Archive for August, 2009

If I didn’t know any better, I would think the only storyline of the preseason was the Brady Quinn-Derek Anderson competition, which seems all but over after Saturday’s game against the Tennessee Titans.  By the way, if you want my pick, the job has to go to Quinn.  He was efficient, crisp, and wasn’t flagged on Saturday just for standing on the sideline.  Not that Derek Anderson played terribly; Quinn just had a certain something going for him. However, this isn’t totally about Quinn.  Lost in all this quarterback talk is the play of rookie running back James Davis.  You [...]

I’m sure all of us would like to know by now who the starting quarterback will be for the Browns, but don’t expect anything to change following Saturday’s game against the Tennessee Titans.  While some may think that the quarterback job will be all but decided after today, I would venture a guess that Eric Mangini is going to let this go right up to the last minute.  That goes in his own final decision-making, not just in his unwillingness to declare either Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson with the upper hand in the competition. Despite the fact that the [...]

It has been a tough introduction to the NFL for Brian Robiskie.  The former Buckeye is known to be impeccably prepared.  He has some advantages being the son of a longtime NFL coach and a former Browns ballboy and Ohio fan-favourite.  But times have been rough in Berea. At the fourth day of training camp, Robo dropped three passes over five plays.  He frequently appears to get the brunt of criticism from the coaches at practice.  We saw that first-hand at two training camp sessions during which Robiskie seemed to struggle with his normally solid hands.  Of course, that may [...]

The Browns actually looked like a real football team against the Detroit Lions last Saturday, but there is of course plenty of room for improvement in the eyes of head coach Eric Mangini.  One area of particular concern to Mangini is that of penalties, specifically stupid penalties caused by exaggerated celebrations. Three players in particular from Saturday’s game can be referred to when talking about the problem with celebrations.  Receiver Mike Furrey celebrated a catch on third down with a hand signal straight out of the Joe Jurevicius handbook.  Cornerback Corey Ivy broke up a pass and felt the need [...]

  The NFL Network has had little reason to pay much attention as of late to the Cleveland Browns, but last evening on Total Access, the Browns received an unusual amount of attention. There was discussion of how improved the Team looked from week one to week two of the pre-season (although I would not bust open the champagne quite yet;  after all – it was the Lions).  Two Browns made the Top 10 list for the best players in week two of the pre-season.  Running back and rookie draftee James Davis made the list for his 81-yard touchdown run [...]

Let’s face it, the Browns aren’t conjuring up dreams of a Super Bowl championship run this season.  After the effort put forth in the team’s first preseason game against the Green Bay Packers, it’s a case of “here we go again” with this team.  Never mind a win; let’s find a way to score an offensive touchdown ( a drought which, if you include this preseason, is up to seven games).  With that in mind, one would think the players would be focused entirely on football, and playing it well, right? Well, according to some players in this cleveland.com article, [...]

As we near the second pre-season game (1st at home this year) against the lowly Lions, it appears that the Browns’ starting offensive line for this season is becoming solidified. The injury to Rex Hadnot likely means that we will have: Left Tackle – Pro Bowler Joe Thomas – 24 years young;  6 foot 6;  312-315 pounds Left Guard – Eric Steinbach – 29 years;  6 foot 6;  a slender 295 pounds (maybe closer to 300 after a few extra lard dinners provided by Mangini) Right Guard – Floyd “Pork Chop” Womack – 30 years old;  6 foot 4;  a [...]

I must digress from the current bashing of the Browns over that pathetic performance against the Packers in our first pre-season game the other night. Before someone writes in to label me an evil animal hater, I am not.  My family has pets.  I like to think that my son has respect for them.  But I am so sick and tired of the endless bashing of Michael Vick and the Eagles for signing him.  I read today that there will be organized protestors at all Eagles games, home and away.  What kind of craziness is that? I may not hire [...]

The Cleveland Browns have waived injured receiver Syndric Steptoe.  This comes on the heels of Steptoe’s serious injury (a torn labrum in his shoulder) sustained at training camp practice this past Saturday.  Syndric was carted off the field with what was likely a significant enough injury to keep him on the sidelines this entire season. We wrote a piece on this website some time ago advocating that something needed to change with Steptoe in order to improve his productivity on the field:  http://dawgpounddaily.com/2009/05/07/what-to-do-with-syndric-steptoe/. It now appears that will not happen.  The irony is that, up to the point of his [...]

Yesterday, while at Browns training camp, we happened to capture something pretty funny. Shaun Rogers jumped offsides during a drill and had to run, if you can even call it that, a lap. His reaction was pretty classic. Check it out: