My hard drive done blowed up after I posted on Saturday. Good timing, as I start vacation tomorrow and I can address the resultant blue screen. I need to reinsert the XP disk, so I’ll see what’s up and if I have to address alternatives. This is written from the bunker inside Romeo Crennel’s head, where there is lots of room, I discovered.

Randomness from yesterday's Browns home game:

Special Guest: My brother Jeff. We talked about his uncanny luck at seeing the Browns win and how it seems to have evaporated as they have increased their win totals. His last two games: The Cincinnati shutout in ’06, the Steeler blowout in last year’s opener. Yikes! I think that combined score is 67-7.

Today's Opponent: “America’s Team”, the Dallas Cowboys. The last time they were in town was a godawful hot day for the opener in 1991, Belichick’s first game as head coach. Dallas is loaded on both sides of the ball and they come off two disappointing seasons where they reached the playoffs and flamed out early.

Browns Version 2.3, however, comes into the game with the highest fan expectations since their return. As I stated the other day, the injury bug seems to be biting the Browns this year and we haven’t even started. Last year, Jamal Lewis was the only one who went down on offense, while this year, both sides of the ball are suffering. And let’s not forget, one decent season and the coaches who stayed got contract extensions. Romeo was rumored to be out by the bye week last year, if you recall. Now, we are stuck with him for a while. We have a new defensive coordinator, to boot. Something to think about, if the season goes South.

Parking: Short Vincent Truck Zone.

Browns Player on Ticket: Braylon Edwards

Pre-Game Festivities: The Browns Spirit Flag made its annual appearance. Bigger Ass Flag was also unveiled. This one stretched from goal line to goal line. And it appears the Browns have a Drum Corps now, their first musical foray since G.E. Smith. They formed a gauntlet through which the Browns run for the introductions. The introductions are not done individually anymore. The Browns come out as an offensive or defensive unit now. And we also had a flyover from two Marine transport planes, C-130s. First game always gives us a flyover, as Randy Lerner has the connections. Thought they would be bigger, these C-130s. Anyhow, I miss the really fast jets.

Worst Feature (For Me): Once again, the Ohio State Marching Band. The Browns always lose when they show up. Don’t get me wrong, I like the dual Script Ohios, but I had to endure “Hang On Sloopy” twice. Once from them and, as usual, at the end of the third quarter with the actual recording.

The Weather: That little Ewok, Hollie Strano, has taken over for Marky Mark Nolan to intro the weather. Could not have asked for a better day. Bleak in the morning. Sunny and nary a cloud by game time. Temp about 72.

Today's Giveaway: The fine folks at Bank of America provided us with towels to wave. It reads, “The Name On The Door Is Cleveland”. I maintain that’s a dumb slogan. One of the worst ever.

Section 345: Not much action here. Oh, the people were fired up from when they opened the pop bottles, but fairly sedate later. I think around 535 and 346 were where all the scuffles occurred, so we got views of that. Oh, there were “Asshole!” chants because there were many Dallas jerseys present. And with the 4:15 start, that means plenty more drinking. We had two sots next to us that left in the third quarter. They arrived drunk and then had two more beers. Then reality set in. Like how do I get home.

Best Browns Play: OK, I’m not sure one even existed. Kellen Winslow had a nice 17-yarder over the middle from Derek Anderson early. At the end of the third quarter, Jamal Lewis busted one up the middle for 24 yards. Weak selection.

Best Cowboys Play: The TD to Terrel Owens. Dallas loaded the left side with their three best receivers. Patrick Crayton out wide, Jason Witten near the line, T.O. in the middle. Browns in a zone, which meant, ahem, Kamerion Wimbley had Owens off the line. Wimbley never hit him and passed him off to the deep man. My whipping boy, Brandon McDonald, had to take Crayton deep and as T.O. roams downfield untouched, the safety had to follow Witten to the middle. McDonald and the safety were late to recognize the play and Romo put it right on the money. Beautiful play construction against the proper defense. And T.O.’s Usain Bolt imitation was choice. He shook his legs and used the goal line as the starting line. Not sure it was worth 15 yards, but I laughed.

