May 25, 2013

On Josh Cribbs and the New NFL Kickoff Rules

March 23, 2011 by 19 Comments

Josh Cribbs is upset with the new rules regarding NFL kickoffs.  Moving the kickoff spot five yards is sure to take elite return men out of the game.  The truth is that the next Josh Cribbs might never come to light as a game-changing force in the NFL.  Devin Hester either.  That’s just the nature of the beast though.  The game is forever evolving.  That’s why you can’t really worry about it.  Granted Josh Cribbs got hurt this season.  Even without rule changes, teams found ways to keep Cribbs from killing them.

Obviously a lot of people will look at the rules changes that removed the ability to wedge with more than two people on kickoff returns and think that had a giant effect.  Check this out, though.  In 2009 there were 2,004 kickoff returns attempted.  Those attempts went for 45,334 yards or a 22.6 yard average.  In 2010, there were 2,033 attempts that went for 45, 420 yards, or a 22.34 yard average.  Not a whole lot of difference, right?

Let’s look at Cleveland specifically.  In 2009 when Josh Cribbs was healthy the Browns ranked fifth in the league in terms of average with 24 yards per return.  Their long was 103 yards and there were 3 kickoffs returned for touchdowns.  In 2010 because the Browns had been so good, they ranked dead last in the league in terms of average at 17 yards per return.  You will remember that teams kicked short and away from Cribbs frustrating him and the Browns’ special teams unit. [Read more...]

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James Davis Gone as Browns Running Situation Clouds Further

October 26, 2010 by 33 Comments

Last night on Twitter, James Davis tweeted, “Finally was granted with my wish..”  A day after being a healthy scratch for the Browns in their victory over the New Orleans Saints, it wasn’t too difficult to figure out what his wish was.  Adam Caplan confirmed the move a few minutes later adding that the Browns signed Thomas Clayton off waivers from the Patriots.  This is the same guy that the Pats took from the Browns’ practice squad a few weeks prior.  It is also slightly ironic that the Browns took a runner from the Pats considering their running back situation might be one of the only ones in the NFL with more movement than the Browns this season.

Lawrence Maroney was traded from the Pats to the Broncos after he allegedly fell to fourth on their depth chart.  This week, the Pats’ carries all went to BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead while the ancient Fred Taylor is still nursing an injury.  So while the Pats are thin at running back, apparently their cast-off Thomas Clayton, who they signed on June 11th, was good enough for the Browns to snap up while releasing “Mr. Opportunity Session” James Davis. [Read more...]

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The Browns Will Win If…

September 24, 2010 by 17 Comments

Training camp seems so long ago. The 2-2 pre-season record—complete with solid offense and a shred of hope for competitive Browns football—seems like eons ago. The Browns visit Balmer to play their once-and-formers, who are coming off a disappointing loss to Cincinnati and are probably hungry for blood. Gee, I can’t wait!

brownsravens

The Browns kick off a stretch of seven straight weeks during which they will not be favored in—or expected to win—any games. First up is the Ravens. The Browns have yet to score any points in the second half; they’re tied with the 49ers for 24th in the league at 14.0 points per game through two games. Baltimore has allowed 12.0 points per game so far in their first two games. Brian Daboll better have packed his Big Boy Pants for the trip to Baltimore. Without further ado…

The Browns Will Win If…

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Montario Hardesty Injured, James Davis Steps Up in Preseason Finale

September 3, 2010 by 7 Comments

It may not have been pretty, but Browns head coach Eric Mangini praised his team following their 13-10 preseason win over the Chicago Bears.  In a game that featured more reserves than would-be starters, an d not a whole lot of scoring, it was the team’s lack of quitting that inspired glowing remarks from the second-year head coach.

“The thing I was most happy with in the game was the way that we finished,” said Mangini. ”Going into the second half and out-gaining them 181 yards to 59, that’s what we are looking for, to be able to come out at halftime and have that type of offensive production and that type of defensive production.” [Read more...]

