It is time
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COMMENTARY | The 2013 Cleveland Browns aren't making the playoffs.
That fact was painfully hammered home in the team's 27-11 defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Don't take my word for it. Those in the Cleveland locker room know the score. Safety T.J. Ward after the loss: "I'm tired of losing, that's it. I'm tired of losing ... in this manner."
Ward on if the Browns are right now a playoff team: "Two blowouts. So, no, we're not ready."
Cleveland putting veteran quarterback Jason Campbell back onto the field in 2013 would be cruel and unusual punishment. Campbell has bruised ribs that haven't yet fully healed, and he suffered a concussion against Pittsburgh. The guy, simply stated, shouldn't play professional football again this season.
Then there's Brandon Weeden. I have been one of many to beat that dead horse into the ground throughout this fall. I have no desire to further bury Weeden, so I'll keep it short and say that we've seen more than enough from him. He can't go on Sundays, at least not with this team.
There is, following yesterday's effort from the Browns, not a part of me that would be shocked to see this team finish the campaign at 5-11 or even 4-12. They don't have a QB. They don't have a run game. Their defense is only going to get more disinterested and more disheartened with every quarter.
Take a look at the list of available quarterbacks Cleveland will now pick from heading into the contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars. It is, no offense to those individuals, the bargain basement of players who can't get gigs anywhere else in the NFL. There is no savior out there to be found.
This all brings me back to Tim Tebow. I first publicly mentioned the notion of the Browns picking up Tebow a month ago, before Campbell played so well against the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens, and before the Browns had a shot at competing for a playoff spot and possibly even for the division title. That Campbell is now gone, battered, broken and in desperate need of rest, and the playoff dream has died a painful death.
Professional sports are about winning, of course, but they are also about entertaining those who spend their money and/or their time to watch inside stadiums or via television. You would have to pay me to get me to even consider watching Weeden lead the Cleveland offense onto the field against Jacksonville this coming Sunday. It's likely going to be another cold and windy day along Lake Erie, and my time could be better spent.
Outside of those who worship at the altar of Tebow, most would agree that he isn't the answer for the Browns, and also that with him comes the inevitable circus. Neither of those facts matter to me. Bring me the circus, bring me Tebow, and bring me a little bit of fun when it comes to the Browns that otherwise won't exist.
Cleveland absolutely has to sign a quarterback ASAP. The team is currently one Weeden injury away from putting wide receiver Davone Bess under center. Who out there makes for such a better option that the Browns giving Tebow a shot is such an absurd idea?
Maybe, just maybe, the 26-year old provides an injection of life into a side that certainly appears on the road to losing to the Jaguars at home, and perhaps Tebow makes things exciting when Cleveland faces two of his former teams, the New England Patriots and New York Jets. I will ask the exact question I asked in October: What do the Browns have to lose in giving Tebow a shot? Games? They've lost five of their past six, and they haven't won a single contest this season in which Weeden has started.
I'm not alone. Go on Twitter and search "Tebow" and "Browns," and you'll see person after person calling upon the team to make the move. The majority of Cleveland fans I know and have spoken with in the past 24 hours realize that Tebow isn't leading this franchise to a first Super Bowl. Those people still deserve better than what they've gotten from a second-year 30-year old QB who may never again win a NFL game.
Give those people a reason to watch the rest of your season, Browns, and give them Tebow. There is no longer any argument to not go with a gimmick. The AFC North championship and Wild Card spot are unattainable for Cleveland.
At least go down swinging, Browns.
For more: Tebow for Browns, No HOF for Modell, Villains of the Browns
Zac has been following Cleveland sports since a little before his birth, and thus his heart breaks a little more with every year. He has been covering the Cleveland Browns, New York Giants and the NFL for Yahoo Sports since 2010
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I agree that a QB needs to be signed, but not Tebow. Not fucking tebow.
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If we're going to see a QB go 4-21, because from here on out we are, I'd rather it be the QB who still somehow wins that way.
Weeden has a -27% chance of winning a game.
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It is, no offense to those individuals, the bargain basement of players who can't get gigs anywhere else in the NFL. There is no savior out there to be found.
This all brings me back to Tim Tebow.Why don't you go join him in the church that he is going to be preaching at.....for THAT is where Tebow should be. Not on a football field. Why Tebow? There are several other Heisman winning QBs out that that are available.
We could get say:
Troy Smith
Matt Leinert........both former Heisman winners I would rather have. At least they have started in the league.
