Wallace's historic day leads Browns past Steelers

CLEVELAND --- With Colt McCoy resting up for the playoffs, Seneca Wallace had to be ready to run the Cleveland Browns offense.

Was he ever.

With McCoy bundled up on the sideline in cold and windy conditions at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Wallace set franchise records with 480 yards passing and six touchdowns - the final one to Ben Watson with 1:10 left, giving the Browns a 45-41 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in a wild regular-season finale Sunday.

"Just think of all of the great quarterbacks that have come through here," Wallace said. "It's very humbling. I just thank everybody around me and everything. I couldn't have done it, obviously, by myself. There's weapons all around me, and the line did a great job. It's one of those games where it got to a shootout, and we just kept having to match each other."

It was an ideal afternoon for the Browns (15-1), who got to rest McCoy and several other big-name players without losing momentum going into the playoffs.

Wallace barely got the Browns past Ben Roethlisberger, who threw for 520 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions for the Steelers (10-6). Pittsburgh has lost 21 straight road games to the Browns, including the postseason.

"We're going to use this as motivation," Roethlisberger said. "We had a chance and didn't get it done, so we've got to get out there and start making it happen. We've got to get on a run here. That's what it's all about in the playoffs, getting hot and hopefully we can get that going."

The Steelers head to the playoffs for the first time since 1999 as a wild card, but could have clinched the No. 5 seed with a win. Instead, they'll be the No. 6 seed.

"This certainly wasn't a throwaway game for us," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said.

According to STATS LLC, it was the first time in NFL history opposing quarterbacks each threw for 400-plus yards and five-plus touchdowns in a game. The teams' combined 971 net yards passing broke the record of 906 set earlier this season in a Week 1 game between New England and Miami.

"Wallace played a great game," Roethlisberger said. "Their guys were making plays all over the field and scoring points."

For Wallace, it was a huge day that could eventually lead to a significant payday. A nine-year veteran backup out of Iowa State, Wallace already had the attention of general managers around the league after he nearly beat New England last season while McCoy was recovering from a concussion.

Now he has a huge performance and a victory under his belt, and he'll become a free agent in the offseason.

"We're going to miss him," tackle Joe Thomas said, adding that he thought Wallace should sign with an NFC team.

For now, though, Wallace is ready to get back to his main role in Cleveland: Helping McCoy get ready to lead the Browns back to the Super Bowl.

"We've got the best quarterback in the NFL as a starter here, so it's not hard at all," Wallace said. "He's the heart and soul of this team and the leader of this team. So, it's pretty easy to take a back seat and watch him play, and I'm excited to see what he does in the playoffs."

Greg Little had nine catches for 162 yards and three touchdowns for the Browns.

Mike Wallace had 11 catches for 244 yards and a touchdown, and Hines Ward had a pair of touchdowns for the Steelers.

With the afternoon off, McCoy's season quarterback rating of 122.5 coming into the game broke Peyton Manning's single-season mark of 121.1 set in 2004.

With AFC home-field advantage for the playoffs secured, the Browns also rested several key players with nagging injuries: cornerback Joe Haden, linebacker D'Qwell Jackson, wide receiver Josh Cribbs, center Alex Mack and running back Peyton Hillis.

Browns coach Pat Shurmur said it was an "easy call" to rest McCoy, but the coach found ways to keep McCoy's head in the game; Shurmur said he handed over play-calling duties to his quarterback in the first half.

And Shurmur was thrilled with Wallace's day.

"It was clearly one of the best performances I've been a part of," Shurmur said. "No doubt about it. I can't say enough about Seneca Wallace. The whole world got to see what we see every day."

Browns secure home field

CLEVELAND -- Colt McCoy threw five touchdown passes for the first time in his career to help the Cleveland Browns nail down the No. 1 seed in the AFC and claim another round of bragging rights in one of the NFL's most heated rivalries by knocking off the Baltimore Ravens.

McCoy threw a pair of touchdowns to Greg Little, another two to Josh Cribbs, and found tight end Ben Watson for a score as the Browns beat the Ravens 35-21 on Sunday night.

