Browns Spiraling Out Of Control
Oct 20, 2008
Author: DawgBones.com

Easy come, easy go. Such is the case for the 2008 version of the Cleveland Browns. The one and only thing this Browns team can be consistent on is its inconsistency. In his day after game press conference head coach Romeo Crennel made mentioned of just that.

"Overall, I thought the guys played hard and tried to get something done. Offensively we weren’t quite as efficient, we had mistakes in several different areas that we have to get cleaned up and get better at. It was disappointing that we weren’t able to function, particularly after the display that we had on Monday night. Basically, as I sit back and look at the team now, we are somewhere between Monday night and the Dallas game. That’s the kind of team we are. I think what we have to try to be able to get done is develop some consistency and not be an up-and-down team, to try to be a more consistent team all the way across the board. If we can develop some consistency, I think we can still be in the middle of it as we go down the road. I think we can win some games, I don’t know if we will win them all, but we can win some games and with the way it’s going, I think we’ll be in the middle of it if we are able to get that done."

Of course these statements are on the heels of a Browns team that dominated the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants on Monday night just to turn around and play well beneath their potential Sunday in a 14-11 loss to the Washington Redskins. Sunday in D.C. they looked like the team that took the field in week one and stayed there until week 5.

It was not a pretty sight, seeing teammates Lawrence Vickers and Derek Anderson arguing and pushing one another on the field in the middle of a critical drive. Vickers may have been right as rain, but he should never undermine his QB during the middle of a game. The fact that he felt he could has to get you thinking about one man, Romeo Crennel. What kind of coach allows his players to act that way and if he does not discipline players for acting that way then what kind of control does he really have?

Tight end Kellen Winslow II had no reservations about speaking his mind after Sunday's loss. Strangely Winslow's gripe was not game related, but targeted more directly at General Manager Phil Savage. Winslow suffered another staph infection that left him hospitalized for three days leading up to the Giants game. Apparently Savage asked Winslow to keep the diagnosis quiet and so would the team. After the loss Sunday Winslow's frustration level boiled over and he broke his silence.

What kind of General Manager doesn't even bother to call and see how one of his best employees is doing while he is laid up in the hospital? Phil Savage acts like a kind, caring boss, but his actions tell another story. Winslow was not the only player to complain about the lack of sentiment showed by Savage. Former Browns linemen LeCharles Bentley told a similar tale of Savage's lack of compassion while he recuperated from his staph infection and multiple surgeries while playing for the Browns.

One question continues to come to mind, who is in charge? When times get tough and chaotic who is leading the way? The Browns have a "Players Coach" in Crennel and it seems like it is catching up to them. When players feel they can do what they want when they want, regardless of how right they may be, there is a huge problem. If something doesn't change and soon, the 2008 season will continue to spiral out of control. The sad thing, it will have long lasting ramifications well after this year.

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