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Well ladies n gents...the feel good story of the cleveland browns has ended....already? First negative article i've seen in the media since start of last season for the brownies...i'm not mad or anything..but just find it interesting if not some what true... We all know it won't b easy getting to playoffs this year. But i am still excited for the brownssssssss! http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=expectthesenflteamstomis&prov=tsn&type=lgnsExpect these NFL teams to miss the playoffs again By Mike Florio - SportingNews May 31, 2:56 pm EDT Buzz Up PrintGiven the annual turnover in the 12-team playoff field, I tried last week to make an educated prediction (i.e., wild guess) at which six postseason squads from 2007 will miss the bus in ‘08. The six pegged to be knocked down a peg or two in the coming season are the Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans, Washington Redskins, Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks and New York Giants. So with a half-dozen seats expected to be empty, the next job is to figure out which six non-playoff teams from 2007 will qualify for the Super Bowl tournament. Before that, let’s consider six non-playoff teams from last season that will remain non-playoff teams this time around: 1. New York Jets The New England Patriots, who typically built their roster carefully and methodically, used an aggressive offseason in 2007 to position the franchise for an undefeated regular season. Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum previously espoused a build-through-the-draft approach, but he paid out like a broken poker machine in March, giving huge-money deals to more than a few strangers to the franchise. Though the Patriots’ approach in ‘07 had an overriding sense of precision, the Jets’ offseason moves came off as reckless—almost desperate. The Jets have too many question marks, most notably at quarterback. Kellen Clemens, a second-round pick in ‘06, has struggled and thus gave Chad Pennington an unexpected shot at regaining the starting gig. The reality: Neither guy is the answer. More important, there is growing evidence that the players don’t trust the front office. Last year, it was Pete Kendall who claimed the team had reneged on promises to increase his pay. Then, wide receiver Laveranues Coles made an identical contention. Now, tight end Chris Baker is barking the same tune. Despite the Jets’ ambitions to compete with division rival New England and the New York Giants—those Super Bowl ring-wearing crosstown neighbors with whom the they share a stadium—the reality for the Jets is that winning the AFC East is a pipe dream, and securing a wild-card spot is a long shot.
2. Cleveland Browns
The Browns are the trendy pick to make the ‘08 playoffs, given their sudden resurgence and near miss of the postseason a year ago. And so they’ll face the intense pressure and scrutiny that go along with high expectations.
With a tough schedule, a bull’s eye on each side of that logo-less orange helmet and a full offseason for defensive coordinators to figure out how to stop quarterback Derek Anderson, it could be a long year for the Browns.
Like the Jets, the Browns’ offseason spending smacks of desperation. They gave too much money to wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth and gave up too much for underachieving defensive tackle Shaun Rogers.
The big question is whether Anderson can continue to perform at a high level. His “nothing to lose” mindset has been replaced by the burden of being the clear-cut starter, with an upstart first-rounder peering over his shoulder, anxious for Anderson to screw things up.
