Las Vegas Not Impressed With "new" Browns
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The professional gamblers who lay down cold cash on NFL game outcomes aren't swayed by press releases and long-time allegiances. This is a serious world for them and with serious money on the line they remain distant and objective in evaluating the potential success or failure of NFL teams.
With mini-camps set to begin soon, Las Vegas is beginning to release its odds on the upcoming 2013 season. And the objective evaluators who set the odds are not impressed with JImmy Haslam, Joe Banner and Mike Lombardi's "new" Browns. Not at all.
As the following article indicates, one Vegas betting service picks the Browns to win only 2 games, another picks them to win 6 games. It's more of the same relative to prior years.
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/cleveland-browns-favored-win-only-two-games-season-151200612.html
The Browns should be slightly improved on offense, but there are big questions about the accuracy and decison making ability of the QB, they don't have proven elite receivers, nor a fear provoking tight end, nor a top notch starting running back one can depend upon to stay healthy and play most games. The offensive line is good at pass blocking, but needs to improve run blocking
On defense, the Browns should be improved in the front 7, if nothing else for their quality of depth. Whether additions Kruger and Mingo can be pass rushing demons remains to be seen. Kruger was more of a force when Suggs returned to the lineup for Balt. last year, and Kruger was only a part-time player, considered weak against the run. Mingo was a good, but not dominant player in the SEC who only had 4 sacks last year and his light frame raises questions about his ability to shed blocks in the tough NFL and play the run, too. And defense against the run was not a Browns strength last year, as has been the case for much of the last decade. As someone who watches a lot of SEC football every fall, Mingo wasn't even in my list of the top 20 defensive players in the SEC last season.
In the secondary, the Browns had no answers at free safety or the #2 CB position, and they had arguably one of the worst groups of DB back ups in pro football, a weakness which killed the team last year. Going in to this season, the Browns took a CB in the third round who will be learning on the job and making a ton of mistakes as a result. They will also start a free safety who was undrafted and only made three starts last season, and added a backup CB, Owens, who was demoted twice by his team last year, unable to adequately play the nickel defense role he will play for the Browns. It's incredible to at least some objective observers that the Browns didn't put more emphasis on adding more quality in the secondary this off-season.
In the kicking game, the great Phil Dawson is gone, and not signing him is considered a mistake by many observers. Watch for missed field goals this season in situations where Dawson was sure and dependable.
The one wild card for the Browns is their new coaching staff. Collectively, Chud, Turner and Horton appear to be an upgrade over last year's staff. The Browns have been overly predictable on both sides of the ball much of the last decade and have been easy for opponents to plan and play against. That is expected to change with this new Browns staff, known for attacking and trying different things.
Overall, we'll see a slight improvement for the team as young players mature and the teachings of the coaching staff take hold. But Browns are hindered by the fact that it will take some time to comfortably run new offensive and defensive schemes and, incredibly, by the fact that many teams did more to improve themselves in the offseason than the Browns, despite the fact that the Browns had the most cap room in free agency and prime drafting spots in many rounds .
GM Mike Lombardi decided to "pass" on the draft in the 4th and 5th rounds. Many observers consider that decision, for a team with so many needs, a big mistake, especially when many fine young players were still on the board and other teams considered this draft a strong one in depth of talent in later rounds.
Las Vegas, on balance, sees the Browns winning roughly as many games as last year, with teeny improvement, possibly. When one evaluates this team objectively, unencumbered by all the baggage of emotion that comes with being an upbeat Browns fan taken in by the team's PR efforts, a record of 5-11 or 6-10 sounds about right. Again.
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Never been impressed by preseason Vegas predictions. The game by game point spreads during the season is where they shine. Other than that they just rehash the same "opinions" ESPN and others do. And personally, I think the night cleaning lady come up with most of ESPN' s best work.
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The casinos, naturally, give preseason odds on things like the Browns winning the Super Bowl at like 60-1.
What I wonder though is whether or not those casinos are really willing to put their money on the line.
Example, you say that one of them says the Browns will win 2 games. Are they willing to bet on that? Can I make a bet against them on that? If I were to say, bet that the Browns would win 4 or more games, will they pay up if I win?
