Browns Will Have Plenty Of Flaws On Opening Day
July 5th, 2010
Less than 10 weeks from the opening day kickoff against the Browns (circled as a “W” on many Bucs’ fans schedule), Joe finds himself reading up on all things Cleveland on this lazy, rainy Monday-after-the-Fourth holiday.
Before Joe shares some of his research, Joe can’t help but think of another person with that Bucs-Browns game highlighted on his calendar — and in his heart. That would be Kellen Winslow. Given all of Winslow’s drama in Cleveland — the accusations of not being a team guy, Grapefruitgate, the staph infections and the overall sour situation — Winslow must be yearning to punish the Browns.
How sweet would it be to see Winslow try and put the team on his back on opening day?
As for the Browns, Terry Pluto, of the Plain-Dealer, invested time detailing a list of things he expects to see from the Browns. …It’s clear, per Pluto, that Cleveland has a pile of questions in its secondary.
1. First-rounder Joe Haden will not be one of the starting cornerbacks. The Browns will work him in gradually in nickel and dime coverages. They’ll go with veterans Eric Wright and Sheldon Brown at cornerback, with Haden the main backup.
2. The Browns say they love Michael Adams on special teams, and every year he plays more in the defensive backfield than planned. That won’t change this season. In fact, he could play a lot of safety.
3. Rookie safeties T.J. Ward and Larry Asante will deliver huge hits, but both will worry the coaches when it comes to pass coverage. That’s why Adams will be important.
Joe will be as fired up as any other fan on opening day, and cheering from the first whistle. But Joe just can’t get too hopeful, as much as Joe wants to put the Bucs down for a W. It simply comes back to having to rely on so many rookies.
July 5th, 2010 at 11:49 am
Finally!! 10 weeks cannot pass quick enough! Bring on the Browns!!
July 5th, 2010 at 12:18 pm
If we can’t beat the Browns at home, it’s going to be a really LOOOOOONG season.
July 5th, 2010 at 12:25 pm
While I don’t think we as fans can assume this young Bucs team will win in week one, we definetly have a good chance. The Browns are no better than us. Winning in week one can have a huge effect on what a team does for the rest of the season. It will be a very important win for us. We need to build some early confidence to make it thru week 8 to week 13. That’ll be a rough 6 weeks.
Week 10 at home vs. the panthers will be a game we need to win. I hope we sell that one out and our fans are there to support this young team when they need it most.
July 5th, 2010 at 12:25 pm
I have my tickets, ready for action. Enough words already!!!!!!!!!!!
Jimbuc, we are finally in agreement!
July 5th, 2010 at 12:39 pm
Ha, I’ll agree with both JimBuc and eric. Let’s get this thing started already!!! Wish I lived in Florida so I could actually go to more games than I do. I’m lucky to get to one per year!!! But I’ll be watching on my NFL Sunday Ticket. Go Bucs!!!
July 5th, 2010 at 1:07 pm
Wow, we ALL agree on this one! Bring on the Browns!! I can’t wait! Tailgating, Cheerleaders, Cold Beer, Some young players ta keep an eye on! I FRIGGIN LOVE FOOTBALL!!!
July 5th, 2010 at 2:15 pm
Make it a consensus, I am thrilled for week 1. Even I who project these kids as 4-12 or 5-11 believe that they should be legit favorites on opening day.
If Rah doesnt blunder this one away, they should be 1-0.
Joe,
Did you see the profootballtalk.com article which included an interesting stat that may scare but interest buc fans? The stat: 3 of the 4 oldest teams in the NFL last year won their division, also one of those 3 won the super bowl. This supports the obvious argument many of us have made: You dont win with 25 year olds.
July 5th, 2010 at 2:25 pm
Dont forget to add the broncos to my list of teams signing players to big deals even with cba uncertainty.
The Broncos signed Chris Kuper their young OG to a big deal 28 million, 13 guaranteed last month. Get this guys – he was a Restricted Free Agent – like Penn and Ruud. The team treated him fairly and didnt give him a b.s. excuse and certainly didnt lie him about fining him.
