This isn't going to be an entry that gushes over Brett Favre and suggests that he never retire because he's "great for the game."  I don't deny that, Favre was an incredible quarterback--one could argue he is a top five quarterback of all time.

He was also the most durable player to ever play the game.  Playing the position of quarterback is the toughest of all sports, and signal callers in the NFL get beaten to a bloody pulp.  It wasn't that Favre never got injured, it's just that he was able to push through it.  Favre started a mind-boggling 253 starts, a streak I'm comfortable in feeling that no one will break in my lifetime.

But that's not what this blog entry is about.  Brett Favre's decision to retire is completely up to him and his family, but I cannot understand it.  Favre seemed to agonize over returning to play or retirement the past few seasons.  He ultimately chose to come back time after time, and Favre knew that he was coming back to awful football teams.

But the 2008 Packers will not be awful.  Not by any means.  They have a very good, young running back.  They have immensely talented receivers.  They also have a defense that ranked 11th in the league last season, and was ranked 7th in total points allowed.  

 From Favre's comments to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, it appears the reason Favre retired was that he was mentally drained.  He mentioned to Mortensen that the season is long, and that he wanted nothing less than a Superbowl.  He stated that if they got to the Superbowl, and lost, it would be worst than not going to the big dance in 2007.

I get that.  I really do.  But, the fact of the matter is, in February of 2009, only one team is going to be happy.  All 31 other teams in the league will be anxiously preparing for the off-season.  If, however, Favre really did want to win a Superbowl, this is the Packers team of recent memory to help get you there.

Favre can obviously still play.  Though he's 38, he had arguably his best season last year.  He needs to come back, and see if his team can get over that hump.  Favre is in a relatively weak division.  The Lions are always disappointing.  The Vikings have talent, but they lack a viable quarterback.  And the Bears are probably weaker this year compared to last, as their quarterback situation is unstable, and due to the loss of both Muhammad and Berrian at the receiving core (though Marty Booker was acquired today).  The NFL is very unpredictable, but one would have to imagine that the Packers have a very good shot, at the very least, of being a wild card team.  And who won the Superbowl this season?  The Giants, a wildcard team.  

Football is unlike any other career.  In corporate America, you can work through your 60's.  In football, you retire before you're 40.  Favre is soon closing in on 40 years of age, but he can still play with the best of them.  If he still has the physical tools and the desire, he needs to suit up again.  This isn't like any other job where you can quit, leave for a while, and potentially come back.  Not at his age.  The window of opportunity is not only just about closed, but the house is being boarded up and there's an eviction notice on the door.

If Favre does indeed decide to stay retired, there will one person who is immensely happy with this choice in Green Bay:

 And yet...who will John Madden gush all over come September? 

Hank Steinbrenner has recently come out and stated that he doesn't "like baseball being singled out" when it comes to the attention by media and congress over the steroids issue.  He later commented, "Everybody that knows sports knows football is tailor-made for performance-enhancing drugs. I don't know how they managed to skate by. It irritates me. Don't tell me it's not more prevalent. The number in football is at least twice as many. Look at the speed and size of those players."

 I will give Steinbrenner some credit.  I do think it is amazing that guys like Shawne Merriman and Rodney Harrison--two prominent defensive players in the NFL--can test positive for steroids/HGH and no one truly seem to care.  Do fans not care about the integrity of the game?  Do fans and maybe even media enable these players because they want to see brutal collisions on the field?

I do think, though, that there are a few differences between baseball and football in regards to this issue.  Harrison, and to some degree, Shawne Merriman, admitted that they were wrong.  They were willing to accept their penalties.  That doesn't make what they did OK, but these players and others did not break NFL policy, and continue to lie about it.  They didn't play the "he said, she said" game.  They realized what they did was wrong, asked for forgiveness, and attempted to move on.  They acted like men.

That's not to say that some of the players in the MLB should admit guilt if they aren't guilty.  But, at least in the court of public opinion, they all certainly aren't innocent.  Barry Bonds?  Palmeiro?  Clemens?  Maguire?  Sosa?   There is this "hush, hush" mentality among these big name players, and yet mounds of evidence that would appear to seriously cloud their credibility.

