Cleveland Browns (2008 Season)

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Return specialists want bigger role, but is it wise? Analysts differ on whether Cribbs, Hester should play more
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 07:13 a.m. EDT, Sep 21, 2008

Chicago Bears star Devin Hester came out of the game last Sunday against the Carolina Panthers clutching his side and had to be carted off. His apparent rib injury was the result of an accumulation of hits, Bears coach Lovie Smith said.
Browns Pro Bowl returner Joshua Cribbs missed two preseason games and the regular-season opener with a high ankle sprain. Then Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he hurt his hamstring and shoulder in a fourth-quarter pileup on a punt return that looked dangerous because he lowered his head.
The 2006 hoopla over Hester, deemed ''Hesteria'' by the Chicago Tribune's David Haugh, almost single-handedly sparked the re-emphasis of the return game in the NFL.
A second-round draft choice from the University of Miami who has been to two Pro Bowls, Hester has returned 11 punts or kickoffs for touchdowns in his first two
seasons, two shy of the NFL record that Brian Mitchell took 14 years to set. And that doesn't include Hester's 92-yard touchdown return of the opening kickoff in Super Bowl XLI or his 108-yard return of a missed field goal.
Cribbs, the former Kent State quarterback who came into the league as an undrafted free agent, has followed in Hester's footsteps with five career returns for touchdowns, four on kickoffs. Last season, his 1,809 kickoff-return yards and 2,214 combined kick-return yards ranked second-best in league history.
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[osugrad21]

CPD

Questions abound for D.A.

by Mary Kay Cabot Sunday September 21, 2008, 12:25 AM

Tracy Boulian/The Plain DealerAfter a sparkling 2007 season, Derek Anderson has found the going rough this season with an 0-2 start with one touchdown, two picks and a 57.1 rating.


Maybe Derek Anderson can recapture some of his magic from last season today against Baltimore, the team that cut him loose two weeks into the 2005 season.
While most players attempt to downplay their homecoming games, Anderson, the Ravens' sixth-round pick that year, freely admits the snub still drives him.
"It's always there," he said. "Obviously being there and coming here, it's a little extra something."

Ravens General Manager Ozzie Newsome explains he was trying to sneak Anderson onto their practice squad for a brief stint before calling him back up again -- and that Anderson was sitting in Newsome's office when they learned the Browns claimed him.
But Anderson doesn't recall it being so chummy.
"They pretty much gave me my bags and said 'see ya,' " Anderson said.
If that's what it takes for him to get his game-face on, so be it, right? It worked beautifully for him last year when he beat them twice, including the 33-30 overtime victory in Baltimore. Conversely, it was gut-wrenching for the Ravens to watch Anderson roll up 10 victories and almost make the playoffs when Baltimore still had no clear cut quarterback of the future.
In fact, if you didn't know any better, you might think they tried to ease the sting of losing Anderson by drafting his clone, Joe Flacco, he of the same 6-6 height and radar-gun-busting throws.

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[MUBuck]

I'd take their first rounder and a DB for Brady.

Derek hasn't been nearly as bad as his numbers indicate.

I actually think he's played pretty well. Braylon was a walking drive killer against Dallas, and against Pitt, he was basically playing in a tropical storm.

It doesn't help when the head coach forces you to make bad decesions by not knowing how to properly time manage a game.

My prediction for the future of this team......

Derek leads this team to a losing record, and we trade him for a 2nd round pick. Not his fault at all though. He'll be a player no matter where he goes. You just don't find guys with his arm strength, size, and quick dcesion making everyday. I don't have the figures to back it up, but I think you'd be hard pressed to find a guy who has taken less sacks than Derek over the last 18 regular season games.

Still sticking to it?

 

[ulukinatme]

Anderson is too inconsistent, and hes looked poor all year. Hes been inconsistent his entire career. His stock is starting to fall, and now instead of the Browns having two possibly good QBs, they have 1 questionable one and a young QB with no experience still.

 

[OSUsushichic]

Good thing Ohio has the Buckeyes or else the entire state would be on suicide watch in the fall.

 

[NFBuck]

Oh no! We suck again!

I'm all aboard the Brady train. Anderson looks like shit and has shown no improvement from his late season woes.

 

[billmac91]

well here's the good news....

we're 0-3, so we've about had our preseason. After Cincinnati, our preseason is over.

Basically, Romeo didn't have a preseason, as the starters hardly played, and there was NO CONTACT in any practice.

How was this team suppossed to be ready?

Unfortunately, we're about 4 weeks behind the rest of the NFL.

Romeo, seems like a nice guy, but he's an awful NFL coach. No wonder the players love him....

 

[JCOSU86]

Anderson looks like shit and has shown no improvement from his late season woes.

Hmmmmmmm, that sounds familar....where did I hear this before?

Can't put my finger on it....

