Oh To Be A Cleveland Browns’ Fan …..Who’s Laughing ? Shame On You !

I can only surmise that there’s some dark plot going on as the Cleveland Browns’ two quarterbacks , Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn , systematically fight it out, to see who’ll become the team’s starter. That being said the Browns’ travails as of late haven’t been all that empirical. Their long suffering fans have had , their ups and downs. More downs, than ups, one would dare to say , over the last decade. But such are the vagaries when it comes to the National Football League .

Defensive end Robaire Smith(left) of the Cleveland Browns and the Detroit Lions Daunte Culpepper leave the field after their preseason game in Cleveland, Oh. The Browns would defeat the Lions 27-10 in the game. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Mark Duncan ...................

And with coach Eric Mangini , now set to take over the reins after his less than auspicious tenure with the New York Jets . One can only hope that Mangini will be bringing more to the table than he did with the Jets. Their meltdown under his presence with future Hall of Famer, Brett Favre served notice to many. That Mangini as a coach , still has a great deal to learn . Even if his was a Bill Belichick disciple to begin with.

Cleveland Browns' coach Eric Mangini watches from the sidelines as his team succumbs to the Detroit Lions. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Mark Duncan .........

And for a team that as of late, has been a complete anathema as to its inadequacies on both sides of the ball. There’s the feeling that the franchise will labor this upcoming season , no matter whether or obstacles are placed in-front of them. The absurdity of it all isn’t so much that it has been management where the problems really lay. But it really has been the personnel decisions made over the years by the franchise’s then GM, Phil Savage . Who has since been replaced by George Kokinis .That being said Kokinis, as Savage’s successor will now have to prove himself up to the task as to that of his predecessor. Not a great deal to ask you might think. But when one considers the woes of the franchise and their anemic play. You can only but wish the best for them .

Browns' running back James Davis scampers on for an 81 yard touchdown run against the Detroit Lions. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Mark Duncan ................

In spite of this all you can only hope that Mangini , apart from saying all of the right things. Can actually show some real intrinsic coaching talent , rather than still basking off the achievements made under his mentor , Bill Belichick. Granted, Mangini ironically takes over from another Belichick disciple in Romeo Crennel . A great coordinator , but to my mind he was never really NFL coaching material to begin with ! Far too laid back and something of a somnambulist . Inspiring confidence in his players wasn’t something that Crennel was born with , much less being able to communicate with them to begin with. That being said you’ve got to understand that these are the Cleveland Browns that we’re talking about. Much like the Detroit Lions ,their relevance within the NFL hasn’t been one, where we can opine as to the greatness of the franchise. Because those years, are indeed from a bygone age.

Browns' quarterback Derek Anderson (3) looks for a receiver of his intended pass against the Lions in their preseason game played at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland , Ohio. picture appears courtesy of getty images/ Matt Sullivan ............

Looking at the Browns’ roster, one can attest to the fact that on the face it. The roster is made up of solid veterans and a number of draftees that they’re no doubt pinning their hopes on to show their worth. But in terms of leadership it’ll have to come from either Anderson or Quinn. That being said both players in terms of their presence and play has showed that they’re also lacking on that front. And it certainly hasn’t helped that with the impending loss of Donte’ Stallworth , due to his legal problems . One doesn’t hold out much hope that this team’ll have anything by way of an offensive presence.And defensively the team has its problems there too . Run defense and against the pass , the Browns are very much like The Titanic. The moment it started it to take on water , you just knew that the vessel was doomed for disaster. It’s been the sheer ineptitude shown by the players and the coaching staff , that has led this franchise to its present predicament.

And perhaps no one personified this more, than another of the team’s wide receivers in Braylon Edwards. His dropped passes were too numerous to mention and a bane to the Browns’ fans in attendance. But it’s been his constant bickering and not wanting to be held accountable for his lack of performance or actions, that if anything, has come to embody what this team has been about. It’s been their lack of discipline and leadership that if anything personifies how inept this team really is.

The feeling may well be that with the infusion of young players via the draft. We may well begin to see some changes in the identity of this team. But much of that’ll be predicated upon the coaching prowess of Mangini and his staff. Never-mind, the fact that within AFC North , they’ll face the likes of the Baltimore Ravens , Cincinnati Bengals and the reigning Superbowl champions , the Pittsburgh Steelers Though one wouldn’t view the division as one of the more glamorous around the league. It’s been often thought of as the meat and potatoes grind , in terms of its quality. But then football and beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that counts at the end of the day are the results. And nothing would suggest that better than winning. Which is something that the Cleveland Browns have been hard pressed to do.

