Late thoughts on the Matt Millen NBC crawl
Before I belatedly discuss the subject of the title, there is a bit of Lions news I would like to comment on. It appears Leigh Bodden will be out the door alongside Mike Furrey as soon as the Lions are allowed to start releasing players. Smart move for a couple of reasons. One, if he were on the team he'd be getting an $8.5 million roster bonus, and with a first overall pick to sign, the Lions will need all the money they can get. Second, he was terrible last season and apparently did not get along with the coaching staff. He's amongst the dead weight that will be released this offseason, and it is a shrewed move by the Lions, both personnel wise and finances wise.
Now, on to the subject at hand. I'll admit I am a little late on this story, but through the course of this article, I will explain why. Matt Millen, as you may recall, was one of the approximately 94 people on NBC's Super Bowl pregame coverage. As I am sure you know, he is also the worst GM in the history of sports. Thus, whenever he appeared on screen, the Detroit NBC affiliate ran this crawl: "Matt Millen was president of the Lions for the worst eight-year run in the history of the NFL. Knowing his history with the team, is there a credibility issue as he now serves as an analyst for NBC Sports? ..."
It's funny because it's true. Painfully, painfully true. I didn't mention it at the time since I didn't see it. I didn't watch a lick of the NBC pregame coverage, as I never watch pregame coverage. Or halftime coverage. Or postgame coverage. Had I, I would have mentioned it being a humorous thing, and well played by NBC. The wounds of the Millen Era are still a little fresh in the Detroit area, and let's face it things are not exactly going good for the city. A little brevity can go along way. No big deal right?
That's what I figured, and that's why I didn't really mention it until this point. Not really enough to say about it to bother writing an article about it. Nobody could really object to this right? There's certainly no way anybody could blow this way out of proportion right? How silly of me, I clearly underestimated the sports media. According to the folks over at ESPN's Pardon the Interruption, amongst others, this was an egregious act perhaps akin to a war crime. Both Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon were not amused, and rallied against it. Wilbon even called it, and I quote, "That's one of the most vicious attacks that I have ever heard of anywhere." Kornheiser added, "The notion that somebody with the rights to the Super Bowl, one of their local affiliates, would crush a guy like this. I've never heard of anything quite like it."
Oh hyperbole, they name is sports media. Again, this was on PTI's Tuesday broadcast but I was unaware, as I would never, ever watch that show, or any show akin to it. So now, I find myself defending an innocuous joke that was solely broadcast in an area particularly conducive to it against the notion it is "one of the most vicious attacks" ever.
Admittedly, I am using this as sort of a springboard to get on my soap box about the nature of sports media. It is absolutely ridiculous. We are constantly inundated with people with zero credibility shouting their half formed, generally useless opinions at us. PTI is such a show, and these comments are further proof of why people like Kornheiser and Wilbon have absolutely no credibility as sports analysts. It's not just their opinions, but how they phrase it. Hyperbole, as I mentioned, is par for the course when it comes to any sports talk type show such as this. Have none of these people heard the old "Boy who cried wolf" parable? When you are always yelling, and I do mean yelling, about something being the "worst" or the "best" thing ever, it loses all meaning eventually, and you lose all integrity. It is even worse when your opinions are often so bizarre and so off base it is mind blowing to think that you cover sports professionally.
I will admit in my past I have watched PTI. I have in fact seen the show many times, but not in a very long time, over a year at least. There is only so much a man can take. I have repeatedly heard both Kornheiser and Wilbon say similarly over the top, ridiculous things many times over. As a reasonable man who follows sports, often their nonsense would drive me to the point of anger, at which point, again as a reasonable man, I saw no reason to continue watching the show. Both these men have zero credibility in my book born out of watching them yell their inane opinions over and over again. Alas, as a huge football fan I am unable to completely purge Tony Kornheiser from my life, as he is always there during Monday Night Football, ready to kill my very soul with each Brett Favre mention.
This Millen issue is just another example of how ridiculous these shows are. I can see absolutely nothing "vicious" about this. Did our local NBC affiliate accuse Millen of building a device to block out the Sun or of stealing our organs and selling them to zoos for meat? No, nothing of the sort. All they said was that Millen presiding over the worst eight year run in the history of the NFL. Not only is that true, but it is said in a very level, even headed way, the antithesis of "vicious." Additionally, what rational person can't see the possible credibility issues of having the worst GM in the history of sports analyzing the same sport he was so bad at comprehending as a GM? Most fans probably thought "How could they hire Millen to be an analyst right after an 0-16 season?" and it is a fair question to be asked.
