While We’re Waiting… Tribe Options, Low Expectations and Too Offensive
November 15, 2011WFNY Survivor Has a Winner!
November 15, 2011
The frustration is alive and well. I would call it paramount, but this football team we root for each and every Sunday between August and early January continues to surprise us all when it comes to ways in which a team finds itself on the losing side of the outcome ledger. And with the continually evolving mediums that allow fans to voice their various levels of displeasure, the team is able to hear it. Very loud and very clear.
Following Sunday’s contest, Browns return man and wide receiver Josh Cribbs was as frustrated as anyone. Emotionally fresh off of the defeat, he called the one-point loss “embarrassing,” questioning why the fans continue to come out each and every Sunday to support a product that continues to reach new lows. “We try to win for our fans,” he said. “It’s hard for us to even ask [Cleveland fans] to root for us even though they do anyway. I respect them a hell of a lot more now.”
Conversely, the vocal minority of anonymously named Twitter users opted to take the low road against their orange-helmeted brethren. Name-calling was just the tip of the vitriolic iceberg with one “fan” even going as far as to insinuate that the players – you know, hard-working, passionate human beings – should consider ending their own lives. Linebacker and team captain Scott Fujita retweeted the comment to his followers, but would later delete it due to not wanting to provide the user with any additional publicity. Fujita, one of several players who continue to be the pinnacle of philanthropy, is presently the lead in a charity-based benefit for Cleveland’s Providence House, helping fight abuse and neglect for local at-risk children while “empowering” families in need. Yet because he only intercepted one pass while amassing five tackles during the very Sunday in question, he no longer possesses the right to live.
When asked if he was aware of the fan frustration on Monday, Fujita was quick to point out his very public Twitter account and that he’s certainly aware of the growing sentiment of disgust within his host city. His first-year head coach Pat Shurmur, despite not having the veteran pedigree of his outside linebacker is from this region and said that he’s very well aware of the not-so-glowing story of this Browns franchise since its return in 1999.
“I’m from a town that has dealt with this type of fans loving their team and not having it go their way all the time,” said Shurmur on Monday. “I get that. I’m not from Mars. I get that. I haven’t been here the previous twelve years. I can sympathize with those feelings, I understand that. Like I said at the outset, I came to work as somebody who lives in Cleveland disappointed that we lost. I just happened to be in a position right now to help inspire a bunch of guys win a game. That will make our fans extremely proud.”
The Browns head coach had his own share of emotionally-fueled outbursts on Sunday, allegedly having a bit of a verbal altercation with a fan on his way off of the field as well as some podium pounding when confronted with questions he apparently felt were minutiae within the grand scheme of the game. Fans pay a pretty penny to support their team year after year. Rooting for one which is averaging less than 15 points per contest and has not found the end zone in either of their last two home games gradually becomes a painful exercise. But to believe that the players or the coaches do not care about the city or region that sport the Brown and Orange is beyond asinine. Telling players that they should consider ending their own lives is indefensible.
Fujita, who has been down this road before, hopes that with a little additional hard work and focus, this team can get back on the right track and provide the town with something worthy of pride. “You’ve got to find a way to bounce back and that’s coming in, digesting the film, breaking it down and trying to improve it and coming back to work on Wednesday,” he said “That’s the only way you can keep your sanity.”
Fujita was, in this context, using “you” in the general sense, speaking more of himself than the reporter asking the question. Hopefully, this team can bounce back sooner than later, if only for the sanity of those who are in the ears of the team.
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AP Photo/Bill Haber
79 Comments
@ stin4u: You must listen to that station a lot to have such insight. Which is odd, because you despise the notion that we should demand a better team, which I’m assuming they expound upon. Which doesn’t make any g.d. sense but I’ve come to expect that.
I really don’t know what you’re saying about repeating content, but I expect you not to believe me so what’s the point. I really don’t care; I care about my team. That’s the problem here, not what some radio host says/doesn’t say.
If a number of people, including a radio station/show, wants Shurmur let go before he wrecks this team further, then I guess great minds think alike.
@ chris: Ha, I wish I was. Then maybe some of the…oh wait, I can’t say Kool-Aid drinkers anymore…so we’ll say, Heaven’s Gaters, would just wake up and smell the Shurmur before it’s 3 years from now, we’re 15-33 overall and I am having to serve dozens of “I told you so” pies.
