The other day in class we were talking about how Art Model moved the Cleveland Browns franchise to Baltimore, who are now known as the Baltimore Ravens. This move set the Browns back over a decade, and the Ravens have since won a Super Bowl. Cleveland got its team back in 1999 but now in 2009 resemble a franchise far worse than any expansion team. Since the Browns have been back in the league they have only had one playoff appearance and one 10 win season. This season the Browns have hit a new low. The team is arguably now one of the worst if not worst in NFL history, and the ownership and front office is in disarray. The Browns just recently embarrassed themselves and the city of Cleveland with their 16-0 shutout loss on Monday Night Football when they hosted the Baltimore Ravens. ESPN analysts Trent Dilfer and Steve Young ripped the team and franchise after the game, with Dilfer saying the Browns were the worst offense he has ever seen in football. The Browns problem all starts with the ownership. Randy Lerner inherited this team and has no idea what he is doing. Lerner hired former Jets coach Eric Mangini after he was fired and gave him control of the ship. Mangini hand picked the Browns General Manager who only lasted the first half of the season. The new front office and coaching staff also traded away playmakers Kellen Winslow Jr., and Braylon Edwards, along with draft picks in questionable trades while receiving little back in compensation. The Browns have won a game this season and won't have the worst record of all time, but the Browns are clearly the worst team and franchise in the history of the NFL. The Browns not only can't score a touchdown, they make it look impossible to get first downs and throw the football down the field. With this organization having no direction, no talent, no General Manager, no head coach, a clueless owner, and playing a game of musical chairs at quarterback they will continue to embarrass the city of Cleveland. The people of Cleveland support the Browns through it all and I demand we deserve better. If the Browns don't figure things out and get the right people in control of the organization I wouldn't care if we move again.
Nick, I completetly agree with everything you said. Coming from New England, I am used to watching winning football and have a basic understanding of what a team needs in order to win on a consistant basis. I think the best thing for the ownership would to sell the team. My reasoning behind this is because I think if Randy Lerner were to remain owner the Browns would just continue to go downhill until they were taken out of Cleveland. I have seen how loyal fans are here and in one sense I feel bad that there team cannot even get in the redzone, but on the other hand I realize most Browns fans are Cavs fans as well and all of my pity is lost. Through my observations throughout this first half of the season, it is clear to me that the Browns need more facelifts then Barbara Walters. I would fire Mangini and the entire coaching staff(even Rob Ryan) and then BEG Marty Shottenheimer to come back to Cleveland to take on a challange bigger then the Cuban Missle Crisis. Then I would immediatly trade Brady Quinn for a 5th round pick(his value) and literally use every single draft pick on offensive playmakers. The NFL is setup so that there is parody throughout the league, that any team can beat any other team on any given week. The Browns are proving to the league and to fans parody no longer exists in the NFL.
ReplyDeleteNick has really outlined well what seems to be ailing the 2009 Cleveland Browns. I am finding that I can only listen to so much of Bruce Drennan before I go to bed, because it is so upsetting to keep hearing about how the team is in such disarray. I am not sure I would go so far as to beg Marty Shottenheimer to come back to coach, as Sean suggests. But the hire of Eric Mangini, coupled with the ownership of Randy Lerner have proven to be the formula for disaster.
ReplyDeleteWhere to start with the Browns. One problem is our owner is too invested in his soccer team overseas to pay attention to the Browns. Thats right for those of you who did not know Lerner owns a soccer team in Europe and it seems lately that Cleveland is a side project. I wish Dan Gilbert would just buy all the Cleveland organizations and turn them all around, but he would probably bankrupt himself if he did. The organization needs to start from the top by hiring someone proven at the position. Then we will let the trickle down effect take place. The Browns need to figure something out because they have been back in the league for 10 years now and really have nothing to show for it. How can teams like the Bengals or Panthers be so bad for a year or two but then at least show signs of improvement. I have failed to see any improvement in the Browns organization from the team to upper management. Hopefully there is some hope after this season.
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