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Browns MailBag Question of the Week: On the team's image
2d

Pat McManamon, ESPN Cleveland Browns reporter


Whew. How much time do you have?

I’d start with winning the opener. Then win the game after that. And the game after that. And as many as possible after. Don’t have to win them all, but a respectable team competing week in and week out would help.

Second, I would stop the shows. Every NFL culture is different. Cleveland is different from Nashville which is different from New England and New Orleans. Halftime dog races are a show. Drum corps somehow have caught on all over the league, and though I have great admiration for the talent, it’s a show -- not too far removed from the G.E. Smith band playing in that ridiculous box on the sideline. Smoke coming out of tunnels means nothing. It’s a show. New uniforms, I can take them or leave them. But a one-hour TV show to introduce them? Seems to push the proverbial envelope. I recognize that many smart people are working as hard as they can to do the right things, but it’s my feeling that Cleveland cares far less for shows than it does a professional team that works to win games and represents the team and community well.

Third, somehow assess whether and how the team is part of the community. Not by making more appearances or planned events, but by simply being part of the fabric. It’s not simple to explain this, except to say it. The Steelers are intrinsically part of the community. The players are out and about and involved in their city. The coach lives in the city. The Cleveland Browns had that relationship for a while in Cleveland. But it’s missing and has been missing since 1999. The team does tons of admirable and good work in the community, but whether it’s part of the community the way other teams are ... I can’t say I feel it. Wins would help on this front, but so does recognizing the city in which the team plays. And so does stopping the constant revolving door of personnel and players that prevents any kind of roots from taking hold.

Fourth. Stop the nonsense. Just stop it all. Somehow. End it. No more ridiculous stories about texting to the sidelines. No more turning on a winning quarterback. No more offensive coordinators going to great lengths to leave two years of pay on the table to get out. No more quarterback coach talking about wrecking the league. As Bernie Kosar said, focus on everyone doing their job and not someone else’s. Just end all the other silliness.

Fifth. Communicate honestly and openly with fans. This means (gasp!) being honest with the media and not playing games. Be open, and if you can’t be open just say so. Fans connect with Mike Pettine because he is this way. The rest of the team could take a lesson. Some answers to some basic questions can get mind-numbing. The positive fallout from being honest with the media: You don’t have to worry about the media, because all you’ve done is communicate honestly. That makes the message consistent, the vision clear.


Sixth, operate like a professional team. Stop the constant cycle of change that leads to impatience and more change. No more stories about the owner’s business being investigated by the FBI. No more quarterbacks coming and going. Stop trying to outsmart the world because you’re new. Operate professionally and with common sense. It’s football, not curing cancer. Usually the common sense decision is the best in the long run. Bring in players who understand they represent the team and city with everything they do. Clevelanders understand things don’t always go perfectly. But they will appreciate the effort with more honesty from a professional group.

Seventh, embrace the team's history. It's a proud one that includes Paul Brown and Jim Brown and Paul Warfield and Otto Graham. Stop running from the past 15 years and realize the Browns have been around since 1950 and there is much to be proud of in that time. There should be no reason that Paul Brown is not recognized as the greatest coach ever, and the team can be a part of making sure that happens.

Last, win some games. Start with one. Then go to the second. And proceed.


Link

Glad to see someone has a handle on the Browns.

We as of now are at zero any good that has been done has been undone by people in the organization going beyond their job description and getting involved in issues that aren't their concerns. The Browns seem more interested in the show aspect then they are in the product people actually go to the games to see. That needs to change. These folks are out of touch with what truly matters, winning.

Turning your back on Hoyer was stupid, he was a winner any way you slice it he was a winner. Here is what McMann had to say I concur.

A fan asked how much blame does the FO shoulder for Hoyers end of season collapse?



