Despite the recent struggles of our beloved franchise, the heart of Browns Nation is still pumping something fierce. Over the past several days, Cleveland Reboot has received some excellent reader feedback, the kind that once again reaffirms what it means to be a true Browns fan. And considering the speculation of the past couple days, let’s call this a more logical fan protest.

And I would think that we will attain similar results.

On to the Comment Bag.

On Randy Lerner, Eric Mangini and the State of the Franchise:

Anonymous said…
1. Why would an uninvolved owner who is willing to throw as much money at a franchise as is necessary be considered the #1 problem of the organization?

3. I believe that the Browns will never establish an identity until we draft some defensive players who get us ranked in the top echelon of the league. Until then, this team is going to continue to suck.

Let me respond to Point #1 by simply offering a name: Dan Snyder.

While I am hyper critical of Randy Lerner’s flaws as an organizational leader, I at least have to concede that he is certainly not some type of petty, dictatorial figure who continually meddles within a subject that he is ill prepared to handle. These current Browns are certainly not the Raiders or Redskins.

However, Lerner’s inability or unwillingness to assert control over this franchise – or at least to firmly establish power in the hands of another person has continually plagued the Browns for close to a decade. Hopefully, Lerner’s recent words and the talk among more legitimate Browns news sources will lead to some real change in Berea. Until then, money will indeed be spent – but results will not follow.

cglenn said…
As much as I think Mike Brown of the Bengals stinks as an owner, I think Lerner needs to take lessons from him and just ignore all this fan uprising and complaining BS. Lerner, you picked your guy now stick with it!

Is this what it’s come to? Are the Browns in such a dismal state that Mike Brown is now being used as a model to follow? If this is indeed the case, perhaps Browns fans should scrap their plans for a protest and just begin a full-scale revolution.

Who Dey – indeed. And so it goes.

Anonymous said…
What about the lack of talent? Blame somebody. Well let’s take a look at that. Mangini traded away Braylon Edwards, who for any problems he might have been was better than his replacement. Mass caught 108 yards playing the #2 receiver as BE drew double cov’g all day. Since the Mangini trade (for pennies on the dollar we should not forget) Mass is the only person that can’t catch anything, including swine flu apparently.

I completely agree that trading Braylon has effectively stalled any development that Massaquoi could have experienced this year. However, it was beyond obvious – regardless of whichever coaching staff the Browns have in place – that Braylon was not going to be a long-term member of the Browns. Call it a Catch-22 of sorts – but the Browns had to take a step back to eventually move forward – hopefully.

JoCleveland said…
Thank goodness someone thinks and see’s what I am thinking and seeing. I get exhausted reading from the whinners contingent. This team is so limited in talent in ALL areas you cannot stop the bleeding let alone fix it in a timely manner. If Mangini could fire everyone and start without contracts to pay, then, and only then, could you say it’s Mangini’s fault. I have no idea if Mangini is the answer but but I like what I see so far.

Here’s a prime example of a logical thinking Browns fan who realizes two things:

1. I’m so great.
2. Eventually, this team needs to form a long-term plan and actually stick to it.

And if I may add a disclaimer, it still remains to be seen if Mangini is truly the one who can execute this vision. Isn’t it great to be a Browns fan?

Mike D said…
Went to the game yesterday; it rivaled the ‘07 Pittsburgh home opener as maybe the single-worst football experience of my life.

How’s that for a protest?

On the Great, Albeit Meaningless QB Debate:

Anonymous said…
FINALLY! Some sanity in this town! I’d wager that less then 5% of Browns fans remember Frank Ryan. He was the QB of the ‘64 Browns — the last championship team this city has EVER had.

Time to get over this ridiculous QB obsession in this town. Grow up, folks.

Exactly. Let’s look beyond stats – albeit, dismal ones – and realize that much like during the Tim Couch era, quarterback is the least of our problems.

Glenn said…
I understand why you started with ‘76 but it bypasses the Browns great QBs like Otto Graham, Frank Ryan, and the tough Bill Nelson. The Browns have gone downhill ever since Nick Skorich took over as coach and have never been the same sense. I remember dreading it at the time because of his work in Philly. As the other commenter mentioned, Frank Ryan was not Johny Unitas but he beat him by playing smart. I’d love to have another Frank Ryan playing.

I knew it! Somehow Nick Skorich has been avoiding the wrath of Browns fans. Finally – we have discovered the real enemy. Somebody get me his address, post haste!

Anonymous said…
Best comments i have seen from ANY Browns site regarding the QB debate. Everyone wants to compare and bash Anderson and Quinn with completion %, QB rating, yards, etc. But these so called “fans” do not mention the lack of talent on the team. The rookie receivers are not getting any seperation from the DB’s and the o-line is not pass protecting or opening holes for the running game.

We need to be patient, again, to see what Mangini is going to do in the future and quit debating the QB. Be a BROWNS fan not a QUARTERBACK fan!

Great comments here regarding the raw nature of the team’s receivers. As I’ve stated several times in the past, I don’t believe even the ghost of Otto Graham would do much better throwing to these rookies. While Massaquoi could eventually turn into something down the road, it is beyond obvious that NFL rookie receivers struggle through the early parts of their careers. And let’s not even talk about that dynamic running game we currently don’t possess.

Again, patience is a virtue. And being virtuous will not bring any victories to town. But at least being logical helps with one’s sanity. Or, does it?

David Dembinski said…
Ratliff’s a bum! Bartel woulda been twice the backup. What are you, a Brettbott now?

I would prefer “Ratbot”, but to each his own. Also, you know it’s bad when someone throws out the name of a practice squad player as a potential savior. But then again, look for Bartel to become the next Kurt Warner. I
don’t necessarily believe this, but I at least want to cover all the bases.

On Phil Savage….
Anonymous said…
Savage never drafted players who were primarily football players with tendencies to fit into Crennel’s scheme, especially on defense. Instead, Opie relied on his stop watch and on endless analysis of a player’s athletic ability, regardless of whether that played out on the field in live competition in college.

So, I find it quite unseemly that Savage is now heaping scorn upon Mangini for not being able to turn the bag of crapola left here at the end of last year into diamonds. Had he spent more time listening to the advice and trying to work in consonance with his head coach than trying to be “super scout” out on the road all the time, maybe his four years as GM might have produced a Lamar Woodley or two rather than Beau Bell.

Great take on Savage. As we get some distance from the Savage era, I’m beginning to realize that he basically drafted as if he was still working within the Ravens organization. There was such a disconnect between Savage and Crennel that it became obvious that each were on a completely different page regarding the overall direction of the team.

Also, let’s include the word “clever” in any future analysis of the Savage era. There’s a reason that Savage was eventually known as “Trader Phil.” However, much like the Redskins have become the NFL’s most dominant team in March, Savage’s efforts never translated to on-field success.

On the Greatness of One Cleveland Reboot:
Your reasoning is an achievement . . in reasoning only. Your intuition of what’s wrong shows you have very little experience with groups, competition, and leadership. Go out and get a life for a while, then come back and apply some reasoning to what you’ve seen, what you posit.

Dude, seriously. Is Cleveland Reboot not a Fortune 500 company? Oh, it isn’t? Nevermind.

On Being a Browns Fan…
I think the main question is “Will I be watching?”. The answer is no. How’s that for apathy?

How’s this for apathy? I’m not even going to finish this….

But I will say this – Keep the comments coming!