Another distinct difference between baseball and football in regards to steroids is the actual benefit.  It is known that steroids can give you a boost in strength, muscle, and speed.  Something that Rodney Harrison took, though (HGH), is widely believed to aid in the recovery of injury.  When Harrison apparently took the drug HGH, he was attempting to recover much quicker from an injury than he otherwise wouldn't have been able to.  Again, this doesn't justify his actions.  At the same time, we as fans cannot begin to fathom the wear and tear on one's body that playing in the NFL induces.  There are former players that have a hard to going about their day due to massive injuries.  ESPN analyst Mark Schlereth, a former offensive lineman, has admitted to having at least twenty knee surgies.  And some former players even suffer from dementia due to the brutal sport of football.

Another issue I have is with the impact steroids has on the game of baseball and football.  Baseball is much less of a team sport than football.  Essentially, baseball is a pitcher versus a batter.  If the pitcher is taking steroids that may allow him to throw the ball with a bit more velocity, that is an advantage.  If the batter is utilizing steroids to allow him to hit the ball further, that could potentially turn typical double plays into home-runs.  That is, most certainly, an advantage.  These factors decide games.

Can games really be decided by steroids in football, though?  Does steroids help you read a defense better?  Does steroids allow you to make every single tackle on the field?  Does steroids give you the heart and drive to study film, pick up on signals, or give your vision to see and hit a hole?

Football is a team sport.  If one person--or for that matter, a few players--are using steroids on the offensive or defensive side of the ball, I am not convinced that that is an advantage.  It may make you a bit stronger.  It may make you a bit faster.  But, unlike baseball, I don't think those benefits can make you and your team better.  I've seen guys come into the NFL who are complete physical specimens (Former number 1 overall pick in 2000, DE Courtney Brown, springs to mind). 

 Guys who are the strongest and fastest, and yet their careers never take off due to injury, or an inability to pick up the playbook, or a lack of heart.

Remember, you need the physical tools and talent in the NFL, but football is most certainly a mental game.  Akili Smith and Michael Vick could throw the ball out of the stadium into oncoming traffic on the highway, and both had legs that could scramble them out of any situation, and yet they were both average quarterbacks.

I am not saying that players cannot and do not benefit from steroids in the NFL.  In 2006, when Merriman was suspended four games for steroids, he still racked up 17 sacks in 12 games.  That is an incredible stat.  At the same time, in 2007, in just 15 games, Merriman still registered 12.5 sacks.  That is still a very good total.  And while steroids may have contributed to Merriman being able to get around the corner and sack Peyton Manning a couple extra times, steroids absolutely cannot aid you if you bite on Manning's play fake, and he throws it over the top to Reggie Wayne for a touchdown.

While I agree with Steinbrenner that steroids is getting a free pass by the media in the NFL, and that it may be more prevelant in the NFL, I truly believe that steroids impacts the MLB in a much stronger way. 

Haven't we all had enough of spygate, already?

I don't condone cheating, in sports or otherwise, but this is just getting ridiculous.

Doesn't Senator Specter have anything else to worry about?  While I do care about fair play in the NFL, I am much more concerned about some of the awful officiating this season than whether or not the Patriots may or may not have benefited from video taping signals.

What's lost in this "controversy" is that while the Patriots did indeed cheat, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has conceeded that opposing coaches are seen waving at the camera on these recently destroyed video tapes.  If this is indeed the case, then this means that coaches within the NFL knew that New England was video taping them.  If this was such a big deal, why wouldn't opposing teams blow the whistle on the Patriots before now?

The truth is that there is a very odd, anti-Patriots bias that has developed over the past year or so.  We know that in this country, people will build you up until you get to the top, and attempt to tear you back down.  With the Patriots, though, I don't get the hate.  It seems people loved the 2000 Baltimore Ravens more than the 2007 Patriots.  A Ravens team that, in the past decade, has been sued and lost over stealing the original helmet logo (the logo changed from the winged, shielded "B" emblem to a Raven head due to a court ruling). 

During their Superbowl run in 2000, Ravens' linebacker Ray Lewis was indicted on murder and aggravated assault charges. 

And in 2004, then running back Jamal Lewis was charged with conspiracy and intent to distribute cocaine charges, while also setting up a drug deal using his cell phone.

