Vitamin Z

Thoughts on the Browns, Mangini
Eric Mangini has been failing in Cleveland because he's not winning. It's as simple as that.

So, that's why I'm not a fan of Mangini right now. The fact that he comes across as paranoid and overprotective doesn't bother me. Great coaches can be that way. But Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick win.

Aside from the 1-7 record the Browns take into the bye week, the only other thing that makes me angry about the Mangini era is that week in and week out, we are talking about trades, firings and conspiracies. We are rarely talking actual football, because there has been so little of it.

Mangini's job was not to do anything but figure out a way to win football games. Failing that, he at least needed his team to be competitive. If all that failed, he needed to at least beat the Steelers.

He's gone 0 for 3. But the Browns are no longer about players. The Browns are about Eric Mangini and an owner who seems unable to ever get it right.

Josh Cribbs, Phil Dawson, Joe Thomas and maybe Shaun Rogers. If the ship was sinking, those would be the four to save. Of course, the team isn't a ship approaching an iceberg. It is the iceberg. Cold, slow moving and barely getting anywhere.

Mangini will be fired, of course. ANOTHER new guy with ANOTHER process that will take ANOTHER five years will come in. Then he will be fired after three years and the process starts over.

It's more fun to ponder this question.

If the 2009 Browns played the 1987 strike Browns (the Tans), who would lose?

I think Jeff Christianson would outplay Derek Anderson.

Labels: NFL

The Panel, week 8
SUN, NOV 1
Houston at Buffalo 1:00 PM
Taking Houston: Zach, Aaron, Phil, Andy, Joel, Nihar
Taking Buffalo: Curtis, Vivek, (C)

Cleveland at Chicago 1:00 PM
Taking Chicago: Zach, Aaron, Phil, Andy, Joel, Curtis, Vivek, (C), Nihar

Seattle at Dallas 1:00 PM
Taking Seattle: Curtis, Vivek, (C)
Taking Dallas: Zach, Aaron, Phil, Andy, Joel, Nihar

St. Louis at Detroit 1:00 PM
Taking St. Louis: Zach, Curtis, Vivek, (C), Nihar
Taking Detroit: Aaron, Phil, Andy, Joel

Denver at Baltimore 1:00 PM
Taking Baltimore: Zach, Aaron, Phil, Andy, Joel, Curtis, Vivek, (C), Nihar

San Francisco at Indianapolis 1:00 PM
Taking San Francisco: Andy, (C), Curtis, Vivek
Taking Indianapolis: Zach, Aaron, Phil, Joel, Nihar

Miami at NY Jets 1:00 PM
Taking Miami: Aaron, Andy, Joel
Taking New York: Zach, Phil, Curtis, Vivek (C), Nihar

NY Giants at Philadelphia 1:00 PM
Taking New York: Zach, Aaron, Phil, Andy, Nihar
Taking Philadelphia: Curtis, Vivek, (C), Joel

Jacksonville at Tennessee 4:05 PM
Taking Jacksonville: Aaron, Andy, Phil, Curtis, Vivek, (C), Joel
Taking Tennessee: Zach, Nihar

Oakland at San Diego 4:05 PM
Taking San Diego: Zach, Aaron, Phil, Andy, Joel, Curtis, Vivek (C), Nihar

Carolina at Arizona 4:15
Taking Arizona: Zach, Aaron, Phil, Andy, Joel, Curtis, Vivek, (C), Nihar

Minnesota at Green Bay 4:15 PM
Taking Green Bay: Zach, Aaron, Phil, Andy, Joel, Curtis, Vivek, (C), Nihar

MON, 8:30 p.m.
Atlanta at New Orleans 8:30 PM
Taking New Orleans: Zach, Aaron, Phil, Andy, Joel, Curtis, Vivek, (C), Nihar

Labels: NFL

10 questions I'd ask Randy Lerner
If I got to talk to the Browns' owner, here's what I'd want to know:

1. What do you think of the team Eric Mangini has assembled?

2. What were your expectations coming into this season?

3. Has Mangini met those expectations?

4. What has been your best decision since taking over the Browns in 2002?

5. What has been your biggest mistake?

6. What did you learn from your father about owning an NFL team?

7. Did you learn anything from Art Modell?

8. How much football do you watch that isn't the Browns?

9. Do you expect to be owning this franchise in five years?

10. What have the last seven years taught you about being an owner?

Labels: NFL

The Panel: Week 7
Yeah... It's really late. My high school teacher is taking five points off.