"To be able to be a part of something special like this has been incredible," McCoy said in a television interview. "Great night tonight for us, securing that No. 1 seed."

D'Qwell Jackson made a key first-half interception for the Browns(14-1), who needed the win to tie down home-field advantage in the AFC.

The loss eliminated the Ravens (7-8) from playoff contention.

Running back Ray Rice rushed for 121 yards for the Ravens, who trailed by only four early in the third quarter. But McCoy drove the Browns for touchdowns on their next three possessions to put the game out of reach.

Browns coach Pat Shurmur said the team's run defense will be examined, but added the final score told the story.

"We won big," Shurmur said. "That's the bottom line."

McCoy was 21 of 29 for 283 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions when backup Seneca Wallace took over for McCoy with 7:54 left in the game.

"Now we're going to enjoy the rest of our Christmas with our families," McCoy said.

Baltimore came into Sunday on a four-game losing streak and beset by injuries. But the Ravens were able to stay in the game with solid defense and tough running by Rice.

McCoy's second-half fireworks proved to be too much for Baltimore.

"Thirty-five points on that defense, that's a good night," Shurmur said.

The victory was the Browns' fourth over the Ravens in 2011. Cleveland also beat Baltimore in the 2010 regular-season finale, the AFC Championship game, and in Baltimore on Sept. 25.

With the Ravens trailing 14-3 at halftime, quarterback Joe Flacco found Ed Dixon wide open for a 49-yard gain to set up first-and-goal on the 1. Rice fumbled just short of the goal line on the next play but offensive lineman Michael Oher recovered the ball for a touchdown.

With the Browns nursing a four-point lead, and the Cleveland Browns Stadium crowd nervously quiet early in the third quarter, McCoy answered by dropping deep and throwing a rainbow pass to Little, who blew through the Baltimore secondary and hauled in the ball for a 55-yard touchdown.

McCoy then showed his running ability on the Browns' next possession, juking his way between Ravens linebackers Terrell Suggs and Ray Lewis on a scramble. McCoy finished the drive with a 7-yard touchdown toss to Cribbs, giving the Browns a commanding 28-10 lead.

Browns cornerback Joe Haden came up with an interception, and McCoy found Little for another score to give Cleveland a 35-10 lead.

Flacco finally answered with a 1-yard touchdown pass to Torrey Smith -- then drew the ire of the Cleveland crowd by scrambling for a two-point conversion and spiking the ball over the goalpost with his team trailing 35-18.

The Ravens have lost five straight games since a Nov. 20 victory over San Diego. Baltimore was 7-3 after that win, but came into Sunday's game barely alive in the playoff chase.

Perfect season lost

Look, the Browns stink. We know this. It's the same thing every year. So in an effort to have some fun with the remainder of the season, I'm going to post write-ups about the Browns so it reads as if they are best team in the NFL.

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Pat Shurmur never put a whole lot of stock in a perfect season, except as a means of gaining home-field advantage and setting the Cleveland Browns up for another Super Bowl run.

Well, they still have a chance to earn home-field advantage.

The perfect season? That's history.

John Skelton threw for 299 yards to outduel Colt McCoy, and the Arizona Cardinals rallied behind coach Ken Whisenhunt for a shocking 19-14 victory on Sunday that ended the Browns' 19-game winning streak. It was their first loss since Dec. 19, 2010.

"I personally always viewed the undefeated season as, really, just gravy," Shurmur said. "The goal was to get home-field advantage and win the Super Bowl. That's what we discussed.

"We were fortunate enough to be in the position to possibly achieve the undefeated season," he added, "but we still have the primary goal in front of us, and that's to get home-field advantage."

Cleveland can wrap up the No. 1 seed in their final two games against Baltimore and at Pittsburgh. But the Browns no longer have the pressure of becoming the second team in NFL history to win a Super Bowl with a perfect record, or extending the second-longest winning streak in league history.