As I’d alluded to earlier it’s hoped that their younger recruits can contribute to the fortunes of the franchise considerably. And with the likes of Josh Cribbs , Chris Jennings ,Brian Robiskie and a slew of other young players that could very well be ready to acquit themselves well. One can only but hope that Mangini can harness that talent and communicate to them what will be required of them as players. If the coaching staff isn’t able to do that. Then there’s little hope of seeing the Cleveland Browns have a modicum success on the field of play.

Lions' running back Jamal Lewis carves his way through the Lions' defense for a score. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Amy Sancetta ...................

As dark as the Browns’ travails have been. This once storied franchise having fallen upon hard times , can but only hope that the worst is indeed behind them. Their long suffering fans have seen the carpet pulled from beneath them in the guise of Art Modell and his notorious antics. That being , said with present owner , Randy Lerner , trying to do his best to rejuvenate the fans and bring back some semblance of respect and decency to this proud city. These, are now some testing times for that of the Browns’ ownership , that of its fans and players alike. Whatever success that can be attained will first have to be garnered on the field of play. It may well be only incremental but it’s got to be better than what they’ve had to put up with over the past five years or more.

The NFL and its legacy is great when its storied franchises are at the top of their game. No one really likes to see franchises such as the Cleveland Browns down on their luck. Even when it’s said, to be of their own making. But then again , some might prefer it to be that way. Rather than having their own team lodged in the abyss of mediocrity. What say you on the matter ?

No Matter What Fans Think, The Preseason Is Important

Many fans loathe preseason football. The starters play few minutes, don’t try their hardest, and it’s a time when second and third-stringers get the opportunity to play most of the games. Each team plays four preseason games, which many feel is too many games. And in the case of the two teams that play in the annual Hall of Fame Game, they have 5 preseason games to work with.

Tomorrow, the preseason fully gets underway. four games will be played, with the Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers being the highlight of the night as it will be shown live on ESPN. Fans will certainly watch, but many will tune out after the first couple of series, when the first-string players are relegated to the bench as everyone else gets playing time. Many fans are opposed to the preseason and think that it should be reduced to 2 games for each team, but a number of things go into these games, making each one important.

The preseason is an extremely valuable time for NFL teams. For the first-string players, it really isn’t all that necessary, but it is a good chance to get involved with the game again and get back into the groove of playing actual games after a long season of OTAs and minicamps. It especially benefits new players who will be starting, because it gives them a chance to familiarize themselves with new teammates and get a feel for how they play in game situations.

Second and third-string players are on the ones that need these games the most, as many are fighting for roster spots. The competition for jobs cannot be won on the practice field. General managers and coaches need to see how players do in real games, with pads and against opposing players. Watching them work against teammates in practice isn’t a good gauge of their progress.  It’s a chance for these players to showcase their abilities and prove that they have earned the right to remain on the roster. And if they are going to get cut, it also works out as being an audition for all the teams around the league that are monitoring the games.

Coaches and general managers are the ones who get the most out of these games. For coaches, it is the chance to test a new scheme, watch it play out for the time against real competition and see how the players execute it. That is something that surely can’t be fulfilled from a practice. New coaches truly need these games, because they undoubtedly have new schemes that need to be practiced in game situations, and they also need to get a feel for their team as a whole. It’s a dress rehearsal for new coaches, as they can go through the game-day procedures and also see for the first time what works and what doesn’t when it comes to preparation. General mangers also benefit from these games, because they work with the coaches to make roster cuts, and that’s the biggest value that comes from preseason games. Cutting a substantial amount players after simply watching training camp doesn’t seem fair and it certainly doesn’t make much football sense. These games are where players will either rise to the occasion and perform well or crumble under the bright lights of NFL football. Remember, training camp rosters have 80 players, but gameday rosters have 53.  That means that 27 players are going to be gone from the team come early September. Seven players can be designated to the practice squad, so coaches and GMs have to see which seven they would like to keep in that form.

Each and every player has to be fully evaluated, and that’s what the preseason is for. Every decision is big, because which players a team settles on is the group that will go forward and try to win a championship.

