CLEVELAND BROWNS VS OAKLAND RAIDERS (OFFICIAL GAME THREAD)

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

YAHOO.COM

12/16/05

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=750 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=560>Cleveland (4-9) at Oakland (4-9)

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=7><SPACER height="1" type="block" width="1"></TD></TR><TR><TD class=yspsctnhdln>Cleveland (4-9) at Oakland (4-9)</TD></TR><TR><TD height=7><SPACER height="1" type="block" width="1"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Preview - Box Score - Recap

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=ysptblclbg3 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=2 height=5><SPACER height="1" type="block" width="1"></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD> Game Info: 4:05 pm EST Sun Dec 18, 2005
TV: CBS </TD><TD noWrap align=right>Add to Calendar
Buy Tickets </TD></TR><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2 colSpan=2 height=1><SPACER height="1" type="block" width="1"></TD></TR><TR class=yspwhitebg><TD colSpan=2 height=15><SPACER height="1" type="block" width="1"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Kerry Collins moves back into the starting role at quarterback for the Oakland Raiders as they host a Cleveland Browns team that has also made a change at the position recently.


After a promising start to the season, Collins struggled as the Raiders fell out of playoff contention. He didn't throw an interception until his 141st pass in the fifth game of the season, and had thrown just two in his first 236 attempts.

But seven of his 10 interceptions have come in his last four games, including three in a 31-17 home loss Nov. 13 to Denver, and Oakland coach Norv Turner decided to give Marques Tuiasosopo the start last week.

Tuiasosopo, though, got sacked six times and lost two fumbles in a 26-10 loss to the New York Jets. He went 14-for-26 for 124 yards with two interceptions, prompting Turner to change his mind Wednesday because he felt Collins gave the team the best chance to win.
"I just felt that it was Kerry. It's not a reflection of Tui and his performance, because he knows there are things he could have done better, but we did not play well around him," Turner said. "We owe it to the guys on this team that are giving as much as they're giving, we owe them the best chance to find a way to win a game."

The loss ensured the Raiders of their third straight losing season for the first time since Al Davis came aboard in 1963 to coach and eventually own the team. Oakland has dropped three straight and five of six.


"I think our guys as a team have prepared and gotten ready to go," Turner said. "As I said, as we all said, I'm disappointed in our production ... but getting the whole thing to play at a higher level is the No. 1 issue right now for me."

Raiders running back LaMont Jordan has run for 893 yards and nine touchdowns this season, but he wants to see Oakland run the ball more than the 16 times it did againt the Jets last week.

"I'm very frustrated," said Jordan, held to 49 yards on 14 carries against his former team. "I sat back and watched a rookie (New York's Cedric Houston) get double the carries I had. Bringing in a new quarterback, you would think there would be more of an emphasis on the running game."

Cleveland brought in a new quarterback three weeks ago when rookie Charlie Frye made his first career start in place of the injured Trent Dilfer against Jacksonville.
Frye has lost both his starts and is 35-for-56 with 422 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions in four games.

"He makes bad throws from time to time, just like any quarterback does," said Browns tight end Steve Heiden, who caught a TD pass from Frye in last week's 23-20 loss at rival Cincinnati. "But when he does that, he doesn't dwell on it. He learns from it and moves on."

Cleveland coach Romeo Crennel is looking forward to seeing how Frye and the rest of the Browns react to playing in front of the raucous Oakland fans.
"We have to go to Oakland and it's going to be a tough game," he said. "We've got similar records and similar issues. It's a test for our team to see if we can go on the road, take the challenge and see what we can do with it. I would say if we're able to go out there and get the victory, then we've made progress this season." Cleveland has lost six straight road games since a 26-24 win Sept. 18 over Green Bay.
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

LINK

12/16/05

Bumbling Oakland gathers less Moss
Saturday, December 17, 2005 <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]