Jason White
Eric Crouch
....both of these who probably never played in the NFL could do as well.
And Jamarcus Russell, former #1 overall. He is out there too.
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I wouldn't mind Tebow. It would at least add some entertainment to the game when we lost.
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First, I am definitely not a Tebow believer.
Having said that...why the fuck not? Is someone afraid that putting Tebow at QB is
somehow going to embarrass the Browns (any further)? Is it possible to embarrass
the Browns any further than the slop we've watched over the last 2 weeks?
Can he be any worse than Caleb Hanie? Or Weedon?
Put it this way. Next Sunday (and every other Sunday until the end of the season)
my plans do not include watching the Browns. Sorry, but I just can't watch any more
shit football. However, put the freakshow known as Tebow behind center I would
tune in, at least for a half. Hell, he can't do any fucking worse than the putrid stench
we'll be trotting out for the rest of the season. Bring on the circus!
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It is, no offense to those individuals, the bargain basement of players who can't get gigs anywhere else in the NFL. There is no savior out there to be found.
This all brings me back to Tim Tebow.Why don't you go join him in the church that he is going to be preaching at.....for THAT is where Tebow should be. Not on a football field. Why Tebow? There are several other Heisman winning QBs out that that are available.
We could get say:
Troy Smith
Matt Leinert........both former Heisman winners I would rather have. At least they have started in the league.
Jason White
Eric Crouch
....both of these who probably never played in the NFL could do as well.
And Jamarcus Russell, former #1 overall. He is out there too.
It is, no offense to those individuals, the bargain basement of players who can't get gigs anywhere else in the NFL. There is no savior out there to be found.
This all brings me back to Tim Tebow.
Why don't you go join him in the church that he is going to be preaching at.....for THAT is where Tebow should be. Not on a football field. Why Tebow? There are several other Heisman winning QBs out that that are available.
We could get say:
Troy Smith
Matt Leinert........both former Heisman winners I would rather have. At least they have started in the league.
Jason White
Eric Crouch
....both of these who probably never played in the NFL could do as well.
And Jamarcus Russell, former #1 overall. He is out there too.
Because he wins games and they don't.
I'm sorry you have a problem with his religion, but get the fuck over it. You sound like a butthurt child, just like the rest of the detractors.
If you want to talk about him being a bad QB, I'm all for it. But his faith has nothing to do with his game.
I'm awesome, and I fuck dolphins. Ghoolie 12/2/2012: I have absolutely no skills, training or pride -
ok, not for a blown coverage by the steelers tebow and the broncos would not have won THAT game.
the whole team was modified to fit his game. dummy down, let him run and maybe let him throw 15 times a game.
EVERYONE KNOWS IT, ALL GMs in the NFL won't touch him, hell i bet you half the CFL wouldn't want the guy. but you would?
HE SUCKS ASS! just because you have some man crush on tebow like PoG had on TR? you let it go.
throw weeden in there until his arms fall off, let him get beat the fuck up for stealing this franchise's money and have holmgren play center for him.
for someone who claims to know soooo much about football you sure have blinders on for any discussion about tim tebow. you tebow and skip bayless should do a circle jerk together.
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ok, not for a blown coverage by the steelers tebow and the broncos would not have won THAT game.
the whole team was modified to fit his game. dummy down, let him run and maybe let him throw 15 times a game.
EVERYONE KNOWS IT, ALL GMs in the NFL won't touch him, hell i bet you half the CFL wouldn't want the guy. but you would?
HE SUCKS ASS! just because you have some man crush on tebow like PoG had on TR? you let it go.
throw weeden in there until his arms fall off, let him get beat the fuck up for stealing this franchise's money and have holmgren play center for him.
for someone who claims to know soooo much about football you sure have blinders on for any discussion about tim tebow. you tebow and skip bayless should do a circle jerk together.
ok, not for a blown coverage by the steelers tebow and the broncos would not have won THAT game.
the whole team was modified to fit his game. dummy down, let him run and maybe let him throw 15 times a game.
EVERYONE KNOWS IT, ALL GMs in the NFL won't touch him, hell i bet you half the CFL wouldn't want the guy. but you would?
HE SUCKS ASS! just because you have some man crush on tebow like PoG had on TR? you let it go.
throw weeden in there until his arms fall off, let him get beat the fuck up for stealing this franchise's money and have holmgren play center for him.
for someone who claims to know soooo much about football you sure have blinders on for any discussion about tim tebow. you tebow and skip bayless should do a circle jerk together.
