Short & Quick

Browns/NFL

Abe Elam made the play last week and failed to do so this past week versus the Jets. That is often what separates a win and a loss – one play you make or don’t make. Ditto for C. Stuckey, who turned it over in overtime when it looked like the Browns were reaching Dawson’s range.

Think about what the national media would be saying about Colt McCoy had the Browns won that game with a 50 yarder from Dawson in OT?

The kid shoved it down the Jets’ throats at the end of regulation to send the game into overtime. He then had them nearing Dawson’s range when Stuckey coughed it up.

Credit should also go to the Jets’ DB for forcing that strip. That was no accident.

We all love Peyton Hillis, but the dude can’t continue to cough it up this much. This team simply isn’t good enough, in terms of talent, for your lead back to average double-digit fumbles a year – which is the pace he’s on.

And I don’t care that he runs hard and his style is conducive to fumbles. Your lead back has to take care of the ball. Period.

There actually are morons out there that wanted the Browns to sit on the ball late and play for the tie in overtime. One more time – “You play to win the game!”

I’m sure those same geniuses would be the first ones out of their seats cheering like a crack addict in a Copenhagen hash house if McCoy had connected with his tight end down the middle on that first down pass in their last possession.

We had the Jets winning a close one because this was simply a bad match up for Cleveland. The Jets stop the run and have arguably the best set of corners in the game.

The Browns, predictably, could not run it down their throats because NY could put 8 in the box to stop Hillis without any concern for the Browns’ wide outs hurting them.

Overall, this was the most entertaining/competitive Browns game I have seen in years, but I do have one criticism - I was not happy with the play selection when the Browns got in the red zone in the 3rd quarter.

They decided to throw three times from the 6-yard line instead of pounding Hillis inside. Play to your strengths gentlemen. Two shots with Hillis inside followed by a play action McCoy roll out giving him a simple pass/run option was needed there.

I feel sorry for Eric Wright. The locals are crucifying him. Let’s try this again – he’s not as bad as he’s looked this year and he was never as good as the rest of the civilized world thought (an NFL starting corner) last year.

The early-game loss at the other corner hurt and so did the Fujita injury. Yet, they hung in there. Good for them.

Just keep Mangini away from the early-look draft board if he's walking the halls and wants to peek in and give his two cents. He's a butcher there and proved it.

Okay, so I’m watching ESPN this past week and I keep seeing that the Redskins are about to give my boy Donovan McNabb $40 million of guaranteed money – at least that’s what the morons kept reporting making themselves look foolish to 1% of the population that “gets it.”

My reaction as I am sitting drinking a margarita – There is no way you give a 30-something QB who has been banged up that kind of guaranteed money. Why would you? Who the hell are you competing against?

The report made no sense even though ESPN ran with it for a couple days. Even the Skins aren’t that stupid. The end result – he didn’t get $40 guaranteed.

My question is this - How come ESPN had no one on salary that questioned this report/lunacy from the beginning? I might have missed it, but no one came on early and said the following – “Why would the Skins give McNabb, who is on the back-9 in football terms, $40 million up front when they don’t have to?

I really believe at times I’m living in an alternate universe.

Yes, we are picking the Browns to lose again this Sunday at Jacksonville. I am going on the theory that McCoy will hit a wall on Sunday. He hasn’t thrown a pick in three weeks. His only semi-playmaker out wide (Cribbs) is hurt, and he’s on the road. Sorry, we like The Jaguars 27-23.


As you can see, there is a pattern forming. The Browns have found an identity and are decent enough now to play teams relatively close, but don’t have the playmakers to finish most times out.

Again, if your QB doesn’t cough it up, your defense plays well in the red zone and you consistently win the special teams battle, you can be 8-8 in this league. This is the first rule of NFL football the way the game and rules (no true free agency) are structured and it has held true since the beginning of time. That’s why I keep repeating it.

The Browns “O” line deserves credit. They have done a good job of keeping McCoy clean the past few weeks.

By the way, kudos to Mangini for trying an on-side kick early. However, it would be nice if the guys on the kick-off team were told about it beforehand.

I like 23 returning kicks. I’d put him back there on punts as well if his hands aren’t made of stone. Then again, if they weren’t, he’d probably be a WR.

Cavs
My poor Cavs are about to start playing better teams. They have been able to stay above water (.500) due to a friendly early-seasons schedule. However, it might get ugly quick. Sit tight, the ride is going to be bumpy.

Early indications tell me coach Scott knows his stuff. Unfortunately, he has limited talent – which is the norm in the Eastern Conference. In simple English – there are a lot of bad teams in the East, the Cavs fit right in.

The only surprise so far – B. Gibson is playing his best basketball to date. He’s doing more than just spotting up. Let’s see if he can keep it up over 82 games.

Nothing else has surprised me about this team to date. They play hard and together, but lack raw talent and finishers.


And thanks for your response to my political piece last week. Yes, I am a jack of all trades and master of none.


To the few/proud - see you on the 23rd!