Browns no match for Packers, 31-3

The Cleveland Browns put the first points on the board but failed to score again in a 31-3 loss to the Green Bay Packers.

The Browns were somewhat undermanned heading into the game because of the flu bug that hit the team.

Then again, I don’t know if it would have mattered considering how poor this team is playing on both sides of the ball.

The Browns continue to start Derek Anderson, which will keep Brady Quinn on the bench and hurt his chances of making a lot more money this year through playing time incentives.

No matter who was at quarterback, the Browns can’t move the ball with an over-the-hill running back and no established wideouts.

Monday, October 26, 2009 at 5:31 pm by steve

Mangini: No Plans to Bench Anderson

At the rate the season is going for the Cleveland Browns, they’ll have about three more starting quarterbacks between now and the end of the season.

However, head coach Eric Mangini has no plans to replace starting QB Derek Anderson despite a dismal performance over the past three games.

Mangini benched the Browns’ opening day starter, Brady Quinn, after only 2 ½ games this season – this after he promised in preseason not to renege on his QB decision.

While Anderson did lead the Browns to their first win of the season, one could almost argue the Browns won that game in spite of him. In the Browns only win of the season, a 6-3 thrill-fest over the Buffalo Bills (who have since managed to find a pulse, incredibly), Anderson completed two of 17 passes for 23 yards and an interception. It was the lowest amount of yards a winning QB had ever thrown since the NFL/AFL merger.

In the past three games, Anderson has completed just 23 of 70 of his attempted passes. During Sunday’s loss to Green Bay, he came out with an overall 40.6 QB rating – nearly seven points lower than JaMarcus Russell, who appears intent on setting the QB position back 40 years.

Mangini says his decision to not replace Quinn in the lineup has nothing to do with Quinn’s contract situation, in which he stands to lose $11 million for not playing 70 percent of Cleveland’s offensive snaps this season.

at 5:30 pm by bryan

Browns Avoid Punishment for Davis Injury

The Cleveland Browns will not face punishment from the NFL for the injury that rookie RB James Davis suffered after practice, an injury that caused him to have season-ending surgery.

Reports surfaced a few weeks ago that Davis injured his shoulder while in an “opportunity session” - where he was not wearing pads and was tackled by someone in full pads.

According to the NFL, however, they reviewed tape of the practice session in question and conducted interviews with Browns players, coaches, and team staff. Upon all of the NFL’s review, the league determined that Davis’ injury happened in a controlled environment.

Davis was placed on injured reserve on October 3, opening the door for RB Jerome Harrison to steal carries away from starting RB Jamal Lewis. Thus far, while Lewis was out with an injury, Harrison played very well; since Lewis’s return, Harrison’s carries have significantly diminished as Lewis reclaimed his starting spot.

Sunday, October 25, 2009 at 9:18 pm by bryan

Browns’ CB escapes injury in car accident

By Bud L. Ellis

A scary moment turned out to be a big bullet dodged for Eric Wright.

The Cleveland Browns’ cornerback flipped his car on a wet roadway early Friday morning. Wright was taken to a local hospital, later was released, and rode a stationary bike at practice later Friday as team officials said they hope he can play Sunday.

Wright told reporters he felt lucky to have escaped serious injury. His car sustained substantial damage and had to be towed from the scene, according to published reports.

Another driver saw the accident and helped Wright escape from his wrecked car through a window. Police have not issued any charges in the accident, which occurred on an interstate on-ramp east of Cleveland.

–30–

Friday, October 23, 2009 at 9:37 pm by bud

Tags: Cleveland Browns, Eric Wright, National Football League

Browns fall to Steelers, 27-14

The Cleveland Browns held tough early but simply didn’t have the offensive firepower to stay with the Pittsburgh Steelers in a 27-14 defeat.

The Browns could not get any type of running game going against the Steelers just a week after Jamal Lewis went over the 100-yard mark against the Buffalo Bills.

The passing game wasn’t much better, as veteran quarterback Derek Anderson struggled for the second straight week.

The Browns did get a spark from their special teams unit, as Joshua Cribbs returned a kickoff 98-yards for a touchdown.

Cleveland will host the Green Bay Packers in Week 7.

at 4:06 pm by steve

Quinn Could Lose Millions This Weekend

Because of a stipulation in his contract, Browns third-year QB Brady Quinn may lose out on nearly $11 million this weekend just by sitting on the sideline.

Quinn’s contract specifies that if he played 70 percent of Cleveland’s offensive snaps this season, he could earn two bonuses worth $10.95 million combined. Quinn lasted 10 quarters this season before being benched in favor of Derek Anderson.

If the Browns take enough snaps this Sunday, Quinn could fall under the 70-percent benchmark and miss out on the bonuses – a $5 million bonus this year and a $5.95 million bonus in 2010.

