Homotron said:

Just a FYI but what you said above is basically what Mendenhall is/was saying. He just didn't go about saying it very well.

Um... No. That is NOT "basically what he said".

He hinted on a conspiracy theory for 9/11 and sympathized with Osama saying "We've never heard him speak" and that "we havn't heard his side".

Extremely ignorant comments that would offend most Americans. I don't see how you can compare that to a veteran questioning a celebration of death. That was a very small part of his idiotic statements and isn't the part that's being criticized.

Asked a friend of mine about #3 as a fun trivia question... first name he said was David Woodley. He was correct.

Started Super Bowl XVII vs. the Redskins for the Dolphins (youngest starting QB ever in SB at age 24). Died in 2003.

Amazing, huge framed photo of the Turkey Jones suplex. All black and white except for the orange of his uniform. Signed to me "thanks for being a life long Browns fan... Joe "Turkey" Jones #64, "Steeler Killer". Pic of him signing it on the backside.

My dad is awesome

In Hillis' two biggest games of the season Mack lined up against Ngata and Wilfork... two of the very best in the business. Two total sacks between both games, neither by Vince or Haloti

Sorry but the two biggest rating draw in the National Football League are Brett Favre and the Dallas Cowboys (the largest fan following in the country). Remember ESPN is national and they cater stories that will attract the most attention from the most people.

Some love for JC.... I admire both he and Mo Williams for coming forward and saying they want to be in Cleveland and their hearts are with the fans and the city... plus I believe them.

"Some athletes just don’t get enough credit, while others steal the spotlight for dirty deeds. Time spent dedicated to drama and wrongdoings among our “heros” and “leaders” and “celebrities” completely outweighs the time spent congratulating those truly genuine athletes who do great things.

Josh Cribbs is an example of such an athlete.

He would probably disagree, or at least be modest in his disagreement, because that’s just the kind of guy he is. He would never claim to be a hero or a king. Even though I’m sure quite a few fans in Cleveland would argue to the contrary.

Not only is Josh Cribbs an excellent athlete for the Cleveland Browns organization (14 receptions, 185 yards, 1 TD and a 65 yard longest punt return this season thus far), he’s a stand-up man.

Last season when his contract was up, he, unlike some athletes from Cleveland, begged to stay. He was not being offered anything close to what he deserved, considering his weekly contributions to both sides of the ball, and waited for the best offer from the front office. He Tweeted constantly about how he wanted to stay, how he loved Cleveland and his fans, and how he knew he deserved a better contract.

Absolutely no fan disagreed with him. “PAY THE MAN” was a hashtag statement for weeks during his contract negotiation.

Cribbs is also unlike a few key (former) Cleveland athletes in that he’s supporting the area’s teams wherever he goes. I have yet to see an interview where he’s not wearing either Kent State University attire, an Indians cap, a Cavaliers cap or some type of Browns outerwear.

Last weekend at Kent State‘s home game against Ball State, Cribbs donated back the $100,000 he (estimated) was granted as a scholarship for his athletics and academics. KSU retired his jersey and dedicated the game to him. Josh Cribbs Day was a huge success: approximately 15,165 tickets were sold and Cribbs donated a good sum of money to the Rootstown, Ohio youth football league.

The night before Josh Cribbs Day, Cribbs held a benefit Halloween party at Fortress Nightclub in Cleveland where a portion proceeds went to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Here’s the flyer he handed out.

In the blog WaitingForNextYear, post writer Scott gives a great summation of the event held for Cribbs on Saturday at Dix Stadium in Kent.

At the event, Cribbs happily spoke to many news outlets and encouraged others in the NFL to give back to schools.

According to the post by Scott, Cribbs is only the fourth player to have his jersey retired at KSU. He joins Jim Corrigal, Eric Wilkerson and nine-time Pro Bowl linebacker Jack Lambert. Scott said that though hailing from the Washington D.C. area, Cribbs’ alma mater provides Cleveland fans with a link to consider him “one of us.”