Green Bay at Cleveland 1:00 PM
Taking Green Bay: Zach, Aaron, Joel, Phil, Andy, (C), Vivek, Curtis, Nihar

San Diego at Kansas City 1:00 PM
Taking San Diego:Zach, Aaron, Joel, Phil, Andy Vivek, Curtis, Nihar
Taking Kansas City: (C)

Indianapolis at St. Louis 1:00 PM
Taking Indianapolis: Zach, Aaron, Joel, Phil, Andy, Nihar (C), Vivek, Curtis

Minnesota at Pittsburgh 1:00 PM FOX
Taking Minnesota: Aaron, Joel, (C), Vivek, Nihar
Taking Pittsburgh: Zach, Phil, Andy, Curtis

New England at Tampa Bay 1:00 PM
Taking New England: Zach, Aaron, Andy, Joel, Phil, Nihar (C), Vivek, Curtis

San Francisco at Houston 1:00 PM
Taking San Francisco: Aaron, Andy, (C), Vivek
Taking Houston: Zach, Joel, Phil, Curtis, Nihar

Buffalo at Carolina 4:05 PM
Taking Buffalo: Aaron, Andy, (C)
Taking Carolina: Zach, Joel, Phil, Vivek, Curtis, Nihar

NY Jets at Oakland 4:05 PM
Taking New York: Zach, Joel, Phil, Andy, Nihar Vivek, Curtis
Taking Oakland: Aaron, (C)

Atlanta at Dallas 4:15 PM
Taking Atlanta: Aaron, Joel, Phil, Andy, Vivek, Curtis
Taking Dallas: Zach, (C), Nihar

Chicago at Cincinnati 4:15 PM
Taking Chicago: Joel, Vivek, Nihar
Taking Cincinnati: Zach, Aaron, Phil, Andy, (C), Curtis

New Orleans at Miami 4:15 PM
Taking New Orleans: Zach, Aaron, Joel, Phil, Andy, (C), Vivek, Nihar
Taking Miami: Curtis

Arizona at NY Giants 8:20 PM
Taking Arizona: Phil, Andy, (C)
Taking New York: Zach, Aaron, Joel, Vivek, Nihar, Curtis

MON, 8:30 P.M.
Philadelphia at Washington
Taking Philadelphia: Zach, Aaron, Joel, Phil, Andy, (C), Vivek, Curtis, Nihar

Labels: NFL

Steelers 27, Browns 14
No one can tell me this was a step forward. The Browns were kind of, sort of, maybe competitive, though the game itself reminded me of the last time the team went to New England. The score wasn't bad, but there was never a time when I thought the Browns could win.

Hey, it could be worse. I just watched Tom Brady throw five touchdowns in a quarter against the Titans, who are dressed like the Oilers, in an October blizzard in New England.

The Browns are 1-5. The receivers can't catch. The secondary can't cover or tackle. The pass rush was a non-factor after one quarter.

Even the officials seemed hell-bent to humiliate the Browns. It sure looked like the Browns had made a fourth down stop. The camera even showed the ball was short of the chain. But the refs gave the Steelers the first down anyway, and they tacked on a field goal.

It didn't matter. The Browns have lost to the Steelers 12 straight times. This isn't a rivalry. It's a bye week.

Labels: NFL

The Panel: Week 6
Aaron Rund: Dateline Washington
Andy Barch: Dateline somewhere in West Virginia
Joel Hammond: Dateline Clevelandish
Nihar Vasavada: Dateline wherever LeBron is
Phil Prusa: Dateline Tempe, AZ
Vivek Vasavada: Dateline WCW Special Forces
Curtis A: Dateline: Akron St. Rob Ryan
Zach: Dateline Northwest Ohio Mancave

Houston at Cincinnati 1:00 PM
Taking Cincinnati: Zach, Aaron, Phil, Joel,Vivek, Nihar, Andy, Curtis, (C)
Comment: Kroger had to buy tickets to show this game on TV in Cincinnati. Wonder if you need a Kroger Card to see the game.

