Red Right 88

Cleveland sports fan and sports writer

Name:
Location: Cleveland, Ohio, United States

quit my job decided to drive west

Monday, August 18, 2008

Punched in the mouth

As I start to write this, just over two minutes have expired in the second quarter. And my honest reaction is this is absolutely the best thing that could have happened to the Browns.

And I am not talking about Derek Anderson possibly being hurt, you sick bastards. But instead just like the regular season opening game massacre embarrassed the team last year, there is nothing like getting your ass whooped to wake you up.

All the fawning press, beating on chests and dreams of new contracts will fade. Players will have to look at themselves and commit to more. More effort, more work and more commitment. The words of coaches will have more meaning. The Browns and their fans needed this slap in the face. Reality has come back to Cleveland. Last year means nothing. The Browns have a brutal schedule and they are not as good as they and we dream they are.

We can hope Cribbs and Anderson are not seriously hurt. But either way, I am glad the team got embarrassed on national tv in week two of the regular season rather than week one and two against the Cowboys and Pittspuke.

If the Browns are going to make the playoffs, they need to be better than last year. This first quarter and change showed they aren't there yet. And the whole nation saw it.