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Do IT this week: Layering
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 08:00 p.m. EDT, Oct 28, 2009
They jammed NFL fax machines and took fans' signatures to the league meetings when owner Art Modell moved the Browns to Baltimore after the 1995 season.
Now wondering whether all that passion and pain were worth it, two longtime Browns season-ticket holders have decided it's time to protest again.
Mike Randall of Massillon and Tony Schafer of Sandusky, aka ''Dawg Pound Mike'' and ''Mobile Dawg,'' want the team they've worshipped for a lifetime to kick off on Monday Night Football on Nov. 16 against the Baltimore Ravens in an empty stadium.
Not empty for the entire game — just at kickoff, to voice their displeasure over the state of a team that offers them no hope. The Browns are 1-6 and have lost 12 of their past 13 games.
The two men hope to delay at least half the crowd from sitting down before the 8:30 p.m. start.
''I'm a huge fan and I love the organization, but something needs to be done,'' Randall said. ''We have to make a statement. It's nothing negative, just letting the organization know we support the team, but we do not support what's going on right now. There's no general manager, no public relations, nobody letting the fans know they feel our pain. Someone needs to step up and say, 'We're going to fix this.' Fans, it's time we made a stand.
''I'm not saying boycott or wear paper bags. We'll have people around the gates to let people know. Go to the concourse, go to the restroom, just don't go to your seat.''
Schafer said when he and Randall came up with the idea, he suggested the Dec. 6 home game against the San Diego Chargers, but Randall liked the Ravens game better.
''What better way than on Monday Night Football, a national audience and against the Baltimore Ravens, who we lost the team to?'' Randall asked.
Both Randall, 39, who works in sports marketing, and Schafer, 58, a general contractor, said their moment of truth came Sunday as they left Cleveland Browns Stadium after a 31-3 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
''Walking out of the stadium, so many fans don't really give a damn. Somebody said, 'We should have been out fishing instead of watching this crap,' '' Schafer said. ''We want someone to tell us where the team is going, what they're going to do. The way it's going, we could lose this team again.
''For a couple of days [in 1995] I faxed all the owners, broke the machines. I went to the NFL meetings in Atlanta with signatures. It's like all the effort the fans put in, it all went for naught. For me, it almost seems like the Browns haven't been back yet. I wear something brown and orange every day, a hat or shirt. I'm supporting the old Browns, the old tradition.''
Randall used to be one of two men who dressed as ''Charlie's Fryes'' when the former University of Akron quarterback played for the Browns. He and Schafer both have met Browns owner Randy Lerner and do not question the camera-shy executive's commitment to the team purchased by his late father Al in September 1998. The elder Lerner died in 2002.
''I've talked to Randy; Randy's a good guy, he wants to win bad,'' Schafer said. ''But if that was my company performing like that, I'd be a mean, nasty S.O.B.''
Browns coach Eric Mangini addressed the fans' frustrations Monday but probably lacked the passion that Randall and Schafer were seeking.
''I don't think anybody is pleased with where we are right now,'' Mangini said. ''We are going to work at it as diligently and as deliberately as we possibly can. The mistakes are going to be analyzed. We're going to put a plan in place to fix them. There is a commitment to that. There is no sense of, 'Things are OK.' It's a sense of, 'We need to do things better.' And it has to be consistently that approach, and it will be. It always will be.''
Randall and Schafer lament the loss of a generation of fans. Schafer has six tickets in the upper level of the Dawg Pound and is taking some of his five grandchildren to the games, just as he did with his sons, now 32 and 33, and as his father did with him.
''My grandkids used to dress up in Browns garb for every game and watch on TV. It's hard to get them motivated to do that,'' Schafer said. ''Three of them went Sunday and one of them said, 'Grandpa, when are we going to win?' ''
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/. Follow the Browns on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ABJ_Browns.
They jammed NFL fax machines and took fans' signatures to the league meetings when owner Art Modell moved the Browns to Baltimore after the 1995 season.
Now wondering whether all that passion and pain were worth it, two longtime Browns season-ticket holders have decided it's time to protest again.
Mike Randall of Massillon and Tony Schafer of Sandusky, aka ''Dawg Pound Mike'' and ''Mobile Dawg,'' want the team they've worshipped for a lifetime to kick off on Monday Night Football on Nov. 16 against the Baltimore Ravens in an empty stadium.
Not empty for the entire game — just at kickoff, to voice their displeasure over the state of a team that offers them no hope. The Browns are 1-6 and have lost 12 of their past 13 games.
The two men hope to delay at least half the crowd from sitting down before the 8:30 p.m. start.
''I'm a huge fan and I love the organization, but something needs to be done,'' Randall said. ''We have to make a statement. It's nothing negative, just letting the organization know we support the team, but we do not support what's going on right now. There's no general manager, no public relations, nobody letting the fans know they feel our pain. Someone needs to step up and say, 'We're going to fix this.' Fans, it's time we made a stand.
