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Monday Notebook
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Time for Kokinis, Browns to agree and part ways
Akron Zips:
Zips tip off tomorrow
Tribe Matters:
Indians announce spring dates
Cleveland Browns:
Mangini doesn't name a quarterback
Kent State Sports:
KSU Notes – November 9
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Shaq: It’s All About Winning Championships
Buckeye Blogging:
Weekly ‘B’ Deck Report – New Mexico St.
Varsity Letters:
Louisville’s Bobby Swigert headed to Boston College
All Da King's Men:
If It Looks Like Islamic Terrorism…
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Dems Message To Women: Don't Enjoy The Sex
Akron Law Café:
Abortion Analogies
See Jane Style:
Muffle Your Muffler
Car Chase:
Clock Tender- Extending the Life of Collector Car Clocks
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Rumors: Akron Starbucks Closing
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Jack is looking for a trip to Southern Ohio the week of November 16.
Sound Check:
The Black Keys to perform benefit concert at Musica on November 27
HRLite House:
Personal Rant – Why People Do Not Live in Northeast Ohio
Akron Gamer:
New 'Call of Duty' could set entertainment record
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 08:18 p.m. EDT, Oct 12, 2008
BEREA:Browns receiver Braylon Edwards' most vivid Monday night memory comes from 1995, when he was a 12-year-old San Francisco 49ers fan growing up in Detroit.
Edwards' father, Stanley, got them tickets when the 'Niners visited the Pontiac Silverdome. The youngster figured there was no way his beloved team, undefeated and the defending Super Bowl champion, could lose to the 0-3 Lions.
Edwards went home upset, as the Lions prevailed 27-24.
The situation seems similar for the injury-plagued and underachieving Browns (1-3), as they host the New York Giants (4-0) in the Browns' first appearance on Monday Night Football in five years. The Giants have won 12 consecutive games away from home, including playoffs and the Super Bowl, and all signs point to the continuation of that streak.
The Browns' 32nd-ranked offense, struggling to click all season, will probably be without Pro Bowl tight end Kellen Winslow. The four-year veteran was released from the Cleveland Clinic on Sunday after being hospitalized for three nights with an undisclosed illness, but he was downgraded to doubtful. He would be replaced by 10-year veteran Steve Heiden.
Also doubtful are right tackle Kevin Shaffer, who suffered a concussion two weeks ago against the Cincinnati Bengals, and defensive end Shaun Smith, who underwent hand surgery during the Oct. 5 bye week. In place of Shaffer, Ryan Tucker could see his first action of the season after May hip surgery, while Louis Leonard might fill in for Smith.
The Browns must find a way to cope as they try to turn around a season of high expectations that thus far has been a huge disappointment.
''Even if we were undefeated right now, we'd still be underdogs,'' Edwards said. ''I think that actually puts us in a better situation, because some of the expectations are down. We're back to where we were last year as the underdogs.''
If Smith is unable to play, it could defuse a potentially volatile situation with Giants running back Brandon Jacobs, 10th in the league in rushing going into the weekend.
The Browns believe Jacobs nailed strong safety Sean Jones with an illegal block in the Aug. 18 preseason game in the Meadowlands, which prompted Browns players to retaliate. Jacobs also took offense to Smith's constant chatter that evening. Another comment by Smith last week — ''I had no problem when I tried to take down Jerome Bettis, so I'm not worried about trying to take down Jacobs, either'' — also did not go over well.
Browns defensive end Corey Williams fanned the feud when he said last week, ''There ain't nothing physical'' about the Giants' offensive line, and said his key to stopping Jacobs was, ''I'm going to try to knock his head off. . . .Once you go putting wood on him, he's a totally different running back. He'll start tiptoeing, shutting it down.'' Those remarks landed Williams on the back page of the New York tabloids Friday and carried sensational headlines in other major newspapers.
''What was said was said,'' Williams said Saturday. ''I don't care to read papers. I don't keep up with that type of stuff. I'll just get ready for Monday night.''
The Browns didn't seem ready when they last played on Monday Night Football on Dec. 8, 2003, against the St. Louis Rams. The Rams jumped out to a 23-7 halftime lead as starting quarterback Kelly Holcomb threw two interceptions in the second quarter, one returned for a touchdown, before being replaced by Tim Couch.
The Holcomb-Couch scenario could repeat itself, if the performance of Derek Anderson doesn't improve. After throwing 29 touchdown passes and going 10-5 last season en route to his first Pro Bowl, Anderson is suffering from a crisis in confidence and nervousness in the pocket. He could be lifted in favor of Brady Quinn, the 22nd overall pick in the 2007 draft who has played just one career series, that in the '07 finale.
The Browns are making the first of three appearances on Monday night this year, also taking the big stage Nov. 17 at the Buffalo Bills and Dec. 15 at the Philadelphia Eagles. They have already lost on Sunday night (to the Pittsburgh Steelers 10-6) and will play on a Thursday night (Nov. 6 at home against the Denver Broncos). In nine previous prime-time games since the franchise returned in 1999, the Browns are 1-8.
''We've been getting our butts kicked in prime-time games,'' Edwards said. ''We have a lot to prove to the outside world as well as to ourselves.
''A lot of us come into the league and it's a dream to play on Monday Night Football, to have three or four touchdowns. But somewhere after that first or second drive, you have to say, 'Hey, now that's over with,' and just play.''
Few will remember how to handle it from the 2003 season. Remaining from that team are just five Browns: Tucker, Heiden, linebacker Andra Davis, kicker Phil Dawson and long-snapper Ryan Pontbriand.
Pro Bowl returner/receiver Joshua Cribbs had no idea how long the Browns' Monday night drought had stretched.