I mean, its easy right now to say "put a dollar down and if the Browns win the Super Bowl win 60". I would certainly expect the casino to win.
But will they say "put a dollar down on the the Browns to win more than 2 games, and if they do you win 2 or 3 dollars?" Will they handle that bet?
Maybe some of you do a lot more Sports book action than I do. I have only once ever put money down on a football game at a Nevada Casino....and believe it or not, I bet on the Browns to cover a point spread, and I won.
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Yeah, the big breakthrough teams of the past decade or so, including The Greatest Show on Turf, weren't predicted in Vegas. The positive vibes on the Browns are coming from guys like Bucky Brooks, Daniel Jeremiah, and other insider types who look at the team instead of just the draft.
A popular refrain, one Lombardi subscribes to, is, "All that matters is wins." Last I read it, it was saying that drafting corners high doesn't pay off in actual team improvement and the team showed restraint by getting their #2 corner where #2 corners SHOULD come from, round 3. Just about all this year's free agent #2 CBs, and there were a lot, were drafted in rounds 3 and 4.
To do otherwise is bad team building because it can't give you a return on investment. Corners are highly restricted by rules and dependent on pass rush, so it's already controversial to get your #1 guy in the top 10. Drafting a #2 corner in round 1 or 2 is like paying $100 for crusty sourdough because it's excellent bread. You get it home, it's still bread. Just like drafting a #2 corner.
That's what those two words -- "Team Building" -- are all about. You don't play to win the draft, you play to win games. And seen that way, this draft produced Mingo, Gordon, McFadden, Bess, Gilkey, Bryant, and 3rd and 4th picks in the 2014 draft. That's two starting WRs, a potentially elite edge rusher, a starting #2 corner, depth at guard and pass rusher, and stockpiled picks for a much better draft.
And anybody who thinks a lot of teams wouldn't have happily traded their first round pick for Josh Gordon? Wake up. Reality's calling. Josh Gordon is 23, huge, fast, and coming off an 800-yard season in the NFL. His value in April would've been mid first round at worst. Maybe higher.
The Browns are going to be a very good football team. They have star potential at all the right spots: pass rusher, #1 corner, left tackle, #1 WR... and hopefully quarterback. Weeden is truly the X-factor. If he steps up, Vegas will discover the Browns.
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This is too funny.
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Yeah, the big breakthrough teams of the past decade or so, including The Greatest Show on Turf, weren't predicted in Vegas. The positive vibes on the Browns are coming from guys like Bucky Brooks, Daniel Jeremiah, and other insider types who look at the team instead of just the draft.
A popular refrain, one Lombardi subscribes to, is, "All that matters is wins." Last I read it, it was saying that drafting corners high doesn't pay off in actual team improvement and the team showed restraint by getting their #2 corner where #2 corners SHOULD come from, round 3. Just about all this year's free agent #2 CBs, and there were a lot, were drafted in rounds 3 and 4.
To do otherwise is bad team building because it can't give you a return on investment. Corners are highly restricted by rules and dependent on pass rush, so it's already controversial to get your #1 guy in the top 10. Drafting a #2 corner in round 1 or 2 is like paying $100 for crusty sourdough because it's excellent bread. You get it home, it's still bread. Just like drafting a #2 corner.
That's what those two words -- "Team Building" -- are all about. You don't play to win the draft, you play to win games. And seen that way, this draft produced Mingo, Gordon, McFadden, Bess, Gilkey, Bryant, and 3rd and 4th picks in the 2014 draft. That's two starting WRs, a potentially elite edge rusher, a starting #2 corner, depth at guard and pass rusher, and stockpiled picks for a much better draft.
And anybody who thinks a lot of teams wouldn't have happily traded their first round pick for Josh Gordon? Wake up. Reality's calling. Josh Gordon is 23, huge, fast, and coming off an 800-yard season in the NFL. His value in April would've been mid first round at worst. Maybe higher.
