Archive for December, 2011

I don’t really want to admit it, but it’s true. We’re part of the problem. In the world of instant gratification and “what have you done for me lately?” (where “lately” means “in the last 6-12 hours”) there is no room for any mistake of any kind, period. Much like millions of others, I’m completely engrossed in the Twitter world and was on it at some point during Mike Holmgren’s presser this week. Twitter was, well, atwitter with rumblings and ribbings (please excuse that phrasing, I’m an aspiring comedy writer) as the team president spoke about various things that won’t change [...]

Cleveland is different. There’s no other way to put it, and there is nothing Mike Holmgren can do about it but win. Just win baby. The Colt McCoy concussion fiasco is a big deal. It wouldn’t be anywhere else because nowhere else is Cleveland, and coming off defensive and combative steers the issue toward what he begged the scribes to ignore. The media has nothing else to write about, and their constituents have been tortured like no other. No other city has been without a championship for 50 years in any major sport. No other city had to watch their [...]

With quarterback Colt McCoy unable to practice due to his concussion, it’s becoming more and more evident that Seneca Wallace will get his first start of the season on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals. Wallace is a capable back-up, though it’s disheartening for another Cleveland Browns season to pass with a quarterback unable to finish the full 16-game schedule. One also has to wonder about the potential media storm that could roll into Cleveland should Wallace find a way to score more points with the same offense that McCoy was working with. These quarterback discussions are the types of things the Browns [...]

On Wednesday, Cleveland Browns president Mike Holmgren held a press conference to address the situation surrounding quarterback Colt McCoy and his concussion. Holmgren explained that a concussion test was not administered to McCoy on the sideline, which doesn’t come as a surprise, but he reassured the media that the training staff followed all of the correct protocols. The press conference was an opportunity for Holmgren to clear the air and provide a little clarity to the organization’s actions, as the speculation was – as always – beginning to run rampant. Of course, his comments brought a whole new wave of speculation, which [...]

Cleveland Browns president Mike Holmgren held a press conference on Wednesday in an attempt to shed some light on the drama surrounding quarterback Colt McCoy’s concussion. It’s safe to say that he accomplished that, clearing the air about the whole situation, but it’s also safe to say that the press conference had a tense atmosphere. Clearly, Holmgren has been bothered by the fact that many members of the media – both national and local – have taken certain liberties in writing about the Browns this season. Speculation has run rampant on a variety of issues and Holmgren has had to appear on [...]

As was expected, the NFL issued a one-game suspension to Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison on Tuesday. The suspension stems from his helmet-to-helmet hit that gave Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy a concussion, though Harrison’s past penchant for fine-inducing hits likely had something to do with it. This is one of those situations where it depends on what side of the fence you were on before the incident took place. Browns players and fans are going to defend McCoy and call out Harrison for taking a cheap shot, as wide receiver/kick returner Josh Cribbs has done, while Steelers fans and players are going [...]

The 2011 Cleveland Browns have turned the creation of negative headlines into an art form, and it continues with the saga of quarterback Colt McCoy’s concussion. On Monday, head coach Pat Shurmur explained that the Browns handled McCoy’s injury properly on the sidelines, administering the correct procedures before allowing McCoy to come back into the game. However, Shurmur declined to say whether or not the standard concussion test was performed. But that doesn’t mean Browns fans should immediately blame Shurmur for allowing McCoy back onto the field. McCoy was treated properly to the best of Shurmur’s knowledge, so why should he question it? [...]

While the Cleveland Browns continue to deal with the repercussions stemming from the concussion that quarterback Colt McCoy sustained last Thursday, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ James Harrison has problems of his own. The linebacker is likely facing a suspension from the league on Tuesday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Naturally, Harrison believes that he did nothing wrong and doesn’t believe that he should be fined or suspended. He cites the fact that McCoy was on the run and thus should be treated like any other player. Despite that, the NFL has pointed out the explanation in the rules that states that quarterbacks are still protected [...]

There is no doubt that the Cleveland Browns are having a tough season. It is easy and convenient to vent one’s frustrations at head coach Pat Shurmur, though some choose to focus their blame on GM Tom Heckert and team president Mike Holmgren. Perhaps citing the notion that this team is “the same old Browns,” fans are understandably frustrated. But that doesn’t mean anyone needs to jump to any rash decisions. Firing Shurmur after one season and cleaning house accomplishes nothing. One of the main reasons the Browns didn’t bother signing any major free agents this past offseason was because a) they [...]

The concussion that Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy sustained on Thursday night is becoming big news, thanks in large part to the game being played on national television. The NFL has been investigating the Browns to determine whether or not the team followed the proper procedures in checking McCoy for a concussion on the sidelines. Sources have told ESPN that the Browns didn’t perform the SCAT2 concussion test (sport concussion assessment tool) on McCoy before letting him go back into the game. Additionally, the team didn’t even perform any kind of concussion test on the quarterback until the following morning. Chris Mortensen [...]