Mistake By the Lake: Were the Cleveland Browns Robbed?

In a game that could not be decided in four quarters, the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals took their Week Four battle of Ohio into overtime as Shaunn Rogers blocked Shayne Graham’s game-winning extra-point with 1:55 left in regulation.

In what would be a coming out party for Browns rookie wide receiver Mohammad Massaqoui—who had eight receptions for 148 yards—the Browns offense showed improvement.

Josh Cribbs had 223 total return yards, Jerome Harrison had 29 rushes for 121 yards, and Derek Anderson went 26-of-48 for 269 yards, one TD and a pick.

While the offense compiled 395 yards, the defense was solid as well, holding Carson Palmer and the talented Bengals offense to 375 yards.

You may think to yourself, “that is nothing special,” but this comes from a defense who is ranked 32nd in the NFL in defense while giving up 29.5 points-per-game (31st in the NFL).

Getting to the point, if you go back and watch the highlights of Shayne Graham’s supposed game-winning field goal, you can see that in my opinion—and the opinion of many others, including Browns Defensive Coordinator Rob Ryan—the ball went just to the outside of the right upright.

Just to give you an idea and another look at it watch the end of this highlight.

Watch the ball as it approaches the upright. It goes from the center of the upright, then veers to the left of the screen and appears to go just outside the upright.

Watch it closely, then form your own opinion. To me—and not because I am a Browns fan—it clearly looks as though it was outside the post. Can it be the camera angle? Perhaps. But it looks a little too close for me to say.

Ryan made his opinion known in a press conference today.

“I don’t want to make this a big story, but I was disappointed. Of course, I’m not an expert. That’s why I’m saying someone should look at it,” he said.

In a statement from NFL spokesman Greg Aiello, the call on the field was accurate.

“The field judge standing right underneath the upright called it good, and we have reviewed multiple videos from different angles and seen nothing to dispute the call,” Aiello said.

Well, if you are a Browns fan, you have to feel a little disappointed. Whether the call was right or wrong, it was a game that we could have won.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Brady Quinn: Where Did The “Golden Boy” Go Wrong?

The Date: Apr. 26, 2007

Location: NY City/Browns War Room

Time: Desperation/First Round: 22nd Pick

The Choice: Notre Dame QB and Hometown Hero Brady Quinn

We all remember how this all started…

Quinn was the toast of the town and the Browns looked like masterminds. Although the Browns passed on Quinn with the third overall pick, he was still on their minds. It was like destiny when he heard his name called by the commissioner.

Finally, the Browns had the QB who was everything they needed and wanted.

What more could we have asked for; he had the look, the poise, and was a hometown kid.

This was a recipe for success and the “Great White Hope” would bring the Browns back from ridicule and futility.

Fast forward…

Game One: September 13th.

Eric Mangini names Brady Quinn starter, and Browns faithful have great hopes for the season.

Enter Minnesota, with talented running back Adrian Peterson, and some old guy named Favre.

Outcome: Vikings 34 Browns 20

Quinn’s stat line: 21-35, 205 yds, one TD and one INT. 60 percent completion rate.

Not a bad line, especially when facing the D-Line that the Vikings smack you in the face with.

Game Two: September 20th.

Quinn is ready for his second consecutive start of the season; the Browns faced off against the Denver Broncos, who were a lucky play away from losing to the Bengals.

This was a game that we could win; but, as the saying goes: “That’s why they play the game.”

Outcome: Denver 27 Cleveland 6

Quinn’s stat line: 18-31, 161 yds, no TDs and one INT. 58.1 percent completion rate.

Game Three: September 27th.

A division game against the Ravens should be enough to get anyone pumped!

The perfect game to turn things around; the Ravens defense was not the same as it was last year, so maybe the Browns offense would have some luck moving the ball.

Outcome: Baltimore 34 Cleveland 3

Quinn’s state line: 6-8, 34 yds, no TDs, one INT. 75 percent completion rate.

