Will The Cleveland Browns Ever Stop Losing?

I must admit that being a Browns fan is not the easiest thing in the world. I am living in what seems to be a perpetual age of incompetence and futility but I remain a fan because that is what true fans do. It is tough to live in Cleveland and remain a Browns fan right now because I hear so many people claiming they have “jumped off the bandwagon” and would no longer support the team unless some changes were made. Nonetheless, I will continue to watch the games and cheer on my team because I know better days are ahead. Once those days finally arrive, and I hope each day that they actually do, I can say I was with the team during their worst stretch. That’s what it truly means to be a fan; sticking with the team no matter what happens. It is sad to hear Browns fans, consistently rated as some of the best and most loyal in the NFL, no longer supporting the home team.

The latest disgrace was a 27-17 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland’s natural rival. The loss dropped the Browns to 4-10 on the season and 0-6 in their division. That is the first time that has ever happened in the history of the franchise in the NFL. They were not even that bad in their first expansion years back in 1999, 2000, and 2001. To regress that way after being in the league seven years is inexcusable, even to the most die-hard fans.

That is the thing that bothers most people about the team. The Browns never seem to make any progress toward a better future and seem to remain content with being mediocre. At this point though, it may be too generous to call the team mediocre because rarely do they appear to be competitive. It is truly embarrassing to see these more successful organizations with a true game plan enter Cleveland and pick apart the team’s weaknesses each and every week. Anyone listening to the call-in shows and talk radio throughout the week will realized that many people believe the organization is falling apart. Some are content with blowing up the organization by firing everyone in the front office and starting over…again. Fans are no longer putting up with these years of ineptitude. To go 1-11 against the other teams in the division in two years is one of the most deplorable statistics to hear and the blame should start with the coaching staff. Romeo Crennel is a nice guy, no one can argue that. However, there may be a reason why he was a coordinator his entire career.

It has become obvious in these recent weeks that the Browns lack discipline and Crennel is unable to gain control of the team in any way. The team also lacks the ability to scare opponents and enters each week unable to fool anybody, even with all the potential offensive weapons the team has. Unfortunately, Cleveland enters many games with a tired concept that many teams had figured out early in the season. The offense is lackluster and unimaginative while they abandon the running game quicker than a clingy girlfriend that hints at marriage the first day you know her.

Now would definitely be a good time for a change for the Cleveland Browns, but where? There are so many holes to fix that it would be impossible to fill them all in one year, which leaves little hope for the 2007 season. The Browns have an incompetent coach, undisciplined players, a boring offense, and a porous defense. These ingredients have never equaled success and until some major changes are implemented starting right now, the team may not be competitive for many agonizing years. Until the team starts to show the desire to improve, more and more fans will abandon the team, leaving only the die-hard fans and even they are finding it difficult to stay for an entire game. Something has to be done quickly because there is no excuse for a team to fail this much in the parity-happy NFL. However, no matter how much suffering I or any other hardcore Browns fan endures each week, I will remain a fan because I know that one day the Brownies will improve and make the playoffs and if I am lucky I might even get to see Braylon Edwards hoist the Lombardi Trophy over his head after a Super Bowl MVP performance. It has to happen sometime, right?

Matsuzaka Madness

Possible 2007 Boston Red Sox rotation:

Daisuke Matsuzaka
Curt Schilling
Josh Beckett
Jonathan Papelbon
Tim Wakefield

I'd say that the Boston rotation will look pretty intimidating to a lot of teams next year, especially the Yankees. With the free agents the Red Sox are locking up, it may be time for New York to start fidgeting in their seats. While the Yankees are considering a platoon role at first base inloving Andy Phillips or Josh Phelps, the Red Sox have signed Matsuzaka (which may bring more publicity to a team not named the New York Yankees for the first time in a decade), Julio Lugo, and J.D. Drew. Oh wait, the Yankees also signed Andy Pettitte and his ERA was only slightly above four.

Yes, the American League East could be receiving a changing-of-the-guard in 2007, but most people are not considering the Toronto Blue Jays. They have a high-powered offense which was bolstered by the signing of Frank Thomas. They also have three top-line starters that just need to remain healthy...all year. Or else. Roy Halladay, A.J. Burnett, and Gustavo Chacin have each had their fair share of injury troubles in the years and if the status quo is met, then the Blue Jays could fall apart mid-season. But hey, there is always the chance Toronto puts together a flawless record health-wise in 2007 and makes the AL East a three-team race. Please, PLEASE, stay healthty; I could use a new team in that division. Don't get me wrong, I love watching the Yankees-Red Sox play in primetime every single day, but if the Blue Jays decide to play well for an entire season, then ESPN has no choice but to show Toronto. I also heard something about Bud Selig's last action as commissioner to be designating 100 games of the 162-game schedule for the Red Sox and Yankees to be played against each other.

Oh right, this was about Matsuzaka. Yeah, he's a really great player with almost flawless credentials. That means we'll hear absolutely nothing but analysts getting aroused at the very notion of the Red Sox. It will be just like any other year where the coverage for the Yankees and Red Sox is more in-depth than The War on Terror. I'd like to wage my own little War on Terror and stop the obsession with those two teams. It's just so fitting Matsuzaka got to go to the Red Sox...I liked it better when Red Sox fans were arrogant and had nothing to show for it.