''I'm not saying boycott or wear paper bags. We'll have people around the gates to let people know. Go to the concourse, go to the restroom, just don't go to your seat.''
Schafer said when he and Randall came up with the idea, he suggested the Dec. 6 home game against the San Diego Chargers, but Randall liked the Ravens game better.
''What better way than on Monday Night Football, a national audience and against the Baltimore Ravens, who we lost the team to?'' Randall asked.
Both Randall, 39, who works in sports marketing, and Schafer, 58, a general contractor, said their moment of truth came Sunday as they left Cleveland Browns Stadium after a 31-3 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
''Walking out of the stadium, so many fans don't really give a damn. Somebody said, 'We should have been out fishing instead of watching this crap,' '' Schafer said. ''We want someone to tell us where the team is going, what they're going to do. The way it's going, we could lose this team again.
''For a couple of days [in 1995] I faxed all the owners, broke the machines. I went to the NFL meetings in Atlanta with signatures. It's like all the effort the fans put in, it all went for naught. For me, it almost seems like the Browns haven't been back yet. I wear something brown and orange every day, a hat or shirt. I'm supporting the old Browns, the old tradition.''
Randall used to be one of two men who dressed as ''Charlie's Fryes'' when the former University of Akron quarterback played for the Browns. He and Schafer both have met Browns owner Randy Lerner and do not question the camera-shy executive's commitment to the team purchased by his late father Al in September 1998. The elder Lerner died in 2002.
''I've talked to Randy; Randy's a good guy, he wants to win bad,'' Schafer said. ''But if that was my company performing like that, I'd be a mean, nasty S.O.B.''
Browns coach Eric Mangini addressed the fans' frustrations Monday but probably lacked the passion that Randall and Schafer were seeking.
''I don't think anybody is pleased with where we are right now,'' Mangini said. ''We are going to work at it as diligently and as deliberately as we possibly can. The mistakes are going to be analyzed. We're going to put a plan in place to fix them. There is a commitment to that. There is no sense of, 'Things are OK.' It's a sense of, 'We need to do things better.' And it has to be consistently that approach, and it will be. It always will be.''
Randall and Schafer lament the loss of a generation of fans. Schafer has six tickets in the upper level of the Dawg Pound and is taking some of his five grandchildren to the games, just as he did with his sons, now 32 and 33, and as his father did with him.
''My grandkids used to dress up in Browns garb for every game and watch on TV. It's hard to get them motivated to do that,'' Schafer said. ''Three of them went Sunday and one of them said, 'Grandpa, when are we going to win?' ''
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/. Follow the Browns on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ABJ_Browns.
I'm sick and tired of the boo-hooing over the lousy Browns. Something needs to be done. They should've stayed in Baltimore.
I hope your message gets through. You have my support-at home albeit.
I think it`s a great idea! People......it`s just for the kick-off!!! I love the Browns just like most Cleveland fans. But we need to make a statement. If I wasn`t living in Miami I would be there with you. It`s pretty bad when I can`t root for the Browns and I do root for the the Dolphins. What`s worse, I work with TWO Pittspuke Squealer fans. I can`t believe I`m saying, "Go Dolphins"!
Now that is grass-roots activism. Not just talk.
the browns are going NOWHERE, bulldoze the stadium, turn it into a parking lot for boat trailers.... ROFLMAO.... WHAT A JOKE !!!!
@KathleenD, too bad the Browns never came from Baltimore.
They already fired the GM, fired the head coach and traded away all the franchise players.
What else is left to do?
GO STEELERS
@Fred : Right said Fred.
Hey, Frederick : GO SUCK ON AN ORANGE. . .
dumb idea..anyone who will pay to watch this team get killed every weak is nuts...you protest by not buying the tickets which sends the loudest signal to the Browns...their money..shoot the kickoff is about the only time we are not getting beat because usually within a few minutes after kickoff we are losing...
Great IDEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What's left to do? The best thing wqould be a petition demanding Lerner sell the Browns to someone willing to create a competetive team. They need to go to the NFL and demand that they force him to sell the team. Maybe now people can look back and say maybe it's not the GM or Coach who was at fault. It's the man running this organization who controls the money. Al Lerner was the jackel who put together the deal for Modell to move out of Cleveland and then walked in and got the franchise. The worst day in cleveland football history. Thank God he's now dead
yawn! if you want to make a statement, stay home and spend your money elsewhere.
Actually, the less people that actually pay for a ticket, the better chance there is that absolutely no one will sit in a seat before kickoff.
So to everyone who thinks spending money on the Browns is a waste(no argument here) JUST DONT GO. Your only helping the cause.
