Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
The Browns emerged triumphant on Sunday against the Bills, or as triumphant as you can be winning by a score of 6-3 when your starting quarterback completes only two of 17 pass attempts. The rare bright spot in this grim season won't get a chance to buoy the mood in Cleveland long, as more horror stories of dysfunction come out of Browns practice.
Rookie running back James Davis, who many observers saw as a midseason replacement for the aging Jamal Lewis, suffered a season-ending shoulder injury that will require the Dr. James Andrews treatment later this week. While Davis initially injured the shoulder in the Browns' Week 1 loss to the Vikings, the injury was seriously exacerbated by an incident two weeks ago during what was termed a post-practice pass blocking drill in which a linebacker put on pads and nailed Davis, who was participating sans paddings.
Browns officials as so far denying the report by ESPN's Adam Schefter, who has five sources, including two alleged witnesses, to corroborate the story. The union is certainly paying it some mind, calling the incident "an outrage" and discussing the possibility of filing a grievance, though one of Schefter's sources has indicated Davis may be hesitant to do it out of fear for losing his job.
Unlike their troubles with the pugilistic Braylon Edwards, this isn't a problem that can easily be handed off to someone else to handle. In addition to the lax way the organization handled the Shaun Smith punching last season, a light touch in dealing with the way Eric Mangini is running this team will only result in the kind of conditions that will keep prospective players away from the franchise.
This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.
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Well if there were any doubts before, there shouldn’t be now. This Browns team, in spite of their ugly win against the Bills, is a complete disgrace. It’s time for grocery bags over the head people, if you haven’t done so already.
by rbdonovan on Oct 12, 2009 3:13 PM EDT reply actions
There must be more to the story than what we are hearing here. Was there a miscommunication somewhere? Did the LB who allegedly hit him not know what was going on in the drill? Why didn’t Davis have pads on if he knew he was going to be hit? I don’t understand why this is the Browns problem. It sounds like either Davis or the LB were on the wrong page. I guess it could have been a miscommunication with some of the coaches.
JOE HORN MOWING INC (PARAGOULD, AR)
ALABAMA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
by x-pert on Oct 12, 2009 3:29 PM EDT reply actions
"More to the story" is the understatement of the year. This whole story is so Non-believable on so many levels. For starters. What person in their right mind allow a line backer to hit you full charging with pads on when you are padless? Even if your coach told you to, their is no way in hell. That’s like the coach telling you to jump off a bridge and the guy actually does it.
Secondly: What coach or owner in their right mind would line up a player who gets paid buku bucks and tell him to "be a man and take the hit"?
Seriously? Seriously? Is this what internet blogging and poor media reporting has taken us? This story should be on the cover of national inquiry.
NOTE TO MEDIA PEOPLE: Stop interviewing the JANITOR who’s lighting up a doobie as your credible source and actually try to get the REAL FULL STORY!
by Shadylamp on Oct 12, 2009 4:08 PM EDT reply actions
First it was Mangini fining a player 1,700 bucks for a 3 dollar bottle of water & now this!! Move over Oakland, my BROWNS are the most disfuntional team in the league!! I’m almost afraid to ask, wonder what’s next for ’em?
by buckeyenut on Oct 12, 2009 4:45 PM EDT reply actions
Magini seems to attract problems and bad press like a magnet. Not sure how much is directly or indirectly his fault, but the fact remains that it is there and it continues. Clearly Mangini is not the answer for what ails the Browns.
by jack_cole on Oct 12, 2009 5:04 PM EDT reply actions
This story resembles the Braylon Edwards story of catching( dropping!) passes in his socks. Remember that? I agree with Shadylamp—it sounds like a lapse in concentration by players but Mangini is Cleveland’s own answer to Rich Rodriguez. The bad press is everywhere.
by ferociousjane on Oct 12, 2009 7:22 PM EDT reply actions
If it’s not one thing in Cleveland, it’s another, keep up the entertainment Browns, check out the NFL Week 5 Recap at www.theidealsportsblog.com
by simply2amazing on Oct 12, 2009 7:37 PM EDT reply actions
This is yet another smear attempt by the media on Mangini. I would be willing to bet there is much, much more to the story then is being reported. It’s been that way since he came to Cleveland.
Watch, this story will either suddenly cease to exist, or someone else will come out with "ALL" of the facts.
This should be listed under gossip and those who by into this as fact are either stupid, or just never have/will like Mangini.
by Buckeyemart on Oct 12, 2009 11:25 PM EDT reply actions
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