I'm a big proponent of the "Let's move past the Millen Era" school of thought, but it is a lot more difficult to do so when he is thrown in your face when you are trying to watch the Super Bowl. Football fans in Michigan despise Matt Millen, and with good reason. He ruined our beloved franchise after all. Are we not entitled to voice our opinions of him in a reasonable manner? You know, without shouting and hyperbole and general craziness? It seems only fair. They did not attack Matt Millen as a human being, they did not say anything that wasn't true, and they gave many Lions fans a laugh and a bit of catharsis on the last day of the 2008 NFL season. How could you really be so adamantly against that?
So I stand by the local NBC affiliate for their Millen crawl and I do not think their actions were in any way reprehensible. Meanwhile, I find everything about PTI and similar shows to be much more damaging to the very notions of civil discourse and pragmatism. I truly hope you do not watch such shows, because that will only encourage these people more. We need a lot more rationality and reason in our sports media. People should only be yelling in the most serious of circumstances. Hyperbole should be cast into exile, never to return. Of course, reasonable man that I am, I am not naive enough to believe that will ever happen. But if I can dream of a Lions Super Bowl victory some day, why can't I dream of reasonable sports coverage? However, much as I support the anti-Millen crawl, I think now it is time to let it go. Let that be the final nail in the coffin of the Millen Era. You can't be living in the past in the world of sports, or in the world in general. A new era is here, and it promises to be better than the last. Let's focus on that instead.
examiner.com
Five reasons the Cardinals will win Super Bowl 43
TAMPA, Fla. -- Maybe you still need convincing. Not me. The Arizona Cardinals are for real. They will complete their improbable playoff run by beating the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl 43. Here are five reasons why:
1. The Warner factor
Few quarterbacks are better at reading blitzes and getting rid of the football quickly. Warner is the perfect answer to the Steelers' pass rush. Though he is not mobile, Warner has only been sacked three times in the playoffs because he is rarely confused by any defensive scheme.
"Kurt's mind works differently than most players," Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald said. "When they are bringing more than we can block, the ball is out of there. He knows exactly where he wants to go with the football before you know as a receiver."
Warner has thrown eight touchdown passes and two interceptions during the postseason. And his ability to perform in big games cannot be questioned. He was the MVP of Super Bowl 34, and he threw for 365 yards despite losing in Super Bowl 36. The hoopla and the pressure will not bother him. He is a hot quarterback poised to have another huge Super Bowl.
2. The underdog feels less pressure
Remember what the Giants did last season? They rode the underdog role all the way to a championship. The Cardinals are following that blueprint. They feel disrespected and have used that as motivation throughout the playoffs. They are loose, confident, and talented enough to pull off another upset.
David Tyree, who made an incredible catch to help the Giants win Super Bowl 42, sees similarities between this year's Cardinals and last year's Giants.
"The Cardinals are sleeping giants," said Tyree, speaking to SportingNews.com on Friday in Tampa. "I like them to win. It helps being the underdog in any sport. But in this atmosphere, in a sport that's so emotional, it's even more important. You love floating under the radar at the Super Bowl. Let the other team get the pressure, the attention. Then when the game starts, you just explode like a volcano."
3. The Cardinals' terrific trio
No other team had three players with more than 1,000 yards receiving this season. Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston present a unique problem. Covering all three is nearly impossible when Warner gets time to throw. And even when Fitzgerald is covered, he can outjump and outfight defenders because of his leaping ability and hands.
"Larry Fitzgerald is better than everybody else," Steelers safety Troy Polamalu said. "He also has a quarterback who's putting the ball in precision spots. Limiting them is tough."
Fitzgerald dominated the NFC playoffs when Boldin was hampered by a sore hamstring. A healthy Boldin makes the Cardinals more difficult to stop. The Steelers have a great defense, but they match up better against teams that like to establish the run and control the clock.
The Steelers are best at smashmouth football. But facing the Cardinals can feel like flag football, with receivers running all over the field, forcing linebackers and safeties to chase instead of hit. The Cardinals will spread out the Steelers' defense and take advantage of mismatches created in the secondary. Many teams try to do that to Pittsburgh, but the Cardinals have the personnel to make it work.