These kinds of things can't happen. Whats strange at least to me is I don't spend a lot of time reading about the Browns (media) only occasionally as I just don't have time and for me to read something that I reached the same conclusion on long ago was validating to me and really sad. I don't know the why I do know no one has been honest with their answers as to why Hoyer wasn't resigned I find that disturbing. Sure there has been all sorts of speculation and stories made up by fans like Hoyer this and that all of which were made up stuff. Bottom line though the Browns turned their backs on a winning QB that by all appearances was wrapped up in a personal issue and had nothing to do with what was best, the whole thing from start to finish has been wierd to say the least.

Dysfunction is the only thing that we appear to be good at. SAD

I like the article.

Point 3 - it sure feels like someone in the organization has been given a job (something like PR Exec) and is trying way too hard to create work for themselves - rather than actually being in touch with the fans. I see this in companies all the time - the person is more interested in wowing their boss with concepts and ideas, rather than just doing some of the simple, basic stuff.

Stupid, pointless article with very little on how to fix the on field product.

Point 2 is particularly annoying and stupid. I want entertainment, and of course that means on the field. But why should the team stop trying to entertain in other avenues? What does it hurt to have an hour long special on the new uniforms? Seems like a grumpy old man take.

Every other point is obvious or a rehash of stuff we know that should happen. Must have ran out of Johnny Manziel bash pieces.

“I think the reality today is you live in a marketing world,” Haslam said. “So will we have naming rights? Probably. Change the uniforms? I don’t know. But it is a marketing world we live in. Let’s be realistic about that."

If they win they are doing it the right way if they continue to lose then they are doing it the wrong way. The rest is all pointless babel.

Draft well. Win games.

Keep Mike Pettine & Ray Farmer around as long as possible.

Stay out of the media spotlight, especially with the negative attention.

Do all of this? The culture in Cleveland looks better.

I like how "No more turning on a winning quarterback" was specifically outlined. Brian Hoyer didn't get benched, the guy benched himself. I'm sick of hearing people cry about this.

The guy needed absolutely everything around him to be perfect to be effective. Even during our wins his completion percentage was low and his accuracy was all over the place. He went 5 1/2 weeks without a TD pass, threw 8 INT's in 4 games, and had a 1 for 29 TD-less drought.

Tired of none of these "expert" media writers acknowledging this.

Hoyer raised the bar early in the season, and then fell apart. If our running game is productive and our defense is strong, we'll get the same production out of McCown that we saw from Hoyer.

But anyway.

Overall this is a good article and I agree with most of it.

True, and that cannot be overlooked. These owners have megabucks tied up in their teams, and are not in this to lose money. Love of the game? A toy? Much less than we'd like to believe...

That's pretty much all that needs said.. But winning won't quiet those that just like to complain. They'll find something. I guarantee it..

I have to disagree with this notion that McCown for Hoyer is a wash.

I was one of the most vocal posters disgusted with Hoyer's in game antics. One of the biggest differences between wins and losses in the NFL is QB accuracy. Just hitting the open guy. And there were several times he couldn't complete a pass that should be expected of every starting QB in the NFL. And hell, all of the back ups too.

But I think he did enough that he deserved to continue to build on the good things that he did. When I had a chance to calm down and reflect, and not let in game emotions dictate my thought, I felt Hoyer showed enough to improve on. I am also a big fan of consistency and stability and letting guys develop and grow and, gulp, get better. I think we made a big mistake by not re-signing Hoyer. I think with him we had an outside shot of making the playoffs. I think with McCown we will be lucky to win three games.

I fully expect Mariotta to be on this team after the evening of the 30th. Manziel will be shipped off. Instead of Hoyer serving as the bridge to Mariotta and helping us establish a winning culture, it will be McCown blowing it and us rushing Mariotta in too quickly.

Pat Mac's article is all over the place. He preaches patience and continuity yet he, like Grossi, turn on these guys so fast. It's hard to take anything he writes seriously.

You might be right about Manziel being traded.

You might be around about Mariota being a Brown come draft night.

And you might be right about McCown only winning three games.

Where I disagree with you is that we should have kept Hoyer and let him build on what he did well. If Hoyer were still younger, age 25 or 26, I would say absolutely we should keep him and let him grow, but when this up coming season starts I believe he'll be either 30 or 31. We've seen his ceiling. He doesn't have the arm talent to win games on his own, he PROVED that last season when our running game didn't work.