Though the fans in Cleveland sorely deserve a winning team, the fact that last year’s team did so well without a playoff berth is going ¢o work against the Browns this year. The end result could very well be another year without a postseason appearance. 3. Kansas City Chiefs On the surface, the addition of the Chiefs to this list is a no-brainer. The franchise is in obvious rebuilding mode, and coach Herm Edwards expects nine of the team’s 12 draft picks to suit up on Sundays this fall. But I’ve added them because some Kansas City fans don’t seem to realize that the team is closer to the bottom than the top. Indeed, there’s a strange sense of swagger that comes from a franchise that, in reality, has nothing to swagger about. Though confidence is a good thing, it needs a strong foundation. The Chiefs don’t have it, and thus the confidence from guys like Edwards and GM Carl Peterson is more accurately described as hubris. Come January, that hubris could be replaced by unemployment. 4. Detroit Lions Like the Chiefs, the Lions have far more confidence than their talent level warrants. Quarterback Jon Kitna can’t keep quiet; he again has predicted 10 victories. It didn’t happen in ‘07, and it won’t happen in ‘08. What have the Lions done to get better? The running back situation is a multi-headed crapshoot. The offensive line is average at best. And the defense is merely a collection of former Buccaneers who, if they were great players, would be current Buccaneers. Picking the Lions to miss the playoffs hardly represents a full-body shimmy onto a rubbery tree limb. However, it’s important to nip in the bud the annual sense that the law of averages will come into play and that this year will be the year for the Lions. 5. Arizona Cardinals Speaking of the law of averages favoring a certain NFL team, look for plenty of preseason prognostications for the Cardinals reaching the playoffs. Some might even think the Cardinals will win their second postseason game since the Truman administration. Don’t count on it. Coach Ken Whisenhunt has the team moving in the right direction, but two offseasons isn’t enough time to turn this team around. The offensive line still needs a lot of work, and the defense isn’t quite ready to perform like the unit that complemented Whisenhunt’s offense in Pittsburgh. Then there’s the quarterback position. Matt Leinart isn’t developing as anticipated, and Kurt Warner doesn’t have much time left. The starter/reliever approach the Cardinals used until Leinart (broken collarbone) landed on the injured reserve last year barely was working. Leinart likely won’t tolerate that approach in ‘08. But Warner says he still can play, and that passive-aggressive routine of his will cause problems if Leinart struggles and still gets the snaps. For any other franchise, it would be a recipe for trouble. In Arizona, it means that things will continue to be the same as they’ve been. 6. Carolina Panthers The Panthers have the talent. For whatever reason, they can’t put it all together. It has been that way for two seasons, since the Panthers lost to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC championship game on Jan. 22, 2006. Once again, the Panthers look solid on paper, especially with a pair of first-round picks in running back Jonathan Stewart and offensive tackle Jeff Otah. But Carolina GM Marty Hurney still hasn’t done anything to establish a receiving threat across from Steve Smith or provide depth at quarterback behind Jake Delhomme, whose star is in danger of burning out for good. Come January, then, it’ll be another round of excuse-making for a team that should have been good enough to go places in the postseason but simply didn’t.
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Ut oh... a negative CLE article. The writer can't possibly know what they are talking about. 
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Out of all those teams the only team on there I think even has a chance to make the playoff is Cleveland, so a big yawn there... Quote:
With a tough schedule, a bull’s eye on each side of that logo-less orange helmet and a full offseason for defensive coordinators to figure out how to stop quarterback Derek Anderson, it could be a long year for the Browns.
Agreed the schedule is tough, but the entire division has a tough schedule, ours isn't necessarily the toughest. The writer starts the article by pointing out the Pit will get knocked down a peg or two, so who steps in to replace them at the top of the division? Ask Rod Woodson and it'll be the Rats. Ask Hoosh and it's the Bengals. Ask me and they're both wrong. So who does that leave?
Also, I seriously doubt any coordinator is spending "a full off season" figuring out how to stop DA.  If DA were the only player on offense and Chud was sitting on the beach sipping pina coladas, we might have a serious issue on our hands. Granted he wont be near the surprise he was last year, but he won't be the same player either... and his skills haven't diminished, if anything, they'll have improved.
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Like the Jets, the Browns’ offseason spending smacks of desperation. They gave too much money to wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth and gave up too much for underachieving defensive tackle Shaun Rogers.
Money issues aside, while the Jets off season does smack of desperation, ours was almost surgically precise in the approach the FO took. Add a corner and we'd have hit all the bullet points. What kept us from doing that? The sense not to pay too much for an overrated player. The very thing the writer is accusing us of. He's reaching very far to make a very weak point.
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The big question is whether Anderson can continue to perform at a high level. His “nothing to lose” mindset has been replaced by the burden of being the clear-cut starter, with an upstart first-rounder peering over his shoulder, anxious for Anderson to screw things up.