July 5th, 2010 at 2:52 pm
Huge game for the BUcs I feel as that we are way better than the browns. Jake Delhome are you serious ? His carrer been over last two years.
July 5th, 2010 at 2:55 pm
Nobody says it can’t be done, thomas. Of course RFAs can be signed to long term deals. Funny thing though, Kuper signed his RFA tender back in March. His deal this season is $2.5M (his RFA tender). He participated in team activities while his agent worked the deal.
Of course, when he signed the tender, there was no guarantee he’d get that deal, he just accepted the facts and signed. Fortunately, they worked it out. Now Penn should see that, sign his tender and get to team activities at the end of the month and let his agent negotiate. If a deal gets done, great. If not, that’s the way it is. But he needs to sign the tender like Kuper did for anyone to take him seriously and not play stupid mind games (like threatening fines that don’t exist).
July 5th, 2010 at 3:19 pm
Thomas — way to pull out that shocker about the Broncos. That confirms it! The Bucs action are unique! How many teams are there in the . . . . ugh . . . never mind. Brick wall.
July 5th, 2010 at 3:24 pm
As a Bucs fan who lives in Cleveland, everyone here is also looking forward to this game because they believe their beloved Browns will get off to a 1-0 start. For some reason, everyone in this city believes that the Bucs are in worse shape than the Browns. I never understand this and have to remind people I talk with that their best player is a Special teams player. Please prove me right Bucs!
July 5th, 2010 at 4:35 pm
I’ll be there!!! Let’s get it on!!
July 5th, 2010 at 5:09 pm
as a long long time season ticket holder….this will be the first time in a long time I am anxious to see the team…progress and glimpes of the future is what I a looking for
July 5th, 2010 at 5:57 pm
Hopefully it will be lousy jake from last year, and not Buc killing Jake.
Of course without Steve Smith he may not be any good either way. Maybe we can eak out a victory in a sloppy game.
Dreaming big here!
July 5th, 2010 at 6:08 pm
Season is almost here, I feel like a hog looking for some cool mud in the summertime!
July 5th, 2010 at 6:09 pm
You also forgot to mention that the Browns currently own the longest winning streak in the NFL. They definitely ended last season on a high note.
July 5th, 2010 at 6:20 pm
If the Bucs cant beath the Clowns, I might start the Can Radio clock or website.
July 5th, 2010 at 6:25 pm
If we lose to the Browns, we are staring 0-5 right between the eyes…………..
July 5th, 2010 at 6:37 pm
If we start 0-5 Eric, Jimbuc and his cronies will be saying: “this is the plan, we are rebuilding through the draft, we are in year 2 of a 5 year turn around, Rah and Dom have us headed in the right direction, the Glazers are being smart with the CBA uncertainty, MANU has only made the Glazers richer that is why they arent spending” and blah, blah, blah . . .
July 5th, 2010 at 6:52 pm
@Erick I live in columbus and I hear the same talk. I for one thinks the browns CB hadden is going to be a bust.I really beleive the Bucs will win 7 at least I think they should. Just saw some of the madden ratings Jackson and Joseph 88 Rudd 91 winslow a 89
July 5th, 2010 at 7:11 pm
If we start the season 0-5, I’m gonna be furious. You won’t be hearing excuses for 0-5 from me, thomas.
July 5th, 2010 at 7:55 pm
Who are the browns recievers and Te’s, Im ean only person that comes to my mind is Robiske I onl know him cause he went to Ohio state. theother one is Cribbs and he will be neutrlized we have one of hte best special teams unit in the NFL. Borwns are not better than us Rah better coach them up and be violent no reason why we should be 0-1 espiccally to the clowns
July 5th, 2010 at 7:58 pm
5-6 wins would be inexcusable. Considering we have the schedule we have, I don’t understand how that can be acceptable! What’s gonna happen when we actually play better teams in 2011, such as the Colts, Packers, Giants, etc…??? Are we gonna be 3-13 again? I’m not expecting it, but there’s 10 games on the schedule that we’re capable of winning. CAPABLE. If we win at least 7 of them, then that would be okay i guess. Still unacceptable, but ok considering the little proven talent and coaches we have.