I'm not trying to back hand what he did for the Browns, he had some VERY NICE looking moments last year, but the fact is, he doesn't have that good of an arm, even in wins his accuracy and numbers were well below average, and when the games got important down the stretch he struggled to even produce first downs. (Texans, Bills and Colts games).

I'm not a fan of Josh McCown by any means. I didn't like when we signed him, but I really think if we have an A+ running game and a stout and opportunistic defense that can get turnovers and keep the score low, we'll see the same production from McCown that we saw from Hoyer.

Winning covers a multitude of sins. If the Browns were consistent winners none of this other crap would matter. We'd be hearing about that rascal Jimmy getting his office ransacked by the FBI in some kind of hijinks and laugh it off as him being an excitable boy. Your first round QB checks into rehab? No biggie, he's just needing to have a spa day or thirty. Texting on the sidelines? Just checking to see what time the victory parade starts, nothing to see here.

But our Browns stink. So it's all deadly serious stuff.

Winning fixes lots of things.

I don't agree with the "turning on a QB". I think they gave BH every chance to turn it around and he just could not do it. We don't know how things went in the locker room. I know the players supported him, but was it because of how JFF was acting? Maybe they felt like he was the only option. The FO gave him enough rope and he hung himself. It's hard to blame the FO for his own short comings.

I too thought Hoyer was given a fair shot. It was clear, to me anyway, when we needed the system to rely more on the qb that Hoyer wasn't able to step up. Fundamentals and everything just broke down. Besides, with how successful our run game and play action was, it'd be a crime to have a Qb back there that doesn't have the arm/accuracy on the wide open deep balls that are basically 6 points if the person is hit somewhat in stride.

Agreed. The Browns didn't 'turn' on Hoyer whatsoever.

Now, we can argue whether the right decision was made to let him walk, but the Browns clearly gave him time to turn things around after he began to fail. He didn't and the Browns moved on.

Pettine defended Hoyer against the press for about 5 or 6 weeks straight ..... which makes it rather ironic that the press is not complaining about his treatment.

Agree on all points.

Win games and a lot of the rest of it takes care of itself.

As for the shows, the shows are great when you are winning because people are excited, when you are losing, people get suspicious and think you are doing the shows to hide the fact that you aren't any good.

Win and people stick around and continuity happens.

The 4th point, which you appropriately highlighted is important, act like a professional organization. Every team is going to have its distractions, look at the Patriots, they have taken on some guys with issues.. heck they have a guy involved in a high profile murder trial right now, but it's a secondary story because they win, they just keep winning... when you win, those things don't stick to you like they do when you lose.

The best and only way to create a better "fan experience" for me is...just win baby!!, the heck with everything else.

Winning will cure and remedy virtually everything. You earn the right to a lot of "things" by winning, respect is one of those.

One small, tiny and trivial issue though... we gotta win games.

The silliness. He's right about that. There's been nothing that has tested my fandom more than those highly public, spectacularly displays of baboonery every year. I can actually take pure losing better than I can take the abject silliness that seems to come on a conveyer belt at some point every single year. There are teams with, um, similarly rich traditions of losing that don't have the accompanying stooopid drama the Browns have. Or at least they have 1/2 the drama. Every year I pray for a quiet year of building. Then we draft a Manzeil, lol.

As far as Hoyer goes the debate rages on, whatever. Fact is, he was deeply flawed and limited as a player AND led more won games than any QB since 99. He was a stable personality, liked in the locker room and frankly the perfect company man to place hold until such time as we could upgrade. (Something you couldn't say about Anderson) I find the fan rally against him akin to my never-married 52 yr old cousin who's holding out for a husband on par with Brad Pitt. Yea, he's not a franchise QB, so what?! So we opt for more change and instability over a steady and perhaps underwhelming. Great job! Super awesome memory skills, way to tamp down the drama and mess. Freakin' geniuses.

Derek Anderson 10-6 in 2007

yea i thought DA has more win's as well overall?