I must have missed the interview where DA said, "My Chi is misaligned because my 'what have I got to lose' frame of mind has been usurped and undermined by the burden of performance and the constant threat of that upstart, Brady Quinn." Either that or the writer is an amazing brain reader and I just didn't know that.
I'll be the first one to say that nothing is written in stone, but here nothing is written at all. At least he admits it's a "wild guess".
![[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]](https://i.imgur.com/hfMNC7T.jpg) "I am undeterred and I am undaunted." --Kevin Stefanski "Big hairy American winning machines." --Baker Mayfield #gmstrong
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I posted this on another thread...Florio has picked the Browns AND Steelers to miss the playoffs so that leaves the Rats & Bengals fighting it out for the division crown. Nice job Nostradamus!  
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Legend
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LOL...
I do think it's definitely possible, especially given the schedule, that the Browns could miss the playoffs, but seeing Florio write an article about it gives me hope since you can usually expect the opposite from him.
Blue ostriches on crack float on milkshakes between the sidewalk titans of gurglefitz. --YTown
#gmstrong
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Quote:
Nice job Nostradamus!
"I am undeterred and I am undaunted." --Kevin Stefanski "Big hairy American winning machines." --Baker Mayfield #gmstrong
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Quote:
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Like the Jets, the Browns’ offseason spending smacks of desperation. They gave too much money to wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth and gave up too much for underachieving defensive tackle Shaun Rogers.
Money issues aside, while the Jets off season does smack of desperation, ours was almost surgically precise in the approach the FO took. Add a corner and we'd have hit all the bullet points. What kept us from doing that? The sense not to pay too much for an overrated player. The very thing the writer is accusing us of. He's reaching very far to make a very weak point.
It's become quite popular in the media to criticize our FA signings. But I'm with you. I don't see anything that we did FA-wise that bears any resemblance to teams who do it and eventually get burned by it.
We signed young, proven guys ... not over the hill guys. They will be a part of this team 4 or 5 years down the road. We didn't overpay for them. And they filled huge, glaring needs.
It seems like if you are a big player in FA, you are going to get criticized just because you signed guys. The people that are doing the criticizing aren't really looking at the details of what's being done.
LOL - The Rish will be upset with this news as well. KS just doesn't prioritize winning...
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Quote:
I posted this on another thread...Florio has picked the Browns AND Steelers to miss the playoffs so that leaves the Rats & Bengals fighting it out for the division crown. Nice job Nostradamus!
My first thought also
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Quote:
Ut oh... a negative CLE article. The writer can't possibly know what they are talking about.
I just meant it's been a while since i've seen one...i can see some ppl on here going back to the "AHH everyone hates us" again....i actually think the author never said anything too wrong...only thing i don't agree with his the FA pick ups being a bust.
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Quote:
It seems like if you are a big player in FA, you are going to get criticized just because you signed guys. The people that are doing the criticizing aren't really looking at the details of what's being done.
There were plenty of opportunities to go after FAs and pay too much. The top 10-15 guys in FA are going to command "too much". What we did with Shaun Rogers was trade for a player who will likely pay dividends now and down the road as you say.
I'm thinking Bodden was one of the things he was alluding to when he says we gave up too much for Shaun. I seriously disagree. I believe Shaun fills a great need and I feel Bodden had maxed out his potential with the Browns. The only thing in my mind that makes the point arguable is the perceived lack of depth at CB. I'm certain this will be addressed in some way this year and during the next off season. I am also willing to say that I think the loss of Bodden will be barely felt if at all.
"I am undeterred and I am undaunted." --Kevin Stefanski "Big hairy American winning machines." --Baker Mayfield #gmstrong
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This doesn't bother me in the least. It's almost a welcomed relief from all the fluff articles I've read lately. We need to stay grounded and know that we have our work cut out for us. Not that this article will really qualify as bulletin board material. But it's nice to know at least one person, albeit Mike Florio, has doubts about us. Just one more person we get to prove wrong.
