One key area where Phil Savage and his folks have been outstanding is managing the salary cap. Thoughout his three seasons, the Browns have had ample space to sign multiple big-ticket free agents, plus several other veteran acquisitions, while also locking up their own core contributors and bringing in more than their share of first-round […]
The two big personnel decisions square in the middle of Phil Savage’s desk are, of course, resigning RB Jamal Lewis, set to become an unrestricted free agent, and how to handle QB Derek Anderson, restricted free agent-to-be. But big as those deals are, they are only the beginning of what promises to be another very […]
Here’s a look at how the Browns ranked in various categories among the 32 teams during the just-completed regular season. Stats get tiresome after a while, so I’ve focused mostly on the key areas and those where the Browns were near the top or bottom of the league. Within each section, rankings are shown best […]
Sports fans always chase their tails in debating post-season awards. What exactly do things like Most Valuable Player and Player of the Year mean anyway? And those media post-mortems — ranked roster listings and letter grades — almost invariably suffer for lack of clear criteria. Just to illustrate briefly the difference made by defining one’s […]
Ouch. It’s the off-season already. The Browns had the inside track to the playoffs, but after spinning out in Cincy and then failing to get a competitive effort from Tony Dungy last night, they’re out. They’re just the third 10-6 team in 15 years to miss the post-season. This year, two 9-7 clubs made it. […]
The more I think about Phil Dawson’s surreal screwball — 49 yards from snow to stanchion — the more it represents a pure microcosm of the Browns’ entire season. Ride with me through this. It started off as a dubious premise to begin with. A questionable decision by a coach who, at the season’s outset, […]
Before I delve into the details of each of the Browns’ penalties this season, here’s an overview of the official tallies, which do not include penalties that were declined or offset by opponents’ fouls. Only once in 12 games were the Browns clearly the less-penalized team. In sum, the Browns have been flagged 95 times […]
In the NFL, penalties don’t correlate well with winning or losing. Why not? In theory, penalties reflect getting outplayed by an opponent or a lack of discipline or concentration. Those factors, plus the consequences of the penalties themselves, ought to track at least somewhat with a team’s overall success rate. Contrary to that, it’s easy […]
Last Sunday, Arizona did what many thought Baltimore should have done: avoid kicking off to Joshua Cribbs. Let’s review each of the results: Rackers kicks to the 27 yard line, returned by Darnell Dinkins to the 34. Dinkins fields it at the 26, returns it eight yards to the 34. Deep kickoff to the 1, […]
Call me greedy, but it is now time for expectations to be lifted. The Browns aren’t the losers that nearly everyone thought they’d continue to be. The re-re-re-rebuilding process is getting results. With a 7-4 record, a high-flying offense, superb special teams, an improving defense, and a weak upcoming schedule, the window of opportunity is […]
Browns Plainly gives you the most comprehensive, no-nonsense coverage of the Cleveland Browns, from all the best sources on the web. All in one place. Dave Algase, author of Brown for the Count, provides expert analysis and is a lifelong fan of the team. Dave's unique perspective of the team will provide insights you won't find anywhere else.
