SportsNation Blog Archives
Cleveland Browns
- Your Rankings: What's the pecking order for all 32 starting quarterbacks?
- Chat: Gary Horton breaks down Week 11, 4 ET | NFL analyst Drew Bennett, 12 ET
- Vote: What's your take on other action from Week 11?
Well, don't all those people who mocked the Lions and the Browns feel foolish.
One of the great things about sports is a game like (very few) of us saw Sunday. If Ashlee Simpson and a Jonas sibling to be named later write a duet, you know it will have all the musical significance of a mouse belching. But put the Lions and the Browns on the same field and you can occasionally end up with a classic like the one that saw Matthew Stafford throw a touchdown on an untimed down to give the Lions a 38-37 win.
Stafford threw for 422 yards and became the youngest quarterback to throw five touchdown passes in an NFL game. And on a day when Joe Flacco threw a costly pick, Mark Sanchez couldn't stop throwing picks and Matt Ryan couldn't quite lead the Falcons to a much-needed win, it's enough to make him the hottest young quarterback in the league, if only for a week.
“The Skins-Cowboys game that was shown early on Fox was a yawner and the Lions-Browns game was probably the most thrilling of the day, too bad no one outside of Ohio saw it
” -- kjgreen
“I don't understand why people bash Quinn? You can't say whether or not he'll be a solid NFL QB, he plays for the browns, they're a joke. Take Tom Brady and put him on the Browns and the Browns still lose a lot of games. They have no O-line, and no offensive weapons
” -- illnos
- Vote: Pick winners | Vs. spread | Colts-Ravens | Chargers-Broncos
- Your rankings: Power Rankings | MVP Watch | Coaches
- Blogger chats: NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West | AFC West
- Weekly chatters: Chris Mortensen | Matt Williamson | Jeremy Green | KC Joyner
- More guests: HOF OT Anthony Munoz | Cowboys DL Igor Olshansky | Len Pasquarelli
- Local team chats: ESPN Boston | ESPN Chicago | ESPN Dallas
Brad Childress gets Brett Favre and quickly ends up with a hefty contract extension. Lovie Smith gets Jay Cutler and finds people wondering if he'll soon be unemployed. Some guys have all the luck. Nevertheless, the Bears enter Sunday's showdown against the Eagles just one game off the wild-card pace, despite losing their past two. And Cutler's old team in Denver has lost three in a row and may be without Kyle Orton against the Chargers this week. One SportsNation blogger thinks Cutler is still the right guy for the Bears, but does his new team or his old team need a win more this week?
- "Cutler has the ability to win games for his team; an ability that was overly praised when Brett Favre was in Green Bay but is now largely overlooked in evaluating today's quarterbacks (for some reason, people have fallen in love with "guys who just know how to win," forgetting that those guys have either rock solid defenses or unstoppable running games). But don't ask me, ask any of the many quarterback-starved teams in the league if they would give up exactly what the Bears gave up to get Cutler to begin with right now." Read afjumpfan23's full post.
The answers: Andorra, Vatican City, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg. The question: What are maps smaller than the coverage that's likely to be allotted to the Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions on Sunday? Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic posed their own question on "Mike & Mike In The Morning" on Tuesday, asking listeners for reasons to watch this weekend's clash of the Titanics. Among the responses:
- "At least Bud Adams won't be there."
- "The loser gets Toledo."
- "The game to finally decide the team of the decade -- the 1950s."
The sad thing is that for Browns fans, this might not even be the low point. Their team still has games remaining against the Chiefs and Raiders. At least Buccaneers fans probably still can get Sunday tee times.
- Your rankings: With so many choices, which team deserves to be No. 32?
- Week 11 Pick 'Em: Will it be the Browns or Lions adding to the win column?
- Vote: Pick 'Em | Vs. spread | Bengals-Steelers | Patriots-Colts
- Your rankings: Power Rankings | MVP Watch | Coaches
- NFC blogger chats: NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West
- AFC blogger chats: AFC East | AFC North | AFC South | AFC West
- Weekly chatters: Chris Mortensen | Matt Williamson | KC Joyner
- Special guests: Irv Cross | Drew Bennett | Lomas Brown
- Local team chats: ESPN Boston | ESPN Chicago | ESPN Dallas
SportsNation would rather have Peyton Manning than Tom Brady dating their sister, but the roles are reversed if a wingman is called for. Maybe it's time to have the quarterback beauty contest settled on the field.
In the other big rivalry game of the week (no, not Chiefs-Raiders), Chad Ochocinco is winning the PR war (and food fight) for the Bengals, but fans favor the Steelers.
Pending decisions from guys like Jimmy Clausen and Jake Locker, it remains to be seen exactly how plentiful the potential first-round quarterbacks will be in next spring's draft. But it seems safe to say it will have more to offer than the class of signal callers that came out of the 2007 draft.
Derek Anderson needed four games to complete a total of 29 passes, and it's only now that 2007 draftee Brady Quinn apparently gets another shot. JaMarcus Russell can't stop throwing interceptions and some of Trent Edwards' teammates are eager to bring in Michael Vick. Is there still hope for any of these guys, or is Kevin Kolb the class' only hope for redemption?