KathleenD
Tallmadge, Oh
Posted 08:31 PM, 10/28/2009
I'm sick and tired of the boo-hooing over the lousy Browns. Something needs to be done. They should've stayed in Baltimore.
*I have a belief that women shouldn't write...report...comment...or even talk about football. Thanks for reinforcing it*
LOL Yeah..Lerner will sell his team and stop making millions of dollars because you are unhappy
Keep dreaming!!
...for a Super Bowl ring
Maybe we can get Bill Gates to buy a "bargan basement bundle" and sell him the tribe, browns, and the cav's in a three team deal. I know, dream on. Good luck.
I AGREE WITH THE BLACKOUT IDEA ALL THE WAY IT SHOULD BE LIKE THAT THE REST OF THE YEAR. I THINK THE BROWNS SHOULD MOVE TO LONDON. THEY WANT A NFL TEAM OVER THERE AND WHY NOT THE CLEVELAND BROWNS.
Standing in the concourses before the game will do nothing, people will still spend money at the food stands. Do what I do boycott, I haven't paid for a ticket in six years, bought any team merchandise, nor paid for overpriced beer or nachos at the stadium. That will get noticed alot quicker. Lerner is doing nothing but laughing at this article...
i have lower bowl tickets this sunday and i will be a part of this as well as spreading the word.
GET COWHER!!! WHATEVER IT TAKES!!!
You got my support! After reading this article I bought 2 tickets in the Dawg Pound for the MNF game. (section 120, row 8). Won't find me there for kickoff though. November 16th is my birthday so I can't wait for this!
Before anyone jumps me for spending the money on tickets.....the Browns did not make any money off me. I bought them from a private seller.
A totally idiotic idea. Who are these dolts? If you want to make a statement, then you don't "delay" entering the stadium for a few minutes. You "delay" entering the stadium by not entering the stadium at all! And those that do enter the stadium wear paper bags and brings signs.
Seriously, this is really a horrendous idea. Just how dumb does one have to be to think it's actually a smart idea? They purport to want to "make a statement," and that statement is they've purchased tickets and are going to buy and eat their hot dogs five minutes late?
@someone else
pompous comment!
@Dak1975: Randy Lerner already owns a football team in London, Aston Villa.
Actually, I'm showing the Browns my displeasure by not buying a ticket. Yep, for the 1st time since 1986, I will not be going to a Browns game. Not until ManJerk and the rest put a winning product on the field. Otherwise, it's just a waste of beer.
Boycotting the Monday night Ravens game entirely may be the ONLY way to send a real message.
everybody that shows up should write 'LOSER' on forehead...
<~~~~~this old fan,he be done.
P.S. 'SIPERBOWL ERA'
thanks for the memories....
<~~~~this old fan,he's moved on
What's even more sad than the Brown's playbook is that people are so addicted or addle-brained that they will continue to pay good money for tickets, merchandise, stadium food and drink, etc. Which is part of the reason I don't buy the panic about the economy - stadiums full of grown adults paying hundreds of dollars for frivolous nothingness.
A "brown out" for kick-off, with the tickets paid in full? Talk about whistling in the wind.
hey drunk fools. The only protest that will be heard is stop buying tickets. until that happens you just look like the same drunk fools that fill the dog pound. going to a browns game is an embarrassment on the field and in the stands. the first thing they should do is close the dog pound so that people can bring their families back to the games.
I expect the Browns to go on a long winning streak after this protest, it should fix everything. I know ownership and management are just sitting on their hands, hoping things will change and not making any effort to improve and this should really spark them. That bag thing really worked in New Orleans back in the 80's, now 25 years later they have a good team.
Better idea! Don't go to the games at all for a few weeks. all those empty seats would give them a good hint.
The old adage "money talks" is so right. Even though I agree something needs to be done to get their attention, paying for a ticket and no being in your seat at the kickoff will be just swept under the rug by the network. The NFL will not allow the crowd shot to be shown on TV.
The only thing management knows is $$$$. If you don't spend money at the stadium, you speak louder than any other way. Stay away!
Never thought I would say it.....I have moved on from the Browns. How much can a fan take?
Run Metcalf up the middle
What we all seem to be saying is:
"What if there was a game
and nobody came"
These aren't the real "Browns" and never will be...I applaud these gentleman and understand their sentiment, at one time I was a true fan, lived and died for the next game...not anymore, I stopped caring after our "real" team left...it's just a facade for stealing money from honest people who actually care...never again !
i agree with this idea but i think it should be taken farther, i would rather see a big tail gate party while the game is going on with an empty stadium. i think loosing all the concessions money will send a loud message to learner.
I think this is a bad idea. If many thousands of people stay outside until after the kick-off and then all want to enter the stadium at once, I see the potential for serious safety issues. I do not think this will be a jovial crowd - it will be emotional, impatient, aggressive, and, in some cases, drunk. None of the bad things I imagine may happen, but I do not think they are in the realm of possibility.