4. They are not your regular-season Cardinals
People look at the Cardinals' 9-7 regular-season record and think this team is not deserving of being in the Super Bowl. During the regular season, the Cardinals were inconsistent and soft on the road. But the Cardinals grew up as team after being crushed by the New England Patriots in December. The Cardinals already had the talent to win, but they added tenacity to go with it, particularly on defense.
"There was a point after the New England game where our team had enough," Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "They realized we weren't getting the job done, and what we needed to do to fix that. We re-established our identity on the practice field. We did it with pads on, in a contact practice. I think that established the mentality that has served us well in the playoffs. It's a little bit us against the world, which has brought this team together, created chemistry. I think we'll continue with that Sunday."
5. The Cardinals feel disrespected
Both teams will be emotional for this game, but the Cardinals have a slight emotional edge, determined to prove they are worthy of being champions.
"It's hard to change people's mind set," Cardinals Pro Bowl safety Adrian Wilson said. "It is not going to happen overnight. It is going to take a lot of hard work to change the Cardinals' persona."
Fear not, Adrian. Winning Super Bowl 43 should do it.
(c) 2009 The Sporting News
Marin's LaBoy ready to shake off biceps injury and face Steelers
TEMPE, Ariz. - Travis LaBoy has been more spectator, it seems, than manic defender chasing down quarterbacks in his first season with the Arizona Cardinals.
The former Marin Catholic High standout had groin, neck, leg, ankle and now a biceps injury that is keeping him from what he does best - wreak havoc on the football field.
This weekend, the Cardinals brought a special brace to support the left biceps tendon strain that knocked him out of the NFC championship against the Philadelphia Eagles after only about five plays.
Even without the brace, the defensive end/outside linebacker says he won't miss next Sunday's Super Bowl in Tampa, Fla., against the Pittsburgh Steelers. And he guarantees he won't be just there to watch from the sideline, something he's growing tired of doing.
"There's no way I'm missing this game," said LaBoy, who excelled at the University of Hawaii and for the Tennessee Titans before signing a free-agent contract with the Cardinals last offseason. "I'm going to feel way better than I did the last game."
That last game, LaBoy was in a shirt and shorts, his left arm in a sling, by game's end. His mother was doing snow angels in the red-and-white confetti that was pouring down University of Phoenix Stadium after the Cardinals' improbable victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. LaBoy was solemn.
Bertrand Berry has replaced LaBoy on the edge of the defensive line through all the injuries. Berry has performed well, but Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt realizes what LaBoy means to the team.
"Based on what I have seen Travis do for us when he is healthy, it would be exciting to see him out there," Whisenhunt said. "We are going to need something like that to help try to slow down this offense, especially with (quarterback Ben Roethlisberger) and the way he moves around and runs that offense."
Roethlisberger, at 6-foot-5, 241 pounds and mobile, shakes off defenders, extends plays and makes the secondary work twice as hard finding receivers coming out of the pocket.
That's why the pass rush is going to be vital for the Cardinals' success.
"It puts a lot of pressure on our secondary," Berry said of Roethlisberger's ability to extend plays. "We don't want those guys having to run around any extra time than they're used to. When you prolong the down, it wears on your secondary and those guys kind of get tired during the end of the game, because they've been running all day. They've got good and speedy receivers who are going to put a lot of pressure on them."
The biceps injury is something LaBoy, who was signed for his ability to rush the quarterback, doesn't feel will hold him back.
Maybe he can find some Samson-like strength from his long locks of hair.
"I'm ready to go," LaBoy said. "I feel fresh.
"The adrenaline is going to be pumping. This is the biggest game for anybody who ever played in the NFL. So I don't think anybody will be hurt Sunday."
Copyright (c) 2008 - Marin Independent Journal
If needed, Spagnuolo has outs in St. Louis
The Rams came away with one of the hottest candidate names in Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, despite the fact that the team is rumored to be for sale.
That issue was addressed, however, in locking the Super Bowl winning assistant down this week.