“Welcome to the side show that is the Cleveland Browns. Trust me Browns fans, I know it seems bad, but it is only going to get worse. Mangini is clueless - are you sick of the "consistent" talk yet? Get him out of there before you lose next season as well. - A Jet fan
” -- choochmmm9
Mike (Akron)
Hey Mel, if you were head of scouting for the Browns and you had 11 draft picks in the upcoming draft, how would you fix this team? Where would you start first?
Mel Kiper
First you have to assess the QB situation. Hopefully Brady Quinn will start the remaining of the season. You have 8 games left. See what you have in Quinn. You know what you have in Anderson. You have to see what Quinn has. He's been called too strong, too powerful to be an accurate consistent thrower. He needs a chance to prove that wrong. They need to develop some WRs. They need help on the defensive side of the ball. With the picks, you try to mortgage them for more. I'm a fan of moving down and getting more. They also need an heir apparent to Jamaal Lewis. Obviously, these young receivers, they need to develop the ones they drafted last year. Secondary help. Front seven help. The biggest thing this organization has to figure out is if Brady Quinn is the QB moving forward. The only way to find out is to play him. Full transcript
- Vote: Pick winners | Vs. spread | Cowboys-Eagles | Ravens-Bengals | Steelers-Broncos
- Your rankings: Power Rankings | MVP Watch | Quarterbacks | Coaches
- NFC blogger chats: NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West
- AFC blogger chats: AFC North | AFC South | AFC West
- Weekly chatters: Chris Mortensen | Matt Williamson | Jeremy Green | KC Joyner
- Special guests: Jets LB Bart Scott | "First Take" analyst Drew Bennett | Len Pasquarelli
- Local team chats: ESPN Boston | ESPN Chicago | ESPN Dallas
What does Tony Romo have to do to catch a break? Wait, poor choice of words. Romo should be breathing easy these days. Criticized heavily during the Cowboys' slow start -- he had slipped all the way to No. 17 in SportsNation's quarterback rankings as recently as Oct. 12 -- Romo bounced back with three great games in a row. By Monday, he was back up to the cusp of the top 10 at the position in SportsNation's eyes. Enter Roy Williams, who managed the seemingly impossible feat of handing a popularity contest to Terrell Owens.
SportsNation says Romo isn't a leader, but one blogger is ready to follow him to a win against the Eagles.
- "I will believe, for now, that 8 touchdowns and 0 interceptions in the last 3 games is not coincidence or a streak. I will believe that the stench of the T.O. signing and leaving has finally left us. Romo is reaching more receivers -- to include the backs. Romo is tucking and running more than I've probably ever seen him do, and I'll take that & Just don't get hurt & Because our back-up QB is [Jon] Kitna. Why is all of this happening? Because T.O. is not crying for the ball. Because the show that is T.O. is not the looming and ominous cloud hanging over Romo anymore." Read MoAz2213's full post.
- Your Rankings: SportsNation Power Rankings | Week 9 Pick'Em: Which teams will win?
- Chats: Len Pasquarelli | Matt Mosley | Kevin Seifert, 2 ET | James Walker, 4 ET
The Colts won a slugfest at home against the 49ers, and the Saints held on against the Falcons on Monday Night Football. But as the league's two undefeated teams battle for the top spot in everyone's rankings, the real drama of the moment seems to come from the league's cellar. Namely, what do the Browns have to do to earn the No. 32 ranking?
Cleveland fired its general manager Monday, less than a year into his tenure, and may have given him a hand exiting the building. Derek Anderson, the quarterback they benched their first-round pick in order to play, completed six passes to his teammates and two to the opponents in the last game -- and it wasn't even close to his worst performance of the season. The Saints' defense has scored more touchdowns than the Browns' offense. And the owner is meeting with disgruntled fans in hopes of avoiding a visible protest.
Other than that, things are just dandy. And yet as seen below, the Browns haven't managed to occupy the last spot in SportsNation's Power Rankings at any point this season. Maybe Florida Tuskers running back Tatum Bell isn't so crazy.
- Vote: Pick winners | Against spread | Vikings-Packers | Broncos-Ravens | Vince Young
- Your rankings: Power Rankings | MVP Watch | Quarterback class of 2005 | Coaches
- NFC blogger chats: NFC North | NFC South | NFC West
- AFC blogger chats: AFC East | AFC North | AFC South | AFC West
- Weekly chatters: Chris Mortensen | Matt Williamson | Jeremy Green | KC Joyner
- Special guests: Former Packers FB William Henderson | ESPN Boston's Tedy Bruschi
- Local team chats: ESPN Boston | ESPN Chicago | ESPN Dallas
Hidden beneath the layers of Shakespearean drama involved in Brett Favre's return to Lambeau Field to face the boos and settle scores with Ted Thompson, there's a reasonably important division game on tap Sunday in Green Bay. With the Bears skidding and the Lions, well, still the Lions, the Vikings could put the kind of distance normally reserved for month-old Limburger between themselves and the Cheeseheads. SportsNation is picking the visitors to get it done, and one blogger thinks this could be the beginning of the end.
