Cleveland Browns (2008 Season)

[schwab]

Matter of pride: Browns don't let this one slip away, holding off the Jaguars, 23-17 - Cleveland Browns football NFL News - cleveland.com

by Tony Grossi
Sunday October 26, 2008, 9:39 PM
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Nick Sorensen said, yes, it unfolded in slow motion for him. Game on the line. Ball in the air headed for the left corner of the end zone. It clears cornerback Brandon McDonald and hits Jacksonville receiver Matt Jones' hands. Jones juggles it. McDonald tips it. Ball is floating like a balloon. Safety Sorensen arrives and hits Jones' arm. Ball hits Sorensen's helmet and finally bounds to the ground with one second remaining.
That was the ball game, as David Garrard's final slingshot pass into the end zone from the 26 never had a chance.
And so, the Browns circled the wagons after a tumultuous week and delivered a heart-pounding 23-17 win to keep alive, mathematically, the possibility of making a playoff run.

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John Kuntz/The Plain DealerBrowns safety Nick Sorenson pulls on the arms of Jacksonville receiver Matt Jones on the deciding play of Sunday's game. After having the ball tipped out of his hands by cornerback Brandon McDonald, Jones kept bobbling the ball until Sorenson knocked it free in the end zone with a second left in the game. A final David Garrard pass sailed untouched through the end zone to complete the Browns' 23-17 victory.

 

[schwab]

After a befuddling week, Browns produce a shocking victory - Terry Pluto is talkin' Cleveland Sports | The Plain Dealer - cleveland.com

After a befuddling week, Browns produce a shocking victory
by Terry Pluto Sunday October 26, 2008, 8:37 PM

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- If you're a Browns fan, you may still be in a bit of shock. Your team went down to Jacksonville without the suspended, then un-suspended, Kellen Winslow -- and won?
Your team played without Ryan Tucker (knee), considered one of the Browns' best offensive linemen -- and won?
Your team had you closing your eyes and holding your breath when they couldn't get into the end zone from the 1-yard line -- and won?
Yes, the Browns won, 23-17, at Jacksonville Sunday. They won because they played rather crisp, mistake-free football, only one penalty in the entire game.


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John Kuntz/The Plain DealerBrowns kicker Phil Dawson exults after Josh Cribbs recovered a fumbled kickoff in the fourth quarter Sunday afternoon in Jacksonville.

 

[schwab]

Rampaging Rogers: Anchor of Browns' defensive line overwhelms impressed Jaguars - Cleveland Browns football NFL News - cleveland.com

by Mary Kay Cabot
Sunday October 26, 2008, 10:24 PM

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Shaun Rogers knelt on the field for a few moments after the Browns' 23-17 nail-biter over the Jaguars and appeared deep in thought as his teammates came over and congratulated him. "I was tired as all get-out," said the Browns' nose tackle, whose monster game included a blocked field goal, nine solo tackles, a sack and three quarterback hits. "It was most definitely some relief. I was exhausted."

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John Kuntz/The Plain DealerShaun Rogers revels in a big fourth-quarter tackle as Jacksonville's Tutan Reyes walks past during Sunday's Browns victory.

John Kuntz/The Plain DealerAlex Hall (right) and Shaun Rogers close in on Jaguars QB David Garrard in the second quarter Sunday.

 

[schwab]

Browns Insider: Savage says he 'never, ever' tried to keep Winslow quiet on staph infection - Cleveland Browns football NFL News - cleveland.com

by Mary Kay Cabot
Sunday October 26, 2008, 11:57 PM

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Browns General Manager Phil Savage made it clear Sunday night that he never had any knowledge of text messages sent from a member of the public relations staff to Kellen Winslow urging him not to reveal that he had a staph infection. "Not one time, never, ever, ever, ever has there been a situation where I tried to determine whether a player was going to try to keep something quiet as a private matter or if he was going to go public with his situation," said Savage. "That's not our decision. It's a player's body, it's his decision. They're the ones who are on the field, they're the ones who put themselves at risk and it's their choice.
"Not one time since I've been here. It's never happened and it never will happen. We don't operate that way. Romeo Crennel and I, much less the owner [Randy Lerner], would never interfere with a player's decision of whether he wants to keep something private or make it available to the media or the public."

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Tony Dejak/AP file photoBrowns GM Phil Savage rejects any suggestion he instructed Kellen Winslow not to reveal he had been diagnosed with a second staph infection.

