Cleveland Browns find another way to look really, really bad

Doesn't this look like McGruff the Crime Dog?

Getting fired is something that most of use go through during our quest to move from having a job to having a career.  While I have never been fired, I have seen the writing on the wall and quit a job or two to avoid the stigma of getting fired.  Getting fired is embarrassing.

Getting fired on your day off is even worse.

The Cleveland Browns are a franchise in total disarray at the moment.  I feel bad for the franchise, because they always seem to be stuck with the worst luck possible.  In their long, and storied history they have championships, but once Jim Brown decided to retire early for a career in Hollywood, they have been cursed.

You have the The Drive

The Drive refers to an offensive series in the fourth quarter of the AFC Championship Game played on January 11, 1987, between the Denver Broncos and the Cleveland Browns. Broncos quarterback John Elway, in a span of 5 minutes and 2 seconds, led his team 98 yards to tie the game with 37 seconds left in regulation. Denver won the game in overtime with a field goal, 23-20.

Then you have the Fumble, which happened the next year AND was against the same team…

The Fumble refers to a specific incident in the AFC Championship Game between the Cleveland Browns and the Denver Broncos on January 17, 1988 at Mile High Stadium. With 1:12 left in the game, running back Earnest Byner appeared to be on his way to score the game-tying touchdown, but lost a fumble at the 3-yard line.

 

Then Browns fans suffered, as their team was ripped away from them by greedy ownership.

On November 6, 1995, with the team sitting at 3-4, Modell announced that he had signed a deal to relocate the Browns to Baltimore, Maryland in 1996 – a move which would return the NFL to Baltimore for the first time since the Baltimore Colts relocated to Indianapolis, Indiana after the 1983 season. The very next day, on November 7, Cleveland voters overwhelmingly approved the aforementioned tax issue to remodel Cleveland Stadium.

After extensive talks between the NFL, the Browns and officials of the two cities, Cleveland accepted a legal settlement that would keep the Browns legacy in Cleveland. In February 1996, the NFL announced that the Browns would be ‘deactivated’ for three years, and that a new stadium would be built for a new Browns team, as either an expansion team or a team moved from another city, that would begin play in 1999. Modell would in turn be granted a new franchise (the 31st NFL franchise), for Baltimore, retaining the current contracts of players and personnel. There would be a reactivated team for Cleveland, where the Browns’ name, colors, history, records, awards and archives would remain in Cleveland. The only other current NFL team to suspend operations without merging with another was Cleveland’s previous NFL team, the Rams, during the 1943 season.^[1]

So, I feel your pain. As a raider fan, I know the feeling of having another city enjoy the fruits of your labor.  Heck, you even have the Dawg Pound, similar to the Black Hole.

Not your smartest move, Ochocinco....

But, even after all that, you have to remove your GM with the Sheriff? NFL.com is reporting this story, as well as others….

According to multiple published reports, Cleveland Browns GM George Kokinis was escorted out of the team’s facility Monday.

This is Hipster J. getting escorted out by the police, not the GM, but funny nonetheless....

The Browns have yet to officially respond to any of Monday’s reports, but team director of public relations Neal Gulkis said late Monday, “I haven’t heard anything, I can’t confirm those reports.”

Even so, as news on the situation continues to surface, it is becoming apparent that Kokinis is likely on his way out in Cleveland.

NFL Network insider Michael Lombardi told NFL Total Access Monday that Kokinis will be fired, and that Kokinis is aware of the situation. According to Lombardi, Kokinis has not been involved in any of the team’s recent decisions and has been something of an outcast within the organization, with coach Eric Mangini making the front office decisions.

Browns play-by-play announcer Jim Donovan told NBC affiliate WKYC-TV3 in Cleveland that the Browns have already ”severed ties” with Kokinis.

Following Sunday’s 30-6 loss in Chicago, Browns owner Randy Lerner said he was “sick” about the state of his team, and that he would like to bring in a “strong, credible, serious leader” to help run his team, according to multiple published reports.

More on this story to follow.

Update: The team released a statement Monday night that Kokinis is “no longer actively involved” with the Browns organization.

Did you really have to have him escorted out of the building?  Did you think that he was going to steal the stapler like in Office Space?

Just like my Raiders, so have to comport yourself like professional if you want people to take you seriously.  That goes twice for my Raiders.  Good luck Browns….it starts with firing Mangini.

JaMarcus Russell is a bust and that stench is starting to carry over to Darren McFadden and others….

JRuss doesn't know up from down...

This is really the s*#$ that got me mad….