The Browns are going to be a very good football team. They have star potential at all the right spots: pass rusher, #1 corner, left tackle, #1 WR... and hopefully quarterback. Weeden is truly the X-factor. If he steps up, Vegas will discover the Browns.
Yeah, the big breakthrough teams of the past decade or so, including The Greatest Show on Turf, weren't predicted in Vegas. The positive vibes on the Browns are coming from guys like Bucky Brooks, Daniel Jeremiah, and other insider types who look at the team instead of just the draft.
A popular refrain, one Lombardi subscribes to, is, "All that matters is wins." Last I read it, it was saying that drafting corners high doesn't pay off in actual team improvement and the team showed restraint by getting their #2 corner where #2 corners SHOULD come from, round 3. Just about all this year's free agent #2 CBs, and there were a lot, were drafted in rounds 3 and 4.
To do otherwise is bad team building because it can't give you a return on investment. Corners are highly restricted by rules and dependent on pass rush, so it's already controversial to get your #1 guy in the top 10. Drafting a #2 corner in round 1 or 2 is like paying $100 for crusty sourdough because it's excellent bread. You get it home, it's still bread. Just like drafting a #2 corner.
That's what those two words -- "Team Building" -- are all about. You don't play to win the draft, you play to win games. And seen that way, this draft produced Mingo, Gordon, McFadden, Bess, Gilkey, Bryant, and 3rd and 4th picks in the 2014 draft. That's two starting WRs, a potentially elite edge rusher, a starting #2 corner, depth at guard and pass rusher, and stockpiled picks for a much better draft.
And anybody who thinks a lot of teams wouldn't have happily traded their first round pick for Josh Gordon? Wake up. Reality's calling. Josh Gordon is 23, huge, fast, and coming off an 800-yard season in the NFL. His value in April would've been mid first round at worst. Maybe higher.
The Browns are going to be a very good football team. They have star potential at all the right spots: pass rusher, #1 corner, left tackle, #1 WR... and hopefully quarterback. Weeden is truly the X-factor. If he steps up, Vegas will discover the Browns.
What's scary is that Lombardi went on TV and railed against the Browns for taking Gordon, calling it a stupid move. Ah, the days of Tom Heckert...
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The casinos, naturally, give preseason odds on things like the Browns winning the Super Bowl at like 60-1.
What I wonder though is whether or not those casinos are really willing to put their money on the line.
Example, you say that one of them says the Browns will win 2 games. Are they willing to bet on that? Can I make a bet against them on that? If I were to say, bet that the Browns would win 4 or more games, will they pay up if I win?
I mean, its easy right now to say "put a dollar down and if the Browns win the Super Bowl win 60". I would certainly expect the casino to win.
But will they say "put a dollar down on the the Browns to win more than 2 games, and if they do you win 2 or 3 dollars?" Will they handle that bet?
Maybe some of you do a lot more Sports book action than I do. I have only once ever put money down on a football game at a Nevada Casino....and believe it or not, I bet on the Browns to cover a point spread, and I won.
The casinos, naturally, give preseason odds on things like the Browns winning the Super Bowl at like 60-1.
What I wonder though is whether or not those casinos are really willing to put their money on the line.
Example, you say that one of them says the Browns will win 2 games. Are they willing to bet on that? Can I make a bet against them on that? If I were to say, bet that the Browns would win 4 or more games, will they pay up if I win?
I mean, its easy right now to say "put a dollar down and if the Browns win the Super Bowl win 60". I would certainly expect the casino to win.
But will they say "put a dollar down on the the Browns to win more than 2 games, and if they do you win 2 or 3 dollars?" Will they handle that bet?
Maybe some of you do a lot more Sports book action than I do. I have only once ever put money down on a football game at a Nevada Casino....and believe it or not, I bet on the Browns to cover a point spread, and I won.
One of the interesting observations I had when checking out a Las Vegas sports betting area was seeing a bet on which college team will have the next big scandal. USC was top in odds and Ohio State was #2. But this was about a year before anyone had an inkling about the Jim Tressel scandal. The facdt that OSU was #2 -- somebody must have some nside info somewhere.
