There are complaints, there are rants, and then there are complete and total meltdowns. Last week, Tony Rizzo, host of The Really Big Show on ESPN Radio in Cleveland, gave us a remarkable glimpse into all three.
What set Rizzo off seemed innocent enough. A caller who went by the name of Steven, told the host that the Browns, bereft of playmakers, should give more opportunities to second-year wideout Carlton Mitchell. Rizzo, in not so many words, didn't think that was such a good idea.
And then he got a little angry.
And then a little more angry.
And within minutes, Rizzo engaged in a rant for the ages, that, despite his co-host's urges to calm down, only seemed to increase in fury.
(Listen to un-edited audio of the rant of the the call here)
"I don't care! I'm sick of all of them right now! I got no friends," Rizzo said when asked what Browns GM Mike Holmgren must be thinking about the team. "I'm the Cleveland sports fan. I'm the kid with no toys at Christmas, and I'm sick of it! Every Christmas!"
"I've had it with sucking," the out of breath Rizzo concluded.
And mind you, this was all said before the Browns 30-12 loss to Houston on Sunday.
We are a laughing stock. Brooks Reed said after the Houston game ..."I can't believe no one blocked me". LOL ...
There are two people on this team that actually give a damn ......Cribbs and Haden ....and I wish for both to go to a winner as soon as they possibly can.
This team, this organization is a complete joke. Change the players, change the coaches, change the FO ...............It doesnt matter ....Cleveland is a poison where all things go to rot.
LOL - The Rish will be upset with this news as well. KS just doesn't prioritize winning...
Well ..... I wish he'd tell us how he feels ...... it's not good to hold back like that.
I definitely feel his pain ...... but I'll be there next week ... expecting new and uninteresting ways to lose a football game ..... but hoping against hope that somehow we manage to beat one of the worst teams in the NFL ..... yet fully expecting to see us turn yet another opponent into a superstar ..... and for us to manage to snatch defeat from the jaws of ... well , OK, we haven't done anything except snatch defeat .......
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
I hope people around the country don't think that dope is representative of the rest of us.....
Oh c'mon Toad... he's throwing up poop! That's pretty funny.
He's just here to entertain, that's all.
What people are laughing about when discussing the Browns is not some random dude on the radio, but about their play on the field. That's what's embarrassing more than anything right now. The continued, epic suckage of our football team. We would be much less embarrassed if we played watchable football rather than having Tony freaking Rizzo calm down. THAT is what people associate with us. 50 years of losing.
Aren't you sick to death of knowing week in and week out that your team has no chance of doing anything of consequence? Doesn't it make you sick that teams use the Browns to pad their stats? Man, it makes me want to vomit when I think of it.
We need to rebuild .... so we suck. Year 2 of a rebuild ... and we suck. Really .... out only real playmaker on offense is alienated and almost reviled by fans ..... and injured week in and week out. We have had who ... Massaquoi (twice now) Watson, and Cribbs all out with head injuries/concussions this year? That's horrifying.
Last year we had a different head coach who "got the year to show what he could do", but the GM was working to get players who didn't fit his scheme at all. (Like Mitchell) Who knows what other deals he didn't make? Who knows what was going on behind closed doors?
I have been a Browns fan for 40 years. I got to see a year of Kardiac Kids end in heartbreak. I got to see the Kosar years end in heartbreak. I got to see a city who had their hearts broken when their scumbag owner moved their beloved team away turn around and embrace our former scumbag owner when he moved our team there. Then, to add insult to injury, he does what he could not do here, and wins a damned Super Bowl.
We get an expansion team ..... and the ownership is finally decided so close to the opening of the season that we had no chance to even put an organization together. Here it is 12 years later, and it's like we still haven't caught up.
We have nothing to hang out hats on. We can't run the ball. We can't stop the run. We can't pass the ball. We can't stop the pass. (unless teams get so far ahead that they don't even bother throwing the ball) Our special teams have been anything but special ..... unless you mean special ed. (sorry if that offends anyone, it's not intended)
We have this roster of players ...... name me 10 guys who most teams would want on their roster if this team were contracted and exposed to a draft.
Joe Thomas Alex Mack Joe Haden Rubin Maybe Hillis? Taylor Ward ... maybe? Cribbs as a returner Maybe DQ Jackson
That's 9 ..... who's number 10? I don't see him. This team, this roster are appalling. I don't see a core to build around. The receivers who excite fans the most are a former 6th rounder who hasn't caught a single ball in his career .... and a guy who averages 9 yards per catch. Ugh. This team isn't even competitive except against other teams that absolutely suck ... and even then we had a last minute win against a team that just won their 1st game on their 8th or so try ....... and a referee assisted win or we'd be sitting here with 1 win.