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While what this guys says hurts a little, he could end up being right.. I don't think he will be, but it's possible. Quote:
With a tough schedule,
We know that we have some tough teams to play this year.. But isn't that based on last year?
So, if this writer thinks we will fall short, why isn't it possible for the teams on our schedule to drop as well?
#GMSTRONG
“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.”
Daniel Patrick Moynahan
"Alternative facts hurt us all. Think before you blindly believe."
Damanshot
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Quote:
We know that we have some tough teams to play this year.. But isn't that based on last year?
So, if this writer thinks we will fall short, why isn't it possible for the teams on our schedule to drop as well?
Exactly.
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Quote:
This doesn't bother me in the least. It's almost a welcomed relief from all the fluff articles I've read lately. We need to stay grounded and know that we have our work cut out for us. Not that this article will really qualify as bulletin board material. But it's nice to know at least one person, albeit Mike Florio, has doubts about us. Just one more person we get to prove wrong.
I agree,..but it's also nice to see it coming from someone who thinks either Cincy or Balt. will take the division.
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Why would I expect the Browns to miss the playoffs when they upgraded on the defensive front, got a legit #2 receiver and are allowing JJ to play #3, and the Steelers, who won the division, didn't improve their biggest weakness (offensive line) and lost possibly their best offensive lineman...
![[Linked Image from i4.photobucket.com]](http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y132/Defiantmac/nickk2.jpg) PRO-BOWLER!
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I don't expect them to do bad either...but i won't be completely surprised if we go 9-7 and miss the playoffs...i'm not saying we will have a terrible year...that would def surprise me...all this author is saying we might miss the playoffs...he doesn't say we will fall flat on our face...which isn't out there n ridiculious....we have yet to beat the steelers...last time we beat them was 2003...that is pathetic...how can u expect us to win our division if we can't beat the steelers? I don't think it's a far fetched thing to say that we might not make the playoffs...i will b dissapointed and pissed...but it's a possiblity
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Like the Jets, the Browns’ offseason spending smacks of desperation. They gave too much money to wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth and gave up too much for underachieving defensive tackle Shaun Rogers.
Blahhhh...while I think Rodgers got more than he should have..Stallworth got a reasonable deal..and I saw nothing that hinted on desperation...these aren't OLD guys with 1 or two years left to do something...
There wasn't any talent on the level of Rodgers available in the draft or FA...
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Practice Squad
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He could be right., if we have one or two things go against us this year, such as some more injuries say another corner back go down, our defensive problems are not solved and exposed even more, and say our offense crashes because Jamal is hurt or Anderson falls flat....we could have a bad season ahead of us with this schedule. But then again, So does every team in the NFL. Everyteam can say well not gonna make it this year with our roster, remember the Saints a few years ago?
It's really hard to say if we are solid after our pickups and moves we made, we all hope so. But its so hard to tell until we get out on the field and after the first 3 games or so to see where i team is really at.
I'll take a Wild Card, but it would be great if we dominate also.
And this writer does not like Cleveland at all, desperate please.....
Notre Dame Hater since 1989 ![[Linked Image from img170.imageshack.us]](http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/2076/beware15trpc3.gif)
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The writer predicts BOTH Pitt and Cleve won't make the playoffs.  Then who in the AFC North will? Cincy? Balt?
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As soon as i saw who the author of the article was, i pretty much knew what it would say. Florio has knocked the FA signings from day one, and really knocked the trading of Bodden especially after the injury to Holly. He does not think too much of Stallworth and to suggest that the browns overpaid for him is crazy (well, overpaid is a broad statement because they all are overpaid- but he is in the market value). He actually has a very friendly contract for the browns if they decide to go a different direction.
I think the browns made some very calculated FA signings, and as previously mentioned, did not sign over-the-hill guys to large money. Might also add that they did not sign injured guys to large money.