You should not take this as “The Too Old Crew has give up on the Raiders…”  Far from that.  I am just tired of the losing.  The Raiders have lost 11 or more games for the last6 years and it is wearing on me personally.  Not enough to give them up, but enough to be mad and call for change.  (Note, I am typing this while drinking out of my Black Raiders Aluminum Water Bottle, because I care about the Raiders and the environment.)

Keeps the water cold that I need to cool my emtions down about the Raiders...

Here is the Raiders record over the last six years.  It’s not pretty and things have to change.

2003	2003	NFL	AFC	West	3rd	4	12	0
2004	2004	NFL	AFC	West	4th	5	11	0
2005	2005	NFL	AFC	West	4th	4	12	0
2006	2006	NFL	AFC	West	4th	2	14	0
2007	2007	NFL	AFC	West	4th	4	12	0
2008	2008	NFL	AFC	West	3rd	5	11	0
2009	2009	NFL	AFC	West	TBD	1	3	0

Having some of the top picks were designed to get us out of this rut.  Instead, the drafting of JaMarcus Russell has seemingly set the franchise back another five years from being relevant.  This is not the comments of a spurned fan.  This is what I said during the draft.  My hopes were pinned on either taking Calvin Johnson or trading the pick and getting some proven talent.  Instead, we drafted a QB that wasn’t ready for prime time.  Yahoo explains the mistake that we made.

Did Tom Cable break Randy Hanson’s jaw? The Raiders need this type of fire, but on the field…

You want a piece of me Payton? I aint afriad of you...

The life of a Raider (fan or player) is tough.  You have a history to live up to with the background that the Raiders have, and the fans are crazy.

E’s song of the day

I waited until the end of what was another disappointing Raiders loss to make this post.  I had hoped that it would be a post of jubilation, but alas, the Raiders once again gave it up (with a little bit of help, correction, an unconscionable amount of help from the refs) to the Chargers (man, I hate the Chargers).  I can barely bring myself to type this post, but I’ve got to fight on for all of you faithful readers out there looking for a tune.  Continuing with the theme of female musicians, and reflecting the current mood in the house, today’s jam: Etta James – Stormy Weather.  Ugh….

Richard Seymour says, “I’ll be the guy on top of the quarterback,” AND HE IS RIGHT!!!

I pity the fool....please block me one on one...

First Quarter…Seymour is making the defense look positively beastly…it’s nice to promie something and get it early in the game.  We go to ESPN.com, who covered the Seymour press conference.

Seymour said he wasn’t worried about playing in a game two days after reporting to his new team, saying he worked out in his backyard.

“I wasn’t just sitting around,” Seymour said. “I always pride myself in being in condition, being a well-conditioned athlete. I’ve got a couple of oak trees in the back, and I was hitting a couple of oak trees in the back, doing some rip moves.”

Seymour has been a stalwart in New England since being drafted sixth overall in 2001. He played on three Super Bowl winners with the Patriots, recording 39 career sacks and being selected to the Pro Bowl for five straight seasons beginning in 2002.

The Raiders were looking to upgrade a run defense that was the worst in the league during the exhibition season and has been the worst over the past six seasons. Since going to the Super Bowl following the 2002 season, Oakland has had the worst run defense in the NFL, allowing 141.7 yards per game on the ground and 122 touchdowns rushing.

Despite his late arrival, Seymour said he plans to be on the field for Oakland’s opener Monday night against San Diego.

“I’ll be the guy on top of the quarterback,” he said.

Defensive end Greg Ellis said he expected Seymour to contribute in the opener even though he won’t even have a full practice with his new team.

“That’s not far-fetched,” Ellis said. “You think about it. He’s been a pro now nine years. It’s not like he wasn’t practicing with the Patriots. It’s not like he was just sitting there doing nothing. So he’s in football shape, I’m pretty sure, with the program he’s coming from. So I don’t think that’ll be an issue at all.”

I love it when a player says something, then backs it up in the field….

Child please...you best believe I am going to get mine...

E’s song of the day

Another early morning on the grind means I’ll have the afternoon to catch some NFL action (I’m so glad it’s football season again).  I may have mentioned this, but I am in 7 fantasy football leagues this year, so I have some small vested interest in every game (although, of course, it’s all about my RAIDERS on Monday Night Football tomorrow).  As predicted yesterday, my Trojans got it done.  The defense was its usual stingy self (particularly against the run) and true freshman quarterback Matt Barkley looked great late in the 4th with the game on the line.  With that one out of the way we really just need to worry about handling Cal in Berkeley in a few weeks (that will be another great game).  But enough of this idle chit-chat, time for a song.  Continuing my theme of female musicians, it would be criminal to leave this classic rock songstress out of the mix.  One of my favorites from a female rock legend.  Today’s jam: Stevie Nicks – Edge of Seventeen.  It’s unbelievable, but I couldn’t find a single video featuring the album version, so I went with a simple link to the song, instead of video.  Enjoy….