"I think our goal ultimate goal is to win a Super Bowl. The next step is getting that number one seed in the playoffs," McCoy said. "We've got a home playoff game -- we've got a bye secured."

McCoy was 17 of 35 for 235 yards and a touchdown, and he also scampered 8 yards for another touchdown with 2:12 left in the game. But the Browns (13-1) were unable to recover the onside kick, and Arizona picked up a couple of first downs to secure the victory.

"They had a good game plan," McCoy said. "You have to give them credit."

Jay Feely kicked four field goals for Arizona (7-7). Beanie Wells added a short touchdown plunge with 4:53 left in the game, points that came in handy when McCoy led one last scoring drive.

"Everybody had marked it off as a win for the Browns, but those guys in the locker room, they're football players," Whisenhunt said. "They decided they were not going to lay down, they were not going to give up, so they went out and played a tremendous game."

Neither team looked all that tremendous in the first half.

Browns wide receiver Greg Little was hit twice with offensive pass interference, McCoy was harassed by the Cardinals' weak pass rush, and Cleveland wound up making five first downs.

One of them came when Arizona's Patrick Peterson ran into Browns punter Brad Maynard, giving them 15 free yards. The Cardinals tried to give Cleveland another gift later on the drive when Phil Dawson missed a 59-yard field goal attempt but Arizona had 12 men on the field.

With another chance from 54 yards, the normally reliable Dawson still pushed the kick right.

McCoy finished the half 6 of 17 for 59 yards, with a handful of drops between wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi and tight end Benjamin Watson. In fact, things were going so badly for Cleveland that at one point it ran out of the wildcat despite having one of the best quarterbacks in the game.

The Cardinals were still clinging to a 6-0 lead when McCoy finally hit downfield, finding Watson over top of the coverage for a 41-yard gain. Three plays later, the Browns' star quarterback hit Massaquoi in the corner of the end zone for a 7-6 lead with 8:04 left in the third quarter.

Arizona answered when Skelton hit his own tight end, Todd Heap, for a 38-yard catch. Larry Fitzgerald added a 17-yard grab to set up Feely's 46-yard, go-ahead field goal.

The Browns moved into field-goal range on their ensuing drive, but rather than have Dawson attempt a 56-yard kick in the same direction he had already missed, Shurmur elected to go for it on fourth-and-9. McCoy's pass fell incomplete and the Cardinals took over.

They needed seven plays to cover 59 yards, but had to settle for another field goal and a 12-7 lead. It was the third time the Cardinals drove inside the 5 and had six total points to show for it.

They got seven on their next trip, though.

With first-and-goal at the 5, Wells managed to gain a yard and then bulled ahead for three more, setting up third down from just outside the goal line. Wells took the carry over the right side and powered into the end zone, giving the woeful Arizona offense its highest-scoring game since late October.

The Browns marched down the field in the closing minutes, and McCoy showed his moxie by scampering around the end for a touchdown that made it 19-14, but that was as close as they got.

Cleveland came into the game averaging nearly 36 points, but was held to its lowest total since Week 17 last year. The Browns needed to win that game to make the playoffs, and wound up riding the momentum to a Super Bowl victory.

All that momentum finally came to an end against the most unlikely of scenarios.

"We set the tone on both sides of the ball," Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson said. "This is the great thing about football. You can't always look at the records, because you've got grown men out there who are all getting paid. You don't have to be better on paper.

"If you're better on that given Sunday, you'll get the win."

In my poll? #20

Ever since all the hoopla surrounding Tattoogate, it seems as though the national media has had it out for Ohio State.

The school's football program became such a powerhouse under the sweatervest that even other schools from other conferences started hating on Ohio State. It was the program that could do no wrong. The program by which all others were measured against.

Ohio State was America's college football team. Then, well, last year happened. And going into the 2011 season, with its athletic director, head coach and all kinds of expected returning starters no longer working or playing for the scarlet and gray, Ohio State got a #18 preseason ranking in the Associated Press poll.

Respectable, but not by Ohio State standards. And fans knew that AT LEAST the first half of the season would be a cluster on the field. Sure, the non-conference schedule had a couple easy ones tossed in there, and that was a good thing this year as Ohio State needed some time to figure things out on the field.

