In Erie, PA I have a unique view of NFL football.
As you've read in a previous blog, Erie is pretty equidistant from Cleveland, Buffalo and Pittsburgh so we have fans of all teams wandering around.
The Steelers are the evil empire to both Browns and (to a lesser extent) Bills fans and we've always shared a common bond. Both of our teams are from cold weather towns that are struggling economically and their respective teams are the center of their sports universe.
I know Cleveland has the Indians and Cavaliers and Buffalo has the Sabres but having visited both cities extensively, I can tell you that Browns/Bills football to their respective fan bases is EVERYTHING.
So, there's always been a kindred spirit there.
Lately I've been talking to a RABID Titans fan named Ellen and she knows her stuff. I've been very impressed by her sports knowledge and she loves the Titans as much as I love the Browns. She went into great detail about how she showed up at every Tennessee playoff game during their last Super Bowl run starting with "The Music City Miracle."
I could feel her pain as she was talking about how the Titans came up just short in the big game and it reminded me of how the Browns have been close but no cigar in my time as a fan.
When you think about it, both franchises have been equally star crossed (although the Titans have a tad more success since they've actually gotten to a Super Bowl).
Similarities?
-If Ellen is any indication neither fan base has any love for the Steelers. I suppose that goes back to the Luv Ya Blue Houston Oilers days when they regularly fell just short in AFC Title games to Pittsburgh. Even to this day a Titans/Steelers game is a heated affair.
-Both franchises were moved. Cleveland went to Baltimore and then was replaced with an expansion team. Houston was a gypsy for many years before settling in Tennessee.
-The 2 organizations just can't seem to find a QB lately. They get good play for a little while (Kerry Collins 2008 for Tennessee and Derek Anderson 2007 for the Browns) but mainly the position is in flux.
-Their best years always seem to be behind them. Tennessee had it's best chance to win a title with Steve McNair (R.I.P.) and Eddie George and Cleveland with Bernie Kosar and Kevin Mack/Ernest Byner.
-Both of them are usually the bridesmaid and not the bride in their own divisions. Tennessee always seems to be looking up at Indianapolis and Cleveland continually chases Pittsburgh.
I'm sure you could come up with more on your own. Maybe we as Browns fans have some more kindred spirit friends than we originally thought.
To the state of Tennessee, let me speak for Browns Nation when I say:
"WE FEEL YOUR PAIN."
12 February 2010
04 February 2010
The Conversation I Want To Have With My Child One Day....
Let's suspend reality for a moment and assume that I had a child born this year. I'm not going to say boy or girl because rabid Browns fans come in both genders. Since I am not married, engaged or currently dating a woman that is pregnant, I'm not going to have a child born this year but please go with me on this one.
The year is 2020. My child and I are watching Browns football. They are enjoying the game as usual. Because the Browns are winning as usual. They've really never known a time when the Browns weren't good. Kind of like a child born in the 40's or 50's. They really didn't know that Browns football was anything but stellar (that is until they grew up and then experienced the 70's and beyond).
But I digress.....
My child tells me that "Wow, I just love the Browns. They're awesome. The best team ever."
Me: "Yes but I remember a time when it was painful to watch a game. They were nearly unwatchable. The offense couldn't run or pass. The defense couldn't stop anyone. They kept making bad draft choice after draft choice. Their free agents didn't usually work out and they changed management teams as often as I change socks."
Child: "No way. Coach Mangini is the best coach in the league and with Tom Heckert drafting and picking free agents, they are awesome. Plus Mr. Holmgren always keeps everyone in line."
Me: "Yeah, I remember when they were all hired. I didn't like Coach Mangini at first but I came to realize he was a good coach but just too overwhelmed when he began in 2009. He needed help from people that really knew what they were doing and Tom Heckert and Mr. Holmgren really gave him a lot of support and what he needed. The team used to struggle to win 4 or 5 games a year and they rarely beat Pittsburgh back then."
Child: "They had trouble beating Pittsburgh? That team is terrible. They never even get that stadium half filled."
Me: "Yeah, it was reversed back then. Pittsburgh was winning championships and going to the playoffs like Cleveland does now."
Child: "I don't believe you. There is NO way that Pittsburgh was any good and that the Browns were that bad. Now Daaaaadddddd.....stop talking. The Super Bowl is about to start and you know I don't like to miss anything the announcers say about the Browns."
