Browns News

Mid-Week Bite-Sized Brownie Bits

By Don Delco
NoLogoNeeded.com staff writer

So, Oct. 20 was uneventful, eh?

On the trading front, yes, but the Browns lost linebacker D'Qwell Jackson for the remainder of the season. Jackson suffered a shoulder injury in the second quarter against the Steelers last Sunday.

"It's disappointing any time you lose a player for the season, and this is especially true with someone like D'Qwell, who has proven to be an outstanding leader for us both on and off the field," said Browns head coach Eric Mangini in a prepared statement released by the team.

The loss of Jackson only further thins the Browns linebacking corps. Jackson started all six games this season, had a team-high 57 tackles, defensed two passes and forced one fumble.

Look for more of rookie Kaluka Maiava.

In other news...

Yesterday, NoLogoNeeded.com received an e-mail from Julie Thompson. Her brother, Jeff, is an avid Browns fan and friends with Josh McDaniel's younger brother, Ben, from their time together at Kent State.

Ben McDaniels was hired by his brother to join the Broncos as an entrey-level offensive assistant. Last season, Ben McDaniels, a former quarterback at Kent State and Canton McKinley, coached quarterbacks at Massillon Jackson last season. Not a bad promotion.

Julie forwarded us Jeff's e-mail he sent her following the Broncos 34-23 win over the Chargers on Monday night. Jeff Thompson offered his thoughts on why Josh McDaniels is 6-0 in Denver while Eric Mangini is 1-5 in Cleveland.

"It was good to see Ben and his brother go to 6-0 last night. It is kind of funny that he also interviewed in Cleveland... I guess Denver was the better choice. Below are the main reasons he did not need to wait 3 years to bring in "his guys"

Cleveland ran a 3-4 last year and stayed with a 3-4 this year. Denver switched from a 4-3 to a 3-4. Obviously much easier to do that...

Cleveland had both QB's back from last year, one is a Pro-bowler in 2007, the other a 1st round pick in 2007. Denver traded their Pro-bowl QB for a journeyman Chicago QB and TWO FIRST round picks to start a brand new offense. Obviously much easier to bring in another teams trash and forced to start him then go with two guys not living up to the hype...

Cleveland has a Pro Bowl WR who has off the field issues they could not control so they traded him. Denver has a Pro Bowl WR who has off the field issues so they suspended him, told him to shut his mouth and play football.... Obviously much easier to actually discipline your players and stick to a plan then just trade away for a 3rd and 5th rounder...."

The Pack Attack
Green Bay comes to Cleveland on Sunday a week before the Packers play host to Brett Favre and Minnesota. The Plain-Dealer's Tony Grossi examined the situation Green Bay's head coach, Mike McCarthy, is dealing with as Favre returns to Lambeau Field in enemy colors. Picture Bernie Kosar coming to Cleveland in a Steelers jersey.

"The Packers players might be professional enough not to look beyond the Browns, but they are only human. All of Packer Nation is bracing for Favre's first visit to Lambeau wearing a uniform other than Green Bay's. It will be one of the most anticipated games in the illustrious history of the franchise, which dates to 1923."

Papa, and now Mangini, are rolling stones
Even Rolling Stone magazine is taking shots at the Browns coach. According to the Associated Press' Tom Withers:

"In its latest issue, the iconic music magazine stepped outside its usual arena with a harsh critique of Mangini, comparing him to Augustus Gloop, the fictional overeater in Roald Dahl's 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' and calling his short coaching tenure in Cleveland 'a sort of hurricane Andrew of football mismanagement.'"

The business side of football
Finally, Craig at Waiting For Next Year examined the Browns situation monetarily and it provides some excellent insight to the business side of professional football.

"You can argue whether or not Alex Mack was the right draft pick and whether or not the Browns got enough in return for dropping as far as they did. You can’t argue with the business sense it makes to draft that much lower. In the end, the Browns saved about $20 million in guaranteed dollars of salary cap space by trading down and taking Alex Mack vs. Mark Sanchez’ gaudy rookie deal. This brings me to the point. It has been mentioned briefly that the Browns might have switched from Brady Quinn to Derek Anderson due to the money. I don’t expect to give anybody the absolute answer today, but the money is worth exploring."

October 21, 2009 at 8:24 AM

Comments

Mangini is doing what has to be done with this team....

He Cut the Dead Wood...Smith, Edwards and Winslow....He has instilled some discipline we no longer have Guys playing around on the practice field Barefoot or going to their College games and missing meeting .....They actually hit and tackle in Practice and are noticably better at it and still improving....they don't steal from hotels.... any longer..(Stealing is strealing no matter how small the item and expecially after they have been warned in Writing and in meetings and indivisually )

The team seems to be coming to gether as a unit...A family....in very trying times ..(maybe because of the trying times)..

Jerking Quinn because of the money...Dumb comment they wouldn't have started him in the first place if that money was a Factor...In fact it would have been easer to trade him if they had never started him....

Before we have a Great team we need discipline...and guys that play as a unit and support each other...KIND OF LIKE THE MARINES...

Mangine is doing all of that...Build is not easy
or fast ...

Keep in mind IN THE LAST 7 GAMEs Last year we didn't even score a TD....and Edwards and Winslow aren't exactly leading their teams to victory...ARE THEY...

Also keep in mind that the teams we have played are all at or near the top of their Devisions....this has been no powder puff schedule...(as we had hopped before the season started)

I AM MORE PROUD OF BEING A BROWNS FAN THIS YEAR THEN I WAS LAST YEAR....(YES, There is still a lot of room on my pride upside..That winning would help..)

October 21, 2009 at 12:26 PM by Bigmike 34

Come on R U serious Mangini really. When you have Rolling Stone Mag making comments about Mangini This is alot Bigger then you know. also I saw a nice little article about how alot of sports writers think Mangini my be the worst Hire in the last 25 years of Football lol ...

October 21, 2009 at 12:58 PM by Browns4life

Mid-Week Bite-Sized Brownie Bits

Comments

Post a comment

NLN's Blog Roll

NFL Blogs