 

[Mike80]

1. Fire Crennel.

2. DA gets ONE more week. The first INT really wasn't his fault, but my God those other two were pathetic.

3. There seems to be a general lack of toughness on this team. the no contact pre-season seems to confirm that.

4. Donte Stallworth needs to earn his contract.

 

[OHSportsFan]

Ugh, just remembered how many prime-time games the Browns still have this season. Those will be fun...

I love the Browns, but it's just pathetic to the watch how poorly this franchise has done overall since the return.

I want Romeo and his Field Goal factory gone.

 

[MUBuck]

2. DA gets ONE more week. The first INT really wasn't his fault, but my God those other two were pathetic.

The worst part is that now DA has no trade value. He's due a big roster bonus at the end of the year, so it's all but guaranteed we deal or cut him. Could have at least got some depth for him before the season started.

 

[osugrad21]

DDN

Ravens take out Browns, 28-10

Browns fall to 0-3; offense struggles again to produce points.


By David Ginsburg
Associated Press

Monday, September 22, 2008

BALTIMORE ? The Baltimore Ravens were struggling to score, and then Derek Anderson came to the rescue.
Unfortunately for the Cleveland Browns, Anderson is their quarterback.
Baltimore turned two of Anderson's interceptions into a pair of touchdowns during a 50-second span of the third quarter, and the Ravens further damaged an already agonizing season for the Browns with a 28-10 victory Sunday.
Ed Reed returned one of the interceptions 32 yards for a score, and Le'Ron McClain scored his first two NFL touchdowns on a pair of 1-yard runs ? both during a 21-point third quarter that enabled Baltimore (2-0) to turn a 10-7 halftime deficit into an 18-point lead.
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[osugrad21]

ABJ

A Baltimore Flop Browns still winless, seeking answers after second-half disaster
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sports writer

Published on Monday, Sep 22, 2008
http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/sportsblitz/
BALTIMORE: The Browns, needing a victory, came into Baltimore on Sunday afternoon and got caged by the Ravens.
Some might look to find a silver lining in a cloud that darkens by the week, but there wasn't a lot to like in a performance that dropped the Browns to 0-3.
The Browns' offense continued to look flat, weak and uninterested. It made a Ravens' defense that many had called long in the tooth look like it was ready for another Super Bowl run.
For a while, it seemed as if the Browns would have a shot in this one. On their first scoring drive, quarterback Derek Anderson reminded fans of the way he played the first 12 games of last season. He completed 4-of-4 passes for 40 yards and a touchdown that came courtesy of a nice run by Jerome Harrison on a screen pass. It was Harrison's first career touchdown.
The Browns walked into the locker room at halftime with a 10-7 lead and a little momentum.
That soon vanished.
After halftime, the Browns' offense shot itself in the foot time and again with penalties that not only showed a lack of discipline, but also a lack of focus.
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[osugrad21]

ABJ

Season slipping away for 'pathetic' Browns Quinn's time might be coming as losses mount
By Patrick McManamon
Beacon Journal sports columnist

Published on Monday, Sep 22, 2008

BALTIMORE: Where in the world does one start in trying to explain or figure what is wrong with the Browns?
The oh-and-three Browns, whose season seems to be slipping away faster than the Antarctic ice shelf?
Following Sunday's loss to the Baltimore Ravens? that's the team with the rookie quarterback and first-year coach ? the Browns' coach seemed perplexed; the quarterback, angry; the players, deflated.
The future? Do the math.
The Browns can talk all they want about a season being 16 games with 13 remaining, but they, as their coach said, ''are not a very good team.''
And the Hindenburg's voyage highlighted a lovely afternoon.


The Browns gave the Ravens every one of their scores ? with a poor punt, two interceptions and stupid penalties. They then short-circuited any chance of a comeback with silly penalties and poor run defense.
The Ravens played more physically.
The Ravens played smarter.
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[osugrad21]

ABJ

Decisions defy logic, deliver Browns defeat By Pat McManamon
Beacon Journal sports columnist
Published on Monday, Sep 15, 2008
CLEVELAND: Every so often, a moment arrives when the Browns remind you why they are the latest incarnation of the Browns.
That's the team that cannot beat the Pittsburgh Steelers no matter what.
The Steelers are like the mailmen. Rain, snow, sleet, cold, warmth and winds left from a hurricane cannot stop them from their appointed rounds when they play the Browns.
And the Browns sure help them.
Remember the two timeouts used on one challenge last season? The Christmas Eve massacre?
This Sunday night came the most intriguing decisions this side of Sarah Palin.
Both involved field goals. One came late in the game, one late in the first half. Coaches make their reputations on decisions. Romeo Crennel's decisions in this loss left something to be desired.
You can say they were bad only because the Browns lost. This is Crennel's way of thinking, and it has made sense in some instances.
But in this case, the decisions contributed to the loss ? and the players compounded things by not helping their coach.
The most mindless moment came in some of the most mind-numbing play seen in a two-minute drill in a long time.
It's understandable the offense would botch a two-minute drill, I guess. It's not like they spend every minute of every day at the team facility studying and talking and practicing football.
There is also a thing called clock management.
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