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The casinos, naturally, give preseason odds on things like the Browns winning the Super Bowl at like 60-1.
What I wonder though is whether or not those casinos are really willing to put their money on the line.
Example, you say that one of them says the Browns will win 2 games. Are they willing to bet on that? Can I make a bet against them on that? If I were to say, bet that the Browns would win 4 or more games, will they pay up if I win?
I mean, its easy right now to say "put a dollar down and if the Browns win the Super Bowl win 60". I would certainly expect the casino to win.
But will they say "put a dollar down on the the Browns to win more than 2 games, and if they do you win 2 or 3 dollars?" Will they handle that bet?
Maybe some of you do a lot more Sports book action than I do. I have only once ever put money down on a football game at a Nevada Casino....and believe it or not, I bet on the Browns to cover a point spread, and I won.
One of the interesting observations I had when checking out a Las Vegas sports betting area was seeing a bet on which college team will have the next big scandal. USC was top in odds and Ohio State was #2. But this was about a year before anyone had an inkling about the Jim Tressel scandal. The facdt that OSU was #2 -- somebody must have some nside info somewhere.
Skeptical2013 said:
One of the interesting observations I had when checking out a Las Vegas sports betting area was seeing a bet on which college team will have the next big scandal. USC was top in odds and Ohio State was #2. But this was about a year before anyone had an inkling about the Jim Tressel scandal. The facdt that OSU was #2 -- somebody must have some nside info somewhere.
I don't consider Gordon Gee shooting his stupid mouth off as a "scandal". That is just him being a goofball.
What about the Rutgers issue with their AD? What kind of odds did they give on Rutgers?
As far as a scandal, the hundreds of thousands...probably millions that are paid by SEC teams to their recruits and their families is a well known secret that, for some reason doesn't get enough run.
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Yeah, that first 45 yard FG miss is gonna suck
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Last year Vegas had the Eagles at better odds to win the Super Bowl than the Ravens.
They had the Lions ahead of the Falcons.
They had the Kansas City Chiefs with better odds than the Seattle Seahawks.
The Minnesota Vikings, 100-1, made the playoffs.
The Indianapolis Colts, 200-1, made the playoffs.
Shit happens once they start playing games.
Zombo
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Good Lord. Vegas picked us to suck in May, time to pack the shit up and hope for the Cavs. Can we please start suspending accounts for stupidity? I've never seen someone bitch so much before they've even opened training camp. My Vegas odds are 4/1 this is actually Ghoolie trying to sound intelligent with a new account.
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Skeptical2013 said:
One of the interesting observations I had when checking out a Las Vegas sports betting area was seeing a bet on which college team will have the next big scandal. USC was top in odds and Ohio State was #2. But this was about a year before anyone had an inkling about the Jim Tressel scandal. The facdt that OSU was #2 -- somebody must have some nside info somewhere.
I don't consider Gordon Gee shooting his stupid mouth off as a "scandal". That is just him being a goofball.
What about the Rutgers issue with their AD? What kind of odds did they give on Rutgers?
As far as a scandal, the hundreds of thousands...probably millions that are paid by SEC teams to their recruits and their families is a well known secret that, for some reason doesn't get enough run.
I don't consider Gordon Gee shooting his stupid mouth off as a "scandal". That is just him being a goofball.
What about the Rutgers issue with their AD? What kind of odds did they give on Rutgers?
As far as a scandal, the hundreds of thousands...probably millions that are paid by SEC teams to their recruits and their families is a well known secret that, for some reason doesn't get enough run.
LOL! Given all the scandals at Ohio State, Penn State and other Big Ten schools, amazing you would point the finger south.
The facts are that a lot of the best players in the nation play their high school ball in the south and decided to stay in the south and play for SEC teams. Seeing the Florida-Georgia game last fall was like attending a national college all star game, there was so much talent on the field, including about half a dozen defensive players better than Barky Mingo
Give other conferences some credit, though, including OSU, for pulling some of those kids away. Why any Florida or Georgia kid in his right mind wants to go to experience six months of dreary Ohio a year is beyond me.