Position battles are a staple of training camp, and a starter is typically named during the preseason. The Cleveland Browns, for example, have a quarterback competition going between Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson. According to coach Eric Mangini, a starter will be named by the third preseason game. That will give the coaching staff significant evaluation time, and the next game can be used to watch the starter work with the first-unit for most of the game rather than having to work with the second-unit, which is what can happen when two players are engaged in a competition.

Now, why the need for four games? That is always the question that fans want answered. Does it really take 4 games to evaluate all of the players and see which ones to keep and which to cut? Coaches and GMs will say yes, for a variety of reasons. Each preseason game is different in how it is run by most teams. The first two preseason games are used to get starters back into the swing of things and then begin the evaluation of second and third-stringers. The third game is usually when all of the starters have been named and coaches have a good grasp of how the team will look for the first regular season game. The starters play the most minutes in this game because it serves a great tune-up for the regular season. Then there’s the fourth game, which is used for final evaluations of second and third-stringers. Starters typically don’t play in this game, because coaches don’t want to see injuries happen to key players so close to the season.

And when it comes to the preseason, don’t forget about the money involved. Look, it’s not something most people want to hear, but the NFL makes a great profit off of these four games. The two home games that each team gets are added onto the season ticket packages and games are usually sold out, meaning that the league and team turn a solid profit.

The preseason doesn’t necessarily have the best football being played, but it is a very important time for everyone involved. Fans may not like it, but things would be much more difficult for teams without these games.

Training Camps Are Here, And So Are The Storylines

The long NFL offseason is finally over. All of the minicamps, OTAs and voluntary practice sessions are over. It’s finally time for teams to step out onto the field and begin preparing for the 2009 season. The Cleveland Browns rookies became the first to begin camp when they got went onto the field this morning, which means the push towards the regular season has officially started. The grind of training camp will hit teams shortly, as two-a-day sessions are just around the corner. The sweltering summer heat will undoubtedly test the mental fortitude of all players, and that’s what training camp is all about. It’s where championship teams are built. New offensive and defensive schemes were implemented in after the draft. New plays and concepts were drawn up and practiced during OTAs and minicamps. Training camp is a time to build team chemistry and camaraderie. There’s a reason coaches love training camp — it’s where the strength of the team is crafted.

This is always a great time in the NFL, because each team’s city is optimistic that this is their year. Every time is undefeated right now, meaning everyone can dream of making a trip to Miami, the site of Super Bowl XLIV in February 2010. Each and every team that struggled last season can think of being this year’s Miami Dolphins or Arizona Cardinals.

With the start of training camps comes the endless storylines that NFL fans around the country will be debating day-after-day. The list of intriguing camp battles, coaching changes and players returning from injury will make every training camp exciting to follow. These are just some of the intriguing storylines as we head into camps:

>> The quarterback battles: Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn will battle all of training camp to determine who will be the starting quarterback battle when the team opens up the season on September 13 against the Minnesota Vikings. This won’t be an easy competition by any stretch, as new head coach Eric Mangini is expected to work Anderson and Quinn vigorously. Who wins this competition is anyone’s guess. Anderson has the bigger arm by far and therefore is a better threat to bring the team’s vertical passing game back to its 2007 form, when Anderson routinely hooked up with wide receiver Braylon Edwards to make the Browns one of the best offenses in the league. Quinn, meanwhile, is more accurate and a much better game manager. This battle is likely to extend well into camp, as Mangini has indicated that he won’t make a decision until the third preseason game.

San Francisco is another team with a QB competition about to start. Alex Smith(pictured, left), the No.1 pick of the 2005 draft, has recovered from injury and will look to win back the starting job. He will have to beat out Shaun Hill, who has performed surprisingly well over the last few seasons for the 49ers. Smith took a dramatically reduced salary to stay with the 49ers, because this is without question his best start to win a starting job. The coaching regime that drafted him is gone, but that doesn’t mean the team does not want to see him succeed. Those in the organization who were apart of the drafting process who love to see Smith do well. Ultimately it will come down to who gives the 49ers the best chance to win football games. Smith has had trouble staying healthy over his career, while Hill has seemed to have always played well when the team has called his number. Head coach Mike Singletary will have a tough decision to make this summer.

