Player Dress Code

photo courtesy of  city-data.com

For the life of me every time a athlete wears another teams hat or jersey that plays on a Cleveland team its always becomes a big deal. Remember Lebron with the Yankees hat, I for one could not stand that especially him being from Akron. Now all the talk is about TJ Ward I guess he wore a whitesox hat. These guys know darn well that it causes a big stir with the fans so why do they continue to do it? In Lebrons case I think he was just a attention hound and he did it to make sure we were talking about him just like his big decision on ESPN, we all remember that right? Well now that TJ Ward has be spotted wearing a whitesox hat all the fans are up in arms and making a big deal out of it on the social media networks.

I have two thoughts on this trend amongst athletes these days. One is that you have to remember that most of these guys aren't from hear or the from the city that they play for and two why why why why do they do it? Just be a good guy and support your local teams just to maintain the peace amongst the fans. You play for the team name on your jersey you should support the city that supports you. If your going to wear other teams apparel don't do it in public, keep it private. Do it for us the fans, don't give us a reason not to like you because being a West sider from Cleveland we take those things to heart and it would mean the world just to support the other local professional sports teams, do it for us. We work hard in our community and pay the ticket prices that helps pay your salary.

I will give credit to most of the athletes that are out and about in Cleveland they represent our City in honorable fashion, players like Josh Cribbs, Joe Haden, Kyrie Irving, Travis Hafner. These guys have to remember that there are allot of youngsters that look up to them and need to set a good example for me growing up I had my Dad and Grandfathers to look up to and I consider myself blessed but allot of our youth these days come from broken homes and look at these athletes as some to look up to and I'm glad that we have some of the best in Cleveland and do allot of charity work in our community. I think all three of the professional sports franchises don't get enough credit for what they do to give back to the city.

Well Browns Fans til next time...GO BROWNS
Follow me on twitter @AmherstDawg
and follow @GetRealFootball

Training Camps Just around the Corner!

Photo Taken By Mike Reiter

For us die hard football fans May is just about over and June will be here. Most camps open in the end of July. I for one cant wait but it will be here before we know and we certainly don`t want to wish our summer away but as Football junkies we cant help it we have a addiction and its Cleveland Browns Football. July 31 is the tentative opening for camp this year and I will be there. I cant wait to see the new additions to the team and I actually have one more wish on my list and that`s to add a deep threat wide receiver by the name of Buress, Plaxico that is! He caught more touchdowns last year than the Browns scored as a team. He would be a huge asset in the red zone for Brandon Weeden. The coaches keep praising the likes of Mohamed Massaquoi and how they are expecting big things from him this year, which may indicate that they are done in free agency. I like MoMas but to me he seems a little gun shy going over the middle and I probably would too with some of the hits hes has taken and concussions he has had. Lets face it he started last years camp on a bike due to being in a walking boot. He is quick has seems to have the ability to be able to catch the ball when he gets open but he cant seem to stay on the field the whole year.

There have been some articles written lately about Josh Cribbs as he enters the last year of his contract and that it could be his last year as a Brown. Josh has given his all and then some to this community and it would be a sad day to see him go but with the changes in the kickoff rules and his lack of production at the wide receiver position I think you may see him gone unless the he takes a pay cut to stay with the team. Josh has probably been one of the best players as far as being involved with the fans and giving back to the community, don`t get me wrong I would love him to stay. He is a great special teams guy, he has a nose for the ball doesn't dance on returns he hits the hole and hits it hard its just that the opportunity's have been minimized with the kickoffs being moved up and kickers generally kick it deep in the end zone or completely out.

Well Browns fan til next time....Go Browns
Follow me on twitter @AmherstDawg
Also check out www.getrealfootball.com and follow them on twitter @GetRealFootball

Al Lerner meet T Rich

Photo obtained from Google


                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                     Photo obtained from Cleveland Browns

