Release the Hounds!
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I can't believe that it's the BYE week already. Football season came on very fast this year after a long offseason. Don't get me wrong, the offseason this year was really exciting, rife with FBI investigations, the NFL Draft and FA. We added some veteran pieces in Whitner and Dansby, picked up some very talented young rookies and brought in another new Coaching Staff and F.O.! This change even lent itself to new stadium upgrades, two huge new dynamic video boards and a sound system that pounds like a rock concert! The Josh Gordon Suspension really put a damper on what was becoming a magical offseason. The team has had to adjust to not having its dual headed attack from Gordon and Cameron. Cameron himself has been dinged up. Tate went down. So, in comes a group of nobodies, lead by career back-up Brian Hoyer and Wabaam!- High octane Offense lead by two explosive rookie runningbacks and an emergence of playmakers at WR!
Hawkins appears to have magnetic magic hands and Gabriel, an UDRFA, steps up and makes a name for himself. Austin has been playing a lot tougher and is making plays, Benji even caught a TD off a nice route and catch. Although, I think Travis needs to be relegated to the WR position. That return ship has sailed on him, he lost his confidence since the injury and it really shows. My suggestion is to pull Benjamin and put Gilbert back there on Kick-return and Punt-return, let him make an impact on Special Teams, he has the speed and athletic ability to really shine in the NFL. It's just that right now, his head is spinning, he's thinking too much, let him just field the ball and let his instincts take over from there. He is fine to come in and play nickel sometimes or number 4 CB for right now, but he's just a liability at this stage. Kicks and Punts is where he could really shine right now, especially with the loss of confidence from Travis Benjamin.
Tin-foil hats on. The NFL has always been against the Browns. Always. It's always been the Browns vs. the World IMO. From the beginning, they have had their doubters. From Paul Brown and joining the NFL to ripping our team from our hands, to us fighting to get them back, through a decade and a half of mockery and being the laughing stock of the NFL, supporting a franchise with a revolving door at QB/RB/WR/DL/LB/CB/S/HC/DC/OC/STC/FO-GM and even OWNER. From drafting Johnny Football to the Steelers Fans posting memes of our punter being jumpkicked across facebook- they have doubted us. Let the doubters continue to doubt while we continue to build up momentum, inching ever so closer to that event horizon, a point that soon the Cleveland Browns will reach, then they will be a force to be reckoned with, a freight train to strong to continue to hold back. They are on the cusp, they are standing on the corner, now is the time that they leap over the edge, dig deep and Release the Hounds!
The Cardiac Kids incarnate, they have brought the first three teams they have faced the distance. In split decision fashion it could have went either way through all three games. Down to the wire, trading blow for blow with some of the baddest bullies on the block. We will take our lumps but bounce back, stronger and more determined to land the finishing blow in the next bout, when it counts and when all the chips are down. The Steeler and Ravens, at one time they were toying with us, took us lightly and could write us off as an easy win on the schedule, no longer however. Both teams had to muster everything they had to endure our onslaught. Both were visibly shaken and now know that the tide has turned and the pendulum has shifted in our favor. Next time, as is always our mantra- though this time it brings with it a different pitch, an undertone of revenge that will be carried out... next time, you won't get away so easily.
Tennessee is the battleground of our next opponent, although even now we battle ourselves, fighting mental mistakes and the bonding to a new system, a new philosophy and a new culture. Adjustments are needed, small tweaks that's all, levers and cogs need oiled and systems refined. No major overhaul is needed at this time nor is it warranted. We are churning, being tempered and hardened- for the ultimate prize lies past even tougher foes. We have the capability and the will to challenge all, we now need the resolve to settle for nothing less than victory. Let all doubters continue to believe what they will, for soon the world will see, they are the ones that gave us our strength, they will forever rue they day they made us Release the Hounds. -
Kid, you may just be the most positive, glass-is-overflowing person I've ever seen.
It sure beats being a jaded, grumpy old bastard.
Go Browns.
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Love it! Great read! I echo your sentiments...
Go Browns!!
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PG,
WOW! I just love your post. Perfectly stated!
I will add one thing. My wife & I went to our favorite restaurant/bar last night. The General Mgr there & I have developed a nice friendship, even though he is a lifelong Steelers' Fan. Eric came to our table & said, "Mike, I don't want to play you guys again!".
That's a nice compliment that shows we are earning respect around the league.
Mike
INΒ DORSEY I TRUST -
PG,
WOW! I just love your post. Perfectly stated!
I will add one thing. My wife & I went to our favorite restaurant/bar last night. The General Mgr there & I have developed a nice friendship, even though he is a lifelong Steelers' Fan. Eric came to our table & said, "Mike, I don't want to play you guys again!".
That's a nice compliment that shows we are earning respect around the league.
Mike
PG,
WOW! I just love your post. Perfectly stated!
I will add one thing. My wife & I went to our favorite restaurant/bar last night. The General Mgr there & I have developed a nice friendship, even though he is a lifelong Steelers' Fan. Eric came to our table & said, "Mike, I don't want to play you guys again!".
That's a nice compliment that shows we are earning respect around the league.
Mike
My step-brother is a die-hard Tennessee fan, and he has already told me he is expecting the "L" in 2 weeks when we meet. He is not excited to watch West/Crowell and he already said they don't have anybody that can cover Cameron or Hawkins... In years past, he has done nothing but trash talk... not so much this year.
