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Published on Sunday, Dec 28, 2008
1. Romeo's swan song?
The Browns' Romeo Crennel will probably coach his final game, with owner Randy Lerner preparing to evaluate him and General Manager Phil Savage next week. Crennel could get carried off the field by his devoted team, which would be a load for more than just the six captains. ''I don't know who's willing to take that risk,'' linebacker D'Qwell Jackson said. ''I'm too sore. I played a full season. I'll be the spotter or something.'' Unfortunately for Crennel, the numbers don't lie. Crennel is 0-7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers and he could end up as the first full-season coach in Browns history who failed to beat the Steelers. Even the last good defensive coordinator who was overmatched as Browns coach, Bud Carson, went 2-1 against the Steelers. Crennel is also 2-6 vs. against Cincinnati Bengals, 3-5 against the Baltimore Ravens and 24-39 in four seasons. Lerner might not care that Crennel's contract runs through 2011 and that it will cost him about $12 million to let him go.
2. How long will the Steelers' starters play?
The Steelers have wrapped up a first-round playoff bye and the No. 2 seed in the AFC and will host a game on Jan. 10 or 11. Some coaches would use this opportunity to rest the starters, especially those battling injuries, like quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (sprained ankle) and linebacker James Harrison (hip pointer). But the only one ruled out is free safety Ryan Clark (dislocated shoulder). ''We have an opportunity to sweep our division, and that hasn't been done around here since 2002,'' Steelers coach Mike Tomlin told local reporters Tuesday. ''We have an opportunity to play in front of our fans and put an exclamation point on what has been a solid season.'' Last year, in a meaningless finale in Baltimore, Tomlin sat Roethlisberger, receiver Hines Ward and strong safety Troy Polamalu in a 27-21 loss. The following week, the Steelers lost a wild-card game at home to the Jacksonville Jaguars, 31-29. Tomlin said the Super Bowl winner is the team on the rise in January and he wants to re-establish momentum after a 31-14 loss to the Titans in Tennessee on Dec. 21 snapped a five-game winning streak. That said, it would be stunning if Roethlisberger & Company played in the second half.
3. Harrison's reign of terror.
He is questionable, but Harrison, a Coventry High School and Kent State product, will probably want to play. An NFL Most Valuable Player candidate in his second year as the Steelers' right outside linebacker, Harrison was voted a Pro Bowl starter for the second consecutive season. He ranks fourth in the league with 16 sacks, one short of the Browns' team total, and leads the NFL with seven forced fumbles (the Browns have eight). The Steelers' linebackers have 37.5 sacks in '08, tied for third in league history. Anyone who saw Harrison body slam a drunken fan during the 2005 Christmas Eve massacre in Cleveland knows what he is capable of. ''I remember picking him up, throwing him down and holding him until the police came,'' Harrison said last week. ''My whole mindset was if he got close enough to our sideline, I was going to grab him.'' He treats opposing quarterbacks the same way.
4. Fourth quarterback in six weeks.
Pittsburgh native Bruce Gradkowski will get his first start since 2006 for the Browns after Ken Dorsey was placed on injured reserve with a mild concussion and rib injury. Gradkowski will be the Browns' fourth quarterback in six weeks, following injuries to Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson. A University of Toledo product, Gradkowski is 3-8 as a starter, all of those as a rookie with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In his first chance against his hometown team, he threw three interceptions, two setting up the only Steelers touchdowns, in a 20-3 loss in '06. But Gradkowski, just 6-foot-1 and with an arm only slightly better than Dorsey's, seemed to relish his chance. ''I know about the rivalry and I always said I'd love to play against the Steelers,'' Gradkowski said. ''It's even more awesome playing against them in a Browns uniform. I'm looking forward to it.''
5. Will the Browns cross the 50?
The Browns haven't scored an offensive touchdown in five games and nearly 21 quarters. If that drought ends, it probably will be against the Steelers' second-stringers or with receiver/returner Joshua Cribbs under center. Crennel said Cribbs, a former Kent State quarterback, would get more snaps in the ''Flash'' package, but it seems like Crennel says that every week. ''I love it, I love it,'' Cribbs said Friday of his time at quarterback. ''It's the last game and I'm like 'Romeo, man, just call the plays, whether they're designed or not.' I'm going to be in his ear all game, especially it being the last one. I'm like 'What is there to lose?' '' Cribbs has attempted just two passes this season and is itching to throw. He had an option plan cooked up with third-down back Jason Wright before he suffered a high-ankle sprain last week and could do the same with Jerome Harrison today. ''I'm not greedy, but I'll do what I have to do to win and make plays,'' Cribbs said. Whoever is running the offense, there will be few outlets because tight end Kellen Winslow (ankle) and Darnell Dinkins (ribs) did not make the trip, leaving rookie Martin Rucker as the only pass-catching tight end.
— Marla Ridenour
1. Romeo's swan song?
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Comments
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Tallmadge, OH
Posted 08:38 AM, 12/28/2008
Marla - why not say Clowns lose again top the Steelers 2nd teamers !!!!
A, O
Posted 02:30 PM, 12/28/2008
#6 Watch Big Ben get knocked out for the season!!!!!!!