 

[osugrad21]

DDN

Browns restore some Ohio pride


By Mark Long
Associated Press

Monday, October 27, 2008

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. ? The Cleveland Browns had just enough offense, even without Kellen Winslow.
Jamal Lewis ran for 81 yards and a touchdown, Derek Anderson completed three huge passes and the Browns (3-4) beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 23-17 on Sunday, Oct. 26.
It was Cleveland's second victory in as many games without Winslow, the outspoken Pro Bowl tight end who missed the game after criticizing the team following his staph infection.
Anderson finished 14-of-27 for 264 yards and a touchdown. He had 168 yards passing in the first half, including a 5-yard TD toss to Donte' Stallworth; a 51-yard completion to Winslow's replacement, Steve Heiden, on fourth down; and a 43-yarder to Braylon Edwards that set up a short field goal.
His 53-yard strike to Syndric Steptoe in the fourth quarter may have been even bigger. It set up Phil Dawson's second of three field goals that put the Browns ahead for good with 4:35 remaining.
Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

ABJ

BROWNS BREATHE NEW LIFE Heart-stopping ending keeps them in the race
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer

Published on Monday, Oct 27, 2008
JACKSONVILLE, FLA.: Nose tackle Shaun Rogers blocked a field-goal attempt.
Rookie linebacker Beau Bell forced Brian Witherspoon's fumble on a kickoff return and Joshua Cribbs recovered to set up Phil Dawson's final scoring kick from 42 yards with 4:06 to go.
After that, no one in Jacksonville Municipal Stadium hardly dared to breathe.
In a heart-stopping finish to a huge Browns victory Sunday that ended a tumultuous week, David Garrard's potential game-winning touchdown pass to Matt Jones was broken up by Cleveland safety Nick Sorensen with one second remaining.
Garrard's last throw, also intended for

Jones, sailed out of the back of the end zone as the Browns held on for a 23-17 triumph over the Jaguars.
It capped a week that had little to do with football after Tuesday's one-game suspension of tight end Kellen Winslow, a matter that ended with a settlement Saturday night. But the Browns (3-4) pulled together and stayed in the middle of the pack in the unpredictable AFC North as division leader Pittsburgh (5-2) lost to the New York Giants.
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[osugrad21]

ABJ

When turmoil is highest, Browns play their best Browns have a chance to even their record
By Patrick McManamon
Beacon Journal sports columnist

Published on Monday, Oct 27, 2008
JACKSONVILLE, FLA.: Clearly we have found the secret to the Browns' success: turmoil.
When turmoil is at its height, this team plays its best.
This past week there was no focus on football and a lot on tight end Kellen Winslow's suspension that was, then wasn't, but still should have been.
What happens?
The Browns go on the road to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 23-17. Just like two weeks ago, when they followed a bye week

of talk about how bad they were and beat the Giants.
Clearly we have a common denominator here.
When things are at their highest level of unrest, the Browns play their best. Whether that is because the turmoil fosters a bond, or because the turmoil takes away pressure, or because the turmoil relieves tension is unknown. It just produces positive results.
So the Browns need to find someone to suspend this week. It might be best if it's someone who's going to be inactive. Perhaps Ryan Tucker could be the sacrificial lamb.
Suspend him, start a media firestorm, let the team practice and then reinstate him the night before the game.
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[osugrad21]

ABJ

Shaun Rogers displays Pro Bowl skills for Browns Nose tackle makes nine solo tackles and fourth sack of season in win
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer

Published on Monday, Oct 27, 2008
JACKSONVILLE, FLA.: When the game had finally ended after a pressure-packed defensive stand by the Browns, nose tackle Shaun Rogers had to take a knee.
''I was tired as all get-out,'' he said.
Acquired in an offseason trade with the Detroit Lions, the two-time Pro Bowler had plenty to show for his relentless effort in the Browns' 23-17 victory Sunday over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
He made nine solo tackles, one for a loss, three quarterback hurries and his team-leading fourth sack of the season. None of those plays was bigger than his block of Josh Scobee's 38-yard field-goal attempt with 12:49 remaining.
''That's what we got him for,'' Browns General Manager Phil Savage said of Rogers. ''We thought he had that kind of potential. When he plays like that, we've got a pretty good chance to be good on defense. I'm awfully proud of Shaun. He's played well on the field and been a real plus off the field, as well.''
Rogers was at his most dominant on back-to-back plays early in the fourth quarter, with the Browns leading 17-14.
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[osugrad21]

Canton

Browns back on track
Survive last-second Hail Mary
Monday, October 27, 2008
By STEVE DOERSCHUK
[email protected]

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. That Monday mauling of the mighty Giants was a night of unbounded joy.

A 23-17 escape at Jacksonville was a Sunday of sobering relief.

"We could be completely disappointed right now," Browns General Manager Phil Savage said softly after the Browns won for the third time in four games, just to get to 3-4. "If one play goes an inch either way ..."

These were the inches that counted as David Garrard heaved a pass into the back of the end zone with time almost gone:

His target, Matt Jones, stands 6-foot-6. The cornerback in front of him, Brandon McDonald, stands 5-foot-10.

.... 0:07, 0:06 ...

Garrard unloaded from behind the line of scrimmage, the Cleveland 26.

"I lined up 7 yards off him in soft coverage," McDonald said. "After he fired off, I was on him the whole time. He got behind me, but I knew I had safety help over the top."

.... 0:05, 0:04 ...

"Please don't let him catch it," safety Sean Jones remembers thinking. Tight end Steve Heiden half-watched from the bench.

"I couldn't even bring myself to get up and watch," he said. "I watched the ball sail on the Jumbotron."

Cont...

 

[LitlBuck]

The way Heiden played yesterday and against the Giants, it would not bother me if they deactivated Winslow for the rest of the season. I mean two wins without him might be saying something about him. Not as an athlete but what type of disruption he might be in the locker room or even on the field.

