Hitting Rock Bottom
Does anyone remember the Browns first game back in 1999? It was a magical September night when the new Cleveland Browns Stadium was officially opened to a national television audience as the Browns triumphantly charged onto the field for the first time since 1995.
The Pittsburgh Steelers, however, played the role of party pooper as well as they possibly could, thrashing the Browns 43-0. At the time, while we all hated that final score but understood it would take some time to mold a competitive football team from scratch.
Well here we are more than six years later, and I DON'T understand anymore! Head coach Romeo Crennel does not get a pass for what transpired on the football field Christmas Eve. The Steelers 41-0 drubbing over an uninspired Browns squad was not only infuriating, but spoke volumes on the guy the Browns chose to lead this team back to respectiblility.
For all the apologists, lets look at the Miami Dolphins. Last year, both the Browns and Dolphins went 4-12. Both teams replaced their head coach with a rookie NFL head coach. When the two teams met this season, the Browns even defeated the 'Phins 22-0! So what has happened since?
One team has showed admirable progress and improvement from week to week while playing their hearts out for the rookie coach. The other has regressed to the point of losing the fan base and allowing a bitter division rival to walk into their own building and dominate from opening kickoff to final whistle, all the while shaming the home team's fans by waiving yellow towels throughout the contest.
The Dolphins have won five straight and are finishing the season strong at 8-7, giving their fans something to feel optimistic about for next year. The Browns are limping towards the finish line with seemingly little interest anymore. The Pittsburgh Steelers, having already disgraced the Browns on ESPN earlier in the year, came into the Stadium and smacked the Browns right in the mouth. And when the Browns failed to retaliate, they smacked them again, just for good measure, and then walked off hand in hand with the Browns' girlfriend.
My fellow Browns fans, there have been several times since 1999 when we were sure we had bottomed out and could get no lower. I want to believe it cannot get any worse than it is right now, we must go up from here.
Maybe if I say it a few more times I'll start to believe it.
The Pittsburgh Steelers, however, played the role of party pooper as well as they possibly could, thrashing the Browns 43-0. At the time, while we all hated that final score but understood it would take some time to mold a competitive football team from scratch.
Well here we are more than six years later, and I DON'T understand anymore! Head coach Romeo Crennel does not get a pass for what transpired on the football field Christmas Eve. The Steelers 41-0 drubbing over an uninspired Browns squad was not only infuriating, but spoke volumes on the guy the Browns chose to lead this team back to respectiblility.
For all the apologists, lets look at the Miami Dolphins. Last year, both the Browns and Dolphins went 4-12. Both teams replaced their head coach with a rookie NFL head coach. When the two teams met this season, the Browns even defeated the 'Phins 22-0! So what has happened since?
One team has showed admirable progress and improvement from week to week while playing their hearts out for the rookie coach. The other has regressed to the point of losing the fan base and allowing a bitter division rival to walk into their own building and dominate from opening kickoff to final whistle, all the while shaming the home team's fans by waiving yellow towels throughout the contest.
The Dolphins have won five straight and are finishing the season strong at 8-7, giving their fans something to feel optimistic about for next year. The Browns are limping towards the finish line with seemingly little interest anymore. The Pittsburgh Steelers, having already disgraced the Browns on ESPN earlier in the year, came into the Stadium and smacked the Browns right in the mouth. And when the Browns failed to retaliate, they smacked them again, just for good measure, and then walked off hand in hand with the Browns' girlfriend.
My fellow Browns fans, there have been several times since 1999 when we were sure we had bottomed out and could get no lower. I want to believe it cannot get any worse than it is right now, we must go up from here.
Maybe if I say it a few more times I'll start to believe it.
posted by Jon Sladek at 11:30 AM
2 Comments:
The Cavs are on a winning streak!
Not anymore
Post a Comment
<< Home