I never claimed it was a smart football move. Nobody in here has ever claimed that.
As a matter of fact, I clearly stated that it is a very dumb football move.
But we are looking at the possibility of losing out the rest of the season. Weeden has won zero games this year as a starter and we've dropped five of the last six.
Ticket sales will plummet just like they did in Detroit, just like in Jacksonville, and just like they did a couple seasons ago for us (lest we forget about the near blackout?).
We already dumb down the offense for Weeden, so there's no change there. Gordon and Carmeron become non factors with Weeden in, so there would be no change there. Our run game is awful no matter who's in at QB, so there's no change there.
Tebow would at least put fans in the stands.
You say I have blinders on for him, but I think it's quite the opposite. I'm willing to admit that he's a garbage QB. I know that he is. But he's polarizing and I'd love to see you try and deny it because I have an abundance of facts and stats to prove otherwise.
There's a number of CFL teams that want Tebow but he won't play there. There's a number of NFL teams that want Tebow but he won't switch positions. It's a perfect scenario. We're taking our QB in the draft no matter what. This is a 5 game contract. If Tebow wants to prove he has anything left (or had anything at all), now would be the time.
If we throw Weeden on the field as a starter for the next five games, you can bet there will be some (a lot of) very angry fans. Do you deny that?
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no. not at all.
weeden deserves to start the next five games and get his licks, just like we know we'll probably lose out the rest of the year, which in my book at this stage of the game would be best for the team given the upcoming draft.
the fans are already angry. after hoyer went down there was a collective gasp of air being let out of everyone of knowing that we'd have to rely on the other 2 then backups which meant almost certain doom.
i don't think haslam is that concerned about filling seats right now as he is about his personnel picks. i'm more angry about our coaching staff than anything else so far. hell sign tebow. bring THAT circus to town if all you care about is having ticket sales.
i know a lot of teams want him in the NFL if he were to switch to TE or FB or whatever but he won't, so there goes that argument.
hopefully between weeden and campbell we can last out the year w/o having to sign anyone else.
also polarizing is not a strong enough word for tebow. besides talk about angry fans. half the people wouldn't show up just because he's playing.
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Campbell's probably only going to miss one game maximum. We should just finish the season with Campbell and Weeden.
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Campbell's probably only going to miss one game maximum. We should just finish the season with Campbell and Weeden.
Campbell's probably only going to miss one game maximum. We should just finish the season with Campbell and Weeden.
yes and then cut them both the day the season ends.
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It is, no offense to those individuals, the bargain basement of players who can't get gigs anywhere else in the NFL. There is no savior out there to be found.
This all brings me back to Tim Tebow.
Why don't you go join him in the church that he is going to be preaching at.....for THAT is where Tebow should be. Not on a football field. Why Tebow? There are several other Heisman winning QBs out that that are available.
We could get say:
Troy Smith
Matt Leinert........both former Heisman winners I would rather have. At least they have started in the league.
Jason White
Eric Crouch
....both of these who probably never played in the NFL could do as well.
And Jamarcus Russell, former #1 overall. He is out there too.
Because he wins games and they don't.
I'm sorry you have a problem with his religion, but get the fuck over it. You sound like a butthurt child, just like the rest of the detractors.
If you want to talk about him being a bad QB, I'm all for it. But his faith has nothing to do with his game.
Because he wins games and they don't.
I'm sorry you have a problem with his religion, but get the fuck over it. You sound like a butthurt child, just like the rest of the detractors.
If you want to talk about him being a bad QB, I'm all for it. But his faith has nothing to do with his game.
I simply brought up his faith as that is where he should probably be going to earn his keep......not playing QB. Because he is a bad QB.
It sounds like YOU are the one that is butthurt about that very sensible suggestion.
Do you have something against him preaching his faith.....doing something he may clearly be more apt for than playing NFL quarterback.
With other guys we might say "go sell insurance", "go be a high school coach" "go sell cars for a living" , "go announce college games".
Its just with Tebow we all have been made aware that his path may lie in another direction.
I am merely suggesting he take that direction....Why would YOU object to him going out preaching? Are you Muslim or something?
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Tim Tebow is literally just as bad as Weeden when it comes to the core of being a QB at the NFL level. It's pretty much common sense to see the only reason he won football games is because an offense was made just for him. The only chance the kid has to be successful would entail changing an entire offensive scheme 12 weeks into the season. It's just stupid and irrelevant at this point. I literally hate Weeden's face but Tebow would play just as badly if not worse.