Fans organizing a Brown-out.
What a dumb idea. Maybe the owner of the Browns should move the team out of state. And this time the NFL should laugh at the Cleveland's fans when they want their team back!!!
BeerSteeler,
This is a bandwagon-free zone. Go somewhere else and display your nouveau fandom.
I think it's great if the national audience sees that the Browns' fan really care and are passionate enough to demonstrate it to everyone. We need Mangini out of here ASAP -- and his minions with him!! He has accomplished something never done before that I know of -- made a bad team into a absolutely rotten team in the space of several months. He does not deserve to be a head coach anywhere. Get rid of him - I can't stand having to look at him!
The best way to show you are not happy with the way things are going, is NOT TO GO. Let them have an empty STADIUM, that is the only way they are going to know we are sick and tired of losing. By having noone their the browns might win.LOL:)
Okay BIG Thinkers! Its monday night. The Browns win the coin toss and elect to receive. All the fans our standing on the concourse and NOT in their seats. Cribbs receives the kickoff one yard deep in the endzone and goes ALL THE WAY! Tell me, who's there to cheer Cribbs and you all missed a great run back. My Point? EVERYONE knows the Browns suck, from the owner to the coach. They know if they don't start winning, the fans will not pay to watch games. SOOOO, Is the protest REALLY going to change anything? NO! Is it going to give the players more incentive to play harder? No, in fact the reverse might be true. Quit whinning and cheer the guys who are trying to win. Its a new system and new philosophy. I don't agree with Manginis handling of the QBs or offense. Its in trouble. Hire Trestman from Canada as Offensive Coordinator.
KathleenD - shut up you know nothing about FOOTBALL - Hey Mike and Tony - way to go - we'll be standing outside with you guys. By the way - I'd love not to go to the game but as a season ticket holder I've already thrown my money away so I my as well go. Next year may be a different story.
And to the guy that said women should not talk football I probably know about the sport then you do!
The NFL gave the Browns back to the fans? At what cost? PSL's? They tried that in Detroit and the fans said stick your PSL's. Brown's fans have to be the most gullible in the world. Not to mention how much they like being taken advantage of. They just can't wait to throw away their money. As long as the tickets are paid for, Randy Lerner could care less if there was anyone in the stadium. The Brown out idea showsa just how smart the fans really are. NOT! And with all the season tickets sold, who cares if a paltry number of single game tickets are not sold. Again, somebody is laughing all the way to the bank. Want to send a message? Sell your PSL's back to the team and stop buying your season tickets. Until that happens, stop complaining, you are getting what you have paid for.
The new Browns are the Windows Vista of the NFL
i never liked the boycott idea. that could backfire. but this idea is interesting. in the end, does the right message get sent and does the right person hear it?
Boo to the Brownout! I will be in my seat. I will you boycotters as I walk in. It will make the city look bad. What if we win the toss? Am I going to wait and possibly miss a Josh Cribbs TD return?(which could be our only highlight?) Josh doesn't deserve that. He's busting his tail for the team and the fans. The management knows the team is bad and they don't need a Brownout to get clued in...Have some patience people. You've waited since 1964 anyways. You want to start all over again? Did you think Mangini had a team full of Pro-Bowlers to work with?
Ok, first of all Randy Lerner does own a "football" team in England, it isn't in London. It is in Birmingham.
This is a great idea and a way to get across our frustrations.
Women should be allowed to talk about football if they know what they are talking about. I would love to go head to head with you and help you explain what is happening if you aren't scared.
go bengals
I say let the stadium stay empty for the whole game, every game. It's time to tell the Browns to get the hell out of Cleveland, and this time, STAY OUT. This team is an embarrasment to our city and has been decade after decade. GET OUT OF TOWN BROWNS!
Go STEELERS!
So a brownout, eh?
Sure, that'll work. That'll still send a message that you're willing to pay for concessions and merchandise. How stupid can you be? If you want a brownout, I suggest an orange-out. Just don't go to the game. The Browns will end up playing in front of crowds that Kent State and Akron are used to. And I'm not familiar with blackout rules, but this could even mean the region would not get to see the shellacking that the Browns would receive anyway.
the browns suck. they have since they fired paul brown in the 60's!!!!stop buying tickets and stop buying browns apparel. let lerner have it all. how about burning you browns apparel, sort of like bra burning in the sixties. on second thought burn the bras too!!!
Sounds like a fire hazard to me.
I"m in.
Sec. 322, front row.
I wish I could return my season tickets. I wish I didn't already pay for them or I would not go, but I'm in for the delay. I just hope that ticket holders don't sell their tickets to Ravens fans. It was terrible last week being surronded by Packers fans
I wouldn't go to that stadium if you put a gun to my head. They aren't getting another nickel from me !!