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Browns vs. Bears – What We’re Watching For…

September 2, 2010 by 11 Comments

We’re turning that final corner. Rounding third and heading home. Just trying to escape this post with no major injuries (with the speed at which Scott types, a hand injury is always a concern). Seriously, though, this game is all about one thing: STAYING HEALTHY.

brownsbears

It’s going to be tough to really go deep on things we want to see, as we can’t really expect a ton of playing time for the starters in this game, and I suspect most people will be more interested in what the gentlemen wearing scarlet shirts and gray helmets will be doing. But, that doesn’t mean this game will be devoid of things to watch for. So what are we, your intrepid WFNY commentators, watching for tonight? Let’s find out.

What We’re Watching For:

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Fans Shouldn’t Replace Jerome Harrison Just Yet

August 30, 2010 by 15 Comments

Admit it Browns fans.  We sometimes get in our own way.  Our passion and devotion to the team are unquestioned, but when it comes to personnel management, we don’t always know what we are talking about.  Sure, when it comes to Ted Washington and Willie McGinest we might know a thing or two.  Still, can anyone say that our involvement in the Derek Anderson vs. Brady Quinn battle helped the team at all?  How about Charlie Frye, Tim Couch, Kelly Holcomb, Trent Dilfer, or Jeff Garcia?  My point isn’t that we shouldn’t have opinions, but maybe we should be careful how seriously we take them.  Remember that passion is no substitute for expertise.  Then again, Phil Savage will tell you that foul emails are no substitute for leadership either.

I was just thinking over the weekend as Jerome Harrison put the ball on the ground and the Lions scored that running back is the new quarterback in Cleveland.  The comments online immediately jumped to Montario Hardesty and how he would do better.  Meanwhile, unless you are counting mileage on the Berea stationary bikes, what basis is there to say anything like that? [Read more...]

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While We’re Waiting… Buckeyes, James Davis, Sheldon Brown and Drew Sutton

August 7, 2010 by 2 Comments

While We’re Waiting is WFNY’s way of saying “Hey, we’re not really awake and ready for the day yet, but here are some quality Cleveland sports links anyway.” Enjoyed an article or post recently? Send it over via our staff e-mail: tips@waitingfornextyear.com.

Quick thoughts on yesterday’s coaches poll release: “The Ohio State University is ranked No. 2 in this years pre-season poll. The Big Ten has 4 teams in the top 14 with Iowa and Wisconsin and Penn State helping to gain our conference some needed respect. If you add in Nebraska that is 5 teams in the top 14 in the nation. That is UBER impressive in my mind and telling of the kind of teams we have here in the midwest.” [Sylvester-Yon Rambo/Men of the Scarlet and Gray]

Discussing the balance of the Ohio State offense and how things might be different in 2010: “Jim Tressel’s offensive philosophy has been, for nearly a decade as the coach of Ohio State, about balance. This has been the official story on the dude and the media’s go to description when talking about us offensively. It is both the truth and a lie.” [Johnny/Eleven Warriors]
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NFL Draft: Browns Running Back

April 20, 2010 by 19 Comments

The Browns running back situation is one of the strangest on the team.  There is this hint of depth, but it is based in potential and hope more than reality.  It is so strange in fact, that I feel sorry for the developers of the Madden football game franchise.  Seriously.  How would you rate Jerome Harrison this season in the game?  Same with Peyton Hillis.  Hillis looked great in Shanahan’s final year in Denver.  Then again, Shanahan made Reuben Droughns look like a world beater too.  Add in James Davis and the bar fighting man, Chris Jennings and you have a scent of marginal depth that could turn out to be a real feather in the cap, or a thorn in the team’s side.  And with that, it is really difficult to figure out whether the Browns will spend a pick on a running back, and if so, how early.

