Last Sunday’s Browns/Jets game was either the cleanest game all season or the one with the most laid-back officiating. In either case, it was encouraging that the Browns bucked recent trends and had their fewest penalties of the season, with just four flags for 29 yards against them. Still, it was the 12th of 13 […]
Much has been made of the superlative stats many Browns skill players are putting up this year, and for good reason. But I haven’t seen these cited: This is the first season since 2004 in which two Browns running backs have rushed for at least 200 yards. It’s also now the first season with three […]
Way back in college freshman English, writing on a passage from Walden, I drew what I thought was an uncanny analogy with something from my personal experience, a probable arson fire that destroyed a tennis club I had frequented. The prof, a campus legend of intimidating brilliance, was befuddled by what must have been an […]
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, […]
Winslow’s fine catch on the last play could’ve been called a force out, but for whatever reason, the officials very, very rarely make that call. Last year against the Jets, the Browns won on just such a critical no-call, as Brodney Pool knocked tight end Chris Baker out of bounds in the end zone to […]
Waiting for the Browns and their 4 p.m. start, I came across a few interesting videos. Josh Cribbs is not only is he the most entertaining player on the field, he’s the most entertaining storyteller too. Just listen to Jason Wright and you understand why this former undrafted free agent has caught on as one […]
Had the life and times of the late great Bill Willis received more than one twentieth of the attention given to the sudden death of Sean Taylor, there would be more justice and virtue in this world. In the few minutes I have today, there’s no way I could properly represent all that Willis meant […]
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.