BEREA - Randy Moss’ numbers are down. Browns safety Brian Russell advises his teammates not to bring that up Sunday in the Black Hole.
“It would be a mistake to do much trash talking with Randy,” said Russell, Moss’ teammate in Minnesota the previous four seasons.
“Randy can really make (defensive backs) look foolish.”
Moss is a Raider now, awaiting a visit from Russell and the Browns. In Moss’ last healthy season, he gave the 2003 Vikings 111 catches for 1,632 yards and 17 touchdowns.
In his first season with the 4-9 Raiders, Moss has 789 yards receiving to rank 24th in the NFL, one spot behind the Bengals’ T.J. Houshmandzadeh.
On the other hand, the Raiders lead the Browns, 3,008-2,567, in net passing yards, largely because of the way Moss spreads out defenses.
Moss has been nagged by groin injuries but when he gets past that, Russell doubts he has lost anything.
“Of the players I’ve seen, he’s second to none,” Russell said. “He’s the fastest person I’ve ever seen.
“It’s a smooth speed. You don’t know he’s changed gears until he’s by you.
“We had some fast receivers in Minnesota. Kelly Campbell was fast. There were a couple of real fast backs.
“Those guys would challenge each other to races in the offseason. They’d race 40 or 50 yards. Randy would win by a fair amount.”
Questions about Moss’ character and ability to function as a teammate caused him to fall in the 1998 draft. The Vikings picked him at No. 21 overall.
He had a stormy run with the Vikings.
“I consider him a friend,” Russell said. “He was a good teammate. I was always excited to go into game with him.
“He’s had his troubles, and that’s his business. I know he’s one of the most talented players, if not the most talented player, in the NFL.”
Russell joined the Browns as a free agent this year, shortly before the team spent a No. 3 draft pick on wideout Braylon Edwards. Edwards’ acrobatic style invites some comparisons to Moss.
“I don’t want to make too many comparisons,” Russell said. “Braylon’s very talented. He’s gonna be great in this league, but Randy’s Randy.”

NEW ‘BIG MONEY’ Linebacker Andra Davis was in high spirits Friday after agreeing to a new five-year deal the previous day. “I’m very relieved,” Davis said. “I know this organization is headed in the right direction. You can tell by the way our guys are playing. The record doesn’t show it, but the effort, attitude and character of the guys is really positive.” Davis said Head Coach Romeo Crennel was a factor in his decision. “We feed off Romeo and his demeanor,” Davis said. “He doesn’t get too high or low.” EXTRA POINTS Crennel said the re-signing of Davis “sends the message we might be heading in the right direction.” ... Tight ends Steve Heiden (knee) and Aaron Shea (calf) have been limited in practice. The Browns signed Paul Irons off the practice squad as insurance on Friday, and may have to adjust the game plan. “That makes it a little more difficult,” Crennel said. ... Running back Jason Wright was waived to make room for Irons. Wright scored the team’s first rushing touchdown of the season Nov. 6 against Tennessee. ... L.J. Shelton remains a candidate to start at left tackle next year, but his contract expires after the next three games. “He knows the system better,” Crennel said. “He’s been effective as a run blocker and a pass protector. He’s had some issues with the snap count, but I think he’s represented himself well.” Reach Repository sports writer Steve Doerschuk at (330) 580-8347 or e-mail: [email protected]
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

link

12/18/05

Oakland’s ‘Black Hole’ hasn’t been so spooky this year
Sunday, December 18, 2005 <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 AT RAIDERS
Today, 4:05 p.m.
McAfee Stadium, Oakland, Calif.
TV Channel 19
RADIO WHBC-AM 1480,
WQKT-FM 104.5, WAKR-AM 1590, WMMS-FM 100.7, WTAM-AM 1100, WJER-AM 1450