FOX Sports has learned that the Rams wanted Spagnuolo so badly they agreed to include an escape clause in his contract should the team be sold. Thus, if the Rams are sold he has a window where he can get out of his deal. Those close to Spagnuolo said that was a big concern heading into the meeting with them and the Rams wanted to alleviate any concerns he had.
Spagnuolo interviewed with the Rams in Beverly Hills this past Thursday. It may have been the first time through the process that he fully went after a gig as the other interviews were conducted as he was preparing for a playoff game. Earlier in the week he had a meeting for a couple of hours with Jets owner Woody Johnson and GM Mike Tannenbaum.
Spags seemed to be the early favorite for the Jets job, but two things made the two a less than ideal fit. First, ownership wanted him to retain Brian Schottenheimer as his offensive coordinator. However, Spagnuolo has already ear-marked Eagles offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur to be his offensive coordinator.
Second, the Jets want to remain a 3-4 defensive squad and Spagnuolo is a 4-3 guy who learned his trade from Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson.
Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan appears to be the guy and one thing he sold them on is the fact that he can get much, much more out of Vernon Gholston, the team's first-round pick. Ryan was put in charge of getting the most out of Terrell Suggs when Baltimore first drafted him and the results can't be argued.
Bucs got blindsided
How blindsided were Bucs head coach Jon Gruden and GM Bruce Allen with their sudden Friday firings?
Sources told FOX Sports that Gruden had been interviewing prospective assistant coaches and actually hired former Bucs and Lions assistant Joe Barry about two hours before he was fired. Barry went as far as signing the deal then got on a plane only to land to the news that his new boss was now his new fired boss.
In addition, Gruden had told his assistants late in the week that he met with ownership and they had another year to right the Bucs' ship. That prediction obviously did not come to fruition.
So where exactly did it go wrong with Chucky? First, ownership was clearly angered by how the season concluded. Usually the coach meets with the owner the day after the season comes to a close. However, the Glazers didn't meet with Gruden until the middle of this past week. Thus, it took them nearly three weeks to finally sit and deal with their Super Bowl winning coach.
In the end, Gruden was hardly backed up by the players, who were brutally honest with ownership when asked about their head coach. There was a very strong lack of trust between veterans and youngsters alike and the veterans especially, in meetings with the Glazers, made their opinions known.
New head coach Raheem Morris may look like a youngster, but he was on the fast track to a head coaching job in this league. His closest friend is Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and the two share many of the same leadership traits and football ideas. He interviewed for the Broncos head coaching gig and many believed he was just a year or two away from getting a gig.
Saints' Payton shares the wealth
While the head coaching carousel was spinning from city to city there was also quite the tug of war going on for one particular assistant. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was being strongly courted by the Saints, Packers, Titans, Texans among others.
In the end, Williams chose the Saints, largely because of the firepower of the offense and even the chance to work on the same team with ultra-professional Drew Brees. But in order to lock him up, the Saints needed to come up with some more cash for the contract.
It came from a very unlikely place. FOX Sports has learned that Saints head coach Sean Payton wanted Williams so much that he is actually giving up $250,000 of his own salary and shifting it to Williams' first year of his deal in order to sweeten the pot. Not sure I've ever heard of a head coach going that far to get his guy.
Officiating shakeup coming soon
There is quite a significant shakeup coming to the NFL league office that has been kept under wraps all season long.
FOX Sports has learned that league VP of Officiating Mike Pereira has informed the NFL that he is retiring.
Pereira informed the Commissioner Goodell earlier this year of his decision and the league has already begun to search for his replacement. However, the league will ramp up the search effort following the Super Bowl and Pereira has actually agreed to stay on for 2009 to assist his success or and make the transition a smooth process.
Pereira has been in his position since 2001 and at this time it appears his decision is a done deal. He and his wife have wanted to move back to the west coast for quite some time.
Pereira replaced Jerry Seamen in 2001 and has become a much more visible figure than his predecessor. His retirement, league sources say, has nothing to do with anything that transpired on the field or in officiating but was merely a lifestyle decision.
(c) 2009 Fox Sports Interactive Media, LLC
Ravens understand the wild-card route
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -The Baltimore Ravens are rolling down a familiar road. It's a route they once took to a Super Bowl title. They expect it to lead to the same place.
In January 2001, the Ravens stuffed their wild-card playoff berth down the throats of four opponents to win their only NFL crown. One of the teams they beat was Tennessee.