Scott believes, and I agree, that fortunately, the Pro Bowler has returned the favor by embracing Cleveland as “home.”

Recently in an interview with Jim Rome, Cribbs impressed the need for a new leader in Cleveland after LeBron’s departure. He stated that he does think Cleveland fans are looking for someone to fill that void. However, he did urge fans not to select him, or pick that one guy. “The city of Cleveland is more than just one person. And it’s more than just one team… Wins heal everything and if we could just win something they’ll love us forever.”

Now that’s a team player, a good athlete and a good man. Cribbs is a well-spoken individual who, to me, is real. He’s not out to win people over, impress or anything like that. He doesn’t have to try. He’s just a genuinely good person. Professors here at Kent State would back this up in a second, as well.

The NFL and world of sports in general needs more athletes like Josh Cribbs.

http://prsportswatch.wordpress.com/2010/11/02/joshcribbs/

Great post Earl, i would love to see more like it... X's and O's are great fun.

I'm trying to learn some of the X's and O's better as I never actually played football but I have been watching it for years and have figured things out in that time... a couple of questions about your breakdown.

1) Would that be a power I formation? I understood that would be an offset standard I... I thought a power or stacked I was when a WR was pulled and a THIRD back added to the form. What I can see is Center/QB/FB/RB which i thought was a normal I.

2) Would that be 8 in the box? It looks like the safety is lined up well outside of the line... I thought the box was within the tackles/TE's.

Not nitpicking... I do radio broadcasts for high school football in a small town and am studying up on a game I never played... but again, GREAT post... would love to see more like it down the line!

Mangini quoted as saying so... if you need confirmation here is a twitter feed link http://twitter.com/#!/search/carlton%20mitchell

AP writer Tom Withers also posted

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/09000...2/Player-safety

This video give multiple examples on illegal and legal ways to hit hard... showing that you don't have to launch with your helmet or completely back down to keep from being fined and suspended.

It also clearly states that just because there is NO helmet to helmet contact... you can still illegally hit a player using your shoulder pads or forearm to the head/chin such as the case with the Harrison hit on Massaquoi.

You can't tell me that a player of Harrison's skill level can't adjust to use his shoulder such as the positive examples provided in the NFL video to its players.

Obviously with Harrison under a microscope now the team didn't like what they saw on the gametape watching him on every play... also, it's good to see Mangini talk about Carlton Mitchel making progress and maybe getting time if MMass and Cribbs are limited!

Alex Mack questions James Harrison

BEREA, Ohio -- Browns center Alex Mack says Steelers linebacker James Harrison led with his helmet on more than just the two plays that sidelined two of his Cleveland teammates with concussions.

Mack said Harrison, who was fined $75,000 for his hard hit on Browns wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi and knocked out Josh Cribbs on a running play, speared running back Peyton Hillis when he was on the ground.

"The helmet-to-helmet with Cribbs is a little more innocent, to some extent," Mack said Thursday. "You're still leading with your head. It's a dumb move no matter what you do. If you watch the game film, [Harrison] was doing that to everyone on every play. People would be on the ground and he would try to spear them. There's a play on film where Peyton Hillis is tackled and he comes up and spears him. It's like you're being cheap, you're being dirty."

Mack said he is pleased with the media attention being given to the helmet-to-helmet hits and believes the league should do all it can to protect and educate players.

"A lot of the arguments right now are people are taught from Pee Wee football that this is how you play," Mack said. "Well, we need to change that. You can't be breaking your head. There are better ways to tackle. We're taught you're not supposed to spear with the top of your head."

Shortly before his hit on Massaquoi, Harrison blasted Cribbs, who ran the ball out of the WildDawg formation. Neither Cribbs nor Massaquoi has practiced this week. Harrison returned to practice on Thursday, one after he threatened to retire because of the league's crackdown on dangerous hits.