OAKLAND, CALIF. - OK, so the Raiders are back in the Black Hole today. Big whoop.
They’re 2-4 in 2005 at Hole Sweet Hole, where they were whacked recently by the same Miami team that collapsed in Cleveland not so long ago.
So, you’ve got to think the Browns have a chance in this skirmish between forgotten 4-9 teams.
Some of those Raider fans are still scary, but their team looks like the tooth fairy in a motorcycle gang.
Last Sunday, the Raiders did the impossible, making Jets quarterback Brooks Bollinger look good. In Bollinger’s five previous starts — all losses — the Jets were walloped by a combined 107-25. Bollinger looked like Michael Vick while running for 56 yards in a 26-10 Jets win.
Thus, you’ve got to think Charlie Frye has a shot in his third NFL start. It didn’t take Frye long to get a reputation.
“He likes to scramble and throw the ball,” said Raiders defensive end Bobby Hamilton. “We’ve got to keep him in the pocket.
“If we don’t, it’s going to be like last week, and we’re going to come home with a sad face.”
Hamilton misses Browns Head Coach Romeo Crennel, Hamilton’s position coach with the Jets in the ’90s. Then, Crennel was his defensive coordinator on two New England Super Bowl winners.
“I’m really proud of what he’s doing,” Hamilton said. “Cleveland got a fine coach. He’s going to turn that program around. I know that.”
Oakland’s Norv Turner is in a middle of a wrong-turn year that could finish him as an NFL head coach. Given another chance years after his 1994-2000 run with the Redskins — he was replaced by interim Head Coach Terry Robiskie late in 2000 — Turner is 9-20 in two-plus seasons of helping Al Davis run the Raiders.
The Bay-area papers have rubbed some salt in Turner’s wounds.
“When you’re struggling like we are,” Turner said, “those articles are going to be there.”
Davis’ blockbuster offseason pick-up, Randy Moss, has not been all there. Bothered by groin problems, the moody wideout had three big games early and two OK games since mid-October. In recent outings against the Titans, Chiefs, Redskins, Dolphins and Jets, though, he has totaled 12 catches for 119 yards.
Frisman Jackson basically did that for the Browns on Sept. 11 against the Bengals.
“For a pretty long stretch there, Randy was playing banged up,” Turner said. “I don’t know that he’s 100 percent, but I think he’s moving better.”
Wideout Jerry Porter and running back Lamont Jordan have been steadier threats.
Young Marques Tuiasosopo got a start at quarterback last Sunday. Here’s how it went: Veteran Kerry Collins has been re-installed.
Collins has been around. As a No. 5 overall pick out of Penn State in 1995, his first NFL action came in the Hall of Fame Game at Canton, when the expansion Panthers and Jaguars debuted against each other.
Collins helped Carolina to the NFC title game in 1996, and the Giants to the NFC finals in 2000.
So much for the best of times. He enters today’s game with a career record of 66-76.
“With his experience and the things he’s done,” Turner said, “Kerry gives us the best chance to win.”
Crennel had been saying that about Trent Dilfer. Now Crennel is sticking with Frye, whose play has not been nearly as messy as Tuiasosopo’s.
Frye must handle the pressure of the Black Hole, which leads the league in Budweiser empties per square foot of parking lot.
Browns linebacker Kenard Lang smiles when he recalls his last trip to Oakland, as a member of Norv Turner’s Redskins.
“There was a 10-year-old kid cussing us out worse than his dad,” Lang said. Now the Raiders are Turner’s team, and the cussing has turned on him. Reach Repository sports writer Steve Doerschuk at (330) 580-8347 or e-mail [email protected].
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[BuckeyeNation27]

I think it's funny the cleveland papers talk shit about the raiders, while the browns suck just as much.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

link

12/18/05

Nobody’s rolling over yet
Coaches aren’t about to let 4-9 Browns, Raiders give up on their seasons

Sunday, December 18, 2005
James Walker

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

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BEREA, Ohio — It is a simple fact of life that NFL teams sometimes tank this time of year.

