But if I were drafting for Cleveland, I wouldn't have taken the chance. Simple as that. That's all.

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/th...-him--sort-of/1

@steel88 said:

I hope you're right. What the team has done this year is nothing short of exhilarating. I love being behind a team because of what they stand for and how they play, especially seeing that all pay off.

PS: Spent 4 years in Oberlin. Nice place.

@bandwagon said:

If he does, It will not be here. The front office is set up now so that the wheels will not fall off even if we have to change president.

@hoorta said:

Guys like McCoy, Hillis, and Fujita are the template for the types of players the Browns want on the team.

I agree and I'm loving the browns' new personality. Why do I have a sinking feeling it's all going to hell after holmgren decides to return to coaching?

@alo said:

• "(Cowboys WR) Dez Bryant has been late to meetings and falling asleep in them and nothing was done about it. There was zero accountability under Wade (Phillips). ... (Cowboys owner) Jerry Jones has as much debt as anyone in the NFL and he finished the first half of the season 1-7. He had no choice but to make a change. … I would say it was a year overdue."

That's EXACTLY why the Browns didn't want Bryant. And I haven't forgotten about his "I ain't carrying the vets pads in training camp" either. I see a Randy Moss or Terrell Owens in my crystal ball for Dez.

Guys like McCoy, Hillis, and Fujita are the template for the types of players the Browns want on the team.

@alo said:

Ditto. And teams rarely want to trade up in the first or second round because the cost in draft picks or players is prohibitive.

@hoorta said:

Yep. Every year, trading down becomes the most popular option among fans, but it's rarely realistic.

@smalls1129 said:

I remember that play, I also remember Stuckey getting knocked down 5 yards down the field and seeing the ref throw a flag to only pick it back up without giving an explanation. I thought the pass wasn't going to matter because of the penalty but then we go and punt it and I was like what the xxxx, why didn't we get the first down? There was at least 4 flags that game were they were against the Jet's, but were then picked up and canceled.

Hillis-iz-Boss said:

To answer why we didn't trade back- you need someone who wants to trade UP. Looking at that draft, it wasn't going to happen. If you get a player at a position of need that can play 7-10 years in the NFL in the first round, you've done well, regardless where they were taken.

@earl34 said:

i think Walker from the AFC North blog on espn said it the best. His words were close to "If that make that pass to Watson, I say good gutsy call, since they didn't I have to sit here and go why?"

@shepwrite said:

I also don't blame Daboll for taking a shot. Watson was open; it was one of McCoy's few misses. One of about a dozen things that had to go the Jets way. Then again, they kept missing field goals.

The three things that stood out to me that lost us the game: Stuckey's fumble, Rogers not sacking Sanchez at the five to make it 3rd and 18, and McCoy missing a very open Watson on the last possession.

The second to last drive was the one that I would want back. MH got behind the Jets and McCoy missed by a couple of yards, he hits that and it's TD game over.

@shepwrite said:

I also don't blame Daboll for taking a shot. Watson was open; it was one of McCoy's few misses. One of about a dozen things that had to go the Jets way. Then again, they kept missing field goals.

The three things that stood out to me that lost us the game: Stuckey's fumble, Rogers not sacking Sanchez at the five to make it 3rd and 18, and McCoy missing a very open Watson on the last possession.

The thing that kills me is the criticism on TV last night and on the radio today complaining about the play-calling backed up on the 2 yard line in OT. They took a shot on first down. They get criticized for running on second down. It makes sense to me to try and get the rookie out of 3rd and 10. If Hillis gains four yards, it's more manageable. I have NO problem whatsoever with that play-call.

I also don't blame Daboll for taking a shot. Watson was open; it was one of McCoy's few misses. One of about a dozen things that had to go the Jets way. Then again, they kept missing field goals.

The three things that stood out to me that lost us the game: Stuckey's fumble, Rogers not sacking Sanchez at the five to make it 3rd and 18, and McCoy missing a very open Watson on the last possession.

@atenears said:

We should have ran on first down though and kept the clock ticking, but I like the balls in going for it though. We lost trying to win, not trying not to lose.

Your KEY statement is, "We lost trying to win, not trying not to lose." I have been an avid Brown's Fan since BEFORE they drafted Jimmy Brown, & THIS team ranks among the most aggressive I've seen on BOTH sides of the ball. I LOVE that. I have often said that I can accept losing, IF we can say we played aggressively.

Mike

• "(Cowboys WR) Dez Bryant has been late to meetings and falling asleep in them and nothing was done about it. There was zero accountability under Wade (Phillips). ... (Cowboys owner) Jerry Jones has as much debt as anyone in the NFL and he finished the first half of the season 1-7. He had no choice but to make a change. … I would say it was a year overdue."

• "(Bengals CB) Leon Hall has been playing at a high level. He is the one player on Cincinnati who has really been playing well. … Their linebackers are too technically unsound. Watch and count how many times (Rey) Maualuga runs into his own guy. He has no idea. … There is a lot of talent on that roster. But I don't know if they have enough brains. Look at how many times they beat themselves, starting with Carson Palmer. I've never seen a quarterback miss so many open receivers."

@shepwrite said:

Yep. We'll see if he can keep it up. And if Maualuga (2 tackles yesterday) and Beanie (3.3 YPC) can prove their worth.

@alo said:

I don't blame Haden for intercepting the ball on 3rd-n-long, it was in OT and who is to say that the Jets don't line up to go for it on 4th downa nd convert it, or the punt gets muffed with our 2nd or 3rd string returner in there (Cribbs was out)? Many things could have happened, but getting the ball back in our possesion in OT is priority, IMO.

We should have ran on first down though and kept the clock ticking, but I like the balls in going for it though. We lost trying to win, not trying not to lose.

I do think the chip has been a good thing. Would've loved to have gotten him at 20. He's doing things earlier than most rookie WRs do them, becoming the go-to guy on a team that already had one.

Yeah, it's always a gray area on draft redux, I agree (again). But my repeated take on Haden was that he's a good corner... but may never be a great one because of certain limitations. I'll readily come around when he looks like a Pro Bowl shutdown corner, which is what you expect out of a #7 pick at that position. Just like Curry has seemed good rather than great, a guy who fits in rather than stands out, Haden has seemed like a good player rather than a special one.