Another fierce competition will be taking place in Tampa Bay, where three QBs are likely to be involved in the competition for the Buccaneers. Luke McCown, Byron Leftwich, and first-round draft pick Josh Freeman are the participants, but not one of them particularly stood out in the spring. There will undoubtedly be pressure on the organization to start Freeman, especially considering the team traded up two spots in the draft to select him. But Freeman is viewed by many as a project who will need 2-3 years to develop, meaning it is unlikely he will earn the starting job at the start of the season. Then, the battle is down to Leftwich and McCown. McCown has indicated that he think this is “his job to lose,” and he’s probably right. Leftwich, the No.7 overall pick by the Jaguars in 2003, hasn’t yet made his mark on the league. He has always had a slow delivery, which is a no-no in the NFL. Still, he’s a solid QB, as is McCown. The way this battle is shaping up, the player who immediately steps up will earn the starting job.

>> Coaching Changes: Like every offseason, 2009 featured a number of coaching changes throughout the league. Each new coach brings energy, enthusiasm and a different perspective to his new team. The coach with the toughest job this upcoming season will be Jim Schwartz (pictured, right) trying to rebuild the Detroit Lions, who last year became the first team to go 0-16 in a single season.  Steve Spagnuolo won’t have an easy job, either, as he will try to rebuild a Rams franchise that has won just 5 games over the last two seasons. Eric Mangini takes over in Cleveland, and questions about how effective his demanding coaching style is persist throughout the league. Rex Ryan, the fiery defensive coordinator from Baltimore, inherits a New York Jets team that was just one game away from reaching the playoffs last season. Josh McDanies tenure as coach of Denver Broncos hasn’t gotten off to a great start, as he traded away franchise QB Jay Cutler, making his job in 2009 much more difficult. Todd Haley steps in as new coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, and he had the good fortune of acquiring QB Matt Cassel from New England; unfortunately, most of the rest of the team is mediocre at best. Tom Cable stepped in as interim coach for the Oakland Raiders last season, and did a good enough job to shed off the interim tag, but QB questions, a mediocre receiver corp and a shaky defense won’t make his job easy. Rahim Moore takes over in Tampay Bay, and he did not get on the fans’ good side by dumping veterans such as Derrick Brooks and Warrick Dunn. Mike Singletary steps in for the 49ers, and it will be interesting to see how much his hard-nosed style will improve the team. Finally, Jim Mora is the new coach in Seattle, where the window to win with veteran QB Matt Hasselbeck is closing.

All are good coaches who could make a big impact on the league in 2009. Ryan may have the best chance of them all to make the playoffs, as he has a veteran group, with the exception of rookie QB Mark Sanchez, who is likely to start. Also, don’t count out Mora, who was with the team last year as the secondary coach. He knows the team well and is playing in a wide-open NFC West.

Two injured players make their return: Tom Brady of the New England Patriots and Shawne Merriman of the San Diego Chargers will be back on the field in 2009.

Brady tore his anterior cruciate ligament in the first quarter of the first game of the 2008 regular season game against the Chiefs. He has had a lot of time to recover, and all indications are that he will be ready to go at the beginning of the regular season. The Patriots traded away backup QB Matt Cassel, which should be a clear indication that they feel Brady is fully healthy and will have no trouble recovering. There has to be some level of consternation among the Patriots fans, though, as most QBs who tear their ACLs take two years to recover. Donovan McNabb and Carson Palmer ar good examples of what to expect in the first season back from a knee injury. Both didn’t play up their ability, as they were still in the recovering process. Working to Brady’s advantage, however, is the fact that the injury has had so much time to heal.  When he steps onto the field on September 14, the injury will have occured over a year ago. How he moves in training camp will be a good sign of how he is feeling.

Merriman, meanwhile, tore multiple ligaments in knee during last year’s training camp. He was able to play in the season opener against the Panthers but was forced to sit out the rest of the season, as it was clear that he simply wasn’t himself. Merriman is one of the best linebackers in the league and his absence was certainly felt by the Chargers. The defense’s production declined without Merriman, proving just how valuable he is to the team. The is a crucial year for Merriman, as his contract expires after this season. Absent a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, he will only be a restricted free agent next offseason. According to league rules, only players with at least six years of service can become unrestricted free agents when there is no salary cap due to the lack of a CBA. Therefore, Merriman will need to performn extremely well and prove to the Chargers that he deserves a new contract. If he doesn’t, the Chargers will have the ability to offer him a low-ball contract offer because of the fact that he will be restricted.

