Hey guys! I'm sure a few of you remember me. I know it's uncouth to create a new post without a specific contribution, but I trust you'll forgive me. Deployment is limiting my opportunities to read up on our beloved Browns, and I need an explanation for what can only be described as disappointing (though not horrendous) results so far. One of the easiest schedules in the NFL has netted us a losing record after six weeks. I'd love a few paragraph long explanations of what it is that you guys are seeing. Why is it we are where we are? What are you disappointed in? What are you happy with? What's your prognosis for the season?

I hate to pull this kind of out of the blue, doesn't know what's up kind of request but I just don't get to see any play and I can't pull much understanding from ESPN recaps. So help a brother out.

PS: For those of you that do remember me. Things are going well here in the Helmand province. We've managed a few finds with ZERO traumas/fatalities. Unfortunately many of our friends in different and more hostile areas can't say the same. If you're the type, keep them in your prayers and in your hearts.

GO BROWNS

Hey guys, haven't been on in a while but I just wanted to officially peace out. I'm off to basic training on Monday and will be missing this season of Browns football (boo). I'm sure I'll be back, though I'll be on under a different name. Hopefully I can catch up with the group here around Xmas when the training facilities shut down for Christmas Exodus.

Good luck guys and GO BROWNS!

PS: bross09, remember: brevity is your friend.

So, I've been playing around in my own comment history now that I realized one could do user specific comment searches. I came across a 2008 season preview thread where we made formatted predictions. Thread here. I always have fun reviewing how terribly wrong I was.

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Being the single most important piece of the offensive puzzle, the quarterback position is widely critiqued and closely scrutinized. Yet, at least speaking for myself, I hadn't spent much time thinking about what to do at QB for 2010 for two main reasons: we had/have an unknown in Brady Quinn, and the team was so downright awful that to focus on one position would have felt like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. Unfortunately, now that we've lost Quinn for the last two games we have every bit of experience with Quinn that we will prior to making any 2010 QB decisions. We'll have to make our futile speculations out of our current data set.

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User Roger Dorn posted an interview between Mangini and interviewer Clark Judge a few days ago that was met with a generally positive review here at DBN. I had a different viewpoint, and started getting into my explanations in the comments. It quickly became long-winded (as I tend to be), so I said I'd review the article for anyone interested. I began doing so, and got about halfway through the article before I ran out of steam. The article itself was already almost 6000 words without my commentary, and the below half is now 5000 words with my comments added. And those were only the negative comments, as the point wasn't to show what I thought was good about the article.

So if you care to read the comments below, here they are. If you make it through, bless you - you're a hardcore fan (or really bored). Tell me why I'm an idiot - I'd like to hear opposing viewpoints. If anyone asks I'll review the remainder, but I said most of what I think below. If you get past the initially visceral reactions, I feel there is some depth to my objections.

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I saw this awesome tidbit on TrueHoop the other day. I think it hits the nail on the head about the Magic series last year, but does so with data to back it up. The comments on West are quite relieving, as well. If he's really not much above average then his personal instability can't hurt the Cavs that much, and it means his contributions are not irreplaceable. The thoughts on Anthony Parker's value are very exciting as well.

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Let's take this opportunity to consolidate draft related discussions. Place your comments on positional needs and priorities, as well as player discussions here. That way, we can be efficient about how we waste time until the draft. Let's keep this rec'd to the top so we can keep our thoughts all in one place.

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Sources told ESPN's Michael Smith the deal was worth more than $40 million for five years, with more than $15 million guaranteed.

"I just felt it was the best destination, it was the best team, it was the best choice for me," Houshmandzadeh told ESPN.

Link

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-- Savage, meanwhile, remains a hot topic despite having departed nearly a month ago. We've been told that Savage was directly involved or responsible for no less that five strikingly unprofessional issues. A particularly alarming suggestion is that Savage relayed information to the head coach on various topics on "behalf" of the team owner... but which did not actually come from him.

-- In talking to no less than a dozen front-office types this past week, each stated the Browns organization was in disarray, filled with mistrust and ego-driven persons working on their own agendas. Those we talked to noted that they believe Savage will face a difficult challenge in holding a significant front office role again, outside of possibly returning to the Baltimore Ravens.

