The results are in from our blog's readers' poll. Asked to predict beleaguered Browns coach Eric Mangini's future, 47% of you chose the most cynical answer in our multiple-choice survey: "He'll manage to last two seasons, though he'll deserve to be fired after one."
A few of you agreed with the Sports Illustrated writer who asked whether Mangini was the worst NFL coaching hire ever: 29% agreed with the statement, "He'll get fired before the season's over."
Voting trends shifted a little after the Browns traded Braylon Edwards to Mangini's former team, the Jets. Dumping the combative wide receiver within 48 hours of his downtown fisticuffery helped boost the vote to cut the coach a break -- 23% of those voting chose: "His discipline will pay off, and the Browns will improve and earn him several years in the job. Coaches, like quarterbacks, need time to get better."
No one chose the fourth prediction: "He'll be gone right after the season's ignominious end."
The trade comes just two days after Edwards allegedly punched promoter and LeBron buddy Edward Givens outside the View nightclub on Prospect Avenue at 2:30 a.m. Monday morning.
This tells us two things. First, this town isn't big enough for LeBron and anyone hating on LeBron's buddies.
It also tells us that, whatever you might think of Mangini's rocky start as coach, he acts swiftly when a player's bad attitude causes a distraction. The deal was with the Jets, Mangini's previous team, which seems a sign that Mangini had a big hand in the move. Will it cause a shift in our poll about Mangini's future? (See the right side of the page.)
"The Jets agreed to send key special teams player Jason Trusnik, wide receiver Chansi Stuckey and a pair of draft picks to Cleveland," ESPN reports.
But the team could be the best rumor mill in the NFL as draft day approaches on Saturday. With the No. 5 overall pick (perfect for teams lusting after a USC quarterback) and several players available via trade (Braylon Edwards, Brady Quinn, Derek Anderson, anyone?), the Browns might just be the most interesting team in the league.
CBS Sportsline has a fun little graphic (at right) promoting its "Double Vision: Bold Draft Day Predictions." Despite all the noise out of Berea that the team was put off by Michael Crabtree, NFLDraftScout.com senior analysts Rob Rang and Chad Reuter predict that if the Browns select the Texas Tech wideout, Braylon Edwards is headed to the New York Giants. However, the New York Daily News' Ralph Vacchiano says the Giants-Browns deal is all but dead. (Oh, the contradictions!)
On the quaterback front, the Browns haven't even had a personal workout with USC's Mark Sanchez. But maybe that's just sunscreen in eveyone else's eyes. Pick Sanchez, the theory, goes and Quinn could be headed to the New York Jets. But doesn't Denver need a quarterback? What happens to Anderson? And is Sanchez hunky enough to replace Quinn as the good-looking-but-unproven savior category?
See, isn't this fun? Only about 48 hours left.
Enjoy it, because it might be the last time the Browns are relevant this season.
It's two days later, and I'm still struggling to figure something out about the Cleveland Browns game Monday night.
No, not how they won. (A healthy line, better offensive play calling, DA and Braylon clicking, defensive pressure, a rowdy home crowd -- and really cool helmets -- all helped.)
What has me puzzled is how Eric Metcalf, who played with the team from 1989 to 1994, rates as one of the team's "legends." A good player, yes, but a legend? Did we forget about Dino Hall or Gerald "Ice Cube" McNeil?
Maybe I'm still stung by Bill Belichick's insistence on running the 5-foot-10, 188-pound back between the tackles. "Metcalf up the middle" became a refrain for Belichick's stubborness.
What the Browns Legends profile says: "Eric Metcalf was an electrifying player who was versatile enough to play different positions and fast enough to score any time he touched the football."
What the stats say: In his six seasons here, Metcalf had 15 career receiving TDs, 11 rushing TDs. 5 punt returns for TD and 2 kickoff returns for TD. He had TD receptions of 49, 68, 69 yards and a 43-yard touchdown run. He also had punt returns of 75, 91 and 92 yards for TDs and a 101-yard kickoff return. But ... The Browns high-powered offense in 2007 almost matched Metcalf's career figures: Braylon Edwards scored 16 receiving TDs. (New England's Randy Moss had 23.) Jamal Lewis scored 9 rushing TDs. Josh Cribbs had a punt return and 2 kick returns for touchdowns.
What the stats say (Take 2): He ranks 10th in Browns history for rushing yards, 8th in attempts and 8th in receptions. He's second in team history in kickoff returns and kickoff return yards (behind Dino Hall). But ... Metcalf never had a 100-yard rushing game. Guys who did? Legends such as James Jackson (1), Tommy Vardell (1), Jamel White (3) and William Green (6). Plus, he only had two 100-yard receiving games — the same number as Michael "Thriller" Jackson. And consider this: Tim Couch ranks fourth in team history for passing attempts, third in completions, fifth in passing yards and seventh in touchdowns and would anyone consider him a legend?
What the highlights say:
But .... If you really want to see him in action, click here.
I'm still not convinced, but watching those two TDs against Pittsburgh sure is fun!
I'm surprised this quote didn't get any play in the local paper today.
When Browns Wide Receiver Braylon Edwards was asked if LeBron hanging out on the Dallas sideline bothered him, he smiled, then said:
"As I've gotten to know LeBron, LeBron isn't a Cleveland guy. LeBron only plays for the Cavaliers, and who knows if he even likes the Cavaliers? He doesn't like the Indians. He doesn't like the Browns. He's a guy from Akron who likes everybody but his hometown. I don't know how that's possible, but it is what it is, and he is who he is. You know, it's LeBron." For the record, when an extremely intoxicated man asked Edwards who he picks in the Ohio State vs. USC game, he looked at him dismissively. "Come on, man. USC." His Michigan brethren shouldn't be bothered by that response.
Who is at the top of Browns Wide Receiver Braylon Edwards' fantasy football wish list this year? Braylon Edwards.
Last year one of his buddies drafted Fantasy Braylon before Real Braylon had the chance. He couldn't stand it. He offered some big names for fantasy him.
"After week two, I traded Marvin Harrison and Stephen Jackson for me. It worked out," he said Tuesday night, at a news media event sponsored by Yahoo! last night at Lakewood's Harry Buffalo.
Rams Running Back Stephen Jackson was the consensus second overall pick last year in Fantasy drafts — and fantasy football has become a bigger deal every year. Some 11 million people are playing fantasy football this year.
Braylon, however, is considered a borderline first-round draft pick in most fantasy talk online.
The results are in from our blog's readers' poll. Asked to predict beleaguered Browns coach Eric Mangini's future, 47% of you chose the most cynical answer in our multiple-choice survey: "He'll manage to last two seasons, though he'll deserve to be fired after one."