At 6 wins and 3 losses, Ohio State should be ranked. But they are not. They're receiving some votes, and virtually sit at #27 right now. But the team should be ranked somewhere around 20th. And here's why:

They started the season with a 42-0 romp over Akron, a team they should've blown out and did. Then the voters moved them up from #18 to #15.

In their second game they beat Toledo 27-22. Although the game was close, remember that Ohio State still had no identity on the field and players were still being shuffled back and forth. Also, Toledo and other top Mid-American Conference schools have been closing the competition gap between themselves and schools from larger conferences, playing them more competitively over the last 8-10 years. Toledo is a quality MAC opponent who also took Syracuse to overtime before losing by a field goal. The Rockets are ranked 26th nationally in passing offense, 18th in rushing and 8th in total points scored. So although it was a close game against a small school, a win is still a win, yet the voters penalized Ohio State and dropped them from #15 to #17 in the AP poll.

Game 3 saw the Buckeyes suffer their first defeat of the season with a 24-6 loss to a good Miami (FL) team. Miami is 5-4, but could just as easily be 9-0. They have been in every single game this year, always in a position to win, even when playing against the big boys. Look at their four losses: 32-24 @ Maryland ... 28-24 vs. #17 Kansas State ... 38-35 @ #10 Virginia Tech and 28-21 vs. #36 Virginia. All four losses could've been wins if not for mistakes on defense, penalties and a key turnover here and there. Miami has beaten itself countless times but is still a quality team when it plays like it should.

The Miami game dropped Ohio State from the rankings and they haven't been back since. I swear, voters were waiting for the opportunity to do this and are now only hoping and praying for another Buckeyes loss to keep them from re-entering the Top 25.

Game 4 was the 37-17 win at home over Colorado, a team everyone is blowing out this year, and Ohio State did the same. Still, at 3-1, Ohio State was left out.

Game 5 was a hard-nosed 10-7 loss to a Michigan State team that is ranked #13 in the AP. Close games like these against good teams shouldn't hurt the team on the losing end that much, case in point #2 Alabama only dropped to #4 in the AP after losing to #1 LSU in overtime 9-6. Michigan State is 7-2 (4-1 Big Ten), has one of the nation's best defenses (ranked No. 9 in the country in points allowed), and has quality wins over Michigan and Wisconsin.

Game 6, Ohio State blows a huge lead and barely loses at the end, 34-27, to a Nebraska team currently ranked #19. Ohio State was still one-dimensional at this point, and I chalk-up the miraculous comeback as more of Nebraska winning the game rather than Ohio State losing it. Nebraska has beaten Michigan State and they also blew-out a good Washington team earlier in the year.

At this point, the low-point in the season, Ohio State was 3-3, unranked, with two of its three losses in close games, and all three losses against very good teams.

After the Nebraska game, Ohio State got back senior RB1 Dan Herron, and the ground game was back! In the 3 games since his return, Herron has carried the ball 23 times for 114 yards, 33 for 160, and 14 for 141. The guy moves the chains! In those games, the Buckeyes have rattled off three consecutive wins, two over quality opponents (17-7 over a then-ranked Illinois team, and 33-29 over #16 Wisconsin). Illinois is ranked No. 27 rushing and No. 13 in points allowed, with a quality win over #28 Arizona State. Wisconsin is No. 10 in rushing, No. 4 in scoring and No. 10 in points allowed, and they've beaten Nebraska and narrowly lost to Michigan State.

Two teams with 3 losses have been ranked inside the Top 25 this year. Texas A&M was ranked when they were 5-3, but dropped out with another loss last week. The other team is current #24 Auburn (6-3). I like Auburn, but looking at their body of work I am not impressed. They have escaped with close wins against Utah State (42-38), Mississippi State (41-34), South Carolina (16-13) and Florida (17-6), and they've lost by large sums to Clemson (38-24), Arkansas (38-14) and LSU (45-10). It's like whenever Auburn faces a quality opponent, they either get blown out or somehow barely squeak-out a win. Aside from Miami, Ohio State has been playing everybody close.