The notion of DA's “nothing to lose” mindset has been replaced by the burden of being the clear-cut starter actually happened last year- no need to worry about it now. And yes, if he does screw up, enter Quinn -not like that is a huge secret. DA had the same scenario last year...
As a regular reader of Florio's site- the one good thing about him is he usually man's up when he is wrong. So in a few months he hopefully will be back tracking on his statements.
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Quote:
six postseason squads from 2007 will miss the bus in ‘08. The six pegged to be knocked down a peg or two in the coming season are the Pittsburgh Steelers,
I'm confused... so if the Steelers are going to get knocked down a peg and miss the playoffs... and the Browns aren't going to make the playoffs... then who from the division did this bonehead pick to make the playoffs? 
yebat' Putin
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Quote:
Like the Jets, the Browns’ offseason spending smacks of desperation. They gave too much money to wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth and gave up too much for underachieving defensive tackle Shaun Rogers.
Blahhhh...while I think Rodgers got more than he should have..Stallworth got a reasonable deal..and I saw nothing that hinted on desperation...these aren't OLD guys with 1 or two years left to do something...
There wasn't any talent on the level of Rodgers available in the draft or FA...
The best part was how the Pats had an "aggressive" offseason when they spent a ton of money in 2007...but when the Jets and Browns do it, it's desperation? It's easy to call the Pats moves aggressive when they went 16-0 to prove it but how does he know our moves will fail? What did he think of the Pats moves before they went 16-0? Meh...doesn't really matter.
![[Linked Image]](http://www.dawgtalkers.net/uploads/Punchsmack/punch.gif) “...Iguodala to Curry, back to Iguodala, up for the layup! Oh! Blocked by James! LeBron James with the rejection!”
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Well, to be fair, no one predicted us coming so close to the playoffs. It's possible that the Bengals and/or Rats could do that this year.
We say "wait until the games are played", but when it's not in our favor, we throw that line of thinking away.
Right now, there are 32 potential super bowl teams out there. Well, maybe not a team like the Dolphins or Falcons who are very obviously in re-building modes, but the rest of the teams could surprise a lot of people.
JMHO
I am unfamiliar with this feeling of optimism
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I didn't see where he said Pittsburgh wouldn't make the playoffs...they are just knocked down a peg.....I take that they still will make the playoffs.....they just won't be as good.
If everybody had like minds, we would never learn. GM Strong ![[Linked Image]](http://www.dawgtalkers.net/uploads/small-gator-chomp.gif)
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Quote:
Quote:
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We know that we have some tough teams to play this year.. But isn't that based on last year?
So, if this writer thinks we will fall short, why isn't it possible for the teams on our schedule to drop as well?
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Exactly.
This writer and every other sports reporter in Print or Radio or TV has all said the same thing.. we have a tough schedule.. and for sure, if we don't improve in some areas and the other teams stay consistent,, we will get our butts handed to us by some of them.,
But to assume that we will not improve and to assume that the other teams will remain consistent? Please,, They can't have it both ways.. Just not right.. you know what I mean Arch?
If it's fair to say we will have it tough, then if we improve (and on paper, it's looking that way) then isn't it just as fair that the other teams may want to watch out for us also?
Just wondering!
#GMSTRONG
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Daniel Patrick Moynahan
"Alternative facts hurt us all. Think before you blindly believe."
Damanshot
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Quote:
I didn't see where he said Pittsburgh wouldn't make the playoffs...they are just knocked down a peg.....I take that they still will make the playoffs.....they just won't be as good.
Well, he talks about the turnover in playoff teams, then he talks about the 6 teams that will miss the bus, then he names the Steelers... I took that to mean that the Steelers are one of the teams that will be involved in that "playoff turnover"...
Through God and the internet, I was able to look it up. Here is last weeks article...
