Red Right 88

Cleveland sports fan and sports writer

Name:
Location: Cleveland, Ohio, United States

quit my job decided to drive west

Friday, September 14, 2007

It is hard to give up when you you really didn't have a chance

I have been reading lots of articles that suggest Phil Savage gave up on the season after one game by trading Charlie Frye.

Trust me when I say I will not defend Phil Savage but the thought he gave up on the season because he traded Frye is ludicrous to me. Did you watch Charlie Frye play at all this preseason or in game one. Blame Savage for drafting him in the first place and handing him the keys to the offense last season or blame Savage for not getting rid of dead wood sooner rather than later-- but dumping a worthless commodity for a sixth round pick was the best move Savage has made with Frye.

Chudzinski saw what everyone else saw-- Frye was a poor fit for the Browns offense. It is what his receivers believed, what his offensive line believed and most of the fans who didn't buy into the local boy makes good camp. The Browns offensive coaches didn't want Frye. They begged Crennel to dump him. What hurt that cause earlier is that Anderson didn't step up to grab the job and the reluctance to push Quinn into the hot seat. Don't kid yourselves, holding back Quinn isn't for his own good. It is to protect jobs. Rookie quarterbacks gets coaches fired.

For the realist Browns fan, we knew what this season meant. We knew it would be a long year. While the Pittspuke debacle was worse than we imagined from a competitive stand point, at least it was enough to shock most of the rest of the idealists what this team is facing.

It is weird as a fan you want the Browns to win every game and when they lose it hurts like hell. But maybe losing big the next few weeks is the only way for Randy Lerner to accept he (and nearly everyone else) was wrong about Romeo.

When the Browns left town, I was in the minority. I wanted them to fight the lease and make the team stay three years-- losing that bastard a lot of money and embarrassing the NFL even if it made it impossible for us to get another team ever again. When the Browns returned, I assumed I was wrong that giving up and getting a new team was for the best.

I am not so sure now. Being a Browns fan is more than getting dressed up, getting drunk and acting like an ass. A true fan understands the history of the team. A true fan is passionate and competitive and not just a blind follower. This return is getting close to borderline heresy. This organization has embarrassed its legacy and it has to change.

Where is the pride? Where is the passion? Where is the fight?

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Enjoy the Northwest

I guess late is better than never and I have to admit I am impressed that the Browns were able to salvage a draft pick out of trading Charlie Frye. I just don't understand why this move wasn't made in the off season.

But I have been writing about this for months so there is no need to digress. Dorsey is here to tutor. Anderson to seat warm and Quinn to prepare to take the reigns.

However it is just another example of why Romeo Crennel has to go. He appears to be unable to make a decison until forced to. For other examples see his kid gloves treatment of Braylon and Kellen.

But can this team afford to wait to the end of next season to hire a new coach that will precede to get rid of every player from the last regime like we have seen now over and over. This once proud franchise has become Groundhog Day.

Losing to Pittspuke sucks but losing every game by more than three touchdowns-- can't continue.

Anyway my vote is to start Dorsey. We won't win but we won't lose by as much. That way the kid will be ready after the bye week.

Sunday, September 09, 2007

Yuck

Well at least the Indians play tonight at 8. Hopefully that will improve morale.

I wish I was wrong about Romeo Crennel. I am sure he is a nice man but he lacks what it takes to be a head coach. His waffling on a quarterback will cost us. My guess is that the offensive coaching staff are not fans of Charlie Frye which accounts for the quick hook in the game. They wanted Derek Anderson to step up all preseason and he didn't. With management wanting to protect the investment in Brady Quinn, they are holding back on playing the kid. But I said before preseason started, Frye should have been cut. Anderson handed the job allowing him to get most of the reps while preparing Quinn for his inevitable starting duties. Frye is not a leader. He is not an NFL starting quarterback and I don't think he has the temperment to be a backup quarterback like someone like Ken Dorsey does. Dorsey understood his role and knew his job was help the other quarterback prepare. If Romeo wanted to disagree and stick with Frye that is fine. But then he had to cut Anderson quickly. Instead he did nothing and now the situation is FUBAR.

At halftime, Bill Cowher said it wasn't on the quarterbacks it was on the protection. I disagree. Nearly all of the sacks and first half turnovers were on the quarterback's lack of feeling the rush and getting rid of the ball. Truthfully, we would have lost the game no matter who started but honestly if Dorsey (yes Dorsey) had started that might have kept us the closest. He has the best understanding of the offense and I think he reads a defense the better than Anderson or Frye. He just doesn't have the arm to win games. But he won't lose games with dumb mistakes.

I know I am a fan and not a GM. But I would feel a whole lot better if Todd Grantham was the head coach rather than Romeo. His passion soothes me. Romeo's look of bewilderment drives me nuts. The choice to challenge both of those calls were stupid and in a close game would have been killers.

It is going to be long season. Romeo's lack of conviction is going to make it longer.