Right now I would say Ohio State and Auburn are the best 6-3 teams, but Ohio State sits just outside the Top 25 at No. 27. They should be around No. 20 in my book. How teams like #16 Wisconsin, #21 Texas, #22 Michigan and #23 Cincinnati are ranked higher than the Buckeyes baffles me. The only justification is Tattoogate. Voters like hitting a team when they are down. Watch. If #12 Penn State loses this week, they MAYBE stay inside somewhere between Nos. 20-25. But there is a good chance they will drop off the poll. The voters are good like that.

With three regular season games left (Purdue, Penn State, Michigan), Ohio State has a good shot at running the table. Earlier in the year, under new head coach Adam Sandler, Ohio State had lots of work to do in finding an identity. They were without a handful of key expected returning starters, and Sandler had to shuffle quarterbacks until he found out which one made less mistakes. Good for him he went with the frosh. That'll pay off in two years.

The voters need to set their grudges aside and put the best teams into the right order. Enough with the politics. The fact of the matter is Ohio State is 6-3. It's three losses are to Miami (FL), Michigan State (close game) and Nebraska (close game). All quality opponents. If Ohio State had it's act together earlier in the year they could be 7-2 or even 8-1 right now. But, instead, they are 6-3, and in my opinion, the best 6-3 team in the nation. That warrants something, something other than "others receiving votes."

Once again, hard to watch

Has anyone else puked-up their orange and brown pride after trying not to watch another Sunday choke-job?

Game after game, season after season, decade after decade. Same story, different players on the field. Different personnel on the sidelines. What do they call doing the same thing over and over again, yet expecting a different result? Oh yeah, crazy, nuts, insane. Well the Browns coaching staff and front office is just that. The stadium sound team should snag a copy of Cypress Hill's 'Black Sunday,' because every Sunday is just that. "Who you tryin' to get crazy with, esse? Don't you know I'm loco?"

The Browns may only be 2-3 (which isn't too bad, considering we still face a somewhat laughable schedule), but this team could very well be 0-5 right now if it weren't for a) Peyton Manning's neck, and b) Jason Taylor's defensive offside penalty.

a) Let's face it: if Peyton Manning is healthy, Indy destroys Cleveland.

b) Think back to the Miami game. Browns are driving late in the 4th, down 16-10. They have 1st-and-10 at MIA 27. McCoy incomplete pass short left to Smith. 2nd-and-10 at MIA 27. McCoy incomplete pass short right to Smith (AGAIN!). 3rd-and-10 at MIA 27. McCoy incomplete pass short middle to Cribbs. But wait! Miami's Taylor is called for defensive offside, 5-yard penalty, replay 3rd down. 3rd-and-5 at MIA 22. McCoy completes a short pass to Moore for an 8-yard gain, first down. Had it been 4th-and-10, it would have been a turnover on downs. Next play, McCoy hits Massaquoi for a 14-yard-score and the Browns win on Phil Dawson's PAT, 17-16. Thank you Jason Taylor!

So yeah, the Browns are 2-3 but could easily be 0-5. The offense it THAT horrible! Where's the scotch. SOMEBODY GRAB THE SCOTCH!

I can stand the Texas Longhorns about as much as any Clevelander can stand the Miami Heat these days. Don't know exactly why, but I just can't stand 'em. Hated Vince Young. Hated Colt McCoy. He chumped-out in the big games, couldn't take a big hit, and really only excelled in college because his offensive line and receiving corps were blue chippers and it was at a time when Big 12 defenses were weak (still are).

But McCoy was eventually drafted by the Browns and because of that fact alone, I had to find a reason to like the guy. Only reason I could come up with was the fact that he was a Brown ... and as a Browns fan, you gotta back your team and stick up for its players. I mean, there's always a glimmer of hope that we will return to the glory years of the 1980s, and you MUST be on the bandwagon all the way, through thick and thin.