Quote:
In the first part of a three-part series, Mike Florio identifies six teams that aren’t likely to return to the playoffs this season after making it in 2007:
Of the 12 teams that qualify for the playoffs each year, roughly six of them don’t make it back the following season. Last year, for example, the Ravens, Chiefs, Jets, Bears, Saints and Eagles didn’t get back to the postseason after making it in 2006. (Taking their places were the Steelers, Jaguars, Titans, Redskins, Packers and Buccaneers.)
So the challenge for those of us who pretend we know more about how a given NFL season will turn out than the average fan is to try to identify the half-dozen teams from the 2007 postseason field that won’t return, and the half-dozen teams that will replace them.
And because the challenge for those of us who have to come up with two columns per week as part of a side gig with SportingNews.com includes doing so during the slow weeks of the NFL calendar, this idea has the makings of a trilogy.
In the first installment, I’ll try to nail down the six playoff teams that won’t get back to the postseason. Later in the week, I’ll predict (guess) six that won’t take their places. Finally, I’ll take a stab at identifying the six that will.
Without further ado, my six picks not to return to the playoffs.
1. Pittsburgh Steelers The Steelers of the free-agency era have developed a trend of exceeding low expectations and failing to meet high ones. In 2006, the Super Bowl champs didn’t make it back to play in January. A year ago, with no one expecting much from a team breaking in only its third head coach in nearly 40 years, the Steelers won the division.
This year, expectations are high again—especially with the Bengals imploding, the Ravens rebuilding, and the Browns generally regarded as overrated. In other words, the stage is set for the Steelers to fail.
If they do, it will happen because of an offensive line that got much worse after the departure of left guard Alan Faneca. Although the team used its first two draft picks on high-profile skill-position players (Rashard Mendenhall and Limas Sweed), these rookies won’t make much of an impact with no one to block for them. The defensive line received no real upgrade despite the team’s desire to do so, and the linebackers and defensive backs are getting older but not necessarily better.
In all, six of 11 starters on defense will be 30 or older by the end of September. That’s not a good sign for a team that will need strong performances from the traditional strength of the franchise to prop up an offense that might not score points in bunches.
web page
So, the Steelers aren't going to make the playoffs, the Browns are overrated, the Bengals are imploding, and the Ravens are rebuilding... so who in the hell is left to make the playoffs?
Last edited by DCDAWGFAN; 06/02/08 11:50 AM.
yebat' Putin
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The Cleveland Gladiators?
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So, the Steelers aren't going to make the playoffs, the Browns are overrated, the Bengals are imploding, and the Ravens are rebuilding... so who in the hell is left to make the playoffs?
Didn't you hear, the Titans are transfering into our division and thus will automatically win it..
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and the Browns generally regarded as overrated.
Remarkably, I've only heard one, maybe two people think that we are overrated. Seems as if everyone else is giving us a lot of love, whether it's deserved or not is yet to be seen. But very few are saying we are overrated.
I don't know what he got that,,
#GMSTRONG
“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.”
Daniel Patrick Moynahan
"Alternative facts hurt us all. Think before you blindly believe."
Damanshot
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,160
Hall of Famer
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Hall of Famer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,160 |
He could be right., if we have one or two things go against us this year, such as some more injuries say another corner back go down, our defensive problems are not solved and exposed even more, and say our offense crashes because Jamal is hurt or Anderson falls flat....we could have a bad season ahead of us with this schedule. But then again, So does every team in the NFL. Everyteam can say well not gonna make it this year with our roster, remember the Saints a few years ago?
What???
I really don't care where we're ranked I'm talking about the desperation stuff he blurped about..the moves were calculated not emotionally driven..
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,311
Dawg Talker
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Dawg Talker
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,311 |
And as has been pointed out on many occassions, no one we could have drafted would have made as big of an impact as Rogers and Williams. Sure, we could have "played it safe" and drafted a few guys to develop, but Savage sees that the window is just now opening for this team. He is taking advantage of that opening instead of waiting another few years to have one good season and then fall back into the cellar because all our our core players are getting past their prime.