Quinn was pulled in favor of back up Derek Anderson. Mangini hoped this would give the team a spark, since Anderson can put the ball down the field and has a better rapport with Braylon Edwards.

Outcome: Anderson: 11-19, 92 yds, no TDs, three INTs. 57.9 percent completion percentage.

So, after you digest the stats, what do you really know?

From my guess, not much. Both QBs have not had stellar games so far, but this was supposed to be Quinn’s season.

We were supposed to let him fly and see what he can do. But, as we are well aware of, Mangini is not going to let that happen.

Is it a personal grudge?

Mangini did not like either of the QBs that he had on his roster when he arrived in Cleveland. If he could have gotten away with it, and not gotten run outta town, he would have traded them both and played the entire season with Brett Ratliff.

These are the guys we have. Both are very talented, and can start for this team. Mangini just needs to stop flopping back and forth and make a decision. Quinn, in my opinion, is the face of this franchise for years to come.

The buzz on blogs and message boards are calling Quinn a bust.

How is this a fair assessment? It is way too early for the comparisons to Ryan Leaf.

This kid is stil young, and trying to develop his craft at the professional level. Why don’t we all get off his back and let him learn?

I know from being a die hard Browns fan, that we are desperately searching for someone or something that can bring us back to the proud glory days that we have been a part of.

This franchise is deep in history, so let’s just sit back and let Brady Quinn make his own mark in the record books.

What do we have to lose?

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Browns’ Dawson: The Only Viable Offense?

 With only two touchdowns on the year, where do you go with your offense? Obviously, your passing and rushing threat wouldn’t scare a child, let alone an NFL-caliber defense.

At least when you are the Cleveland Browns anemic offense, you can count on Phil Dawson.

You’re probably saying to yourself, “What? A kicker?”

Think about it.

When most running backs gained more yards last week than you have gained all year, there may be a problem.

Jamal Lewis is hurt again. He will be out for Sunday’s game against the Raven’s with a hamstring injury that Mangenius will no doubt try to disguise as God knows what.

And most defenses will not be worried when you are throwing James Harrison out as your backup, blowing away the opposing defensive lines with a blazing 2.7 yards per rush.

Then you look at the receivers and, needless to say, opponents will again not be trembling.

Don’t get me wrong, I am a Browns fan through and through. I remember sitting in old Cleveland Municipal Stadium, freezing my butt off, cheering on my home team.

But when your leading receiver has only seven receptions for 104 yards, you have to worry a little. Then again, at least Braylon Edwards has been able to hold on to the ball so far.

At least we can take comfort in the fact that our Pro Bowl return man, Josh Cribbs, is tied for the team lead in receptions.

But let’s put our focus back to Dawson, who has been the only bright spot on this offense so far. Dawson’s 47-yard field goal in the first quarter of Sunday’s game at Denver put him in a tie with Don Cockroft for second place on the teams all-time field goal list.

With 216 field goals as a member of the Browns, Dawson is only 18 away from tying Hall of Famer Lou Groza for first all-time.

The downside to this historic moment for Dawson is that after his second field goal of the day, it makes him the team’s leading scorer on the season.

Dawson, who is perfect on the year, may just lead this team in scoring the entire season unless the offense can get off its butt and get in gear.

In the Week one loss to the Vikings, Dawson became only the third Browns player to reach 900 career points with the team. The kicker now has 914 points, putting him behind only Cockroft with 1,080 and Groza with 1,608.

So please give Phil Dawson a hand. We should be extremely proud of his accomplishments with our beloved franchise.

At least we have someone who can score on a consistent basis.

Thanks Phil.

 

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

NFL Sport Channel Latest

• Just How Far Would You Go?
• Sorry Rex, But It Isn’t Happening
• Super Bowl Predictions: Five Stat-Free Reasons Why the Eagles Will Reach The Super Bowl
• Seahawks Attempt to Turn Corner With Heavy Pursuit of Pete Carroll
• Bill Cowher Unlikely to Coach in 2010