@51- I gave it a shot for about a month. That show is deplorable, two more moronic sensationalists to feed into weaker minds of this city. I did find it funny when I came here and saw your comments lined up nearly verbatim with that morning’s show on more than one occasion, stats and all. Way to be original.
so it’s JAX this week then. blaine gabbert enters the realm of the cruddy QBs we have faced this year.
@ stin4u: Yeah, I still don’t know what you’re talking about I like you positioning yourself as a strong mind. It’s very intimidating.
nb4r whenever you guys get upset about something in an article just write ‘Denny sucks’ that was like 70% of the comments I got anyways I can handle it yais
@55 – Thanks, bud. I wouldn’t expect you to admit to it. It’s hard coming up with original thoughts. I understand.
i miss denny.
okay…i need to play the lottery.
first the missed FG call on sundays board, then as i am typing in “i miss denny” he appears.
laterz.
@ stin4u: Tell me, what is original about what you have contributed about this team? I cite stats, and because some radio host or show cites the same stats, suddenly there is a pox on those stats?
EVERYONE was discussing the hand off to Alex Smith…will you now say that because of that, it is a moot point and no one is permitted to discuss that level of stupidity on the field?
EVERYONE mentioned the Peyton Hillis situation; was that out of bounds, too?
Why don’t you relax a little and think about what you’re saying. The obviousness of the problems this season are OF COURSE going to be discussed on radio shows, television, etc. A blind man could see this team is terrible and they have glaring problems.
Instead of discuss them honestly, you want to debate who mentioned them first, and hence, has ownership over the originality of the problem. What the hell are you talking about?
@60- whooaaa struck a nerve. haha. It’s just hilarious to me when I listened in the morning and heard the Browns had stat X and Shurmur is dumb because of Y and I come here and no matter what the article was about all I see from you is THE BROWNS ARE STAT X AND SHURMUR IS SOOOOOOO Y. Verbatim.
Just making an assessment that’s all, maybe you should concentrate more on some original ideas and less on pestering the WFNY guys and other folks commenting.
Sigh…you know, I should have listened to my grandfather when he told me about arguing with an idiot, but I didn’t.
Every stat or play on the field I have referenced has also been mentioned dozens of times in dozens of places. Are you being serious when you think that only one radio show has discussed the Alex Smith stupidity? Hell, a reporter asked Shurmur during the post-game interview…I’m surprised you don’t lose your mind over that and say that everyone was copying off of his question.
The only nerve you hit was the one acutely aware of the idiocy I see when people major in the minors about issues instead of actually discussing them. It happens all the time and it’s what you’re focusing on, which is sad.
If you want to discuss the Browns, then please, speak up. Otherwise, go back under the bridge.
Guys, this is starting to read like a Cleveland.com thread. Stop it. Can we try to comment on the topic at hand? Please?
To piggy back on something Harv was getting at, I don’t really need the players to feel my pain. If they do, well, fine. But it isn’t a prerequisite anymore. That ship sailed when Brian Sipe left when I was 13. Yes, I love Bernie more than any other athlete because he was one of us but I know he was the exception. I have no expectations that others will fall in his foot steps. Nor should they. I hear about how Cribbs and Haden love this town and enjoy the fans. Great. Good for them. But to me, so what? I’d rather have Tom Brady here, not giving a crap, but throwing tds.
@Mark Agreed. Young me wanted to believe that the players felt as strongly as I do about our teams, and to play with the fire that I imagine I’d play with if I had the chance. 30-something me just wants be able to mention the teams I root for without others shaking their heads at me sympathetically. I mean, the “misery drinks” folks buy me are nice, but…can we start winning now?
@ Mark & B-bo: The only problem with this that if you get players in here that don’t care about the city, they may also not want to stick around long enough to make a difference. Brady is an exception to so many rules its hard to use him for anything other than a paragon to QB play.
It’d be nice if we had more Bernies but yeah, they are a dead/dying breed and are likely never to return. Maybe the best we can expect is someone like Cribbs who at least feels our pain AND plays at a very high level.
Nah, not in the NFL. It is all about money. I can’t think of a single player who left anywhere where money wasn’t the #1 factor. That’s the beauty of the NFL system. Every team can spend the same and you got to give Learner this, he opens up the checkbook. After money it’s system/coaching/worn-out-your-welcome.