Worst Browns Play: The field goal with the Browns losing 28-7. This makes Romeo’s all-time top five list. I commend the fans calling bullshit immediately. Very disappointing. It’s the type of move that has you questioning your math skills. “Wait, we need three scores and if we kick, we still need three scores. WTF?". Then you start adding up possibilities in your head again and it still does not compute. Indefensible. No explanation works.

Second Worst Browns Play: Obviously, Braylon Edwards dropping a sure TD, a gamechanger, if you will. As he demonstrated to everyone there, before he reached the huddle, he claimed he lost it in the sun. Once again, putting me before team.

Best Exchange:
P.A. Man: “Cowboy pass complete to Tony Curtis.”
Me: “Yeah, Tony Curtis. I heard they cut Kirk Douglas to make room for him.”
Jeff: “I love you, Spartacus.”

Best Exchange 2:
Jeff: “I thought Pavarotti was dead.”
Me: “Huh?”
Jeff: “That usher there. He looks like Pavarotti.” (Then operatic): “Let me take to your seat!”
Me: “I dunno. He looks more like John Rhys-Davies to me.”
Jeff: “Well, he’s John Rhys-Davies playing Pavarotti as an usher then.”

Can you tell the game stunk?

Best Line from Me: After Eric Wright’s interception with the Browns trailing 28-7.”There’s a gleam, men!”

Best Line from a Random: “Romeo probably told Braylon Edwards, “You did such a fine job today, take Tuesday off.” Of course, Tuesday is the off day every week.

Oddest Browns Jersey: 5 Garcia, 44 Suggs, 50 Faine, 81 Bryant. Offset by 88 Irvin, 12 Staubach, 33 Dorsett, 8 Aikman. Ouch!

Food Items: Had a Mountain Dew for four dollar.

Best Fan Cam Feature: I’m not sure there was one yesterday.

The Fuckin' Run: The Browns gave up 167 yards on the ground. All you need to know about this took place before the Cowboys last TD. Shaun Smith played at nose tackle most of this drive and then we noticed Shaun Rogers comes in with ball on the Browns 15. Next play, Barber on a trap up the middle for 4 yards. Next play, Felix Jones goes up the middle for an 11-yard TD. Game over! BTW, Corey Williams, whose name we hardly heard, was credited with two tackles. Once on Dallas’ first drive and I’m not sure where else.

Worst Stat: Not so much a stat, as the Browns had 9 penalties for 55 yards. It was the types of penalties. Brandon McDonald had not one, but two, hands to the face penalties. Braylon Edwards who is looking at the ball to be snapped had an illegal shift and a procedure penalty. We also had defensive holding. That’s not a rarity, but it was called on a DEFENSIVE LINEMAN. We also had facemasking. That’s not a rarity, but it was called on an OFFENSIVE LINEMAN. They were also flagged for lining up incorrectly on an extra point, which was probably that you can’t line up over the center anymore. And, of course, the Browns took a delay-of-game. Anderson was having a terrible time getting the calls in from the sideline. Later, he blamed it on his helmet battery. Uh, get a new one, please, and quickly. That was agonizing to watch.

2nd Worst Stat: Dallas had 30 first downs.

Most Interesting Stat: Kellen Winslow was roaming free in the first half and had four catches. At halftime, Dallas adjusted and double-teamed him. He had only one catch the rest of the way. That’s why the injury to Donte Stallworth was so painful. We had to play Steve Sanders and Syndric Steptoe who would normally be our 4th and 5th guys. So, it was an easy move for Dallas.

I’m not as upset with this loss, as I thought might be. Going in, I thought that the Browns would lose. However, I am upset with the defense, as we looked awfully shaky back there yesterday. It is clear that Dallas is an elite team in the league and it really showed how far the Browns need to go. If we lose next week against Pittsburgh, guard the bridges. There will be jumpers.

Browns lose, 28-10.