Its a shame, but the remarks about Kellem Clemens and the alleged DUI probably sealed it for him. I'm going to miss his analysis on pre-season games - I liked his work there better than most network guys.
WTH are the Browns and channel 3 doing. Bernie was great. Wilcox and those other lame asses are horrible. They don't even know the players names and pronounce them wrong. Bernie gave real insight. I'm sick of the powers that be in Cleveland. I would turn down the tv and listen to the radio except for the delay.
Maybe I'm in the minority, but I rarely even listen to much of the noise on the preseason games. The schemes in preseason are generally generic and vanilla, as proved by Weeden's success in the preseason last year, followed up by the massive thud in the regular season. There really is no in depth analysis in preseason games, other than pointing out when players do something correctly. In other words, you can analyze when a receiver catches a ball with his hands, or makes a nice break off a route ..... but the more complex aspects of the game are completely missing in the preseason. Often the biggest contribution the announcers make is getting the players' names right so we know who made a particular play.
Last year was a little irritating when Bernie kept saying that he wanted the QBs to audible and change plays. Sure, if it were a regular season game ...... but not when the team is still setting the fundamentals. If you want to make sure that receiver A can properly run a slant, or a dig ..... you aren't going to go 30 steps deep into the playbook based on simple preseason defenses. Further, no team wants to give away their playbook in the preseason. It's a minor issue, but man, he said it about 10 times/game last year. It got really annoying for me, and like I said, I didn't even tune my hearing in a whole lot..
If they give Bernie a show where he can do what he does best ..... breaking down and analyzing plays, and explaining why they worked, or didn't work, then I think that could be very successful, and insightful. I would enjoy that a lot more than having him on a preseason broadcast.
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 liked Bernie for be "our Bernie" but I never really liked him as a commentator. Maybe it's just his voice. His insight was spot on though.
I can block out most any commentator now. Heck, I'm usually talking more than them. "Are you serious? FB draw on first down? WTF!? I haven't seen that play work since Madden 2011. And WTH was the TE doing with that block? A fence post could have done a better job....."
“...Iguodala to Curry, back to Iguodala, up for the layup! Oh! Blocked by James! LeBron James with the rejection!”
It actually angers me when I see people nationally who have never met the guy talking about his drinking problems being the reason for his slurred speech. I have spent the night in his guest room, he has slurred speech at 7am with Coffee. Seriously makes me so mad to see people who have not one single clue talking about him in such a way.
By Mary Kay Cabot, Northeast Ohio Media Group on April 24, 2014 at 11:16 AM, updated April 24, 2014 at 11:25 AM
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Former Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar is fighting his removal by the Brown and WKYC as color commentator on the preseason broadcasts, citing his concussion-induced impairment as the reason for his sometimes slurred speech.
In a statement released Thursday, Kosar asks WKYC to reinstate him and overlook his concussion-related impairment. He's been replaced by veteran commentator Solomon Wilcots.
Here is Kosar's full statement:
“I was informed yesterday by the Cleveland Browns and WKYC that I have been replaced as a 2014 preseason game day color commentator I believe that this decision stems from my slurred speech impairment, which is a direct result of the many concussions I received while playing in the NFL. This is very unfortunate, as I believe my football acumen and ability to describe what is happening on the field, has been well received by Cleveland Browns fans. I love to put the personal touch, pride in the Browns, and pride in our Cleveland community into the broadcast. Being able to share these preseason games with my fellow Cleveland Browns fans is truly one of the remaining joys in my life. I would hope that WKYC would reconsider utilizing my in-game talents and overlook my concussion-induced impairment. I want everyone to know that I still bleed Brown and Orange.”
If not Bernie then someone...just not this vanilla Wilcotts garbage we get every week during the season. There aren't any memorable veterans to commentate from the 2000s era, but you could have a failed qb each week If they don't reinstate Bernie he should consider getting on a radio broadcast for the games, I'm sure someone would be happy to have him.
I love Bernie as an analyst but the guy is a walking liability and a PR nightmare. He has had drinking issues for years and as recent as last year he gets a DUI.