@62 – Oh ori…there was such pleasant and respectful give and take on this blog before you decided to go all high strung on us. You’ll see I did comment on the article twice above before you decided to respond in such disrespectful way clown baby and others. Your passive aggressive, “I’m never wrong”, “straw man! kool-aid!!1” derp’d responses are just old.
Last warning. The childish name calling (both directly and indirectly) will not be tolerated. Everyone is entitled to opinions and disagreements, but this veiled insult contest is officially over.
If you don’t plan on getting anywhere in your conversations why have them? Trust me. We don’t need the pageviews this badly.
And don’t think I am singling ANYONE out. I welcome people who think I am 100% wrong in what I say or how I say it. I am always more than willing to discuss topics even when I disagree. This has nothing to do with the content of anyone’s opinions.
Now before you come back tomorrow please read the guidelines on comments.
https://waitingfornextyear.com/before-you-comment/
And remember that there is absolutely a silent majority who read and don’t comment. The comments are a part of the product. This thread here? Nobody likes it. I would guess you guys aren’t even enjoying it.
Scott Fujita probably has the dreamiest hair since Brady Quinn.
Miss you too, thumbs-up avatar guy.
@Stin4u
I agree with most of what you say, you seem reasonable. But let me get something straight. Are you saying that listing reasons and arguing why Shurmur is not a good head coach is unoriginal and therefore cannot be said? It seems that way, I could be wrong because discussing the head coach is important because he is.
@68 Craig is absolutely right, and I’d like to also say thanks to all the guys writing the threads. One of the reasons I frequent this site rather than almost any other sports site with commenters is that it usually doesn’t devolve into name calling.
From now on i am going to cheer for the Browns to lose, because i believe that the next draft will be determinant for the sucess of the organization. The funny stuf is that i believe that the team is going to start to win games from this point on, wich eventually is going to hurt us because off bad draft positions.
This offense suffers from a distinct lack of dreamy hair. We need to Suck for Locks.
@ 72 – the last thing this team needs to do is to win 2-3 more games at this point. Finishing 3-13 or 4-12 gets us a top 5 pick, and 3 picks in the top 35-38. There are no words to describe how huge this upcoming draft is going to be for the future of this franchise. If Heckart hits on the top 3-4 picks this year, things get better in a hurry. If not, we are screwed for a long time.
Woah. Consider me part of that silent majority… WFNY, continue ignoring the haters and hijackers. The rest of us love this place and the content, and usually most of the comments.
On a more serious note, though I’m in NYC:
Weather Alert for my Ohio friends: In case of a Tornado Watch in your area, the National Weather Service recommends that you proceed immediately to Cleveland Browns Stadium, where there is no threat of a touchdown.
@BuckeyeDawg for me it is a weird thing. I buy into the logic that you are preaching, but I don’t support a team tanking on purpose. The Browns have a good chance of earning those draft picks as they continue to find their way with Colt McCoy and these struggling young wide receivers and 4th and 5th string running backs.
But I don’t think you build a decent culture long-term if you sit guys or do something else to intentionally tank.
@Tim – No, I never said it couldn’t be said. I was simply stating that there was nothing impressive to me about coat tailing a radio show as I’ve been accused of doing so in showing support for those who have written articles here. Craig is right, discuss all you want, I would just rather discuss it respectfully than be called an idiot and chastised for being on the other side of the argument.
@Buckeye / Craig – I side with Craig on this one. Not only because I hate the thought of intentionally tanking (but the FO can easily go the route of ‘sitting’ players with mild injuries to tank), but also because I am sick of seasons with 0 or 1 division win.
I would love to go 3-3 in the division, but I would gladly take 2-4 this season. That is pathetic, but it’s where we are at and if it costs us a few draft slots, then so be it.
(not to mention I am completely against mortgaging the future for a trade-up, so if we end up around #10, then there’s a good chance we won’t have the bullets to move up anyway)
I hear you Craig…the “losing culture” argument has merit. I guess there is a fine line here. Trust me, I would be perfectly fine with beating the Steelers at least once, even if it costs us a spot or two.
I don’t want to sound like I am advocating intentionally tanking, but I won’t be too upset if they don’t win another game and end up with a top 3 pick as a result.