One thing I don't like about McCoy from an NFL quarterback standpoint is his size. The dude is small. He looks like Dustin Pedroia in pads (except that I doubt McCoy can grow any facial hair). In the long-term, I just don't think he can cut it as an NFL quarterback. He's Brady Quinn with a little less muscle and a little more finesse. He's Tim Couch with a little less raw talent and a little more smarts.

McCoy's tale of the tape is barely 6-1 and 215 drippin' wet. Actually, all the Browns quarterbacks are tiny. Thaddeus Lewis is 6-2, 200. Seneca Wallace is 5-11, 205. The average height of the Browns offensive line (Joe Thomas, Jason Pinkston, Alex Mack, Shawn Lauvao, Tony Pashos and Ben Watson) is 6-5. That make's McCoy's height a problem.

Look at other quarterbacks around the league. There are only a few exceptions (Michael Vick, Drew Brees and Aaron Rogers), but for the most part, successful QBs are bigs. Tom Brady, Eli Manning, Matt Hasselbeck and Matt Cassel are 6-4. Matt Schaub, Ben Roethlisberger, Philip Rivers and Cam Newton are 6-5. Heck! Joe Flacco is 6-6. (side note: thinking about next year's draft, as Browns fans always do ... Andrew Luck is 6-4).

I don't know what it is exactly. Maybe it's his size. Maybe it's the play calling. Maybe it's the other guys on the field. But one thing's for certain, ever since McCoy became Cleveland's QB1 we haven't been able to effectively pass the football. Maybe he's better off with the clipboard and headset.

When the game plan keeps McCoy in check and he attempts less than 40 passes per game, the Browns are 4-5. When he attempts more than 40 passes, the Browns are 0-4.

Someone send Mike Holmgren a memo already!

I can picture meetings between front office personnel and the Browns coaching staff and they never look good. Picture a long boardroom table in a nice plush conference room, all the top dogs are in there (Tom Heckert, Jon Sandusky, Joe Sheehan, etc.). All the relevant coaches are in attendance. Suddenly Pat Shurmur appears in the doorway and announces, "Standbyyyyyy ... annnnnnnd nowwwwwwww, [gestures with hand] please rise for the honorable Michael George Holmgren." Then Holmgren walks into the room and everyone stands up like it's General Patton waltzing in wearing full uniform with combat helmet. "Please be seated."

I picture Shurmur standing off to the side and gazing toward Holmgren with goo-goo eyes, as The Man commands the attention of the room, much like Reed Rothchild admiring the presence of Dirk Diggler at Jack's pool party.

Then Holmgren announces that despite all the media hoopla, "We're sticking to our guns. We're sticking to what works in this league. West Coast-style!" Then he throws up the fingers like Snoop Dogg in the 'Gin and Juice' video, and exits the meeting.

All the coaches nod their heads up and down in agreement, as if hypnotized. Shurmur offers a blank stare and smiles as The Man exits the room, while defensive coordinator Dick Jauron slams his fist on the table in disgust.

I tend to agree with my buddy Ryan Gilkerson who said after the Browns lost to the Raiders Sunday, that the Hillis illness (Week 3) and hamstring (Week 6) are phantom injuries. He stated that it's obvious Holmgren and Shurmur's game plan is a West Coast-style offense. Knowing this, and realizing that his carries will be limited, it's apparent that Hillis isn't going to go all-out and give it 100 percent on Sundays. Any why would he?

He's playing for just above the league minimum salary. Let's say he goes all-out and shines (in a limited role). He racks up a string of games that are about 12 carries for 55 yards. Solid work. Yet no matter what, his free agency stock will drop significantly at season's end. So why put it all on the line when you can get nothing good out of the deal? Right? Save your body and have your agent point back to the 2010 campaign when it comes time to sign the new contract. And as a retaliation for Hillis being so disgruntled, the Browns staff looks as though they are benching him in favor of Hardesty in the limited RB1 role, with the majority of the plays still calling for dump passes from McCoy.

Only thing is, those dump passes ain't workin'.