Cleveland coach Eric Mangini said Cribbs and Massaquoi are making progress and he's hopeful they can be back at practice on Friday. Both players have been around the team this week at the Browns' facility.

Cribbs, who also returns punts and kickoffs, was struck on the left side of his head by Harrison on a running play in Sunday's game. Massaquoi got drilled by Harrison after dropping a pass over the middle -- a vicious hit that resulted in the fine. The NFL ruled that the hit on Cribbs was legal.

Mangini has been pleased with the progress of rookie wide receiver Carlton Mitchell, who could get his first playing time this week at New Orleans.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5710617

So.... are Steelers fans generally endorsing his decision to have a hissy fit, skip practice and have his agent tell the press he is seriously considering retirement because he can't alter the way he tackles? Seems like a pretty selfish move and not a team move.

I don't agree with TJ Ward's hit... I think it was a dumb move that could have been avoided. But the kid is a ROOKIE and he's handling his situation like a class-act compared to what your beloved "Silverback" is doing. http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/..._change_hi.html

I believe a few said that Harrison's "retirement" comments were simply "tongue-in-cheek" and us "Retards" just don't know how he interviews and cant understand how facetious he is being.

Well, if that's STILL the case... then he is officially becoming a distraction to your winning team and looks like a flailing arm tube-man to the league as he makes a spectacle out of himself. I'm sure your "best linebacker in the league" and catalyst for your elite defense missing practices and letting his agent give threats of retirement to the press is a great stride in gelling the team for a Super Bowl run.

This looks like a toddler holding his breath after mommy took away his favorite toy because he was hitting the other kids with it.

@spunkonmyback-dpoy said:

Physics only go so far. Hillis is quoted as saying it's just part of football and it happens. "They were vicious hits, no doubt about it. But you can’t blame the guy. That’s the name of the game. You just have to roll with the punches. ”There is a difference between intentionally leading with your helmet and helmet-to-helmet contact just happening.

Should the NFL make a rule banning running backs from lowering their head to hit defenders? If defenders can't hit with their helmet how is it any safer for running backs to do it?

And Ben Watson said it was horrible and Harrison should be fined the "maximum penalty" for a ridiculous hit... I don't care what my own teams players are saying when trying to make my mind up about something. I love my girlfriend but when she says "video games are stupid" I don't say "oh, I like her... so it must be true".

Runningbacks lowering their heads is a completely different creature... there's one guy with the ball and all the defenders know where he is and when he's closing in. When the back nears them they can brace and prepare to tackle him. When you HAVE the ball, there are 5 LBs/Safeties ready to blast you at any moment in the middle of the field and you can't know where they all are and can be blindsided, especially if you're a receiver with your concentration on a ball in the air.

Physics can only take you so far? These linebackers have been playing for YEARS and a lot of the time most of their lives, they can make adjustments to take down a guy without raising up to give their chin a helmet-uppercut.

@spunkonmyback-dpoy said:

So you don't care that NFL players (players who if anything would have biased against Harrison) believe these fines/suspensions threats are BS and Harrison is getting fined for playing football.

As you just made very evident, you have absolutley nothing to say against Docket defedning Harrison. Docket has NOTHING to gain by defending Harrison. If anything he opens himself up to potential fines. He obviously felt strongly enough to voice his opinion and risk his own wallet to defend Harrison. And you have nothing of substance or meaning to respond to what he did.

Ive seen Tedy Brusci talk multiple times today on how its BS that these players end up leading with their helmets trying to blow guys up. His argument is that "World Class Athletes" such as Harrison are conditioned and trained well enough to be able to alter their paths when going after these receivers. You can't tell me that the former Defensive Player of the Year and "best defender in the league" as proclaimed by some of you is incapable and not skilled enough to alter his target on some of these hits.

Even on bang-bang plays they have time to turn slightly and throw their shoulder instead of their helmet, or wrap a guy up easily (because he's "defenseless" and not paying attention) I've also seen many other players say that this needs to be done such as Rodney Harrison and a couple others I can't recall. These hits are already illegal, they're just enforcing them much stricter on a case-by-case basis.