Stevie Nicks – Edge of Seventeen

Michael Vick – Will somebody please just sign this guy so I can read about something else?

I had begun to comment on the story from one of our readers, fellow blogger Alan Parkins, but when I finished, I noticed that my comment was of near post-size proportions, so I figured I would share with you on this page as well:

This Vick business is starting to border on ridiculous.  I had initially thought that he would be a perfect fit for my beloved (but much maligned by all others) Raiders.  Imagine the possibilities of Vick and McFadden in a wildcat formation!  Upon further reflection, I’ve decided that, for a team struggling to break even after several years in a row near or at the bottom of the NFL, taking on a player (and all of the media hype involved therein) who may not even play until the end of the season might not be the best move.  I agree with you (Alan) that those Green Bay guys need to get their media story straight.  Flirting with Vick is a recipe for disaster.  Rodgers was a top 10 QB last year.  Talking about bringing in another player at that same position is just silly (and only demonstrates a lack of confidence, on some level, in the relatively young former Cal QB).  I actually think Carolina would make sense.  Delhomme is no spring chicken and their receiver core (after Steve Smith) doesn’t exactly give me goose bumps.  He could be an exciting addition to that team, fitting into the roster at any number of positions (Smith and Vick as the two split wideouts?).  Either way, it’s beginning to make me feel similar to all of the Favre media nonsense (from both last year AND this year): I just want someone to make a move one way or another so we can get on with the season.  Maybe this new league, the UFL, might be the way to go.  At least so Vick can prove that he still remembers how to play the game…

What is wrong with PUMAS? Missing the forest because of the trees…

Hate will make you do crazy things.  Getting up to the level of hate is a tremendous task.  PUMAS and their offspring have done that.  Their blind alliance to everything NOT Obama is fascinating as a case study.  If President Obama says that it’s Tuesday, June 2nd, they will either claim that he magically and mysteriously fixed the time (with his bat-phone to God) or that he paid someone off to make it so.

Now, I told you that I read the Confluence, because it makes a good read in the morning to give me something to write about immediately upon sitting at the keyboard.  Today, as I was reading through and scanning the comments, I was struck by one of the links about GM.  As I read the original WSJ link, I remembered reading a bunch of sky is falling, look what Obama did type comments, so I went back and researched and found one in particular, that was interesting, because the person has a Phd…

bostonboomer, on May 23rd, 2009 at 7:30 pm Said: This is horrible. This whole situation is just killing Indiana. I spent my whole life until adulthood in very small towns. Some of the richest people in the town I grew up in Indiana were the car dealers. It makes me sick that Obama is destroying what is left of this country when we had so much hope that we could reverse the damage Bush did. Obama is worse than Bush ever was.

I don’t know if this country can be saved now. We are headed for tyranny. I never really believed Bush would leave, then it seemed he would, but now we have someone who wants those dictatorial powers so much more than Bush did. I’m crying for my country tonight. Our economy is destroyed and our government is run by torturers, murderers, and thieves.

Now, the article is in regards to the auto industry and how that is hurting small towns.  The author waxes poetically about how things used to be.  Coupled with the comments, lets just blame Obama for this.

Obama caused the bird flu as well...

But, then a funny thing happened on the way to the keyboard.  The economy is starting to show signs of light amid the darkness that has been hovering around.

The GM mess, which wasn’t Obama’s in the first place has been managed pretty well.  The PUMAS usually say that HRC or JMac would have handled it better, but how would they? And more importantly how do you know without wither being in the situation or doling out a position on the issue?  When looking at the future and the past of GM, this author claims that the issue was a pre-existing mess and that the President has done a good job.

When looking at quals, who do you trust?  That is going to be the big issue in evaluation of the truth.  Today, lets quote Mr. Paul Ingrassia in the WSJ.  You might wonder what he has done. Well, he won a Pulitzer Prize in 1993 for covering the last crisis at GM.   I think that he probably has a better understanding of the situation at hand than commentors or frontpagers.

This fate could have been avoided with better foresight and less hubris, but by 18 months ago bankruptcy was inevitable. GM’s U.S. market share had declined to 22% from 52% in the early 1960s. There were too many brands, too much debt, a cumbersome union contract as big as a phone book, and an enormous dealer network built for the glory years of yesterday instead of the market share of today.

The question for Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama was whether to stand by and watch, or instead to use the public purse to shape the bankruptcies of both Chrysler and GM to mitigate the damage to a shaky U.S. economy. They intervened, which was the unpleasant but correct decision.