If there is a season next year in 2011, depending on what happens with the CBA, there’s supposed to be a great selection of FA’s (Over 400 available i think). They BETTER be active in FA next year!! If we just keep adding rookies only for the next several years, it’ll take forever till we’re a playoff team again. Sorry, I’m not gonna wait 3-4 years just to get to the playoffs. That’s complete BS. It’s been proven several times that teams can be turned around in 2 seasons. The Dolphins went from 1-15 to 11-5 in one year. The Falcons went from 3-13 to 11-5 in one year. And through 2 years, 6 wins is acceptable for us?
July 5th, 2010 at 8:00 pm
First game of the season is great i cant wait!!
But I WILL be in Phoenix on Halloween afternoon!!
Where you live BamBam? Tucson Arizona here!
July 5th, 2010 at 8:08 pm
Colorado here, Rusty. Went to the Broncos/Bucs game a couple years ago. Lost that game, Griese got CRUSHED. Gotta make it back to Tampa to see them win again, missed going to a game last year.
July 5th, 2010 at 8:31 pm
How can you haters be looking forward to the season opener when you are so adament the Bucs will suck?Eric,you are unreal.Your buddy Thomas makes a couple of his normal negative posts and you turn on the hatred. You went from I have my tickets and I’m ready for some action to if we lose to the Browns we’re staring 0-5 between the eyes.Talk abour Jekyll and Hyde.They have medication to control this type of behavior.
July 5th, 2010 at 8:49 pm
The Bucs are terrible guys. Wake up and realize that your team is essentially the caliber of an expansion team. Windslow is your best player, and he couldn’t even stay healthy on our squad. The rest of the Buccaneers are NFL level backups. Not to mention your coach. LMAO, don’t even get me started about this guy. I could have sworn he was supposed to be an interim coach. Now look, 3-13 and he is all of a sudden your guy? The Bucs should have never, ever fired Jon Gruden! I mean are you guys kidding me? What an outrageous move. I sure as hell hope Mike Holmgram brings in Gruden! Oh yeah! Actually, now that I think of it, THANKS!
July 5th, 2010 at 8:54 pm
I’m glad they’re looking forward to week 1, Bob. All of them, the so-called haters and so-called koolaid drinkers. I’m not big into the whole naming and grouping of people. The “haters” don’t hate the team, they’re simply skeptics. They won’t believe until they’re proven otherwise. If you don’t get your hopes up, they can’t come crashing down. But they can be exceeded, and I’m sure they all hope their hopes are exceeded. Same for the kool-aid crowd. We are optimists. We see the differences between what was and what is and are optimistic good things will come of it. If our hopes get dashed, so be it, we’ll get back up and find something else to be optimistic about. That doesn’t mean we don’t see when something is really bad, and needs to be dealt with, just that we may let it go a bit longer than the skeptics.
July 5th, 2010 at 8:54 pm
We have the better roster and Bucs should win this. It is not as certain as many here think though. The only disadvantage of being a young team is inconsistency because of inexperience. Who can guarantee a guy like Delhomme will not get hot like he does twice/thrice every year? What I am saying is that I will not freak out if the Bucs will open with a loss.
I will how ever be utterly disappointed if Bucs do not win atleast once against Panthers, Saints and Falcons.
July 5th, 2010 at 9:19 pm
Thomas — you are wrong . . . as usual.
July 5th, 2010 at 9:28 pm
BrownsFanWindslowBlows-still cryin about loosing your man?With that sorry ass group of head coaches you’ve had,you better pray you get Gruden.You got an ass whipping coming on opening day.You better spend you time keeping Labron around or your Cavs will suck as bad as your Browns.
