Does that mean your breath smells like nightcrawlers?
More like shark chum, if you ask my (true) friends.... <img src="/images/graemlins/rofl.gif" alt="" />
That's why I'm now referring to him as Brayleon. I took Vers to task about the nickname when The Real Leon started playing reg season games for us on D. It would be hypocritical of me to start using "Leon" now.
I hope RAC's opinion is correct in that he can still become a productive team player. Somewhere in another thread is a quote from Edwards on his recent silence saying something to the effect of, "I'm tirred of crucifying myself". Maybe he is beginning to get it and he'll still come around. I sure hope so.
Hate to sound like Vers, but I'm just old enough to understand a Universal Truth- that most folks NEVER change, unless their lives substantially change. It ususally takes a near-death experience to wake most folks up. Brayleon hasn't had that, yet. Kellen has. That's why I'd put my money on K2 for the "life's lessons learned" award. Bad as it may sound, I'm starting to think that Brayleon might not ever get humble enough to endear himself to Browns fans, and will leave (with our collective foot in his backside) before he actually amounts to anything. Egos as large as his need lots of erosion- and the standard NFL contract doesn't last that long.
That's a sad thing, too... because he has obvious talents, but there's also an obvious disconnect between him and his reality... that he simply hasn't done enough to get the "ooohs and aaahs" he so obviously craves. The fans who support the team he plays for have seen Gary Collins, Paul Warfield and Webster Slaughter. They're ready to give oput the ooohs and aaahs, but Brayleon hasn't earned them from us yet. Browns fans are salt-of-the-Earth, blue-collar types... who'll always love an overacheiving, soft-spoken lunchpail-type player (see Clay Matthews/Doug Dieken/Brian Brennan) ) over a "flash n' cash" superstar-type. Hollywood is just far enough away for them to stay comfortable, but Brayleon is truly "Hollywood," and just too close to home for many Dawgs. We want nastyazz junkyard mutts- not pampered purebreds. What makes it sad is that Brayleon plays best when he's adored... and that hasn't happened at CBS yet.
I hope he gets it, too... because "getting it" is what's probably going to force him to do the things necessary to realize his potential. I'm starting to think that it won't happen here during his tenure... and that he'll figure it out too late to make it to Canton as a Brown. Another near-miss shame.
I wonder how much of the decision making in these firings is based upon the good of the team, how much is based on pleasing the media and fans, and how much is simply a move saying, "Look, we're doing something about it."
If ANY of it is based on "fan appeasement," it will further erode my faith in this administration. Too much of that has determined the Browns' decisions since '99, and we all see the results. I don't care how much money he puts into the company coffers- "Joe Six-Pack" ain't a GM... and should not be given that much clout when important choices need to be made. It's one of the reasons I cheered when John Collins was ushered out, but I'm not sure that those who remained have made any better choices.
I wonder too how the players react to such a firing. Does it help them escape personal accountability and carry on or do they look deep within themselves and know they were at least partially responible for a man losing his job by their lack of execution?
That would depend on the player in question. Some might fall into the first category... and continue as they have been- in the role of "coach killer." Some might take a long look in the mirror, and make changes. I think I'm pretty good at predicting humans as a group, but individuals still surprise me on a daily basis. K2 seems to have made some changes. Brayleon hasn't. Maybe K2's motorcycle accident matured him faster than Edwards' experiences have matured him. Maybe Northcutt will finally realize that his future (and past) glories lie in punt returns, rather than catching passes. Who can say- with any of these guys? I guess that's why we have to keep tuning in... season after season.
I hope that these shakeups end up being WAKEUPS... for a lot of our players. I mean, if your boss can be fired, how safe are you?
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The Chinese have an ancient blessing/curse: "May you live in interesting times." Current times for Browns fans are certainly interesting, to say the least.
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