RIP Bud Carson
Former Browns head coach Bud Carson died yesterday at age 74.
While reading the news release about Carson, I was reminded of how brief his stint in Cleveland was, he did not complete his second season.
The amazing thing is, Carson went 9-6-1 in his first season in Cleveland in 1989. Not only did he win the AFC Central division, but advanced to the AFC Championship before falling to the Denver Broncos. The next season, The Browns dropped seven of their first nine contests, and Carson was unceremoniously dismissed.
Its a stunning commentary on the stark differences in philosophy between the old Browns (Ravens) and the current Browns. Mediocrity was simply not tolerated. Imagine if Carson had coached these Browns. We would be told his 2-7 record was deceiving and urged to be patient. The front office and even some of the myopic fans would plead the team's case, claiming it takes several years to build a champion, it doesn't happen overnite.
That is why we are still bitter about Art Modell moving our team to Baltimore. Those Ravens, OUR Browns, won a Super Bowl in 2000, and we have been supplied with Arizona Cardinals-East, a perenially losing franchise that makes 8 mistakes for every good move. Faces and names of coaches and general managers continuously change, however the ineptitude remains constant.
The old Browns were proud and competitive. Fans still mention names of players like Kevin Mack, Clay Matthews and Ozzie Newsome only in hushed tones. They literally lived for Sundays in the fall, when the orange and brown was playing.
That franchise is gone, however. Just like the fun football used to provide for Clevelanders.
While reading the news release about Carson, I was reminded of how brief his stint in Cleveland was, he did not complete his second season.
The amazing thing is, Carson went 9-6-1 in his first season in Cleveland in 1989. Not only did he win the AFC Central division, but advanced to the AFC Championship before falling to the Denver Broncos. The next season, The Browns dropped seven of their first nine contests, and Carson was unceremoniously dismissed.
Its a stunning commentary on the stark differences in philosophy between the old Browns (Ravens) and the current Browns. Mediocrity was simply not tolerated. Imagine if Carson had coached these Browns. We would be told his 2-7 record was deceiving and urged to be patient. The front office and even some of the myopic fans would plead the team's case, claiming it takes several years to build a champion, it doesn't happen overnite.
That is why we are still bitter about Art Modell moving our team to Baltimore. Those Ravens, OUR Browns, won a Super Bowl in 2000, and we have been supplied with Arizona Cardinals-East, a perenially losing franchise that makes 8 mistakes for every good move. Faces and names of coaches and general managers continuously change, however the ineptitude remains constant.
The old Browns were proud and competitive. Fans still mention names of players like Kevin Mack, Clay Matthews and Ozzie Newsome only in hushed tones. They literally lived for Sundays in the fall, when the orange and brown was playing.
That franchise is gone, however. Just like the fun football used to provide for Clevelanders.
posted by Jon Sladek at 10:32 AM
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