A chat with little Bernie ...

LITTLE BERNIE: Hi Coach.  I want to send you a letter because my dad reeded me your story when I was eating Cookie Crisp this morning."

COACH: Good to hear from you, Bernie.  It's refreshing to hear that there are still fathers out there who read the Sports page to their kids over breakfast.  As a side note, Cookie Crisp is a quality cereal.  Good to know you are keeping it real.

BERNIE: I was happy to hear that you thought Romeo the Browns coach would finally realize how inconsistent medeo core Derick Anderson is.  Im American and Americans love turkey.

COACH: It was only a matter of time before the front office decided to make the change at quarterback.  I was wondering why it's taken so long for a few weeks now.  I just don't understand how the media say this is a bad move, considering Quinn has sat on the sidelines for 24 regular season games.  Is it a good move when he's had 25 or more regular season games as a backup under his belt?  I mean, 24 games seems like enough time to learn the system and it is about time they start the guy they drafted with a 1st round pick, isn't it?

BERNIE: I like Brady Quinn because he is new and I think his name sounds like the quarterback who wins Super Bowls all the time.  He must be good.  More good than Derek Anderson who always throws passes to the other team.  My Dad says that Derek Anderson completes more passes to the ground than he does to the Browns players.  Is that true?

COACH: You and I both hope that Quinn can bring at least one Super Bowl victory to the City of Cleveland over his career.  If only he can be as good as Tom Brady ... well, that probably won't happen considering that Tom Brady is arguably the most clutch big game quarterback ever to play in the NFL.  And yes, Derek Anderson DOES throw more incompletions than completions.

BERNIE: Have you ever farted?

COACH: I've had my fair share.  In some people, such as myself, it is a talent you acquire with age.  Don't worry, farts are normal and you'll enjoy making headlines and clearing rooms in the future.

BERNIE: Will the Browns make it to the playoffs this year because my Dad and I don't think they will make it.

COACH: No.  The Browns won't make the playoffs this year.  They are 3-5 right now.  You'd have to guess that an AFC team will need to be 9-7 to make the playoffs.  The Browns would have to finish 6-2 to achieve that record.  Just look at the upcoming schedule.  Probably not gonna be 6-2 in the final 8 games.  And if for some reason an 8-8 team in the AFC can snatch up a Wild Card spot, the Browns would still have to finish 5-3.  That is possible, but an 8-8 playoff team is a longshot.

BERNIE: If the Browns won't make the playoffs, then why should I watch them and why should my Dad get excited about watching them for the rest of the year?

COACH: The new hype and excitement for the 2008 Browns is Brady Quinn.  There is a good chance the Browns won't make the playoffs.  But you have to keep in mind that Derek Anderson led the Browns to a 3-5 start.  Can Quinn muster up more than 3 wins in the Browns final 8 games?  That is the question.  It will be fun and exciting watching the young phenom take the reigns of a struggling offense and see what he can do with it.  Can he help turn the team around or not?  That is the question.  Sure, there will be some growing pains and that is expected.  But we must look at the little things.  How many times will Quinn be sacked compared to the rate at which Anderson was going down?  Can Quinn keep the INTs down?  Can he keep his completion percentage up?  If he can do all these things, then the move to bench Anderson and start Quinn was a good one because at the very least he can use the remainder of 2008 to prepare for 2009.  This is a young team and the sooner Quinn is under center doing the little things that Anderson could not do, the better the Browns will be in 2009 and beyond.

BERNIE: Thanks Coach, for making me happy again.  I'll watch the Browns with my dad and we will be happy.  I'll eat my chips and drink my juice and my dad will be happy with his beers.

COACH: One day, Bernie, and you too will be drinking those beers with your pops, enjoying the Browns on Sundays.  Just stick by them when they are down and you will love them that much more when they are up.  Trust me.