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 94
Rookie
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Rookie
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 94 |
The only leg this writer has to stand on is his point about the schedule, but as mentioned by others, the whole AFC North has a rough schedule. So it will be hard to lay the blame there. DA and the defense both need to improve, and sure, the injury bug has been known to hit Cleveland hard. I won't be utterly shocked if we miss the playoffs, but I'll definitely be disappointed.
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 28,167
Legend
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Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 28,167 |
Contrary to popular opinon, I don't even think the argument of schedule is accurate. The prevailing opinion is that we'll be lucky to get to 8-8, but I would consider that a step back for sure. The way I see it, we should definitely be able to go 10-6 again, at the worst.... and it isn't far fetched in the least.
Browns is the Browns
... there goes Joe Thomas, the best there ever was in this game.
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,246
Legend
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Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,246 |
The only way we'll know if we have a tough schedule is when we're talking about it at this time next year. Right now, it's all guesswork. The teams we think will be walkovers could be very tough and the teams we think will be super bowl contenders could end up in the basement. That's the beautiful thing about the NFL.
All we can worry about is us. We need to play 100% at all times. If we do that and lose, it'll be disappointing, but it's hard to be too upset. When you lose to a better team after giving your all, you feel "better." It's when you lose knowing you could have done more (see Oakland, Arizona and Cincinnati games last year) when it really hurts.
I am unfamiliar with this feeling of optimism
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,577
Hall of Famer
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Hall of Famer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,577 |
Out of curiousity.. what was our strength of schedule last year compared to this years at this time of year?
SaintDawg™
Football, baseball, basketball, wine, women, walleye
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 40,399
Legend
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Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 40,399 |
Quote:
DA and the defense both need to improve,
We need to be more consistent and less mistake prone... Given the way our schedule looks now, we don't play a lot of teams that we can spot 14 easy points and still make a game of it like we did last year....
Quote:
the injury bug has been known to hit Cleveland hard.
True, but you take any team in the NFL and if they lose the wrong 2 or 3 people, they go from playoff contenders to 8 win teams...
yebat' Putin
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,577
Hall of Famer
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Hall of Famer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,577 |
Thats what I thought.. so.. we have essentially the same SOS as last year.. more or less. I wonder what makes a writer decide that we will do worse based on SOS when it's the pretty much the same as the year before when we did 10 - 6.. and.. with a younger, less experienced team.. Big Joe and others have more experience under their belts.. see where I'm going with this?
SaintDawg™
Football, baseball, basketball, wine, women, walleye
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 28,167
Legend
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Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 28,167 |
oh completely.
To be fair though, the difference between .508 and .547 is significant. However, I don't see it as significant as many writers seem to think, I have already posted before that we could easily still win 10 games and I, for one, actually expect it.
Browns is the Browns
... there goes Joe Thomas, the best there ever was in this game.
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,246
Legend
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Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,246 |
Well, I think it's because we play bigger names this year.
We have Indy, Jacksonville, Dallas, the Giants, let alone Pittsburgh twice. Those aren't slouch teams.
But, I agree with you. Having a "tough" schedule is no excuse.
I am unfamiliar with this feeling of optimism
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 28,167
Legend
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Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 28,167 |
Exactly... if we are to finally declare that we deserve to be talked about among the best in this league and be respected, then we have to play and beat these very teams.
Contender or Pretender.
Aside from the upper tier teams you listed however, our chedule is NOT very tough. It is littered with teams that I fully EXPECT us to beat. I'm talking about teams like Bengals, Ravens, Redskins, Broncos, Bills, Texans, Titans & Eagles..... hell, that's 10 games right there.
Our schedule is more challenging at the lower end of our schedule in that we don't have a St. Louis, Miami, Oakland & San Fran... but in their place we still have a lot of very winnable games.
Browns is the Browns
... there goes Joe Thomas, the best there ever was in this game.
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DawgTalkers.net
Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Expect these NFL teams to miss the
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