man, if I was in his position, i'd be telling the sports hacks like booms to do something anatomically impossible with their heads.

I sure hope you're all correct here. I doubt it. But one can hope. If anything, burying one's head in the sand or elsewhere is a dangerous thing to do when the warning signs are everywhere. But, gee, all of these are probably just coincidences.....

 

EDIT: So, back to football. Mr. Gordon and friends should be happier with the Bengals depleted secondary:

 

Tony Grossi ‏@TonyGrossi 2h #Bengals not expected to have CB Leon Hall, CB Dre Kirkpatrick and S Reggie Nelson for #Browns. That's a fair chunk of secondary missing.

not burying my head in the sand.  I'm simply not going to judge another person's lifestyle just because I like to watch him on Sundays.  He can do whatever he likes and deal with the consequences, if it comes to that.

Also, if Swisher hosted a party, this would be received as a connecting-with-the-community moment.

Can't Gordon wait until after the season to party and host events?  Seems like someone on their last strike (unlike Swisher) should be a little more careful.  I know people close to the situation feel this way as well.

It's not about judging anyone's lifestyle, it's about judging whether or not to build a team around a potential key player who's bad judgement has already kept him off the field for two games this season and who seems to be setting himself up to be off the field for the rest of it.  Sorry, but these "promoter parties" are sh-t shows, and hopefully Gordon will realize nothing good can possibly happen for him there, but that a lot bad can start there.  He has the most to lose of all.

Do me a favor and count on your fingers the number of superstars the Browns have had since '99. Building a team around Gordon might be a gamble, but giving up a potential pro-bowl wide receiver for a third round draft pick is an even bigger gamble. It's a no brainer. Odds are that draft pick is gonna suck.

I agree. 

Go back and see my comments when we picked Josh Gordon in the supplemental. I was elated. I still love the kid and still think the kid has the potential to be the best receiver we've had since Webster Slaughter or, if you count the brief time he was here, Keenan McCardell. If he can stay out of trouble, Gordon will be a great player.

Do me a favor and count on your fingers the number of superstars the Browns have had since '99. Building a team around Gordon might be a gamble, but giving up a potential pro-bowl wide receiver for a third round draft pick is an even bigger gamble. It's a no brainer. Odds are that draft pick is gonna suck.

 

Sure, every player is always a gamble, but we aren't playing roulette here, it isn't all random chance.  His choices can determine this issue pretty much 100%.

Damn, Bernie....

Who is the new Buster guy? He's wait better than the old one.

 

So we've now shut down Adrian Peterson and AJ Green?

cann uuuu dig it?!!

 

very sad -- no looking the other way or head injury history excuses for poor bernie kosar this time:

 

 

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/23911562/exbrowns-qb-bernie-kosar-arrested-on-suspicion-of-dui-sunday

 

So a friend from Youngstown calls this morning and has an extra ticket to the Browns-Bengals game. I had let it go to voicemail because I had a suspicion why he was calling. I wasn't sure if I wanted to go and wanted to take some time to think about. So I called him back after 20 minutes and I said I would take the ticket. I haven't been to a Browns game in 10 years and hated it -- especially all the falling-down drunks. But I decided to give it a try again. The weather was 75 and sunny and I thought the Browns had a shot to beat the much-better Bengals if Haden could shut down AJ Green. I figured our defense could shut down all other aspects of their offense. And I thought Hoyer had a shot against the Bengals defense with all the injuries in their secondary.

 

Browns fans were loud yet relatively sober and I was really enjoying the game. But when the offense got the ball with something like 10-13 minutes left in the 4th quarter with the 10-6 lead, I told my buddy that we need a time-consuming drive that ends with a touchdown against the Bengals good defense. That's a tall order for any team to do, let alone a Browns team that hasn't been able to do what needed to be done to win a close game against a quality opponent since perhaps the 1980s. Yet that's exactly what Hoyer and the offense did. These Browns showed me something and made me feel something I haven't seen and felt in a long time.

 

I left that address on the lakefront with a feeling I haven't felt in more than 20 years. Now we go into a nationally televised home game against a surprising Bills team, but with a real chance to win this and go over .500. I NEVER expected this.

^  Clevelanders need to rest up tonight, tomorrow and Tuesday.  Wednesday the national media circus gets to town and its going to be a great few weeks sports wise.

The 'Dawgs' are back!

I went to the OSU-Wisconsin game and then decided to get up early and drive back for the Browns game. The Browns defense is playing out of their a$$. Jingo is for real. Three sacks in three games and they were double teaming him with the running back in the second half. I could write forever about this game but I am completely wiped out.

The Bengals were favored to win the AFC North and the Browns just beat them today...making them look fairly mediocre in the process.  I know it's still early and maybe I'm still high from what the Indians have done, but this division looks like it's wide open and the Browns look like they could really make a run.  There is not a complete/dominant team in the division.

I feel like we're back to preseason game 2.  I'm loving the present, but let's all take a deep breath here.  Bills on thursday.  3-2 would be SWEET.

I didn't have high hopes for a plush mascot Brownie, but it's not bad.

