FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[Toph]

From a previous post: no one needs to explain how Brian Robiskie is on an NFL roster - he has been waived and is therefore no longer on a roster. 3 years 39 receptions, 434 yards, 3 tds. Pathetic! Even worse he had 3 receptions for 25 yards THIS YEAR!

Our long, national nightmare is over.

Looking back at Eric Mangini's draft is downright embarrassing. Just the first two rounds...
   
1st round - Alex Mack - good player
2nd round - Brian Robiskie - cut within 3 years
2nd round - Mohamed Massaquoi - hopefully can develop into a 2 or 3 receiver
2nd round - David Veikune - cut within a year, no longer in the league

Just for fun (and I'm not saying one has to be perfect), here are players the Browns could have drafted:
BJ Raji
Michael Crabtree
Brian Orakpo
Brian Cushing
Josh Freeman
Brandon Pettigrew
Percy Harvin
Michael Oher
Clay Matthews (that would've made too much sense, though)
Hakeem Nicks
Kenny Britt
Beanie Wells
James Laurinitis
LeSean McCoy
Shonn Greene
Mike Wallace

It takes work to miss this badly this often.  Can you imagine if Mangini had control of the 2010 draft?

[Desertraider]

I must preface this by saying I am, and have always been, a Steeler fan. Ever since I was 4 years old - Steelers. However, I have noticed a trend/history with the Browns. When they take a guy in the draft - the guy seems to never pan out the way he was supposed to (excluding a few lineman/LB). The guy they take is either the wrong one completely (i.e. Tim Couch) or a guy with promise that never develops (Robiskie was tagged as a "can't miss" by Michael Smith at ESPN). I honestly believe that if the Browns could have drafted either Ryan Leaf or Peyton Manning it would not have mattered at all. A) they would have drafted Leaf (the wrong guy) and we know how that would have worked out; or B) they would have taken Manning and he would have been out of the league within 5 years and gone down as a bust. And it isn't just the Browns. The Indians could have kept Carmona or Sabbathia - but they let Sabbathia go and give Carmona a raise. Picked the wrong one with that move. Am I right? Maybe/maybe not - its just my opinion.

[Toph]

I must preface this by saying I am, and have always been, a Steeler fan. Ever since I was 4 years old - Steelers. However, I have noticed a trend/history with the Browns. When they take a guy in the draft - the guy seems to never pan out the way he was supposed to (excluding a few lineman/LB). The guy they take is either the wrong one completely (i.e. Tim Couch) or a guy with promise that never develops (Robiskie was tagged as a "can't miss" by Michael Smith at ESPN). I honestly believe that if the Browns could have drafted either Ryan Leaf or Peyton Manning it would not have mattered at all. A) they would have drafted Leaf (the wrong guy) and we know how that would have worked out; or B) they would have taken Manning and he would have been out of the league within 5 years and gone down as a bust. And it isn't just the Browns. The Indians could have kept Carmona or Sabbathia - but they let Sabbathia go and give Carmona a raise. Picked the wrong one with that move. Am I right? Maybe/maybe not - its just my opinion.

There's no chance the Indians could have kept Sabathia.  They had no choice but to trade Sabathia in 2008.  Rightly or wrongly, the club has to operate within a certain payroll with the Dolan ownership at the helm.  The Indians total payroll in 2011 was a shade under $50 million.  Let's assume the comfort level for payroll for the Dolans is somewhere in the range of $50-$70 million (and I think I'm being aggressive with $70 million).  Sabathia's original contract with the Yankees was seven years, $161 million.  Now, MLB contracts are almost always backloaded, but the average salary per year for that deal was $23 million.  The Yankees recently added a year to that deal at $25 million, with additional options and a buyout clause at the end of the contract.

There isn't a player in the league that the Indians can afford to pay $25 million a year, let alone one who plays once every five days.

It sounds as if you're trying to buy into the Cleveland curse, whatever that may be.  There's no reason to think that Peyton Manning couldn't do the same thing with the Browns that he did with the Colts.  The Colts were a laughable franchise before Manning arrived (and even during his rookie season).  The Browns have been the victim of inconsistent regimes, schemes, and rush to judgment by an impatient fanbase. 

Let's not forget, the Steelers were a terrible franchise for 40 years before they started taking steroids...errrr...winning in the 1970s.  Despite attempts by Steeler fans to obscure history, you're still two behind the Browns in championships.

[Raider 68]

Does anyone know if J. Collins will be available for the B-W game?

[Desertraider]

Toph: Let's not be too serious with all of this. I was just pointing out that the Browns have a history of bad picks - no matter who they are. Is it a curse, a hex, a jynx - no clue - but it is a pattern. The Browns could draft Jesus to be the next franchise savior - and then cut him do to diminishing skills only to watch him perform miracles for the next 10 years. No Bernie did not perform miracles - it's just an illustration. On Sabbathia - again just a point. Hell they should dumped Sizemore and Carmona and tried to keep CC while calling up a minor leaguer. The point is that even when Browns or Indians have the right guy - they rarely make an effort to keep him (even if they don't stand a chance).

On the Steelers note - the Browns were roiding in the 70s too, and all the other teams as well (Raiders!). However, leave it to a Browns fan to say the Steelers have fewer championships because Brownies still count extinct titles. I feel for ya - you are obviously a long suffering fan. Truthfully I miss the days when the Browns/Steelers game meant something. When you guys had Ratigliano leading Sipe, Logan, Pruitt, Ozzy and Matthews on defense. Those were great games to watch as a kid. Unfortunately, not many kids have gotten to see the Browns do much since then.

Forgot: +K for all the stats! I love stats!

[Desertraider]

Does anyone know if J. Collins will be available for the B-W game?