You can quote me first as saying he'll sign as a graduate assistant coach at Ohio State.
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Because he wins games and they don't.
I'm sorry you have a problem with his religion, but get the fuck over it. You sound like a butthurt child, just like the rest of the detractors.
If you want to talk about him being a bad QB, I'm all for it. But his faith has nothing to do with his game.
I simply brought up his faith as that is where he should probably be going to earn his keep......not playing QB. Because he is a bad QB.
It sounds like YOU are the one that is butthurt about that very sensible suggestion.
Do you have something against him preaching his faith.....doing something he may clearly be more apt for than playing NFL quarterback.
With other guys we might say "go sell insurance", "go be a high school coach" "go sell cars for a living" , "go announce college games".
Its just with Tebow we all have been made aware that his path may lie in another direction.
I am merely suggesting he take that direction....Why would YOU object to him going out preaching? Are you Muslim or something?
I simply brought up his faith as that is where he should probably be going to earn his keep......not playing QB. Because he is a bad QB.
It sounds like YOU are the one that is butthurt about that very sensible suggestion.
Do you have something against him preaching his faith.....doing something he may clearly be more apt for than playing NFL quarterback.
With other guys we might say "go sell insurance", "go be a high school coach" "go sell cars for a living" , "go announce college games".
Its just with Tebow we all have been made aware that his path may lie in another direction.
I am merely suggesting he take that direction....Why would YOU object to him going out preaching? Are you Muslim or something?
I don't fall for your attempts to shift the focus of blame like others here do.
Your first sentence about Tebow is about his religion, clearly it was what your mind first jumped to. Only after taking a swing at his religious background did you attempt to qualify it by saying he's a bad QB.
For being a so-called judge, you tend to jump to your own conclusions rather quickly and dismiss the opinions of others as opposed to being open-minded. I'm starting to see why you "used to be" a judge.
For the record, Muslim is an Arabic word meaning "one who submits to God". Therefore any practitioner of a monotheistic religion is technically a Muslim.
I know you meant it as a shock term, because in your mind "Muslim" equals "terrorist".
I'm sure what you meant to ask was "Are you a follower of Islam?" in which case I would respond by asking "which denomination?", of which there are about 40... all with slightly different views and beliefs.
I guess where you're from there really is a separation of church and state, because on the topic of religion you are woefully ignorant.
I'm awesome, and I fuck dolphins. Ghoolie 12/2/2012: I have absolutely no skills, training or pride -
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He'd probably help the run game. Passing can't get much worse than with weeden. Bring him in.
I just can't watch weeden play. Its just too infuriating.
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I simply brought up his faith as that is where he should probably be going to earn his keep......not playing QB. Because he is a bad QB.
It sounds like YOU are the one that is butthurt about that very sensible suggestion.
Do you have something against him preaching his faith.....doing something he may clearly be more apt for than playing NFL quarterback.
With other guys we might say "go sell insurance", "go be a high school coach" "go sell cars for a living" , "go announce college games".
Its just with Tebow we all have been made aware that his path may lie in another direction.
I am merely suggesting he take that direction....Why would YOU object to him going out preaching? Are you Muslim or something?
I don't fall for your attempts to shift the focus of blame like others here do.
Your first sentence about Tebow is about his religion, clearly it was what your mind first jumped to. Only after taking a swing at his religious background did you attempt to qualify it by saying he's a bad QB.
For being a so-called judge, you tend to jump to your own conclusions rather quickly and dismiss the opinions of others as opposed to being open-minded. I'm starting to see why you "used to be" a judge.
For the record, Muslim is an Arabic word meaning "one who submits to God". Therefore any practitioner of a monotheistic religion is technically a Muslim.
I know you meant it as a shock term, because in your mind "Muslim" equals "terrorist".
I'm sure what you meant to ask was "Are you a follower of Islam?" in which case I would respond by asking "which denomination?", of which there are about 40... all with slightly different views and beliefs.
I guess where you're from there really is a separation of church and state, because on the topic of religion you are woefully ignorant.
the topic of religion you are woefully ignorant.
religion is for warmongers and suckers.
the aggressive and submissive.
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the topic of religion you are woefully ignorant.
religion is for warmongers and suckers.
the aggressive and submissive.
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If the Browns win Sunday some folks will be talking wildcard again....
I think the only QB from this year that'll be on next years roster is Hoyer, which I approve of.
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