Teams mathematically eliminated from playoff contention often go on long losing streaks to end the season, and usually it goes way beyond X’s and O’s.

Sometimes players are already thinking about the holidays and their families.

Some players have free agency pending and want to avoid injury, which would damage their stock.

Some teams have interim coaches on the chopping block, a situation the Browns faced at the end of last season when they lost nine of 10.

The reasons for not showing up in late-season games are many.
The Browns and Oakland Raiders share three-game losing streaks and are at a crossroads when they meet today in McAfee Stadium. It’s an opportunity for one team to begin gaining momentum for next season, and for the other to go deeper into the abyss.

"These guys want to win. I want to win," Browns coach Romeo Crennel said. "We’re motivated to play to try and win a game. The other thing is that if you don’t play . . . (he) might not be here next year. . . . That should be motivation for a guy to play and do his job."

Raiders coach Norv Turner said, "Every game is a challenge for them and an opportunity to establish who they are. That’s an advantage for us . . . having veterans (who know) that people are watching and forming an opinion on you."

Both coaches alluded to the game film that provides teams with an ongoing evaluation of players.

After Butch Davis’ firing last year, the Browns had the look of a team that tanked, losing their next three games by 27, 30 and 21 points before splitting the final two games. Not coincidentally, the Browns brought back just 27 players from the 53-man roster last season.

These final three games could be a strong indicator of whether the Browns go in a similar direction next season. So staying motivated has been a key phrase in the Cleveland locker room this week after the team surprised many by nearly beating the playoffbound Cincinnati Bengals on the road last Sunday.

"How do players stay motivated?" Browns linebacker Kenard Lang said. "Two things: You still get your check; you’ve got a job. And No. 2, you’ve got to take it personally. You might think the season’s over, but there are 31 other teams out there.

"We’ve got to be realistic about the whole situation. Last year, they brought in a whole new coaching staff, so what’s the next thing to go? Since I’ve been here, it’s been a cycle. The coaches go and then some of the players go. That’s the nature of the beast."

Turner might be one of those coaches who goes. Talk out of the Bay Area has Turner being fired after the season.

Those kind of rumors can affect a team’s preparation and performance on the field, particularly late in the season as evidenced by Oakland’s 26-10 loss to the New York Jets. Still, Turner, in his second season with the Raiders, remains optimistic about his job status and the possibility of turning his team around next season.

"The good thing about the league for Cleveland and for us is that things change fairly dramatically, fairly fast," Turner said. "Two years ago, you would have been asking the same question to San Diego. They struggled. At the end of the year two years ago, there weren’t many people picking them to go win the division or be a playoff team. But with a good group of players and some additions, it changes awfully quickly."

[email protected]

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

yahoo.com

12/18/05

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=750 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=560>Cleveland 9, Oakland 7

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=7><SPACER width="1" type="block" height="1"></TD></TR><TR><TD class=yspsctnhdln>Cleveland 9, Oakland 7</TD></TR><TR><TD height=7><SPACER width="1" type="block" height="1"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Preview - Box Score - Recap </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>By JOSH DUBOW, AP Sports Writer
December 18, 2005
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
<SMALL>AP - Dec 18, 5:43 pm EST</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Phil Dawson's last-second kick and an instant replay reversal were enough to give rookie Charlie Frye his first NFL win.

Dawson kicked a 37-yard field goal two plays after Reuben Droughns' apparent fumble was overturned by replay, giving the Cleveland Browns a 9-7 victory over the Oakland Raiders on Sunday.

Frye, a third-round pick out of Akron, calmly engineered the last-minute drive that helped Cleveland (5-9) snap a three-game skid, but spent the key moments waiting to see if he had done enough.

After Droughns lost the ball at the Oakland 19 with less than a minute left, it appeared the Raiders (4-10) would escape with the win. But after a long replay review, referee Mike Carey ruled Droughns was down before the ball came loose, giving the Browns another chance.

