Browns Up, Stripes Down
In Cleveland, fans have been more than patient. Hopelessly devoted, you could say. Browns backers bitterly welcomed back Romeo Crennel as head coah this season. Why is Phil Savage signing past-his-prime Jamal Lewis, or wasting time on that headcase Braylon Edwards? For once in the bizarre world of NFL football, patience is paying off for the Brownies.
In Cincinnati, fans have been teased time and again. 8-8 seasons are truly the worst kind—-good enough to give fans hope, bad enough to miss out on an elite, franchise-changing draft pick. The Bengals have patient, too… but at what price? Patient with Chris Henry, whose talent rivals his penchant for trouble. Patient with Chad Johnson, whose headcase tendencies have helped wreck the team’s season (best receiver in the league can’t go 8 games without a TD catch). Looks like the stripes could go another meaningless, kiss your sister-type 8-8 once again.
So what’s gone right in Cleveland and what’s wrong in Cincinnati? It’s all about management—it sets the tone for all other personnel. The Browns patient ownership trusted Phil Savage with the hiring and firing, and trusted Romeo Crennel to mold that talent. Savage has made wise free agent moves, in particular Lewis and standout guard Eric Steinbach (FA signing, away from the Bengals, of course). Just think if LeCharles Bentley had been a part of this line. And Crennel showed enough trust in Derek Anderson to trade away Charlie Frye, park his prized 1st round QB on the bench and let the hot hand play. Crennel also runs the team with a cool temperment that suits veteran players.
Management in Cincinnati remains a disaster. Practically no scouting department means draft picks are often a guessing game. Couldn’t go wrong with Carson Palmer, but Chris Perry, David Pollack and Odell Thurman have proven to be great disappointments (off the field with Thurman). The Bengals have used 1st round pick after 1st round pick on defense, yet still can’t stop decent teams. And Marvin Lewis is known as an abrasive figure in and out of the Bengals lockerroom. He has yet to earn his players’ full respect, which I think is proven in the the Stripes’ lengthy list of off-field problems. If you respect yourself, your teammates and your coach, you don’t make those mistakes—-‘cause those mistakes hurt everyone.
I think time has caught both teams, just like time witll catch up to all of us at some point. Only in Cleveland’s case, time is carrying them into a bright future. Cincy might be headed for another frustrating stretch, unless their uber-talented QB can save them. Opposite ends of the state—opposite ends of the football spectrum.