However, in the national title game last year, and in those two title games where OSU played the SEC, we saw the difference between college football in the north and college football in the south.
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I'm just catching on, I guess. But are there a couple people who do nothing but shit on the Browns? On a Browns board? I've had plenty of complaints over the years but it seems like their only purpose. Seems like the wrong place.
I'm just catching on, I guess. But are there a couple people who do nothing but shit on the Browns? On a Browns board? I've had plenty of complaints over the years but it seems like their only purpose. Seems like the wrong place.
Good things about the Browns:
-- the coaching staff
-- the new offense
-- the upgraded talent at QB
-- the depth at RB
-- the OL and its depth
-- the DL and its depth
-- D'Quell Jackson
-- Joe Haden
-- the promise of of Josh Gordon
-- the improved depth at WR
-- Mike Holmgren and Pat Shurmur are history.
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I'm just catching on, I guess. But are there a couple people who do nothing but shit on the Browns? On a Browns board? I've had plenty of complaints over the years but it seems like their only purpose. Seems like the wrong place.
Good things about the Browns:
-- the coaching staff
-- the new offense
-- the upgraded talent at QB
-- the depth at RB
-- the OL and its depth
-- the DL and its depth
-- D'Quell Jackson
-- Joe Haden
-- the promise of of Josh Gordon
-- the improved depth at WR
-- Mike Holmgren and Pat Shurmur are history.
Yay!!! Nicely done.
Skeptical2013 said:
Good things about the Browns:
-- the coaching staff
-- the new offense
-- the upgraded talent at QB
-- the depth at RB
-- the OL and its depth
-- the DL and its depth
-- D'Quell Jackson
-- Joe Haden
-- the promise of of Josh Gordon
-- the improved depth at WR
-- Mike Holmgren and Pat Shurmur are history.
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I don't consider Gordon Gee shooting his stupid mouth off as a "scandal". That is just him being a goofball.
What about the Rutgers issue with their AD? What kind of odds did they give on Rutgers?
As far as a scandal, the hundreds of thousands...probably millions that are paid by SEC teams to their recruits and their families is a well known secret that, for some reason doesn't get enough run.
LOL! Given all the scandals at Ohio State, Penn State and other Big Ten schools, amazing you would point the finger south.
The facts are that a lot of the best players in the nation play their high school ball in the south and decided to stay in the south and play for SEC teams. Seeing the Florida-Georgia game last fall was like attending a national college all star game, there was so much talent on the field, including about half a dozen defensive players better than Barky Mingo
Give other conferences some credit, though, including OSU, for pulling some of those kids away. Why any Florida or Georgia kid in his right mind wants to go to experience six months of dreary Ohio a year is beyond me.
However, in the national title game last year, and in those two title games where OSU played the SEC, we saw the difference between college football in the north and college football in the south.
Skeptical2013 said:
LOL! Given all the scandals at Ohio State, Penn State and other Big Ten schools, amazing you would point the finger south.
The facts are that a lot of the best players in the nation play their high school ball in the south and decided to stay in the south and play for SEC teams. Seeing the Florida-Georgia game last fall was like attending a national college all star game, there was so much talent on the field, including about half a dozen defensive players better than Barky Mingo
Give other conferences some credit, though, including OSU, for pulling some of those kids away. Why any Florida or Georgia kid in his right mind wants to go to experience six months of dreary Ohio a year is beyond me.
However, in the national title game last year, and in those two title games where OSU played the SEC, we saw the difference between college football in the north and college football in the south.
We saw the work of money, HGH etc. at work. Are you really an ostrich about this? Clearly.
Besides, FYI, all those SEC coaches that have won titles? Ohio guys: Meyer, Miles, Saban
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Yeah, the big breakthrough teams of the past decade or so, including The Greatest Show on Turf, weren't predicted in Vegas. The positive vibes on the Browns are coming from guys like Bucky Brooks, Daniel Jeremiah, and other insider types who look at the team instead of just the draft.