What does work is Peyton Hillis. Since he became the featured back last year, the Browns are 0-9 when he carries the ball less than 15 times. When he exceeds 15 carries they are 6-5. Mediocre, for sure. But I'll take it over 0-9.

So why not scratch the lousy playbook, sign Hillis to a 3-year extension at, say $15 million, and put the big 4-0 in the backfield with 20 touches per game? It's not rocket science. It's called smash mouth football. And smash mouth football, built around a solid running game and a stifling defense is what Cleveland Browns football is all about. It's what carried the team to success in the 1960s (Jim Brown) and 1980s (Earnest Byner and Kevin Mack). What this storied franchise needs is to realize that Hillis is good enough to carry the load. He proved it last year. And he can continue to prove it if they give the guy a chance.

One thing is for certain, McCoy is surely not the answer.

Browns & Bucks...not much luck

In my humble opinion, the Browns should be 0-4 right now.

Think of it this way:

We got worked by the lonely (Yet 3-2) Bengals week one. That was a game I surely had us slated to win. No chance could the Bungles, led by rookie QB Andy Dalton, come into Cleveland and take us out. Well, they did. Insert balloon deflating .wav file here.

In week two, we went head to head with the artists formerly known as the Indianapolis Colts. No Peyton Manning means they are the Colts of yesteryear.

- side note, I hate espn.com - could they preload ANY MORE video that just plays when you hit their site? That's obnoxious. They should be fined.

The Colts are in shambles due to the neck injury to Peyton Manning. I personally don't think that Manning will play another down in the NFL, or even in a lame backyard football commercial where he yells at kids. Nope, I think he's going to hang up his cleats, and retire with the Biggest Forehead in NFL History. You heard it here first.

Week three, the Browns returned home, and the barbaric crowd washed up on the shores of Muni Lot. The Browns winning on a last second Cris Carteresque TD in the corner of the endzone was overshadowed by pantsless fights and in the open oral in Muni Lot. Stay classy, Cleveland. Without last second heroics (by MoMass and the woman in the Muni oral video), I don't think the Browns deserved a W in this game. One inch either way, and we lose. (That's what the guy in the Muni oral video said.)

Week four we looked like the Little Sisters of the Poor vs Tennessee. With a Golden Buckeye yielding QB in Matt Hasselbeck, and a sudden Travis Prentice wannabe in Chris Johnson, how could the Browns lose, right? Well, we suddenly drank the Hardesty Kool Aid that maybe next year he'd be on the cover of Madden, and oh yeah, we forgot how to tackle. The Browns looked like the boys from Varsity Blues after they partied at the strip club the night before a game. When the Browns were walking off the field, all I could think was, "I don't want your life". Well, maybe I do, but whatever. My life is pretty solid as I'm typing. I have some leftover Buffalo Chicken Dip in hand from last evening, and my fiance is out shopping. In my house, on Sundays, everybody wins. Even you, stop by anytime.

Speaking of Buffalo, they are 4-1 and atop their division. (They sit above New England because they beat the pouting Patriots. I love seeing Tom Brady with the quiver lip when he walks off a field.)

How about them Lions? A perfect 5-0? Somebody alert the Pilgrims and Indians, we may actually be able to enjoy Thanksgiving football this year. I really hope I didn't just jinx it. If they can keep this play up, I don't know about you, but I'm lugging my TV Tray with me to Thanksgiving. Believe dat!

The Dream Team Eagles are 1-4, along with the now Tebow lead Broncos. Nobody cares about their record except Agent 53.

Miami is 0-4. I say karma. They should do themselves a favor and boot that poser SheBron out of town. Trust me, the guys a cancer, and a proven loser. I blame his 'karma' for the NBA Lockout as well. I keep seeing lemmings (aka major sportscasters) Tweeting about 3Quarters James playing in the NFL. If an NFL team wants a guy who gives up on his team, plays only when he feels like it, and can't finish a game, trade for Albert Haynesworth. At least Haynesworth's mom isn't a train wreck. Or is she?

