The Cleveland Browns gave its fans a huge Thanksgiving weekend turkey yesterday as they were embarrassed by the Cincinnati Bengals 30-0 at Browns’ Stadium. The beatdown including a shouting match on the Browns’ sideline apparently between wide receiver Braylon Edwards and quarterback Charlie Frye. Although reports now have Edwards yelling at the offensive line, which is still unacceptable. The second year man should be worried about his own performance before he critiques his teammates and the coaching staff.
Edwards made a remarkable comeback from knee surgery to take the field for the opener this season. However, his performance has been spotty. He drops far too many balls, is hesitant to go across the middle, and still doesn’t have his breakaway speed back. He is far from being an All Pro. Yet, he has not been shy about pointing out other weaknesses on the team.
He spent last week blasting the play calling and Brian Russell for a legal and unfined hit on the Bengals’ Chad Johnson is the teams’ first meeting of the season in week #2. Why should #17 care about an opposing players getting laid out? Probably because he wants to join the fraternity of big mouth wide receivers. The problem for the Browns is that none of those guys (Terrell Owens, Chad Johnson, etc.) have ever won anything. When Kellen Winslow got after the coaching staff early in the season, it sounded like he was interested in winning and team had a better chance of that with him on the field. Edwards not only wants to be out there, he wants the ball too.
Calling out the offensive line might seem acceptable to some because of their performance, but it is no different than climbing all over Frye. Edwards isn’t perfect, so why should he expect everyone else to be. Let he who is sinless cast the first stone. Edwards shouldn’t be lobbing rocks at anyone wearing the brown and orange.
The other thing that bothered me about the game was that no one stood up to the Bengals player who clotheslined Joshua Cribbs following the last Cincinnati kickoff. The tackle was clearly a cheap shot and the Bengals were penalized for a personal foul. Yet, not one Browns’ player went after the guy. Cribbs is one of the best special teams players on the team, maybe even the league, and for another team to take a shot at him, there has to be some retaliation. Instead, the Browns left the field meekly for the change in position.
This doesn’t bode well for Romeo Crennel, who I continue to feel should get another year. But, more performances like yesterday, coupled with a complete lack of interest in playing, you have to wonder if he is the right man for the job. Not having talent is one thing, not hustling enough to compete is another.
ALSO…Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of sportscaster Casey Coleman, who passed away this morning from cancer. Coleman made some mistakes in his life, but owned up to them, unlike others in the spotlight. His courageous fight with the disease should be a model to all stricken with it. Rest in peace, Casey.
JD
Cleveland Sports Perspective 