And yet, I wonder if the Patriots are more despised than the Ravens ever were?

I don't remember any hate and vitriol aimed towards the Dallas Cowboys of the 1990's.  That was a team that dominated and won all the time, too.  However, the Cowboys were also a team that was constantly in the news due to players being arrested.  And when they weren't adding to their rap sheet, players like Deion Sanders and Michael Irvin were talking

trash and being anything but humble.

So why is New England singled out?  Because of the head coach?  Because the Patriots win?  Since when did winning become a bad thing?  Call me weird, but I actually love to see quality football when I sit down to watch a game for three hours.  The Patriots, all season long, played quality football. 

And unlike other teams, the Patriots didn't run their mouths.  There were no Terrell Owens' or Chad Johnsons' in the New England locker room.  There were no guys creating division within the team, or unable to buy into the team concept.  The Patriots, to me, always seemed like the perfect blue collar team.  Sure, they wanted to win, but they never gloated off the field.  No player on the team was conceiving of endzone dances for the week, or in ad after ad on the television during the game.

There were and are great players on the Patriots team that, to me, make it almost impossible not to root for them.  Amidst all the animosity towards to Patriots, does everyone forget that linebacker Teddy Bruschi suffered a stroke just three years ago?

Or the always classy Junior Seau has, despite his dominance in the league over the many seasons, has yet to win a Superbowl? 

Or the fact that players like Tom Brady and Randy Moss restructured their deals and signed for less money, respectively, so that they could be a part of a successful team in New England?

I think many fans are missing out.  It may be a very long time before you see a football team not only win three Superbowls in four seasons, but see a team who also had a legitimate shot at being able to call themselves the greatest team ever.  Instead of rooting against the Patriots on Superbowl Sunday, more football fans should have been hoping they got to witness something that they will certainly never see accomplished again in the NFL during their lifetime.

If you're a fan of Madden and have no problems with the game, then this is good news.  If you were an NFL 2K fan, or feels Madden has significant issues that have lingered for years, then break out the tissues.  According to Joystiq.com, EA Sports has extended its exclusive contract with the NFL through the 2012.  EA Sports will now be the sole company capable of making NFL video games (with its huge money-making series Madden) for the next five years.

Here's a link to the article (also posted below):

http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/12/ea-extends-nfl-lock-to-2012/

Those hoping to get their NFL gaming fix from anywhere other than EA anytime soon are apparently in for a long wait: EA revealed today that it had extended its exclusive contract with the organization until the end of the 2012 season, which falls in February of 2013. A similar deal was also made with the NFL players association.

If you had been anxiously praying for the return of NFL2K, we'd be willing to bet that's never going to happen, as by 2013, we're fairly sure football will be played on the moon with jet packs, and our Earth laws will no longer apply. But take heart, Peter Moore saysabove and beyond. Wait ... you mean you're rewarding our $60 with genuine effort put into the product? Just for us? that EA won't be marking the 2008 20th anniversary of the game with just any Madden year. No, it's going to be Oh, Pete, you shouldn't have.

On Sunday, the Cleveland Browns won their tenth game of the season against a San Francisco team in disarray. A season that started off so poorly in Week 1 resulted in expectations being surpassed for Browns’ fans.

On Sunday night, however, the dream ended in disappointing fashion. After having not beaten the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 16 to allow entrance into the playoffs, the Browns needed the Tennessee Titans to lose to the Indianapolis Colts.  Browns’ fans were teased and given hope, as the Colts’ backups managed to take a three point lead in the third quarter. It was evident, though, that the Colts’ were highly disinterred in beating their division rival, and they certainly didn’t have the personnel to do so. The Titans won the game 16-10, and sent the Browns into the off-season on a frustrating note.

It cannot be ignored, however, that the team played well this season. Although the defense ranked 32nd in the league, the Browns’ offense was explosive. The special teams unit was electric. The team had a new swagger, and that attitude helped propel the team to ten wins.
Ironically, this off-season just might be more exciting. There is a lot that needs to be done. The 2008 opponents have already been determined for Cleveland, and on schedule are teams such as Dallas, Indianapolis, Washington, Tennessee, the New York Giants and Jacksonville. The Browns also face Pittsburgh twice. Anything can happen between now and next September—coaches leave, players get injured, teams regress—but on paper, the 2008 season looks to have some significant challenges ahead. The Browns cannot afford a let down, but will have to make some tough decisions to prevent one.