The December 10th game is sold out, there'll be more Black and Gold than orange and brown there too.
Kathleen = Clueless, kind of like Mangini.
I think the protest is a great idea, the team is a joke.
I'm in. I won't turn on my tv till 1:15! Went to the Green Bay game. If you think they are bad on tv, you should see them live. They look like they are moving in slow motion. Poor Anderson, it was like none of the receivers could get open, and the play calling was terrible. Don't blame the quarterbacks folks. The owners and coaches are the problem.
You guys have no answers...
Fire mangini? You just hired him? Durr are we going to let him wander off with 10 million like butch davis? How much did Romeo walk off with?
Its funny Browns whiners sure complain but they have no answers when asked what should be done.
And the master bard strikes again! By the way Ski, I did have an orange this morning and was great!!! Thanks for the idea. Go Browns and most of all......Go Kent State!
Not sure it would help anything but good luck making a statement. The real Browns moved to Baltimore. Loved the rivalry between the (old) Browns and Steelers. It is not the same anymore. All my Browns friends are Steelers fans now or don't care about football anymore. Go Steelers; we love ya in Ohio, go Steelers Nation!!!
Randy -- For cryin' out loud, PLEASE sell the Browns!!!
I have tickets to the Monday night game and I would completely be for a Tailgate Only Protest.
I only go to games to tailgate anyway. I don't need to go to a game, I just walk to a bar downtown to watch it, been doing that for years.
If anyone has a TV down in the Muni-Lot let me know.
The QB is not the only problem with this team. It's also the players, they can't catch the ball they can't block. They might as well sit on the bench and let some high school players play, they might score.LOL
So how do we get a message to Lerner? Anyone have a fax number or email address. How about one for the league comissioner? Someone needs to get this ball club out of Lerners hands!
'Grandpa, when are we going to win?' ''
Wow that is powerfull. All I can say now is turn on the Cavaliers. They will win more than they lose this season.
Mark
This is actually the second boycott effort in 2 years. WNCX, 98.5 fm tried a boycott last year, when a fan was arrested for texting in the Dawgpound. I have been a season ticket holder since 1985. I love my Brownies, but this boycott is a good idea.
Kathleen, they did and won the 2001 Super Bowl. I'm not sure what is in Cleveland. They score less point than most baseballs teams do. This idea makes as much sense as not filling your tank with gas when the station opens, but waiting an hour and then filling up.
Im agree with the "brown-out". What can us folks at home do to help?
Do you know why the NFL will not give Akron an NFL franchise?
Because then CLEVELAND will want one!
@john: LMAO!
For some reason I think my last post was denied. I said that instead of a boycott I think that right before kickoff, when the players are on the field and MNF cameras on, everyone should rush the field and take a giant, group dump at midfield.
A Brown OUT? Is this a new name for the old...sending the Browns to the Super Bowl thing when you take a big dump?
It's not like you walk up to the ticket window and buy a ticket. Most of the tickets are season holder seats and the Browns already HAVE the money. Going to the game but not sitting for the kickoff on at a National game -- cool idea.
the browns SUCK and mangini SUCKS, GO STEEL CURTAIN
To Simpleman---Your comment RE: women and football is pretty close minded--I get the Sunday ticket for my love of football, and probably know just as much as you do--Not all women are as simple as you think when it comes to football.
I'm sure there will be something on Animal Planet to watch that will be just as violent ...
An empty stadium to kick off the game followed by thousands of fans going to their seats would send a message that we are not happy, but we still support this team.
Count me in.
Citizenk62 says:
“Maybe we can get Bill Gates to buy a "bargain basement bundle" and sell him the Tribe, Browns, and the Cav's in a three team deal. I know, dream on. Good luck.”
Ah, the myth of Gates the Uber-businessman. So you want the Microsoft solution.
That means that Bill buys or litigates all the other teams in each of the leagues out of business and then all the Cleveland teams win championships every year by default and everyone walks around worshiping Gates as a football messiah. Not much excitement but lots of trophies.
Tickets would go to a thousand buck a pop for the cheap seats. Game "start-up procedures" would take 6 hours. It would require 16 stadiums to play sixteen football games (stadium not compatible with multiple opponents) and there would be 256 players per side (65536 per side in the 2012 season version). Oh and how about during the challenges when the screen goes blue and you have to reboot the entire power grid.
Then again compared to the way the future currently looks, I guess we could try it for a few years :-)
I've got a better idea. How about a walk out at halftime when the score is like 24-3. Oh wait a minute...that will happen anyway. No need to organize anything that way.