- "The Packers are above average on both sides of the ball. They are a solid team. The defense is giving up only 16 PPG, and only 96 total this season. They're in the top ten in most offensive and defensive categories. Their only losses? Cincinnati and Minnesota. Sounds legit right? Unfortunately not. 3 of 4 wins have come against bottom tier opponents and based on the look of the rest of the schedule, which consists of Minnesota again this week, Dallas, San Francisco, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, another trip to Chicago, and Arizona, doesn't look good. Final Prediction: 7-9 Verdict: Pretender " Read Feldman9000's full post.
It only took a couple of wins for fans like MSJC36 to accept Josh McDaniels. The other fan bloggers (if you ignore the Broncos' true rivals) are grudgingly coming around, too.
On the spectrum opposite the undefeated, 0-5 despair translated to draft dreams.
Rush Limbaugh's role in a bid for the Rams drew spirited response (click through below if you think there's still something to add to this debate), Terrell Owens trade rumors involved multiple teams and the UFL even got a cursory look from fans.
These are the best NFL fan blogs posted on ESPN.com this week. Click through to respond to win-starved fans or a post about your favorite team.
Week 6 predictions: Jbreaux2 | Feldman9000
“Break up the Broncos. Who would have thought that Josh McDaniels would have the Denver Broncos with a 5-0 record? With all the offseason and preseason drama, it seemed at first that McDaniels was doing a good job at alienating his team.
” -- Goldbrick4
“Don't come in here with your 'we're 5-0, WHHEEEEE, WHHHHOOOOO" record trying to impress. You're 5-0. Good job. The season is still early.
” -- Jack London220
“I understand that Tennessee is 0-5, but putting in Vince Young at this point is more than just hitting the panic button; it's the equivalent of initiating a self-destruct sequence.
” -- afjumpman23
“Of all the undefeated teams, if the Bears were forced to play one of them, I'd hate for them to play the Colts right now. That team is almost impossible to stop.
” -- The Mini Ditkas
Despite the quarterback mystery, quarterback changes, wide receiver moves and lack of wins, there are still Browns fans. GoBrowns29 and our bloggers provide the evidence.
Like fans of the Chiefs, Titans, Panthers, Rams and Buccaneers, they're not happy, but they still love their team (just not the coach, players, GM, owner or other scapegoat).
These are the best NFL fan blogs posted on ESPN.com this week. Click through to respond to win-starved fans or a post about your favorite team.
Week 5 predictions: Venture99 | phyhtheaux | brijay103099
Week 17 predictions: AniD89
“And both axles just broke off of Derek Anderson's bandwagon because the population on it increased by 800 percent.
” -- flight23_14
“At this point I can't help but wonder if there are any of the teams left on the schedule that the Buccaneers can actually beat.
” -- BucsgirlDK
“Then it hit me, like the Jerry Jones scoreboard crashing down on top of me. We (the Chiefs) have become the Raiders.
” -- Sports Page Network
“The Browns have scored 49 points and they have ONLY been outscored by 69 points, while the Rams have been outscored by, a humiliating, 84 points. Wow.
” -- Godlike_82
"SportsNation" on ESPN2!
WE'RE OFF UNTIL MONDAY, NOV. 30! BUT KEEP SENDING US WEIRD WEB CLIPS!
SPORTSNATION GRIDIRON CENTRAL
-
- NFL Coach Ratings
- Week 11: Wade Phillips at 29 percent after win
-
- NFL Pick 'Em Week 12 (Tue.)
- SN last week: 9-6
SN this season: 99-45
-
- NFL Power Rankings (Tue.)
- Colts return to No. 1
Jets down to No. 21
-
- NFL MVP Watch (Wed.)
- Last week's notables
No. 1 Drew Brees
No. 7 Ben Roethlisberger
-
- College Football Fan Top 25
- TCU holds at No. 4
LSU drops to No. 16
-
- College Football Pick' Em
- SN last week: 17-3
SN this season: 204-41
-
- Heisman Watch (Tue.)
- Last week's notables
No. 2: Toby Gerhart
No. 4: C.J. Spiller
Send us weird Web clips, vote on the best of the month and visit the archive.
FEATURED FAN
CHAT IN PROGRESS
MNF: Titans vs. Texans!
- Aaron Schatz
- spencer cook (haysville, KS)
- Aaron Schatz
- Mike S (CT)
FEATURED GROUPS
FEATURED PHOTOS
GREATEST HITS ALBUM
-
- Friday, November 13
- LeBron says the No. 23 should be off-limits. What should his new number be?
-
- Thursday, November 12
- Does the Nintendo Game Boy deserve a spot in the toy Hall of Fame?
-
- Wednesday, November 11
- SportsNation salutes our Veterans with pictures posted by fans in uniform.
-
- Wednesday, November 11
- Do Gold Gloves matter? Jeter might want to put on earmuffs for this answer.