Browns Players React to Beating the Steelers
Written By: Scott | Category: Cleveland Browns | Comments: 21
The Browns did it. They have done something that they could not do during Romeo Crennel’s entire tenure. They did something that they were only able to once under Butch Davis. After 12 straight losses – many thanks to the NFL Network for reminding us during each drive – the Cleveland Browns have finally beaten the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Sure, it may be a down year for Pittsburgh, but doesn’t that almost make it that much better? If this team is going to win any game this year, to have it be the one that is not only against a team that they have not beaten in six years AND to have it be the game that effectively knocks them out of the playoffs is something that this team can add to their admittedly barren resumé.
And given that this team has had little to be excited about for the entire season, one can put their respective life savings on the fact that the entire Browns locker room was ecstatic about last night’s win.
Player of the game Josh Cribbs finally got a taste of what it is like to come out on top against the historic rival.
“I love it,” said Cribbs. “It’s been five years for me and we’ve never beaten the Steelers so tonight feels great. It means everything. I think our fans are going to have a Merry Christmas. The Steelers will have to listen to the sound of that engine on the ride home. Trust me, it’s a long ride after a game like this.”
He even went on to give a word of advice to fans of the Orange and Brown.
“There are are a lot of Steeler fans around the city so I hope people go to work and kick those Steeler fans.”
It’s like Kick a Ginger Day, but only better!
Quarterback Brady Quinn has been under as much pressure as anyone this season when it comes to the putrid record. And while his stats were not Manning-esque last night, he’s just glad to get the much-needed win.
“Personally, I wish I would have had a better game for it, but it’s funny how things work out, said Quinn. “It’s hard to describe it, I’m happy for our team, our coaches, our fans. It’s been a long time coming after all we’ve been through this year. It tells you what kind of character you have with the guys on this team.”
One of those character guys came up huge in last night’s touchdown drive. Chris Jennings has gone from walk-on in college to the CFL. After a strong tryout for the Browns this preseason, he was given a shot on the practice squad and has now found himself as one of the main ball carriers. Needless to say, he agrees with Quinn regarding his teammates.
“We have so much potential to be a great team and it really means a lot to get a win, exclaimed Jennings. ”It’s just joy. It’s been a long time coming. Thank God. Thank Mangini for sticking with us and not giving up. We’ve been through it.”
While the players may be thanking Eric Mangini, fans cannot haveenough praise this morning for defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. Losing players like Shaun Rogers, Eric Barton, D’Qwell Jackson and Brodney Pool, Ryan didn’t skip a beat in making his team attack their opponent. From two huge sacks by King Kong Marcus Benard and the game-sealing deflection from David Bowens, the defense as a whole was amazing.
“It is a wonderful win for the program,” said Benard. “In our meetings this morning, we met as a group and said what we individually thought about each other. The defensive players said something about the offense, the offense about the defense and the coaches about the special teams. We collectively came up with the same answer that we all love the way we stick together. Nobody blamed each other for the losses. We put our heads together and we tried to turn things around.”
Understandably, this win meant more to some players than others. The former Jets players have only been a member of the Browns for a few months – they were not feeling as much pressure, though they did understand.
“I didn’t know that because I don’t get into all that stuff and I wasn’t here before,” said linebacker David Bowens. “But I do understand the significance of the Pittsburgh-Cleveland game. Our guys got up for it. You can throw wins and losses out the door and just go in there with a cold game and a short week for a good old-fashioned kick tail football game.”
On the flip side of the tenure coin, defensive back Mike Adams knows what this win is all about.
“It feels great,” Adams said. “This is my third year here and all I have been hearing (from fans) is ‘beat Pittsburgh’.”
Of course, Adams then went on to dedicate the win. “This one is for the fans, the die-hards who always want a win against Pittsburgh,” he said. “That’s why I leapt into the Dog Pound. This one was definitely for the fans. Two years ago, we had them beat at halftime but they came back and won. It was nice to be able to finish (today). It was so important today and that’s what we did. We finished.”
Adams may have then finished his interview with the quote of the night. Given what the Steelers have done to the Browns over the years, this one rings the loudest:
“Now they get to think about what we did to them. This was a playoff game for them and hopefully, we spoiled their dreams. If we aren’t going, then they aren’t going.”
It’s just one win, but it was a win against the Steelers. You can bet that both teams will be remembering this game come next season when they go to battle once again. But for now, and likely for the rest of the season, this will be the win that fans remember. This could be the game that carries them through the rest of the season as three games remain – at the very least, it gives Browns fans something to be collectively excited about for the next 24 hours.
Finally, a reason to smile.
Author: Scott
Scott is a co-founder/editor of Waiting For Next Year who resides in Cleveland, Ohio. Feel free to follow him on Twitter or email him at scott@waitingfornextyear.com.Scott has written 2013 articles for Waiting for Next Year.
“Thank God. Thank Mangini” Waiting for the ESPN headline that reads ‘Browns player calls Mangini God’.
Being surrounded by Steelers fans here at work, it’s refreshing to hear nothing but the Muzak after a Browns/Steelers game. Before last night’s game I heard plenty of “Thank God the Steelers have a bye-week this week” and “Can’t wait to see a game in our 2nd home stadium.”
I’m not firing back yet because it’s just one win (Albeit a great one). But I am grinning and enjoying the silence.
Yeah it’s been great working in PA today. I’m not saying too much, b/c the Browns still are who we thought they were…but today, they’re just a little bit better.
It’s fantastic to hear these guys talk like this.