The Candidates

1 C.J. Spiller RB 5’10⅝” 196 Clemson
2 Ryan Mathews RB 5’11⅝” 218 Fresno State
3 Jahvid Best RB 5’10⅛” 199 California
4 Dexter McCluster RB 5’8¾” 172 Mississippi
5 Joe McKnight RB 5’11⅜” 198 USC
6 Montario Hardesty RB 5’11¾” 225 Tennessee
7 Toby Gerhart RB 6’0″ 231 Stanford
8 Anthony Dixon RB 6’0¾” 233 Mississippi State
9 Ben Tate RB 5’11″ 220 Auburn
10 Jonathan Dwyer RB 5’11¼” 229 Georgia Tech
11 LeGarrette Blount RB 6’0½” 241 Oregon
12 Charles Scott RB 5’11⅜” 238 LSU
13 Javarris James RB 6’0¼” 212 Miami (FL)
14 Keiland Williams RB 5’10⅞” 233 LSU
15 Shawnbrey McNeal RB 5’9⅛” 194 Southern Methodist
16 Chris Brown RB 5’10⅜” 210 Oklahoma
17 Andre Dixon RB 6’0¾” 205 Connecticut
18 Patrick Paschall RB 5’11⅝” 209 North Dakota State
19 Brandon Minor RB 6’0″ 214 Michigan
20 Curtis Steele RB 5’10½” 188 Memphis

[Read more...]

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Browns Part Ways With Jamal Lewis

February 17, 2010 by 12 Comments

The Cleveland Browns today terminated the contract of running back Jamal Lewis, the team announced.

“I enjoyed getting to know Jamal and having the opportunity to coach him last season,” said Browns head coach Eric Mangini. “We want to thank him for his contributions to the Cleveland Browns and wish him nothing but the best moving forward. I’m sure he will be successful in whatever he decides to pursue.”

This move may have expedited Lewis’ rumored retirement. It also leaves the Browns with only James Davis as a running back under contract. Jerome Harrison is looking at becoming a restricted free agent.

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Holmgren Report: Running Backs

January 18, 2010 by 34 Comments

Browns Roster Upgrade GeneralNow that The Big Show Mike Holmgren has shored up his front office roster, it’s time for him–and for us–to look at the team’s roster. We’ve borrowed from the Department of Homeland Security and will be looking at each position group day by day, finishing with a roster upgrade ranking based on need. Check back each day this week for a new position group.

Today, I get the extreme honor to kick off WFNY’s Holmgren Report series with a look at the running back stable. Running back was a position that appeared to be of dire need at one point in the season, and then once Jerome Harrison exploded on the (lower end of the) NFL over the last three weeks of the season, it caused us to wonder if maybe things weren’t as dire as we might have once thought.

In looking at the running backs for 2010, there is one giant x-factor: Jamal Lewis, and Eric Mangini’s apparent love of him as the starting running back. It’s fairly ironic (to me, at least) that had Lewis not gone on IR late in the year, Mangini perhaps wouldn’t have given Harrison the nod in the last three games, we wouldn’t have seen a showcase of Harrison’s ability, and Mangini might not have won those last three games which most likely allowed him to keep his job. And most importantly, Harrison—who is a restricted free agent this off-season—might not have been kept in the team’s longer-term plans at all. [Read more...]

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Browns’ Injury Recap

December 6, 2009 by 9 Comments

500px-Star_of_life2.svgAlternative title: a list longer than the average 8 year old’s Xmas list.

The Browns come into today’s game having lost Shaun Rogers, Jamal Lewis, and Brodney Pool this past week to injuries. This alone makes the Browns roster look a little thin, as two of the three guys listed are pretty much the first Browns players that people would think of when hearing ‘Cleveland Browns’. But no, there’s more! The Browns are already without Ryan Tucker, James Davis, D’Qwell Jackson, Eric Barton, Dave Zastudil, and Steve Heiden. Davis showed glimpses of excitement early in the season, while D’Qwell was playing as well as anybody on the defensive side of the ball.

In discussing the rash of injuries that has descended upon the Cleveland Football Browns, Terry Pluto provided this gem in his Talkin’ column today: [Read more...]