 

That is hideous.  Halloween Leprechaun!

In the warm glow of the win, I forgot to mention Bill Cundiff.  Boy did he stink today.

yay 4 the brownie mascot --

looks good and appropriately strange enough to haunt kids!

 

 

 

ps -                        ATT  YDS  AVR  LG  TD

Trent Richardson 20 60 3.0 12 1

BTW, note the stream of Browns on West 3rd Street bridge LEAVING the game at the START OF THE FOURTH QUARTER. The Browns were leading 10-6 so the game was still very much in doubt. If you're going to the game and the score is close, why leave early??

 

 

A few other pics from yesterday.....

 

 

 

 

 

^Looks like you had some real hot-heads sitting a few rows in front of you...

 

I hate the elf.  Couldn't we at least give him some bells on the the tips of his socks?  Or is it a her?  I honestly can't tell.

^Looks like you had some real hot-heads sitting a few rows in front of you...

 

 

I forgot to post this picture from yesterday's game. Such creative fans! If the pic is too small, the handwriting says "2014 DRAFT PICK"

 

I didn't have high hopes for a plush mascot Brownie, but it's not bad.

 

 

It looks like that character from the Zelda games

The 'Dawgs', currently ranked #3 in the NFL, have not allowed a 100 yard rusher or a 100 yard receiver so far this season.  They'd easily be #1 against the run if not for the fact that teams can't afford to even try to run against Denver due to the Broncos building large leads in all of their games.  Currently, we are allowing 2.9 yards per rush.

 

Taylor, Bryant, Kruger, Sheard, Mingo, Jackson, Haden, and Ward are all arguably having pro bowl seasons.  Taylor and Haden could be in the mix for Defensive POY if they maintain their current level of play.

The Browns front 7 is absolutely nasty and deep.  Just what you need to compete in the North.  Get me one more difference maker at CB or safety and watch out! 

I forgot to post this picture from yesterday's game. Such creative fans! If the pic is too small, the handwriting says "2014 DRAFT PICK"

 

 

I can't put my finger on it, but there is something very disturbing about that picture.  Does that guy have the torso of a fat boy with chicken arms and legs??  The skinny jeans probably don't help.  Gentlemen, never buy the jeans which taper around the knees.

The Browns front 7 is absolutely nasty and deep.  Just what you need to compete in the North.  Get me one more difference maker at CB or safety and watch out! 

 

I think Skrine is playing much better considering Haden is taking away each team's best receiver. So QBs are forced to throw at Skrine and putting the pressure on him. He's come through in the last two games. We'll see if he continues to grow.

 

If we're counting potential Pro Bowlers at the 1/4th mark of the season, Jordan Cameron is on track for a monster season with 30 catches and 5 TDs already. Josh Gordon already has 15 catches in two games, so he could be in the area of 100 receptions by the end of the season too.

So the Browns waived oft-injured RB Montario Hardesty and WR Josh Cooper (Weeden's 2nd favorite target at OSU). They picked up RB/KR Fozzy Whittaker off waivers from San Diego. Ol' Fozzy was waived to make room on the Chargers' roster for OT Nick Becton coming off their practice squad.

Bummer, I kind of like Josh Cooper.  I hoped he'd get more time with Little being left out.  I suppose that is Benjamin's spot, so I won't complain too much.

It's so refreshing seeing a Browns team play with attitude and determination.  They just weren't going to lose that game..  The 90+ yard drive to go up 11 was a thing of beauty, ate clock, wore down the Bengals D, just outstanding.

 

Lombardi & company are looking like geniuses so far; Bryant, Kruger, Bess, Hoyer, Mingo, and a 1st round pick for 3 yards and a cloud of dust Trent Bustardson.  Dion Lewis would look real good on this Offense right now, no big play threat out of the backfield.  Looks like they're slowly working Marqueis Gray onto the field, wouldn't be surprised to see him lining up in some 2-TE sets with Cameron within the next few weeks.

 

^They lined up Grey in the wildcat with Hoyer split out wide one play, but Cincy called a timeout.  He looked pissed walking off the field. 

Dion Lewis would look real good on this Offense right now, no big play threat out of the backfield.  Looks like they're slowly working Marqueis Gray onto the field, wouldn't be surprised to see him lining up in some 2-TE sets with Cameron within the next few weeks.

 

 

Absolutely right about Dion Lewis. And this offense would look a lot different with him on it. MarQueis Gray is an intriguing player who was a quarterback who became a wide receiver in college to a tight end in the NFL. So I can see why the coaches have him in there in wildcat formations. The 49ers tried to move him to their practice squad which requires the player be waived first. But the Browns grabbed him. The 49ers and the Browns see something in this kid. We need to find some kind of backup for Jordan Cameron. I still don't understand why we let Benjamin Watson go.

 

EDIT: the locals showing their hometown boy some love....

 

I still don't understand why we let Benjamin Watson go.

 

Because they wanted their 2nd TE to be primarily a blocker, which Watson has never been particularly good at.  Nor do I suspect he would have willingly accepted that limited role.