First and foremost, the Browns immediately have to deal with the situation involving Jamal Lewis. He was signed in the off-season to a one year contract that is about to expire. Lewis had a fantastic season, ranking fifth in rushing yardage and finding the end zone eleven times. Lewis also brought an identity to Cleveland. A city known for its big, bruising running backs, Lewis was a perfect addition to the team. It would behoove the Browns to sign Lewis to a two year contract, where at the end of his deal, he would be thirty years old.

The second thing the Browns must do is settle the quarterback position. Cleveland needs to decide if they believe Anderson has enough upside to keep for the foreseeable future or if they should sell high in this quarterback starved market. Many may argue that teams need two good quarterbacks to have a successful season.

Isn’t it funny, though, how the Colts seem to get by just fine without Jim Sorgi taking regular season snaps? You don’t see Matt Cassell taking the field in New England. Brad Johnson in Dallas and Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay saw little to no action this season, as well.

The point?

If a team has a good offensive line, the quarterback will stay healthy. In regards to Cleveland, the Browns gave up the least amount of sacks in the entire league. Whether it’s Derek Anderson or Brady Quinn behind center, if the offensive line stays healthy, one good quarterback may be all that’s needed.

Another aspect to consider is that the Browns are not yet a great team. Cleveland needs to patch up a porous run defense. The Browns are desperate for defensive lineman. If the team could trade Anderson for a first round pick, and then use that selection on a nose tackle or defensive end, it could help out the team tremendously.

Many may feel trading Anderson is a mistake. However, remember the team selected Brady Quinn last season. The Browns have a twenty-three year old quarterback in Quinn who appears to be mentally and physically ready to play. He also now has a year of experience at the NFL level, even if most of it was via preparation and observation.

While Anderson did throw almost thirty touchdowns, he also threw almost twenty interceptions. One may argue, “Could Quinn do much better?” Quinn may not throw as many touchdowns, but one would hope Quinn would be smarter with the football. The hope—and his college track record—of not making many mistakes can be key. Quinn may not outright win football games by himself, but he also might not lose them, too.

With Anderson’s mistakes and slow starts costing the Browns a couple of wins this season, this is very important. If the Browns can essentially exchange Anderson for defensive help, then the lack of a few extra touchdown passes next season may be expendable if the defense is now preventing touchdowns from opposing offenses.

Regardless of what’s to come, it cannot be denied that this was a wonderful season for the Browns. A team that was predicted to finish last in the division by NFL pundits almost won the AFC North title. With a few shrewd moves and a vote of confidence in a few players on this team, the Cleveland Browns can be the team to beat next year.

This has been a dream season for Cleveland Browns’ fans. After watching a putrid product on the field for years, Browns’ fans were treated to high scoring, competitive football every weekend this season. The city embraced the “Believeland” moniker, and NFL pundits have openly stated that the Browns are the surprise of the NFL this season.

There’s no bigger of a surprise than quarterback Derek Anderson. A third year player and former sixth round pick, Anderson has been instrumental in pulling the Browns from the ashes.

So there’s no problem, right? Well, not exactly.

While Anderson has big numbers, one cannot know everything there is to know about Anderson’s play just by his stats. Last week, I wrote a blog entry about how the Browns needed to take care of their own business to get into the playoffs. They controlled their own destiny. With a win, they would be invited to the post-season party.

 

 In that blog, I also mentioned that the Bengals posed a serious threat. I stated that Cincinnati has a potent offense, and that Cleveland cannot afford to get behind against the Bengals.

I mentioned that Derek Anderson, in particular, has a penchant for slow starts early in games. Slow starts that put his team in a large hole.

As an example, I mentioned the Arizona Cardinals game, where Anderson threw two interceptions and fumbled a snap--all before the first half. The result? The Browns lost a very winnable game. In last week’s article, I wrote that another “slow start by Anderson could have the Browns down by fourteen or even twenty-one points early in the game.”

Last Sunday, Derek Anderson threw four interceptions--two of which were in the first half. By halftime, the Bengals were ahead 19-0. The result? A Browns’ loss, and the potential to miss the playoffs entirely.

