Football Friday

Pro Bowl Snubs
We have been front and center harping on the Browns being 0-for-71 in terms of the team's inability to draft Pro Bowl talent since its return. Well, that streak has finally been snapped by Josh Cribbs and Braylon Edwards.

We called Cribbs the team’s MVP several weeks ago and see no reason to change our mind. As for Edwards, he officially becomes the first Michigan wide receiver to make it big in the NFL in the last 20+ years. Congratulations to both players, Phil Savage and the team’s player personnel department.

The Browns did deserve several more Pro Bowl mentions of course. Cribbs and Edwards were no-brainers, but the same can be said for the team’s starting left guard (Eric S.) and tackle (Joe T), and tight end (K2). I know they received alternate tags, but they have played better than that in '07. Their time will come if the team keeps winning.

One question – why do they vote for these awards with several weeks remaining in the season? Players clean out their lockers on Monday after the season’s final week. Why not have them vote on their wait out?

Romeo - COY
Look for Romeo (RC) to get plenty of Coach of the Year votes. The team is a win away from the playoffs, and whether some of you like it or not, he is in charge and should receive the credit. If they were 5-9 right now, he would be getting the blame, right? It's only fair he gets some credit then for the turnaround. How much real impact he's had on the success of the 2007 Browns team may never be known. My guess is RC's biggest strength is that players play hard for him because he is likable, he defends them in public and treats them like men. That means a lot in today's sports world where athletes often care about themselves first, second and always.

Yes, I know the record is mostly a reflection of a very weak schedule and an almost injury-free campaign. We were the first to point that out back in October. But if I were voting for Coach of the Year, RC would still have to be at the top of my list. Would I rather have someone else in charge? Yes. I've named those coaches in past entries. But that does not alter reality.

Play The Kids
Every team that’s been out of it the past few weeks should be playing their young players to see what they can do – especially at the most critical position on the field (quarterback). Why J. Russell hasn’t been taking all the Oakland Raiders’ snaps the past few weeks is beyond me. Speed up the learning curve for the youngsters and get them on tape so you can begin evaluating them. Getting them reps in real games will provide them with some base experience and some confidence heading into 2008. For example, I commend the Ravens for naming Troy Smith their starter this week. They should have done so weeks ago. We know what the Kyle Bollers of this world can do already and it ain't much. The same can be said for a lot of NFL teams and their starting signal-callers.

Bill Parcells
He’s overweigh and pompous as hell, but he can coach. How long before Tuna, the new VP in charge of football operations in Miami, fires his coach and wears both hats – GM and head coach? I give it two years – max.

Marty In Cincinnati
Marty may end up in Ohio after all. If I run the Bengals, I go get Marty to coach my football team. Marvin Lewis has been there long enough to have built the following resume – a good offense, a poor defense and the longest team wrap sheet in the NFL – by far. I went to the post office the other day to purchase X-mas stamps and four of the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted on the wall wore Bengal colors. Just kidding, but you get the point. Marty would bring stability to a franchise badly in need of it. And like Bill Parcells, the man is a quality coach.

That’s free advice to the Brown family.