news cycle was an apparent fourth-down conversion in field-goal range ? the Browns had the ball after a Sean Jones interception. On fourth-and-1, Joe Jurevicius made his first catch for his hometown Browns.
While Jurevicius was saluting the Dawg Pound with a sweeping first-down gesture, referee Jerome Boger was preparing to announce a holding penalty against right guard Cosey Coleman.
Adding insult to injury, Jurevicius headed for the locker room clutching his ribs.
The first quarter from hell ended with the Saints driving, ahead 100-2 in net yards, and the Browns? season already off course.
The Saints pushed the lead to 9-0 on two more Carney field goals, one following an interception.
With almost 28 minutes of the first half burned away, Harrison ran 14 yards to give the Browns their first first down. The Browns moved to the 15 on second down before a sequel to the awful first quarter reared its ugly head. Frye dropped the ball amid a botched handoff to Harrison. Brian Young recovered for the Saints, with 42 seconds left in the half.
The Browns seemed to clean up their act after intermission. After a quick stop by the defense, Frye launched a drive with 15-yard run. On third-and-1 from the 18, Frye threw on the right side to a wide-open Winslow, who turned it into a catch-and-run touchdown.
The defense delivered a fumble recovery (Jones) on a Brian Russell hit of McAllister. Field position was wasted, though, when Dennis Northcutt failed to make a tough third-down sideline catch.
A 16-yard Dave Zastudil punt moved the Browns backward toward square one.
A 12-yard TD pass to rookie Marques Colston put the Browns all the way back. Brees used 11 plays to march the Saints 73 yards. The Saints led, 16-7 with two minutes left in the third quarter.
Fullback Terrelle Smith said losing to New Orleans needn?t mean the ghost of Louie Armstrong is playing Taps for Cleveland. In another breath, Smith acknowledged the fallout of a home loss to the lowly Saints.
?I know nobody?s gonna give us a chance now,? he said. Reach Repository sports writer Steve Doerschuk at (330) 580-8347 or e-mail [email protected]
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Canton

winslow?s star is born as sky falls on rest of browns
Monday, September 11, 2006 <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>[FONT=Verdana, Times New Roman, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]SPORTS SPOTLIGHT TODD PORTER[/FONT]
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11brnswinslow.jpg

WINSLOW​
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CLEVELAND - It was a simple route. A simple pass. A simple catch.
Kellen Winslow Jr. may never forget it. When a promising pro football career is held together by a thread, you tend to have a little more respect for the little things.
So during another ho-hum day on the shores of Lake Erie, the Browns were busy being the Browns. They were bad at times. Gawd-awful at others. Downright unwatchable a few plays.
In the middle of the third quarter, there it was: The reason you keep watching this train wreck week after miserable week.
Once in a great while there is promise. There is Winslow, playing with a bad knee, braces on his teeth and a lot to prove. Winslow waited two years for this touchdown. He spent hours, days, nights and sometimes weekends rehabilitating his injuries from that horrible motorcycle crash a year ago.
In reality, Winslow re-introduced himself to Browns fans in Sunday?s opener. He is a veteran of a whole two games. He played those as a rookie, then broke his leg trying to recover an onside kick in 2004.
Sunday, though, he caught a short pass from Charlie Frye, looked in front of him and saw a large opening. He did most of the running on the 18-yard TD, and would have gone through a brick wall if it meant scoring.
It was his first NFL touchdown. More than anything else, it was his first peace of mind that he is back.
Winslow spiked the ball, scurried to get it back, then went and hugged the unlikeliest of people: Head trainer Marty Lauzon.
?I was just thanking him for all we?ve been through. The past two years have been hard,? said Winslow, a shining star in an otherwise gloomy Cleveland opener. ?He was there every step of the way. ... It was good getting back in the end zone. I just gave him a hug and said ?Thank you.? ?
While Sunday?s 19-14 loss to the Saints was disappointing and embarrassing, Winslow is a star on a team that is dimly lit. He is a beacon of hope.
One of these days, he and Braylon Edwards will put it all together. Just imagine if both played for a good team? They might be All-Pros.
Winslow isn?t thinking about that. He just wants to stay on the field. He wants to help this team win. In many ways, he owes it to the Browns, to fans.
Yes, there were a lot of frustrated people when he wrecked the motorcycle.
All has since been forgiven.
?It was real good to be out there with the guys playing football,? Winslow said. ?I wasn?t that nervous. I was ready to make plays when it came my way. I just didn?t make enough.?
Winslow is the son of a Pro Football Hall of Famer. He came into the league with a reputation, some good, some not. All he has been is hope the last two years.
Sunday, he was hope realized. He was the ray of light.
?Kellen is only one guy on the team,? said Browns Head Coach Romeo Crennel, who was as down as he?s ever been after a loss. ?If one guy plays great and everybody else doesn?t, what does it matter? They count wins and losses.?
They?d count a lot more losses in Cleveland without Winslow and Edwards.
While Sunday took forever to get here for Winslow, it will be a day Edwards will want to forget. It started with a long touchdown pass on the first play of the game being called back. It ended, essentially, when Edwards dropped a pass that bounced off his chest and was intercepted.
On the day when the team?s two stars returned from injuries, it was fitting one had a great day, the other didn?t. That?s Browns football.
?It?s pretty crushing,? said Edwards, coming back from a season-ending knee injury last season. ?Not even necessarily the injury. Let?s look at it without that for a second.
?Any guy who competes who is expected to make plays ... that?s what you live for. I had to wait a long time to play this game, and it hurts. This has always been my target date to come back. ... To start the way we did and end the way we did was crushing.?
There was a dynamic to the Browns? huddle that hasn?t been there.
Every pass that found its way to Winslow was caught in the second half. He ran with a purpose, too. He ran with attitude. He gyrated. He taunted.
Maybe you can live without the drama, and the show.
Stars can?t. The Browns have had too few of them over the years. Winslow is a star.
Sunday afternoon was two years in the making.
?You can?t describe the feeling,? Winslow said. ?I thought it was my time to shine. I made plays when it came to me. That?s all I can do.?
There is something else.
Stay on the field. Reach Repository sports writer Todd Porter at (330) 580-8340 or e-mail: [email protected]
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Canton