July 5th, 2010 at 9:33 pm
@BrownsFanWindslowBlows Winslow might be are top player but not by much Talib, Jackson, Jospeh is right there too. The Browns suck are you serios. Jake Delhome is your QB he beats brett farve in INT’s every year and he had steve smith to throw to with a great running game sad but the browns best player is on special teams and he is a converted collage QB that cant be a real WR Joe thomas is good but the browns going to get beat bottom line I have been waitng to argue with someone other than Bucs fans. You got a Gm that wants to be the coach only reason they did not fire Gruden is cause he was in a contract with ESPN I will take Rah over man dummy anytime wow
July 5th, 2010 at 9:34 pm
oops I meant get gruden not fire gruden
July 5th, 2010 at 10:01 pm
@BrownsFanWindslowBlows
Yeah you’re right. Winslow is our best player, but what’s wrong with that?? He’s one of the best tight ends in the league, and your Browns made a poor decision of letting him go. I smell jealousy. Who’s your best player??? Josh Cribbs, a special teams guy?? Jermone Harrison is ok but other that I can’t think of any other guys you have to brag about. There are several other great players on our team other than Winslow. Davin Joseph our RG, Tanard Jackson our safety, Barrett Ruud our LB, and Donald Penn our shining LT, are some of the other fine players we have on this team.
Yeah maybe we were bad last year but at least we haven’t been perennial losers like your team has been. How long has it been…… like 10 years since your team was even in the playoffs??? Any super bowls??? NO. Read about our history over the last decade and we have 1 super bowl win, 6 winning seasons, and 3 division titles.
Not to mention, you guys lost to the LIONS last year. EPIC FAIL. Cleveland is one sad city for sports right now.
July 5th, 2010 at 10:57 pm
0-5 would be disasterous. we need to win 3 or even 4 of our first 7 games, cause week 8 thru week 13 is brutal. We might win at home in week 10 against the Panthers, but we will be lucky to win any of the other five games in that stretch. Then we could also win a few games in weeks 14-17. We really need to start off well though, which is scary cause we are so young with so many rookies. I think most people expect us to start off rough and get better thru out the year. Makes sense, but 0-5 start will likely mean 2-14 or 3-13 and that’s not acceptable even for a young rebuilding team in it’s second year.
July 5th, 2010 at 10:57 pm
I can’t believe we’re getting BS from Cleveland. CLEVELAND? That town is like a graveyard of sports dreams. Nothing good ever happens for Cleveland fan.
We may have gone 3-13, but at least we’re not the Browns.
Good luck with your awesome new QB, Browns fan!
July 6th, 2010 at 7:48 am
You know, I always kinda hope the Brownies are gonna be decent. I’ve been to Cleveland, and , wow! If the browns suck, you got NOTHING! No beaches, Bikinis, theme parks, I mean nothing! Other than sitting around, wishing you lived sonewhere cool, like Tampa, you don’t have anything to distract you from the drudgery of live in Cleveland! Every year, once it becomes apparent that the Browns suck again, I’m always worried that there’s gonna be a rash of suicides! Without anything to break the monotony if life in Cleveland, a lot if them can’t go on. And having been there, I can see why!! Sadly, I think we are gonna add to their despair this year, by starting off their year with another loss. The Downward spiral begins again! Jake ta Ocho- really? That’s yer great hope? Sad. Well, sit back and think about Bernie Kozar. That was the last time you didn’t suck, right? Or meybe dream about yer last SuperBowl winning team!! When was that, anyway? Good luck, Cleveland, stock up on Kleenex!
July 6th, 2010 at 7:53 am
@Patrick
I think that you may have forgotten to add a little something behind the record of ours. It should read;
Read about our history over the last decade and we have 1 super bowl win, 6 winning seasons, and 3 division titles, under the “real” Coach, Jon Gruden!
July 6th, 2010 at 8:11 am
We will soon get that ‘real coach’ Jon Gruden next season.
I just don’t see much of an upside for Tampa though, until you guys get a real coach. I mean weren’t you all in the rumors to get Bill Cowher last season’s end? What happened? Bill would have been a perfect fit.
I still can’t see how you are gonna beat us with that young team and all the INTs he likes to toss. Looking at his stats, how do you clowns seriously believe he is your savior??? D Anderson posted better stats than him, and you see how he turned out. Brady Q was far more promising that Freeman, and you see how Brady turned out.