Wouldn't that be a nice conversation to have in 2020? I may not have a child to have that conversation with in 2020 but I hope that some father and child are having that exact dialogue 10 years from now.
How sweet would that be?
The year is 2020. My child and I are watching Browns football. They are enjoying the game as usual. Because the Browns are winning as usual. They've really never known a time when the Browns weren't good. Kind of like a child born in the 40's or 50's. They really didn't know that Browns football was anything but stellar (that is until they grew up and then experienced the 70's and beyond).
But I digress.....
My child tells me that "Wow, I just love the Browns. They're awesome. The best team ever."
Me: "Yes but I remember a time when it was painful to watch a game. They were nearly unwatchable. The offense couldn't run or pass. The defense couldn't stop anyone. They kept making bad draft choice after draft choice. Their free agents didn't usually work out and they changed management teams as often as I change socks."
Child: "No way. Coach Mangini is the best coach in the league and with Tom Heckert drafting and picking free agents, they are awesome. Plus Mr. Holmgren always keeps everyone in line."
Me: "Yeah, I remember when they were all hired. I didn't like Coach Mangini at first but I came to realize he was a good coach but just too overwhelmed when he began in 2009. He needed help from people that really knew what they were doing and Tom Heckert and Mr. Holmgren really gave him a lot of support and what he needed. The team used to struggle to win 4 or 5 games a year and they rarely beat Pittsburgh back then."
Child: "They had trouble beating Pittsburgh? That team is terrible. They never even get that stadium half filled."
Me: "Yeah, it was reversed back then. Pittsburgh was winning championships and going to the playoffs like Cleveland does now."
Child: "I don't believe you. There is NO way that Pittsburgh was any good and that the Browns were that bad. Now Daaaaadddddd.....stop talking. The Super Bowl is about to start and you know I don't like to miss anything the announcers say about the Browns."
Wouldn't that be a nice conversation to have in 2020? I may not have a child to have that conversation with in 2020 but I hope that some father and child are having that exact dialogue 10 years from now.
How sweet would that be?
02 February 2010
It Will Be Nice To Be Rid Of Winter.....But
I'm looking forward to the Super Bowl but then we don't have a meaningful football game to watch until September.
I used to get really excited for the draft and while I'm still into it, it's just not the same now that they've shifted round 3 into day #2. I used to like to start the draft at noon and then veg out in front of the TV all day on Saturday. The new format is just not the same to me but maybe I'll feel different this year.
Post Super Bowl up until game 1 of the NFL season is the worst sports time for me. I like the Indians and Cavs and I sort of like March Madness when it hits the sweet 16 and beyond, but nothing compares to meaningful Browns games. If I don't have meaningful Browns games to watch then any meaningful NFL game (outside of Steelers games) will do. Ok, if the Steelers come up on the losing end of a game they really needed, I can get into that.
COLUMN CONTINUES AFTER TODAY'S FEATURED BROWNS GEAR
I can actually get into ANY game the Steelers lose but you get my drift.
I wish I could manufacture the same level of excitement that I get out of the Browns in specific and the NFL in general but nothing compares.
When you think about it, Colts fans have had a pretty damn good run. Playoffs? It's not a matter of whether you're going to see a playoff game as a Colts fan, its a matter of how deep your team will go.
To a certain extent Steeler fan and Patriots fan have had a similar run.
We as Browns fans? We're just hoping to see football in January.
No, our goals are simpler than that.
We want to see a game that means something in NOVEMBER.
And now we wait once again.
As happy as I'll be to get rid of the snow, I still have to navigate the spring with a brief break for the draft, the long summer, and then finally it's Browns season again.
16 games and realistically only about 7 or so have any meaning for us fans with the state of the team. What's that? A little over 2 months of football to be excited about? Throw in random news during the offseason and the draft and maybe, just maybe you can squeeze 3 months of meaning out of a Browns campaign.
It just goes to show.
Being a Browns fan is NOT for wimps.
I used to get really excited for the draft and while I'm still into it, it's just not the same now that they've shifted round 3 into day #2. I used to like to start the draft at noon and then veg out in front of the TV all day on Saturday. The new format is just not the same to me but maybe I'll feel different this year.
Post Super Bowl up until game 1 of the NFL season is the worst sports time for me. I like the Indians and Cavs and I sort of like March Madness when it hits the sweet 16 and beyond, but nothing compares to meaningful Browns games. If I don't have meaningful Browns games to watch then any meaningful NFL game (outside of Steelers games) will do. Ok, if the Steelers come up on the losing end of a game they really needed, I can get into that.
