The Cleveland Browns lost All-Pro center LeCharles Bentley to a season ending knee injury yesterday, and the fans of the team regressed into the "Woe is Me" attitude that GM Phil Savage has condemned. Savage and Head Coach Romeo Crennel had the correct attitude when the word came out the Bentley was indeed ruled out for the season, they related to the media that the show must go on.
Crennel doesn’t want any excuses for the team not doing well in ’06. Bob Hallen is a veteran free agent signed to back up at guard and center, and he will be thrust into a starting role. He is not a raw rookie being asked to replace Bentley. But, hearing fans talk about Bentley’s injury, they now expect the team to finish with the same 6-10 record as last season, or maybe even worse.
I don’t buy it. Bill Livingston from The Plain Dealer always talks about the free pass given the Browns from the fans. The orange and brown never receive the vitriol from the public that the Indians get when they are mediocre. Ever since the Dolan’s owned the Tribe, they made the playoffs once, and missed the post-season twice by one game. Since the Browns returned in 1999, they made the playoffs as a wild card once, and have been terrible every other season. But, it’s the Dolans who get all the criticism.
I like Phil Savage, and I like Crennel too. I think they have the Browns headed in the right direction. However, I expect this team to improve from last year’s 6-10 mark and I’m sure Savage and Crennel expect the same, even though Bentley is out. They set the tone that the season has to go on, with or without the team’s biggest free agent aquisition. The Browns’ fans should follow suit.
MW
Cleveland Sports Perspective 