I also hate the "It's football! Take off your dress because its all about HITTING AND CONTACT!". Well then lets screw all of the rules that promote safety... to hell with roughing the passer, fair catches, crack-backs, albert haynesworth stepping on peoples faces, crushing a punter who is basically doing the splits with no padding.

Times change, safety is important to keep these guys alive... get over it.

@brownindian said:

I would put the Steelers above Ravens just cos they won over the Ravens (also cos i hate the Ravens more).

Fail

Every Browns loss is on this list... and they had an opportunity to defeat each of them.

Of course, in the end... it IS the record that matters. You don't get a WC spot with moral victories.

Still like the progress though.

@bucky-biceps said:

First off, our defense shut you out in the second half.

I wouldn't call it lucky on that TD either. Williams has said he knew exactly what he was doing when he tipped that ball up.

Yeah, we fumbled on a chance to make the game 24-14... you threw a pick when the game was 14-3.

You outplayed us in the first half, and we outplayed you in the second half... difference was that we played better and were able to walk away with a win.

BTW- How many times did I say Delhomme would blow it for you?

He knew exactly what he was doing? Yes, the reach-back tip up and grab falling out of the end zone is a very popular high percentage play that doesn't require luck. It was an awful throw that got bailed out by the quick hands of Williams, I also am pretty sure haden got his hands on it too so that adds to the factor of luck for Tampa.

If you think JD was the sole reason for this loss you're kidding yourself. He did play bad, but threw a 40 yard TD pass and completed better than 50% of his passes. He had one bad INT and the other was a hail mary to end the game.

Take away the hail mary INT and freeman's bailout TD and they have almost the exact same game.

I like watching talent on other teams and Freeman did not impress me the way he was hyped up by you guys.

My take on this game is that SOMEBODY has to win this clusterf*ck... and it was the Bucs. You make it sound like the Bucs were out of the Browns league, they both looked like basement dwellers to me

@bucky-biceps said:

lol... another sore loser who can't accept the fact that his team was actually outplayed.

Outplayed?

Both teams looked terrible.

Both teams had defenses that are obviously very much improved but still bent and had some bad mistakes.

Both teams had QBs that didn't look as amazing as their team's fans were hoping. Both had stupid interceptions, a long touchdown throw and far too many misses on 3rd and long. The difference was Freeman getting lucky when a ball that was thrown terribly behind his receiver in the endzone was tipped straight up by the corner and fell into the hands of the WR.

Both teams fumbled away chances in the red zone that should almost certainly have been scores that would have broken the back of the other team.

Questionable playcalling, too many moments that made the fans think "uh oh, I hoped that had been fixed".

Both teams played awful, Tampa won but couldnt cover the spread giving the Browns multiple attempts to comeback and win/tie the game near the end

Yeah, Tampa won, but to say that either team outplayed the other can make a somebody sick to their stomach.

@jjbjeff said:

Have you looked? There are tons of articles about Freeman's progress coming into the year. The biggest thing is that we have seriously upgraded the weapons around Josh Freeman. Delhomme is clearly lacking a big-time playmaker here in CLE like Steve Smith, who he played with in Carolina. Do you fans seriously think Delhomme has a chance to be anything other than the same terrible QB he has been for the last two years, when the only thing to change is he has LESS weapons to work with?

Delhomme will have one of THE play-makers in the NFL. Josh Cribbs will have a very prominent role in the WR core and has looked great with his route running in training camp/pre-season. He's fast, aggressive, obviously knows how to run with the ball and is an all-around athlete and football player. That's a pretty decent weapon.

Cribbs was a victim of extremely inaccurate quarterbacks last season and wasn't quite used to running tight routes. He's looked 100% improved in off/pre-season. If he can consistently get the ball in his hands while in motion, that's not something other teams are going to want to see.