The group dump sounds great! I love these posts; I'm laughing so hard right now my side hurts! Seriously though, the Browns have reached an all-time low & something needs to be done about it! A Petition to the NFL sounds like a good idea if someone were serious about it. You would need hundreds of thousands of signatures to make an impact! The petition would offer Lerner two options: 1) Hire a REAL GM (who in turn could hire a REAL coach), or 2) Sell the team to new owners that would keep it in Cleveland!
You know, al lerner was minority owner of the browns when they moved.
paul brown is turning over in his grave right now
"Fix_It_Already
Akron, oh
Posted 09:16 AM, 10/29/2009 The new Browns are the Windows Vista of the NFL"
More like Windows Millenium.
Snoop 2000, you should change your name to Scoop 2000. Thanks for revealing that great nugget of truth 11 years after the fact. You're a regular Sherlock Holmes.
So what's the point again? To let a national audience know that the Browns are lousy? I think people outside of Cleveland already know that.
It sure isn't an effort to affect change, since, you know, you're still paying for tickets and all. If the owners have let the organization come to this level, who in their right mind thinks they'll care about a few empty seats at kickoff?
Wow, I just thought of something!!Al Lerner is making Mike Brown in Cincinatti look like a genius!!!
This whole protest effort is a scam. Mike Randall aka Couch Potatoe, aka Charlie's Fries, aka Dog Pound Mike, is simply using the emotions of the fans to potentially leverage a position for hiself with the team. This guy is a fraud and has made a living off his phony devotion to the team. All he is looking for is attention for himself.
Lerner already did something. He fired Savage and Crennel and brought in a new management team. What fools thought they were going to turn it around in 7 games? I guess the one's who will be out in the parking lot when the teams kick off.
This story is now posted on NFL.com, and ESPN---the pressure is on to make it successful, or at least rent one of those signs that the Buffalo fans did!!
KathleenD - Stick to cooking and sewing and lets let the men discuss sports.
The Browns didnt come from Baltimore. If you're not a fan, why are you reading Browns articles?
You're already a laughing stock around the sports world, so lets draw more attention with a "Brown out". Why not have everyone stand backwards with the media cameras on your backs. Didn't that always work in High School?, oh sorry, Grade School,my error!!!
You are all typical fair-weather Browns fans!!!! When they are down, they suck and you are not watching...try being a true fan! Do not support the coaching decisions, but you SHOULD support your team.
I don't watch any pro sports. Money wins championships and gets you the best players. Anyone tired of watching the Yankees in the world series?
@luv2read....when do they not suck? Thats what people are talking about.Do they have to be that bad all the time?
Cleveland Browns? What Cleveland Browns?
There will be no professional sports championship in Cleveland after 1964. Not in football, not in baseball, not in basketball.
Ever.
Get used to it.
callmecougar: kiss my grits.
The Browns and the Indians do not produce a decent product. Would you continually patronize a restaurant or store that gives poor service and has a sub-standard product. Fans who complain should just quit spending any money on these teams. Why should the owners change the way they do business if there is no incentive. Money talks.
I have been a browns fan since I was a kid now 32 and now reside in North Carolina. I proudly tell everyone who my team is and ware my teams colors.
You know all my friends take it easy on me because they know how much this team means to me and they know we SUCK SO BAD and have sucked so bad since we came back. I feel like I am losing my passion for my browns the Panthers are having some troubles right now but have been consistently good over the last ten years. it just seems easier to jump ship This hurts me to say guys but some coments were that we could lose this team again I have already lost my browns Good bye.
@dogpen76..Touching..wait...let me wipe my eyes!!!
If so many have quit watching and some want the team out a here why so many posts.
Human nature has shown that when people really dont care or pay any attention to something they form little or no opinion to it.
There isnt one post here that really wants to lose this team or they wouldn't show any emotion or interest.
Just enjoy the fact that our team is back with the name and history intact.Only one team wins its division per year and only two make it to the Super Bowl though many teams will go over .500 this year,which wont mean anything on Super B Sunday.
We are a team searching for chemistry and a plan.
We are not there,wont be for a while,but we have a team,and a stadium which makes it possible
to have a dream team someday.
Thatis better then no possibilities,no matter how you try to convince yourself otherwise.
@ds: I find myself agreeing with you often, lately.
DS:
Agreed! As bad as we suck, at least we have a team. Someday we'll be back and as long as I've followed this team (religiously for 50 years), I'm not going to quit now! Having said that, what really is disgusting to me is people posting on here that they are now SQUEELER fans! To me, that's even a bigger disgrace than the state of our team right now!
GIVE THE TEAM AWAY, I GAVE UP ON THE BROWNS IN THE LATE 80'S
DS -
Then again, some teams have been to the Superbowl multiple times.
Standing outside on the concourse buying food and drink, making Lerner money, yea that'll show him. How dense of a fan can you be to see Lerner doesn't care as long as he makes money from fools who think this is their team from 45 years ago. The only way you'll ever see a change is if a real leader comes in and runs the show.