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ESPN link

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So I'm out in Westlake on Saturday night, at a little place called Timewarp (formerly home of regular Devin Brown visits). Fairly late, much to my surprise, I'm informed that Travis Hafner just showed up. So, while my friends and I discuss A) how to approach him to get a pic in such a way that it wouldn't be a huge nuisance to him and B) how incredibly not-huge he looks; one of my friends' girlfriend approached him and his manager to ask for a picture. While I'm sure she didn't approach the situation as diplomatically as possible, upon hearing the word "picture" he (Hafner, not his manager) immediately launched into a clearly-memorized legal disclaimer. The jist of which, of course, was that I'd love to take a pic but I can't because it could end up on the internet (which would of course provide documented proof that he does not, in fact, live in a bubble and terminate his career immediately).

While I understand his policy, it was annoying. In the course of trying to defend his right not to be bothered and the explain problems some athletes have had with pictures and a wonderful little site called Deadspin, I started to lose the argument to the general belligerence of those I was arguing with. So, I directed the conversation more towards the fact that he looked so much different than he did just a few years ago. Granted, he was wearing one of those thin zip-up hoodie sweatshirts that might mask his size a bit, but he genuinely looked small. Maybe it was the Christmas Ale, but I swear he looked barely over 200 lbs.  For a guy listed at 240, I could literally not see how he was close to that. I became immediately concerned, far more so than ever, that he would never approach the hitter he was. In fact, it seems now like a stretch that he could outclass Garko. Then, upon the mention of his contract, it hit me...

I hate Travis Hafner. His contract is going to ruin this club.

To borrow from NicKFantana's post around this time last year, let's take a look at what we can expect for the year. I also included some over/under type questions for the heck of it on what I expect to be important individual stat lines...

Most Improved Player:

Most Disappointing Player:

Most surprising unit on team:

Most disappointing unit on team:

Record for season:

Over, or under?

Anderson's season QB rating: 84

Stallworth's receiving yards: 750

Wimbley's sacks: 7.5

Wright/McDonald/Pool/Jones Total Interceptions: 17.5

...which is marginally true:

http://choosepoorly.blogspot.com/2007/09/andyaudascom-marginally-true-sports.html

Cory Snyder, great late 80's baseball hero and beloved American, was born and raised in Topeka, Kansas. As a Mormon, young Snyder was honored and revered by members of his church as a direct descendant of Joseph Smith himself. Yet, he was troubled by the ridicules of non-Mormon classmates. Salvation soon came, as Cory blossomed into a sports hero at a very young age. Cory took especially well to the game of baseball, where he excelled even at the age of nine in his first little league game. It wasn't until his high school years that his body caught up with his excellent baseball mind, and he developed the tools that would one day take him sort of close to what might be considered the top of baseball during what is widely considered one of lowest points in its history. He had all of the so-called "Five Six Tools O' Doom": a cannon for an arm, amazing speed, fielding agility, hitting, and power hitting, and a gorgeous, flowing mustache. A blond gorgeous, flowing mustache...

WTAM 1100 is reporting that Keith Foulke has retired (2/16/07).  Looks like Shapirio doesn't subscribe to "Retiring Closers Quarterly".  

Borowski is obviously in the closer's seat, but who else is going to make the bullpen now?  Do we have any outside options at closer?

I have little confidence in Borowski...

[editor's note, by Ryan] Here's the link to the story.

[editor's note, by Jay] Buster Olney is reporting the same story at ESPN.com.

The defensive line is perhaps our biggest area of need, and yet it is not discussed nearly so much as the offensive line.  It's a shame, because with  a talented DL this defense could be dominating.  It's almost sad to see all these awesome pieces like Kam, Jones, and Bodden go to waste because we can't control the line of scrimmage.

So the burning question in my mind is:

What do the Browns do at NT this offseason?

The NT spot is as big a mess as center. We cannot go into the 2007 season expecting much of anything from Big Ted, not that he's been good anyway. Our other DTs are little more than filler, and should be AT MOST relief in a rotation.

The NT has and will always be the key to a successful 3-4. Ask Casey Hampton and Jamaal Williams who the key to their team's defense is and they'll smile - because they know it's them.

I don't know what the hell Phil has up his sleeve but it better be something to address the single most important position in the defense.