The NFL Filled With Constant Predictions
September 10, 2009While We’re Waiting… OSU/USC, LeBron James’ Shot Selection, and a Browns/Vikings Preview
September 11, 2009Six members of the Cleveland Browns received the honor of being named captains this morning, according to a press release from the team Web site. It is an annual tradition to name the official captains in the days before the first game of the season and new Head Coach Eric Mangini at least honored this tradition with the announcement. Today’s news out of Berea certainly cannot come close to the leak about Brady Quinn that occurred yesterday, but it is certainly newsworthy all the same.
Here is the official wording from the site: “The offensive captains are Joe Thomas and Jamal Lewis. The defensive captains are D’Qwell Jackson and Eric Barton, and the special teams captains are Joshua Cribbs and Phil Dawson.”
Nothing too shocking there but discuss in the comments. I find it slightly interesting that Jamal Lewis got the nod after supposedly being close to free agency, but there really are not too many other classy guys on that side of the ball right now. Linebacker Eric Barton is the lone newcomer on the list, and I guess his stats from the Jets make him a legitimate representative as the defensive captain.
26 Comments
Jamal Lewis was as close to being cut as Eric Wedge is to being voted Manager of the Year
This announcement is certainly a relief to the head referee. He’s been working triple overtime practicing all the different permutations of the captains introductions just before the coin flip. He was afraid he wouldn’t know who the captains are until just before game time, and he had to prepare. Now the guy can get some sleep.
that sounds about right, as far as eric barton goes, i cant really think of anyone else on the defense that i would be comfortable naming a captain so i guess it kinda goes to him by default
Eric Barton??? Why not Brett Ratstiff as on offensive captain??
What about the big guy in the middle, Shaun Rogers? Would have been a nice vote of confidence given their so-called spat.
It’s funny that Cribbs and Dawson are the special teams captains. Both were making noises about renegotiating their contracts.
I’m surprised that Shaun Smith didn’t get the nod on the defensive side …
I was sort of hoping for a game day call on the captains to keep the consistency of secrecy. But I do like the captains as is. Jamal is a great pro and a great mentor, hopefully he can transfer that to the younger guys on the squad.
Here’s hoping for at least a competitive season on 09. Go Browns!
*in
MrCleveland needs some love for Post #2. Enjoyed that.
I am also surprised Smith didn’t get appointed. I know he had beef (and between him and Mangini, I’m sure there was A LOT of beef), but he’s the best player, fat-out…I mean flat-out – which seems to be the criteria used for special teams where we get Cribbs and Philbert (among others). Some whining has less consequences than other whining, I guess. Then again, perhaps that’s the Browns way of saying, “Ya know, we aren’t really looking to re-finance right now; but hey, how about instead of a raise we give you additional responsibility? You never know, you can use this against us in negotiations at a later date!”
I think Rob meant Rogers … I meant Smith as a joke since he’s now suspended 4 games and released from the Lions
Haha, yes. I did. Thank you. I should stop speed-reading.
don’t the players choose the captains?
Jamal was never going to be cut IMO.
and LOL@2!!!
Boo@Captain Stutter Step. Although realistically there are few other choices….
oh Shaun Smith…anabolic steroids.
THEY WERE WATER PILLS
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finally! i can purchase the captain clutch #4 t-shirt
I’ve always found the official naming of captains such an odd thing. People will follow the leaders that lead regardless of their title. Those who are mentors will be such. Just send a couple people out there every game to call the coin toss and get on with it.
With that said: I recently quipped that I believe Jamal has a hell of a football mind on his shoulders. He seems to be a guy who really knows the game in and out and is an excellent choice as someone who could share his expertise. Cribbs gets it done: plain and simple. Dawson wins on seniority. The rest of the picks feel like they are fill in the blank kind of deals.
I’d have thought that a quarterback would get a captain spot but maybe that’d blow the “secret.” I’d have thought that Rogers would get a spot but maybe he doesn’t stroke the other player’s egos enough.
Mangini threw the captaincy at Braylon, but he dropped it.
lol @21
Side note: Anyone see that Shaun Smith was cut by the Lions after failing a test for a banned substance?
profootballtalk.com has the details.
@22
I heard his blood pizza level was off the charts.
DQwell is a tackling machine and will hopefully be a guy the D can build around for years.
I’m a day late here and apologize for that, but do we really know that Jamal Lewis is a good mentor? What evidence is there of that? I don’t feel like you ever see him talking to the younger RBs during the game… seems like he pretty much keeps to himself and has his own interests at heart.