This past week the Cleveland Browns left the USA to lose another football game. Playing in London against the Minnesota Vikings, the Browns actually led at the half, 13-12. It was their first halftime lead of the year.
In a game televised back home in the morning, there seemed to be little fan interest at the stadium and the game itself was lackluster. But the Browns did manage to play terrible football in the second half and lost again 33-16.
It just doesn’t seem worthwhile to play these games in England. The home team loses a game in their stadium; the players lose valuable practice time; and American fans must watch early Sunday morning. There are big crowds, for sure (@ 75,000 on Sunday), but ticket prices are very, very low compared to NFL prices back home. I understand the NFL is trying to expand their global footprint, but it doesn’t seem to be working.
Speaking of not working – the Browns are currently 0-8 and showing little signs that they will win a game this year. Their coach, Hue Jackson, has won one game and is now 1-23 in his two-year tenure with Cleveland. They lost 14 games in a row and were 1-15 last year. Their quarterback, DeShone Jackson, is learning on the job, but he is far from being an NFL quarterback right now. To add to their woes, their receivers are just not very good.
And the Browns can only blame themselves. You probably remember that it was the Browns who traded their #2 draft pick because they did not believe in Carson Wentz – yes, the Eagles’ Carson Wentz. Right now with his team at 7-1, sporting the best record in the NFL, Carson Wentz is probably the League’s MVP. The Browns were quoted as feeling Wentz would never be a top-20 quarterback in the NFL.
Carson Wentz is certainly much, much better than a Top 20 QB. He is an elite QB. He stands in the pocket despite heavy rushes; he runs with abandon when chased out of that pocket; sees defensive weaknesses as he spreads the ball around to all of his receivers; and he shows toughness and mental acuity at the same time.
Carson Wentz is just what the Browns needed and, typical of the Cleveland Browns front office, they just didn’t know it. It’s been ten years since the Browns had a winning record; it has been NEVER since they did not win ANY games. This could very well be their year to “accomplish” that. I’m not sure their current fan base even remembers how to spell V-I-C-T-O-R-Y.
ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)
- I don’t mean to brag (by the way, anytime someone says that, they DO mean to brag), but after a couple of dismal weeks of NFL picks, I had a perfect 13-0 week! I have never done that before. The past two weeks I am 24-4 (88%). I don’t mean to brag.
- After Saturday’s heartbreaking loss to Ohio State, it does not appear that Penn State will play for a national championship this season. The Nittany Lions will need some help from other teams and must win out themselves.
- Gabe Kapler, the director of player development for the Dodgers, is the new Phillies manager. He beat out Red Sox manager John Farrell and Iron Pigs manager Dusty Watham. Kapler played for six major league teams and is known to have a very strong background in analytics (the buzz word of the day in professional sports).
- The 76ers are looking better, but their #1 draft choice Markelle Fultz will be out indefinitely due to a shoulder injury. Fans should be resigned to the fact that the Sixers seem to only draft players who can’t play the first year.
- District football playoffs begin this week. Parkland looks unbeatable in 6A, Whitehall and Southern Lehigh should battle for the 5A championship, 4A and 3A are up for grabs. It all starts Friday night on RCN-TV with Freedom taking on Emmaus LIVE at 7:00 and Nazareth going back to Easton at 10:00. Saturday RCN-TV will have the Saucon Valley–Central game LIVE at 6:00.
RCN TV will have exhibition college basketball with Penn State taking on Lafayette LIVE at 1:00 on Saturday afternoon. This game is a charity event to help disaster victims.
Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks – (LAST WEEK – 13-0; OVERALL – 73-45 – 62%)
Week Nine