Browns report
Monday, September 11, 2006


THIRD AND STONED The Browns were 5-for-12 on third- down conversions, while the Saints were 9-of-18. Rookie fullback Lawrence Vickers got nowhere in his debut as a short-yardage runner, getting nothing on third-and-one in the first quarter and again in the second. ?They had the majority of their defense in the box,? Vickers said. ?We practiced for it. My number was called, and I just didn?t get the job done.? What if the defense collapses into a wall? ?I?ve gotta go through it,? Vickers said.
HELLO, ?06 The Browns dumped the pregame introduction in which starters run through a giant smoking orange helmet. Instead, starters came a few yards out of the tunnel one by one, then gathered and ran together through a line of teammates. Braylon Edwards came out right after Kellen Winslow Jr., and they began chest bumping each other.
YOUR LEADER Coach Romeo Crennel hasn?t said a thing about captains. Basically, he introduced them by sending out this group for the coin toss: Phil Dawson, Dennis Northcutt, Orpheus Roye, Andra Davis, Joe Andruzzi and Ryan Tucker.
BROWNS BACKERS The Canton Browns Backers will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Winking Lizard restaurant in Jackson Township. Anyone interested in joining or listening is invited to attend.
BROWNS BACKERS II The Akron Browns Backers will meet tonight at 7 at the 356th Fighter Group, 4919 Mount Pleasant St. Former Browns running back Cleo Miller will speak and sign autographs. The meeting is open to the public. STEVE DOERSCHUK
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Bucknut319;602905; said:
Maurice Carthon should be on the unemployment line.
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I concur. Seriously, on two seperate occasions, we ran sweeps with Lawrence Vickers on 3rd and 1. Lawrence "f'n" Vickers?!?

How did that work out? You guessed it. Lost yardage on both plays and promptly did what the Browns apparently do best ... punted the ball.

Bravo Coach Carthon. Bravo.
 
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there is no offensive identity to this team. You have to ask, what exactly is Cleveland trying to do on offense? You have no answer.

Aside from throwing jump balls, cleveland never throws downfield. Cleveland doesn't try to establish the run. Even if they did, it would never work because the OL is pedestrian at best, and cleveland never throws further than 6 yard passes, so teams can probably put 10 guys in the box.
 
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Carthon apparently went to the same school of coaching as the Syracuse "we get 6 plays from the 2-yard line and bring in a fullback for his first action of the game in OT instead of running a sneak and can't score" staff.

Good job by the Buckeye fans to represent when they played "Hang on Sloopy" at the stadium.
 
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