I have compiled some thoughts on the owner of the Cleveland Browns over the last year or two and thought I would share some of them with you. I hear so much about about how Randy Lerner isn't visible in the Browns organization and how he doesn't care about the Browns. Well I for one don't buy that. He inherited the team from his late great father Al Lerner whom was a football fan, Randy`s love happens to be soccer, therefor he continuously gets knocked for putting his soccer team first. Some people want him to sell the Browns, but it could be worse. We could get stuck with a Jerry Jones type of owner and I for one do not want that. What has he done since taking over the Cowboys....not much!  However if it were my Dads wishes to take the team to the Superbowl  as was Al`s, I think I would do everything in my power to see my Dads wishes come true. That's why he decided to hire Mike Holmgren and let his run the daily operations of the football side and Randy writes the checks. Randy tried several times and it just didn't work out so he did the next best thing went and got the best football guys he could. Tom Heckert in my eyes is a great GM and talent evaluator and I think this year is going to prove how good he really is. As much as I hate the past 12 years of losing you cant lay all that blame on Heckert and Holmgren. If Hughes the 3rd pick works out Heckert will look like a genius especially with the injury to Phil Taylor which they are speculating that he could be back by mid-season, I'm not buying it. The draft pick of Trent Richardson is going to take so much pressure off the quarterback this year whether its McCoy or Weeden and I'm saying its going to be Weeden. As I said in my previous article I don't think you take a quarterback in the first round to sit and a 28 year old soon to be 29 year old rookie quarterback. The Browns drafted a heck of a player for the right side of the line and they let go of the "Human turnstile" Tony Pashos. Trent Richardson could easily be the rookie of the year and I would be shocked if he didn't rush for 1300 yards this year. The man is a complete player. With the ball in his hands he becomes a man on a mission. When the season is over you wont even remember Peyton Hillis. Take it to the Bank! Al Lerner will be smiling from the heavens above.

Well Browns Fans til next time......Go Browns
Follow me on twitter @AmherstDawg

Browns OTA Update

Cleveland Browns - John H. Reid 111


The day began with Colt McCoy taking snaps under center with the first team offense during 7 on 7 drills, then Weeden took his turn also under center with the 7 on 7. Most of the quarterbacks were off target a little and has some balls off target, but that is to be expected when working with new receivers and shaking off the rust. Brandon Weeden definitely has the stronger arm of the two quarterbacks with out a doubt. When they went to 11 on 11 drills the first pass from McCoy was picked off by Chris Gocong. Punter Reggie Hodges was as practice and looked good coming of a season ending injury last year during training camp. Kicker Phil Dawson was not participating in ota`s but is expected to be at the mandatory camp in June. Colt McCoy is going to have a tough time beating out Weeden in my opinion just simply because we have seen what he is capable of and you draft a guy in the first round to play not sit, especially on a team that is desperate for a franchise quarterback such as the Browns are. Wide receiver Travis Benjamin could be in the mix for a starting job, he has the speed and can catch but the only thing that concerns me is if he goes up against a physical DB he may have some trouble getting off the line at 175 pounds. Defensive tackle John Hughes, the third-round pick of the Browns had an ice pack on the back of his right leg about one hour into practice. He might have tweaked a hamstring, but he never left the field and participated in a walk through near the end of the session. Pat Shurmur said he was pleased overall with the day and that running back Trent Richardson looked good also.


Well Browns fans til next time Go Browns
Follow me on twitter @AmherstDawg  

Browns Fan, that is who I am

This is me and my sons, thats how we do it!

I was born in Lorain, Ohio in 1971. My father was born in Ohio and my Mother was born in Pennsylvania (I wont hold that against her I love my mother) but moved to Ohio as a teenager. I started collecting sports cards when I was 8 years old. I had them all, Reggie Rucker, Charles White, Brian Sipe, Lyle Alzado, Dave Logan and I am forgetting a bunch of players and yes I still have them and I'm 41. Although I don't collect cards anymore I occasionally buy a pack just for that old thrill to see if I get a Browns player like when I was a kid. How this all came to be was because of my Father he would tell me "Son you are born and raised here....You root for your home team". Once in awhile I would root for a specific player like Dan Marino or Joe Montana...I mean what kid growing up didn't want to be one of those guys? I always stayed true to my roots and cheered for my Cleveland Browns no matter what or how bad they where.

My point is in telling you all this is that I see so many kids and adults (front runners) today that wear the jerseys of a winning team like the Steelers especially in out area of Ohio. I get that fact that there are transplants, people move, change jobs and I'm OK with that but I would be willing to bet that if the Browns start to win again like they did years ago, those jerseys would fade slowly away. My son is 18 and I taught him the exact same principles as my Father passed onto me when I was young and he is a Browns die hard til the day he takes his last breath as am I. You don`t know how much it kills me to go to a Browns vs Steelers game and to see all those Steeler Jerseys makes me sick, I`m of the thought "Not in My House"

As long as the Browns are in Cleveland I will root for them no matter what, I may not always agree with some of the decision making from a coaching or front office perspective but I root for the name on the front of the jersey not the one on the back. Do I have favorite players yes, do I root for certain players...yes but they come and go the name and colors will always stay the same. I guess i am blessed to have a team to root for because when Art Model stole my team away from me during that horrific night I was heart broken like a long lost friend had passed on. Those years waiting for the Browns to come back were some of the longest years and then finaly 1999 came and they were back. The only good thing was that the Indians were doing very well in the mid to late 90`s and it made it a little easier to wait.