Loss to Browns = No Smirre.
Last night was the “Christmas Present of the Decade” to Browns fans.
Mangini has to be given credit by the fans for this one. He’s had some huge mistakes, and we still need an offensive coordinator. BUT, he is the only coach who has come in during the first year and beaten the team we hate most. Davis did it, but that was SO long ago. Thank you Mangini.
For those enjoying the silence in Pro squeelers locations,
Just get up and say in a loud voice.
“Why so quiet” then Clap clap, clap clap clap.
Then just sit back down.
I love that chant.
@ CB – The best part about rast night was Rongrastname getting sacked murtipre times.
I’d like to think that Mangini and our offense had something to do with this win but that’s simply not the case. Josh Cribbs came to play like he always does but i think Rob Ryan should get most of the credit, at least as far as coaching goes. It’s great to know that we finally have a coach who isn’t afraid to blitz, and knows the right times to do it. I’ve always thought in years past that we didn’t blitz enough, some years it seemed like we didn’t blitz at all. So there’s at least one positive thing to look forward to for next year. I absolutely love the win, but I don’t think it should be a “job saver” for Mangini
I don’t know what people are expecting from Mangini. To me, his only bad move was making Daboll OC. He has his guys playing hard, they are near the bottom of the league in penalties, and they BEAT PIT! To me, thats the job of a head coach…..they are there to motivate, discipline and make sure everyone is on the same page. How many wins do you think Shannahan or Cowher would have gotten out of this team? As long as we hire a smart and experienced GM to handle the admin/personnel…..then i am all for letting Mangini finish out his contract/vision.
Great, the Browns even screw up their most important task of the season – dropping every game badly and getting Mangini out of here.
Seriously, hasn’t it been obvious from pretty much MOMENT ONE that this guy is a horrendous, incompetent disgrace?
I go back to Forrest Gregg and have always given Browns’ coaches at least a one or two year benefit of the doubt. Even Romeo Crennel, who looked to be in over his head from the get-go.
But this year is different. I have wanted Man-gina gone from at least the end of September. This egomaniacal chump pig scumbag has not been glossed as the worst coaching hire EVER by the national media for nothing.
Black 27. You aren’t a real fan. Leave.
Here in Seattle, there’s a guy on one of the morning radio shows that’s from Pittsburgh. They do this segment every Friday where each show member picks a winner (with spread) for selected games on the upcoming Sunday. When it was his turn, they gave him Hell every time. Just as he’d start to give his pick for the game in question, one of the guys would throw in, “The Browns?” Each time, he’d have to stop and collect himself. That was priceless.
By the way, Seahawk fans out here hate the Steelers, or the Stealers as they’re called here, because of the cheap way the officials gave the Super Bowl to them back in 2006. I grew up in Northeast Ohio and, because of this win, I almost feel like I’m back in Ohio celebrating with my friends.
willf6- good point… but most of these players on this team are here b/c of Mangini. Mangini was the reason Kokinis was GM. Mangini orchestrated the trades for Jets. Hired Dabbol. Drafted. It’s nice getting the win. I don’t really hate Mangini, but there’s a lot of blame for this lackluster season that falls on his shoulders… Rob Ryan is know for outlasting head coaches tenure’s. I think while he was DC for the Riaders he had 3 different coaches in 4 years. Weis and Gruden. Weis and Gruden.
Seeing Browns fans after the game after the game just standing there hugging each other was so great to see.
It’s a great win for the team and I’m happy that we’re starting to see consistent progress from this group, but there’s a line between celebrating a win and over-celebrating a win. I’m glad we were the ones to give Pittsburgh their walking papers, but it’s sad that it has gotten to the point of us celebrating ‘a’ victory over a division rival.
The bigger news is the article on Profootballweekly.com, reporting that the Browns are close to bringing in Floyd Reese as the GM, right when it seems that the team is buying into Mangini’s system. Could be an interesting weekend.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/12/11/floyd-reese-could-be-the-next-browns-gm/
Two of my neighbors are insufferable Steelers fans. By “insufferable,” I distiguish them from conventional Steelers fans in that they did not come from western Pennsylvania but, rather, grew up in the Cleveland area.
Neeless to say, I was mercilessly needled on game day. Today I had the chance to remind them of how the Browns thoroughly treated their team like a baby treats a diaper.
I also reminded them that if they want to relive the emotional experience of seeing their quarterback pummelled, they can watch the closing scene in the movie “V is for Vendetta,” in which the REAL ‘Big Ben’ is blown to bits in slow motion.
Revenge may be a dish best served cold, but schadenfreude can be enjoyed any way we Browns fans feel like it!
I see a lot of different names for the pigs, but way back they were always known to the Browns fans as THE PIGSBURGH SQUEALERS. I still like it. LOL. They alwasy have been dirty players, I was so happy to see Hines Ward the smiling boy not so smiley last night.
what the hell is that Blue sideways G??????????
Yeah, because “real fans” apparently would want to sit through two or even three years of Mangini.
I am sick of wasting YEARS each time these bozos put some incompetent moron in charge. When it is glaringly obvious that the people in charge are indeed incompetent morons they should be gotten rid of ASAP.
The next housecleaning/rebuilding needs to start the day after this season is over. And not on its usual schedule of every presidential election year.
But apparently you “real fans” would like to continue to be treated to the sight of a host of sixth-rounders, practice squad refugees, and New York Jet castoffs going out there and, uh, drawing a small amount of penalties while every other team in the league crushes them with vastly superior talent.