CLEVELAND BROWNS:

The Dark Days of Failure

 

The Cleveland Browns are arguably the softest, most under achieving team in the NFL.  General Manager, Phil Savage, has done a decent job in drafting quality players, but he has done a very poor job at signing free agents, especially this off season.

Willie McGinest and Ted Washington should be arrested for fraud and grand theft, as they have not come close to earning their keep this year.  The Browns have a solid core of defensive talent, led by Andra Davis, Kameron Wimbley, Leigh Bodden, and Sean Jones, but not one of them is intimidating.  Joey Porter called the Browns soft, and that may be an insult to the term “soft,” because Charmin is not even as soft as our beloved Browns.

The offense has a ton of talent with Braylon Edwards and K2, but we have the worst starting quarterback in the NFL, and an average (at best) offensive line.  For some unknown reason, the Browns refuse to address the offensive line in the draft, and Charlie Frye’s free pass for being a local product has seemingly expired.

The Browns have no leadership, on or off of the field.  This is a make or break off season for the Browns.  Dennis Northcut will be gone, and only about three seasons too late.  Six offensive linemen are free agents.  Reuben Droughns will most likely come back next year.  The Browns need a quarterback.  I am tired of waiting to draft and develop a quarterback.  We tried that with Couch.  We tried that with Frye.  Third time’s a charm…only if you are the biggest fool this side of Butch Davis.

Look at the teams that struggled last year: The New Orleans Saints signed a proven quarterback in Drew Brees, and they are a lock for the playoffs.  The J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets drafted TWO offensive linemen in the first round, and hired a worthy head coach, and they are on the brink of the playoffs.  My point is simple, this off season Savage and Lerner MUST sign a proven QB, and build a stud offensive line through free agency and the draft.

The jury is still out on Romeo Crennel.  He is certainly no Sean Payton or Eric Mangini, that is for sure.  I love the Browns.  I hate to see our beloved Browns fail year after year due to the same mistakes year after year.  We need a shut down corner, a pass rushing stud, a quality offensive line, and an NFL-worthy quarterback.  Will the Browns win the Super Bowl next year…probably not.

The Browns fans and the loyal fans of Cleveland deserve better than what Crennel, Savage, and Lerner have given us so far.

 

 

Posted 12/10/06