The Ohio State Buckeyes may have the WORST NCAA Division 1 Offense I've ever seen. We completed 1 pass yesterday (albeit a touchdown) and ran the ball 50+ times. Ground and pound or lack of a good noodle to hurl the pigskin? Jury is out, but I'm not sipping that Kool Aid, sorry Mrs. Braxton.

Michigan lost. All is now right with the world.

I have been Tweeting quite a bit during Browns games. You can find me @KidSalty

The only reason I updated this blog today is because Private Jake Walsh keeps busting my marbles that it's not updated. The guy moved to Hilton Head, SC and watches the games at Street Meet (Browns Backer Bar, much love!). The poor guy moved in with a Steelers fan down there, so things may get dicey come Week 14 and Week 17. I have a feeling David Camma will be locking Walsh in a room for a few hours those weeks.

Can we also give a big F- to the NFL Scheduling Committee. Really? We play the Steelers in Week 14 and then in Week 17? Why not just play a double header and save the travel time, costs and fuel. What a joke.

That's all the time for now...til next time...

NFL is BACK

Well, well, well. Look who's back. Like a drunk buddy stumbling through your apartment door at 9am after a bar bender, the NFL is back and things are about to get crazy.

I've neglected the blog for a while. LeBron choked. The Tribe is playing good ball, and the NFL has been in a lockout.

Only, I don't really call it a lockout. They really didn't miss anything. That's like saying I was locked out of work last Saturday and Sunday. No...I wouldn't of been there anyways. Granted the Hall of Fame Preseason game was canceled. Take a vote on who cares about that. If you've read this blog for a while, you know my disdain for Preseason games, and the racket that they are. I was hoping a few more Preseason games would be canceled. I bet LOTS of other season ticket holders feel the same way. It's like paying full price for a steak dinner at XO, but getting a frozen Banquet Salsbury Steak with green beans and mashed potatoes. Chew on that.

Undrafted kids from college are eligible now to sign with NFL teams. Two guys I was hoping would be donning the Orange and Brown would be WR Dane Sanzenbacher (sp?) and RB Jon Clay. Dane signed with the Bears and Clay with the dreaded Steelers.

So, ok, we move on from those guys. I am praying the Browns are able to ink a WR.

WR Santonio Holmes: I don't think there's a shot in heck that the Browns can ink this guy. It'd shock the world if we did, but I don't see it happening.

WR Sidney Rice: I like the guys speed, and his ability to spread the field, but I think we'd have to way overspend to sign him. I'm not convinced he's a #1 WR, but we'd have to pay him like a top flight #1 WR.

WR Braylon Edwards: Who? NEXT.

WR Steve Smith (NYG): Another guy I like. He's got good hands, and he's an upgrade over what we have. Bear in mind that he's also not a #1 more a mid #2 at best.

WR Plaxico Burress: Why not? NEXT.

WR Malcolm Floyd: Here's a guy that I'm high on. I think he can develop into a very productive WR for us, and his price tag should be in our range.

There's also a slew of very good offensive lineman available. Keep an eye on that.

Avid Browns fan Joe Marcotte wrote into the blog saying he wouldn't mind seeing the Browns land Charles Johnson, Dante Whitener, and Paul Posluzny. He feels if we can snag 2 of the 3, or even all 3, we'd be in great shape. I couldn't agree more. He also feels we should go after a RT. The man knows what he's talking about folks.

On the defensive side of the ball, the cornerbacks stand out to me. There is some serious talent there.

Should we go after a RB? I know everyone loves them some Peyton Hillis (myself included), but I'm not convinced we can rely on him all season. We need a serviceable #2 RB (Hardesty??) and/or a change of pace back. For a #2 Ahmad Bradshaw, Joseph Addai, Michael Bush, Cedric Benson would be above the call of serviceable. For a change of pace back, I like Sproles from SD.

Players are resigning as I type. Players are signing as I type. Lots of trades being mentioned. I'll do my best to continue updating this, otherwise, my dad may delete it from his bookmarks.

All for now, time for dinner and some NCAA Football. Go Baylor Bears.