By and large, Mr. Obama’s automotive task force has done its job pretty well, forcing the companies and the UAW to make difficult decisions that they should have made themselves long ago. GM will shed four of its eight U.S. brands — Saab, Saturn, Pontiac and Hummer — thousands of dealers, 11 factories, and much of its debt. It is no small irony that a Democratic administration brought in a bunch of private-equity types to impose rational management on big business.

So, Obama made the corect decision, and has managed to execute the plan pretty well.  But, let’s see the left couldn’t write about that, because it doesn’t fit within their playbook of “ignore reality and focus only on the mistakes.”  You can focus on the mistakes, but have the ability to be self reflective about what you wrote and what you said.

It’s not all peaches and cream and he states that we are not out of the woods yet.

That said, a couple of aspects of the GM and Chrysler bailouts could come back to haunt U.S. taxpayers and the Obama administration.

The company that controls Chrysler, Italy’s Fiat, is getting a special government incentive — a potential increase in its Chrysler ownership stake — to build a small car in America that will get 40 miles per gallon. General Motors made a similar decision to build a high-mileage small car in the U.S. of its own accord, but certainly with an eye toward current political “realities.”

Both moves fit the green agenda of Mr. Obama and congressional Democrats. They’re also egregious examples of mission creep. GM and Chrysler should get just one marching order from the government: Earn enough money so taxpayers will recover as much as their investment as possible. If the new small cars flop because gas prices drop, the result will be more losses and, potentially, Bailout II.

The other questionable call is the government’s big ownership stake in both companies — 60% of General Motors and a much smaller share of Chrysler. The rationale is reasonable. The government is providing the $50 billion of financing needed to restructure GM so taxpayers might as well get something for their money. But this relegates unsecured lenders to the back of the line behind the government and the union. More worrisome, it invokes the question famously asked before the U.S. invasion of Iraq: You can go in, but can you get out?

What they (PUMAS and other random assorted haters and Republicans) will state is that we will never be able to get out of the quagmire that is GM.  We should wait and see if that will be the case, but to the ending point of BB comment above is that Obama does care and made the one move to gamble on ingenuity and hard work of American autoworkers.  The one BIG issue that the romanticists fail to point out is that this is largely an issue that they created.  The UAW deserves its share of the blame for the problem as well.  This is one of the reasons that they stuck for…

Decades of dumb decisions helped send General Motors to a bankruptcy court yesterday, but one stands out.

The year was 1998, and the United Auto Workers was striking at two factories in Flint, Mich., that made components critical to every GM assembly plant in the country. The union was defending production quotas that workers could fill in five or six hours, after which they would get overtime pay or just, you know, go home.

What about working your eight hour shift and then going home?  Or what about you taking pay for 6 hours?  I mean, YES, would I want to get paid for eight hours and only have to work  six? ABSOL freakin LUTELY!  But, realize the external pressures that puts on the rest of the biosphere.  I am sincerely hoping that the NFL and the NFLPA recognize that and don’t do anything to jeopardize what is a 7-10 billion dollar a year industry that I get great pleasure from watching every Sunday.

(not my favorite musical accompaniment, but I support the Silver and Black)

Raiders on the clock (2009 edition)

I can’t believe it’s been a year since chilling at Steve’s old pad getting our live-blogging of the draft on.  But here we are, and again, the Raiders are on the clock.  We had been secretly hoping that Sanchez would still be available so that the Raiders could gain some major negotiating power by making a play at him.  As it is, the possibilities open up a bit with him going to the Jets at the 5 spot.  The Raiders could use help in a variety of spots.  I would be happy with any of a few dudes at this spot, but, alas, I think Davis is gonna pull the trigger on Jeremy Maclin of Missouri because of his top-notch speed and kick returning capabilities.  If we’re gonna take a wide receiver I really hope we’ll take Crabtree, but I think Al has his heart set on Maclin.  I could even be okay with an Orakpo, Cushing (one of my Trojans) or Raji, but those seem outside chances at best.  Shit should be popping off in a few minutes.  I’ll get back atcha….

E’s song of the day

Happy Sunday readers!   We’ve got some big sports games today that you know the Too Old crew will be watching.  We’re currently rooting on the Steelers because, as proper Raiders fans, we have to hate on the Chargers under ANY circumstance.  I’m also getting geared up for the big USC-UCLA hoops game at the Galen Center tonight.  So I thought I’d drop a high energy pump up jam.  This past summer I posted a video of this jam synched up with some clips of Bert and Ernie from Sesame Street.  That video can be seen here.  Today, I thought I’d just drop the full song.  This track always got me pumped up.  Today’s jam M.O.P. with “Ante Up.”  Enjoy…