Cleveland Browns vs Jacksonville Jaguars: A Battle Cry from Backwoods
By Backwoods
Oct 3, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns strong safety T.J. Ward (43) celebrates after defeating the Buffalo Bills 37-24 at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Game day is quickly approaching. For many, the talk this week has been of the 2014 NFL Draft and of course “Next Year”. The 2013 season may well be a bust and many fans are suggesting that a forfeiture of the remaining games would serve the Browns best. I will not argue that logic, as a better placement in the draft certainly would, but‑
Are there many winnable games left?
Do we have to “Give Up” to acquire a good pick?
Even if we all agreed that giving up would be best, do you think the players really should?
Will that help the mentality of the locker room?
Is that truly the structure and mindset that we truly want here in Cleveland?
Don’t get me wrong, I fully understand the positioning game as well as the limited options coming into the draft, but this is Cleveland Football. If we were going to give up and throw in the towel, we should have done so a very long time ago. If you get knocked off the horse, get back on! If you get knocked off again, get back on and hang on tighter! Will you ever master that saddle if you give up?
I will give up when I am dead, even then I will still be rooting for them Brownies. I have battled hardship beyond any I could have imagined. At 34 years of age, I deal with near-daily shoulder dislocations in both shoulders. The doctors say they cannot fix them, yet I have no “Give Up” to offer. I want players who will give their all on every play. Never give up! Never give in!
Isn’t that what football is all about?
Isn’t there more to the game than who we can draft and how high our pick will be?
Are we tougher than the next guys?
Will we ever be tougher than the Steelers or Ravens with any hint of “Give Up” in us?
Did the “No-Name Defense” that went undefeated have any “Give Up” in them?
How do we build a dynasty?
How do we conquer the enemy?
We often compare the battle on the field, to the field of battle. Shouldn’t our mentality compare as well?
I say we fight! I say we stand up, punch them in the teeth and bark, bite, chew, snarl and growl like there’s no tomorrow! I say we stand together, side by side. We refuse the fear. We refuse the failure. We give it everything we have to give and when we run out, we dig up more from deep inside and give it too.
I would not give up on a brother or sister in the field of battle, nor would I give up on the field of play. I do understand the logic and it does make sense, but I do not agree. I simply cannot agree. If they lose on Sunday I can still lift my head a little easier, knowing that we will have a better chance next year, but only if they give it all they have to give.
We must fight! We simply must! We must give it all we got and then give it more! This is football! This is Cleveland football! This is the Dawg Pound! This is a matter of toughness and determination! This is a matter of pride! This is a measure of our heart! Pick yourself up, stand strong and no matter what, Fight!