Move over Sylvia Browne, there’s a new psychic in town.

One didn’t need to be a prophet to see this outcome, however. This has been Anderson’s problem all season. While Anderson has a laser arm, and is a big quarterback similar in build to Carson Palmer and Ben Roethlisberger, Anderson creates turnovers. A lot of them.

While Anderson has thrown 28 touchdowns this season, he has also thrown 18 interceptions. For all of Anderson’s positives, he can be counted on to make two or three boneheaded plays that may realistically cost the team the game.

Many may argue that it’s not fair to pick on Anderson. This is a team game. He’s essentially a rookie. He’s still young. The team is learning how to win. The defense allows too many points. All of these statements are true--I am not disputing that.

However, a quarterback must be many things. One of them is a Manager of the Game. A quarterback must protect the football. He must know when to throw the ball, and when to just throw the ball out of bounds. Anderson, young or not, does not seem to possess the ability to manage a game when it’s most needed. There is little excuse in losing to the Oakland Raiders, Arizona Cardinals, and Cincinnati Bengals.

Another issue that cannot be overlooked is Derek Anderson’s offensive line. While Anderson is certainly still young and learning, he has one of the best offensive lines in football blocking for him. Anderson has only been sacked thirteen times this season--the least amount of sacks among active starting quarterbacks in the league. Comparatively, Tom Brady and Tony Romo, the top two statistical quarterbacks in the league, have been sacked twenty and twenty-three times respectively.

Anderson is certainly getting time to stand in the pocket and make the right throws. The problem, however, is that Anderson forces throws. He makes poor decisions. His sporadic accuracy hurts his team.

This Sunday, the Browns will play the San Francisco 49ers in a meaningless game. Whether the Browns win or lose, it makes no difference for their playoff hopes.

Every player and fan in Cleveland will be tuned to Sunday Night Football, hoping and praying the Colts beat the Titans. Therefore allowing the Browns’ entrance into the playoffs.
If the Browns indeed clinch a wildcard berth, Derek Anderson will have a shot at redemption. In a city nicknamed “Believeland,” that’s all we can hope for.

On Sunday, the Cleveland Browns will play their most important game in five years. Not since 2002 when the Browns beat the Atlanta Falcons in Week 17 to advance to the post-season has a game of this magnitude been within reach.

It’s simple, really. If the Browns beat the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, they are playoff bound. If Cleveland loses, their playoff hopes become quite murky.

This is a scary game.  Although the Bengals are closing the book on a sub-par season, they are still a potent team. They have only won just five games this season which may come as a surprise to read. The Bengals, though, are not the Miami Dolphins. Their offense in particular is full of playmakers and Pro Bowlers.

One former All Pro is quarterback Carson Palmer, who has publicly stated this week that he would like to ruin the Browns’ chances for post-season play.  Palmer believes when the Browns beat the Bengals in Week 2 to the tune of 51-45, the Bengals began their downward spiral.  And the Browns’ season was launched.

That may certainly be the case. It’s very easy to see the similarities between the Browns and Bengals. Both teams have juggernaut offenses, but defenses that give up far too many points and yardage. Both teams have big, sturdy quarterbacks, a healthy rushing attack and wide receivers that keep opposing Defensive Coordinators up all night game planning. Both teams also play in the same division and state, and familiarity clearly breeds contempt.
While the Bengals are a disappointing team this season, one never quite knows what to expect from this them.

Which Cincinnati team will show up on Sunday? Will it be the Bengals’ team that beat the Titans 35-6 just one month ago? Or the Bengals’ team that got embarrassed 20-13 just one week ago against the putrid San Francisco 49ers?

One thing is clear--against a dangerous offense like Cincinnati, the Browns cannot afford to start slow.

Unfortunately, slow starts are Derek Anderson’s modus operandi. While Anderson is having a highly successful season--he was just voted in as a Pro Bowl alternate--it cannot be forgotten that Anderson has a penchant for poor play early in games.

In the loss to Arizona in Week 13, Anderson threw two interceptions and fumbled the ball. All before halftime. By the end of the game, Anderson was clicking and the Browns arguably should have won the game on a throw to Winslow in the end zone that was caught with no time remaining. Winslow got one foot in bounds, and was immediately pushed out. No force out rule was called. The Browns lost, and Anderson’s comeback attempt was too little too late.