Rookie holdouts: Teams will have rookies report to training camp over the next week, but how many of the actually show up is in question. Only two first-rounders — Matthew Stafford and Mark Sanchez — are under contract with their respective teams. Teams are going to work hard over the next few days to try and get their first-round picks under contract, but it’s not going to be easy. Negotiations usually depend on other signings. For example, Cincinatti OT Andre Smith was the sixth overall pick in the draft. His agent, Alvin Keels, will look at the contract given to last year’s sixth pick, Jets LB Vernon Gholston, as well as the contract of Sanchez — taken directly ahead of Smith — and Oakland WR Darrius Heyward-Bey — taken directly behind him. There are multiple problems with that strategy, however. First off, Sanchez’s $50.5 million deal with $28 million guaranteed has to be looked at differently considering QBs always make the most money. Second, Heyward-Bey has not yet been signed by the Raiders, so Keels does not have the ability to ask for something in between the 5 and 7 draft slots.

More disconcerting is the lack of second-round selections that have signed. As of this post, only seven second-rounders have signed contracts. A flurry of deals should be signed sometime soon, but teams are going to have to work extra hard to make sure that these rookies get to camp in a timely fashion. It is imperative that the rookies get to camp on time, because they all have a lot to learn. Showing up late can hamper a rookie’s progress — just ask Raiders QB JaMarcus Russel, who held in ‘07 and played in only four games that season.

There’s No Fool Like An Old Fool So How’d You Describe Ocho Cinco ?

Say it with me now ….”there’s no fool like an old fool ! ” How else can one really describe the antics of the Cincinnati Bengals and that of their wide receiver Chad Ocho Cinco ? This guy now gets more press time , airtime and tv time for his antics off the field than anything he’s done recently on it . But the again we are talking about the lovable , bumbling and underperforming Cincinnati Bengals.

Chad Ocho leaves the field after another disappointing loss during the regular season. The Cincinnati Bengals finished the season with an uninspiring 4-11-1 record for the season in the AFC North. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Matt Mayhew .....................

Now comes the hard part for a Marvin Lewis coached team that for all sense and purpose is on its last legs, when it comes to being viewed as competitive team within the NFL. After an uninspired season last year where it finished with a woefully inept record of 4-11-1 within the AFC North . And bearing mind that for much if last season they were without starting quarterback Carson Palmer . One might excuse the efforts of the team as a whole. Palmer was replaced by his backup Ryan Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick played the majority of the season , compiling 13 of the 16 regualr season games played.

Bengals' wideout Chad Ocho Cinco looks to remain in the endzone despite the defensive effort of the Jaguars' Rashean Mathis (27) during the play. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Brian Charles ....................

And with the franchise’s continuous off the field problems. In terms of the numerous incidents involving law enforcement. It’d be appropriate to say that the most ardent of Bengals’ fans witnessed more action off the field than they ever saw on it during the regular season. And what one can glean from this all , is that this team and the organization underperformed to such an extent. That one can only surmise that things can’t get any worse for the franchise. The Cincinnati Bengals as a franchise has made itself the laughing stock of the entire NFL. One might’ve said of their instate counterpart the Cleveland Browns. But as we all know what represents a winning season for the Browns is actually to have their stadium filled to capacity during their home games. Ineptitude has definitely become the norm in the state of Ohio when it comes to the state’s NFL franchises of recent times.

Bengals' quarterback Carson Palmer (left) takes question from the convened press after the team's first voluntary workouts in March held at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati,Oh., Also in picture is the team's coach Marvin Lewis. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Dave Kohl .............

With the preseason just around the corner Ocho Cinco’s latest gimmick is to let the world know how much he likes to “Twitter” . And that during the preseason and regular season games. He’ll be using the device to be keep in contact with his subscribers wherever they are and to let them know how he’s doing. Now if you’re an ardent Bengals’ fan you’ll either be peturbed by his latest antics. Or you’re liable to just brush it off as just another ruse and stunt to keep his face in the in-front of the public to vie for their attention.