I am sick of watching my team suck. I am tired of going into games knowing ..... not thinking ... but knowing that we are going to lose, and lose badly. I am tired of seeing us look like a high school team playing the Super Bowl champs on a regular basis. This team does nothing well. Nothing. It's disgusting. It's sad. I love this team, but this really has almost turned into an abusive relationship.
I'm tired of being abused. I want a little joy once in a while. I want a little hope. I don't think that's too much to ask for. I don't agree with people who want to jump ship or whatever ...... but I am tired of the team being so bad that it's even gone beyond horror. I want a team that takes the field and looks like an NFL team. That's not what we have right now. It's not even close.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
You and Ytown, yeah, I'm tired of losing. But if that were a Bengals radio or TV personality, how would you view that guy?
That's what I mean.
He can be as upset as he wants. That's his right. But that hideous case of diarrhea of the mouth just made me shake my head. I don't want to be associated with the idiot that goes off on a contrived rant like that over public air space. It's small-time.
***Gordon, I really didn't think you could be this stOOpid, but you exceeded my expectations. Wussy. Manziel, see Josh Gordon. Dumbass.***
The guy passionately wants a winner. I will not say that he is wrong. Any Browns fan that has put up with the crap we've had for the past 12 years can say anything they want as far as I'm concerned.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
He might be making a point for a bunch of us. He needs to vent his spleen, not a refrigerator, don't keep it inside! But I wish he was more transparent . . . . LOLOletc
Epic. Just for starters.
"Every responsibility implies opportunity, and every opportunity implies responsibility." Otis Allen Glazebrook, 1880
I was listening to the show that day. I don't think it was contrived at all...it really did snowball from a seemingly innocuous statement. It was probably two hours into his show, so they'd been talking about the Browns' ineptitude for a while.
I get what you're saying about how we'd view it if it were about another team, but I can't say I disagree with what he said. The delivery, perhaps, but not the sentiment. Besides, he's an entertainment radio show host. The occasional outburst is part of the job description.
I just like that both Uncle Rizzy's rant, and now this Mike Polk video are bringing light to the situation. The Browns are horrible, but the fans are extremely passionate to the point of creating videos to try and at least make people smile about it.
People at work yesterday got a giant kick out of it. I explained to them that they may love their Bears but nobody beats the passion of us and our football team.
Quote: People at work yesterday got a giant kick out of it. I explained to them that they may love their Bears but nobody beats the passion of us and our football team.
Same here, but everybody around here are Lions fans, so I just got the standard "I can relate, but call me when you go 0-16" reply.
Crowded elevators smell different to short people...
We have this roster of players ...... name me 10 guys who most teams would want on their roster if this team were contracted and exposed to a draft.
Joe Thomas Alex Mack Joe Haden Rubin Maybe Hillis? Taylor Ward ... maybe? Cribbs as a returner Maybe DQ Jackson
no, that's not hyperbole. not at all. only 9 guys that other teams would want rostered? not even starters, but rostered (so 53man)?
one example: we waived Robiskie and the Jaguars rostered him. therefore, I would expect Cribbs, MoMass, and Little to all be rostered if they were available. Probably even Mitchell.
our entire starting OL would be rostered. outside of Joe and Alex (and Steiny when healhty) they would likely not start. but guys like Lauvao and Pinkston and even 'sometimes healthy' Pashos would be very solid backups at the very least.
even if McCoy never develops into a true starting QB, he is a good backup to have on your team.
Hillis obviously would be rostered. Hardesty and Marecic would be depth somewhere at least.
and our TEs would all be picked up.
and that's just the offense, which is putrid so far this year.
I think a more appropriate question would be to ask how many players on the Browns would teams cut somebody from their 53-man roster in order to sign. I think it's not much of a stretch to say that most players would be picked up by someone who needed to sign a warm body to fill out the back end of the roster.
Quote: People at work yesterday got a giant kick out of it. I explained to them that they may love their Bears but nobody beats the passion of us and our football team.
Same here, but everybody around here are Lions fans, so I just got the standard "I can relate, but call me when you go 0-16" reply.