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Report: Jamal Lewis to Retire at Season’s End

November 2, 2009 by 26 Comments

jamal-lewis-browns-campIt appears that one of the worst offensive units in football could be looking for a running back this offseason as veteran Jamal Lewis claims that this very well could be his last year in the NFL.  Following another drubbing – this time at the hands of the Chicago Bears – Lewis had the following to say to reporters:

“It is very hard,” he said. “Very. I think this is my last year. I think this is it. Honestly, the way it looks, you know, I had a good run.”

Lewis acknowledged that finishing with the Browns stuck in a miserable season is not the easiest way to go out.

“But at the same time, I stuck my neck out and wanted to come in and help and do what I could do, even though I knew the consequences,” he said. “I knew what we had and what was going to go with it, being that you do have new people coming in, new coaches, new staff, and all that — there’s a lot that comes with that.”

[Read more...]

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Report: James Davis Not Wearing Pads in Practice Drill May Have Led to Shoulder Injury

October 11, 2009 by 7 Comments

James Davis

There was some bad news coming out of Berea on Sunday not related to the Browns first win of the season over the Bills.  There is a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter that James Davis was injured over two weeks ago in practice while not wearing pads.  This was a re-aggravation of the shoulder injury he suffered in week one against the Vikings.  The injury sustained in practice led to a torn labrum and a trip to the IR ending Davis’ season.

Schefter is citing witnesses at the practice who described the injury as a result of a post-practice drill in which Davis was not wearing shoulder pads.  Unfortunately, the defenders in the drill were wearing shoulder pads.  The details and specifics of the drill and the injury are in dispute but it is clear that Eric Mangini and the Browns are burning more bridges with the NFLPA. 

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Browns move James Davis to IR, sign RB Chris Jennings

October 3, 2009 by 7 Comments

Rookie RB James Davis was placed on injured reserve today by the Browns prior to their Sunday matchup against the Bengals.  He has been replaced on the roster by practice team RB Chris Jennings.

Per the Browns press release:

Jennings was signed by the Browns on August 18, 2009 and rushed for 63 yards on 18 carries  and added seven receptions for 69 yards in three preseason games. He led the Browns with 59 rushing and 42 receiving yards in a 26-23 preseason win at Chicago on September 3. Jennings was signed to the Browns’ practice squad on September 7. He was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League in 2008. In two seasons at the University of Arizona (2006-07), Jennings rushed for 607 yards on 158 carries and four touchdowns, while notching 34 receptions for 262 receiving yards with one touchdown. He also attended Arizona Western University in 2005, where he rushed for 488 yards. Born on December 12, 1985 in Yuma, Arizona, the 5-10, 218-pound Jennings attended Fairview High School in Ashland, Kentucky.

He will wear uniform number 34.

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NFL Injury News: Jamal Lewis Doubtful?

September 25, 2009 by 17 Comments

jamal-lewis-browns-campWith all of our talk earlier this week regarding the need for a running game if a quarterback is going to be successful, it does not appear that things will be getting much easier with the recent news that Jamal Lewis was held out of practice for the third straight day this week.  An apparent hamstring injury was suffered in last week’s debacle in Denver, and Lewis has been unable to bounce back quick enough to garner any snaps at practice.

When the injury report comes out later today, the PD’s Mary Kay Cabot speculates that Lewis will be listed as “Doubtful,” giving him a 25 percent chance to suit up against his old team.  The fact that he was not even “limited” is not a good sign.

Assuming that Lewis is unable to suit up, the Browns will go to battle with rookie James Davis and Jerome Harrison – both backs suffering injuries of their own within the last month.  Also in the equation will be Cedric Peerman, a running back who the Browns recently added after he was released from (wait for it…) the Baltimore Ravens.

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(image via selena_amam/Flickr)

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Two-Loss Start is Not Rattling Brady Quinn

September 24, 2009 by 19 Comments

brady-quinn-campSometimes, you have to give a guy credit for maintaining a positive stance when the world appears to be crumbling around him.  You have a guy that took half of the first-team snaps (at best) this preseason, and is now fielding two-hop shotgun snaps while getting no protection from the right side of his offensive line.  Sure, some of his passes were errant, but it’s not like Brady Quinn is getting the same level of help as those he’s being compared to.