Detroit at Green Bay 1:00 PM
Taking Green Bay: Zach, Aaron, Phil, Joel, Vivek, Nihar, Andy, (C), Curtis
Comment:Detroit is on the road, meaning we have to get it on TV.

Baltimore at Minnesota 1:00 PM
Taking Baltimore: Zach, Andy
Taking Minnesota: Aaron, Phil, Joel, Vivek, Nihar, (C)
Comment: Ray Lewis and Brett Favre-- which one of these has-beens has had their legend prolonged more by talent around them?

NY Giants at New Orleans 1:00 PM
Taking New York: Phil, Joel, Vivek, Nihar
Taking New Orleans: Zach, Aaron, Andy, Curtis, (C)
Comment: Yes, we get the Lions here instead of this.

Cleveland at Pittsburgh 1:00 PM
Taking Cleveland: Joel, Curtis, (C)
Taking Pittsburgh: Zach, Aaron, Phil, Vivek, Nihar, Andy
Comment: The Browns are not allowed to beat the Steelers under the latest Obama stimulus plan. Not that it'd make a difference.

Carolina at Tampa Bay 1:00 PM
Taking Carolina: Zach, Aaron, Phil, Joel, Vivek, Nihar, Andy, (C),Curtis
Comment: "Good news Kellen, we traded you. Bad news, we actually found a team worse than us to take you. Think about that the next time you go on a tirade."

Kansas City at Washington 1:00 PM
Taking Kansas City: Aaron, Nihar
Taking Washington: Zach, Phil, Joel, Vivek, Andy, Curtis (C)
Comment: Bet this win won't stop hatred towards Jim Zorn. Tim Tebow just texted me and said he hates him.

St. Louis at Jacksonville 1:00 PM
Taking St. Louis: Andy, (C) Curtis
Taking Jacksonville: Zach, Aaron, Phil, Joel, Vivek, Nihar
Comment: Lost in the Rush Limbaugh discussion-- his ownership of the Rams could never be as embarrassing as the team's play.

Arizona at Seattle 4:05 PM
Taking Arizona: Aaron, Vivek, Nihar, Andy
Taking Seattle: Zach, Phil, Joel, (C), Curtis
Comment:Will these teams just decide if they'll be good already?

Philadelphia at Oakland 4:05 PM
Taking Philadelphia: Zach, Aaron, Phil, Joel, Vivek, Nihar, Andy, Curtis, (C)
Comment: Really, I'm surprised Tom Cable hasn't punched out more assistants. And players.

Tennessee at New England 4:15 PM
Taking New England: Zach, Aaron, Phil, Joel, Vivek, Nihar, Andy, Curtis (C)
Comment: Jevon Kearse would rather spend time with his family than watch his team lose 31-9. Jerk.

Buffalo at NY Jets 4:15 PM
Taking New York:Zach, Aaron, Phil, Joel, Vivek, Nihar, Andy, Curtis (C)
Comment: Braylon Edwards catches 13 passes and Jon Gruden spends 3 hours praising him to an audience of a television and a couch. The couch desperately tries to turn off the TV, before realizing that it won't shut Gruden up, because he isn't on TV. But the couch realizes long before Gruden does.

Chicago at Atlanta 8:20 PM
Taking Chicago: Aaron, Curtis (C)
Taking Atlanta: Zach, Phil, Joel, Vivek, Nihar, Andy
Comment: I bet 2 1/2 minutes until the first Michael Vick reference.

MON, OCT 19 TIM
Denver at San Diego
Taking Denver: Aaron, Phil, Nihar, Curtis, (C)
Taking San Diego: Zach, Joel, Vivek, Andy
Comment: Josh McDaniels' celebration last week reminded me of watching that Saved By The Bell episode where the cast raps to Snow White.

Labels: NFL

Interview with NFL expert Andy Barch
1. What's been the biggest surprise so far?

