The Browns No. 1
It might seem uncharacteristic for me to be patient with one of my teams, but with the Browns, you have to be. And since I want to give Romeo Crennel and Phil Savage as many breaks as possible this season, here are the five things for the Browns did in week one:

1. Frisman Jackson and Antonio Bryant: Both can catch and run. Add Braylon Edwards, and Dennis Northcutt, and it will be a productive position. Braylon will need some time to adjust, and Dennis needs to find a spot in the new offense. But it will come.

2. The offensive line: Number of times Dilfer was sacked: 0. That's a huge step forward.

3. Reuben Droughns: Watching a big No. 34 run forwards brought me back to the days of Kevin Mack, my favorite player growing up. I like William Green, but Reuben looks like a solid and steady contributor. That's something the Browns simply haven't had since 1994.

4. Trent Dilfer: Finally, the Browns have a quarterback who understands the system, doesn't try to win the games himself, and doesn't create trouble. Is he John Elway? No. But any concerns that he was Ty Detmer faded. Dilfer threw two picks, but they weren't his fault. He didn't get injured and didn't get booed off the field. Not a perfect debut, but a satisfactory one.

5. No Excuses: Money Quote after Sunday's loss:
"We've got a lot of work to do," Crennel said. "I'm disappointed in the way everyone played. I'm not happy about anything."
Crennel is a straight-shooter. That's exactly what the team, and the fans, need.