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I'm ready to sail the Good Ship Cleveland this season, we will finish at least 8-8, at least. Is that enough? Is that what I want? No. but - how amazing is it that we have taken three recent superbowl teams to the last snap, this from a team that wasn't going to score shit this season. I know the losses hurt, sunday especially as it was my only game of the season to attend, but damn, we have the pieces - it's about alignment now.
I put the emphasis on the shoulders of our coaches from here in. O looks great despite not having our big hitter and a bunch of weapons I took the piss out of before the season. The D needs some changing up - I'm not convinced we are playing to the players strengths at LB and our CBs need to adjust to this years' emphasis (like the league's Elite CBs are having to do) But do I feel they want to win - shit yes.
This has also become Brian Hoyer's team. The dude is smart and performing incredibly well considering that it's less than a year since his knee got mashed and had to deal with JF coming to town. He has earned the right to be the leader he wanted to be. The fact that the O has outshone the D will only serve to give them the energy they need to combat their weaknesses - let's face it, Brian Hoyer has given the D 30% more sideline time on average than last season. I believe they want to make the adjustments to make big plays to honour the production from the O.
I can't compete on X's & O's like some here can - but I have never seen a team become winners from purely X's and O's - success comes from belief first, mindset after failure and then strategy and technique. The worm is turning and I'm all aboard this ship. Pettine, we sit on your shoulders here - make the right choices.
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Speaking of "Jump Kicks", Antonio Brown was fined just a little over $8,000 for purposely kicking another player in the head. In all my years of watching football that was the dirtiest play I have ever seen. That made Ndamukong Sue's dirty plays look tame. Antonio Brown better look out when he comes to Cleveland. And Roger Goodell needs to be canned for not even suspending this guy. Since when is it acceptable to drop kick another person's head.
DAMN THE TORPEDOES! FULL SPEED AHEAD! -
We don't have guys that will retaliate for our punter.
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Speaking of "Jump Kicks", Antonio Brown was fined just a little over $8,000 for purposely kicking another player in the head. In all my years of watching football that was the dirtiest play I have ever seen. That made Ndamukong Sue's dirty plays look tame. Antonio Brown better look out when he comes to Cleveland. And Roger Goodell needs to be canned for not even suspending this guy. Since when is it acceptable to drop kick another person's head.
Speaking of "Jump Kicks", Antonio Brown was fined just a little over $8,000 for purposely kicking another player in the head. In all my years of watching football that was the dirtiest play I have ever seen. That made Ndamukong Sue's dirty plays look tame. Antonio Brown better look out when he comes to Cleveland. And Roger Goodell needs to be canned for not even suspending this guy. Since when is it acceptable to drop kick another person's head.
I can think of a lot dirtier plays, but he deserved the fine...
It was for kicking, Lanning our punter in Week 1.
The NFL's "wheels-of-justice" turn slow... or fast.. or sometimes not at all...
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PG,
WOW! I just love your post. Perfectly stated!
I will add one thing. My wife & I went to our favorite restaurant/bar last night. The General Mgr there & I have developed a nice friendship, even though he is a lifelong Steelers' Fan. Eric came to our table & said, "Mike, I don't want to play you guys again!".
That's a nice compliment that shows we are earning respect around the league.
Mike
PG,
WOW! I just love your post. Perfectly stated!
I will add one thing. My wife & I went to our favorite restaurant/bar last night. The General Mgr there & I have developed a nice friendship, even though he is a lifelong Steelers' Fan. Eric came to our table & said, "Mike, I don't want to play you guys again!".
That's a nice compliment that shows we are earning respect around the league.
Mike
I can think of a lot dirtier plays, but he deserved the fine...
It was for kicking, Lanning our punter in Week 1.
The NFL's "wheels-of-justice" turn slow... or fast.. or sometimes not at all...
But you could tell it was deliberate. There was absolutely no reason for it. At least he drew a flag.
DAMN THE TORPEDOES! FULL SPEED AHEAD! -
Po, I know you've caught a lot of flack on here the past few years, but I can't tell you how happy I am that you've stuck around. You're one of the few that have kept this board worth reading, especially with all these new Debbie downers that have recently joined.
Keep up the good work my man.
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PG,
WOW! I just love your post. Perfectly stated!
I will add one thing. My wife & I went to our favorite restaurant/bar last night. The General Mgr there & I have developed a nice friendship, even though he is a lifelong Steelers' Fan. Eric came to our table & said, "Mike, I don't want to play you guys again!".
That's a nice compliment that shows we are earning respect around the league.
Mike
I can think of a lot dirtier plays, but he deserved the fine...
It was for kicking, Lanning our punter in Week 1.
The NFL's "wheels-of-justice" turn slow... or fast.. or sometimes not at all...
But you could tell it was deliberate. There was absolutely no reason for it. At least he drew a flag.
But you could tell it was deliberate. There was absolutely no reason for it. At least he drew a flag.
Yup... what started as a misjudged hurdle changed as Brown kicked forward just prior to impact. It was absolutely deliberate... said so at the time and argued he should have been ejected.
League needs to explain why there's a difference between a kick and a punch... or a "stomp"...
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