I just can’t see how even the most die-hard Bucs fans can honestly claim that the Bucs have ANY guarenteed wins this season. You clowns seriously think that you have guarenteed wins this year? LOL!!!!!
July 6th, 2010 at 8:51 am
Predictions and judgements from someone who lives in Cleveland- by choice, mind you! First of all, anyone who consciously decided that Cleveland was where they want to live, is automatically banned from expressing their opinions! Secondly, to know what constitute a winning football team, shouldn’t you have at least SEEN one in your life time?? I mean, unless you drive to Pittsburgh once, A Brownsfan wouldn’t know a winning team if one bit him in the ass! And no, watching good teams annihilate the brownies doesn’t count- that’s more like practice, or meybe child abuse. So.until you have shown intelligent decision making in your life- like, say, moving outta damn Cleveland!, or have actually seen a winning Pro football team, ya probably should stick ta posting on Brownie sites. That way yer lack of knowledge about winning football won’t be so obvious! Just trying ta save you a little embarrassment, cause here in Tampa, we know what a winning team looks like. AND we were all smart enough NOT ta select Cleveland ta live in! On a brighter note, if you do sign Jon” the locust” Gruden, you will have couple moving ta Cleveland to worship him, their names are Thomas and Eric! You’ll just LOVE having them post on the brownie sites!
July 6th, 2010 at 8:58 am
Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn, nah, you guys made the right choice! That Jake guy, oh yeah, he’ll get ya to the SuperBowl!! Good call!! Lmfao
July 6th, 2010 at 9:05 am
@Browns fan are you @#$% seriuos Jake delhome is your QB check his Ints he has thrown he was realesed by the panters because of it. Upside did you say upside at least are team is being built around are linenbackers and QB that will be on this team for 4-5 years. YOu have senneca wallace Colt mccoy and Jake delhome. Besides the lions and radeirs there is no one that draft worse than the clowns. upside did you say upside and have the nerve to bring up brady quinn who is from where I am from they drafted him then signed Anderson to a big contract then get rid of both and bring in one has been and on never will be. Sounds like great mangament to me. And while the clowns were beating nobody’s in there 4 game winning streak we were down to the super bowl champs 17-0 and came back and won in NO while they had something to play for. That is why Cowher was not brought in dont ever mention upside again Hayes, Black,Mccoy,Talib,Jackson,stroughter,WIllimas freeman , benn, all players in there 3 years or less and can get better
July 6th, 2010 at 9:09 am
Gruden wouldn’t coach the Browns if they paid him 10 Million a year! Next stop for Gruden will be the Cowboys if they can’t make the playoffs or go one and out.
July 6th, 2010 at 9:11 am
When Jake Delhome beats the Bucs in week one, what will your excuse be then? You clowns just went ALL-IN with Raheem Morris and Josh Freeman! Talk about betting the farm. Your expansion team is gonna take a LOT longer to produce wins than you clowns wishful thinking.
Jake Delhome drops back, touchdown against the Tampa Bay Bucs weak defense. How have the Bucs done lately? You don’t have Jon Gruden anymore righting that ship. Come to think of it, Raheem Morris ran that thing into the ground before last season even started!
You guys have serious issues, trust me.
July 6th, 2010 at 11:15 am
If ya live in Cleveland, and yer a Brownies fan, ya got serious issues
July 6th, 2010 at 11:25 am
Where’s Bernie Kosar? Still Bankrupt?
July 6th, 2010 at 11:26 am
Byner
“The Drive”
Moved to Baltimore
Not even a Super Bowl appearance, much less a Championship.
What a legacy!
July 6th, 2010 at 2:28 pm
You tell’em, Eric!
July 6th, 2010 at 2:34 pm
Can’t wait ten weeks for “pound a brownie” day!:)
July 9th, 2010 at 5:33 am
And now Lebron James escapes Cleveland for . .FLORIDA, TaDa!! Live in Cleveland just gets worse. . If that’s possible.