Merry Christmas to all!















Randomness from yesterday's Browns home game:

My current favorite bartender, Kevin, was yesterday's special guest. Browns Version 2.3 still has a chance to win back-to-back games for the first time in three years, because of the final two opponents. This shows how inept this franchise is. We are bascially the New Bengals. Coming in, I don't think we should lose to Tampa Bay at home. This was a team that used to have a very poor record in the cold. Now they are poor pretty much everywhere.

As alluded to, today's opponent: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I recall the few times we have played Tampa recently have not been stellar by any means. Rather boring, if I recall. But the Bucs are coming off what may have been their best game of the year, an overtime loss to the Bears. The game shapes up as a true Clash of the Titans (or Race to a Draft Pick), but we can't lose to Tampa, of all teams, at home. Can we?

The weather was pretty good for Cleveland this time of year. Clouds at the start gave way to sunshine throughout. Temp around 45, a pleasant day. No gloves or blankies necessary.

Today's giveaway: None. Alltel was the sponsor and they were thanked for today's giveaway. Not sure what they handed out.

Section 345 must have had visions of Mrs. Claus dancing in their heads, because it was pretty quiet. Stadium was about 67% full, which beat my estimate by a lot. We are a hearty bunch, although I recognized only one fellow season ticket holder in my section. However, with a throwback to the Chris Palmer Era, there could not have been more than 5,000 in the place for the final whistle.

You know the Browns are in trouble when their rushing yards almost equalled their passing yardage. Derek Anderson was, well, Derek Anderson today. I believe the QB rating was 12.5, as he threw four interceptions. He seemed to have big time trouble locating the safety or the cover man from behind, as most of those picks came from those positions.

No G.E. Smith, and even Snoopy, as a Browns fan, could not save the team.

Worst Browns play: The pooch punt after the first drive. It was only a 44-yard attempt and Romeo can say it was against the wind all he wants, but the wind was out of the west. If he can't trust Dawson from that range, dump him. If his game plan was to pin the Bucs back all day, dump Romeo. We moved the ball well on that drive and felt he gave up, instead of trying for the points. Needless to say, the punt rolled into the endzone and Tampa started from their 20. Ugh!

Best line from me (when random drunk spilled beer over the guy in front of him): "Hey, I didn't think it was supposed to rain today."

Best line from a random: Same random drunk was a stander. You know the guy. Stands for all the inappropriate plays. Stands up on third down, imploring the crowd to join him. I hate that guy! Anyhow, after everyone ignored him, he turned around and said, "When I stand up, you're supposed to be with me!" Crickets. Hah! He eventually left at the half.

Oddest Browns jersey: 38 Langham. I am deeply troubled by that one.

There were items purchased at this one. I had a hot dog and Kevin treated me to a couple of beers, a rarity at the game for me, and some peanuts.

Best Browns play: Ralph Brown with the Hit of the Year on Alex Smith. A thunderous tackle.

Boas were not present. Men wearing orange-colored camo gear was in vogue. Kevin cracked me up when he yelled, "Look out!" when I got close to one of the guys. As he explained, he wasn't sure if I could see the guy.

Best Fan Cam feature: "Baghdad Brian" was back. Again, if you watched these halftime highlights, you would have sworn we were winning by 20, instead of sporting a goose egg on the board.

Worst stat: The Browns averaged 3.4 yards per pass play.

2nd worst stat: Time of possession for the Browns--22 minutes.

Most interesting stat: Three total penalties. Two for them, one for us.

The Bucs, with one of the worst teams in the league, gain their first road win of the year. We really threatened only twice in the game. The first drive and a second-half drive that resulted in a blocked field goal. The Browns played another game that was reminiscent of the two-year reign of Chris Palmer. Each time I believe it can't get worse, it does. OK, that's a broken record, but it's true. It's awful when you say, "At least it wasn't bad as the Bengal game." or "Well, it's not as bad as last year's Christmas Eve game." The measuring stick is not great games, but horrific ones.

We find out that Braylon Edwards was benched for missing a meeting. Then when he gets in the game, he drops passes. I don't think it's a T.O. situation, but the fans seem to want this guy shipped out. I agree, he's been mediocre this year, but let's see him a full year removed from his knee injury. Then we can make a decision. Romeo, who seemed to be waiting for a bus during last week's game, gets animated, for once. May be a little late. He had a pretty snippy presser after the game, and barked at players on the sideline. It seems contrived and a little bit late.

I was in his corner, but if he loses to Houston next week, I think he's done. Conventional wisdom would be to give him another year, but what if he's this shitty of a coach? Why torture us more?

Not the Browns worst game of the year, as the Bengal game will be the benchmark and that was one for the ages. But it was a lousy one.

Bucs win, 22-7.

Happy Holidays!