This owner sent an email that was barely literate. That shows you how little he thinks of the chumps who support his inferior product.
Buy NOTHING from the concessions, and stand and face away from the field every time the offense goes out. Dont worry... you will only be looking away for a minute or two..
Hondacbx
As I have said before
Even the last place bowling team gets a trophy.
Hey Zapdog...
That would actually be pretty cool to see as well.
Everyone in the stadium turns around and faces away from the field... except when Cribbs returns a kick of course.
lol.
This plan will accomplish two things. It will further defeat and demoralize the players AND it will make Cleveland the laughing stock of the NFL. Oh wait...nevermind.
This plan will accomplish two things. It will demoralize the players AND it will make the Cleveland Browns the laughing stock of the NFL. Oh wait...nevermind.
you mean still buy the tickets just go to your seats late? What the heck is that going to do? They are still selling tickets. Thats what they want to do. That just goes to show you how stupid people in Clevelaand really are. HHHUUUUHHH Lets buy tickets and go hide in the bathroom for 10 minutes before we sit down that will show them SOB's. Then they will start catchin that football ahuthut... We is smart..... ROTFLMAO.....
After this protest, we will kill the squealers hopes of a SB. And we'll run some more "metcalf up the middle" plays.
Why protest during just the kickoff? I wouldn't buy a ticket or be anywhere near that stadium on Sundays.
You both have my support. It's about time someone takes a stand. I hope everyone takes a stand and makes an impression on National TV.
I'm sorry, but this is just dumb. If you want to protest, don't go to this game or any games at all. Not watching the kick off isn't going to do anything. It's like when people would try to organize everyone and say "Don't buy gas on this day." It didn't do a thing, the gas companies knew they'd be back the next day to get gas. If you don't attend the kick off the Browns corporation will see that you at least purchased tickets and it won't matter to them. Are you planning on doing this for every game. How about this, just stop watching entirely! How much fun is it to watch them be beat EVERY GAME. Do you just sit there in hopes that maybe they won't lose that day? How fun is that? This protest won't do a single thing.
while it may seem to make more sense not to stay home and not go to the game at all, you need to set some perspective here:
these guys have been going to EVERY SINGLE GAME for decades; they have been inducted into the PRO FOOTBALL FAN Hall of FAME. Going to the game is like going to a job - it's in their blood. They are a fan in the true sense of the word, through thick and thin.
this is more symbolic than anything else. they don't lose the experience or any of the benefits they get get from going to the game, but they do send a loud message, whether you want to admit it or not - the Cleveland Browns organization & ownership will feel absolutely embarrassed when the camera show the stadium about 25% filled. I think that is a pretty powerful message - especially on the largest stage a weekly football game can be played - there is a captive, national audience.
Just because something doesn't make sense to us (who haven't gone to the 150 games since the Browns have come back) it doesn't mean it is a big deal for these Hall of Fame Fans. I think it is pretty condescending to question their activity when we should be glad SOMEBODY doing SOMETHING.
We (who don't go to more than a handful of games) can't legitimately offer advice or question them.
Go DogPound Mike & Mobile Dog.
@ KathleenD and OUTLAW: How do you two not hurt yourselves throughout the day without adult supervision??!
No one likes what is being done (or not) with our team. I hate it as much as you all, football is kinda boring this year, including the last 6 games of last year in that too. BUT, I will take this rather than NOT have a team. It wont be this way always. PLUS, the "fans" would be belly-aching about the team moving, etc.
I like the brown-out idea. However this is my 1st Monday night game as a season ticket holder and I want to experience the "hoopla" (lord there better be hoopla!!). I missed the last ones being deployed.
Im torn, be selfish or be supportive of all Cleveland fans.....
For all you "fans" who do not root for the Browns (Fred in Miami): You SHOULD be some other teams fan then. WTF, they may suck and you can admit it, but you dont give up on your team. Thick and thin, thats basic fan 101 stuff.
Remember back when we didn't have a team and they sent busloads of sign-toting, protesting Browns fans to Pittsburgh for a Monday night game. They only showed tight shots of the field on tv and no shots of the crowd. The NFL will not allow this to be shown on television.
GO BRONCOS!!!
If you want to protest - stop buying the tickets.
How bout just locking the coach up in the locker room?
Until someone can prove to me that this team,its quarterback,its coach,or its owner truly want this to franchise to fail,I am going to support it.
I may throw things at the TV,I may call the play calling ridiculous,the coach a Neanderthal,the Quarterback lacking anything resembling having a brain, but their our adolescent talent lacking team,and they feed our need to be part of this thing we call NFL Football.
The Kardiac kids never won the big one, but
what an adrenalin pumping ride it was,and Sundays
were entertaining.
It will be again someday
Don't let the rest of America think we have given up on the Cleveland Browns.