It’s a toss up between the Titans starting 0-5 and the Bengals starting 4-1. I figured there would be a drop off for the Titans without Albert Haynesworth in the middle to stop the run, but I never thought they’d go 0-5. They look inept offensively and the play calling has been so vanilla offensively that they’ve become all too predictable.

As for the Bengals, not only are they 4-1 and all by themselves in first place, but they’ve beaten some very good teams along the way, and they’re just a fluke play away from being 5-0. They’ve defeated the Packers in Lambeau, and the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. They also cured their home curse against the Steelers. One cant help but be impressed with their incredible start, and their 3-0 record in their division. After watching the HBO Special “Hard Knocks” on this team, I never saw this coming. That special revealed a lot of interesting things to me, which at the time re-assured my thoughts on the way that team runs their business. After watching a few episodes, I thought sure that team would be 1-4 or 0-5 at this point.

2. The Braylon Edwards trade: Your thoughts?

He had to go. It just wasn’t going to work in Cleveland. As a third overall pick, especially at that position, there is a lot to live up to. He has dropped way too many passes, he’s scored just a few touchdowns since that incredible 2007 season, and he quickly became a cancer in a locker room full of tumors. The fact that they were able to get a special teams player, a half decent receiver and a pair of draft picks for him is pretty impressive. They were probably going to lose him via free agency next year anyways. That team is in need of some bodies, and some hungry players looking for opportunities to thrive.

3. Do you expect Eric Mangini to last in Cleveland?

In the short term, yes. I don’t know what people expect from Mangini. He inherited a group that was completely awful a year ago, and found lightning in a bottle in 2007. He’s trying to change the culture of that team, and so far, it just hasn’t worked. He’s not going to make this thing work overnight, though I know Cleveland fans are expecting that to happen because they’ve been waiting so long for it, and are growing impatient, which is understandable. I think folks don’t buy the excuse that he cant make it happen overnight because they’ve seen other teams go from worst to first a few times over the last five years. However, that kind of stuff doesn’t happen to Cleveland, because it’s a snake bitten city when it comes to sports.

4. Is Jim Zorn really as incompetent as everyone says?

I don’t think so. As you said on your blog a while ago, they are 2-3, and there are a lot of teams that look a lot worse. I think people lost their minds when the ‘Skins lost to Detroit. Look, Detroit was bound to win at some point, and it just happened to be against the Redskins. There are 13 teams who have a similar record or worse than the Redskins at this point. What I’d also like to know, is what has changed so drastically over the past year? Where there that many people lobbying for his departure last season? If so, I don’t remember that. I think people expect more out of this offense, and they just aren’t getting it. They don’t have a lot of explosive playmakers and Clinton Portis is nearing the end of an incredible run.

5. What coaches are in trouble?

Dick Jauron is the first name that comes to mind. They’re extremely conservative on offense, the offensive coordinator he fired after training camp claimed that Jauron wanted him to reduce the number of formations and plays in his playbook, and ultimately the failure to do so is what got him fired by Jauron. Jauron doesn’t have any more scapegoats, and this team has done NOTHING under him since he got the job.
Tom Cable is on the hot seat, not because of the way the Raiders have played (which has been surprisingly competitive and somewhat respectable), but because of these allegations that he injured an assistant coach and threatened to f’ng kill him.
John Fox, for all the obvious reasons. They did a lot things in the off-season to try and keep themselves at the top of the NFC South, but they are treading water at this point and are dangerously close to falling out of the playoff race. He’s been on the hot seat down there for a few years it seems, and I think its about time to turn the page on Jake Delhomme. That’s the kind of decision he’ll have to make here relatively soon if he’s going to keep these guys competitive. A bold move that gets this team back in contention.
Wade Philips-The pressure is there every year in Dallas, and they still haven’t won a playoff game in well over a decade. The way they are playing right now, they might miss the post season for the second year in a row. Jerry Jones doesn’t just want to brag about his new stadium, he wants to brag about the team that calls it home. This team is way too talented to be a .500 team, and that’s what they’ve been for far too long now. If they don’t make some significant strides soon, Phillips is gone.

Labels: NFL