Against an offense that has the weapons to score points like the Bengals, a slow start by Anderson could have the Browns down by fourteen or even twenty-one points early in the game.

Unlike the Bengals, though, Cleveland does have something to play for. While the Bengals’ players are contemplating where they will be vacationing during the offseason, the Browns know that their playoff dreams are riding on this game.

After the Week 1 beat down at the hands of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Browns have matured greatly. They have earned the right to play in the post-season, and have a realistic chance at facing the Pittsburgh Steelers again in the wild-card round.

Standing in their way, though, is the Bengals, a team that is built like the Browns, even down to similar uniform colors. On Sunday, however, Cleveland is the better team. This is a game the Browns should win. This is a game they need to win.

Just win, baby.

On Sunday, the Browns beat the Houston Texans to the score of 27-17. Afterwards, on such Cleveland sports programs like “Browns Redzone,” fans called in to voice their anxiety about the quarterback situation. 

Derek Anderson, just 24 years old, is having a sensational season for a man who lost the
starting quarterback job to Charlie Frye in August. A former sixth round draft pick, Anderson’s Browns are fast becoming the Cinderella story of the NFL. A significant reason for the team’s success rests on the shoulders of the 6’6” signal caller. Anderson’s stats are great, as he has thrown for 2,758 yards, 22 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. His quarterback rating is 89.5, better than Peyton Manning. 

So why are fans unhappy? 

A big issue is that the Cleveland fans are not used to winning. They have suffered through a team move and on-field mediocrity since returning to the league in 1999. Browns’ fans’ expectations are through the roof. Another issue, though, is Anderson himself. While his numbers are incredible, Anderson does seem to sometimes have accuracy issues. For every incredible throw, a few passes will sail out of his hand that will give one reason to pause and rewind their Tivo in confusion. 

The bigger issue, though, is the Brady Quinn factor.
Not only are fans curious to see what they have in Quinn, the Browns also are not a complete team yet. 

Cleveland is playing very good football right now. Their defense has progressed the past three weeks, but the fact remains that the Browns’ defensive unit still ranks near the bottom of the league in almost all categories. This April, the Browns will be devoid of a first round draft pick--a selection they surrendered to the Dallas Cowboys for the opportunity to draft Brady Quinn.

The question surrounding Cleveland isn’t just what can the Browns do this year, but what can be accomplished for next year?

It is evident the Browns have the talent to compete at a high level this season. What will, though, it take to be even better next year?

Many fans would like to trade Anderson and hope to acquire at least a first round pick so that they can improve the team. The hope is not so far-fetched. Just last season, the Atlanta Falcons traded away Matt Schaub for two second round picks. Schaub only started a handful of games and was relatively an unknown. Derek Anderson, though, is statistically one of the best quarterbacks in the league right now.

There is also the issue of Anderson’s contract. Anderson is a restricted free agent this season. The Browns could offer Anderson the highest contract tender in the off-season. If so, a team wanting to sign the quarterback would have to sacrifice a first and third round draft pick. With some of the quarterback play in the league today, one would have to believe that this off-season will be a seller’s market.

Another issue is that if the Browns keep Anderson next season, he will become a free agent in 2009. At that point, the team would either need to sign him long term or let him walk for free. If that situation arises, it’s both good and bad. If Anderson plays well in 2008 to be worthy of a new contract in 2009, the Browns have found their quarterback of the future. However, the team would have wasted a first round pick on Brady Quinn. If Anderson does not pan out in 2008, the Browns will have to see him walk out the front door with zero compensation in 2009.

It’s truly a gamble. Ironically, a bigger gamble could be the attempt to strike while the iron’s hot. This season has proved that teams’ need more than one competent quarterback. And while the Cleveland offensive line is playing at an incredibly high level, it is comforting to know that the team believes they truly have a quality quarterback able to step in should anything happen to Anderson.

If the Browns truly believe they have the ability to go deep into the playoffs next season, it would be wise to keep both quarterbacks on the roster. If not, then the team would be one hit away from quarterback Ken Dorsey becoming the starter.

Ken Dorsey.