I meant percentage but you're right. Anderson was 16-18 as a browns started. Hoyer was 10-6. Not that Hoyer would have fared better over the larger sample but that's not the point I was making anyway.

Guys, what was Hoyer's record as a starter?

it's literally right above your post.

If that was a rhetorical question, that's even worse.

You hate cops, but you sure play one on this board.

As bad as the franchise makes itself look, IMO the Cleveland media and a lot of fans add much more to the image than most would think.

There is truth to that, but if you have ever lived in other cities, you would know that it's the same everywhere. In fact, places like NY and Philly are way worse. Heck, look at Pittsburgh. They have a great fan base, but listen to them after they start losing a few games.

The fans and media are tough everywhere. And it might be worse if they aren't, because that means they are apathetic.

Tab, Tab, Tab always TRYING to put a positive spin on everything.

This has been said over and over again, and its purely wrong. Hoyer said when he was replaced by JF I will do all I can to help him prepare to start. Now the question is do we believe what Hoyer said or what FANS have made up to justify the FO doing the WRONG thing.

Remember when this all started well if Hoyer thinks we are paying him top money he can forget it. Turns out that wasn't true, and it goes on and on, if one false premise is laid to rest 2 more take its place. The fact is beyond all dispute Hoyer was the BEST QB we have had since our return. Now granted he likely is not the guy to get us to the promised land it makes good sense to continue with him until a better option presents itself, we of course are choosing to do what makes no sense.

Now JM -vs- Hoyer, not much of a contest in MO. McCown 17-32 and 1-10 last season. Hoyer 10-6 for his career and 7-4 last season and it's a wash. Come on man really a wash.

Not to mention Hoyer signed for less money then we are paying McCown. Like the writer said the Browns need to do what makes sense this does NOT make sense. Trying to put lip stick on a pig doesn't make it not a pig. There is only one way this makes sense and that is if we plan to tank the season. Is that the plan? Sure looks that way.

I could almost respect Farmer ( Haslam ) if they would be honest just like the writer said but they loss me when they cover up their short comings by not being forthright.

The dysfunction is everywhere in this FO, and it has spilled over onto the staff, and they the good ones that is want out along with the good players we want to keep. But the good players we want to keep having witnessed the dysfunction 1st hand opt out its so damned clear its amazing to me how anyone can see it otherwise. The only explanation is you have become attached to the dysfunction and you love it, and the thing your missing is its whats killing us.

Is it the reason things went south for us last season ? Hell no its not but it does contribute and that just can't happen they have to be the bedrock of stability reason the voice of sound decisions based on whats best for the TEAM. You know do the kinds of things people may not agree with but they know without question your doing what you believe is best for the team. I look and I don't see much that makes me believe thats what's happening here. I would really like to have those that believe in this group explain why they believe because I have issue with these folks I would like some one to explain to me last off season and then this off season.

When I look at this franchise I see a front office that is using puppets to coach the team, texting the sidelines during games really seriously this is a well run, stable organizational structure, one I and you and all of us can believe in?

Look at it for what it is I said this several weeks ago forget your a fan for a moment act like your on the outside looking in and now what do you see?

This organization is the picture of dysfunction and until that changes nothing else will.

Your take is pretty much spot on Rish but did you ever think that their all over the place because the Browns are all over the place the dysfunction and unsteadiness your seeing is a reflection of our FO. Sad isn't it?

I will never claim the Browns didn't have a rough year.

I will never claim there isn't dysfunction in the organization.

But there is dysfunction in every organization. Every one. The Browns is magnified because they are perennial losers, and it has become en vogue to diss the Browns. And some of their worst offenders are the Browns own media. Grossi is a lifelong Browns fan who got a job covering the team. He's a fan-atic posing as a beat reporter. But the biggest thing that gets me with Grossi is how he just rides the wave of public opinion.

I respect a guy like Pluto much more. Much more fair and balanced.

Pluto is my favorite local writer, with Paul Hoynes (Indians beat writer) a close 2nd.

Perhaps.

