tonytalkssports My Take on Sports, particularly the Yankees, Maple Leafs and Browns

Were We Better Off If The Browns Never Came Back??

Typically after another disappointing Browns loss I ask myself the question, "Would we be better off if the Browns never came back?" I have followed the Cleveland Browns for 50 years. In the 60's, the Browns were always contenders and they actually won the NFL Championship in 1964. In the 70's there was a down period until toward the end of the decade when Brian Sipe and the Kardiac Kids bursted onto the scene. After Sipe, there were the Bernie years. Bernie Kosar led the Browns to the AFC Championship 3 times, twice having victory stolen from them by the Denver Broncos late in the game. Then they moved to Baltimore where they ultimately won the Super Bowl.

In 1999 the NFL graciously allowed Cleveland to have a football team again and it has been misery ever since. In one year during the Butch Davis era, the new Browns made the playoffs blowing a first half lead to the Pittsburgh Steelers and being eliminated. Then they went 10-6 under Romeo Crennel but did not make the playoffs as Derek Anderson couldn't distinguish Bengals from Browns and the Colts decided they were going to rest everyone against the Tennessee Titans. Absent those two years, to be a Browns fan has been terrible.

Yesterday continued the misery as the Browns lost to the Oakland Raiders 24-17. The score doesn't really indicate how bad the Browns played. In spite of all of that, the Browns had a chance to tie the game after recovering an onside kick with about 1:20 left in the game. Yet, not one play was directed to the endzone. All dink and dunk passes. They needed a touchdown to tie not a field goal. Just terrible.

I so wanted to believe in Colt McCoy but after watching yesterday's game I really believe that this kid doesn't have the physical ability to win in the NFL. He is too small and his arm strength is average at best. The kid's got a great head on his shoulders and is a solid citizen. Mind you the offensive line has been terrible. It seems like McCoy doesn't have much time to set up and it also looks like the O-line can't run block either. It's pretty basic that in order to slow down a pass rush you need to be able to run the ball, something it seems that the Browns can't do anymore.

Not sure what to believe anymore as it pertains to Peyton Hillis. Initially it was being reported that Hillis tweaked a hamstring and would not play the rest of the game. On a FOX game it was reported that the reason Hillis was out was a "coach's decision." Then it comes out that Hillis will undergo an MRI to determine the extent of the hamstring injury. If Hillis is out for an extended period of time, the Browns will have to solely rely on Montario Hardesty, who has shown very few glimpses as to why Tom Heckert moved up in the second round two years ago to draft him.

What was also odd was that Hillis started the game and had six carries. He then was out and came into the game in the third quarter for a series before being banished to the bench again. If the hamstring injury pulled him out of the game in the first half, why was he put back in the game in the third?? Did Hillis push the coaching staff to go back into the game??? One thing is clear, in order for the Browns to win they must run the ball 20-30 times because the dink and dunk passing is not getting it done. And if Hillis is out for an extended period of time, the Browns are in trouble.

Let me be clear, I did not expect the Browns to make the playoffs this year. I understand that they were at a disadvantage with the lockout since they were bringing in a new coach with a new offensive and defensive system. But we are going into Week 7 and I'm not seeing any improvement, especially on offense. My hope was that with an offensive minded coach we would see some creativity. But quite frankly it doesn't seem to be that much different than the moribound Brian Daboll offense. Which brings me back to McCoy. Is the problem that Pat Shurmur is in over his head or is the problem that McCoy doesn't have the ability to throw down field??

I want to give Shurmur and McCoy a chance but I am getting tired. Tired of having my hopes raised only to be left watching terrible football. I'm tired of every Sunday knowing that there is a better than even chance that they are going to lose. I'm tired of believeing that its only going to get better when it seems to only get worse. That's why I wonder, would be better off if the Browns never came back? My heart says no but my head says yes.