A popular refrain, one Lombardi subscribes to, is, "All that matters is wins." Last I read it, it was saying that drafting corners high doesn't pay off in actual team improvement and the team showed restraint by getting their #2 corner where #2 corners SHOULD come from, round 3. Just about all this year's free agent #2 CBs, and there were a lot, were drafted in rounds 3 and 4.
To do otherwise is bad team building because it can't give you a return on investment. Corners are highly restricted by rules and dependent on pass rush, so it's already controversial to get your #1 guy in the top 10. Drafting a #2 corner in round 1 or 2 is like paying $100 for crusty sourdough because it's excellent bread. You get it home, it's still bread. Just like drafting a #2 corner.
That's what those two words -- "Team Building" -- are all about. You don't play to win the draft, you play to win games. And seen that way, this draft produced Mingo, Gordon, McFadden, Bess, Gilkey, Bryant, and 3rd and 4th picks in the 2014 draft. That's two starting WRs, a potentially elite edge rusher, a starting #2 corner, depth at guard and pass rusher, and stockpiled picks for a much better draft.
And anybody who thinks a lot of teams wouldn't have happily traded their first round pick for Josh Gordon? Wake up. Reality's calling. Josh Gordon is 23, huge, fast, and coming off an 800-yard season in the NFL. His value in April would've been mid first round at worst. Maybe higher.
The Browns are going to be a very good football team. They have star potential at all the right spots: pass rusher, #1 corner, left tackle, #1 WR... and hopefully quarterback. Weeden is truly the X-factor. If he steps up, Vegas will discover the Browns.
Yeah, the big breakthrough teams of the past decade or so, including The Greatest Show on Turf, weren't predicted in Vegas. The positive vibes on the Browns are coming from guys like Bucky Brooks, Daniel Jeremiah, and other insider types who look at the team instead of just the draft.
A popular refrain, one Lombardi subscribes to, is, "All that matters is wins." Last I read it, it was saying that drafting corners high doesn't pay off in actual team improvement and the team showed restraint by getting their #2 corner where #2 corners SHOULD come from, round 3. Just about all this year's free agent #2 CBs, and there were a lot, were drafted in rounds 3 and 4.
To do otherwise is bad team building because it can't give you a return on investment. Corners are highly restricted by rules and dependent on pass rush, so it's already controversial to get your #1 guy in the top 10. Drafting a #2 corner in round 1 or 2 is like paying $100 for crusty sourdough because it's excellent bread. You get it home, it's still bread. Just like drafting a #2 corner.
That's what those two words -- "Team Building" -- are all about. You don't play to win the draft, you play to win games. And seen that way, this draft produced Mingo, Gordon, McFadden, Bess, Gilkey, Bryant, and 3rd and 4th picks in the 2014 draft. That's two starting WRs, a potentially elite edge rusher, a starting #2 corner, depth at guard and pass rusher, and stockpiled picks for a much better draft.
And anybody who thinks a lot of teams wouldn't have happily traded their first round pick for Josh Gordon? Wake up. Reality's calling. Josh Gordon is 23, huge, fast, and coming off an 800-yard season in the NFL. His value in April would've been mid first round at worst. Maybe higher.
The Browns are going to be a very good football team. They have star potential at all the right spots: pass rusher, #1 corner, left tackle, #1 WR... and hopefully quarterback. Weeden is truly the X-factor. If he steps up, Vegas will discover the Browns.
Hey brother that is an absolute fantastic post! I like the way you think man, couldn't have said it any better myself. So goes Weeden, goes the browns!
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Good Lord. Vegas picked us to suck in May, time to pack the shit up and hope for the Cavs. Can we please start suspending accounts for stupidity? I've never seen someone bitch so much before they've even opened training camp. My Vegas odds are 4/1 this is actually Ghoolie trying to sound intelligent with a new account.
Good Lord. Vegas picked us to suck in May, time to pack the shit up and hope for the Cavs. Can we please start suspending accounts for stupidity? I've never seen someone bitch so much before they've even opened training camp. My Vegas odds are 4/1 this is actually Ghoolie trying to sound intelligent with a new account.