After being benched, reports started to circulate that Quinn had put his house in Cleveland up for sale before the NFL trading deadline. The trade deadline has come and gone and Quinn still belongs to Cleveland, however; Browns coach Eric Mangini has given no indication that he plans on returning Quinn to the lineup any time soon.

Anderson hasn’t been much better than Quinn statistically, but he did lead the Browns to their first win of the season in Week 5, a 6-3 victory over the Buffalo Bills. It does bear noting that in that win, Anderson completed a grand total of two passes. Two passes out of 17 for 23 yards and an interception. And they won. Yikes.

at 12:12 am by bryan

Browns Battling Swine Flu

The Cleveland Browns may be 1-5, but they’re facing their toughest opponent yet this week… a case of the flu.

While Pro Bowl nose tackle Shaun Rogers and linebacker Kamerion Wimbley returned to the Browns on Thursday after being quarantined, the other ten players remain separate from the team.

Mangini said that two unidentified players have tested positive for Influenza A – the same strain that the H1N1 virus (or swine flu) is a part of – and the team will continue their preventative measures to keep the rest of the players healthy.

“We’re being really aggressive preventatively,” Mangini said. “If there’s any sign of it and we think it’s heading that way, we’d much rather try to minimize the effects on the player and also possibly the exposure to the rest of the group.”

A large case of Tamiflu arrived at the Browns practice facility on Wednesday; Mangini has already begun to take Tamiflu to prevent himself from falling ill.

According to ESPN, the Browns sick players are as follows: running back Jerome Harrison, center Alex Mack, cornerback Anthony Madison, safety Brodney Pool, tight end Robert Royal, wide receiver Chansi Stuckey, linebacker Jason Trusnik, defensive end Brian Schaefering, fullback Lawrence Vickers, defensive end Corey Williams and linebacker Kamerion Wimbley.

at 12:09 am by bryan

Browns Lose LB Jackson For Season

With the Browns already struggling through a 1-5 season, the last thing they needed was to lose their top tackler from last season and this season.

Unfortunately, that’s just the news they received Tuesday, as linebacker D’Qwell Jackson was lost for the season on Sunday after damaging his shoulder in the 27-14 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“It’s disappointing any time you lose a player for the season, and this is especially true with someone like D’Qwell, who has proven to be an outstanding leader for us both on and off the field,” Browns coach Eric Mangini said in a statement.

Jackson led the NFL in tackles with 188 tackles last season. He also led the Browns in tackles in 2007, and was second in tackles in 2006.

So far this season, Jackson was credited with 57 tackles (44 solo), two broken-up passes and a forced fumble.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at 9:19 pm by bryan

Browns Continue Struggles Against Rival Steelers

After recording their first win last week (in spite of QB Derek Anderson completing a total of two passes), the Browns returned to their bumbling, fumbling ways against the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers, losing 27-14 on Sunday.

Anderson didn’t fare much better this game, only completing nine of 24 passes for 112 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. After putting in extra time this week after practice with receivers catching passes… the hard work didn’t seem to pay off on game day.

“We’re not trying to lose every time we go out here,” Anderson said. “We put tons of hours in and … it’s frustrating. Every single week, it’s frustrating.”

After Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger led the Browns down the field on two quick TD drives to start the second quarter, the Browns struck back with a 98-yard kickoff TD return from electrifying special teams returner, Josh Cribbs.

“I heard ‘Return one for me’ from 1,000 fans back home in Cleveland and I got up for this game,” Cribbs said.

Anderson narrowed the gap to 17-14 early in the third quarter with a 1-yard TD pass to Lawrence Vickers. But the Steelers took over from there, dominating the Browns the rest of the game.

The Browns now welcome Green Bay (3-2) to Cleveland on Sunday.

at 7:58 pm by bryan

Edwards Keeps Scholarship Pledge

Despite an acrimonious exit from the city, ex-Browns receiver Braylon Edwards will fulfill his pledge to provide college scholarships to 100 Cleveland students.

Edwards selected the 100 scholarship recipients from among a pool of 700 eighth-grade applicants who had to write accompanying essays. The students, now juniors, will receive the college scholarships if they maintain a 2.5 GPA, have no unexcused absences from school, and if they perform 15 hours of community service per year of high school.

So far, ninety of the 100 students have kept up with their end of the bargain, according to the school district. Edwards will provide the students the scholarship money, even if they don’t end up going to college.

Edwards foundation arranges that the kids meet two to five times a semester at Cuyahoga Community College’s Metropolitan Campus in Cleveland, for a series of lectures/programs on how to get ahead in life, including obtaining financial aid, self-esteem, and filling out college applications.

Karen Miller, dean of student affairs at the Metropolitan campus, attends the programs regularly.

“They really do have a sincere commitment to following this through and making sure the kids have a great shot at making it when they go on to college,” Miller said.

Monday, October 19, 2009 at 8:58 pm by bryan