But, how many teams were accused of texting the sidelines during the games? I'm sorry, but while I don't think that is a huge rule infraction, it screams of dysfunction. You got guys like Farmer sending texts to the coaches during games. Exactly what experience does Farmer have in calling plays?

How many teams have their team president and GM breaking down film w/the coaches?

How many teams have made as many coaching changes and FO moves as we have had in the past couple of years?

How many teams have had an OC take the time to prepare a 32 point presentation to ask for his release from an organization?

How many teams drafted two first-round busts like we did?

How many teams are spending as much time on things like new uniforms and where we hold TC as we are, while NOT winning on the field of play?

How many teams have a QB in rehab?

How many teams release a qb who had the only winning percentage in team history and replace him w/a guy who is 35 freaking years old and was the qb of a team that won 2 games last year?

Fair and balanced? LOL

There is another reporter that I respect a great deal. Jimmy Donovan. He takes the good with the bad, doesn't try to distort facts to suit his agenda. In fact, I'm not sure he even has an agenda which is probably why I respect him in the first place.

Being employed by the Browns would certainly guarantee "no agenda."

Even Pluto has criticized the team. His latest article paints a bleak picture about the chances Manziel will succeed. It was completely fair.

Grossi will write an article saying Hoyer needs to be replaced by Manziel then call for Farmers head several weeks later. He's a cry baby. He's no different than many posters on this board.

As to one of your questions...how many coaches and FO have we fired in the last couple of years? The answer is too many. I think you know that answer because you asked it to paint the team in a negative light. So my question to you is if that's an issue...if you are going to use that to show the dysfunction of the organization, why do you gripe about Farmer in almost every post? Oh that's right, you don't want him fired...you just don't have confidence in him. But if you don't have confidence in him, why wouldn't you want him fired? And if he were fired, you would claim dysfunction, right?

That's what complainers do. They're like liars. They get so twisted up they can't remember what's up and what's down anymore.

Another question for you...do you like Pettine? If so, what do you think of his seeming indifference to Shanny parting? I've never seen a coach so dismissive and so actually not care the way he did. If you like Pettine, and I think you've stated you do, why doesn't that carry any weight with you?

Rishuz, Pluto has been against Manziel coming to Cleveland from the very beginning. He usually adapts and gets over it, but Johnny has got under his skin and rubbed the wrong way. I don't recall Pluto having any positives toward Johnny.

You did not address everything I said. Are you denying those statements/questions?

I love this one:



I am not a liar. In fact, I got suspended for calling someone a liar after they called me a liar. So, are you calling me a liar, Rish? If so, you should be suspended. You always result to insults when you don't have answers.



Yes, I do like Pettine. And unlike many of you who play Regime Wars, I actually judge the individuals by what they do, rather than "it's my turn to hate these guys" followed by "it's the turn to love these guys." LOL.....

I think Pettine is trying to hold the team together despite the dysfunction that is above him. I perfectly understand that position. I have lived it.

If you read closely enough, there is no way that Pet was happy w/how the FO intervened. However, he had to move forward w/those guys. He is doing his best to make it a positive situation. I have read all the stuff. You have, too. The difference is one of us knows how to read.

If its not about winning there is no place for it, period. The level of dysfunction within this organization is whats killing it, I don't care about other teams I care about the Browns and during the time we were promised stability and continuity we have had anything but.

Pat wrote it I again concur. Browns fans and this fan understand that everything isn't going to always be perfect but it can't be this stupidity this micro managing this texting criminal investigations, coaches begging to get out, players leaving as soon as they can, winning QB's let go to be replaced by losing QB's, coaches hired and fired to the point where we can't attract top flight coaches or talent.

It's so bad IMO you can't make it worse can you and if so how? Sure there is talent on the team but if the GM and owner of the team are also the ones making game day play calls what chance do we really have? This is dysfunction on a level not seen before we are in real trouble with these buffoons we have running this team and it starts with Haslam. I wished you could fire the owner cause this one sucks.

He has brought his he is smarter then everyone else attitude to the Browns.. SAD