Browns' fans need to sit back and enjoy the ride this team is embarking on. If anything, the quarterback dilemma is a problem that half the league would kill for.

The Browns lost on Sunday to the New England Patriots to the tune of 34-17.  But did anyone really expect them to win?  Despite many opportunities to stay in the game, the Browns tallied up mistakes and turnovers which led to the defeat.

The Browns now sit at 2-3. Maybe not that impressive to some, but much better than expected considering the Browns’ opponents. With a win this Sunday against the hapless Dolphins, the Browns could march into their bye week at 3-3. If that is the case, third year wideout Braylon Edwards will certainly have done his part.

Edwards came into the league in 2005. Highly touted from Michigan, it was immediately evident that the young man had talent. But he also had concentration issues. For every incredible catch, he would follow it up with a back breaking drop.

In early December of 2005, it got worse for Braylon. After making a sensational catch in traffic, the rookie came down funny on his leg. Lying on the ground in agony, it was all too apparent; Edwards tore his ACL and was done for the season.

In 2006, Edwards’ numbers were fairly good—61 receptions, 884 yards, and six touchdowns—but inconsistency at the quarterback position did not allow the second year wideout to show his full potential. There were also maturity issues. At one point last season, an angry Edwards grabbed the jersey of then quarterback Charlie Frye on the sidelines in demonstration of his own frustration. In another incident, Edwards flew to a Michigan-Ohio State game the day before his Cleveland Browns would take the field. And this was after coach Romeo Crennel told him not to do so.

This season, Edwards does his talking on the field—and it’s paying off. After five weeks, Edwards is ranked fourth in the league among yardage wide receivers and tight ends. Edwards has caught 24 passes for 485 yards and four touchdowns.  It is typical for many wide receivers to finally show their true potential in their third season.  This is very true of Braylon Edwards, who looks like he will shatter his stats of last season.

Last week, Edwards caught six passes for 110 yards in the loss to New England. This week, he faces the winless Miami Dolphins—the team that passed on him to select running back Ronnie Brown.  If Edwards can stay healthy this year, it is likely he will be playing his final game in Honolulu.  That is something Cleveland hasn’t been able to boast about since the Browns linebacker Jamir Miller was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2001.

In 2007, Braylon Edwards is a shining star for the Cleveland Browns.  Now, it’s time for the rest of the league to take notice.

March 30, 2007

There is a lot of debate surrounding the Cleveland Browns and their No.3 selection in next month's NFL Draft.

Should they solidify their offensive line and select Wisconsin left tackle Joe Thomas? Might the team give up on quarterback Charlie Frye after just two seasons and select LSU standout JaMarcus Russell or Notre Dame's Brady Quinn? Could the Browns bolster their receiving corps by selecting the incredible wideout from Georgia Tech, Calvin Johnson?

And one cannot forget the ever popular “trade down" option.

The truth is that all of the above would make sense on some level. However on April 28th, the Browns need to select Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson with their first round pick. Period. If they don't, Cleveland could regret the decision for years.

 

In 2006, the Browns' rushing attack was woeful. Starting tailback Reuben Droughns averaged just 3.4 yards per carry and managed only four touchdowns all season long. To put that into even more context, quarterback Charlie Frye rushed for three touchdowns last season. Many will point to the fact that Cleveland's offensive line was porous at best, and that this led to defenses stacking the box and plugging running lanes.

In 2005, though, Droughns averaged 4.0 yards per carry and rushed for 1,232 yards. Although that was a breakout season for a Browns running back since 1985, Droughns still only had two touchdowns that season.

The addition of Adrian Peterson will add a home run threat not seen in Cleveland for quite some time. In a city known for great running backs such as Jim Brown, Leroy Kelly, and Earnest Byner, it's a shame that the Browns faithful have been reduced to witnessing the likes of William Green, James Jackson, and Jamel White.  Adrian Peterson is a back with great vision, speed, and power. He also has the ability to pick up the blitz and protect the quarterback. If the Browns choose to stick with Charlie Frye, a running back of Peterson's skill set will help keep opposing defenses honest. Peterson's abilities will also open up the field for the likes of Kellen Winslow and Braylon Edwards.