On Saturday, the Ravens eliminated the Titans, the AFC's top seed, 13-10. That followed a 27-9 victory over Miami in the wild-card round.
Next up is another division winner - either the Pittsburgh Steelers, who beat Baltimore twice this season to take the AFC North, or the San Diego Chargers, who won the West, albeit at 8-8.
"It's great to make our own history, our own path,'' linebacker Bart Scott said. "That team was great. We can't be compared to that team. That team had its own identity, and we're trying to create our own.
"We're not through yet. We'll evaluate all that stuff when it's over with.''
To a man, the Ravens (13-5) believe it will be over after a successful trip to Tampa, the same place they beat the Giants for their previous Super Bowl championship.
The leader of that team was Ray Lewis. He still is: an All-Pro with viable Hall of Fame credentials and a mean streak that epitomizes the Ravens.
"We always have got one philosophy to this defense,'' Lewis said after Baltimore forced three turnovers and a slew of other blunders by the Titans. "If they don't score, they don't win.
"I was here in 2000. It was physical then. Both ballclubs are built kind of similar. That is why the game came down to what it was. We knew that coming into the game.''
What these Ravens have more of than the previous title team is balance. Led by 40-year-old kicker Matt Stover, who made the 43-yard winning field goal with 53 seconds left, their special teams, are, well, special. Punter Sam Koch also excels, and the coverage units are solid.
And unlike in 2000, these Ravens have a more varied offense. Baltimore has a rookie quarterback who doesn't get rattled in Joe Flacco. The Ravens of eight seasons ago had a journeyman veteran, Trent Dilfer, who was a game manager.
Flacco is unflappable. Twice on Saturday, he was faced with difficult situations and came through.
The Ravens led 10-7 when they recovered Tennessee tight end Alge Crumpler's fumble at their 1. On third down, Flacco retreated to throw and came dangerously close to stepping on the back line for a safety. As the crowd at LP Field howled, he threw an incompletion.
No flag.
"I think my foot wrapped around and came back inbounds,'' Flacco said. "I almost pulled a Dan Orlovsky.''
Orlovsky, the Lions quarterback, stepped well out of the back of the end zone in a game this season.
"I wasn't out because they didn't call it,'' Flacco added.
And on a third-and-2 at the Baltimore 32 with 2:51 to go, Flacco completed a 23-yarder to Todd Heap even though the scoreboard showed zero on the play clock. Again, the crowd screamed.
"The back judge is responsible for that,'' referee Terry McAulay said. "He has the clock. When it hits zero ... he goes to the ball. So there is going to be a natural delay from zero to getting to the ball. And when he gets to the ball, if it is being snapped, we don't call it.''
Not that the Ravens simply were fortunate to win and advance. They didn't commit any turnovers, made several big plays on offense, and their defense was dynamic.
"It's about playing a physical football game and causing turnovers,'' said safety Ed Reed, the only unanimous choice for the All-Pro team. "In crunch time like this, ball security is huge on either side of the ball. It just bounced our way.''
In crunch time, it often does.
Copyright (c) 2008 Time Inc. A Time Warner Company
Smith edges Sparano for AP Coach of Year
NEW YORK (AP) -- Mike Smith and Tony Sparano performed so brilliantly as rookie head coaches it was almost impossible to separate them.
Atlanta's Smith edged Miami's Sparano by one vote Sunday for The Associated Press 2008 NFL Coach of the Year award.
Both coaches oversaw sensational turnarounds, leading their teams from last-place finishes in 2007 to playoff berths this year. Their achievements were reflected by the closeness of the balloting, with Smith getting 23 1/2 votes and Sparano 22 1/2 from a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who cover the NFL.
After improving from 4-12 to 11-5 and making the NFC playoffs as a wild card, the Falcons fell 30-24 at Arizona on Saturday night. That should not detract from a memorable season that bodes well for the football future in Atlanta.
"I'm honored individually, but more so for our coaching staff and our players," Smith said. "I think we have tried to establish that we'd be very systematic in how we did things, that we were going to have a plan.
"We laid that plan out from the very beginning how we were going to practice, how we were going to travel, how we were going to meet, how we were going to communicate, and I think the guys really appreciated definitely how we presented the plan in the framework for us to start the season."
