Not much new here, just some background on Rip and Chud and the Bone Lady's underwear. 
Sports spotlight: Browns' Scherer: Offense is continuing to build
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
BY Todd Porter
REPOSITORY SPORTS
CANTON Under a large gala tent outside the Pro Football Hall of Fame on one of the six gorgeous Northeast Ohio evenings a year, Rip Scherer came to a conclusion. The Browns quarterback coach wasn't just concluding that Derek Anderson is the team's starting quarterback, either.
"You know, this is a great opportunity to represent the Cleveland Browns before these passionate fans and it's for a great cause," Scherer said before he addressed the Canton Browns Backers organization.
He was the guest speaker for the group's fourth annual dinner and auction. The benefactors were Siffrin Inc. and The Friends of the Children's Network of Stark County. During the last four years, this event has raised more than $120,000 for the groups, which help people with disabilities and children who are victims of sexual and physical abuse.
Yes, indeed, Monday evening's gathering was well worth the long day it meant for Scherer, who arrived back in his Avon Lake home before 10 p.m. He brought defensive lineman Shaun Smith and safety Mike Adams with him.
Scherer, though, is an interesting story, too. He was a career college coach until Romeo Crennel brought him to Cleveland at a time that coincided with Anderson's arrival. Crennel and Scherer coached together at Georgia Tech, even shared a hallway in a dorm room while they waited for housing. Back in the late '70s, Scherer hired Phil Savage as a graduate assistant at Alabama.
"I'm glad I treated him well as a GA back then," Scherer said. "Because he used to work for me, and now I work for him."
Scherer made it through a turbulent offseason a year ago. He interviewed for the offensive coordinator position, and reportedly interviewed well. The job went to Rob Chudzinski. The QB coach and the young up-and-coming bright offensive mind hit it off.
"Rob's a young star in this league," Scherer said.
He is the son of a high school football coach. They used to call his dad Rip, a nickname after Rip Van Winkle.
"He used to like to take naps ... a lot of them," Scherer said.
The nickname stuck to Rip's boy, too, because he hung out in locker rooms.
Rip Jr. doesn't have time for naps, though. You don't survive 34 years in major college coaching and the last four in the NFL when they call you R-I-P.
So Scherer and Chudzinski have been busy since January. They self-scouted all 16 of the 2007 games (yes, they even watched the season-opening loss to Pittsburgh).
It's no wonder when a lady asked Scherer if the team would "open it up" more in 2008 that Rip Van Winkle didn't wake from a slumber. Some times the public portion of questions and answers can be, well, embarrassing.
The Browns were one of the most prolific offenses in the league last year. They were among the league leaders in points scored and passing touchdowns. Their quarterback did spend a week in Hawaii at the end of the season.
But what new wrinkles can fans expect in 2008? Some for sure.
"Last year was like trying to dig a foundation to build a house with us putting in the offense," Scherer said. "Now we've got a foundation dug deep, and you're able to build a taller house this year."
Scherer didn't make any guarantees. He knows there is a buzz about the Browns, the first legitimate national buzz about the team since they were reborn in 1999. There are higher expectations for everyone from Crennel to Chud to Rip to Anderson and, yes, young Brady Quinn.
He also knows the Browns have loyal, passionate fans who have waited almost a generation to have a team worth cheering.
"There isn't a day that goes by when Romeo doesn't remind the players that we have the greatest, most passionate fans," Scherer said.
He made no promises. The players know the expectations. The coaches have been working since January to meet them. Yes, Monday was a beautiful night.
During a reception before dinner, Adams and Smith seemed blown away by "The Bone Lady." She lifted her skirt and showed the shorts covering her backside.
"Pittsburgh sucks."
Yep, seemed like a football Sunday.
canton rep
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