COLUMN CONTINUES AFTER TODAY'S FEATURED BROWNS GEAR
I can actually get into ANY game the Steelers lose but you get my drift.
I wish I could manufacture the same level of excitement that I get out of the Browns in specific and the NFL in general but nothing compares.
When you think about it, Colts fans have had a pretty damn good run. Playoffs? It's not a matter of whether you're going to see a playoff game as a Colts fan, its a matter of how deep your team will go.
To a certain extent Steeler fan and Patriots fan have had a similar run.
We as Browns fans? We're just hoping to see football in January.
No, our goals are simpler than that.
We want to see a game that means something in NOVEMBER.
And now we wait once again.
As happy as I'll be to get rid of the snow, I still have to navigate the spring with a brief break for the draft, the long summer, and then finally it's Browns season again.
16 games and realistically only about 7 or so have any meaning for us fans with the state of the team. What's that? A little over 2 months of football to be excited about? Throw in random news during the offseason and the draft and maybe, just maybe you can squeeze 3 months of meaning out of a Browns campaign.
It just goes to show.
Being a Browns fan is NOT for wimps.
01 February 2010
Joe "Freaking" Thomas
Ok,
Joe Thomas probably wouldn't appreciate me putting "Freaking" as his new middle name but man, it's how I feel.
Joe
FREAKING
Thomas
Not that I like to listen to Steelers generally, but when OLB James Harrison said that Joe Thomas was the toughest O. lineman he faced then I took notice. After all, Harrison was the 2008 NFL Defensive Player of the year.
Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com does a nice job of talking about Thomas' attributes here so I won't go into anymore for the purposes of this blog but wow, I think the Browns might have at least one building block in place.
And it's a big one.
COLUMN CONTINUES AFTER TODAY'S FEATURED BROWNS GEAR
Having a guy that is an all-pro and 3x pro bowler in his first 3 years in the league is HUGE, especially at such an important position like LT.
Former GM Phil Savage did do a nice job in not trying to reach for Brady Quinn at that #3 spot in 2007 or even take an Adrian Peterson there.
As nice as Peterson has been for the Vikings, and don't get me wrong, he's been a big part of their success, Minnesota was able to take him because they already had LT locked down with Bryant McKinnie.
I know the Browns have a ton of holes. They likely need another RB, RG/RT, extra DL, TE, OLB, ILB, S, CB and probably QB but at least you can point at LT and say...
DONE.
You at least have hope that the team can turn around at some point when you can look at your offensive line and say "Hey...we have an all-pro and possible future Hall of Famer at LT."
That's something the Browns can build on for sure.
Let's hope that free agency and 11 picks in the 2010 draft starts to yield some of those pieces that the Browns can put around....
JOE "FREAKING" THOMAS.
Joe Thomas probably wouldn't appreciate me putting "Freaking" as his new middle name but man, it's how I feel.
Joe
FREAKING
Thomas
Not that I like to listen to Steelers generally, but when OLB James Harrison said that Joe Thomas was the toughest O. lineman he faced then I took notice. After all, Harrison was the 2008 NFL Defensive Player of the year.
Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com does a nice job of talking about Thomas' attributes here so I won't go into anymore for the purposes of this blog but wow, I think the Browns might have at least one building block in place.
And it's a big one.
COLUMN CONTINUES AFTER TODAY'S FEATURED BROWNS GEAR
Having a guy that is an all-pro and 3x pro bowler in his first 3 years in the league is HUGE, especially at such an important position like LT.
Former GM Phil Savage did do a nice job in not trying to reach for Brady Quinn at that #3 spot in 2007 or even take an Adrian Peterson there.
As nice as Peterson has been for the Vikings, and don't get me wrong, he's been a big part of their success, Minnesota was able to take him because they already had LT locked down with Bryant McKinnie.
I know the Browns have a ton of holes. They likely need another RB, RG/RT, extra DL, TE, OLB, ILB, S, CB and probably QB but at least you can point at LT and say...
DONE.
You at least have hope that the team can turn around at some point when you can look at your offensive line and say "Hey...we have an all-pro and possible future Hall of Famer at LT."
That's something the Browns can build on for sure.
Let's hope that free agency and 11 picks in the 2010 draft starts to yield some of those pieces that the Browns can put around....
JOE "FREAKING" THOMAS.
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