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No hard feelings evident after latest controversy. Focus is now on Buffalo
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Monday, Nov 17, 2008
BEREA: All the talk about quitting and checking their egos at the door appears long forgotten.
During pre-practice stretching on Saturday, running back Jamal Lewis and receiver Braylon Edwards engaged in friendly conversation, showing no evidence of hard feelings after Lewis' fiery postgame remarks on Nov. 6. The outburst, echoed by special teams ace Joshua Cribbs, was prompted by the Browns blowing double-digit third-quarter leads in the past two games against Denver and Baltimore.
''I don't think it really changed anything,'' tight end Kellen Winslow said Thursday. ''I think guys are frustrated. When you're frustrated, you say things.''
Lewis will be disappointed if he suspects the team didn't take his comments to heart. But running back Jason Wright didn't see any negative fallout from another episode in a season of never-ending controversy.
''If I look at how it's affecting the team, I'd say it's been a competitive week of practice and we're preparing hard,'' Wright said. ''I think there's an excitement about playing on Monday Night Football.''
After a long break since that 34-30 loss to the Broncos, the Browns may have found the perfect elixir — their second appearance on Monday Night Football this season and their third since the franchise returned in 1999. On Monday, Oct. 13, Cleveland handed the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants their only loss of the season, 35-14.
Big night in Buffalo
Tonight's matchup of the Buffalo Bills (5-4) and Browns (3-6) in Ralph Wilson Stadium seems more important to the home team, fighting to come out of the tightly bunched AFC East. After starting 4-0, turnover-plagued Buffalo has lost three in a row and seeks to win its first MNF game since 1999.
With lake effect snow expected, the game could be a replay of last year's, played in a blizzard in Cleveland. The Browns prevailed in those severe conditions, 8-0.
While Cleveland's chance of securing its first playoff berth since 2002 seems like a long shot, the Browns still hope to salvage something.
''We're definitely excited,'' strong safety Sean Jones said. ''Around here we haven't played that many Monday nights. We're excited to go out there and redeem ourselves from that Thursday night game.''
Some still dare to dream big.
''I played on a team that went to the Super Bowl, at the end of the season we went on a run,'' Lewis said of the 2000 Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens, who won seven in a row to finish the season 12-4 and earn a wild-card berth. ''It just takes the guts and the will and the want to go out and get it done. That's not just players. That's coaches, too. It rolls from the top.
''It's going to take an effort from everybody — the coaches to put us in the position to do the right things to win and for us to go out and execute and win.''
When he drove to work a week ago after three days off, Cribbs thought about how he could inspire his teammates to finish the season 7-0.
''Anything could happen. This season's been pretty crazy as it's gone so far,'' Winslow said. ''The Miami Dolphins were the worst team in the NFL last year and they're doing pretty good. I don't think Buffalo had that good of a record and they're doing pretty well.
''If we go 7-0, we'll finish 10-6 like we did last year. I'm all for that.''
Staying focused
In the past several years, the Browns have responded well to controversy. This season they defeated Jacksonville in the midst of Winslow's eventually rescinded suspension for criticism of General Manager Phil Savage.
''Over the last year or so, we started to come together as a team. That's what gets you through stuff like this without imploding or tearing it apart,'' Wright said. ''That's why we're still together, we're still positive, we're still working hard and why we're excited about the game. We get along. We root for each other and we push each other.''
As upbeat as the Browns seemed late last week, some believe another second-half meltdown could prompt the immediate firing of embattled coach Romeo Crennel.
''No one in this locker room is thinking about that,'' Browns left guard Eric Steinbach said. ''He's our head coach and we're sticking by him, just like the quarterback situation. Whoever's taking the snaps that week, that's who we're rallying around.''
ESPN is touting the game as a matchup of young guns, second-year quarterbacks Trent Edwards of Buffalo and Brady Quinn of Cleveland. Edwards, a third-round pick from Stanford, is making his 19th career start; Quinn, his second.
The Browns will look to Quinn's leadership to steady an erratic offense that is still showing signs of life, scoring 80 points in the past three games.
Unlike his first start, when he had barely more than a day of practice after 2007 Pro Bowler Derek Anderson was benched, Quinn said he felt much more comfortable about the Bills game. That is, perhaps until he sees the bright lights of Monday night.
''You always got together, huddled with your family around the TV and watched Monday Night Football,'' Quinn said. ''It's an exciting time. I'm glad I've got the opportunity to start and be part of it.''
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/.
BEREA: All the talk about quitting and checking their egos at the door appears long forgotten.
Get the full article here.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Posted 08:05 AM, 11/17/2008
I want some of what they are smoking...
Akron, OH
Posted 08:45 AM, 11/17/2008
3.5 grams of hope.
Posted 09:36 AM, 11/17/2008
Must be a Meth house in Berea.....
Old Faithful, WY
Posted 10:09 AM, 11/17/2008
these guys play like they are on quaaludes not meth.
edison, NJ
Posted 10:46 AM, 11/17/2008
i"ll have a double of whatever josh cribbs is drinking !!!
Kent, Oh
Posted 03:07 PM, 11/17/2008
They did beat the Giants on Monday night. Anything is possible with this team. Go Browns!
Barberton, Oh
Posted 04:04 PM, 11/17/2008
Yea Browns, GO...................
And please take the Crennelephant, Edwards, Winslow and Savage with you...........
"Cleveland won't win, without the chin" !!
BRING IN COWHER !!!!!!!!!!
Hey Randy L., are you listening to your fans ????
All you have now are losers !!!!!
Posted 04:04 PM, 11/17/2008
Except consistency.
Akron, OH
Posted 06:11 AM, 11/18/2008
"...and, we have a WINNER!"