That would be the easy thing to do.
Prove to them we are better then that.
To all of you continual complainers; You better watch what you wish for. It seems to me there was a time when the Brownies moved to Baltimore and then for years you cried and begged for a new team and NFL came through. There are plenty of cities that would jump at the chance for a franchise, so watch what you wish for. I doubt you'd get a third chance.
FINALLY! action! join our site and also sign the petition that is going around. Lerner doesnt HAVE to sell. He can hire someone that knows what the hell they are doing and then GO AWAY and collect
They need to stay outside of the stadium for the entire game. If you don't have a ticket, don't buy one. Folks who already have tickets, come to the game - but don't come inside the stadium. At all. Period. You have enough people OUTSIDE the stadium trying to encourage people not to go in, they'll stay outside. Having them go in and wait in the concourses is not a good plan, and what's the big deal if they come in and sit down after kickoff anyway? This needs to be about 1,000 times fiercer to make a real impact, and it needs to be done for the remaining home games.
Ante up, Browns fans. Change won't be made unless you're heard, and heard properly.
One last question; you are all over 18,correct?? But you sound so...grade-schoolish and why your at it, cross your arms high up on your chest and point your nose to the skies,.,oh yes that'll show em!!!
the browns are not good by any stretch but they didn't give away 2 cy young winners in as many years.
Its to bad we don't have as much passion to correct
the mess in Washington DC with our Congress and
President.
I have three boys (8,6 & 2), my 6 year olds favorite team.... THE STEELERS. My oldest is close to jumping ship as well and I don't blame them, in fact I find it funny now. This franchise is such a disaster that it is losing a generation and fans, kids won't route for a loser indefinately. For my part Sundays have never been so productive! I feel terrible for those of you spending so much to go and see a disgraceful product since they have come back. Lerner is in it for money and will tell you what he thinks you want to hear.
I am anticipating a "Brown-out" of my own tomorrow morning; shortly after rolling out of bed.
I don't expect it will look any worse than what I saw against Green Bay this past week.
:0(
Sorry, I couldn't resist!
:0)
I feel kind of sorry for the Browns fans, who cheer for them every week knowing full well that they will lose, and if they don't lose then they just got lucky, that is all. I don't see the point in following such a crappy team run under crappy management under a crappy owner. Ditch the team and find another one if you want to show them you demand change. If they sent the browns off again, why boohoo about it when you are better off. The Browns are an embarrassment to the city of Cleveland. Will someone please explain to me why everyone is such die hard fans of a crappy organization. I personally don't follow or care for the NFL, but if this were the case any other major league sports that I do follow I would still feel the same. Cincinnati has the Bengals, they are 5 and 2 why not root for them? Why get so down about a sports team if they continue to lose season after season and hold no real place in their organization (the NFL)?
I'm a democrat.......
and I support this initiative 100%!
I say we all stay home and educate ourselves on the upcoming election....
And.... don't vote for anyone who has "Brown" in their name.
That'll show them!
@Bob: <>
Hey everyone, now head on over to see what they are proposing on fantheory.org, incentivizing the team with your same ticket money, but the team only gets it--if they WIN. Genius!
OK, men...let's get out the white underwear, turn em inside out and go down to the stadium...
retlaw in nj
You are correct.
This team leaves. there will be no third times a charm
There will be no chance at returning
Ridenour:
I want to know how these two idiots are going to make the Browns win, or a better team, by asking the fans TO STAY AWAY and NOT support their team, infront of a national audience nonetheless !!
What is Lerner supposed to do, go out and buy a brand new team? Brand new coaches? Will this two Idiots think they can guarantee wins?
They are totally mentally and emotionally challenged, and so is the lynch mob media !!!!
PS. I guess you and your Media shark friends will run with this great, great news article on the front page of you rag paper EVERY DAY untill NOV !16th, correct?
Kokinisis and Mangini must go! No more three to four yerars of incompitance and torture. These guys are the worst ever!They have no clue. Playing DA just lke Crennel did with the same results, refusing to give Quinn a fair chance is proof enough.
Hey Gyfalcon:
1) It has been exactly seven (7) games NOT 3-4 years !!
2) Would you buy a whole new team, new coaches, would you guarantee wins? Wake up and stop drinking the MEDIA HATERAIDE !!!
Mike Randall, please stop your attempt at demoralizing that pitiful group of men that you call a football team. Lerner may end up selling the team when he sees what you fans are really like. AND I would hate to see the Browns leave Cleveland. Who would we laugh at all football season if we didn't have the Cleveland Clowns!?
PLEASE DON'T RUIN OUR FUN!! LOL
Diehard Browns fan since the late 60's. I'm having a hard time watching them this year, but I'm still a fan. Its been a long dry spell, but I know they'll turn it around.