Yeah but they don't match our passion. Lions were an afterthought before this year. With us, we tune in every week. We love our team more than Lions fans ever could, and we can't match 0-16 but you can argue our last 12 years have been as bad if not worse.
the talent dropoff in the NFL is not nearly as big as many believe. teams wouuld definitely drop depth backups for the Browns starters.
the more interesting (or depressing) question is how many Browns starters would start for other teams in the NFL. that's where the list thins out quite a bit.
i would think (in no particular order):
Cribbs (PR + multi-purpose offense like Harvin/Hester/etc.) Little (he is looking like he can become good) MoMass (plenty of teams with bad WR corps but it wouldn't be guaranteed) Watson (receiving + blocking makes him a good guy to have) Hillis (when healthy of course) Joe Thomas (obviously) Alex Mack (another definite) Steinbach (maybe not for that salary, but he would start when healthy)
Taylor (think this one is obvious) Rubin (almost as obvious as JoeT) Sheard (maybe - I think he could find a home to start, but not guaranteed) DQ (when healthy - look at Philly) Haden (another obivous one) Ward (he's dropped off some this year, but he's still better than alot of the starting SSs)
Dawson Hodges Pontbriand
Yes, it's weird that I see more offensive starters for other teams than defensive starters. But, the more obvious ones (outside of JoeT) are on the defensive side. I just don't think the older guys like Fujita or Brown would find a starting spot at this point of their careers and I'm down on guys like Mike Adams and Gocong (who has played better than I thought he would).
I agree, for the most part. I don't think a lot of teams would cut a guy to sign MoMass or Little, but plenty of them would sign either one if they needed to fill a spot, much like the Jaguars did in signing Robiskie to replace Mike Sims-Walker. Same with Sheard and Ward.
Quote: Does this guy do this all the time? If he does, do people actually listen to his show? If so, no wonder Browns fans are so crazy.
Not really.
Not with so much anger. He usually tries to take the light side.
I thought he had a great opening to his show the day after the decision.
I think he's kinda like me in the sense that I get mad about these losses and then about halfway through the year I'm numb to it. How freaking sad is that.
Quote: I think it's safe to say Carlton has now crossed Rizzo off of his Christmas list.
Carlton may be the next one looking for a job.
Active for a couple of weeks and you don't even get a ball thrown your way ...... I believe that the waiver wire is waiting for our woefully worthless wide receiver.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
Quote: I think it's safe to say Carlton has now crossed Rizzo off of his Christmas list.
Carlton may be the next one looking for a job.
Active for a couple of weeks and you don't even get a ball thrown your way ...... I believe that the waiver wire is waiting for our woefully worthless wide receiver.
HEY it's not Carlton's fault that Colt under threw him by 60 yards
Rizzo sounds like 85% of this board: Whining, crying, complaining and venting while really making no sense at all and sounding like a toddler kicking his feet in a temper tantrum because things aren't going the way he wants them.
I think part of his problem is there is usually something else to talk about when there is nothing else to be said about the current team playing. When the Indians suck, he can start talking about the Browns. When the Browns suck, he can start talking about Kyrie Irving and the rest of the Cavs. With no Cavs to talk about, he is stuck talking about the Browns. What more can be said? They suck.
i think most fans feel this way and hearing this kind of made me even madder than I was b/c he is right.. i mean this season has been horrible. The last couple of games have been horrendous to watch. Our Browns are not even competing. :smh:
Dear refs, I know you have a heading atop each section about the Mike Polk Browns rant and not to post it because it has foul language. Well this version has NO FOUL LANGUAGE as it is EDITED. Per the rules of the board there is nothing in this video that violates them.
Therefore since this is already a thread about a Cleveland Rant, here is another video of one. Personally I think he's spot on.
...don't suspend me
The only reason people get lost in thought is because it's unfamiliar territory.
Quote: I didn't think there was anything wrong with the first one, considering the statement about Kenny Chesney was 100% true.
How dare you say that?????????????
What he said was quite literally true. Remember how during the concert a couple years ago the septic tanks backed up and overflowed?
That and Kenny Chesney is some of the worst music around
Apparently this rant went global, as Tony was interviewed this week by a radio program host in Australia. They aired the recording of the call on his show today...pretty funny. Best part was when the guy asked, in perfectly stereotypical Aussie accent, "just how bad do the Browns stink?"
Yeah, I was at that concert. Awesome concert. Every single act was great. The toilets? Not so much. I did manage to finagle my way backstage - got some great pictures of Kenny and some of the others....
•Stop drafting choir boys with low ceilings. This team needs attitude.
•Our front office needs to get a QB that can be elite. Not good or average.
•Draft some freaking athletes and stop signing guys past their prime.
•Stop thinking we need to run "blue collar smash mouth football." The league is run by QBs. Give me a dominating passing game over a dominating run game every day of the week.
•I get annoyed with people thinking we should sign guys that represent Cleveland. Screw that, I want great players that know how to play.
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