The Browns finally cleaned house today and I have a few thoughts:

Randy Lerner: I actually think our owner does care about the team. I mean, he'll cut the big checks (again) to rid us of this mess. But this nagging aversion to audio and video tape must be overcome. Woody Johnson (Jets owner, not porn star) faced the music in NYC today when he fired Eric Mangini, why won't Lerner do the same?

Than he sends Brady Quinn and Joe Thomas out there to answer questions from the media. Where are the adults?

I commend him for at least having a conversation with Bill Cowher. Of course, Cowher said no. Although I do not know what Cowher is doing with that "house in Strongsville he owns". We can now move on from that to the real issue of finding a coach and front office executive. Scott Pioli looks like the frontrunner for GM.

Phil Savage: To get fired on Saturday and then have it announced right as the team is leaving Pittsburgh on Sunday shows how much contempt Lerner had for Savage at the end. It was a rather insulting way to be let go. Three years ago, the city was up in arms when it appeared Savage would be forced out over the holidays in 2005, after year one. How wrong we were to cheer the fact he won out.

Listen, the baseball cap wearin', e-mailin', f-bomb droppin' GM was really wearing out his welcome. No second-day draft starters. 50-50 success on first-rounders. Players like Ken Dorsey on a professional roster. Draft for character (Kamerion Wimbley), not ability. Constantly giving Terry Pluto scouting info on why his guys were good. I love Terry, but c'mon, the selling of Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald at corners was getting to be absurd. Savage once pointed out Daven Holly's injury. WTF? If we are worried about an injury to Daven Holly, well...

Total mismanagement of the Kellen Winslow Affair. Totally inept at media relations. You cannot show up once a month to tell us why things are the way they are. In the NFL, you could go from 3-4 to 4-8 in November (like the Browns did), while Savage fiddled. Mainly with his e-mail.

I won't fault him for some of his free-agent signings like Gary Baxter or LeCharles Bentley. I mean, who knew their fates ahead of time? But Dante Stallworth was a major bust. He did hit on Eric Steinbach, but Kevin Shaffer? Ugh! And that Young guy who was subbing for Shaffer yesterday...ridiculous.

Romeo Crennel: His reign here could only be described as "Panormous". Because he seemed to like eating, but not making good football decisions on Sundays. Time management awful. Field goal and punting decisions well into this dark chasm of a season remained inane. Even yesterday where there have been maybe two successful 50-yard FGs in the history of Heinz Field, he sends in Dawson for a 53-yarder. Of course, he missed. Maybe it was sunny and he thought that would change things. No wonder the Browns went six games without an offensive TD.

Absurd replay challenges, including the one last year where he lost two timeouts. Flipping a coin to determine a starting quarterback.

Unbelievably bad post-game quotes: “When you win, you’re happy. When you lose, you’re sad. And that’s all we can do.” “It’s hard to get the most out of your players every week at this level.” “I can’t tell whether they’re going to show up week to week.” And on and on.

Oh, the players loved the guy. Those who said they played hard for him. You know, the same ones who threw in the towel after the Ravens game. I think the players took advantage of a situation knowing bad on-field performance would never jeopardize playing time.

Aw, hell, I'd keep going, but the "Three Stooges Theme" keeps running through my head.

Meal of Links

Russian professor predicts the USA will break up. Ohio will become part of the Central North-American Republic. And with it, our rivalry with the Steelers will disappear. Oh wait, that went away years ago.

Healthy foods under one dollar. Speaking of cheap, I was at the flagship Marc's in Middleburg this a.m. and, I must say, Monday mornings may be the time to shop here. Their new ads start on Tuesdays or maybe it was the holidays, but there was no one there. Clean, wider aisles, better selection (bottles of RC Cola!), and loud cockatoos in the back.

This week's TV Marathons. Speaking of TV Marathons, this is the time of year when ESPN, and its family of networks, trots out "World's Strongest Man". I saw the final the other day. WTF? How did I not know the 2008 final was filmed in Charleston, WV? Seriously, how did that not come to my attention? All those years of watching these exotic locations and it ends up within driving distance and I am caught unaware? Shame on me. And I just found out it was held in September when I had time off! Aaaaargh! Just kill me.

Exercise Yard

I finally got my first live look at the Cavs last night. Nomar Stalker and I were up in Loudville. Certainly didn't have their best game of the year, but LeBron took over in the 4th quarter and they finally went ahead of a Miami Heat team that had a 10-point lead.

My sense is that all the pieces/parts are there for a title run. Mo Williams was a great addition. Cavs won, 93-86.

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39 Across: Toon girl who's always traveling (15 letters) Answer: Dora the Explorer