If Channel 3 or the Browns would keep him and he gets into trouble again, both organizations look negligent for not acting at the appropriate time. To me, I'm surprised this didn't happen sooner.
To the Solomon Wilcots haters, I have to disagree with you. I like his work. In fact, because of all the work he has done for AFC North games over the year, he is rather knowledgeable about the team, and moreso has the ability to compare to the other team in our division that's he covered for so long.
It's unfortunate that we'll lose the hometown angle and passion for the Browns that he provided, but he did something wrong, and no matter how much he wants to blame it on the slurring, I'm rather confident it was about being arrested coupled with his troubled past.
At DT, context and meaning are a scarecrow kicking at moving goalposts.
I too guess it was b/c the Ram's comment(s). Damn shame, was the man lying? No... and now we get Solomon WIllcotts? Are you serious, this dude's commentating is about as lame as a cow pissing on a flat rock!
WKYC Channel 3 is issuing a statement today regarding questions on whether the station was, in fact, firing Bernie Kosar from the broadcast booth. And whether the reported dismissal was because of a perceived speech impairment caused by Kosar's repeated concussions on the field of play. President and General Manager Brooke Spectorsky put the rumors to rest.
"First of all, we love Bernie, and we're grateful for the role he has played in our broadcasts over the last 8 years.'' Spectorsky said. "Nowhere in our discussions with Bernie or the Browns has anything ever been said about his speech impairment due to concussions. That has simply nothing to do with our decision. The Browns are rebuilding their team, and in reviewing our programming we've decided to rebuild as well. We felt there was a better role for Bernie than doing just four preseason games and we completely understand Bernie's iconic status with Browns fans. I know Bernie has made statements that he felt that these moves were due to his speech issues, and I reiterate that is not the case.
We have essentially done the same preseason programming for the past 8 years. It's about the production of the games and our wish, after careful discussion with the Browns, about changing up the production to give a new perspective in our coverage,'' Spectorsky said.
"The goal both for the Browns and for Channel 3 is for Bernie to have a bigger role in all of the new Browns programming that's being done, meaning TV, radio, and on-line. It can be a much more valuable role and will enable him to stay involved for a larger part of the season,'' Spectorsky said. "The Browns and I met personally with Bernie and talked to him about all of that. It's in Bernie's hands and he knows exactly what we're talking about. There's lots of room for discussion for his roles in the upcoming season and we hope he'll decide to remain an integral part of the new programming efforts across multiple platforms."
What this guy is saying jives really well with an earlier poster who mentioned that he'd really like to have Bernie do an analysis show.
I'm getting the feeling that the topic of Bernie doing broadcasts has been kicked around quite a bit after the Rams game incident. They seem to want to keep him around, even increase his face time, but only do it in a non-live setting. Having him do a recorded show that's not aired live would be a win-win (more Bernie, less risk of him doing something stupid on air).
There is no level of sucking we haven't seen; in fact, I'm pretty sure we hold the patents on a few levels of sucking NOBODY had seen until the past few years.
Wilcots is about as boring as a commentator can get. He sounds fake like he's trying to do a stereotypical announcer voice at a tennis match. Can't stand him in regular season games. I always thought we got stuck with him cuz we sucked, not because they actually wanted him.
I always though the most intelligent and insightful commentary of any football broadcast during the year was when Bernie was calling preseason games. I can't really blame the Browns or WKYC, had it just been the DUI, or the Clemmons comments, I think he'd still be in the booth, both were too much. Maybe if he keeps clean for a couple years he will be back.
I feel bad for Bernie in a way. I think he is a desperate man. He is somewhat self-destructive.
On the other hand, he is still going to have a role w/the the station and the Browns just because of who he is. Not many people are afforded that opportunity.
I thought his commentary was pretty bad. He wants to throw it every time. He gets stuck on a point and repeats it over and over.
I did like some of his insight. I loved when he pointed out when teams would roll a safety to one side.
I don't get the hate for Wilcots. I think he is pretty good and he does not hate the Browns. Btw..............I have always hated homer announcers. Just call the game.
We have essentially done the same preseason programming for the past 8 years. It's about the production of the games and our wish, after careful discussion with the Browns, about changing up the production to give a new perspective in our coverage,'' Spectorsky said.