The narcissist in Ocho Cinco makes sure that we need to know who is , where he is and what he’s said to be doing at all times. Remind you of anyone in particular ? He’s now said to be playing for North America’s team. Ocho like his erstwhile counterpart Terrell Owens loves the glare of the spotlight, just as much any other primadonna athlete. Though it must be said that Owens has been far more productive a player despite the controversy of his stay in Dallas with the Cowboys. Ocho for his part has whined about his wish either to be traded or at times just to be shown more respect by the organization. Well he ought to remember that respect is a two way street. It has to be earned before it can be given. Thus far he has done little to earn the respect of the fans, much less the Bengals’ organization.

Considering that it wasn’t that long ago that the Bengals were being talked about as a legitimate contender for a playoff berth. And also perhaps as a perennial contender within the AFC North Division as a divisonal champion. What has led to their fall from grace, may well have been complacency on the part of the players as well as Lewis’ coaching and that of the recurring injuries to several key players on the team’s roster. Disciplinary wise also , Lewis has been less than forthright in demanding accountability for his players’ actions both on and off the field. And obviously when left to their own devices . The players are about as trustworthy as Josef Mengele was at the Nazi death camps during the Second World War.

This upcoming season not only will Chad Ocho Cinco be seeking redemption . But also too will be the entire Bengals organization in large part. They’ve continued to unserachieve. Meanwhile Ocho continues to crave the limelight at the expense of his teammates and team camarderie . Leadership on this Bengals’ team is about as easy to spot as it would be surmise when and where there’ll be peace in the Middle East. Absolutely no one on the team is prepared to assume that leadership role. Carson Palmer for all all of his unassuming demeanor is no more than his successor at USC , Matt Leinart, just another pretty boy on the field. And whose assumed leadership skills both on and off the field have been about as welcoming as the bubonic plague.

Bengals' running back edric Benson look to evade the defense in an NFL game . picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Scott Thompson ......

As to the fate of the Bengals this upcoming season. Where they’ll have to contend with the reigning Superbowl champions the Pittsburgh Steelers within the AFC North. As well as with their other divsional rivals in the guise of the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns. It can be said that they should they fail to acquit themselves adequately this upcoming season. We may well see the parting of the ways of the coach as well as perhaps the team’s most vocal player. And even with the desired belief that the team did relatively well in the NFL Draft. Where their most impressive acquistion was that of Trojans’ linebacker Rey Maualuga . It has to be said that there’ll have to be immediate returns not only this particular draftee. But also several of their other acquistions if this team is to really fare well.

What Should the Browns do at Quarterback?

No position in the NFL is under more scrutiny than quarterback. When teams are losing, fans usually look at the coach and the quarterback as the reasons for why the team is losing. Teams that have franchise quarterbacks tend to do very well in the league, while teams that don’t tend to struggle. It’s why the quarterback is the most valuable position in the league and pays the most money. The offensive line is certainly a very important unit as well, but the line is not as valuable without a good QB.

The Cleveland Browns are a team that knows from first-hand experience just how important it is to have good QB play. The Browns went 4-12 last season, and a lot of that can be attributed to the fact that starting QB Derek Anderson struggled all season long. Because of injuries, Anderson played just 10 games all year, and all were rocky.

In 2007, Anderson had a career season and was rewarded by the Browns with a big contract. QB Charlie Frye got injured early in the first game, Anderson played well, and Frye was immediately traded to Seattle as Anderson was handed the rains. His numbers in ‘07 were stellar: 82.5 QB rating, 3,787 yards, 29 touchdowns and 19 interceptions. The Browns got an incredible bargain that season on a guy that they could not have expected much out of. The Browns nearly made the playoffs, but Anderson had a terrible performance against the Bengals in the second to last game of the season, and that 19-14 loss knocked Cleveland out of the playoffs. Maybe that awful performance from Anderson under pressure should have been a caution signal to then-head coach Romeo Crennel and then-general manager Phil Savage that Anderson was not the right man to lead the team when it counted.

Nevertheless, he received the huge contract, and coming off a 10-6 season, the Browns were the trendy pick to reach the playoffs in 2008. Things went the wrong way right off the bat for Anderson and the Browns, as the team went 0-3. By the halfway point of the season, the Browns were 3-5 with little hope of making a turnaround. At that point, many fans in Cleveland began to lobby for 2007 first-round draft pick Brady Quinn to get meaningful playing time. With the chances of making the playoffs all but over, why not throw Quinn in the fire and see what he had? Moreover, Anderson’s 2007 numbers were horrific: 66.5 QB rating, 1,615 yards, 9 touchdowns and 8 interceptions.