Coach Romeo Crennel played it safe, having Frye take a knee to let the clock run down. Dawson then kicked his third field goal of the game to win it.
Frye went 4-for-5 for 32 yards on the drive that started after Alvin McKinley blocked Sebastian Janikowski's 46-yard field goal attempt with 3:15 to play. The drive was aided by a personal foul facemask penalty against Derrick Burgess after he sacked Frye on third-and-3.

Frye's comeback spoiled Kerry Collins' return as Oakland's starting quarterback. Benched after throwing seven interceptions in a four-game span, Collins was given the job back after Marques Tuiasosopo turned the ball over four times in last week's 26-10 loss to the New York Jets.


Collins struggled against the Browns, going 14-for-30 for 132 yards and an interception as Oakland lost its fourth straight. He did throw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Randy Moss late in the first half for Oakland's only score.

Frye finished 21-for-32 for 198 yards and an interception in his third career start.
With the crowd thinned by the Raiders' poor record and heavy rain that fell early in the day, Collins didn't have to deal with as many of the angry fans who booed him during his last two home starts. But Collins still heard it from the crowd after throwing a low pass on third down to Courtney Anderson to end Oakland's first drive and many times after that.

Collins did get some cheers on his final drive of the opening half, an 89-yard drive that ended with the first score of the game. Collins completed five straight passes and also converted on a fourth-and-1 sneak. After throwing a ball away under pressure, Collins threw a perfect strike in between three defenders to Moss for the score with 1:16 left in the half.

The Browns answered after Joshua Cribbs returned the ensuing kick 46 yards to the Cleveland 49. Frye completed three passes to move the ball to the Oakland 27, leading to a 44-yard field goal by Dawson on the final play of the half to make it 7-3.

The Browns missed an opportunity to score earlier in the half when Frye led them down to the 1. But Jarrod Cooper stopped Droughns on fourth-and-goal from the 1, keeping the game scoreless.

Cleveland was stopped again inside the 10 late in the third quarter, settling for a 24-yard field goal by Dawson that made it 7-6. LaMont Jordan ran for 132 yards to give him 1,025 yards on the season for Oakland.
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[BuckeyeNation27]

how fitting

 

[Guy Incognito]

:sleep2:

 

[OilerBuck]

how fitting

Is it bad that I was hoping we'd miss that final field goal for draft position?

 

[NFBuck]

That sig is friggin' hilarious!

 

[NJ-Buckeye]

this game.. was prototypical Charlie Frye... whatever ya gotta do... a baby version of Favre... looked so much like he did at Akron so many times...

 

[Guy Incognito]

That sig is friggin hilarious!

And stupid. Bengal fans have sold out PBS for 3 years now, despite 2 years of 8-8 records.

 

[OH10]

I'm not worried about the draft position. Our number 1 pick will just get hurt anyway.

But I am proud to be a Browns' fan today. At BWs, tons of Browns fans whoopin' and hollerin', barking up a storm. This team hasn't been good since the early 90s, and Browns' fans are still around supporting their team.

Much more than I can say for Bengals' fans, who just dusted off the "who gay"....err "who dey?" chant a year ago. See, you can suck for a while and support your team. Browns' fans have proved it to me.

Go Browns!! Go Colts (only insofar as I hope they beat the Pats, Steelers, and Bengals)

 

[OilerBuck]

And stupid. Bengal fans have sold out PBS for 3 years now, despite 2 years of 8-8 records.

Nice try, Tibs.

Check facts before you post...your statment isn't true. Check here to find already posted stats on attendance figures for the past two decades that shows

1. Bengals home attendance has a high correlation to record, while Browns attendance does not.

2. That the past three seasons have NOT been sold out at PBS.

You might want to also take your Bungle propaganda to a relevant thread...

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

Is it bad that I was hoping we'd miss that final field goal for draft position?

no, i was doing the same thing