Smith helped guide quarterback Matt Ryan to the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Smith also had a first-time starter at running back, Michael Turner, who rushed for 1,699 yards and 17 touchdowns.
That certainly helped as Smith had to deal with a makeover of the Falcons organization and its image following the incarceration of quarterback Michael Vick for dogfighting and the resignation after 13 games last season by coach Bobby Petrino. He left Jacksonville, where he was the defensive coordinator, to take on one of the biggest rebuilding challenges in sports.
"We went through every bit of pain last year that an NFL owner or a franchise or a community of fans could imagine," said Falcons owner Arthur Blank, who hired Thomas Dimitroff away from New England to be general manager before hiring Smith. "At least that's my viewpoint. On the other hand, to see things come around this year as well as they have, it's just a tribute to the men involved who are making these decisions."
The Falcons should have learned from their wild-card loss on Saturday, Smith added.
"This is all part of the process," he said. "It's just another step in the process. We're going to remember how we feel as a football team because we plan on being back in this situation and we want to remember how this feels."
Sparano, a former offensive line coach in Dallas, joined Bill Parcells with the Dolphins and the makeover in Miami was just as impressive as in Atlanta. The Dolphins were 1-15 a year ago before cleaning house, and Sparano guided them to an 11-5 mark that won the AFC East. They were hosting Baltimore on Sunday in a wild-card game.
Sparano echoes Smith's philosophy on establishing a winning identity.
"You have to have some kind of luck," Sparano said. "But I think part of it is a philosophy you try to put into place. You want to make sure they understand from Day 1 that if you're a guy who thinks being in the training room is a good habit, it can get you beat. Not being on the practice field, we don't get better at fundamentals and our techniques."
Only one team has ever improved as much as Miami's 10-game turnaround: the 1999 Indianapolis Colts.
Just four coaches received votes despite a year in which a half-dozen did exemplary work. Tennessee's Jeff Fisher, the longest-tenured coach in the league, received three votes, while last year's winner, Bill Belichick of New England, got one.
Smith is the second Falcons coach to win the award; Dan Reeves got it in 1998 - when the Falcons went to the Super Bowl.
Copyright (c) 2009 The Associated Press
The 2008 Cleveland Browns: Their final game and outlook for the future
At the beginning of the year most people believed the Browns would be competing for a playoff spot. Unfortunately, the Browns are playing just so the season can be officially deemed over. They are playing a Steelers team this Sunday that will most likely play their second stringers and still have an advantage on Cleveland.
Former Toledo Rocket Bruce Gradkowski will most likely start at quarterback for the Browns and play in front of his native Pittsburgh for the second time. Ironically he grew up a Steelers fan and will have to play near perfect for the Browns to win.
Some Cleveland fans will still watch and cheer Sunday, while others will possibly elect to save themselves the grief. I believe on any given Sunday any team has the capability to win. Therefore, I will watch my Browns attempt to win a game, because they are my team. I cheer for them no matter what, but it's important to also demand a winning change for the city of Cleveland. I write articles in support of that change-- as opposed to enabling the continuation of a losing culture.
The 2008 Cleveland Browns have regressed from one of the most exciting teams in the league to one of the most forgettable. Television networks paved the way for the Browns franchise to be a visible contender in the NFL again. I'm guessing they now are regretting that decision, and it may be another ten years until the Browns get national coverage like they did in 2008. Believe it or not, it is important for Cleveland to be a good NFL team. The Browns fan base is very deep and covers a large national scope. The NFL is better when the Browns are competitive.
Was a stellar season too much pressure for the Browns? Was it unfair to think a team that went 10-6 would most likely progress into something greater? The answer is debatable and will be talked about for much of the off-season.
The fact remains that the Browns are terrible football team representing a city that badly needs a winner. Can Cleveland look to 2009 with the realistic perspective of redeeming the magic of '07?
I'm already hearing the "rebuilding" term being slung around Cleveland--as if we needed another decade to build a winner. As if the idea of having a winning team takes longer to build in Cleveland than any other city in the sports universe.
I will argue that winning and being a winner has a lot to do with attitude and perception. The Browns are just as capable of going 10-6 next year as they were falling to a losing team this year. Teams like Atalanta and Miami have proven that with attitude, coaching, and some luck, winning is alway possible--even in Cleveland.
(c)2008 Copyright Examiner.com All Rights Reserved
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