''Wow. Five years. Wow,'' Cribbs said. ''It's about time to get some recognition.''
Even though they want to prove they deserve prime-time exposure, the Browns must keep their poise. They also will try to regain their home-field advantage, 0-2 this year after going 7-1 in 2007.
''You don't want to go out there and lay an egg,'' Anderson said. ''We've done it a few times.''
Even in the middle of last week, the Browns' excitement was palpable.
''Everybody's going to be watching. The lights are on,'' third-year linebacker D'Qwell Jackson said. ''If you want to proclaim yourself as a superstar or that big-time player, Monday is the time to do it.''
BEREA:Browns receiver Braylon Edwards' most vivid Monday night memory comes from 1995, when he was a 12-year-old San Francisco 49ers fan growing up in Detroit.
Edwards' father, Stanley, got them tickets when the 'Niners visited the Pontiac Silverdome. The youngster figured there was no way his beloved team, undefeated and the defending Super Bowl champion, could lose to the 0-3 Lions.
Edwards went home upset, as the Lions prevailed 27-24.
The situation seems similar for the injury-plagued and underachieving Browns (1-3), as they host the New York Giants (4-0) in the Browns' first appearance on Monday Night Football in five years. The Giants have won 12 consecutive games away from home, including playoffs and the Super Bowl, and all signs point to the continuation of that streak.
The Browns' 32nd-ranked offense, struggling to click all season, will probably be without Pro Bowl tight end Kellen Winslow. The four-year veteran was released from the Cleveland Clinic on Sunday after being hospitalized for three nights with an undisclosed illness, but he was downgraded to doubtful. He would be replaced by 10-year veteran Steve Heiden.
Also doubtful are right tackle Kevin Shaffer, who suffered a concussion two weeks ago against the Cincinnati Bengals, and defensive end Shaun Smith, who underwent hand surgery during the Oct. 5 bye week. In place of Shaffer, Ryan Tucker could see his first action of the season after May hip surgery, while Louis Leonard might fill in for Smith.
The Browns must find a way to cope as they try to turn around a season of high expectations that thus far has been a huge disappointment.
''Even if we were undefeated right now, we'd still be underdogs,'' Edwards said. ''I think that actually puts us in a better situation, because some of the expectations are down. We're back to where we were last year as the underdogs.''
If Smith is unable to play, it could defuse a potentially volatile situation with Giants running back Brandon Jacobs, 10th in the league in rushing going into the weekend.
The Browns believe Jacobs nailed strong safety Sean Jones with an illegal block in the Aug. 18 preseason game in the Meadowlands, which prompted Browns players to retaliate. Jacobs also took offense to Smith's constant chatter that evening. Another comment by Smith last week — ''I had no problem when I tried to take down Jerome Bettis, so I'm not worried about trying to take down Jacobs, either'' — also did not go over well.
Browns defensive end Corey Williams fanned the feud when he said last week, ''There ain't nothing physical'' about the Giants' offensive line, and said his key to stopping Jacobs was, ''I'm going to try to knock his head off. . . .Once you go putting wood on him, he's a totally different running back. He'll start tiptoeing, shutting it down.'' Those remarks landed Williams on the back page of the New York tabloids Friday and carried sensational headlines in other major newspapers.
''What was said was said,'' Williams said Saturday. ''I don't care to read papers. I don't keep up with that type of stuff. I'll just get ready for Monday night.''
The Browns didn't seem ready when they last played on Monday Night Football on Dec. 8, 2003, against the St. Louis Rams. The Rams jumped out to a 23-7 halftime lead as starting quarterback Kelly Holcomb threw two interceptions in the second quarter, one returned for a touchdown, before being replaced by Tim Couch.
The Holcomb-Couch scenario could repeat itself, if the performance of Derek Anderson doesn't improve. After throwing 29 touchdown passes and going 10-5 last season en route to his first Pro Bowl, Anderson is suffering from a crisis in confidence and nervousness in the pocket. He could be lifted in favor of Brady Quinn, the 22nd overall pick in the 2007 draft who has played just one career series, that in the '07 finale.
The Browns are making the first of three appearances on Monday night this year, also taking the big stage Nov. 17 at the Buffalo Bills and Dec. 15 at the Philadelphia Eagles. They have already lost on Sunday night (to the Pittsburgh Steelers 10-6) and will play on a Thursday night (Nov. 6 at home against the Denver Broncos). In nine previous prime-time games since the franchise returned in 1999, the Browns are 1-8.
''We've been getting our butts kicked in prime-time games,'' Edwards said. ''We have a lot to prove to the outside world as well as to ourselves.
''A lot of us come into the league and it's a dream to play on Monday Night Football, to have three or four touchdowns. But somewhere after that first or second drive, you have to say, 'Hey, now that's over with,' and just play.''
Few will remember how to handle it from the 2003 season. Remaining from that team are just five Browns: Tucker, Heiden, linebacker Andra Davis, kicker Phil Dawson and long-snapper Ryan Pontbriand.
Pro Bowl returner/receiver Joshua Cribbs had no idea how long the Browns' Monday night drought had stretched.
''Wow. Five years. Wow,'' Cribbs said. ''It's about time to get some recognition.''
Even though they want to prove they deserve prime-time exposure, the Browns must keep their poise. They also will try to regain their home-field advantage, 0-2 this year after going 7-1 in 2007.
''You don't want to go out there and lay an egg,'' Anderson said. ''We've done it a few times.''
Even in the middle of last week, the Browns' excitement was palpable.
''Everybody's going to be watching. The lights are on,'' third-year linebacker D'Qwell Jackson said. ''If you want to proclaim yourself as a superstar or that big-time player, Monday is the time to do it.''
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