3rd Grade English FAIL!Who's tired? Raise your hand. What? Only me? Shit. Guess I better write something then, huh?
Hey kid, when you mean the contraction form of "you are," there's an "e" on the end and an apostrophe before the "r."
Uh oh, we better get our shit together...it's Steelers week in Ohio for the 2nd time in 3 weeks. And for the record, Browns bloggers were ready on Monday...ok? So like Mel Blount, I better get on my horse and ride.
Apparently, this is the "game of the year" for Browns fans. And who could blame them? Not like they'll have much else to look forward to, since their remaining schedule features such NFL powerhouses as the Texans, Jets, 49ers and Cardinals (Pitt West) who combined, boast a rather dubious record of 9-24. Not to mention 2-6 Cincy, and the 4-4 Bills. Still, it's the Browns. So can you ever really say their games are "winnable"?
All joking aside, and I can't believe I'm about to say this, this actually is a pretty big game for both teams. The Browns are 5-3 right now and given the aforementioned schedule, have a pretty good chance to contend for the division. Maybe.
The flipside of this coin is that the Steelers aren't exactly facing the league's elite either. Although we've still got New England and Jacksonville to contend with, we've got some otherwise pretty soft competition - Miami, St. Louis, and the Jets. Now, that's not to say we can't lose games we're expected to win (see Week 4 and Week 7). Just that we COULD be playing teams like Indy, San Diego (although I'm not so sure I'd be scared of them at this point), Dallas or Detroit(I dare you to challenge Jon Kitna...), which would certainly weigh more heavily on my optimism.
Fact is though, over the last 7 games since taking over for the useless Charlie Frye, Browns QB Derek Anderson has thrown for more than 2100 yards and 17 TDs. And let's be honest, Derek Anderson IS the story here. Without him right now, the Browns would be assuming their usual role as the dregs of the AFC North. And don't give me any of that Brady Quinn non-sense. He's where he should be. On the sidelines watching, learning, clipboard in hand, getting a pedicure and thinking about his next glamor shot.
With Anderson at the helm, the Browns have transformed themselves into an all out passing attack. Over the last 7 games since we met in Week 1, Jamal Lewis has only broken 100 yards once (a 216 romp of the Bungles), though he did manage to find the end zone 4 times on Sunday, ruining many a Braylon Edwards/Kellen Winslow fantasy owners day. Which is just a testament to the Browns new found reliance on the aerial pursuit. So this is largely the Derek Anderson show.
But the good news is, the Browns still don't know the meaning of defense. As you may have seen me comment on a number of my esteemed colleagues blogs already this week - in the Browns 5 wins, they've only won by an average margin of 8 points, while in the Steelers 6 wins, they've won by an average of 22.3 points. How bad is the Browns D? Glad you asked - they allow the most passing TDs of any team in the league, and they're 2nd to last in total yards allowed. Their sieve-like unit gives up an average of 135 yards on the ground and 282 yards through the air. Not what I'd call impressive.
So yeah, this will be a game, but just like, a game against Cleveland. Sack Derek Anderson approximately 9 times, call Kellen Winslow a 3 letter derogatory term for men who prefer the company of other men, and send any and all Browns fans packing for Cleveland with their tails between their legs.
What do you all say? Browns - contenders or pretenders? [Question removed due to sensitivities]
Browns Stats [Pro-football-reference]
Ladies and gentleman, Ricardo Colclough has been claimed....by none other than...are you ready?...Wait for it...the CLEVELAND BROWNS!
Guess the Browns are looking to return to the days of yore...er 1991-1995/1999-2006...when they blew goats pretty consistently. Well they still blow goats, but at least this season they've done it rather less successfully in 4 out of 7 games. Isn't that the highest win total they've had in like 4 years? Somebody look that up...
ADDENDUM to original post - even Cleveland has now shit on Ricardo Colclough. The headline from today's Akron Beacon Jounral - "Steelers Reject Picked Up." Maybe they should've just gone ahead and said it - "Browns Feast On Steelers Sloppy Seconds."
Colclough Claimed [ClevelandBrowns.com]
Steelers Reject Picked Up [Ohio.com]
Wait for it...wait for it...yeah, so the Browns just traded Charlie Frye to Seattle. You can all commence laughing hysterically now.
Yep, you read that correctly, Charlie Frye has been traded to the Seahawks in exchange for a 6th round pick. Actually, come to think of it, it sounds like the Browns got the better end of this deal. Anyway, I think this may be the fastest an opening day starter has ever disgraced himself. So congratulations Charlie Frye, you're rapidly becoming the poor man's Tim Couch.
On the positive side for Browns fans (probably not though) and girls who happen to watch football from time to time, looks like Brady Quinn is looking like a better and better option at starter...in addition to just looking better and better...oh no, I've said too much...
Please be gentle with Big Ben chicas, he is a delicate creature...or something...
Big news of the day - Big Ben has an "injured" left foot. According to reports coming out of Latrobe, Ben was limping towards the end of yesterday's practice after "one of his teammates" stepped on his foot. While the Steelers are not worried about this "injury," I'm sure the fans were a little disappointed when, instead of going about his normal post-practice routine of signing autographs, shaking hands and kissing babies, Big Ben limped off to get his appendage checked out. Tomlin's comment on the whole thing - "I'm sure he's fine."
Elsewhere, it's always sunny in Philadelphia apparently if you're Lawrence Timmons. In seeking a second opinion on the groin injury that has sidelined him through training camp thus far, Timmons got some good news from Dr. William Myers (based in Philly). Apparently there is "no tendon tear or injury that would require surgery," and Timmons got an injection to reduce the swelling to his man area. Still no explanation as to why his groin is swollen. My guess is a bad spring break experience...Anyways, Tomlin was supposed to address this at practice this morning, but no word yet as to when Timmons will be back in action...or I guess will begin to see action...you know what I mean.
Oh yeah, and eerily (since I posted this Tuesday), Mondesi's House found some poor misguided soul to pen the "Why the Browns will be better than the Steelers in 2007" post...a man from our own backyard in Erie, PA no less...and to add insult to injury he's a Pirates fan! Check it out for a laugh...be sure to read the ridiculous back and forth in the comment area as well.
That's all for now. Happy Thursday, yinzers!
If you've read this blog for the last three, four months or so, you'll know full well how I feel about Cincinnati Chili - namely that it's an awful incarnation of one of my favorite foods. How you can enjoy chili with cinnamon in it is way beyond my comprehension. I think the stuff makes you nuts, and frankly no one in Cincinnati to this point has made me think otherwise (reference Chris Henry, Odell Thurman, and pretty much every other Bengal).
However, this article from this morning's Cincinnati Post seems to show some sign that not ALL Cincinnati residents (Ohioans in general for that matter) are out of their gourds.
On a list of the city's top 15 annual sporting events, Steelers Sunday is #3 right behind Opening Day (the Reds? what?) and Crosstown Shootout. What makes it even funnier is Browns Sunday comes in at #5 and the rationale for this was - "We'd have the Browns ahead of the Steelers if the Browns were ever ahead of the Steelers." I find it pretty hillarious that even their state brethren rip the Browns for continually sucking so bad. Plus, the other thing that made me laugh out loud was that Steelers Sunday also noted the caveat - "Even without Kimo Von Oelhoffen." I hear ya Cincy, "Never Forgive, Never Forget," or something like that, right? Just wait 'til Lawrence Timmons and/or Lamar Woodley meet Carson Palmer...might have to reconsider your qualifications.