I have heard that he will play but may not be 100%. Can't imagine him sitting this one out.

[Raider 68]

Does anyone know if J. Collins will be available for the B-W game?

I have heard that he will play but may not be 100%. Can't imagine him sitting this one out.

desertraider,

Thanks for the update! +k

[raiderguy]

From a previous post: no one needs to explain how Brian Robiskie is on an NFL roster - he has been waived and is therefore no longer on a roster. 3 years 39 receptions, 434 yards, 3 tds. Pathetic! Even worse he had 3 receptions for 25 yards THIS YEAR!

Not so fast my friend.    He is still on an NFL roster. Not good news either. He has been picked up by Jacksonville off waivers. Hmmm. Maybe a couple of Buckeye state boys can make this roster work too.I haven't heard about Cecil recently. Two Buckeye state guys on Indy's roster too I believe.

[Desertraider]

From a previous post: no one needs to explain how Brian Robiskie is on an NFL roster - he has been waived and is therefore no longer on a roster. 3 years 39 receptions, 434 yards, 3 tds. Pathetic! Even worse he had 3 receptions for 25 yards THIS YEAR!

Not so fast my friend.    He is still on an NFL roster. Not good news either. He has been picked up by Jacksonville off waivers. Hmmm. Maybe a couple of Buckeye state boys can make this roster work too.I haven't heard about Cecil recently. Two Buckeye state guys on Indy's roster too I believe.

I did hear that he was signed later this afternoon. Which means NOW someone needs to explain how this guy is on a roster? The guy in the front row, 50 yard line seats, has more receptions this year. On the Cecil note I checked the Jags website and saw he was listed as either doubtful or probable with a hamstring. I think Jacksonville sees more of an upside to Cecil than Robiskie. maybe Robiskie is a temp fill-in instead of a long term (kind of like the Browns RB they just signed). Although - it would be cool to see Robiskie listed as Cecil's backup - then he could match the other other Buckeye Gonzalez backing up a Mount Union WR! I wonder if Tressel watches replay and wonders "how did I miss this Garcon kid"?

BTW my Mount contact informed me that the news on Collins came from a colleague who has a player in class. Don't know if that is credible but its the best I got!

[mr_mom]

Talked to Randy Mason this evening, as he quarterbacked my company flag-football team to their first playoff win.  [He was Mike Jorris' backup -- with better stats -- in 2005.  But then came Micheli]

He does have a year of eligibility left.   

[PurpleSuit]

From a previous post: no one needs to explain how Brian Robiskie is on an NFL roster - he has been waived and is therefore no longer on a roster. 3 years 39 receptions, 434 yards, 3 tds. Pathetic! Even worse he had 3 receptions for 25 yards THIS YEAR!

Not so fast my friend.    He is still on an NFL roster. Not good news either. He has been picked up by Jacksonville off waivers. Hmmm. Maybe a couple of Buckeye state boys can make this roster work too.I haven't heard about Cecil recently. Two Buckeye state guys on Indy's roster too I believe.

I did hear that he was signed later this afternoon. Which means NOW someone needs to explain how this guy is on a roster? The guy in the front row, 50 yard line seats, has more receptions this year. On the Cecil note I checked the Jags website and saw he was listed as either doubtful or probable with a hamstring. I think Jacksonville sees more of an upside to Cecil than Robiskie. maybe Robiskie is a temp fill-in instead of a long term (kind of like the Browns RB they just signed). Although - it would be cool to see Robiskie listed as Cecil's backup - then he could match the other other Buckeye Gonzalez backing up a Mount Union WR! I wonder if Tressel watches replay and wonders "how did I miss this Garcon kid"?

Jacksonville just put Mike Sims-Walker on the IR, seems Robiskie was more of a signing to fill up a roster spot.  I think the Jags are just fine with Cecil's future.  His stats, or lack of, seem to be a combination of horrible QB play and typical rookie WR.

[Desertraider]

OK - no one has brought it up so I feel I must. It is Thursday - Mount and BW get together on Saturday. Is Mount going with Piloto or Seaman (or both) and how do we think the Mount D will fare against a resurgent BW offense? This game always seems to be tight - but I expect to see Mount finally come out swinging in the 1st qtr and play strong. I am looking at a 24-10 or 27-10 game. Go Raiders!

mom - Not that you need it but +k on Randy Mason. Forgot all about that one.

[seventiesraider]

 I'm only guessing, but I doubt you see Seaman again this year. If he tore a minicus, he can only make it worse. I think the Mount defense will disable the BW offense. It should be close in the 1st half, (always is) and I see 32-36 unanswered points in the second half.

This is of course because for the first time at home this year, they will have Kevin and I holding up the south wall.

[Desertraider]

I'm only guessing, but I doubt you see Seaman again this year. If he tore a minicus, he can only make it worse. I think the Mount defense will disable the BW offense. It should be close in the 1st half, (always is) and I see 32-36 unanswered points in the second half.

This is of course because for the first time at home this year, they will have Kevin and I holding up the south wall.

I love Raider home games - but I prefer them playing at BW. 20 minutes down the road from Westlake sure beats 90 minutes to Alliance. That aside I really like what the Raider D is showing this year. They seem more balanced than the past couple seasons. Running the ball will be a task for BW - especially in the 2nd half. BWs key has to be to keep it close so they can still try and run. If they become 1 dimensional and have to throw early and often the Raider secondary is going to have a field day.

[B38W]

Going to be real hard for our offense (or anybody elses for that matter) to score points. Deffense or special teams will have to score, kicking must improve and we will have to play field position and get a short field. Can not turn the ball over and certainly can not average our 80 yards in penalties. Losing that game to Cap will probably keep us out of the playoffs if we can't find a way to upset the Raiders.