Goodell Made the Right Decision

As NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has repeatedly said that playing in the NFL is a privilege. When players go out and break the law, they have relinquished that privilege for some time period, however short or long it may be. When Browns WR Donte’ Stallworth got drunk, drove his car and killed pedestrian Mario Reyes, a 59-year-old construction worker, Stallworth effectively ended his 2009 season.

Stallworth, who has had no previous run-ins with the law, handled this situation as well as he could, which is why he was sentenced to just 30 days in jail, as well as two years of house arrest. But Goodell had a tough decision to make, because the public was clearly miffed at the legal process. Most believed that Stallworth got off easy, and so Goodell had to take matters into his own hands.

As a result, the commissioner suspended Stallworth indefinitely, with a decision on just how many games likely to be made in the coming months.  This was the right call by Goodell. Had he decided to let Stallworth off easy with, let’s say a four-game suspension, people would have thought 0nce again Stallworth was getting off easy.

Ever since becoming commissioner in 2006, Goodell’s top priority has been cleaning up the league’s perception when it came to arrests. More than any other sport, the NFL deals with arrests frequently. The charges and allegations have ranged from domestic violence to murder. He implemented a new Personal Conduct Policy, which has allowed him to quickly suspend players who have broken the law. The biggest and best example of this is Pacman Jones, who was supsended for a year without even being convicted of a crime. What Jones had, however, was numerous run-ins with the law, but all they ever amounted to was a date in court that led to no jail time. But Jones had to be punished for frequently getting into trouble.

Credibility: Something That The NFL Has Now Got To Be In Search Of

Well now that the OTA’s (organized team activities) have started for a number of teams around the NFL . All that warms the ardor of the most avid NFL fan comes to the fore. With that also comes too, the belief that for many a fan their team will no doubt do great in the upcoming season. The preseason notwithstanding , isn’t really viewed as a pointer how teams’ll fare. It just gives the NFL a rationale for adding to their coffers. And a chance for the coaches to assess the talent on their rosters. Albeit that we’ll have the usual cacaphone of noise coming from afar as to who’ll be amongst the contenders for the Superbowl.  

NFL logo on appearance it gives credibility to the game. But for all sense and purpose from the PR standpoint things aren't looking all that well for the game for a number of reasons.

And with that in mind it has to be said that the offseason has brought with it a great deal of unrest for the hierarchy of the sport. It can’t have gone without anyone’s notice what has taken place with the Cleveland Browns’ Donte’ Stallworth and the former New York Giants’ wide receiver Plaxico Burress. And needless to say that the impending unretirement of Brett Favre still remains what many believe to a worthwhile news’ story. Newsworthy or not for a certain sport’s cable outlet it has taken on a life of its own and has become the grease that spins the wheel as to their NFL coverage. Less we forget that there’s still the ongoing saga of Michael Vick.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell speaks with the media during a press conference at the Miami Beach Convention Center , Miami , Florida in February 2007. picture appears courtesy of getty images/ Scott Halleran .........

For league Comissioner Roger Goodell this season will be tempered by the fact that he faces perhaps what will be his most difficult task since his tenureship began. The uncertainty of the economy as it now stands and the very fact that the collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Players’ Associtation (NFLPA)will be contentious. In part because the newly elected head DeMaurice Smith has let it be known that he’s not completely satisfied with the way the revenues are divided between the NFL and the players.

NFLPA Executive Head DeMaurice Smith seen here at the law offices of DC law firm Patton Boggs . Smith was a senior partner at the firm where he specialized in labor law. The firm is also an active lobbyist in D.C. for a number major Fortune 500 corporations. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Carl Norman ........

In reality however this issue (revenue sharing) pales into comparison as to the perception the public now has of the players. Very little if anything has been done to persuade them that the league has its image and that of the game as its utmost priority. And the inaction shown by Goodell with regard to Stallworth gives rise to that very fact. One can understand his stance in wanting to let the legal aspects of the case be properly dealt with from the outset. But given the fact that Stallworth’s actions in the death of victim Mario Reyes were inexcusable to begin with. The question I ask is why no course of action was taken by the league originally to begin with?