Well Browns fans til next time Go Browns

Please follow me on twitter @AmherstDawg

Excitement starting to build

I cant begin to tell you how many years in a row that I have gone to training camps, spent money on Browns gear and took time off work to go to Berea during the weekday to avoid the large crowds that flock to see our Browns in training camp and the excitement is there and  then just get let down by the players, front office, coach after coach quarterback after quarterback. Well I don't know if if the glass half theory or this year just feels different I cant explain it. Its a feeling like I have never had... (not a gut feeling like Butch Davis). It just feels  like this organization is starting to turn the corner. I cant even say that I see improvement because I really didn't except on defense this past year. Even Pat Shurmur has a different way of acting, he seems to have a little swag to him. In the last few months Mike Holmgren has been heard on the airways along with Tom Heckert and Pat Shurmur, its almost like they have listened to the fans and they get it. Maybe with the full training camp and the ota`s and also bolstering the coaching staff with Brad Childress, things are looking up. Just the addition of Chili has to be a large load off of the head coach, and I don't care what anyone says I still think that Chili will be calling all the plays eventually. I thinks the Browns had a pretty solid draft they went into it with a plan plan stuck to it and the players we drafted are players that can contribute right away in my opinion. I think Weeden is going to really impress you fans and as for Trent Richardson, don`t be surprised if he is a candidate for rookie of the year. I`m hearing some negative things already about Andrew Luck saying that his delivery is to slow in the NFL, but I`m not expert that`s the hearsay. And as for RG3 I think he will probably succeed the most his first year over Luck because he has more weapons around him than Luck does at this point, but I think Luck will come around once they add some pieces over the next few years. As for the Browns I would still like them to go after Buress as a deep threat or a big physical presence in the end zone to catch touchdowns. Either way I think that the Browns will draft a wide receiver or two next year to accommodate the current receiving core if they don't produce this year. Im not as down on the fans as far as the schedule goes I think the Browns will win 7 to 8 games this year. The schedule is tough but teams like Philly, Cincy can be beat in my opinion.

Well Browns fans til next time.....Go Browns Fear the Elf Baby

Please follow me on twitter@AmhertDawg or if you are a backer follow me @AmherstBackers

Trent Richardson and Draft overview

Yesterday on 92.3 the Fan the Bull and Fox show had our #3 pick Trent Richardson on for a interview. Just let me say I was sipping the kool Aid until that interview and then I drank the whole thing. If this guy truly is as he claims Cleveland is going to love him and welcome him with open arms. As the interview was taking place I had visions in my head of him busting tackles jukeing people and that stiff arm that I would not want to get hit with. I said to my self when he knocked over the Browns running backs coach that in my mind that was a omen. Call me a dreamer, a true homer but it is what it is I just thought he was going to be a Brown and my wish came true. The way he spoke just made me a believer that he is happy to come here and play for the Browns. The way he handled the criticism of Jim Brown was spot on. He has to prove him self and I think we are all in for a great ride with this kid...so lets enjoy it as fans and support him. I didn't grow up in the Jim Brown era but what he said leads me to believe that there is some jealousy from him.

I must admit that as I  watched the draft the excitement began to swell in me again. Then when they took Weeden with 22nd pick I had a little of the wow factor feeling but as I began to analyze it, I just assumed that the player they wanted at that spot was gone and as it turns out Kendal Wright was that player according to the Browns brass. Lets not fool ourselves here when you take a quarterback that high he is going to start this year and with his age there is no time to groom him. His grooming will be in the amount of minutes he plays. I would not be one bit surprised if McCoy and Wallace are both gone and they go and get a aging vet like a Mcnabb or after the cuts pick someone up.

I would like to see them go out a sign Plaxico Buress. I have heard the name Braylon thrown out there and I don't want to go down that road again its kind of like that old girlfriend story, you just don't want to go back to an old watering hole if you know what I mean.

Also today we heard about the Phil Taylor`s injury lets just hope that its a slight tear or nothing at all, we cant afford to be losing starters of this caliber so early in the season.

Well that's all I have for today Browns Fans, short and sweet, lets stay positive and Go Browns

Please Follow me on twitter @AmherstDawg