LMFAO!! Ghoolie trying to sound intelligent....... and FAILING HAHAHAHA
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Pre-season odds are pretty meaningless. Odds are set to try to generate equal betting on all teams. That is why odds adjust. If the number gets too heavy in one direction, they adjust to get more betting on the dog, and lower the odds on other teams to make the reward not worth the risk. It works the other way if the dog is getting the heavy money.
Odds are for betting purposes. The aren't for predicting outcome.
Any idiot can say the Patriots have a better chance of winning the Superbowl, so how do you make sure people lay money on the Browns?? You make the payout more attractive.
Remember, the book wants equal betting on both sides...they can't lose in that case. They have the losers money to pay the winners and the winners pay the vig to the book...depending on the book, it might be 6-10% .
The book doesn't want to be sitting there on Saturday or Sunday rooting for some team to cover. Their mission is to be there not really careing who covers and who doesn't. It's funny, the bookie is the only one in this whole relationship who doesn't like to gamble with their money.
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Yay!!! Nicely done.
Skeptical2013 said:
Good things about the Browns:
-- the coaching staff
-- the new offense
-- the upgraded talent at QB
-- the depth at RB
-- the OL and its depth
-- the DL and its depth
-- D'Quell Jackson
-- Joe Haden
-- the promise of of Josh Gordon
-- the improved depth at WR
-- Mike Holmgren and Pat Shurmur are history.
Yay!!! Nicely done.
Gee, maybe I'll step out and take a bow!
I am not a Browns hater. Far from it. I've been a fan of the team for decades. But I do judge the team objectively.
There is a psychological angle to all this. I think I represent many thousands of Browns fans who are so frustrated by the ineptitude that spans well over a decade now and who looked to Haslam and his new approach with great hope, only to be let down by the hiring of Lombardi, a mediocre free agency and draft, and Haslam's business problems.
We were given the impression it would be a new day for Cleveland football and the decision making so far has been questionable, to say the least.
Let's use the decision to sign cornerback Chris Owens as one example. Dimitri Patterson was horrible last year as the Browns' primary backup at DB. He was the prime guy off the bunch for the nickel defense. Now Owens has this role. While Chud says he likes Owens, the facts are the guy was a disaster in Atlanta.
Below are two views from the media about Owens in Altanta. There are other articles out there bashing Owens, too. For a team whose backup CB got burned so badly last year and really hurt the team in critical situations, you would think they would add quality depth in the secondary via free agency and draft. But, no, the best they could do was Owens, a guy so bad he was demoted from the nickel role and even struggled in dime packages. This is a disaster waiting to happen.
If I see all this, why can't Bornws management. Yes, I'm incredulous about it!
ITEM ABOUT OWENS BY A WRITER FOR THE ATLANTA CONSTIUTION
It Gets Much Worse
Even though Jerry will get all the criticism at the top, he’s at least still on the team with one more crack at it. The same can’t really be said for the rest of the draft picks. Chris Owens will definitely go down as one of TD’s worst picks as well. The Falcons GM spent a 3rd round pick on a fairly unknown cornerback who not only didn’t produce or get on the field, but is not even with the team anymore. Owens had his best year as a rookie when filled in late in the season alongside Brent Grimes to do a pretty good job. Those two were manning the outside when the Falcons needed to win 3 straight (two on the road) to break that long-dreaded back-to-back streak.
However, it only got worse from there. He (Owens) was replaced by Dunta Robinson in free agency and could never get back his rookie form. He struggled mightily in the nickel, highlighted by a dreadful performance in the “Debacle in the Dome” (even though he was unfairly solely scapegoated at times). He got beat out by Robert McClain for the nickel in 2012 and the rest is history. He was allowed to walk to Cleveland in free agency, and the draft pick is officially rendered a bust.
SB NATION ON OWENS
While he flashed brilliance at times—remember him catch Percy Harvin from behind on that kick return?—Owens saw his playing time slowly diminish in the last couple of years. In 2012, he was passed by Robert McClain on the depth chart and really only played as a part-time cornerback and ace special teamer. Certainly his speed and athleticism will be missed, but the Falcons are going to roll even younger than the 26-year-old Owens throughout the secondary this season, for better or for worse.
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