 

[LitlBuck]

Browns Insider: Savage says he 'never, ever' tried to keep Winslow quiet on staph infection - Cleveland Browns football NFL News - cleveland.com
.

"As of right now, it's over with," said Savage. "I spoke to Kellen, and several people in the organization have spoken to him. He knows what we were disappointed about. We know what he was disappointed about and we're going to try to go forward and make it work and have a winning team."

But is it really over?

After making that statement, Savage did the same thing he did on his radio show on WTAM last week -- suggesting Winslow was suffering from something else besides the staph and gave credence to widely circulating rumors.

Asked specifically if there was a second illness, Savage said, "If there's going to be disclosure, there's got to be full disclosure, so that was the situation we were in and we were trying to avoid that situation for he and his family. We were trying to do the right thing by him and his family. I'm not going to categorize it any other way other than he had an illness."

This is like "As the World Turns". I mean does Winslow want it released as to what his illness was and can the Browns release it or do the Browns even know. I guess it is obvious that it does not staph so Winslow must want everyone to believe the rumors or he is just plain stupid. I guess I will go with the latter.

 

[osugrad21]

DDN

Browns cornerback has the Wright stuff


By Carlos "Big C" Holmes
Staff Writer

Monday, October 27, 2008

The Cleveland Browns young secondary was at the center of controversy when the season began for its inconsistent play. But now the unit is the toast of Cleveland as they continue to improve as the season progresses.
The Browns defense has made significant strides since the season opener against Dallas. They're ranked seventh in the NFL in points allowed (17.6) and 10th in passing yards allowed with 195 per game.
A major player in the team's success on defense has no doubt been second-year cornerback Eric Wright.
The Browns 2007 second-round draft pick, Wright has elevated his game and has come into his own as a pro. He is the premiere playmaker in the secondary, making big plays when they count.
Wright has three passes defended inside the red zone, and two interceptions, with one returned for a touchdown. Wright has a total of three interceptions on the season along with 30 tackles, 28 of which are solo. His game is steadily improving.
Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Akron a regular stop in Browns' preseason Players' memories are fading, but records remain
By Pat McManamon
Beacon Journal sports writer

Published on Tuesday, Oct 28, 2008
The New York Yankees once played at the Rubber Bowl.
So did the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Not those Yankees or those Dodgers, mind you.
These were the New York Yankees and Brooklyn Dodgers of the old All-American Football Conference.
The Cleveland Browns played a preseason game against the Dodgers in 1946, and they faced the Yankees in 1949.
Those were two of the 19 exhibition games the Browns played in the Rubber Bowl, Akron's soon-to-be-defunct venerable semi-coliseum of sports and entertainment.
The list includes a 1964 game, when Frank Ryan hit ''Sticks'' McNeil for a 99-yard touchdown pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The play would rank as the longest in team history had it occurred in the regular season.
The Yankees game in 1949 was won by the Browns 28-21. Attendance was 19,441.



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[osugrad21]

ABJ

Winslow reaches truce with Browns Tight end to play against Ravens, but will he start?
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer

Published on Tuesday, Oct 28, 2008
BEREA: Pro Bowl tight end Kellen Winslow and the Browns reached a tenuous truce Monday.
Winslow reported for work a day after missing the Browns' 23-17 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars because of a suspension that had been rescinded late Saturday.
Emotions still were running high, at least on the Browns' side, however, as General Manager Phil Savage made an unscheduled appearance in the media room to ''clarify'' his postgame remarks. On Sunday, Savage implied for the second time in four days that Winslow was treated for something in addition to a staph infection when he was hospitalized earlier this month.
''Kellen's illness was a staph infection,'' Savage said in a biting, 29-second speech. ''He'd been in the hospital for two or
three days. It takes a couple days to figure out what something is. Secondly, there was no secondary illness. Thirdly, he's in the building, he's worked out [and] the team meets at 1 o'clock. That's the end of the story. It's over with.''
Then Savage added for emphasis, ''There's no secondary illness. It was a staph infection. Everybody's got it, right?''
Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Winslow ready to move on after Savage backs away from post-game comments

by Mary Kay Cabot Monday October 27, 2008, 6:32 PM

Tracy Boulian/PDPhil Savage's brief comments to the media on Monday attempted to clarify that Kellen Winslow suffered from staph alone during his hospitalization earlier this month.
Browns tight end Kellen Winslow re-joined the Browns Monday, but before the parties could move on from Staphgate, one matter had to be settled. General Manager Phil Savage put to rest his own suggestions that perhaps Winslow was suffering from something in addition to staph that he and his family wouldn't want revealed.
In an unscheduled 29-second appearance prior to Romeo Crennel's press conference, Savage entered the media room and said, "Once and for all, Kellen's illness was determined to be a staph infection. He had been in the hospital for two or three days. It takes a couple days to figure out what something is. Secondly, there was no secondary illness. Thirdly, he's in the building. He's worked out, the team meets at 1 o'clock. That's the end of the story. It's over with. There's no secondary illness -- staph infection. Everybody's got it, right?"

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