 

Because they wanted their 2nd TE to be primarily a blocker, which Watson has never been particularly good at.  Nor do I suspect he would have willingly accepted that limited role.

 

I get that. What I don't get is what this offense would be like if Cameron couldn't play. There would be a huge drop off in production, but much less so if Watson was still still here.

^Have you considered that Watson wanted to try and find a home where he wasn't simply a contingency plan?  And if that was going to be his role, wouldn't he be an awfully expensive contingency plan?  I have to believe that the Browns thought they could find something comparable to Watson on the open market if and when the need arises.  It's not like we are talking about Tony Gonzalez.... or even someone who found a starting job on another team.

Browns moved up to 21st in the power rankings. They blew away my prediction for a high water mark of 25. 

^Have you considered that Watson wanted to try and find a home where he wasn't simply a contingency plan?  And if that was going to be his role, wouldn't he be an awfully expensive contingency plan?  I have to believe that the Browns thought they could find something comparable to Watson on the open market if and when the need arises.  It's not like we are talking about Tony Gonzalez.... or even someone who found a starting job on another team.

 

I'm more interested in the Browns' overall success, not Watson's. We didn't even make an offer to Watson. He need not be a contingency plan as the tight end is a key position in Turner's offense with two pass-catching tight ends on the field at the same time. OK, so we didn't keep him. Nor did we get anyone to replace him. What we have is a top-tier tight end in Cameron and a bunch of backups below him who MIGHT make the practice squad on other NFL teams. So we let Watson go to be replaced by.....? Again, I ask what do we do if Cameron can't play?

He was "replaced by" Jordan Cameron as the #1 TE.  If Cameron can't play, then one of our back-up TEs (we have at least two) will have to step up.  Regardless of whether it was one of them or Watson, nobody could replace Cameron's production this season, so your question is kind of pointless.  Watson is 32 and management obviously thought they could spend their money more wisely elsewhere.  I'd think you could count on Grey for the 10 ypc Watson gave you last year.  Successfully managed franchises like New England, the Steelers, etc. have been doing this for years.... erring on the side of letting go of players too soon as opposed to too late.

He was "replaced by" Jordan Cameron as the #1 TE.  If Cameron can't play, then one of our back-up TEs (we have at least two) will have to step up.  Regardless of whether it was one of them or Watson, nobody could replace Cameron's production this season, so your question is kind of pointless.  Watson is 32 and management obviously thought they could spend their money more wisely elsewhere.  I'd think you could count on Grey for the 10 ypc Watson gave you last year.  Successfully managed franchises like New England, the Steelers, etc. have been doing this for years.... erring on the side of letting go of players too soon as opposed to too late.

 

And you're completing missing my point by focusing on the player, not the position. This has less to do with Watson. I mentioned Watson because he was a known commodity. And my question is pointless ONLY if you can guarantee no one will get hurt or if you believe this offense functions better with only one pass-catching tight end on the roster.

 

So forget about Watson and tell me who is this team's #2 tight end? There isn't anyone. Let a guy a go without replacing him. In my book, that's burning a bridge BEFORE you decide if you want to cross it. Moving on.....

Did you want me to tell you or not?  Now I'm confused.  Not about your point..... I didn't miss anything about that.  I understood it each of the three or four times you repeated it.  Browns depth charts are available on multiple websites.  I think Ourlads does a good job of keeping an up to date depth chart - http://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/depthchart/CLE.  Barnidge is listed as the #2 TE.  However, I suspect if Cameron went down, Barnidge would remain at #2 (the role I think he would have assumed even IF Watson had been retained due to his blocking ability), and the team would look to Gray to fill the role of a 'pass-catching' TE.

So forget about Watson and tell me who is this team's #2 tight end?

 

My response seems to have vanished.  Strange.  I had posted a depth chart showing Barnidge is listed as the #2 TE.  He is listed as that because the #2 TE in our system is primarily an extra blocker.  If Cameron went down, I suspect Gray would be elevated to the 'pass-catcher' role.  But losing Cameron would hurt, for sure..... just as losing any of our star players would hurt - who would replace Gordon?  Haden?  Ward?  Thomas?  Mack?

I deleted it because it was a combative, condescending post. It was not an attempt at conversation. Your 2:05 p.m. post is conversational.

 

So there is more depth with NFL production behind Gordon but not behind the other positions you listed. There were two players with NFL production at tight end last year. We got rid of one of them despite having no further depth behind those two players. I hear what you're saying and I've heard what the Browns are saying and I'm saying it was a mistaken, short-sighted, risky move. Out.

It pretty much says the same thing, iirc.  If anything, it was reflective of a tone set not by me.  Whatever. 

 

In.  I'd argue there is NO depth behind Gordon.  None.  IMO, given Little's inability to catch a football, we don't have any outside WRs on this squad besides Gordon.  The proof is that we are starting a slot reciever at one of the outside spots.

Gordon had 50 catches in his rookie season. Little had 61 in his rookie season (and 53 last year).

 

I'm not saying Little is a better player. He isn't. But the drop off from Gordon to Little is nowhere near as big as it is from Cameron to a bunch of practice squad players.