New perspective? There isn't a guy out there who has announced more crappy Cleveland Browns football than Wilcots. He's last on the broadcast depth chart. That is why we get him almost every week. New perspective? I can smell Spectorsky from here he is so full of it. If there were more roles for BK, why was he blind-sided by this? Why weren't these roles discussed with him? I will not let the Browns off the hook for this either. Spectorsky just might be falling on his sword for the Browns because if the Browns wanted Bernie, they would have Bernie.
I heard on the radio - I think it was Grossi that said it - that Kosar was offered the Team President position by Randy Lerner a few years back, but that Kosar was reluctant to take the job because of family and business issues back in Florida. He couldn't make the time commitment to be here all the time. To be fair, the Browns have tried to find roles for Bernie, but he wanted it to be on his terms - allowing him to split time between Cleveland and Miami.
Now that he's older, his kids grown and his business interests in Florida gone, it seems he has taken on too much baggage for the Browns (and the NFL's) tastes. On-air gaffs, a DUI, a messy public divorce, bankruptcy, and a porn-star daughter have made him a bit too controversial for the buttoned-down world of the NFL. Its all about "The Shield" and, of course, the billions of dollars. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the Browns were "encouraged" by the commissioner's office to cut ties with Bernie, especially considering Haslam's looming legal problems.
Love Bernie on the pre season games , his knowledge of the game and individual plays , and yes players is so superior to what you get during the regular season ! Just more of the political correct horse chips ..
I think Wilcots is rather good and very professional. If we are getting rid of Kosar, I'm more than ok with Wilcots being the guy. He's familiar with the Browns' roster, has defended our talent last year, likes where the team is headed (not including last year's debacle), and has a very good understanding of the game. However, I will admit, he is nowhere in the vicinity in terms of Bernie for pre snap reads and overall analysis IMO.
I know people want to defend Kosar because he's always gonna be a "Brown for life" and all that jazz, but he's got some serious issues and it's a liability for anyone he works for. Bernie did this to himself. It's not his slurring as a result of his concussions. It's his drinking and the results of things that happen from it.
I hope the Browns (or some related organization) find some work for him because I still think he can be a benefit, just not in the arena his been in the past.
Actually, I'd love for Jim Brown to be punted from anything related to the Browns and replace him with Bernie with some minor roles or behind the scene stuff.
Last edited by MemphisBrownie; 04/26/1407:26 PM.
At DT, context and meaning are a scarecrow kicking at moving goalposts.
Its a damn shame that this has happened to Bernie. Did I expect it to happen to hell hell yeas. Did he deserve all the crap that is being dumped him OH HELL NO. This guy gave 150 percent to the bROWNS AND NOW GUYS ARE TURNING Their back on him. Anybody and I mean anybody who turned thier back on him does not even deserve to be called a Browns fan. . Throw out the stats, throw out everything else. Bernie had the Browns Back 100 percent It;s a damn shame thate we didn;t have his back as well.
Sure, if it were a regular season game ...... but not when the team is still setting the fundamentals. If you want to make sure that receiver A can properly run a slant, or a dig ..... you aren't going to go 30 steps deep into the playbook based on simple preseason defenses. Further, no team wants to give away their playbook in the preseason. It's a minor issue, but man, he said it about 10 times/game last year. It got really annoying for me, and like I said, I didn't even tune my hearing in a whole lot.. 
![[Linked Image]](http://www.dawgtalkers.net/uploads/Punchsmack/punch.gif)
If they don't reinstate Bernie he should consider getting on a radio broadcast for the games, I'm sure someone would be happy to have him.
There isn't a guy out there who has announced more crappy Cleveland Browns football than Wilcots. He's last on the broadcast depth chart. That is why we get him almost every week. New perspective? I can smell Spectorsky from here he is so full of it. If there were more roles for BK, why was he blind-sided by this? Why weren't these roles discussed with him? I will not let the Browns off the hook for this either. Spectorsky just might be falling on his sword for the Browns because if the Browns wanted Bernie, they would have Bernie.