Peterson will not come without concerns, however. In 2004, Adrian Peterson rushed for 1,925 yards which set an NCAA Division I freshmen record. In 2005 and 2006, however, Peterson was hampered by a rash of injuries that slowed his production on the field, and raised questions about his durability. In his sophomore year, Peterson sat on the sidelines for all or portions of four games due to an ankle injury. In 2006, he missed six games due to a broken collarbone he suffered on a celebratory dive into the end zone.

Although Peterson missed game time in his last two college seasons, one cannot deny the fact that he has a nose for the end zone. In just three seasons at Oklahoma, Peterson rushed for forty-one touchdowns. The Cleveland Browns need that type of production from their backfield. Peterson's talent should bypass any concern regarding his injury history.

Ironically, the Browns’ organization has been snake bitten with injuries to their star players. Defensive end Courtney Brown was rarely injured while playing at Penn State. Yet since being selected No.1 overall in 2000 by Cleveland, he has had countless knee injuries and is now contemplating retirement.

Who would have foreseen Kellen Winslow breaking his right fibula in his second NFL game in 2004, and then being involved in a motorcycle accident that would cost him all of 2005?

A year later, no one would have suspected the Browns’ prize free agent acquisition and Cleveland native LeCharles Bentley would tear his patellar tendon on the first day of practice with the team. Who could have forecasted that cornerback Gary Baxter would tear both his patellar tendons on one play in 2006, thus ending his season and putting his career in doubt.

The point?

Injuries happen, and are a part of the game. Nevertheless you cannot pass on a great player because of the fear of what could happen. Frank Gore, the starting running back of the San Francisco 49ers, tore the ACL in both his knees during his career at the University of Miami. Gore is now a Pro Bowl running back in the NFL.

Willis McGahee, also a Miami Hurricane alumnus, blew out his knee in the National Championship game in 2002 against Ohio State. McGahee, though, ended up not only being a first round draft pick that same year, but has gone on to have success in the NFL. Peterson's injuries, compared to those listed above, are relatively minor.

Many pundits have stated that with the recent signing of former Ravens’ running back Jamal Lewis, the Browns no longer should seek a running back with their first round pick.  That's nonsense.  Jamal Lewis is still relatively young, but he has not been the same running back since his short stint in prison during the spring of 2005.  Before being sentenced to a four month prison term for allegedly setting up a cocaine deal with his cell phone, Lewis rushed for 2,066 yards in 2003.

In 2004, he eclipsed 1,000 yards, and had a 4.3 yards per carry average. In 2005, though, Lewis' yards per carry average dropped to 3.4. In 2006, it increased but only to 3.6 yards per carry.

In 2007, Jamal Lewis will be entering his eighth year in the NFL.  That is a lot of mileage for a running back, especially one with a bruising rushing style.  Lewis does not have many good years left, and on top of this, he signed just a one-year contract with the Browns. This signing very much opens the door for a talent like Peterson, and it should.

 

In 2006, the NFL saw successful teams thrive with a two back system. The two Super bowl teams, Indianapolis and Chicago, both used two running backs to get them to the Championship game.

The New Orleans Saints, who already had a proven running back in Deuce McAllister, still selected Reggie Bush with the No.2 overall selection in last year’s NFL Draft. It was not a need pick. The Saints simply could not pass on the talent of a player like Reggie Bush. The Browns cannot afford to bypass Adrian Peterson.

Simply put, Cleveland needs to start winning now. Coming off a 4-12 year, and having had just one winning season since 1999, the Browns need players that will have an impact from day one. Not players that need to be developed.

As tempting as it is to select a potential "franchise quarterback" with the third selection in next month's draft, the Browns should not give up on Charlie Frye.  Or Derek Anderson for that matter.  With a competent rushing attack, the Browns don't need a superstar at quarterback.

Don't believe me?

Ask Rex Grossman, who rode the Chicago Bears strong defense and premiere rushing attack all the way to the Super bowl.

 

The NFL Draft is a crapshoot. There's no question about it. However, when drafting in the first round, especially in the top ten, teams must select the best player available.

In 2001, the Cleveland Browns made the mistake of passing on LaDainian Tomlinson in favor of Gerard Warren because Warren seemed to fill a bigger "need."

Hopefully next month, the Browns won't make the same mistake twice.