But it isn’t getting to him.  At least he’s not letting anyone know that it is. [Read more...]

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While We’re Waiting – James Davis Hurt, Akron’s New Stadium, and things that make me sad.

September 13, 2009 by 7 Comments

james-davis-clemsonWhile We’re Waiting is a collection of links that we like to provide for you, free of charge.  Check them out and enjoy.  If you see something elsewhere that we might like hit us up at our tips email.

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James Davis is listed as questionable for today’s game against the Vikings after a one-car accident resulted in a head injury.  Also questionable is Jerome Harrison.  Rex Hadnot is out with a knee injury. [Fox Sports]

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Akron opened up their new footballing stadium yesterday, continuing a trend of new building construction on campus, writes Terry Pluto. [Plain Dealer]

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The Week That Was in Ohio Football

September 6, 2009 by 1 Comment

ohio-the-buckeye-stateIt was a wild and crazy week in the world of sports, but I believe that just from the sheer quantity of posts on the site, a lot of the attention was on the gridiron. Between the final week of the preseason for the Browns, the roster deadline, the Buckeyes season opener and some fun in the college football world, it was an awesome week to be a football fan. I know we have yet to recap the Buckeyes game officially, but this post serves to recap what just happened entirely in football during this past week to see where we are today.

Around the state at the collegiate level, we first had Kent State and Bowling Green each securing relatively easy first victories against simple opponents on Thursday night. The Buckeyes then survived against the pesky Naval Academy yesterday by the final score of 31-27 while the MAC had a rough day as Akron got blown-out by Penn State, Purdue routed Toledo and Ohio lost to Connecticut. Overall, it was a pretty cool first full day of the college football season yesterday with all of the top 25 games along with Sam Bradford’s injury against BYU, and there were no exceptions in Ohio as well.

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Cleveland Browns 2009 Fantasy Football Preview

September 5, 2009 by 11 Comments

browns-helmetHa that title was pretty funny. But seriously, for all those fans that are not quite immersed with Ohio State’s game today versus the Naval Academy, or to those that are just plain old obsessed with fantasy football like me, this feature is for you. I am here to discuss what players for the Browns this season will potentially be productive in terms of your fantasy league, what sleepers there might be and what the value is of some of our supposed stars. I know that in my own league with my brother and his friends, it has always been an odd tradition to avoid Cleveland players, but this could be the year (along with 2007) that that trend sort of fades.

Two years ago, if you had managed to snag Derek Anderson as a waiver wire acquisition or managed to steal Braylon Edwards as a second or third receiver, you were an absolute genius. They both shot up in terms in fantasy production, finishing the year within the top five in their respective positions as well as former Brownie Kellen Winslow. It was an awesome year to be a Browns fan, but last year the team reverted to form and Cleveland fans saw the same old disappointing season that is a big reason why this site is called WFNY after all. Without any further discussion of the past, I will now jump into what to expect and where to rank many of the top contributors for the Browns in 2009:

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NFL Rumors: Jamal Lewis to be Released?

September 2, 2009 by 51 Comments

With the team successfully trimming their roster yesterday by trading Louis Leonard and placing Ryan Tucker and Fred Weary on the IR, the next step will be two-fold.  First, the Browns will need to leave Thursday’s game against Chicago injury free.  And secondly, make decisions on who will be a part of this team going forward as the 53-man deadline this Saturday.

One possible 53-man casualty that has been floated around the rumor mill has been veteran running back Jamal Lewis.  The speculation started earlier this week when Michael Lombardi claimed that he “wasn’t sold” on Lewis making the final roster.  Likely coupling Lewis perceived regression with the strong play (at least on paper) of James Davis, perhaps Lombardi feels that the Browns could cut Lewis – on the second year of his three-year contract – and pick up a less-expensive option.

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